Page 106 of Playing It Forward

“Fine. I won’t go with you. But I’m driving.”

“You’re going in the opposite direction, and I need my car so I can get home later. Don’t you have a meeting with Coach Knox today?”

He swears under his breath. “I forgot.” He checks the time. “I can make you something to eat before I go.”

“No need. I’m having a breakfast meeting with Hudson.”

He pulls on his t-shirt before sitting on the bed to tie his shoes. “Will you let me know what happens?”

“I will if you will.”

“Deal.” He presses his mouth to mine in a hard kiss. It’s over entirely too quickly. “Call if you need anything. I l…” He cuts himself off with a shake of his head. “Be careful.”

I watch him walk out with my mouth hanging open. Was he going to say he loves me? Does he love me?

My heart pounds in my chest as excitement and fear battle for top billing in my body. Holy mermaids. The man I’m falling for might love me. But what if…

I shut those thoughts off and climb out of bed. I am not letting fear rule me. Not today.

At five minutes to nine, I march into the private dining area. I spent the entire time I was getting ready and driving here forming arguments for why Hudson can’t fire me. Why he’d regret it.

I come to a screeching halt when I notice the amount of food in the middle of the table.

Hudson stands. “I wasn’t sure what you’d want. And I know how much pregnant women need to eat.”

Wow. This is amazing. Instead of telling him how amazing it is, I bark out: “You can’t fire me because I’m pregnant!”

He holds up his hands. “Fire you? Why do you think I’m firing you?”

I fist my hands on my hips. “Because I’m pregnant. And the father is a football player on the Steel City Seals team. And you expressly forbade us from getting involved with the players.”

He threads a hand through his hair. “My wife has given me so much shit for making that rule.”

“Remind me to send Nova a bunch of flowers.”

He motions to the chair across from him. I debate standing my ground, but my mouth is watering at those cranberry pancakes. The cranberry syrup is made with pure maple syrup and is to die for.

I sit across from him and add a pile of cranberry pancakes to my plate. “Please wait until I finish these before firing me. Cranberry pancakes are holy.”

He chuckles. “I wouldn’t get in between a pregnant woman and food. I’m not an idiot.” He clears his throat. “And I’m not firing you.”

I pause with my fork near my mouth. “You’re not?”

“Nope.”

I chew on my bite as I study him. “Then, what’s with the breakfast meeting? We never have unexpected meetings.”

“I have an offer for you.”

“An offer? Does Nova know?”

His cheeks darken. “Actually, it was her idea.”

“Are you into pregnant women?” My nose wrinkles. “I’m not interested in a threesome. I don’t care how hot you are. I’ve got my own hot man.”

He chuckles. “Is every woman on Smuggler’s Hideaway crazy?”

I shake my fork at him. “And damn proud of it!”