Page 81 of Playboy

“Nah, our destination is only a little farther.”

In the car again, he takes my hand like it’s a habit and heads back onto the highway. I open up the text from him and examine the photo of the two of us. Suddenly I can imagine sitting on the edge of a toddler bed, listening to Daniel tell our child all about this trip. I can visualize him with a photo album on his lap, pointing at this exact picture.

It’s the two of us together in that room. Parents. And maybe something more.

I allow that thought to settle in my bones. To take up residence in my heart. To warm me from the inside out.

Forget the promise I made to Noah. I’m doing this for me. For our child. I’m going to open my heart to the possibility that, just maybe, Daniel and I really could be more.

TWENTY-SEVEN

DANIEL

“The moment of truth,”Hannah says as I pull out the key to our room. It’s a legit brass key. Of course it is, because we’re staying at a classic New England Airbnb. While Hannah enjoys luxuries, I can’t help but think the author in her would prefer the feel of this spot over an impersonal hotel room, even at the Ritz.

Aside from the romantic vibe, there’s a forest behind the house with trails that lead to a waterfall. I don’t know whether she’s into hiking, but if not, there’s plenty to do without wandering into the woods.

I quirk a brow her way. “The moment of truth?”

“Yes, in romance novels, there’s a moment when the couple opens the door to their hotel room to discover there’s only—” She stops, brows lifted, so I swing the door open and step aside. As she walks in, her shoulders slump almost imperceptibly. “Two double beds,” she says, her tone a bit softer.

I inspect the room from the doorway. It seems clean and airy. The forest is framed perfectly in a picture window, and the bench built into it is cozy. I was certain she’d love that part. Yet I swear she’s trying to hide her disappointment. “Something wrong with the beds?”

She smiles and shakes her head. “Nope. I’m going to use the bathroom really quick. I’ve had to pee for, like, ten exits.”

I wave her deeper inside, then set our bags on the small benches at the end of each bed. Hands in my pockets, I shuffle to the window and take in the view. When the bathroom door opens, I spin around and pat the bench. “Come join me over here for a minute.”

The second her ass hits the cushion, I pull her closer. For a moment, we just breathe together, holding one another. In this moment, I’m more relaxed than I’ve been in a long fucking time. It’s easier, I’ve noticed, to settle when I’m with her. Sitting quietly with Hannah like this is a gift, doing so with my hands on her, a dream. With my baby inside her? It’s fucking otherworldly.

How did I get so damn lucky?

“You sure the room is okay?” I nuzzle against her neck. “You seemed upset by the two beds.”

Hannah tilts her head up, her blue eyes sparkling with humor. “You noticed that, huh?”

With a hand under her chin, I smooth my thumb over the little divot that feels like it’s just for me. “I notice everything when it comes to you.”

She worries her bottom lip, her soft breath fluttering against my fingers. How is it possible that such a tiny wisp of air could send blood rushing straight through me?

“Don’t look at me like that unless you intend to do something about it,” she practically purrs.

I angle in, my lips brushing hers. “We have nowhere to be and nothing that has to be done for the next three nights.”

“With two beds,” she sags in my arms.

My lips curve up. “You really hate that second bed.”

“I really do.”

“It’s a good thing we’ve got this bench, then.” Without pulling my face from hers, I pat at it.

She sticks out her tongue, and instead of licking her bottom lip, she laps at mine, and fuck does that make my toes curl.

Unable to hold back, I pull her closer and suck her tongue into my mouth.

Fingers digging into my thighs, she matches my fervor. Soft whimpers have me pulling her onto my lap, trying to get her closer.

“God, I’m so horny,” she mumbles against my mouth as she pulls at my shirt.

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