Liam didn’t like the thought of Addy walking alone in the pre-dawn hours to meet Whiskey. Did his new teammate know how she got to his house?
“Why did they ask you to stay the night?” he asked.
“Because I didn’t have anyone to stay with me. It’s one of the things I love about this place. Everyone watches out for one another,” she admitted.
Then why did she have to walk to get a ride? Something didn’t add up. From what he saw of the men on the team, they seemed very protective of the women and children, regardless of which family they belonged to. They watched out for one another. Liam struggled with believing Whiskey refused to pick her up.
“You’ve earned a day off. Why don’t you take it easy and rest? Since I’m headed to your home, do you need anything else?” he asked.
“Do you mind bringing back my computer? I might car shop while I’m sitting idly in this bed.”
“I’ll be sure to grab it,” he assured her as he rose.
“Thanks again,” she said before closing her eyes.
Liam slipped out of her room and headed toward his own. On his way back, he planned to ask Whiskey about Addy getting a ride from him. With the unpredictable weather and nearly collapsing in the elevator, he didn’t like her being alone. What if she fell ill on the way to Whiskey’s?
Addyson presented a conundrum for him. During his hospital stay, Liam saw her daily. He felt the attraction ripple through him every time they saw each other, but she ran like a frightened rabbit. He contrived his request to ride down the mountain with her after weeks of getting her to speak with him. He wanted to get her alone and talk with her, away from her professional setting. Thankfully, he rode with her yesterday as he thought of what might have happened if she only braked as the tree crashed down on her car. The chaotic mountain ride didn’t seem much better, but it saved their lives. Now that he had found a foothold in Addy’s heart, he didn’t plan on letting the opportunity slip away.
* * *
Leo knockedon Kit Kat’s office door and heard her tiredly call, “Come in.”
He entered and stopped as he saw the dark circles under her eyes. “Kit Kat, you look terrible,” he exclaimed as he rushed behind the desk.
“Gee, thanks, Leo,” she murmured sarcastically.
He laid the flowers on her desk and set the Ty’s bag beside it. “When’s the last time you’ve slept more than six hours?”
“Ha,” she huffed. “Since the first time you got me pregnant.”
“Can we call a truce?” he asked, sighing.
“Do you want to carry this baby? Then, we’ll call it a truce. I’ve spent the last two hours going between hunger and morning sickness. Yesterday, I breastfed Derrick while holding a vomit bag. It’s a ton of fun,” she bit out.
“I’m sorry you’re not having an easy time of it. I came to make your day run more smoothly.” He picked up the bouquet and handed it to her. “Here,” he said gently. “I brought you something Ty says will stay down during morning sickness.”
“Thank you,” she murmured, almost emotionless.
“While you eat, I’ll visit with the kids and feed them. Then you’ll take a nap while I pick Melody up from school this afternoon,” he offered. “I miss June Bug.”
“I don’t want your ass-kissing, Leo,” Kit Kat sighed.
“You haven’t let me stay at the house since Christmas Eve, other than to see the kids before they go to bed. Melody’s getting older. Don’t you think she notices Daddy’s not around in the mornings anymore? We need to talk this out,” he reasoned. “How about Jake and Carol watch the kids, and we have a nice dinner out?”
Kit Kat stared at him, debating his proposal.
“Come on, I have a nice surprise lined up for you,” he cajoled softly.
She sighed. “Flowers, dinner, and surprises won’t fix this, Leo. I’m still angry with you.”
“I know you’re furious. We can’t solve anything by avoiding it and not letting me sleep at home,” he admitted. “We’re spinning up soon, and I don’t want us fighting. It’s not good for the kids or us.”
“What’s in the bag?” she said, making him grin. It wasn’t necessarily an olive branch, but it got her talking to him.
“A soup of some kind. Ty says it’s full of nutritious stuff and stays down,” he said, opening the package and handing her the container and a spoon. He pulled out water and added an electrolyte packet. “Drink this. It’ll help with all the vomiting.”
Kit Kat took a hesitant taste on the spoon before moaning. “Mmm, this tastes good,” she said, getting another spoonful.
