No, she didn’t. Nor did she have any yogurt or walnuts. The bread was moldy, too, so I picked up another loaf. “I slipped out this morning while you were still sleeping.”
“Oh, Connor.” Rosanna’s face softens as she wakes up a bit more. “You didn’t have to do that, but thank you.”
Yes, I did, but she doesn’t know why yet. “It wasn’t any trouble. Now, eat up.”
Silence reigns for a few moments as we eat. I can almost see her humanity returning little by little with every bite. BetSilasnever fixed her breakfast. No, he probably had her waiting on him hand and foot.
Or maybe not, I muse as I watch her shovel her food into that gorgeous mouth. Maybe she did for a while, but she doesn’t seem to be the sort of person to put up with anyone’s shit too long. “When’s your next doctor appointment?”
“Three weeks,” she manages around her next bite.
Three weeks. I wonder if she’ll be in my house by then. I’ll have to play it by ear, but I really need to get the ball rolling, and soon. She’s not going to do this alone. Not anymore.
“Oh, God.” She sighs and faceplants into her palms. “Work. I don’t have a car. Would you be able to drop me off? I’m sorry to be such an inconvenience to you. I can give you money for gas and for the food. Normally, I would walk, but it’s getting cold—”
“Look at me.” I interrupt her rambling and wait for her pretty gray eyes before I continue. “You aren’t an inconvenience. At all,” I emphasize when she opens her mouth to protest. “I don’t mind doing whatever I can, and honestly, I want to do even more. And I’m not going to take your money, because I wanted to do this for you. Now, I’m going to clean up while you go grab a shower or get ready, then I’ll take you to work and drop off his sh—er...crap—on my way back home.”
A smile creases the corners of her eyes. “I’m trying to watch my language, too. Don’t want my babies learning words they’re not old enough for.”
“You’re going to be a wonderful momma, Rosanna. You really are.”
“Staythere.I’llgetthe door for you.” Ignoring her protests, I leave the truck running and get out to help her down. A pretty blush colors her cheeks as I slide her down my front as slowly as I possibly can. I may be a gentleman, but I’m still a man. And a Shay, at that.
Stealing one more kiss, I grab the lunch I made for her and walk her to the front door of Wright’s Furniture Shop. “I’ll be back to bring you home, so wait for me. Don’t take off walking on your own, you hear me? Got another cold front coming in this evening.”
Rosanna rolls her eyes in mock annoyance. “Okay, Da—” It hangs unfinished in the back of her throat as she catches herself.
I love it, and I want to hear it from that mouth again. Angling an arm over her shoulder to trap her against the door, I lower my gaze and let some of my lust shine through. “What were you saying? I know you weren’t calling me Danny. Or Darren. What else could it be? Daxton? Any guys I need to fight off?” Because I will.
“Connor.” My name hits my chest as she leans her forehead against me. “I didn’t mean... I was just joking and—”
“Look at me. There you go. Now, say it all the way.”
Embarrassment mixed with arousal colors her eyes, but she meets my gaze steadily. “Okay.”
Smart mouth. “The other one, kitten.” I wait for it. Wait... Wait...
“Daddy.”
My cock gives a little twitch, wanting nothing more than to knock her up. But she’s already pregnant.A little demon whispers in my ear,And we’re going to keep her that way.I tilt her chin up and show her how pleased I am with a soft kiss. “That’s my girl. Here’s your lunch. Call me if you need me.”
I’m sure the dazed expression stays on her face as she walks into work because it’s still there when she turns around to give me a shy little wave. I blow her a kiss, chuckling as she ducks her head in bashfulness. The mixture of her strength and innocence is intoxicating.
A grin decorates my face all the way back to my truck but fades the further away I drive. I don’t like being away from her. It feels empty without her beside me.
Tucking away the shot of loneliness, I focus on my simmering hatred for Silas and shoot the bird over my shoulder at the box in the bed of my truck. I’ve got some things he may not want to hear but he’s damn well going to listen to. My lips twist in a dark smile. He thinks I’m a tattooed thug, I’ll act like one.
Pulling in front of the apartment number he gave, I eye it dubiously. It’s better than the place he left Rosanna in, but not by much. Fucker. I get out and heft the box on my shoulder, then go to the door and let it fall to the concrete.
“Oops.” Oh, well. Nothing breakable in there, anyway.Bang-bang-bang.A muffledfuckor two later, and Silas himself opens the door, clad in boxers and hickeys decorating his neck and chest.
“Fuck, man.” I need bleach. I could have gone ten thousand lifetimes without seeing that.
“What do you want?” He uses the door as a barrier between us. Doesn’t the fuck know a door won’t stop me?
Time to get this over with. I kick at his box. “Here’s your shit.” Warily, he bends to drag it in, but my boot stops him. “Not so fast. We need to talk.”
He backs away as my confident steps bring me into his apartment. “Hey, now. I meant what I said. Don’t want nothing to do with her or...them. Nothing.”
