Page 3 of Buried

Amber set my drink in front of me, and I swallowed thickly, knowing I couldn’t have alcohol anymore. Not for another six months, at least. Longer if I decided to breastfeed. Hadn’t thought that far into the future yet.

“Not going to drink your drink, darlin’?” River asked me, his blue eyes intent on the side of my face as I stared at the vodka in front of me.

I couldn’t look at him. He would see right through me. I shook my head at him, still staring at that fucking drink. “Not much of a drinker anymore,” I lied, pushing the glass away from me.

He gripped my chin and turned my head to face him. My bottom lip trembled under his scrutinizing gaze. “You’re nervous,” he murmured, running his rough thumb over my cheek, soothing me whether he realized it or not. “Why?”

Panic clawed at my throat. “I—I need to get back to work,” I stammered. I jumped up from the seat, needing away from him before he uncovered my secret. I wasn’t ready to tell him.

I wasn’t ready to tell River that he was going to be a father.

I felt his eyes on me as I rushed back behind the bar, but I did my damnest to avoid his table for the rest of the night.

I released a sigh full of exhaustion as I pushed my key into the lock on my apartment door, letting myself in. I dropped my keys on the kitchen counter and toed off my shoes before I strode into my living room, jumping in fright when I saw River sitting on my plain, brown, leather couch, the lamp on beside it, casting his rugged features in an eerie shadow. My hand slammed over my heart, which was beating so hard, I feared it was trying to climb up my fucking throat.

“You nearly gave me a heart attack,” I snapped at him, swallowing nausea. “What are you doing here?” Anger. I needed to be angry. “Wait, on second thought, how did you know where I live and how thefuckdid you get in my apartment?” I heatedly asked.

River shrugged and stood up from my couch. “I have access to all of my employee records.” I swallowed nervously. This man was always one step ahead. “And since you were avoiding me all night, I decided this would be the best way to talk to you. You’ve never done well with the element of surprise, darlin’.” Damn him for knowing me so well. “And your lock is extremely easy to pick, which needs to be changed.” I frowned at him. I never had to worry about someone breaking in until he did. “As for why I’mhere… well darlin’, I wasn’t finished talking to you.” He pulled my ultrasound pictures out of his pocket and tossed them onto the coffee table. I pressed my hand to my belly, tears burning at the backs of my eyes, a lump building in my throat. “Especially not now. We need to talk about this.”

“River…” I started, my voice trembling as tears welled in my eyes and spilled over onto my cheeks. I stared up at the man in front of me, terrified of his reaction. I hadn’t wanted him to find out this way.

“Hey, hey,” he soothed. He strode around the coffee table and wrapped his muscular arms around me, his hand resting on the back of my head, smoothing over my hair as he held me to him. “There’s no reason to get upset. I’m not going to yell at you. I just want to talk. That’s all.”

“How are you not pissed at me right now?” I tilted my head back to look up at him.

He shook his head at me, a frown on his handsome features. “Have you ever really known me to lose my cool with you, darlin’, even when you do dumb shit?” I shook my head, my cheeks flushing. “I’m not Tristan, and I’m not Joey. You need to remember that.”

“I know,” I whispered as I finally wrapped my arms around him and leaned my forehead on his chest, soaking in everything that was River—his warmth, his strength… fuck, his safety.

“I missed you, darlin’.” I slid my hands under his cut, and his body shuddered against mine. “Shocked the fuck out of me to see you serving drinks in my bar.”

I laughed softly. “Imagine my shock when I realized you were the owner,” I retorted, feeling much calmer now.

He shrugged. “When I came back home, my dad gave me the president cut. He was ready to step down. Said he always knew I’d make my way back home.”

“You were a biker baby?” I asked, looking up at him.

He nodded. “Through and through. Born and raised to be one.”

I yawned as I rested my head back on his chest. Suddenly, he hooked his arm under my knees, making me shriek in shock and tightly wrap my arms around his neck when he began striding down the hall to my bedroom. “River, what are you doing?!” I exclaimed.

He laughed softly, his chest vibrating against me as he did so. “Taking you to bed so you can get some sleep.”

I sighed softly, resting my head on his shoulder. “Will you stay?” I asked him quietly.

“For as long as you’ll let me,” he promised. He laid me on the bed, and then, he pushed my shirt up, pressing a tender kiss to my belly. I sobbed at the tender moment, unable to help myself. My pregnancy was making me so fucking emotional.

River moved over me, his lips molding to mine. I moaned softly, my hands coming up to cup his face. He pulled back a bit to look down at me. “I never wanted kids, Adelaide, but as long as you’ll let me be here, I’ll be one of the best fucking dads to ever live on this earth,” he promised.

A trembling smile tilted my lips. “I would hope so, considering this baby is yours,” I said quietly.

He leaned down to kiss me again, not shocked to hear the news. More than likely, he’d already figured it out. I cupped his cheek and pressed my hand over the steady beat of his heart. Anothersmall smile pulled at my lips. Joey’s words rang in the back of my head.

Let him love you, pretty girl.

“Stay with me,” I begged River.

He turned his head and pressed a tender kiss to my palm. “I’ll stay as long as you’ll have me,” he swore.

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