Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 61286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 306(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
She ended the chaste kiss and stepped back, and he let her go, as if sensing she needed that space—that’s how in tune to her he always was. He didn’t say anything about that heartfelt kiss, nor did ask why she’d instigated it or what it meant.
Instead, he slid his hand beneath the hem of her tank top and gently pressed his palm to her still flat belly, as if he was touching the most precious thing in the universe. Her breath caught at the poignancy of the moment. Their baby was nothing more than a little bean so there was nothing for either of them to feel right now, except for the connection and intimacy of having created a child together.
And that seemed to be enough for him. For her, too.
He met her gaze and smiled, and she didn’t miss the sexy, possessive glimmer in his eyes. “How are you and our little sprout doing this morning?”
The nickname was silly, but she loved it. “We’re okay.”
“Good.” He caressed her belly one last time before letting his hand fall away. “Let’s figure out what we’re going to feed you two.”
She watched him head to the refrigerator to find things to make for breakfast and she knew, despite all the crazy uncertainty of the weekend tainted by worries of Jack interfering in her life once again, she and Tripp were going to have a special day at his parents later that afternoon.
* * *
Tripp parked his car outside of his parents’ house and turned off the engine, watching as Skye stared out the passenger window at their front yard and fidgeted restlessly in her seat. She’d spent the past half hour drive battling her nerves—smoothing a hand along the skirt of her dress, slowly inhaling and exhaling, and absently biting her lower lip.
“Ready to head inside?” he asked, giving his rear view mirror one last glance, just to make sure they hadn’t been followed by a black sedan. He wasn’t being paranoid, just extremely cautious. “Looks like everyone else is already here.” Drew and Beck’s vehicles were parked in the driveway.
She finally looked at him, a glimmer of curiosity in her gaze. “What are you going to tell them, about us?”
He sighed. Yes, he already knew that introductions were going to be quite the dilemma. He and Skye weren’t dating, and she wasn’t technically his girlfriend, but she was pregnant with his baby. They didn’t intend to make that announcement today, so for now, the friend zone it was.
“I’m going to tell them that you’re a good friend, and that’s all they’re going to care about,” he said, reaching out and stroking his fingers along her soft cheek. “I promise that they aren’t going to read into the situation, or interrogate you, or make you feel uncomfortable. My parents and brothers are friendly, easy going kind of people. They’ll welcome you because you’re with me, simple as that.”
Okay, that wasn’t entirely true. His parents would be lovely to Skye, but his brothers . . . yeah, Beck and Drew would realize that Tripp bringing someone to Whitney’s memorial was huge. He’d never shared that special day with another woman, not even Julia. So there would be speculation, but he didn’t want to freak Skye out.
She nodded her head, squared her shoulders, and gave him a genuine smile. “Okay, let’s do this.”
They got out of the car and as soon as he met up with her by the walkway, he reached for her hand, just to offer reassurance and because it was an instinctive reaction when it came to Skye, then stopped . . . because a friend wouldn’t have been so intimate. So, instead, he tamped down his frustration and lightly pressed his fingers to her lower back as they made their way up to the front porch.
He let himself into his parents’ house and followed the sound of voices to the living room, where everyone was gathered. The first person to see him was his three year old niece, his twin’s namesake, Whitney, who alerted everyone else to their presence.
“Uncle Tipp is here!” she shrieked in a boisterous voice, still unable to pronounce her “r”s, then ran over and jumped up and down in front of him, her arms raised high for him to pick her up.
Which he did, because there was no ignoring the little girl. She threw her arms around his neck and gave him a noisy kiss on his cheek. It didn’t matter the reason for their family get togethers, Whitney always loved being the center of attention and spread the love and hugs between everyone equally. And truth be told, the entire family enjoyed her infectious, exuberant personality.
“Who’s that?” she asked in a loud voice, pointing to Skye, who was standing beside Tripp and smiling at the little girl.