Page 105 of Single Chance

“Danger,” I said with emphasis. “That feeling’sexactlywhat got me like this.” I pointed at my round belly.

Presley frowned at my middle. “It seems like it worked out for you, but I donotwant an insta-family. He’s just…” She shook her head, her gaze back on West.

“He’s a contractor for Levi Dawson’s construction company,” Chloe said.

“Levi. I met him at your wedding reception, right?” Presley asked her, sipping her drink, looking nonchalant even as her eyes didn’t leave West.

“Probably?” Chloe said. “I didn’t take notes. I was kind of busy that night.”

“Telling your new husband you were with child, if I remember right,” Presley said.

“I don’t know whether this will attract or repel you,” I said, “but West is very dedicated to his little girls. And against any kind of relationship.”

Presley looked thoughtful but didn’t say anything.

“Your type,” Chloe said, “is tall, thin, bordering on metrosexual, and brainy. The more expensive the suit he’s wearing, the better.”

My eyebrows shot up because West was the antithesis of that. He was former military, with a thick, muscular build. He was gruff, rough around the edges, and had a beard. I’d give her, he was good-looking, with intense green eyes that crinkled when he smiled, but he was about as masculine and virile as you could get.

“He’s your polar opposite,” I told her. Presley was wealthy, brilliant, and outgoing, while West was blue collar, brawny, and reserved.

Across the patio, West got a phone call and stepped away, letting himself out the gate on the lake side, probably so he could hear the call.

As the three of us made our way toward the food line, Holden came up behind Chloe and put his arms around her.

“Hey, Presley,” he said. “Glad you could make it.”

“I wouldn’t miss it, handsome.”

West came back to the patio, said something to Luke, then hurried out the other gate toward the parking lot.

“Where’s West going?” Chloe asked.

“No idea,” Holden said. “Probably something to do with his girls. I’m not sure what else would make him move like that.”

“I guess I won’t be meeting him tonight,” Presley said and shrugged. She took a longer drink of her cocktail. “So what’s your gut say, Rowan? Girl or boy?”

Chance

Life was funny. Not really in a haha way but more in a smack-you-upside-the-head-with-exactly-what-you-needed-even-if-you-couldn’t-see-you-needed-it way.

How had I ever thought I didn’t wantthis?

Rowan and I sat at one of the patio tables with Sam, her friend Kinsley, and several of our friends. I put my arm around Rowan and kissed her temple.

“Everyone’s done eating, Dad,” Sam said impatiently.

A glance at the food table told me it had, in fact, been demolished. Lots of our guests were standing, drinking, talking, no longer sitting at the tables.

“How long do we have to wait for cake, Mr. Cordova?” Kinsley asked.

“I think now’s good,” my daughter said.

While she wouldn’t argue with cake itself, I knew my daughter’s hurry was more about finding out whether she’d be getting a baby sister or brother.

Sam had made big strides in the past couple of months. Her friendship with Kinsley was partly responsible, I was sure, but so was Rowan. I’d always known, as much as I wanted to be both parents for Sam, there were areas I failed in. I just hadn’t known what to do about it. The answer turned out to be fall in love with a woman who loved my daughter too.

We’d been cautious about discussing adoption possibilities with Sam, as Rowan didn’t want to force herself on Sam as a mother figure too soon. When we’d returned from our short honeymoon on the other side of the lake, holed up in a beautiful vacation rental on the shore, Sam had surprised us in the best possible way by asking outright if Rowan could adopt her and become her mom. We’d wasted no time in starting the process, much to my wife’s sheer joy.

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