Page 44 of While We Waited

I don’t know why I’m complaining. This place is more awesome than visiting a mermaid in her house in Atlantis.

“Um.” Hudson scratches his neck. “I want you to stay here until Sprog is born.”

I pretend to clean out my ears. “You want me to stay here until Sprog is born?”

“I can’t take care of you if you’re on the other side of the island.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m fifteen minutes away.”

“Fifteen minutes is too long if you need me.”

Oh no. I’m in danger of melting into a puddle of goo on his perfectly oiled wooden floors. Mr. Crabby isn’t supposed to want to take care of me.

“I have everything you need here. A cleaner comes in every other day. The refrigerator and pantry are stocked with food. You can order whatever you want from the resort’s restaurant or I’ll cook for you. You can use the gym and all the other facilities at the resort. There are several pools.”

I nearly groan with how wonderful it all sounds. I can cook, but I don’t enjoy it. And cleaning is my least favorite thing in the world, especially since the cleaning liquids now make me gag.

“You don’t need to do this.”

“Yes, I do.”

I roll my eyes. “Just because I’m having your baby doesn’t mean you need to switch into caveman mode.”

He stalks toward me until he’s within reaching distance. He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “I’m not doing this just for Sprog. I want you to be taken care of, too.”

“And once Sprog is born, I’ll return to my house?”

He shrugs. “If you want to, but you have to admit it’d be handy if you lived here. I could help with midnight feedings and poopy diapers.”

My mouth drops open. “You’re going to change poopy diapers?”

“Bring it on. It won’t be my first poopy diaper. I practically raised my younger brothers. And Sawyer refused to be potty trained.”

“You’re serious.” He wants us to live together after the baby’s born. We could raise the baby together. We’d be a family. An unusual family since Mommy and Daddy wouldn’t be together. But still. A family.

Uh oh. I’m notgoingto fall in love with Hudson sometime in the future. I already am.

Chapter 16

Tackle – What Hudson wishes he could do to a cat

Hudson

Ihold my breath as I wait for Nova to reply. I know moving in with me is a big deal for her. My sunshine girl has an independent streak a mile wide.

But I want her here. I don’t want to worry she’s all alone and not feeling well with no one to take care of her. I’ll take care of her. Baby or not. She needs someone to be there for her.

“You stay here and relax. I’ll go pick up your stuff.”

“I didn’t say I’m staying.”

I grunt and she wags her finger at me. “Don’t grunt at me, Mr. Cranksville.”

Her admonishment isn’t serious since she’s smiling at me. Her smile hits me right in the chest. I want to smile in return. I shake my head. I’m not a smiler.

“You know you want to stay here. You practically drooled when I mentioned a housekeeper.”

“I’ll have you know I limit my drooling to chocolate and other yummy treats fromPirates Pastries.”

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