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“Yes.”
“Then don’t be mad if I ask for a key to the house…” he began quietly, his dark eyes watching her. “And I’m going to insist on a few things so I can talk to you or get updates on how you are doing.”
“I understand.”
“The air mattress isn’t going to cut it,” he said bluntly, not even batting an eye while her face turned nearly scarlet. She couldn’t be more mortified than she was right now. Could it get any hotter in the house?
“Um… okay?” she croaked nervously.
“So, let’s get down to brass tacks and remove any feelings from this,” he said flatly. “Do you have paper and a pen? I want to make a list of things and talk about needs.”
“Maybe this wasn’t a good idea…”
“Don’t tell me you are getting nervous or squeamish now. Remove emotions, stick with facts, and let’s discuss this as adults. I need a place to stay – you need security.”
Oh, this was soooonotromantic in the slightest,she winced, grabbing a tablet of paper and a pen. He looked around and hesitated, disappearing into the breakfast nook and getting her other lawn chair so there were two chairs close to each other.
He sat down without any hesitation – and she realized he wasn’t judging her after all. He plopped down, looking completely at ease, and nodded at her.
“First – I’ll need your address, full name, date of birth, and some other essentials like your social security number,” he began – and then tore off a second sheet of paper, scribbling something.
“I haven’t told you anything yet…”
Killian glanced up and smiled.
“This ismyinformation,” he offered. “I thought it would be easier to start different lists for each other – and then a third with things to address tomorrow while you are at work. Do you have another key to the front door?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll need it.”
“You mentioned that already.”
“But I still don’t have my key,” he teased pointedly, taking a sip of his coffee before setting the mug on the floor beside him like it was nothing.
What a strange, strange man…she mused idly, getting up to grab the extra key in her junk drawer that was on a yellow, plastic, smiley-face keychain. Handing it to him, he shoved it in his pocket and nodded.
“Thank you.”
He was still writing down information and she glanced at the sheet in surprise as he looked up at her.
“I’m giving you my sister’s information, friends here in town that can help if you have an emergency, and my parents’ info… but I’d recommend simply telling me first since no one knows about you yet. I’d kinda like the chance to explain what this is, before dropping the ‘crowd pleaser’ on everyone.”
“I’m a crowd pleaser?” she preened, unable to resist the smile that suddenly blossomed in her heart at the strange endearment.
“Oh yeah. Absolutely,” he chuckled easily, tapping his chin and writing down more information. “A ‘crowd pleaser’ is slang for a huge bomb that wipes the field clean and destroys everything in…” he hesitated and looked at her in that moment.
Destiny’s mouth was slightly ajar as she stared at him in shock. He was basically equating her to a destructive force, and this was not sweet in the slightest.
“I didn’t mean it like that…” he began.
“What did you mean?”
“We barely know each other and only met three hours ago. You’re taking it the wrong way,” Killian frowned. “I meant that the rest of my family will be shocked because I don’t ever talk about my personal life, nor have I dated anyone… and to show up suddenly married? With a child on the way? Yeah, there will be a ripple felt and some hurt feelings that I never said anything before.”
“Maybe we shouldn’t do this then…”
“I kind of like this idea of yours, because there is no real expectations or commitments from me – exceptthat…” he said candidly, pointing with the ink pen towards the hallway in the distance. “And if it turns out we can’t stand each other? Then we can get a divorce, be civil, and have shared custody of our child – or children.”
