Page 11 of Rowdy & Kat

“I liked you for real. It wasn’t a joke.”

“Why do you think it was a joke for me?”

“Because you laughed.”

Rowdy smirked. “I was surprised you’d want to go to a dance with a guy like me.”

“I was a chubby teenage girl. Let’s not pretend I had the power.”

“You were a curvy temptress toying with a dum-dum teenage boy.”

Shaking my head, I couldn’t help grinning at his words. “Well, I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree.”

“No way,” Rowdy insisted. “I want to win. You need to admit that I was love starved, and you broke my heart.”

“Not going to happen.”

“Well, can you at least admit that I was the victim over the last year when you wouldn’t respond to my many needy texts?”

“Yes,” I said and sighed. “I wanted to tell you. I considered texting the big news. I even came to Little Memphis more than once to speak to you. But I always chickened out.”

“Why?”

“I was worried you might be angry,” I said as my gaze flashed around the room and avoided him. “I know your world is more complicated than hooking up with random women.”

Rowdy narrowed his gaze and asked, “Did you think I’d hurt you?”

“Not you, but your three sisters might.”

“Did you do this to trap me?” Rowdy asked and nuzzled my belly. “Because you really only needed to respond to my texts if you wanted to keep me. I’ve been hooked on you all along.”

“Is it really that simple?”

“I get what I want, and I want you, Katarina Darville.”

His words made my heart race, and tears pricked at my eyes. Too tired after a dramatic day, I couldn’t think of anything to say that wouldn’t be simply begging him to love me.

Rowdy glanced at the crib before studying my bump hidden under the blanket. “Why only one crib?”

“They’ll be small when they’re born,” I said and shrugged. “Plus, Maria and I got tired after putting together the first one.”

Batting his dark lashes, Rowdy smiled and murmured, “I want you to move to Little Memphis and live with me forever.”

“But I have a life in Little Rock.”

“I have a nice condo. I’ll turn the second bedroom into a badass boys’ room.”

Panicky now, I mumbled, “Maria and I have always lived together.”

“Bring her along.”

“We own this townhome.”

“Sell it.”

Feeling lightheaded, I whispered, “My work is here.”

Rowdy frowned. “Wait, what will you do with the babies when you’re at work?”