Page 236 of Mountain Grump

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But…

I bite down on my lip, glad no one but Quackers can see me as my cheeks flush. Because a profession I’d never really considered before might also be an option.

The duck paddles in place, looking at me.

“What do you think? Would I be an okay mom?”

Quackers flaps her wings.

I toss her a pea.

I’ve never given kids too much thought. I’ve never been in a serious enough relationship to have the conversation with anyone before. But I’ve thought about it enough to know that I didn’t want to be single and pregnant, so I’ve always been on birth control.

But…

I tap my toes on the ground a little faster.

Ethan and I are new, even if we’re technically married. But it still feels serious.

Like it’s getting serious.

I think about Ethan beating up my cousin yesterday.

Feels like maybe we’re already serious.

And it’s probably too soon to talk to him about kids. But maybe… I could be a stay-at-home mom.

Maybe.

One day.

I blow out a breath, and Quackers snaps her beak.

“I know, I know.” I toss her two peas. “I’m getting ahead of myself.”

But thinking about Ethan makes me think about yesterday.

Freaking yesterday.

Ethan was… perfect.

His timing.

His words.

The way he looked while punching my stupid cousin in the face.

My mouth pulls into a smile.

Ethan was so perfect, handled it so perfectly, that I can sit out here today, feet away from where Ralph put his hands on my window, and smile.

Ethan did it all so perfectly that I’m not at all worried about Ralph coming back.

First, he probably spent yesterday in the hospital because I’m pretty sure his wrist is broken. It’s also probable that his face is broken.

Second, Ethan looked intimidating as hell swinging that axe around.

Hot. But intimidating.

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