Page 25 of Cold Snap
“Well…yeah. I mean, people do that sort of thing all the time, right?”
“Not me.”
“Oh.”
“I also don’t want to keep you a secret or hide you away until you have my baby or keep you from being exactly who you are.”
Well, damn.
“Oh.” There’s not a lot for me to say, I guess. “What about you not wanting to take a risk on everybody knowing we’re together? What about my dad or brother finding out? You can’t get me pregnant and they not know.”
“I already talked to your dad, angel.”
“What?!” My eyes turn into big, round saucers at that information. I try to jump up, but he keeps me right where I'm at. “My dad…?”
“If you want to keep me secret, baby, maybe next time don’t go all over town wearing my volunteer shirt with my name on the back of it.”
“Oh. Shit.”
“Yeah.” He chuckles hard enough to move me against him. “Kind of defeats the purpose.”
“My dad saw?”
“The whole police force and half the volunteer firefighters saw. I'm not sure if he saw you in it or if someone told him, but he definitely knows.”
“What did he say?”
He gives me a look that makes me wonder if he’s going to tell me, but then he starts speaking, and I wonder if I actually want to know.
“He wanted to know what my intentions were towards you.”
“Oh my God, how embarrassing.” I melt into him and hide my face in his chest. “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. If we have a daughter, I would be the same way.”
That has me pulling back so I can take a better look at him.
“If we have a daughter? You’re serious? You…want kids? With me?”
“I want it all with you, angel.”
Chapter Nineteen
Landry
Isee the confusion clouding her vision. I’m ready to clear up anything she needs me to.
“But…what about not risking it? What about your bar? What about now?” She tries to wiggle off my lap again, but I hang on to her tight. “You have to open, Land. You have to…”
“I called in a few favors, and some of the guys are opening tonight.”
“Favors?”
I nod for her, thankful beyond belief that I took so many holiday shifts for the guys who have families.
“I’m not going to lie to you or sugarcoat anything, baby. You scare the hell out of me, and I should leave you the fuck alone.”
She starts shaking her head and opens her mouth to try to say something, but I stop her.
