Page 24 of Menace

“I’ll send them to you, and no, I don’t know. Maybe next time I have a check-up I’ll ask, I don’t know, I sort of want it to be a surprise but we’ll see.”

On the one hand I wanted to know but on the other I wanted it to be a surprise, just the way his or her arrival inside me had been a surprise.

“Sweetheart, don’t do it if you don’t feel it. Let it be the surprise life laid in your lap. I’ll make sure we have enough shit for either sex. Fuck, Delene is going to be beside herself when she finds out.” He nodded towards where my little bump was hidden.

“Now,showme.”

It was an order. He wasn’t asking.

My tablet was sitting in a little stand on my dressing table, so all I had to do was stand and lift the big t-shirt I was wearing. I watched as his hand covered the bottom half of his face and his brown eyes started glistening. Blinking a couple of times he smiled. It was the most beautiful smile.

“That is so fucking beautiful, sweetheart. Thank you for sharing it with me, for letting me see you like this. It’s a fucking honour to be so trusted. When is your due date?”

My own eyes were burning with unshed tears and I had to swallow before I could answer him.

“The twenty fourth of September.” I grinned. “It’s a little funny because it’s Human Rights day.”

The grin faded slowly.

“I’m so blessed to have you and Delene in my life, Rider. Thank you for seeing me, the real me, for being my friend and helping me find my way. Without you I would have been lost and alone. Thank you for everything, but mostly, thank you for accepting me and now my baby as well. I love you from the bottom of my heart.”

He smiled, warm and beautiful.

“I love you too, Harper. Remember my offer, okay? All you need to do is say the word and you and the little one will have a home with Delene and me. And remember, I’ll be there, right beside you, holding your hand, you have my word.” He blew out a breath. “Now I’m going to say bye before this call becomes a snotfest. Love you and talk to you soon.”

“Love you and my squirrel. Talk to you soon.”

And then he was gone and I had to blink and blink and blink not to burst into tears.

Sitting in my bed with the cushions stacked behind my back I once again went over all we had spoken about. I felt so much better now that I’ve let him into all my secrets. It felt like it had strengthened our friendship, made it more somehow, now that I wasn’t hiding a large part of myself from him any longer.

I thought about his offer. An offer that had taken my breath away because of its absolute generosity.

It once again confirmed that Rider De Ridder was a man in a million. If ever he decided to open his heart again I was going to be right there, making sure the woman he let in was worthy of him and my squirrel. I wasn’t going to allow some bitch to take advantage of his good heart. Not on my watch.

My friend was still grieving Penny and their baby even though they had passed away almost three years ago. Not that I knew anything about grief or how long it was supposed to last. In my mind it lasted as long as the heart wanted it to last, and Rider’s heart was still broken. But I wonder if he knew how big of a step forward he had taken tonight by offering me what he did. A year ago he would never have made the offer. I prayed he healed enough to let more people in.

He was a good man who deserved a good life.

A life with a woman who would be a mother to Delene and any other children they decided to have.

He was the type of man who raised good humans, and we always needed more of them.

I was just starting to slide down in my bed and reaching for the light when there was a soft knock and my door opened.

Asa walked in without saying a word and sat down on the side of my bed.

“I just had a call from Hawk Walker. He offered you a safe place at their compound.”

Dropping my head back against my cushions I groaned.

“By your reaction I take it you’re not surprised.”

He patted my leg reassuringly.

I sat up with a sigh.

“I took your advice and told Rider the truth. All of it. He offered us a place in his home. I turned him down. I didn’t expect him to go to Hawk.”

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