Page 28 of The Bartender's Baby

“Yeah, I’ve got a couple in mind, depending on the price.”

“Okay.” His trademark smile settled on his face. “Let’s see what we can do.”

I locked up behind us. “I don’t like the gleam in your eyes.”

“Oh baby, you’ll be thanking me later.”

I didn’t understand what exactly he meant until he opened the glass door to the sales office and slung his arm around my waist, his hand over my hip in a grip that could only be described as possessive.

“What are you doing?” I elbowed him away, but he pulled me tighter to his side.

“Play along,” he whispered, head ducked down, beard scraping along my jaw in a way that sent shivers down my spine and settled between my legs. I momentarily lost my place in space and time, only to be hauled back by the salesman.

“Hi, my name is Matt. How’re you doing today?”

“Great, thanks,” Nate said, shaking his hand.

Matt, who appeared to be in his late forties, propped his hands on his hips, hopeful. “You here to buy a car today?”

“I hope so.” Nate’s thumb skated over my hip bone. It didn’t matter that I had on at least three layers of fabric. He might as well have been caressing my naked skin.

Matt nodded between us. “Excellent. You’re in the right spot. Why don’t you tell me your names and a little bit about what you’re looking for?”

“I’m Nate,” he said, moving me in front of him, settling a proprietary arm across my collarbone, “and this is my wife, Tabby.”

I was stunned into silence.

He kept right on going, cupping his hand over the side of my bump. “And this is the reason we’re here.”

Matt’s face lit up. “Congratulations. I’ve got three at home myself, so I know what it’s like. Is this your first?”

“It is.” Nate bent, lowering his face to mine. “And we’re so excited, right, honeybabe?”

I had the urge to mush his face with my hand and burst out in laughter at the same time. A mixture of a groan and giggle left my throat as I nodded along with this silly game.

Nate kissed my cheek. “I need something safe for my gorgeous wife and our little tadpole here, but we need it to be affordable.” He stood up to his full height, the weight of his arm too much, forcing me to lean against him. He supported me, his chest to my back, his fingers burrowing under my open coat to rest on my shoulder. “I’m sure you can understand what it’s like trying to manage everything, especially with your brood at home.”

Ugh. Nate was just so goddamn likable.

Matt motioned for us to follow him to his desk, where he showed us the framed photos of his kids and promised he’d get our “little family” settled into something nice.

“See?” Nate laced our fingers together as we walked out to the lot, Matt aiming us toward a Subaru that could “grow” with us.

“See what? How we’re suddenly married?” I hissed, holding on tighter to him in the cold.

“Yeah. People love a good love story. So, buckle up, buttercup. Hey, yeah, I really like this one,” he said to Matt as he kept me physically connected to him at all times while he and Matt discussed four-wheel drive, tires, and miles on the car. I was more interested in where the baby seat might go and how I would feel driving it.

“What do you think of this one, honeybunch?” Nate asked, and Ibarelyheld back from rolling my eyes.

“I want something a little smaller. I’ve been looking online, and I know you have a few compact SUVs.”

“Sure, sure. I’ve got a RAV4 here.” He led us a few rows over to the silver automobile, and Nate nodded.

“Oh yeah. All the moms drive this.”

I tilted my head up to him. “How would you know?”

“You jealous?”

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