Page 140 of Daddy By Design

By the time we got back to Harriette Lane, Archer’s truck was missing. The cement mixer was gone as well, so it looked like that was done for the day, as well.

There were a few people working on the roof, but otherwise, it was a light crew day, it seemed.

He parked. “Sit tight.”

I kicked open the door, and he sighed as he hustled around to me. “Can’t even let me try to be a gentleman?”

“You weren’t before.” I hopped out.

“Yeah, well, things are gonna change.”

“So you keep saying.” I flounced off to the Airstream, but the stupid door was locked, which ruined some of my huff. But the kitty waiting for me inside made me lose the attitude.

The minute he unlocked the door, Gizmo came running down the hallway from his bedroom. He immediately started chirping for me to pick him up.

When Nolan came in behind me, the Airstream immediately felt smaller. Or maybe it was the bag of tests he was holding that made it seem like a tin can.

He eased by me, brushing his hand over my hip.

The familiar buzz was annoying when I was still trying to be mad at him. Why was this my damn life? We’d used condoms, for God’s sake. And we hadn’t actually had sex in Crescent Cove.

“Just how old was that condom in your wallet?”

He opened his fridge and pulled out one of his cans of Liquid Death. “Pretty old. It’s been a while since I’ve been with anyone, Dahlia.”

I set the bag on the couch. “How long?”

“Two years, give or take.”

“Really?”

“Since before my accident.”

“And look at us with a hole in one.” I laughed, but it sounded strangled even to my ears.

He walked toward me and took Gizmo out of my arms. “We’ll do this together from now on.”

I didn’t know what to say, so I just nodded and grabbed the tests. “Let’s give this a go.” I hurried back to the bathroom area and closed myself in.

Five minutes later, I had all of them lined up on the bottom of the shower stall.

“Hellcat?”

“What?” My head was between my knees, and I was trying desperately not to hyperventilate.

“Everything okay in there?”

“Define okay.”

“We’re going to be fine, whatever way it goes, okay?” He seemed to be directly outside the door. I could picture his ridiculous shoulders filling the space and that face I was growing to...

Not love.

It had to be the influx of hormones. Baby hormones?

I covered my eyes with my hands. God, it had to be baby hormones. I couldn’t be in love with this man. He drove me crazy on the regular. Except when we were naked. And naked wasn’t the basis of a relationship, no matter what my hormones said.

“I’m coming in there.”

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