Page 40 of Unexpected Forever
It’s a side of Charley I haven’t seen before. Professional Charley is hot as fuck.
She sits in the chair across from me and lets out a sigh. “Before you say anything, I want to make it clear with you that I don’t expect anything from you. I told you because you have the right to know as the father. But I also understand the deal.”
I raise a brow, not liking where this train of thought is going. “The deal?”
“It was a onetime thing. We made no promises and that’s fine.”
My blood pressure rises with the thought that she’d think I want nothing to do with my child.
Well, it isn’t like you know each other very well, my conscience helpfully points out.
Before I can respond, the doorbell rings.
She growls under her breath and stomps over to open the door, where her brothers Noah and Del stand on the threshold.
Just fucking perfect.
I run a shaky hand through my hair, reining in my temper.
“What are y’all doing here?” she asks, her frown deepening.
“Is that any way to talk to your landlord?” Del walks in first, grinning at his sister.
His gaze falls on me and his head pops back. “Oh, hey, Nate. You must be the one driving the monster SUV out front. Didn’t know you were in town.”
Setting aside my nerves, I put on my game face and meet him halfway across the room, where we shake hands. “Just got in yesterday. Good to see you again.”
I nod to Noah, sliding my hands in the front pocket of my jeans. “Hey, Noah. How’s it going?”
He nods back, a slight smile on his lips, but his eyes are watchful. I know the look of a protective brother. “Good, thanks.”
The front door slams. “Seriously, why are y’all here?” Charley asks, standing between me and her brothers.
The two of them look at each with wary expressions before looking back at Charley. “Got some bad news, squirt,” Noah says.
“Don’t call me…” Charley rubs her temples. “Never mind. What’s the bad news? Are you raising my rent?”
“No, but remember how we had that inspector come out to check all of our units?”
Charley crosses her arms. “Yeah, so?”
Del sighs. “He found mold here. The kind where you shouldn’t be living here and we’ll need to make repairs before you move back in.”
Hell no, she’s not staying here while she’s pregnant with my baby.
Her arms fall to her sides. “H-how long is that going to take?”
Noah shrugs. “We don’t know yet. We need to get a mold remediation company out here and see what we’re dealing with. Could be a few days. Could be several weeks.”
The answer hangs in the air when the doorbell peals again.
“What is this, Grand Central fucking Station?” Charley says, throwing up her hands.
The thoughts I’ve had about finding a place in Madison Ridge are solidifying by the minute. I need to pick one of the rentals and—
I tune back in just in time to find Aidan stalking over to me, in uniform, a murderous look in his eyes.
Oh shit. He knows.
