Page 93 of Family Bonds: Coy & Angel

“And I ruined his reputation?” she asked, lifting her eyebrow.

“You didn’t ruin anything,” he said, pulling her close for a hug. “Don’t ever think that or say it. I mean it.”

“I was joking,” she said. “You don’t have to get so defensive.”

He was struggling because it felt like the last few weeks he’d been fighting an uphill battle with everything that came out of his mouth.

No one at work had said a negative word about his relationship with Angel that he was aware of and he didn’t care if they did.

Abby stopped flirting with him, which he was thankful for, and it seemed she wasn’t as friendly to Angel either, but that didn’t bother either of them.

They weren’t there to make friends but to do a job.

“Maybe I wouldn’t be defensive if everything wasn’t a fight,” he said.

“Here we go again,” she said, moving away from his side. “There is no talking sense into you.”

“He only cares,” his mother said, “but I understand too. You just have to listen to your heart. It seems to be doing well enough for you now.”

“I guess,” she said quietly.

“We all want to be here for you. During the pregnancy and after the baby is born. I’m going to assume you’ll be returning to work a few months after,” his mother said.

He loved her for saying that and not just assuming that Angel would be a stay-at-home mother. Neither of his sisters-in-law was, but it seemed Angel didn’t get it when he kept pointing that out.

“I am,” she said. “I worked hard to get where I am and am just starting my career.”

“Of course you did and are,” his mother said. “I expect that Coy is very proud of you. I know he’s thrilled to have you on board. Now for other reasons than lightening his load at work.”

“I told Angel I never expected her to not return to work, but if that was her choice, I’d support it.”

“It’s not my choice,” she said firmly. “Maybe once the baby is born I’ll want to stay home more than a few months. I don’t know. I’m not committing to anything but don’t want to leave Coy short staffed either.”

He smiled. It was the first she’d made that comment about her plans might change. “I’ve been handling my practice alone for years. I’ll be fine,” he said.

“Bode and Drew’s kids go to daycare,” his mother said. “That is something you’ll have to figure out too.”

“I think a nanny might be best for us,” he said. “Only because of our jobs and being on call though it doesn’t happen often.”

“It’s not going to be easy to find a nanny on the island,” his father said. “It’s not as if you’ve got a place for them to live.”

“No,” he said. “But I’m sure in time a house could open up on the island that we could cover if need be. Who knows, maybe my brothers wouldn’t mind all the cousins being together.”

His mother started to laugh. “Coy. Do you hear yourself and how unrealistic you’re being? One nanny isn’t going to watch two toddlers and two babies no matter how much you pay them.”

He frowned. Guess he hadn’t put much thought into that. Amanda only worked part time, but Sam was full time.

“We’ll figure it out,” Angel said. “Once I get my feet under me, we’ll tackle that next. There are a lot of other things I need to deal with first. Like eating. I’m starving.”

His mother laughed. “I ate like a pig for all three of my pregnancies. These Bonds just suck the energy and life out of you, literally.”

“So I’ve discovered,” Angel said, squinting at him.

27

HOT RICH DUDE

“Guess I know how the other side lives,” Angel said the minute she and Coy walked across the helicopter landing pad to a family garage to get into a vehicle left here.

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