Page 36 of Shameless
I wished we’d chosen the couch so we might touch, but staying away was smarter. I swallowed. “Questions from friends are easy to answer, but it’ll be time to set things straight in the morning.”
She jumped up and asked, “Can I see your room?”
I followed her, but if she willingly walked into the guest room I’d changed in, with that queen-size bed, I would think of nothing but taking her clothes off. So I pointed her away and asked, “Have you seen the nursery?”
“No,” she said and bounced, clearly not having the same thoughts.
I reminded my dick to keep it under wraps for a cold shower later then opened the nursery door. “It’s bare right now as I wasn’t sure if you’d want to decorate with neutral or gender colors.”
She reached into the white crib and picked up the one stuffed animal there. “The teddy bear is unique.”
I’d had it made that morning. The red banner with a gold crown on its chest was how I remembered Mr. Stuffings. “It reminded me of mine that I dragged everywhere with me until I was twelve or so, when the nanny tossed it.”
She hugged it and said, “Oh no. She did?”
I nodded, heat rising to my face. “Yeah. She was new and seemed nice enough until I finished my lesson and returned to my room, and it was gone.”
Her eyes widened and she pressed a hand on my arm. “That sucks.”
I shrugged and stood taller. “I just thought my son or daughter might like something like that in their life.”
She put it back and said, “I’m sure he or she will.”
The care she took in that moment with the bear was sweet, and I knew she’d be a great mom.
I stepped back and said, “I don’t want you thinking I’m all soft inside.”
She gazed at me and walked back out with me. “I know you aren’t. How often do you work out?” The fact that she was staring at my ass was why I did more squats.
“About four hours on a normal day.”
Then she headed to the light-brown leather couch and sat. “That’s a lot. How did you keep it up while working?”
If I joined her, I would want to kiss her. So I paced and said, “I like the gym, and I had some secrets. It’s a routine that requires focus.”
“And cooking?”
I turned toward her and gazed down. The moon was shining in, and her face was softer. My heart raced, and I took the seat next to her.
“I learned for you,” I said. “At the beginning, when Hope moved in, I mostly ordered food and served that since Charlie knew I wasn’t a baker or a coffee maker.”
She laughed but then asked, “So you’re still bitter that your life changed suddenly?”
I shook my head. I’d have moved out if Hope hadn’t brought Britney home as I’d never intended to crash whenever Charlie got serious with a woman. I took her hand and wished she felt the same. “Not at all, because then I saw you.”
She gazed at me quizzically. “It sounds like you’re in love or something tonight.”
I took my hand back as heat raced up my spine. Then I shrugged to play it off as I said, “It was our wedding day, which was pretty awesome.”
She crossed her legs. “And we’re probably the only newlyweds in the world not hopping right into bed.”
My pulse pounded like I ached to do to her, but I folded my hands in front of me. “I’m happily getting to know you.”
She mirrored my posture. “I feel like I’ve been on this roller coaster ride since I found out I was pregnant. I was happy, single, and successful at my job.”
I turned to face her. “And inviting me over every night for the past month.”
Her nose curled in a half smile. “That was fun, too, which was how I ended up pregnant.”
