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I shake the sexy thoughts from my head. “I have to work at my second job tonight.”

“You don’t need a second job. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He turns and walks out the door, and I’m left bereft and wanting. I wonder if he left me like this on purpose, because I’m not going to last much longer if he keeps this up.

Ryker

It’s been a couple of days since I last saw Lynae. After my shift, she came up with excuses as to why I couldn’t come over. I know she’s trying to keep her distance from me, but I’m not going to let that happen.

I’m off this weekend, which makes it the perfect time to take her to my house. I also want to take Lyn shopping for baby things. She told me she hasn’t found out the baby’s gender yet, but we can find out together at her appointment next week.

I head through the back door of the restaurant that leads into the kitchen.

“Hey, Dad,” I greet him, and he fist-bumps me as he works on something at the large stove. “Thought you had a head chef for this instead of you doing it?”

“I do, but sometimes I like to get in here and test out new dishes.”

I lean back against the counter and watch him. He’s just as tall as my brother and me. We get our dark hair from him, but he’s got gray in his beard. I used to love watching him cook. He leads a kitchen like Logan and I lead on our jobs, completely in control. Nothing ever fazes him. He taught us patience when working with other people.

“Dad, did you have a hard time getting Mom to agree to be yours when you first met?”

He chuckles and looks over his shoulder at me. “Lyn giving you issues?”

“Only I call her Lyn,” I growl.

“Too late, son. Everyone calls her that. You come up with your own nickname for her. And to answer your question, yes. Your mother gave me a hell of a run. In the beginning, she was so focused on school and getting a job that she didn’t care about me. I had to prove to her I was hers too. Lyn has been hurt.”

“How do you know?” I know because she told me, but it was like pulling teeth to get that much out of her.

“You can see it. She’s alone in this world. Show her that she’s a part of a family now. How about we hold a family barbecue this weekend?”

“Sounds good.”

“Order up,” he calls out.

“Thanks, Jaden.” Lyn’s voice breaks through my thoughts, and I whip my head up.

She’s standing there in skintight black pants and a black shirt that doesn’t hide her baby bump or her full breasts. Her black apron is tied over the swell of our child.

“Ly, what are you doing here?” I bark at her, and she turns around to see me.

“Oh shoot.” She bites that lip, and I can’t stop my legs from moving.

Ever since I had her under me on Wednesday, I can’t stop thinking about getting her there again.

“Stop.” She holds up a hand, and I walk until it’s pressed into my chest. “Let me take this out, and I’ll be right back in. I can’t believe you came here to stop me from working.” She shakes her head, and I turn to look at my dad as he chuckles.

“I didn’t know she worked here.” I defend myself. “I told her to quit her second job.”

“Don’t make her quit,” my dad begs. He struggles to find good workers.

“I’ll see. She shouldn’t be on her feet that much, between school and here.”

“She only works every Friday and every other Saturday.”

“I’ll talk to her.”

She returns a moment later and drags me to the side, away from everyone.

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