Page 7 of The Angel and the Agent

He laughed, his thumbs making soothing little circles on her shoulders. “I like you for you, not your apartment.”

She stood on her toes and kissed him, wanting to cement the moment before he saw her crummy little abode. One of his hands slid to her neck, pulling her closer, and he kissed her in return. And then her door opened and they nearly tumbled inside.

“Amelia,” Ethan said. He sniffled, and she realized he was crying. For a moment, her heart stopped. Had something happened to Maggie and Ridge? “I’m so sorry I disappeared, baby. I freaked out, okay? I just needed a minute to think about things.”

“Um…” Amelia said, too shocked for more words.

“Who?” Piedmont said, his head swiveling confusedly between Ethan and Amelia.

“You were right about us; you were right about everything,” Ethan continued, swiping his hand under his nose. “I want to give us a try again, and this time I’m going to do it right. I love you, baby, to the moon and back.”

Finally, she caught on. She gave his chest a little shove and pointed toward the exit. “Out, get out of my apartment, you bungling burglar.”

“What about the baby?” Ethan continued undaunted, pressing his palms to her belly.

She tossed his hands away and gave him another shove. “Go away, Ethan.”

“Ethan Jr. needs a father,” he called, though he took a step away from them.

“I hate you forever,” Amelia called.

“That’s not what your lips said in that pantry,” Ethan returned. He winked at her and blew her a kiss before casually tossing his tuxedo jacket over his shoulder and heading down the stairs.

When he was gone, Piedmont remained. “Friend of yours?” he asked.

She shook her head. “Friend of my brother-in-law. It’s a long story, sort of a running joke between us.”

“Huh,” Piedmont said. “It seemed like you two know each other rather well.”

“No,” she contradicted. “I barely know him, I swear. This weekend was only the second time in my life I’ve ever seen him. It’s just…it’s how SEALs are. I can’t explain their mentality. They do things like that. They’re big into jokes and retaliation.”

“What was he retaliating for?” Piedmont asked.

“I told him he was going prematurely gray and offered to color his hair,” Amelia said.

“Ah, that would do it,” Piedmont said. “Where were we?”

“I was about to invite you inside,” Amelia said, glancing in her apartment. What had Ethan touched? Knowing him, probably everything.

“Hmm, I don’t think that’s quite where we left off,” Piedmont said and, reaching for her, kissed her again.

The next morning when Amelia’s phone rang with an unknown number, she almost didn’t answer. On a hunch, she did.

“How’s the morning sickness, Baby Mama?” Ethan said. His voice sounded gravelly with sleep. Amelia rolled over and looked at her clock.

“Who calls at seven on a Sunday morning?” she asked.

“A guy who wants to make sure you’re sleeping alone,” he said.

She groaned and rubbed her eyes. It wasn’t too long ago she had been in college and a night owl. Truth be told, she still sort of was.

“By your growl, I can tell you’re happy to hear from me. This is me calling you, by the way.”

“You’re six months too late,” she said.

“It’s never too late, Amelia,” he said. “How long have you been seeing Bonvoy?”

“Hmm, let’s see, how many multiple ways can I tell you it’s none of your business?” she said.

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