Page 12 of Curves and Cradles

I puff out a breath and squeeze my eyes closed. “How did you find me?”

“I’m a SEAL, babe. I have my ways.” He gives me a crooked grin. “Also, I asked at the bakery in town when I stopped in for a coffee. They said that school hadn’t started yet, but you’d likely be in your classroom setting things up.”

I nod. “Gotta love a small town. Everyone always knows where I am.”

“If it makes you feel any better, there were no other cars in the parking lot when I got here.”

“Oh, I know we’re alone. I’m the only one who comes in this time of the summer.” I bite my lip. I should tell him—come right out and tell him. But the words won’t come. And… does it matter? I’ll likely never see him when he leaves town again. Or maybe he’ll come back in another two years. Humiliation and shame heat my skin. What was I thinking?

“I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. I’d like to see you again. Take you out on a real date where I don’t maul you like a horny Viking.”

“Yeah, I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” I jot down my address on a sticky note and hand it to him. “We do need to talk, but I have to go.”

I grab my purse and practically sprint from my room. I don’t look back. I don’t pass GO or collect two hundred dollars.

Ten minutes later, I’m in my car on the way home. I hit Bluetooth to call Dani.

“Hey, bitch,” Dani says.

“Shit, shit, shit,” I curse, banging my head on the steering wheel as I wait at the stop light.

“Uh-oh. Last time you did that, it was about hot Navy SEAL guy.”

I wince. “Yep. He’s back.”

“What did he say about the baby?”

“Nothing. I didn’t tell him. I rode him like a cheap carnival ride instead. In my classroom.” I drop my head onto the steering wheel again. “What’s wrong with me?”

The car behind me honks its horn, so I look up and drive through the intersection. Thankfully I don’t live far from the school.

“There’s nothing wrong with you. He’s the father of your child and the hottest sex you’ve ever had.” Dani chuckles. “And it’s been a while. You obviously needed some.”

“Oh, I needed some. I’d already decided to start ordering my batteries online because I’m pretty sure the clerks at Target are onto me.” I pull into my driveway and kill the engine. “He’s the only man I’ve ever been with who makes me feel sexy.”

“Blake didn’t?”

“Nope. Most times, we did it in the dark, half-dressed. And not the kind of half-dressed sex you have because you’re too damn impatient to wait until you’re naked...no, this was intentional. We left our shirts on because he wasn’t so much a boob guy.”

“How’s he straight and not a boob guy? Besides, you have great boobs.”

“Thanks, babe.”

“You’re going to tell him, though, right?”

“Yeah. I just needed to get out of there and think. I gave him my address and told him to come by sometime. I’ll tell him there.”

“You need to tell him.”

“I know, I know. Listen, I’m home and gotta get inside to see my girl. We’ll chat later.”

“Sure. And Jane? I mean it. You need to tell him about Stella. He has a right to know.”

I blow out a breath. “I know.”

And I will.

chaptereight

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