Page 64 of Stepping Into Tomorrow

Eli did as instructed.

“Good job. You can add chef to your resume soon,” Nash encouraged.

The corners of Eli’s mouth turned up. Nash’s skin prickled with awareness. He glanced up and met Bella’s attentive gaze from the small table in the attached dining area.

“I have a soccer game on Saturday,” Eli supplied.

Nash didn’t break their staring match as he replied, “Oh yeah?”

Bella’s focus dropped to the mug of tea in her hands before she took a sip.

“Yes.”

“Roman likes soccer. You should play him sometime.” Nash scratched his chin, his fingers running over the coarse hairs of his beard. Or would she say no and buy a house in town with a shitty backyard by the street and have Phillip stay over? His gut churned at the thought.

“Okay,” Eli said.

“I’ll let him know.” Nash turned back to the food as pain shot up his neck. He flinched, his hand going to the spot to squeeze it.

“You know there is a cute boutique in the city that sells maternity clothes. I was going to take a trip this weekend or next to Dark Cove,” Nova said.

A puff of air left Bella’s nose, like the beginning of a laugh not followed through. “Is that your way of telling me I resemble a beached whale?”

A whale? Bella was anything but. Her curves were just as delicious as they had been the first time he’d laid eyes on her—even more so now. She grew more beautiful by the day. It was one reason he limited how much time he spent with her—it was torture to be so close to her, to know what she felt like—tasted like—and not be able to touch her. He tried not to notice, but it was impossible, especially as her outfits grew tighter. Her breasts were fuller, and her belly rounder. And that ass. He bit his lip to stifle a groan and focused on the cooking food before he got a boner in front of everyone. And somehow I’m supposed to live with her. He’d have to jack off even more than he was now to keep his cock under control. But the alternative was her living alone, unprotected. Not happening.

“Girl, please. You know you’re gorgeous. But I have noticed things seem a bit tight. I mean, what fun is being pregnant if you’re not going to get a whole new wardrobe out of it?” Nova laughed.

Nash grabbed a plate for Eli to put the fish on, flicking his attention to Bella. She smiled at Nova, eyes bright. Fucking ray of sunshine. I’m so fucked.

“I guess I could use a few things,” Bella conceded.

Nash plated dinner with Eli’s help, bringing everyone’s dishes to his sister’s small table. They all took a seat.

“This looks amazing.” Bella smiled.

“Eli did a great job.” Nash patted the boy’s shoulder, the muscle in his neck protesting with the movement.

The boy picked up his fork and dug in.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you guys, we have a yearly thing we do together when apples are in season as a family tradition. Apple picking, bonfire, hot cider, and donuts. It’s actually a lot of fun. Do you think you’d be up for coming with us? It’s next weekend.” Nova took a bite of her sautéed broccoli.

“That sounds fun. What do you say, Eli? We can pick some apples and make apple crisp?” Bella lifted her fork to her lips. There was something about feeding a woman something he’d made—or helped make. Knowing he’d provided for her and the baby in some small way made him feel useful.

Eli nodded. “Yes.”

Nash dug into his food, watching Bella out of the corner of his eye. His palm slid over the sore spot on his neck, squeezing and attempting to massage the kink out. That was the thing about his late thirties—all of a sudden, he had aches and pains from doing the most menial things. Turning his head or sleeping wrong could land him in pain. He felt nothing like the teen he’d been, sleeping under the stars with only a sleeping bag, bright eyed and bushy tailed in the morning.

“When do you find out if I’m getting a niece or nephew?” Nova asked.

Bella swallowed as Nova’s gaze volleyed between the two of them. “Next month. There was an emergency with another patient when we went in for our last ultrasound and the tech was called away, so we didn’t get to find out yet.”

Less than thirty days and he’d know if he was having a son or a daughter. He’d seen that little profile on the ultrasound at the second to last visit and it had stolen his breath. He’d always thought love at first sight was bullshit. But all he’d glimpsed was a picture, and he was head over heels for that baby.

Bella laughed at something Nova said before her eyes widened and she gasped, grabbing her belly.

Nash stood so abruptly his chair toppled over. He darted over to her side of the table, every muscle tense. His heart pounded in his ears. “What is it? Is it the baby? Are you okay? Is something wrong?”

Bella looked over at him, a smile appearing on her gorgeous round face. “Yeah. Sorry. I just felt the baby move and it surprised me. It was a pretty big flutter. Must have liked your and Eli’s cooking.”

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