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Steph bobbed her head toward Logan in acknowledgment. “I just had my own little girl a few months ago. I’m home with her most days, but sometimes it’s nice to go out for a while. Even just being back at work for a few hours helps me feel like a normal person rather than a sleep-deprived mess.”
Gabby nodded. She obviously didn’t have any experience with parenthood, but she could understand Steph’s urge to have some time to herself. She personally loved her work and hoped she’d be able to return on a part-time basis once the babies had settled. Who knew how long that would take, though.
“So, what do you need?” Steph asked.
Gabby handed her the list she’d jotted on a piece of notepaper. “Let’s start with this.”
“Great.” Steph sounded delighted.
Two hours later, they were loading bags and boxes into the back of Logan’s car. They’d bought cribs, blankets, and the cutest little outfits—all in gender-neutral colors—and a few other essentials. Steph had remarked that they were getting organized early, and Gabby knew that was true, but she couldn’t help it. She was excited, and based on the way Logan had exclaimed over the sweet little shoes and stuffed toys, he felt the same, although he’d forbidden her from mentioning it to his friends. She’d rolled her eyes. If he’d seen Shane when Diana was pregnant with Dylan, he wouldn’t have been so self-conscious. Her brother had been crazy about babies from day one.
When they finished, Logan popped into a cafe across the road and returned with a double chocolate muffin for each of them.
She broke off a chunk and savored it. “This is good.”
“Everything in there looked delicious,” Logan said. “We’ll have to come back sometime.”
“I’d like that.” Her insides warmed at the way he carelessly spoke as though it were a given they’d be sharing a future of dates and road trips. She loved the idea of it, but didn’t want to take the possibility for granted considering his past and how significantly their lives were about to change.
As he pulled out of town, he cast her another of those looks that said he had something to say but wasn’t sure how to do it.
“What is it?” she asked.
His lips pressed together. “Tristan, huh? I didn’t know you guys had been in touch.”
She sighed. “Only a couple of times. He’s nice. He’s been helping me figure out what we need for the babies.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Couldn’t Shane do that?”
“Well, yeah, but…” She didn’t think her brother had come around to the idea of her and Logan being parents together yet, and she hadn’t wanted to force him to face reality too soon. “It’s a bit awkward, isn’t it?”
He rubbed his temple. “Tell me about it.”
“I guess it’s our own fault though.” They’d been the ones to fall into bed together. Nobody else could take the blame for that, and at this point, she wasn’t sure she even regretted it. She was having the babies she’d always wanted, and she had a new relationship that—while she was reluctant to trust in it—was really damn good.
“Yeah. Has Tristan asked you out?”
“No.” She glanced at him, noting the hard set of his jaw. “If he did, I’d tell him I have a boyfriend because guess what? I’m not interested.”
“He’s a doctor,” Logan grumbled. “You could have a perfect little medical family.”
She gritted her teeth. “It wouldn’t be perfect, because I don’t want him.”
Okay, so maybe there had been a moment when she’d thought he was attractive, but she was too wrapped up in an aggravating bar owner to have eyes for anyone else.
They fell silent for a while.
Logan cleared his throat. “Um, Gabby?”
“What?”
“Do you think you’d be open to me moving in with you now, rather than later on in the pregnancy?”
Her breath caught and she raised her hand to the base of her throat, where her pulse pounded. “Seriously? You’re just coming at me with that out of the blue?”
He glanced over and grinned sheepishly. “I meant to ask on the way to Serenity Cove, but you kept falling asleep.”
She gaped. “So you decided now was the best time?” She didn’t know what to think. She hadn’t expected this, especially after his moment of jealousy. “This isn’t just to ‘lock me down’ or something, is it?”
