Shake The Frost (Crystal Lake #6) - Juliana Stone Page 0,20

time, he felt something other than apathy and anger. He wasn’t exactly sure what that something was, but at least it meant a part of him was still alive. And he knew as sure as the sun was coming up every morning, Emily had everything to do with it.

And the baby.

My baby, he thought savagely, shaking his head as he opened his eyes and stared out the window again.

Fuck’s sake, he was going to be a father.

The thought punched him in the gut, hard, and he winced as his stomach tightened. There was so much unsettled between him and Emily, and the thought of bringing a baby into this mess was sobering.

“Shit,” he muttered to himself, confused about pretty much everything at this point. He’d gone to town to accompany Emily to her doctor’s appointment, not because that was what a father to be was supposed to do, but because he’d wanted to be there for her. He had to make up for being such a dick over the last few weeks.

Last few years, if he were being honest.

Aside from all that history between them, he’d had some things to discuss with Emily. They were in uncharted territory, and whatever the hell was between them now was undefined. To put it simply, he had no idea what he should and shouldn’t be doing. What was acceptable and what was not.

He had no idea what her expectations were, though she’d been pretty clear she didn’t need any financial support. And yeah, he was definitely going to be a part of this kid’s life, but to what extent? Was she going to relegate him to every other weekend as if they were a divorced couple?

A scowl touched his face, and he turned from the window. And what the hell was up with Connor Jenkins? He hadn’t seen that one coming. Connor was a good guy, or seemed to be, but the two of them hanging out left a bad taste in Ethan’s mouth.

His phone buzzed, and again he glanced at the kitchen counter where it lay. No doubt it was his sister, bugging him to show up for Sunday dinner this weekend. She’d already called three times, and it was barely eight a.m.

Fuck it, he thought, striding to the bedroom. He decided to forget about everything for the day and lose himself in the bike he was restoring for Link Major, a ’79 Triumph Bonneville that he’d taken delivery of the morning before. And that’s exactly what he did—for an hour or so.

He’d just unpacked the new exhaust pipe he’d ordered when there was a rap on the shop door and it was flung open before he had time to tell whoever it was to go the hell away.

He turned from his workbench just as a blast of cold air and snow rushed in on the heels of his sister, Georgie.

“Hey,” she said brightly as she yanked off her bright pink knit hat. “I’ve been calling for hours.”

“I know.”

“I’ll try not to take that too personally,” she retorted dryly as her mittens joined the hat on the small table next to the ratty old sofa parked near the window.

“What’s up?” Ethan moved away from his workbench and headed for the vintage fridge that hummed in the corner. There was no use working with Georgie here. He knew better than that.

“Nothing,” she said lightly. “Paul and Leanne Fairchild came into the Coach House last night.”

He grabbed a cold beer and relaxed against the counter, stretching his legs out as he leaned back and frowned. Paul and Leanne were townies he’d grown up with. “They’re allowed a night out.”

“I know. That’s not what this is about.”

“Then let’s get to the point, Georgie.” He lifted his chin toward the bike. “I’ve got work to do.”

“Leanne asked me if the rumors were true. Before she even said hello. Said she figured I’d know because of you.”

Ethan contemplated that for a moment and, with a shrug, took another pull from his beer. “People talk, Georgianna.”

“Yeah, well, it seems like a lot of folks in town know about Emily’s news. It’s only a matter of time before they figure out who the father is.”

“Based on what?” It was laughable, really. No one would ever connect him and Em that way. Not in a million years.

Georgianna looked aside, a telltale blush creeping across her face. “Nothing.”

She sounded defensive. That wasn’t a good sign. Ethan straightened. “Doesn’t sound like nothing.”

“Apparently, the old man who lives beside Emily is Leanne’s grandfather.