Winning my Best Friend's Girl - Piper Rayne Page 0,88
learning right along with my niece.
I shake my head, putting her down to sign. Secret.
She giggles, and everyone at the party rushes us like an all-you-can-eat buffet, hugging and saying their congratulations.
So much for that.
The door of the restaurant opens again, and everyone turns, because as far as I can tell, we were the last ones to arrive.
A few guests gasp.
Jamison stands in the doorway.
I scan the immediate area for Palmer, but Sedona’s already stepped in front of her, blocking her from his view. Sedona rubs her hand over her swollen belly as though she’s trying to protect the baby inside who’s due in about a month.
“Sedona.” Jamison’s blue eyes widen and the color drains from his face when he gets a good look at her stomach.
But Sedona doesn’t need to worry because all my brothers and brothers-in-law come shoulder to shoulder with me in front of her, crossing our arms.
Good luck, bastard. You aren’t getting through us.
Want more Stella and Kingston? How about a little more of their HEA (Happily Ever After)? Yeah, we thought so.
CLICK HERE to get the BONUS SCENE!
Jamison shows up to Lake Starlight to beg for another chance, but the surprise is on him when he finds out Sedona’s pregnant. Did he miss his chance to win his family back? (Sneak Peek Ahead)
Chapter One
Sedona
A soft warm breeze flows into the restaurant when the door opens, and all the guests turn to the door to see who’s arrived. Jamison stands with his suitcase next to him, gaze scouring the space as though he didn’t just walk into a Bailey baby shower. My breath seizes in my chest and my throat closes up for a second before I react.
I shift eighteen-month-old Palmer behind me. She squirms but my grip only grows tighter to keep her hidden in place. She hits my thighs, not understanding, but I don’t budge. You’d think we’re being held at gunpoint from the way my heart races and sweat beads along my back. My mama bear instinct kicks in and it’s fierce. My free hand covers my swollen belly, where his eyes are focused.
His face drains of color.
My brothers and brothers-in-law line up in front of the rest of us, shoulder to shoulder. Kingston’s in the middle, arms across his chest. He’s the most protective since he’s been playing the part of Palmer’s pseudo dad for the past eighteen months. She tried to refer to him as daddy just last week and I had to tell her he’s her uncle not her daddy. Thankfully, she got distracted and didn’t ask any other questions. I’ll never deny her the truth of who her father is, but she’s too young to understand. Then again, I never thought he’d be standing in front of me. Not after all this time.
I imagined that the moment we came face to face again, I’d have my life in order. I wanted to have my travel blog up and running, not just doing freelance work still. I wanted to have my own house, not be living in my brother’s apartment. I wanted to be stunning and gorgeous, not thirty pounds heavier with swollen ankles and fingers that look like sausages. The only real physical asset on me right now is my breasts that have doubled in size.
“Hey King,” Jamison says in his Scottish brogue. He’d lost a lot of his accent after living in America for so long, but it’s still there.
Half the guests gasp, I assume over the fact that he’d use the nickname for my brother that only his closest friends do.
Kingston’s stance widens and Palmer continues to hit my thighs. I loosen my grip on her and she slides between my legs, running forward. I reach for her, but she wiggles out of her yellow cardigan sweater and out of my grasp.
Phoenix snatches her up before she can break past the wall of testosterone, but Palmer kicks and throws tiny fists at her aunt. Phoenix glances over to me, silently asking what I want her to do. I nod for her to let my daughter go. Let the bastard see her. See what he gave up.
Phoenix lowers Palmer’s feet to the ground and my entire family watches with rapt attention. I know my daughter and who she’ll go to and I trust that he’ll protect her. Just as I assumed, Palmer snakes around Kingston’s leg, peeking out from behind him.
His hand comes down and places it on her head, looking over his shoulder at me, silently wondering