Harper’s eyes come to mine, something in the golden-green depths that has my pulse pounding through my veins.
Fuck.
If Shannon, who’s living in her own reality (the star of that reality being one person, and one person only—Shannon) had noticed, who else had?
Fuck.
“But this—” Shannon exhales sharply and I look up as she spins toward me, paces back. “The birthday party was already almost too much. I let it slide because you’re good in bed and you’re clearly a nice guy, so I didn’t want to hurt your feelings. But I don't do serious. I don’t do domesticity. And I definitely don’t do parenthood. I made that clear the first night?—”
She had.
It’s why we worked…kind of.
Maybe it’s more accurate to say it’s why she was safe when Harper is so fucking dangerous.
But I can’t run from what’s between us anymore.
We’re having a baby, and I can’t—can’t—fuck that up.
“Shannon,” I say. “We should just?—”
“And, honestly? I don't care how good you are in bed, I'm not cut out to be a mom—not today, not tomorrow, not ever. So just…lose my number, yeah?” She marches away then stops, turns back again, eyes narrowing. “Oh, and I’m keeping the purse.”
Then she’s sweeping out of the back yard, pausing only to take the coat Luna wordlessly holds out.
Silence falls.
For as long as Smitty can keep it, that is. “Um, did I hear that part right?”
“Connor,” Kylie says in a soothing voice. “Let’s give them a moment.”
“You knew didn’t you, little bird?” he accuses softly.
“Honey—”
He sighs, his gaze flicking to Luna’s. “You too?”
She holds his stare, challenge in every line of her body. “Not my story to share.”
A scowl…and then it’s my turn to withstand the wrath of the big, burly defenseman’s glare.
“We’re figuring it out,” I tell him.
“By fucking another woman?” he asks coldly.
I flinch, though truthfully it’s been weeks since Shannon and I?—
“We’re figuring it out by ourselves,” I counter. “So go away.”
“That’s fucking rude,” he mutters, but there’s humor in his eyes as he says it.
And for the record, he doesn’t move.
Christ.
Nosy, pushy, matchmaking pains in the asses.
Ignoring the throb in my temple that’s returned with a vengeance, I turn back to Harper and settle my hand on her arm. “Are you feeling better?”
