Page 56 of Last Minute Fiancé

“I need to go job hunting, while pregnant. That isn’t going to be easy.”

“I could tell you what you already know, that it’s illegal for them to discriminate against you for being pregnant. But we also know that it’s not going to stop them from having their biases.” My jaw tensed as I thought it, but in reality, there was nothing I could do but support her. Even if it killed me.

“It’s only been a couple hours, and I know I’m still in panic mode. I don’t know what I would have done outside of that, but I have to think this is for the best even as I freak out. Soon I’ll actually start to want to throw up again, and that will have nothing to do with being pregnant. But I will find a job. I’ve always kept my resume current, because that was just something I always did. So, here we are. Try not to panic.”

I stood up and leaned forward, cupping her face in my hands.

She froze like a deer in headlights and looked up at me. “Luca?”

“You hated that job. I’m happy you’re gone. This might not be the best timing, but maybe it is perfect. You finding something new that works for you that you can thrive in should happen before the baby gets here. But no matter what, I’m going to be here, okay? I promise.”

“I know. Is it weird that I trust you no matter what? That my best friends are going to be there even though I pretty much threw everything out the window today?”

“I’ve got you. Always.”

I wanted to lean down and brush my lips against hers and hold her close so she knew everything would be okay.

But the doorbell rang and I let my hands drop, willing myself to breathe normally. I wanted to hold her and protect her and take care of everything. Only that wasn’t my job. If I was more of a growly asshole I would just make it happen, but that wasn’t me.

I was the laid-back guy. The guy who hid what he was feeling because it was better just to go with the flow. It was what I was good at.

And that guy was in love with Addison. That guy was monumentally screwed.

“I don’t know who that is, but my group chat has been wild since I told them I quit my job without any explanation.”

I raised a brow. “You told the girls you quit your job in a text?”

“They were working because, you know, it was the middle of the day. I didn’t want to bother them.” Her eyes widened. “And you left your job in the middle of the day.”

“And it’s okay, I’m the boss, I can do that. I had someone cover for me and I’ll handle all the paperwork later. It’s in my car.”

Someone rang the doorbell again and Addison moved past me to open it.

This had truly thrown a wrench in all of our plans, not that we had actually had any, so maybe starting from the bare bottom would help. Of course, I knew that once Addison finished her shock-panicking, things were going to get hairy.

She opened the door to find Paisley standing there with a box of cookies in her hand.

“Oh good, you’re both here. That actually makes things easier. Congratulations, Daddy.”

I opened my mouth to say something as Addison burst out laughing, tugging Paisley inside. “The absurdity of the situation is ridiculous. Did you bring me cookies? Oh, I like cookies.”

Addison took the box from Paisley without saying anything else and moved to the kitchen island before proceeding to open the box and look inside.

Paisley met my gaze and I saw the worry there.

I shrugged, at a loss for what to do. Because this wasn’t the Addison that I knew. The Addison I knew was self-assured and strong, this one seemed as if she were so lost that there was no way of getting out of it. We’d find a way, but I wasn’t sure how.

“Paisley,” I started, but she interrupted me with a smile. She really was beautiful, and I saw what my brother had seen in her, but I still didn’t know her. She could be so closed off at times that it was hard for me to get a read on her.

“It’s okay,” she mouthed, before walking over to Addison. “So, now that you’re done working for that asshole and his stupid company, you can work for me.”

I grinned, because Paisley was a brilliant, brilliant woman.

Addison looked at her, then at me. “I’m sorry, what? Luca, did you tell her that she should hire me? Because you don’t need to fix things for me. I don’t like it when people try to do that.”

I held up both hands. “I had nothing to do with this, though I do think it’s a good idea.”

“You haven’t even heard the idea,” Paisley said, before she grinned. “But it’s a good idea. Work for me. Devney already does.”

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