Page 112 of Playing It Forward

I bark out a laugh. “Me? I’m the one distracting you?”

He motions to me. “You’re standing there all sexy with your hair I know is soft as silk around your shoulders. You’re wearing a strapless dress that makes me want to kiss your naked skin. And your dress hugs your chest in all the right ways. I—”

I slap a hand over his mouth. “If you insist on having dinner first, you need to stop now.”

He licks my hand and I squeak before dropping it. “Okay. Dinner. Where do you want to go? The resort or Smuggler’s Cove Restaurant.”

“Let’s go to Five Fathoms Brewing. I’m in the mood for a burger.”

“Five Fathoms it is.”

I quickly put the flowers away and lock up my house. He grasps my hand and leads me to his SUV.

I tug on his hold. “It’s a five-minute walk.”

He scowls. “Are you sure?”

I growl. “If you’re saying I can’t walk five minutes because I’m pregnant, we’re going to have words.”

“Just making sure you’re not tired. You had a busy day.”

I blow out a breath. “You are not kidding. Jana found out I accepted the position of Resort Operations Manager and she immediately began training me to take over from her. I think she wants to leave earlier than the three months she told Hudson.”

“What did you think of the work?”

I grin up at him. “I liked it. I like the overview. Don’t get me wrong. I’m good at the details, but I will not miss brides calling me at two a.m. to complain the color of the napkins is space cadet and they ordered midnight blue. No one can tell the difference!”

He chuckles as he opens the door to the brewery for me. I notice his wince, but I don’t remark on it. Not yet.

“Hi, Addy!” I greet the hostess with a wiggle of my eyebrows. “How’s Gage doing?”

She grunts. “This island is too small sometimes.”

She’s been itching to escape since forever. But she’s helping to raise her siblings and refuses to move.

I place a hand on my stomach. “I think this island is the perfect place to grow up.”

Her gaze drops to my stomach. “Congrats, by the way.”

I sigh. “This island.”

She barks out a laugh. “Not as fun when it’s directed your way, is it?”

I stick my tongue out at her. “Do you have a quiet table?”

“For you and the handsome baby daddy? Sure. Follow me.”

She grabs some menus and leads us to my favorite table. It’s in a little alcove beyond the bar. Most people don’t realize it’s here since you’re shielded from the view of most of the visitors in the restaurant.

Nolan pulls out my chair before sitting across from me. “Can we get a bottle of non-alcoholic champagne?”

Addy laughs. “Non-alcoholic champagne? In a brewery? On an island obsessed with moonshine? Sure. Coming right up.”

“Stop being a pill,” I tell her. “There’s non-alcoholic champagne leftover from the Foam & Fable Storytelling Night. Mayor Lana insisted on non-alcoholic after she read some article about Gen Z not being drinkers.”

“I forgot about that.” She groans. “Lana made graphs and gave us a lecture.”

“Lana does love to talk.”