Page 35 of Soaring and Saucy

“I’m sorry too,” he began quietly, making her feel terrible. “Is it so wrong for me to want to be here, be around you, or for us to have some semblance of a relationship since we are going to have a child together? And before you say anything – I plan on being involved, so don’t start with the ‘I’m pregnant and you’re not’ comments.”

Silently, she curled her arm back to her chest, unsure what to say or do. There was glass and water everywhere – and she felt like such a harridan right now. Everything in her life, in her, was completely out of control, and it was like ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’ in her brain and body.

Lance looked over his shoulder and hesitated. “Oh shoot,” he uttered, turning to her. “Come here, princess.”

Before Stephanie could say anything or protest, Lance had scooped her up bodily into his arms, carrying her out of the kitchen where the mess was. He didn’t say a word – and neither did she.

She clung to him, wishing it was a hug or something to tell her it was going to be okay, that he forgave her for being so prickly and emotional. His cologne was there, combined with the glimpse of tanned skin from where his shirt was half open… and hesitated.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered quietly.

“There’s nothing to apologize for.”

“For being a raging lunatic?”

“It’s allowed when you are carrying my baby.”

And she scoffed tearfully as he set her down on the couch, kneeling before her. He took her hands in his, met her gaze evenly, and gave her a hesitant look before taking a deep breath and speaking.

“I know I’m going to push your buttons, but you are free to be yourself with me. That’s how we get to know each other – good, bad, or otherwise.”

“It wasn’t nice of me.”

“It wasn’t nice of me to keep poking fun at you.”

“You should be able to be yourself, remember?”

“You too… princess of mine,” he smiled softly, lifting her hand to his lips and kissing the back of it tenderly, just before she felt him chuckle against the skin. “And I’m not Elmo,” he began, his shoulders shaking as his lips twitched before he kissed her knuckles once more. “I’m more of a Snuffleupagus and we both know it.”

“Oh geez…” Stephanie muttered, yanking her hand from his and rolling her eyes in frustration.

The man was obviously wild and playful and wasn’t holding back around her. He wanted her to know him – and this was the real him. Quick, thoughtful, obsessed with the bedroom, and awfully saucy. There was always some line he was crossing, some comment to be made, but there was another side to him. One that was thoughtful enough to pick her up and keep her from injuring her feet even though she caused the problem. He was also insisting she rest instead of cleaning up her own mess.

Yes, Lance was a handful to deal with – but she was slowly starting to realize that maybe he wasn’t so bad after all.

11

TROPHY

Lance woke up the next morning, stretching and yawning where he’d slept like a log on the sofa at Stephanie’s place. Would he have rather rested snuggled up at her side? Sure, but at least he was here. That was what mattered. She showed up unexpectedly, greeted him at the airport, and opened her home to him. There was a bond there, no matter how slight, and today, he planned on working to make it stronger.

He wanted to get to know her – her likes and dislikes, take her out to eat, shop for the baby, and talk about what the future might look like between them. He didn’t want there to be any questions, any hesitations, and needed to find a way to communicate where he didn’t make her upset or defensive. If she had her mental shields up – and he had his – then neither was going to get anywhere quickly and he flew out late tomorrow evening.

Yeah, he was on a time crunch.

Tossing back the coverlet, he stood up and stretched again, scratching his tummy and nearly purring in contentment only to get slapped with his T-shirt from last night right in the abdomen.

“Put some clothes on,” Stephanie grumbled, walking right past him.

“I’m decent.”

“Barely,” she retorted, disappearing in the kitchen.

“Hey, I’ve got my butt covered and my junk. I did that for you, ya’ know. Normally, I sleep in my underwear. The only thing exposed to your eyes is my chest. Now I believe in equality, princess, so if you wanna…”

“Would you hush? It is too early for your mouth or line of thinking,” she said peevishly from a distance, obviously starting the coffee maker.

Lance grinned.

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