Page 39 of Stepping Into Tomorrow

The engine started with a rumble. His sister drove down the gravel driveway. Bella glanced his way before averting her eyes to the road ahead.

This was ridiculous. They couldn’t keep avoiding a conversation. They needed to talk without interruptions. After the event, he’d insist they make time to discuss everything. Because like it or not, he was the father of the child. And he’d be damned if he sat on the sidelines.

19

NASH

Nash walked around the edge of Green Park. Most of the tables with food and wares from local artisans and farmers were set up in the center. Hundreds of people milled about, with families on picnic blankets and children running around the playground. Everyone was laughing and smiling, having a good time. Music filtered into the park from The Sirens, a local band that had made it big. Their usual backlist included rock and alternative songs, but today they played family-friendly covers in a mix of genres.

“Good day for the barbecue,” Bently, sheriff of Shattered Cove, and Anthony’s foster dad, said.

Nash nodded, halting.

“Didn’t think I’d see you here,” Bently added.

Nash shrugged. “Figured I’d come check it out for once.”

“Anthony is really enjoying working for you. Thanks again for giving him a chance,” Bently added.

Nash shrugged. “He’s a hard worker and a smart kid.” Anthony also didn’t mind Nash’s silence, or grumbly attitude.

“He is,” Bently agreed.

“The other kids nearby?” Nash asked to be polite.

Bently smiled. “Gage is somewhere around here. I’m sure Anthony dragged him away from his book long enough to get some fried Oreos. Amara was by the band with her friend Lyric. That boy is like a shadow to her.”

“Sounds like you and Belle have your hands full.”

“Definitely. And we might have another placement soon. Someone from the Hope Facility.”

“Bent?” his wife called from the picnic tables where the rest of the Stone and Evans family was set up.

“Better go. Enjoy the rest of your day.” Bently waved goodbye before he headed off.

Nash headed towards the cluster of activity near the tables for no other reason than he wanted to lay eyes on Bella and see if she was okay. She’d been so sick the other day. Maybe she could use a ginger tea? Or some crackers? Maybe that would work as a peace offering. He bought a bottle of ginger soda from one of the vendors and walked towards the tent his parents had set up. They’d know where she was.

A few people eyed him, gazes full of pity or accusation. This was why he avoided the townsfolk. He’d move if he could, but that would destroy his mother.

The floral scent of flowers wafted over him as he passed Lily’s Flower Shop’s table. The last time he’d bought a woman flowers was . . . the night he’d proposed to Ana. Nash pushed the memory away. A sick feeling churned in his gut. What if he couldn’t protect Bella and the baby? What if something happened? The sheer amount of things that could go wrong that he had no control over spun through his mind. He pushed forward on unsteady feet, keeping his head down as his heart raced.

“Oh, come on! You can do better than that,” Bella’s voice teased from his right. His attention darted in the same direction, and he blinked. Surely he was seeing things. That was not the woman carrying his baby in the dunking booth. She wouldn’t be that reckless.

Bella sat a good few feet above the water, in a black one-piece swimsuit that pushed her breasts together and showed off her sexy thick thighs. A crowd had gathered around the booth. Some young kid pulled back his arm to throw the ball at the target that would send her plunging into the water below. But what if something malfunctioned and a piece of wood struck her stomach? What if she fell wrong? What if . . .?

He ran over to the dunking booth. His body heated with anger, tense and wired with adrenaline.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he boomed.

Bella jerked, mouth thinning as she crossed her arms, which only served to enhance her luscious cleavage. She glared at him. “What I do is none of your business.”

“The hell it isn’t!” Nash stalked around to the back of the tank and ripped the door open, wrapping his arm carefully around her waist and pulling her out.

“Bájame, cabrón!” Bella’s small fists hit his back with surprising strength before he set her on her feet.

“Why can’t you just listen to me?” Nash growled.

She stood straight, shoving him away, tipping her chin in defiance. “Why can’t you stay away from me?”

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