Page 39 of Last Resort

Wrapped in her friends’ arms, she heaved a deep breath for the first time since she found out she was pregnant. Tessa, Claire and Kayleigh—because of their connection to the Patterson brothers—had become pillars of her life and the best friends she’d ever had.

They were just pulling away when Chance came out of his office. “I can come back if you need more time.”

“Actually, we’re heading out.” Tessa pulled Maci back into a hug, whispering, “Let him make his own choices.”

After the others said goodbye too, she ushered them out the door.

Chance closed the door behind them, but didn’t move. He stood by the entryway and stared at Maci. Something in the way he watched her made Maci feel almost vulnerable, and she wrapped an arm around herself as if the added barrier would help.

“What are you doing?” she finally asked.

“Looking at you.”

Uncomfortable under his gaze, she fell back to her default snark. “Obviously. Why are you doing it?”

“Because you’re beautiful.”

Maci opened her mouth, but nothing came out. What was she supposed to say to that? The air thickened around them as the silence grew, and suddenly it was too much.

“I’m sorry,” she blurted.

Chance’s brows lowered, shadowing his eyes. “For what?”

“I should have told you about the baby. I should have told you—” She cut herself off. It wasn’t the time to invite her demons into the conversation. Not yet. They’d have to talk about them eventually, but that was a problem for future Maci.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” His tone held no malice.

She walked back into the living room and plopped back onto the couch and looked down at her lap, twisting her fingers over and over. Finally, she decided that if they were going to have a chance at coparenting—or more—she had to be honest with him. They’d never be able to be anything if she kept hiding the truth. Baby steps.

“I was scared.”

“Oh, honey.” Just like that, he was kneeling at her feet, big hands cradling her face. “What were you scared of?”

Nothing. Everything.

She wanted to tell him, but she knew she couldn’t. He didn’t need to see how big of a mess she was. Eventually it would be clear, but for now, she wanted him to never stop looking at her the way he did. Like he cherished her. Like he understood her. Like he wanted to know every thought she ever had.

As if he could read her mind, he leaned in so close that their breath mingled. “You don’t have to tell me right now. There’s no rush.” He pressed a soft kiss to her lips, the barely-there touch making them tingle. “Keep your secrets for now, Maci Ford. I’m not going anywhere.”

Maci’s chest ached at the tenderness in his voice and the way he held her. As she reached for him, pulling his face to hers, she knew that she was already gone. There was no avoiding the path back to each other that faith had put them on.

She wasn’t optimistic enough to believe they’d have forever, but for now, she’d enjoy having Chance at her side again.

They kissed slowly, eventually moving to Chance’s room where they relearned each other’s bodies. Every kiss, every touch, stoked the need that months of distance had created. Maci’s skin burned, aching for more with every sweep of his hands, and when they came together again, the look on Chance’s face was like nothing else.

His eyes spoke his truth in waves of reverence and awe. The way he touched her, the way they moved together, felt a little like worship.

When they were spent, Chance curled his body around hers with his hand resting protectively on her stomach, his lips pressed softly to the nape of her neck. The steady counts of his breathing lulled her to sleep, and though she told herself not to fall for the dream, for the first time since she’d run from him, Maci felt at peace again.

Chapter Twelve

For the first time since he and his brothers had opened San Antonio Security nearly five years ago, Chance didn’t really want to be here in the office.

He’d left Maci curled up in bed and hadn’t wanted to leave this morning. She hadn’t wanted to let him go either, but he was pretty sure it was more because she wanted to get back to work than because she would miss him.

Promising to bring home dinner from her favorite Italian restaurant if she took the day off to rest had finally worked. She’d agreed, though she’d glared when he suggested spending the day in bed napping.

He chuckled. Maci wasn’t someone who enjoyed a lot of idle time. The food bribe had worked today, but he had no doubt it wouldn’t work for long. Especially since she felt guilty that he was going out of his way to get it.

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