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“Yes. Definitely.” In that moment she was so relaxed, so happy and free, that I didn’t want to ruin it by talking about the future.
The drive to Shannon’s new place was just long enough for one country song to play from start to finish and she was half asleep when I turned off the engine. “We’re here.” She didn’t respond and her breathing was even and deep, full on asleep.
I jogged around the front of the car, fully prepared to carry her inside, but she blinked those beautiful green eyes up at me when I opened her door, a frown of confusion on her face. “You pretended to fall asleep so I could carry you inside.”
She smiled and rolled her eyes. “You wish.”
More than anything. I took Shannon’s hand and helped her out of the car, happy to feel her soft hand in mine, if only for a brief second. She made her to the front door and I grabbed two bags from the trunk. “Hungry?”
“Always,” she answered without looking back. “Now that my appetite has returned, it seems like my stomach wants to make up for lost time.”
I followed her inside, taking the bags to the kitchen while she performed her after work routine. “I just can’t get over how massive this new kitchen is.” It was the perfect place to teach a boy the proper way to make dinosaur shaped pancakes. I could already see him on his knees, supervising how the chocolate chips were added to the batter.
“It’s more kitchen than my skills require, but I kind of love it.” She poked her head inside and frowned. “What’s all this?”
“Dinner.”
“You know you don’t have to feed me every single night, right?” Her lips twitched and then pulled up at the corners, amused.
“You’re laughing at me.”
“No, I’m not.” Her words meant nothing in the face of the laughter she could barely contain. “Okay, I am. But only because it’s kind of adorable.”
“That’s me,” I deadpanned. “Kind of adorable.”
Then she laughed out right, loud and with her whole body. The sound echoed through the house as she made her way upstairs, probably to change out of her work clothes.
I maintained a laser like focus on the important business of making dinner rather than focusing on Shannon upstairs, in various stages of undress. Then, just to test my resolve, the shower started right above me. The damn shower and all I could think about was her pale, freckled skin, slick with water as the spray dripped down her body. The way her nipples probably beaded under the mist, had my mind racing and my cock growing behind my zipper. I wanted her, there was no doubt about that, but that wasn’t what tonight was about.
It was about us. Just us. I had to make Shannon see that I was here for her and the baby. Both of them.
“Hey daydreamer, I was promised…dinner.” She gasped as she took in the giant sandwiches on the kitchen table. “You made hoagies?”
“I did. Italian with provolone and roast beef with cheddar. No horseradish.” She looked surprised and it was my turn to show off. “I read it can cause heartburn and might be toxic in large amounts, figured why risk it.”
Her skin was pink from the hot shower, her hair wet and falling down her back. “Read?”
“Yeah. Someone suggested I should become knowledgeable about pregnancy and I decided they were right.” I’d picked up six different books and ready two of them so far.
“Someone sounds very smart.”
I nodded for her to take a seat. “Incredibly smart. And strong because some of what I read, left me feeling terrified.”
She laughed. “It’s scarier to read about it than to experience it, so I guess I’m lucky in that way.”
“Have you felt him kick yet?”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure. I’ve felt the fluttering in my belly that all the books talk about, but nothing to knock me back like they say.”
“Sounds painful, but kind of cool too.” I wanted to be here for all of that. “As terrifying as it all sounds, I want to be around for all of it.”
She smiled and reached for one of the sandwich halves, taking a big bite with a bigger moan. “Damn that’s good.”
“Don’t forget the salad. It’s packed with vitamin K.” Surprise flashed in her eyes again and I felt my chest puff out a little more. “And potato chips, of course.”
“Of course. Salt and vinegar?”
“Dill. No heartburn.” I joined her at the table, handing her a tall glass of cashew milk. “Eat up.”
“You’re bossy these days.” She didn’t look too put off by that.
“I’m bossy most days, you just don’t work for me.”
“And I do now?” One brow arched and her lips pulled into a grin.
“No. Absolutely not. But, I’m being helpful and that’s entirely different from bossy. I asked.”
