Page 90 of Mister Cowboy
“You came. I’m glad,” Brecken said over her head.
“You invited him?” Tina said through gritted teeth, stepping in front of them and peering at him over the top of her glasses.
January held back a laugh and looked back at Brecken.
“Mm-hmm,” Brecken murmured and winked. “You’re welcome.”
Stepping farther into the room, he shook hands and made their excuses. January stayed quiet, nodding and smiling even though she was lost in her own thoughts. She suddenly wasn’t so sure returning to his house and falling back under his charms was such a good idea when she hadn’t said everything she needed to say to move forward.
49
Brecken
Fumbling through the front door, he held January’s fragile neck on either side, pulling her to meet his lips. “God, woman, I’ve missed you.”
She pulled away. “I need to say something, and I know it’s terrible timing and I’m running the risk of taking us back to a dark place, but I have to say it.”
“Okay. I’m nervous, but go ahead.”
“You really hurt me, and a part of me is still angry. You pushed me away at the first bump in the road.”
He linked their hands and pulled her against him. “I know. I don’t know what to say except that I’m sorry. I swear I’ll never do anything to hurt you again. I love you. From here on out, I will be a perfect gentleman.”
“You?” She smiled and lifted up on the balls of her feet to place a kiss on his lips. “I hope not.”
He led her through the living room, walking her backward as he navigated to the spot in front of the fireplace that he intended to lay her down and take his sweet time kissing every inch of her body.
Stopping abruptly, January teetered backward before he wrapped an arm around her back and pulled her upright. Staring down at the obstacle that had nearly taken her down, he silently berated himself.
January stepped sideways and glanced down at the large box leaned against the bookshelf. The picture of the crib he’d picked out was taped to the outside.
Fuck. He’d gotten her back to his place, only to slap her in the face with reminders of Nadia.
“Shit. I’m sorry.”
“No,” she said a bit loudly and snapped her head back around to meet his eyes. “It’s fine. You’re going to be a father. If we’re going to do this, then I need to get used to it.”
Looking down at her hands, January’s shoulders slumped forward. “I owe Nadia an apology. I behaved terribly. She didn’t deserve that.”
“Why do you owe her anything?”
“She didn’t tell you?” January bit her bottom lip. “I may have yelled at her for being at dinner with another man while she was pregnant…in the middle of a crowded restaurant. Michael had to drag me out.”
He chuckled, trying to picture January making a scene. “Really?”
She nodded. “I’m sorry. She’s a part of your life, and I need to accept that.”
“Are you really okay with this?” Brecken ran his hands up over her arms, squeezing above the elbow. “I‘ve gone back and forth, trying to figure out what to do, and the only answer I’ve come up with is that I want both. I want to be a good fatherandI want you.”
“You’re going to be a great father,” she said, moving closer and running her hand over his chin. The confidence she had in him made him almost want to believe it himself. He hoped like hell she was right.
“Move in with me.” The words tumbled out of his mouth, and she pulled back with wide eyes.
“What?”
“Move in with me,” he said again, reaching out and squeezing her hand. “I love you. That hasn’t changed.”
“I can’t move in with you. That’s crazy. We’ve only known each other a short time and you’re about to have a baby.”
