Call Her Mine (Harmony Pointe #1)- Melissa Foster Page 0,10

in his home.

He pushed to his feet and headed for the kitchen, hesitating in the doorway to watch Aurelia, who was sitting on the floor beside the baby.

Baby B.

That did crazy shit to his stomach.

Aurelia was scrolling through Facebook. She was so beautiful, her lustrous hair falling over her shoulders, her brows knitted in concentration. She was a petite, fearless thing, and seeing the worry in her eyes over that baby—Baby B—also did something funky to his gut.

He and Aurelia had a lot of good things between them, but timing had never been one of them. He’d thought he’d have a chance with her after she’d first moved back to town, but she had just come off a bad relationship and had sworn off men. Like an idiot, he’d respected her need for space. And then, between his travel schedule and her random dates, it hadn’t ever seemed like the right time to try for something more. Besides, every damn time he made a sexual innuendo, she blew him off.

She looked up as he came to her side. “I found Payton on Facebook—”

“You looked her up? I would’ve done it.”

“Right, well, you were a little busy. Anyway, she has definitely not been pregnant recently. She posted pictures of a cruise she took three months ago. I have to admit, the girl rocks a bikini. I’m a little jealous, but if you ever repeat that, I’ll kill you.”

“You’re ten times hotter than Payton could ever dream of being.”

She rolled her eyes. “Uh-huh. That’s why you slept with her, obviously.”

He clenched his jaw to keep from saying, I slept with her because you kept turning me down. It was probably a shitty reason, but they’d both had a good time, and Payton hadn’t been looking for anything more than a hookup, either.

“I also found your Big Apple fuck buddy. You have a thing for Barbies, don’t you?”

“No,” he said emphatically.

“Could have fooled me. She’s tall, blond, and hot.”

“She’s smart, funny, and no-strings-attached. Nothing more. Besides, we already knew she wasn’t the mother, so why’d you look her up?”

She shrugged, but a whisper of something refuted the detached affect she was trying to portray. “I searched yoga teachers but couldn’t find any Barbies. If you know where she lives, you should go there.”

“Go there?”

“How else will you know if she’s the mother? Besides, she’s the only local woman you mentioned. Pretzel Girl is probably Baby B’s mother.”

They both looked at the sleeping baby. Her little hands were fisted, one tucked by her chin, the other beside her head. She had a dusting of light brownish hair and the cutest little nose. She made a suckling motion in her sleep, and he wondered if she was hungry.

“What did your attorney say?” Aurelia asked.

“To get the paternity test and not call the authorities until I know for sure if she’s mine.”

“And . . . ?”

“I called Chief Klein.”

Aurelia’s eyes widened. “Of course, because you never listen to anyone about anything.”

I listened to you and gave you space. Look where that got me. “I posed a hypothetical question,” he clarified. “We’ve got to get B to Vic and get that test done.”

“Okay . . . Wait. You called her B.” A smile lifted her lips. “Your heart didn’t go cold after all.”

He glared at her, earning one of her sweet laughs.

“I’m kidding! Geez. I’ll run to the store and get diapers, formula, and a car seat, and then we’ll go.”

“What?” Panic bloomed inside him. “You can’t leave me alone with her. I’ve never even changed a diaper.”

“Fine. I’ll stay; you go. Just be sure to get formula, diapers, wipes, and an infant car seat.”

He wished she could go with him. Everything was better when they were together. He hooked his arm around her neck, pulling her against his chest. He’d done that so often, it felt like her spot, and damn, she felt great in it. “Thanks, Rels.” He pressed a kiss to her temple. “I couldn’t do this without you.”

He was an idiot for having waited so long to make his move, as he’d realized a few weeks ago. He’d decided he was done with innuendos, done pussyfooting around the woman he wanted, and he’d convinced himself to risk their friendship for a chance at forever. He’d planned the whole thing out, prepared to make his move at Bridgette and Bodhi’s wedding reception. Like a fool, he’d had a romantic notion of professing his feelings to her as they slow danced beneath the stars, and