Page 23 of Love or Tequila in Unexpected Places

“Something tells me things are about to get interesting.”

Six

ALLISON

Pinkie.

The name echoed in her mind like a chant, melodically replaying like a symphony. It was such a silly little word—cute, undeniably—but “cute” was the last thing that came to mind when this particular man uttered it almost directly into her ear. A hot current coursed down her spine as his breath fanned against her skin, sending shivers through her body.

Over the past couple of weeks, Allison’s hormones had begun to make their presence known, but she understood that thissensation had nothing to do with her pregnancy and everything to do with the Greek God—pun intended—sipping his coffee right next to her. His chiseled jaw and sun-kissed skin made her heart race, and she couldn’t help but feel a magnetic pull toward him, the kind that left her both exhilarated and slightly breathless.

She sighed as he moved closer, her thoughts spiraling into all the reasons she couldn’t possibly let him take her right there in the booth. The clinking of dishes and the hum of conversation faded into the background as her mind raced through the consequences: the embarrassment, the risk of being seen, the reality of her situation. She was caught in a whirlwind of desire and practicality, torn between the intoxicating chemistry igniting between them and the heavy weight of responsibility that loomed over her. The warmth radiating from his body enveloped her, heightening her senses, but she couldn’t afford to lose herself in the moment, not now.

Needing to distract herself from the specimen that was Angelo Taylor, Allison asked, “So, I schedule the appointment, we both go, and then what? Where do we go from there?”

He shrugged, but his gaze never wavered. He seemed to peer directly into her soul, and she found herself loving the intensity of his focus. For too long, she had felt like a machine, but now, with him, she felt like a person again.

“If you’ll let me, I’d like to care for you and the baby in any way I can. Doctor’s appointments, picking out baby clothes, even simple coffee runs like today.” Angelo paused, taking a breath before answering with newfound confidence. Her heart warmed at his words.

He really wants to be involved, doesn’t he?

Allison contemplated this for a moment. Angelo seemed genuinely willing to embrace fatherhood, and the idea of her baby having both parents was undeniably appealing. She knewshe would need all the help she could get; while her brothers had insisted they would support her, having the father actively involved in their lives would make a world of difference for her and the baby.

Yet, she couldn’t shake the feeling of caution. She couldn’t just leap at the chance to play house with her father’s business rival. He was still, in many ways, a stranger to her. Would his intentions remain pure, or would the complexities of their families’ rivalry complicate everything? The warmth of his gaze was tempting, but the reality of the situation loomed heavily over her, demanding careful consideration.

“Angelo…” she began, though she struggled to find the right words. A sigh escaped her lips. “We can’t just pretend we’re not who we are. I’m a Lockwood, and not only are you a Taylor, but you’re nowtheTaylor.” She shook her head, the weight of their families’ antagonism hanging heavily in the air.

She noticed Angelo’s mood shift, and a pang of guilt shot through her. She didn’t like that one bit. She wanted those chocolate eyes to warm again, the way they had been looking at her for the past half hour.

“I’m not going to pretend anything, Allison. But you’re having my child. I won’t just stand idly by while you carryourbaby alone for the next eight months. This is my responsibility too.” His voice was steady, filled with determination, and his eyes seemed to glow with resolve. His strong jaw was set tight, and the corners of his eyes crinkled ever so slightly, revealing a depth of emotion that stirred something within her. It filled her with a newfound confidence; if she had him by her side, she felt she could conquer the world.

But just as quickly, a single thought shattered her feelings of omnipotence.

Oh God, I still have to tell the guys that it’s Angelo’s baby.

And then there was her father. She almost winced at the thought.

He’s either going to kill me or he’s going to die.

The weight of the impending conversations loomed over her, threatening to dampen the spark of hope that had ignited between them. She knew she couldn’t hide the truth forever, and the reality of her situation came rushing back, reminding her that navigating this new path wouldn’t be as simple as she’d like it to be.

Allison gulped, steeling herself for what she was about to say. “You’re right. We’ll figure this out. There’s just one tiny thing we need to do first.” She swallowed hard as the thought crossed her mind.

Angelo leaned in closer, his expression intent, as if she were about to share some precious secret. “And what’s that, Allison?”

Hearing him say her name didn’t invoke the same warmth as before. Instead, a chill raced down her spine. “We have to tell my father.”

In an instant, Angelo froze, his face transforming into a mask of stone. The telltale look of “oh shit” spread across his features.

My sentiments exactly.

The gravity of their situation settled heavily between them, a looming storm on the horizon that neither of them could ignore. The thought of facing her father sent a wave of anxiety crashing over her, and she could see that Angelo felt it too.

All Allison could think about for the rest of the “coffee date” was the doctor’s appointment. It loomed over her like a dark cloud, and as much as she tried to distract herself, it was always there, nagging at the back of her mind.

She was in her apartment, barfing up her guts while also racking her brain for a way to break the news to her father, but every idea she came up with felt like trying to teach a cat to fetch—impossible and slightly absurd. Meanwhile, Angelo’s suggestions had been about as helpful as a screen door on a submarine.

“Why not, Allison?” he said, rolling his eyes in an exaggerated fashion that made her wonder if he practiced in front of a mirror.

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