Page 31 of Second Chance Baby

I rolled my shoulders, currently tight with tension, and camped out on the couch, grabbing the remote to cue upScream1 and 2. I sat at the end of the couch so I could kick out the recliner and dipped back my head, closing my eyes as I drifted to the sound of power machinery.

Maybe I shouldn’t have let Bridget go to town on the bushes while I dealt with the snacks, but she’d wanted to and I kinda liked the throwback to the past.

Happier days when our future had seemed so certain. So sure. Of course, there would be curveballs, but we’d face them together.

I fucking hoped.

Bridget’s warm bourbon vanilla scent curled around me the next time I opened my eyes. She must’ve spritzed on some more in the hotel because it had faded since earlier in the day. Now it was vividly delicious, and she was sitting with her knees drawn up, her head resting on my shoulder as she aimed the remote at the TV to turn up the volume.

Screamwas playing, and Carrington was sitting on the other end of the couch, scanning her phone while Sydney knocked out Gail Weathers.

Deservedly so, to my mind. Damn reporters.

“Whoa, did I fall asleep?”

“You did.” Bridget patted my stomach. “You obviously needed it. The bags under your eyes are multiplying as we speak.”

“Hey, Care said I’m known as a DILF so I can’t be that bad.” Hearing myself, I shook my head dazedly. “Sorry, I need to shut up until I fully wake up.”

“Nah, you’re a cute DILF.” The twinkle in her summery blue eyes made me laugh. “Didn’t you just come back from back-to-back shoots? First, in Alaska then in the city?”

I started to agree, and then I cocked my head. “Wait, how did you know that?”

“I have my ways.” She paused, not elaborating as Carrington mumbled about having to pee and not wanting to miss the “good parts” before she darted out of the room.

I narrowed my eyes. “Do you know someone all-knowing?”

“Yes, your mom.” Bridget inhaled sharply. “I may have used her to check in on you now and then. Just for curiosity’s sake.”

“What? You did what?”

How long had this been going on and had the timing coincided at all with my drunken confessions?

“I just wanted to make sure you were good. And that Care was good. So, yeah, I was nosy now and then. And I may have volunteered myself up for the calendar shoot when I heard there was an issue with the model you shot with before. Maybe.” She lifted her hand to her mouth and nibbled her pinky nail. “Surprise?”

SEVEN

I had just officially shownmy hand.

In a manner of speaking.

Now he’d know I was kind of a stalker, except I was stalking my own family. Well, once upon a time when I hadn’t been smart enough to protect what I had. I hadn’t felt worthy of it because I’d never known what it was like to have a traditional one. So my fears had led to me throwing away all the goodness I’d been gifted.

But I’d learned something over our years apart. That if I dug in my heels and went after something, I could get it through sheer persistence. At least when it mattered enough.

And this mattered more than anything.

He stared at me, not speaking, as if he was trying to make sense of what I’d just told him.

“Why?” he finally asked.

I drew up my knees and looped my arms around them. “I haven’t touched a man since the last time I touched you.”

“So…today?” His dimples winked and I laughed, even though it really wasn’t funny.

Even though I’d cried myself to sleep so many times when I went to bed alone, knowing I’d probably lost my only chance for love in my life.

Because no other man could possibly do.

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