Two Men and a Baby - Isla Olsen Page 0,37

sigh and toe at a old clump of snow on the pavement as I try to figure out how to put all these new thoughts into words. “I’m not hesitating because you’re Declan’s brother,” I explain. “I’m hesitating because you’re a Kelly.”

“You realize that’s the same thing, right?” he says, his voice full of bafflement.

I shake my head slowly. “No, it’s not.” I reach out for his arm and he stops walking, turning to look at me. “I love your family, Con. They’re like an extended family to me. And I guess I’m just scared of losing that if things don’t work between us.”

He nods. “And you want to make sure the gamble’s worth it?”

I glance away, no longer able to meet his gaze. “I—I don’t know.”

I feel his hand on my jaw as he guides my gaze back to his, then he dips his head to brush his lips softly against mine. I don’t know when the sensation of his beard rubbing over my skin became so familiar, but it has. And it’s for that very reason, the fact that Connor has managed to crawl his way under my skin and into my heart that I know if we go for this and it doesn’t work out it’s going to absolutely kill me.

“It’s still not a no, though, right?” he murmurs.

I shake my head slowly. “Still not a no.”

“Good. Take as much time as you need—make up your pros and cons, analyze every angle, and think it all through very carefully. Because when you do eventually say yes there’ll be no going back.”

When I let myself into Connor’s place on Sunday, my first thought is that he must be out, because there doesn’t seem to be any sign of him or Chase. But then I hear it—the soft humming coming from the direction of the room that is now Chase’s nursery. Curious, I decide to take a peek inside.

What I see makes my heart just about explode. Connor is seated in the rocking chair, Chase bundled in his arms as he gently rocks back and forth humming a tune I vaguely recognize. As he adds lyrics, I realize it’s “Golden Slumbers” by The Beatles, and that Connor’s singing voice is sexy as hell.

He finishes the song and stands from the chair, padding over to the crib to set Chase down. It’s not until he turns around that he sees me standing in the doorway, his eyes widening in surprise. And the faint blush that touches his cheeks is fucking adorable.

“Yes,” I tell him.

“What?”

“Yes, let’s date.” I hadn’t expected to give an answer today—because I still had no fucking clue what I wanted— but seeing him just now I know there’s no way I can just write him off as a one-night stand. He’s already so much more than that.

The giant grin that spreads across Connor’s face makes me so glad I said yes. And when he stalks across the room, wraps his arms around me and claims my lips in a fierce, needy kiss, I know without a doubt I’ve made the right call.

“You have a really sexy voice by the way,” I say as we come up for air. “Definitely gives John Lennon a run for his money. I mean, if he weren’t dead and everything.”

Connor offers a wry grin. “Well, that’s sweet of you to say but it’s actually McCartney on “Golden Slumbers”.”

“Damn it. Do I at least get a point for recognizing the song?”

“You get half a point for that,” Connor concedes. “I’d worry about what future we could possibly have if you weren’t able to recognize a Beatles song.”

I let out a soft chuckle before scanning my eyes over his body. “Hmm, let’s see…tattoos, piercings, The Beatles, you’re weird Baby-Sitters Club obsession—”

“That’s not weird,” Connor interrupts. “Ann M. Martin is a national treasure and deserves respect.”

I laugh outright at that before continuing with my earlier point. “All that combined with the way you nerd out over architecture—you’re an interesting amalgam, Connor Kelly.”

He grins. “Ahh, you love it.”

“I’ll never get bored, that’s for sure.”

And then he’s kissing me again.

Connor

Connor Kelly: I have some news

Connor Kelly: I have a son. He’s five months old and his name is Chase (I didn’t pick it)

Two Men and a Baby - Isla Olsen Page 0,37

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