Page 31 of Whiskey Reveals

“You know, she’d probably put you in the outfit from Swan Lake so you could dance in the widow instead.” They made a turn so he could show her the bridge where they would easily walk from Pennsylvania to New Jersey, ending up in both places at once at a certain point, something that tourists loved to do.

“Oh, God. She totally would. I’d have to be on pointe too because Grandma doesn’t do things halfway.”

“Don’t put ideas into her head because you know she’ll do it.” He squeezed her hand, and she smiled up at him. “Okay, so this is the main bridge that gets us from Whiskey to the New Jersey side of the Delaware. This is the newer bridge. The original one from back when the town was founded had to be taken down due to safety issues, but it’s still pretty damn old. And in a few feet, you’ll be able to stand in both states at once, something you’ll need a photo of at least once if you want to be a Whiskey resident.”

“Is it wrong that I’m oddly excited about that fact? I saw it in a movie once and thought it was the most romantic gift ever because the heroine was sick, and the hero wanted her to have all her wishes.”

Fox squeezed her hand again and tugged her close so someone could walk on the other side of them. Only one side of the bridge was for pedestrian traffic so they couldn’t take up too much room. He let go of her hand as she sank into his side and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, tightening his hold.

He liked the feeling of her against him, the idea that the woman carrying his child was touching him. He might be a caveman thinking that, but he didn’t care. He wanted more of this, wanted more of Melody. How much she gave of herself, however, wasn’t something he could find out just by holding her close. It would take time, and no matter how close he felt to her, how much he felt as if he knew her, they were still almost strangers. Strangers who were having a baby and slowly going down a path of a potential relationship. His head started to spin at how quickly everything had changed, but he had to remind himself that no matter how complicated things got, he had to live in the moment, as well.

“Fox? Are you okay? We’re at the line.”

He blinked, pushing away the thoughts that could get him into trouble, and kissed the top of her head before looking down at the line that demarcated the division between the two states. They were standing over the Delaware River, people milling about, and yet his whole world was in his arms right then.

If that didn’t send a shock through him, he didn’t know what would.

“Let’s get you your photo.”

“Want me to take a picture of you both?” a woman said from beside them. “I always hate when all my photos of this spot end up with just my feet and not my face.”

Fox smiled and nodded. “That’d be great. Thanks.” He looked down at Melody. “Ready to play tourist?”

“Always.” He handed over his phone, and Melody turned in his arms so he leaned against the railing and she was in front of him, his arms wrapped around her. Without conscious thought, he splayed his hand over her belly, and she froze for a moment before realizing, her hand tangling with his so they could both cradle their child.

Holy shit.

Their baby. As in a new life forming under his hand at that very moment. As the woman took their photo, he knew this point in time would be forever immortalized. And he knew when he saw photo or the line again, he’d always remember the fact that he’d been reeling inside even as he held Melody for what felt like the first and hundredth time.

How it could feel so right so quickly, he didn’t know, but he knew he didn’t want to let her go. He kissed the top of her head again, trying to tone down the emotions and perhaps even the possessiveness that warred through him.

She shook against him, and he had a feeling something was going through her system just as it was for him. He thanked the woman and took back his phone, and without words, he and Melody made their way to the other side of the bridge, then turned back so they could walk through Whiskey. Just as he was about to stop by the bar for lunch, knowing that while there were plenty of other places to eat, his family bar was a favorite and something that would always be a part of his—and now perhaps her—life, Melody put her hand on his arm and stopped him.

“What’s wrong? Would you rather go somewhere you haven’t been before to eat? That probably would have made more sense, but the girls will be at the bar tonight, as will my brothers, so I figured you might want to hang with people you know. But now that I say that, it doesn’t sound like a date. It feels a bit overwhelming. I can easily take you to another place. Sorry I didn’t even ask you, I was just playing tourist.”

She smiled, her head shaking as he continued to talk.

“What?”

“You just rounded yourself into like four issues I don’t even have with what you planned. I’ve loved today, and though it should have felt weird and awkward since it’s technically our first date, it wasn’t. I’m having a wonderful time, but I’m also a little tired.” She held up her hand when he would have rambled more. “I’m fine. How about we get something from the bar and take it to your house?” She swallowed hard. “I, uh…I’d like some time alone with you, too. I know we’re doing a great job of not talking about what’s growing inside me right now since I know we’re both still shocked, but what I do know is that we need to get to know each other. And I’d like to try and do that tonight.”

There was an underlying heat in her words that made him want to bring her close and crush his mouth to hers. And because he knew that wouldn’t be the best idea when they were both standing outside his brother’s bar, he kissed her temple instead and pulled back, loving the way her eyes darkened at the touch of his lips on her skin. Oh, yeah, he wasn’t alone in this need, and yet they were both being so damn careful about not doing anything about it.

Yet.

Thankfully, when he went inside with Melody, he quickly got a takeout order from one of Dare’s waitresses and somehow avoided his family and the other ladies. While he wanted them to see him with Melody, he also wanted to be alone with her.

Before he knew it, the two of them were in his house, under the same roof where he’d had her in his arms before, and all he could do was stare at her like a man beyond thirsty for the oasis in front of him.

The thing was, though, he could tell he wasn’t alone in this hunger. Melody stared at him, her mouth parted, her eyes wide, her breaths coming in pants. There was a sexual energy between them that sizzled, crackling as it danced along their skin.

“The food’s going to get cold if you keep looking at me like that,” he growled. He hadn’t meant to growl, to even say that, but they hadn’t even taken off their shoes yet, and all he could do was need.

“You know we should talk,” she said, though he wasn’t sure she believed her words.

“We did. We talked about Whiskey. Talked about my family. Talked about Ms. Pearl. Your dance studio.” They hadn’t talked about the baby, her dancing, her parents, his writing, but those things would come.

First, however…

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