Page 51 of For Fox Sake

I slip out of the booth seat and head in her direction.

“Hey, there, I missed you.” I slide my arm around her waist and dip my head, speaking low in her ear. “Did you need an assist?”

Her hand covers mine on her waist. “Uh, this is Jake. Jake, this is Shane and Sam.”

“Samantha.” Her nostrils flare.

Cute.

“Right. Hi. I see you are both enjoying a date night like we are.” I grin down at Ryan.

She’s gazing up at me, mouth partially open, a bird caught in a trap.

“We’re celebrating my pregnancy.” Samantha beams at Shane.

Shane is staring at me, frowning.

“Congratulations. Kids are incredible. They change your life, you know? I love spending time with Ari. The kid’s hilarious.”

Samantha’s head bobs emphatically in agreement.

Then Shane opens his mouth. “Yeah, she is great. I was there when she was born, you know. I changed her diapers and held her at night when she cried. I’m her Uncle Shane.”

I narrow my gaze on him. The filthy liar. “Weird. She never talks about you. And she had a birthday last weekend. You weren’t there. So even if you were there when she was born, you’re not doing a great job of sticking around for her, Uncle Shane.” I can’t keep the sarcasm from spilling into my tone.

His eyes widen, his mouth puckering like he just sucked on a lemon. “I can’t always be there for a child who isn’t mine.”

I pause and stare at him, counting to ten.

Ryan tenses even further beside me. In a minute she’s going to start vibrating she’s so rigid.

I wait until his words have truly sunk in for everyone at the table. Samantha shifts, still smiling, but the edges are forced and strained.

I moderate my tone, keeping it even and unemotional. “Anyone can make a child, but few have the courage to raise one. It is my privilege to be a part of her life, and I feel sorry for anyone who can’t see that.”

I dip my head to speak low in Ryan’s ear, already putting this interaction and this douchebag out of my mind. At no moment did he ever deserve Ryan. “Do you want to dance?” Damn, she smells good, the bright floral notes of her perfume tickling my nose.

Her hand covers mine, and she grips it firmly. “Yes. Please.”

Without another word to the couple at the table, I whisk her onto the dance floor.

Her arms go around my neck, fingers brushing my nape.

I draw her close. It’s a slow country song that I’ve never heard, but it might be my new favorite. We move together among the rest of the swaying couples.

“Are you okay?” I murmur.

“Yes. Thank you for the rescue.”

“I hope I wasn’t overstepping. I know you wanted to avoid them at the hospital, and I was trying to help you make a getaway, but if I?—”

“What you said, about Ari, about being a parent, did you mean it?”

I blink down at her. “Of course.”

She swallows. “Thank you. You know, you’re kind of amazing.”

I preen, pretending to toss my hair over my shoulder. “I had to go through a lot of being an immature asshole to become the stunning man you see before you.”

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