Page 61 of Accidental Baby Daddy

“Why don’t you stay here tonight, honey?” My mom suggested. “I’ll pull out the couch into a bed, it’s pretty comfortable.”

My shoulders slumped. “That would be nice,” I admitted.

I was exhausted, and heartsick to boot.

I lay on the pullout bed, looking up at the ceiling, and thinking about Lexie, wondering if she was looking up at her ceiling and thinking about me.

Probably not. She was probably fast asleep, dreaming about her escape from Wagontown.

The next morning, I woke to a text from her:I’m so sorry to ask, but could I get a ride to the bar tonight?

I frowned at the phone, annoyance trickling through me. I had told her that I’d give her a ride any time, but for her to ask right after she broke things off seemed cruel.

But at the same time, I had made myself available to her with a sincere offer, and that wasn’t just because we were hooking up.

I spent the day at my mother’s with Trent. We dug out the colored plastic eggs we used at Easter, filling them with candy and money, even though Easter was still monthsaway. Trent got a kick out of looking for them knowing the Easter Bunny was nowhere to be found.

“He’ll never guess we’re looking!” he snickered, and I couldn’t help but laugh at his cute innocence.

“I’ll be back in a few hours,” I told my mother after several moments of watching Trent search. “I just need to check in at the bar. I won’t be out late tonight.”

“Good to hear. Trent likes it when he can be tucked into his own bed.”

Guilt rushed over me again, but I had to work, and getting this bar off the ground under new ownership meant I needed to be there as often as possible. At least for the first few months.

I kissed and hugged Trent goodbye then headed out to pick up Lexie.

She slid into my truck, frowning slightly. “Where’s Trent?”

“With his grandmother,” I said flatly, not looking at her as I pulled onto the road. “I’m going to spend a couple of hours at the bar when I drop you off.”

“I’m sure Krista and I?—”

“I need to do some paperwork,” I stated, cutting her off. Lexie shut her mouth. I figured she finally got the hint that I didn’t want to talk.

I walked straight into the office and sat down, breathing hard while trying to get my thoughts together. I felt angry seeing her again, angrier than I thought I’d be, and I needed to calm down.

A strange, stifled scream sounded out over the music, and I was up and running out of the office before I knew what was happening.

There was a man standing with his back to me, facing Lexie. Shelooked terrified.

“Is this guy bothering you?” I asked loudly, and he turned.

“She’s my fiancée,” he snapped back. It was her ex.

Her controlling ex who’d emotionally abused her. Her ex who she ran away from. I tackled him around the waist, not thinking, and we both went down to the floor.

He got in a couple of body shots before I punched him in the throat and he started to gasp, clawing at his neck.

“Oliver, no!” Lexie exclaimed. “It’s not worth it!”

She pulled me off him and he scurried away like a cockroach out the back door. I followed him, my chest heaving, Lexie hanging onto my arm.

When I realized she was shivering and trembling all over, I drew her into my arms, pressing my lips to the crown of her head.

“It’s going to be okay,” I assured her.

I meant it.

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