Page 55 of Christmas with the Baby Daddy

“They do that?”

I nodded as I started to tidy the wrapping things. “For gifted kids, yes. George is creative and artsy, but he’s book smart too.”

“Like you?” he asked with a smile.

“Well, I’m not sure about the creative or artsy part.”

“Youaresmart, though.”

I sighed, watching him help clean up. It was no longer weird to look up and see him pitching in. The more used I got to his being here, domestic like this in my house, the more I wanted to see him stay here.

“What happened to your plans to start your own restaurant?” he asked.

“George happened,” I answered bluntly. “But also, I can’t bring myself to make the move. I can’t open another restaurant in town and have a catering service that would compete with Jenny.”

“Is it just the small town market sense that’s holding you back?” he asked, shoving his hands into his jeans pockets. Without a shirt on, he was a constant tease. Instead of melting and falling into another lust spell, I tried to keep my mind on our conversation too. It wasn’t just sex. I liked this easy companionship as well—or the easier parts when I didn’t let the guilt creep in about how I’d kept his son from him.

“Yes. Jenny can’t pay me any more than she does now. She treats me like a partner, but she can’t make money grow on trees. It’s a limited revenue that suits the demand of Vernford. If I wanted to make more, I’d need to move to where there is a more competitive job market. I can’t compete against Jenny here in Vernford.”

“Have you told her this?” he asked.

“No. But I’ll need to prepare her for when I’d need to leave. I wouldn’t even consider it if it weren’t to provide for George and handle debt better. This is home. I don’t want to leave. But then again, if and when I did move us, George wouldn’t have to deal with Brent anymore. I wouldn’t have to deal with Reagan anymore.”

He joined me in the kitchen as we topped off our coffee. “Does she bother you much?”

“No. Yes.” I shrugged. “She bothers me in the sense that she doesn’t see an issue with her son bullying mine.”

“She’s not mean to you, though?”

I sighed, watching him as he sipped his coffee. “I don’t care what she says to me.”

“You shouldn’t. She’s a mean, spiteful person.” He set his coffee on the counter then put his hands on the edge. With his arms straight, he caged me in. “In high school, she kept chasing me and bugging me.”

Licking my lip and trying to resist the urge to kiss him this close, I nodded. “Yeah. I remember. Then she broke your heart.”

He rolled his eyes, stepping into my space. Gazing into my eyes, he cupped the back of my head and stroked his thumb over my cheek. “No, she didn’t. She might think she did, but as soon as I heard that she’d cheated on me, I was done. She was nothing to me.”

“I think she’s the only one who hasn’t gotten that message.” I shivered under his rough but gentle touch.

“Hmm.” He sighed, staring at my lips for a second. “She approached me at Kevin’s funeral,” he said. “That was why I went outside. Where I happened to find you.”

And the rest is history.“I guess I should thank her for pushing you to escape, then.”

He smiled slowly.

Iwasthankful in ways he couldn’t know. Because we hooked up that night, George was born. I would never regret my son. He was the light of my life. Just like his daddy was the bane of my existence and forever a temptation I didn’t want to steer clear of.

He leaned down, kissing me soundly until I sighed at the separation of our lips, wet and hot from the sweet and tender action.

“And I?—”

Impatient knocks banged on the front door, cutting him off. I flinched, and he tightened his hold on my head. We both turned toward the sound. Through the windows to the screened-in wraparound porch, I saw the angry scowl Rory wore.

“What the fuck?” He moved back toward the door and banged his fist.

“Dammit,” I muttered.

Zach frowned down at me. “What’s he doing here?”

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