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“Just donut glazes,” I say, forcing a cheery tone in my voice. “She wants more fruit-based, but I like the classics.”
“Can’t go wrong with the classics,” Ash says, only half paying attention. “God, how did you two do this every night? It’s a madhouse in here.”
“Raw talent,” Jams points out. “Also, you pay well.”
“That’s right, I do,” Ash says, winking at her. “Anyway, looking forward to your shop opening. Let me know if you need anything. I gotta go take more orders before this place turns into a riot.” She hurries away after squeezing my arm.
I watch her go, a knot in my gut.
When she finds out about Nolan and the baby, she’s going to lose it, and I have no clue how I’m going to avoid that nuclear blast.
Right now, I’m not showing. Hiding the baby is easy.
But three months from now? Five months?
Everyone’s going to know.
Including Nolan.
Which means I have a ticking clock to get my shit together.
Chapter10
Nolan
There’s no sign out front of their shop. The windows are papered-over, the door closed. I’m not sure it’ll be unlocked, but there’s no resistance when I try to yank it open.
Strange to think that this is my building. I own tons like it all over the city, but this one’s important to me. This one contains Keely, my future wife, and my future wife’s business. My future business too, though that part doesn’t matter.
The investment is a pretext.
It’s the marriage I really care about.
It took talking to her last night to understand what I was really searching for.
Getting wifed up was never on my radar. Even when my brothers, Carson and Finn, found their partners, it never occurred to me that I’d be next. I’m the right age to settle down, and I’ve been unfulfilled in the romance department for a long time, despite plenty of women passing through my bedroom.
At least until Keely.
She left her mark on me. That night was incredible—she was like something from a dream.
It wasn’t only the sex.
Though the sex was spectacular—the best sex I’ve ever had, by a long margin.
It was the conversation, the banter, the teasing, the dancing. The way she talked about her hopes and dreams beside the ocean. The way she made me want to have my own hopes and dreams beyond doing what’s right for the family. She’s a person, so alive, so incredible.
I want that in my life.
I’ve always been ambitious, but lately it feels as though my ambition’s only ever aimed toward everyone around me, instead of geared toward getting things that I really want.
Like Keely.
Now, as I step into the quiet, empty front room holding a to-go carrier with four cups of coffee, each done differently, I think it’s time I used all the skills I’ve developed over the years to take what I need, consequences be damned.
And there will be consequences.
There will be hell the second Carson hears about this.
