Page 44 of Perfect Fling

Contrarily, she threw up her hands in frustration. “Fine. These seemed the loosest.” She grabbed a pair of black pants from the pile. “I’ll just leave them unbuttoned and hope nobody notices.”

She waited, but he didn’t leave so she could dress, so she started pulling on her pants anyway.

“Erin?”

“Hmm?”

“I meant it earlier when I offered to go with you to talk to your parents.” He’d offered on the drive home from work and she’d put him off, needing time to think. “I know you don’t need my protection while you’re there with your brothers and father, but you don’t have to face your parents alone.”

His words disarmed her irrational—and yes, hormonal—anger over her lack of wardrobe. As usual when dealing with Cole, her emotions ran the gamut from being frustrated to being thrown completely by his kindness and concern.

“Talk about facing a dad with a shotgun.” She couldn’t help but tease him.

He grimaced, and she got serious. “I appreciate you being willing to step up,” she said softly, admiring his courage in his willingness to face her father, the police chief. She drew a deep breath before explaining her decision to go alone. “I just think since we’re not a couple, this is something I need to do on my own.”

Erin might want them to be one, she might be planning to use everything in her arsenal to get him to come around and see things her way, but she wouldn’t set her parents up for disappointment by showing up with Cole to announce her pregnancy. Not when the reality was that she’d be mostly doing this alone.

“Fine,” he bit out, obviously hurt by her answer.

Erin understood, but she hadn’t made her choice lightly. In fact, she’d talked it over with Sam, who so far had been the more rational brother to deal with, and he’d agreed.

Cole stalked to the door and turned, bracing a hand on the frame. “Just come on down when you’re ready. I’ll drop you at your folks’ before I head over to Joe’s. You can ring me when you’re done and I’ll get you on the way home.”

Erin bit down on her lower lip, knowing she was about to dig the knife in deeper. “Umm, my brother called a little while ago. He offered to pick me up and bring me home. I figured I’d give you a break from babysitting me and said yes.”

Cole’s hand tightened on the doorframe. “Fucking Mike.”

Erin winced. “Actually, it was Sam.” She just hadn’t had a chance to tell Cole he was off duty before her clothing dilemma sidetracked her.

He shrugged as if he didn’t care, but she knew the damage was done.

“I’ll be at Joe’s, enjoying my break. Make sure you call or text when you’re on your way back, and I’ll meet you here.” He walked out, his footsteps ringing as he hit the hall, leaving Erin with a stomachache and a tiny hole in her heart.

***

It was sogood to have her parents back and the whole family in one place. Sam, Mike and Cara, and Erin were all at the house. Erin didn’t realize how much she’d missed her folks until she found herself wrapped in their welcoming embrace. Suddenly the stress of her life caved in on her, and she burst into tears.

Ella Marsden stepped back and braced her hand on Erin’s shoulders. “I’m here now.” She looked over Erin’s shoulder to Simon, Mike, and Sam. “We’ll be back. You all catch up without us.” Then taking Erin’s hand, Ella led her to the kitchen, her mother’s domain and sanctuary.

“You know what that’s about?” Erin heard her father ask her brothers.

She cringed, not knowing what they’d reveal, but after her emotional outburst, she figuredeverythingwas a fair guess.

“What’s going on?” her mother asked.

Erin looked at her mom, who appeared healthy and happy. The wavy auburn hair she’d shared with Erin framed her face. If possible, the stress of Simon’s cancer last year had dissipated, thanks to their overdue vacation, and Erin was pleased.

“I guess you wouldn’t rather tell me about your trip?” she asked, hoping to stall the inevitable.

Her mother shot her a look that, when Erin and her brothers were kids, had meantTalk now, or else.

“Okay.” Erin glanced down at her hands, which she’d begun twisting together. “The night of Mike’s wedding, I was feeling... out of sorts.”

“Lonely,” Ella said softly.

Eyes filling again, Erin nodded. “It seemed like everyone around me was finding that special someone. I guess I was feeling sorry for myself, so I stopped at Joe’s on the way home, and... Cole Sanders was there.”

Ella’s face remained understanding just as she kept silent, letting Erin tell the story at her own speed.

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