Page 34 of Falling for You
“Yeah, okay.” I shrug, fidgeting under his direct gaze.
“I mean it, Sunshine. I know I’m being a chickenshit with Hunt. But I want you with me. I just need to tell him first. It’s not fair to ask you to be my secret anymore.”
I shrug out of his arms. “I know. We both deserve more. I just… things are complicated now. You need Hunter as a friend. More than you need me in the open. Keep us both in your corner right now. We’ll figure it out.”
He grimaces and I can tell he hasn’t thought of that yet. He hasn’t thought of how telling my family would change their relationship with him in a time he needs them the most. As proven yesterday, his parents won’t be worth a damn.
“We have to get going. We’re going to meet Mom at Emerald Roasters for coffee. A very large coffee.” I toss the diaper bag over my shoulder and walk out the bedroom to go downstairs.
“Emerald Roasters?” he asks, concern lacing his voice.
“Oh. Esther. Margaret. I’m so sorry I didn’t think about them. I’ll call Mom, we’ll just go to her house.” Esther owns Emerald Roasters with her husband, Franklin, and Margaret is Violet’s grandma who owns Sweet Violets next door. They pride themselves on being the eyes and ears of this town. Me walking in to meet Mom with a baby is sure to get their attention. And everyone else’s.
“No. It’s okay. People are going to find out eventually right? She needs to make her grand debut to Balsam Cliffs sometime. Might as well rip the Band-Aid off. But you shouldn’t have to do it alone. I can go and drop you off with your Mom then I’m going to go to the brewery for a bit to get caught up from yesterday.” He places Olivia down on the blanket I set up for her last night for tummy time and runs up the stairs.
“Ok, Emma. You can do this.” I give myself a pep talk to get through this. Nothing like a morning of acting like a little family to remind me of what I’ve lost.
My nerves are getting the best of me the closer we get to Emerald Roasters. My palms are sweaty and tingly. Not only will this be the first time people are seeing Olivia, but also I’m there with them. Having to explain that I’m just the nanny is not going to quell people’s overactive imaginations in this town.
Roman pulls into a parking spot in front of the coffee shop. Both of us pause before jumping out.
I reach over the center console to put my hand on his forearm in support, “This is going to be okay.”
He grunts. “I just don’t want to be the center of the gossip.”
He stares straight ahead at the coffee shop, the people milling around town. This is a very public statement we’re about to make. Emerald Roasters is the spot everyone stops at before going in to work for their coffee and pastry from Margaret.
Taking a deep breath he opens my car door and walks back to open the door to get Olivia out.
I hop out, and wait at the front of the truck with the diaper bag. He loops the car seat on his arm and stands next to me.
“I think I’m ready.” Shutting the door, he comes to join me.
I push the door open and the three of us step through as every single pair of eyes falls to us.
Rome leans down to whisper in my ear, placing his lower hand on my back. “Now or never, Sunshine.”
I step forward, out of his touch. We don’t need anything fueling the rumor mill today. I spot Mom at our corner table and walk over to meet her with Roman following me. He places Olivia’s seat on the table, and stands tall to face Momma.
“Good morning, Mimi K. You taking care of my girls today?” Her eyebrow quirks up at his plural use of girls and so does mine.
“Sure am, sweet pea. Who’s taking care of you today?”
“I’m just running to the brewery to get some work done that I missed last night. I’ll be alright.”
She eyes him, the look only a concerned mother can give. “I’ll send my boy on by at lunchtime to make sure you eat something, okay?”
His back goes rigid. “Sure. I’d be happy to see Hunt.” He gives her a tight smile.
“Well, I gotta go, just wanted to drop these girls off and get the baby rumor started.” This time we get a real smile, he leans down to place a kiss on Olivia’s head. Then he places a kiss on my cheek. No matter how brief it was, I know there are a lot of sets of eyes on us right now. Including Mom’s. Her eyes are wide as she takes us in.
He lifts his lips from my cheek and stops to stare in my eyes. He mouths, “I’m sorry,” before pulling back completely and making quick work of running out to his truck.
“Yeah. Nanny my old ass.” Esther snorts as soon as he’s gone. I whip around to face her, “Don’t worry that pretty little head, I won’t say a word. Only because it’s you though.”
“Esther,” I warn.
“I said I wouldn’t. Sheesh. Don’t need to protect your man from me.” A sly smile takes over her face.
