Page 76 of Playing It Forward

His low, rumbly voice has all the nerve endings in my body waking up and standing at attention. Can you blame me? This big strong man is carrying me, claiming my legs are sexy, and making it clear he wants me. It’s a potent combination.

We arrive at his suite and he carries me inside. My stomach rumbles and he frowns.

“Did you eat dinner?”

My face flames but I ignore it. “I’ll eat dinner when I get home.”

“Do you want dinner in bed or in the dining area?”

“Did you not hear me? I’ll eat when I’m home.”

“That’s two,” he growls.

“Two what?”

“Two times I’m going to pinken your ass after you give birth to our little mermaid.”

My panties dampen, and my nipples harden. I’ve never been spanked before, but the idea of Nolan’s big hand on my ass excites me. I want to try it. I trust him. He won’t push things past my comfort zone.

“Dining area or bed?” he asks again.

“I…” I trail off with a yawn.

“Bed it is.”

He lays me down in bed and kisses my forehead. “You can wear my t-shirt to sleep in.”

I open my mouth to protest but he places a finger over it. “Enough. You and I both know you want to be here. You’re fighting me to fight at this point. I love arguing with you. I’ll argue with you until we’re old and gray. But right now, you need to eat, and you need sleep.”

My mouth drops open. He’ll argue with me until we’re old and gray? Is he serious? We’re not a couple. We’re not even dating. We’re having a baby. Nothing more.

Yeah. Keep telling yourself that.

I ignore my inner voice. She doesn’t come out much, but when she does – she’s trouble. I blame her for my bedroom window getting nailed shut.

Nolan tweaks my nose before grabbing a t-shirt from one of his drawers. He drops it on my lap. “Go ahead and change. I’ll order the food. Any requests?”

“Pasta and French fries.”

I wait for him to laugh at the combination. Pregnancy cravings are weird. But he merely nods before shutting the door behind him.

I stare at the door for a while. I shouldn’t be here. I should go. But Nolan’s right. I don’t want to. I want to be here. But I’m scared.

There. I said it. Or, at least, admitted it.

Love and family destroy people. I witnessed it for myself with my mom. And I’m her child. A younger representation of her. What happens if I start to rely on Nolan and he leaves? I place a hand over my stomach. What will happen to my little mermaid if she doesn’t have a dad?

Growing up without a dad is tough. Except I did end up with a dad. Charlie is the best. He never found a woman to love, but he had a lot of love to give, so he started fostering kids. He built a ragtag family on his own.

I inhale a deep breath and straighten my back. I can do this. I can build a ragtag family, too. I have Dad.

I bite my bottom lip as I stare at the door Nolan left through. I want Nolan. Will he stick around? He’s a famous quarterback. His life is stadiums and games and travel to big cities. It’s not on this island.

He knocks before peeking into the room. “Food should be here in fifteen minutes.” He frowns. “You’re not changed. Something wrong?”

I’m a scaredy pants who’s afraid to reach for what she wants. No way am I saying those words to this big man who handles everything that comes his way without a blink of his eye.

I clear my throat. “No. Just being lazy.”