Page 56 of Christmas with the Baby Daddy

“Probably popping over as he sees fit to harass me and ask why I won’t give him a second chance. To bug me to date him again even though I’ve told him no.”

Taking his delicious body heat with him, Zach stepped away to open the door. Over his shoulder, he asked, “Has he done this before?”

I followed him, tying my robe tighter around me. “Once or twice. I really just wish he’d give up.”

Because the longer I soaked up Zach’s presence and wanted him to stay, the less I wanted to even think about any other man ever being in my life. It was stupid. Foolhardy. Zach hadn’t stuttered when he said he’d be gone after the holidays. Yet, the heart wanted what it wanted. And mine beat for him.

“He’s going to give up now,” Zach growled as he strode toward the door and opened it.

Rory burst in, or tried to. Zach stayed between me and this cocky idiot.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” He sneered at Zach, but he wasn’t brave enough to do more than look tough, puffing out his chest. “I saw you kissing her. You think you can just come home and move in on my woman?”

I cringed, hating that label.

If any man were to claim me, it’d be Zach. Not as my baby’s father, but also as my sweet, wicked lover.

I wanted to be his sweetheart like he’d said in the heat of the moment.

I wanted to be his wish come true.

22

ZACH

“Iam not your woman,” Blake insisted, staying behind me. “I’m not your anything, Rory.”

She wasn’t prone to fighting or welcoming confrontations. Kevin used to stand up for her. I was taking on more of that role now, when I was here. But her tone left nothing to the imagination. She was firm without sounding irrational or hysterical. She was bold without any meanness or cruelty. It sounded like she was just tired. Sick and tired and annoyed with repeating this message to this man.

“That’s what you think, you slut,” he sneered, pointing at her. Leaning to the side, he tried to face her as directly as possible, but I didn’t let him near her.

She didn’t react to his slur, but I did. Anger raced through me, heating up my blood so quickly I was an inch from smacking sense into him.

“You said we should take a break?—”

“I did not say that,” Blake argued, putting her hand on my back as Rory tried to reach her again. He stepped too hard on the floor, making the Christmas tree shake in its stand. Lights flickered with his angry gait as he tried to round an armchair and speak directly to her.

“I said I was breaking up with you while I took a break from men.”

“Not him, though? Huh?” Spittle flew from his mouth. “You just wanted to sleep around and fuck him instead.”

“What I do with my life isn’t any of your business,” she said.

“The hell it isn’t.” He lunged for her, and I held him back.

Blake could try to talk him down and wait for him to quit, but that wasn’t happening today. Rory was here spoiling for a fight, and I’d give him one to remember. Before I could, motion from behind Rory, on the front porch, caught my eye. Grandma Jenny entered, her eyes wide at the scene before her. George trailed in behind her, frowning at Rory.

“She’s with me,” Rory said, pointing at Blake. “She’s my girlfriend and we?—”

“No!” George pushed around to stand in front of Jenny. She kept a hand on his shoulder, glowering at Rory. “I hate you,” the quiet boy told him. “You’re mean and stupid and I don’t want you with my mommy ever again!”

Rory growled, raising his hand to smack George. He only got halfway there. Jenny tucked George to safety, turning and shielding him as I caught Rory’s hand midair. With the momentum of holding him in place, I pivoted to punch him. Right in the eye.

“What the—” he cried out in agony, stumbling back and bumping into a side table with a ceramic Christmas tree on it. It wobbled and careened toward the floor, but I caught it and let it drop onto the couch instead.

“You—”

I still didn’t give him a chance to finish. I gripped the front of his shirt, holding my hand fisted and ready to punch him again. “Get out of here,” I ordered. Aware of Blake behind me, her trembling fingers on my back, I tried to rein in the worst of my anger. George was watching now too. I didn’t want to traumatize him.

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