Baby Daddies - Tara Brown Page 0,47

lips and cheeks, and after a second or two, I’m beaming like a sweaty idiot in my crappy apartment.

I hurry to get clothes on and grab the bag that’s still packed and rush out, locking the door and racing down the stairs to where he stands outside his fancy black sports car.

His face lights up when he sees me, making my insides flutter with excitement.

He swoops me into his arms when I get close and kisses with that same expressive passion, then he buries his face in my neck and inhales.

“Sorry, I smell awful. I’ve been a mess since I left your place.”

“Nope, you smell like cherries, spicy cherries.” He kisses my neck and walks me to my side of the car, opening the door for me.

“I’m sorry I left,” I whisper, trying not to cry again. “I was just so humiliated, and I knew I’d end up ruining Nat’s wedding. I couldn’t bear it. I didn’t want you to find out that way—”

“I know. Bev said Nat’s mom found the test?”

“She did and the look on her face was terrible so I said it was mine. What did it matter if I took the blame? I am pregnant so it wasn’t a lie. I thought I could throw it away and wash my face and everything would be fine. But when I came around the corner—”

“We are just never going to get lucky.” Lori laughs, shaking his head slowly. “The way we met was funny but it’s not exactly the sort of story you tell a kid. Now this. I’m starting to think God hates us.”

“Or thinks we love a funny story with a heart-wrenching twist?” I kiss him once more and cling to him a little, leering over his shoulders at the dark and quiet street. “I need you too,” my voice is lost in the fear the sentence invokes. I hold him so tight he can’t pull back and look at me. “I’m scared,” I admit the hardest thing in the world for me.

“I’ve got you, Red,” he whispers back. It makes me cling a bit tighter. I’m not sure how I managed to stumble upon this man, but I can’t imagine ever letting go.

It’s terrifying and exciting but my heart whispers that maybe we’re up for the challenge.

18

A family home

Lori

“We’re here,” I say and nudge her carefully.

She wakes with a start. “Oh God, I’m so tired. Remind me to stay and yell at you next time you act like a jerk,” she grumbles and tries to roll over on her seat.

“Come on, Sleeping Beauty.” I lift her up and carry her from the jet.

Leslie is waiting with a forced smile. Surely, she was concerned about the midnight flight to New York and now the ten am return. “Morning, sir.”

“Morning, Leslie,” I say groggily, also exhausted, and place Jenny inside and sit next to her, holding her to me.

She stretches and snuggles into me, her movements bringing the subtle hint of cherries to my inhales. “What time is it?”

“Ten. Brunch is at eleven with the gift opening, so we have just enough time to get ready. I promise you the longest nap in the history of naps directly afterwards. We can sleep for days.”

“Okay.” She rubs her eyes and blinks a few times. “Sukii’s gonna kill me when she realizes we went back without her.”

“No, Cap’s leaving this morning to go back. He isn’t staying for breakfast. Not that many are. Should be intimate.”

“What, only fifty people?” she mocks me.

“About that.” I chuckle and kiss her fluffy head. We showered and crashed when we arrived home after nearly dying in the sauna she called an apartment. Her bedhead is something I couldn’t have expected after always seeing her so done up. It’s curly and locked in thick waves of ropey hair.

She’s beautiful in the morning.

Peaceful and soft.

When we reach the house, I take her hand and pull her to the bedroom, making little noise, hoping no one noticed our absence last night.

She flops onto the bed and moans, getting under the comforter with a mess of red hair spread around her.

“We don’t have time for a nap.” I climb into the bed and hover over her, kissing her delicately.

“We don’t have to sleep,” she mumbles and wraps herself around me.

“Is that safe to do with the baby in there?” The idea of it is weird.

“Don’t be stupid,” she says and pulls me to her, rubbing her chest against mine and forcing my mouth down on hers.

There’s no