Page 103 of Sugarloaf Ridge Lies

Something in between a sob and a laugh bursts from my mouth. “I’m not sure. It might be too early. Let’s see.”

Jerry perches on the bench beside me and places one arm around my back, smoothing his other hand over my stomach. I lean my head against his shoulder and steady my breathing, waiting for the next movement. Minutes pass in silence. Nothing.

“Maybe the baby likes the sound of your voice,” I tell him. “Keep talking.”

Jerry sweeps his hand up my side and lifts my chin with his finger, so our eyes meet. “While I’ve been talkin’ about everything else, there’s been somethin’ on the tip of my tongue.”

“Yeah?” I focus on his lips as he shifts from the bench to stand between my legs. My nerve endings tingle as I remember where that sinful mouth was last night, gifting me with the most intense orgasm of my life. I bite my lower lip as heat rushes down south.

Jerry grips my arse and slides me forward. The fly of his jeans presses firmly against the heat between my legs. My skirt bunches up my thighs as I widen for him. He pushes his lips to mine, and for a moment we’re back in the pub carpark beneath the stars, kissing like wannabe lovers.

“I love you,” he says as he breathes against my mouth.

At his admission, a cruel yet satisfying ache centres in my chest.This man. I wrap my arms tight around his shoulders. “Oh, Jerry.” I slide my tongue along the seam of his mouth, seeking entry.

We kiss until we’re both panting for breath. Jerry leans his forehead against mine. “I want us to be a family, Liv.”

What? He does?

“You do?”

He nods.

My vision blurs with unshed tears. “I want that too.”

“I don’t know what the deal is with the father, but—”

“He’s not a part of my life and won’t ever be.”

Jerry’s shoulders stiffen. His eyes search mine with an intensity I’ve never seen from him. “Did he hurt you?”

My shoulders drop and I shake my head. “No.”

“’Cause if he did, I—”

“Jerry,” I say in a firm voice to stop him delving into that topic any further. I slide my hands back through his hair and link my fingers behind his neck.

“Yeah?”

“Honest? You really want to be a family?”

He stares at me intently, and places his hand over his heart. “My oath. I wanna be with you, Liv.”

I swallow hard. We need to be clear on this. It’s all well and good he wants to be with me, but I’m a package deal and my child deserves to have someone in their life who wants to be there for them. My child won’t be a consolation prize. “You want to be a dad? To my child?”

A wide grin splits his face. “I do.”

I mirror his smile. “You’re gonna be a dad.”

“Shit,” he chuckles. “I’m gonna be a dad.”

I smooth my hands up his chest and tug on the collar of his work shirt, drawing him close.

“We’re gonna be a family,” he says, tears in his eyes.

I can hardly believe his words. Jerry wants this as much as I do. I kiss him softly and slide my hands around his back to grip the rounded globes of his arse.

“Yeah.”

---