Page 71 of Press Your Luck

He gave a very slight nod toward Porter. "Helping me."

I was surprised that he hadn't said for helping Porter. It was if he recognized that he was the grown-up and that the problems they were having were his to manage. My heart did a slow roll in my chest, followed by a swell of emotion. Pierce was a good man. He was a good father. I had no doubt he would be a good father to our babies as well. I really needed to tell him, even though I was still nervous about his reaction. Just because helikedme, as Porter had said, didn't mean he wanted to pursue something permanent. These babies would bind us together forever, but that didn't mean he wanted to be bound to me.

Another wave of emotion swelled as I realized I wanted to be bound to him. We’d known each other only a couple of months, and for much of that time, we didn't see or talk to each other. But when we were together, the connection was instantaneous. It felt deeper than just the attraction of lust.

Yes, I needed to tell him about the triplets, but now wasn't the appropriate time. Not with Porter here. I would have to wait for a time when we got home and I could see Pierce alone and in private.

We pulled up to the hotel.

"Porter and I are going to go upstairs and rest a little bit,” Pierce said.

I nodded in understanding. Porter was hyped up on sugar and excitement, yet the fatigue showed on his face.

It showed on Pierce's too. "But then you’ll come to dinner with us?"

"What about the beach?" Porter asked.

"I thought we could have dinner out there. We can eat and see the ocean.”

I turned my head toward Porter. "Would you be alright if I tagged along?" Next to me, Pierce tensed, and I got the feeling he didn't want Porter's approval on this one, but he didn't say anything.

Porter shrugged as he turned the page of his book. "Whatever."

We entered the hotel and went up to our rooms together. Pierce let Porter into the room but lingered as I opened my door. "We'll pick you up at about five thirty?"

I smiled. "I'll be ready."

Pierce's gaze drifted to my lips, and I wondered if he wanted to kiss me. I knew I wanted him to kiss me.

"Do I have to sleep?" Porter's voice echoed out the door.

Pierce shook his head. "Duty calls."

I laughed and went into my room. I walked over to the bed and fell back on it, feeling exhausted from the day and yet happy. Happy in a way I hadn't felt in a long time. I'd spent my life chasing a dream to be the best female hockey player, and later, when I had to give that up, to be a great coach in the men's league. And I was doing it, but it didn’t bring the happiness that I was feeling after a day with Pierce and Porter. Not that I was unhappy. I was proud of all my accomplishments. But the constant conflicts and complications meant that I had to always be on edge, always be anticipating something going wrong, which stole the peace that the happiness I had now brought.

I rummaged through my purse and pulled out a picture of the sonogram Dr. Lyman had given me. He had put markers on it to show me the outlines of the babies, and now, after studying it so often, I felt I could see them. I had three little beings growing inside me. I laid the ultrasound picture on my chest and closed my eyes.

I woke with a start at a knocking on my door. I sat up, checking my watch, wondering if I was late. No. It was five, but I didn't have much time to get ready.

I started toward the door when the knock came again. Except it wasn't against the main door. It was against the adjoining door. I turned, heading to it and pulling it open.

Pierce stood in a pair of jeans and a blue button-down shirt. A few buttons at the top were undone, and I had this crazy desire to lean in and kiss him at the base of his neck.

"I got you something at the zoo. But I didn’t want to give it to you with an audience."

I looked over his shoulder, wondering where Porter had gone.

"I sent him out to fill the ice bucket."

I laughed. "What do you need ice for?"

"I don't. I just needed him gone for a couple of minutes." Pierce pulled out a square box from his pocket and handed it to me. "I know it's sort of crazy being with me and Porter, and perhaps you don’t want to memorialize this day, but I wanted to get you a token anyway. Today meant a lot to me. And Porter too."

My eyes welled with tears, which I blamed on hormones. Or maybe it was because I was finally accepting and letting in the fact that Pierce made me feel things I'd never felt before.

I took the box and opened the lid. Inside was a beautiful pendant with an elephant... no, it was two elephants, a mother and baby. I looked up at him. Did he know?

“I know it’s a mother, but I figured it could also be me and Porter.” His cheeks reddened. “It’s silly—”

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