Page 21 of Just a Little Promise

He knew enough about her recent past to understand how badly she’d been hurt by her ex, how cautious she was now with men, even if he still didn’t know the details of what had happened. But if adhering to her conditions allowed him to build a foundation of trust and let her slowly lower those walls, then he’d bide his time, be patient, and agree to whatever she wanted... while systematically finding his own way to strip away her reserve and ensure she knew that he was invested in this relationship one hundred percent. For the baby they created together but also for Skye.

While he was freaking excited about the possibility of being a dad, the thought of having a real future with Skye had him determined to barrel through her defenses and prove to her that he was a man she could depend on in every aspect of her life.

He parked his car and once inside the lobby of the complex, he checked in with the doorman, who allowed him access to the elevator since Skye had added Tripp to her approved guest list. He pushed the button for the tenth floor, and once he arrived on her level he found her apartment and knocked on the door.

He heard her on the other side, looking through the peep hole then releasing the lock to let him in. The door opened, and Skye greeted him with a genuinely happy smile. She was wearing a cute, casual dress and a pair of sandals, and part of her wavy hair was clipped back, displaying her delicate features, pretty blue eyes, and pink glossy lips. She wore minimal make-up compared to the glamour of last night’s charity event, but he honestly preferred this natural, fresh-faced version of Skye the most.

“Come on in,” she said, waving a hand inside. “You’re right on time. I just took dinner out of the oven.”

It took all his control to resist the urge to greet her with a kiss—as if they were a true and romantic couple—and instead walked past her and into her place without touching her at all. The front living area was an open concept design, small but cozy, and decorated in a way that was warm and inviting.

He followed her into the kitchen, inhaling the scent of something savory and delicious while she headed to the stove top and served up what looked like baked chicken parmesan and a side of sauteed vegetables.

“What can I do to help?” he asked.

“There’s a bottle of wine on the table,” she said, nodding her head toward the small dinette that already had two place settings. “You can pour us each a glass.”

Grabbing the chilled bottle of pinot noir, he did as Skye asked while she finished plating their meals then brought the dishes to the table. They sat down and started to eat. He didn’t pressure her for the discussion he knew would come eventually, and instead just enjoyed her company, their relaxed, easy conversation, and the fantastic dinner she’d made.

Tripp could easily imagine that this is what it would be like to come home to Skye every night after work, and he wanted that intimacy with her so badly the thought caused a wistful pang in his chest.

When they were finished, she insisted he go and sit in the living room while she cleaned up and put away leftovers. Seeing the slight bit of nervousness in her eyes over the discussion ahead, he refilled both of their wine glasses and brought them with him, then made himself comfortable on the couch to wait for her.

He smiled when he caught sight of theWhat to Expect Before You’re Expectingpaperback on the coffee table, and reached for the hefty book to take a look inside. He skimmed through the six hundred plus pages, shocked to see how much information was packed into the volume—everything from getting into baby making shape, to fertility friendly eating, to how to pinpoint ovulation. There were plenty of pages dog-eared, mostly dealing with fertility treatments and the insemination process, which she no longer had to worry about.

He found himself perusing chapter seven more thoroughly, which was all about baby-making sex, from timing to positions to logistics, and how to keep it sexy and fun. As he’d told her last night at the charity event, Tripp didn’t think they’d have any issues with that part of the process.

When Skye finally joined him fifteen minutes later, settling on the sofa beside him, he set the book back down and retrieved a folded piece of paper from his wallet, handing it over to her. “This is for you.”

She opened the paper, a puzzled look crossing her features as she glanced at the report he’d printed out earlier that day from his primary doctor’s patient portal. “What is this?”

“My latest physical and blood tests results showing that I’m in good health and clean,” he said, wanting to give her that peace of mind. “And you’re the only woman I’ve been with since I had this blood test.”

She looked at the date on the document and her eyes widened in surprise. “Over four months ago?”

He shrugged. “What can I say? I’m all about quality over quantity these days when it comes to sex. I’ve only slept with two people since my last relationship ended nine months ago, and one of them was you.”

She looked surprisingly... relieved. “Thank you for sharing this.”

“Of course.” He picked up both of their wine glasses from the coffee table and handed Skye hers. “I want you to know how seriously I’m taking this, and the last thing I’d ever do is put you at risk in any way.”

“I appreciate that.” She took a drink of her wine and settled back against the sofa cushions. “So, I’ve already done the fertility testing on my end since I was planning on getting inseminated, and my hormone levels and ovarian reserve for my egg supply are in the high range for fertility.” She paused a moment, worrying on her bottom lip. “I know this is a lot to ask, but I’d like for you to get a semen analysis, just to make sure your sperm count is good and we’re not wasting our time trying to get pregnant the old fashion way if there are any potential issues.”

He hated the way “wasting our time” sounded, but understood her concern. It was best to know upfront that both of their reproductive systems were in optimal health—or that he wasn’t shooting blanks, God forbid—even if the last thing he wanted to do was masturbate and ejaculate into a cup.

“Sure,” he said with a nod. “I can get it done tomorrow so we can have the results in a few days.”

She tipped her head to the side, surprise flickering in her eyes. “That’s a quick turnaround.”

He shrugged. “I just need a doctor other than myself to order the lab test, which Hudson or Brett can submit for me, even if that means enduring their shit for what the semen analysis process entails.”

She laughed lightly. “Yeah, sorry about that,” she said, sounding more amused than contrite.

“So, let’s talk about these rules of yours,” he said, wanting to know what restrictions he was up against.

She exhaled a deep breath. “I don’t want to blur the lines of what we’re doing here, which is trying to get me pregnant. And the only way to do that is to only have intercourse to make a baby, when I’m ovulating.”

Disappointment rushed through him. The fact that she’d ovulate only once a month meant he only had limited physical time with her. And it wasn’t about having sex, but wanting them to get closer emotionally.

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