Chapter 10
Normally Brit wasn’t a nervous Nellie, but this situation with Trent had her spooked. Likely that was because she’d given him control of how it would turn out.
But what choice did she have? Without his participation, she had no immediate plan.
For the walk to the Buffalo she’d added a fleece vest to her outfit. She’d kept it simple — jeans, boots, a knit long-sleeved shirt and the vest.
Nothing about her said take me big boy, I’m all yours because she didn’t want that sort of wild emotion connected with what should be a carefully considered decision. Yes, they’d had hot sex on Saturday night, but that shouldn’t be the primary factor influencing him.
She wanted a committed father, not a man focused only on sex. Funny thing was, she could see him falling right into the committed dad role. Maybe that was why she’d come up with this idea in the first place.
Before she reached the Buffalo, she checked the time on her phone and paused in the shadows to see if any customers still lingered inside. Closing time on weeknights was eleven, but the Buffalo staff wouldn’t kick people out if they stayed a few minutes after that.
From what she could tell, all the customers had left. Heart slamming against her ribs, she approached the front door with its frosted glass inset and knocked.
Trent opened it seconds later. “Hi.”
“Hi.” She stood there staring at him. Was he the answer to her dreams or a bitter disappointment?
“Come on in.” He stepped back, a push broom in one hand. “I’m just finishing up.”
And???She curbed her raging impatience. If it were her, she’d have blurted out her answer the minute they came in contact after their explosive coupling and mind-bending discussion on Saturday night.
Trent wasn’t like that. Duly noted. The sound system was on, and the song just ending was Chris Young’s It Takes a Man.
The song was about pregnancy. Her breath caught. Was that a coincidence? Then Lullaby by the Chicks came on. Heart thumping, she turned to him. He gave a slow nod, and she lost it. Running across the floor, she threw herself at him, knocking the broom from his hands.
His strong arms tightened around her.
“Thank you,” she blubbered, her throat tight. “You won’t regret this.”
His soft chuckle tickled her ear. “Wanna bet?”
She pulled back and gazed into those warm brown eyes. “You won’t. I’ll see to it.”
“Don’t make promises.” He cupped her cheek. “This is uncharted territory for both of us. We don’t know how it’ll work out.”
“I guess not. But I’m so grateful. I can’t even begin to tell you?—”
“Let me finish up, okay? Then we can get outta here.”
“Okay.” She eased away from him. “I’ll just go twirl around on a bar stool.”
“Do that.” He grinned. “I’ll only be a moment.”
“Just so you know, I walked here.”
“Then I guess I need to take you home.” He said it casually, as if taking her home had no special significance. Picking up the broom, he went back to sweeping the floor.
“That would be lovely, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.”
She perched on the bar stool but didn’t twirl around. She was too busy looking at Trent, her knight in shining armor. The father of their child.
He reached for a dustpan and swept debris into it. “How was Glacier?”
“Gorgeous. We had a blast.”
“Glad to hear it. I opened a college fund at the bank today.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No, ma’am.”
“But I’m not even pregnant yet.”
“You will be.”
His confidence made her shiver in anticipation. She couldn’t believe he’d said yes, though. He’d been so dead-set against it when he’d left Saturday night.
“Why did you decide to do it?”
“My parents opened one for each of us when?—”
“Not the account.”
“Oh.” He kept sweeping. “I talked to Dallas.”
“And he was in favor?” That would be a shocker.
“Not even slightly. But arguing with him helped me see it was the right move.”
“Is he upset?”
“He’s not overjoyed, but he’ll support me.” He glanced at her. “Support us.”
She gulped. “That’s huge. I didn’t stop to think about the reaction we’ll get from friends and family. Will he tell Angie?”
“I told him he could, but to keep it between the two of them for now.”
“I need to tell my mom.”
“And I’ll tell my folks while they’re here for the wedding. You’ve met them, right? You must have. You made that comment about them getting along well.”
“I did meet them. Liked them a lot. It’s funny that I remember them from Angie and Dallas’s wedding but I don’t remember you.”
“Probably because Rance was determined to find me dates and I was just as determined to sabotage his efforts.”
“Are you planning to say anything to him? You two are close.”
“I won’t, not yet. I’d like to get past Desiree and Andy’s wedding.”
“Understood. I’m glad you’ll have a chance to talk to your folks in person, though. I don’t want this pregnancy to look like an accident.”
He nodded. “I’m guessing your mom will want to meet me as soon as you tell her.”
“She will. But don’t be worried. She’s not scary. If this is what I want, she’ll go along.”
“That’s where Dallas stands. He thinks it’s crazy, but in the end, he’s on my side.”
“Do you still think it’s crazy?”
He stopped sweeping and looked at her. “It’s totally insane. It’s also the best idea I’ve heard in forever.”
“Yeah?” Her heartbeat quickened.
“Yeah.” His voice softened. “We’ll have a great time making this baby.”
The heat in his eyes set her on fire and she gulped for air. “Except it’s not about having a great?—”
“Why not? This isn’t a science experiment. We’re not combining elements in a test tube. We’re going to create a baby the old-fashioned way. That’s what you wanted, right?”
“Y-yes.”
“So I’m gonna love the hell out of you for the next few nights and I’m really looking forward to it.”
She trembled. “There’s no guarantee it’ll happen during that time.”
“Are you saying I’ll have to keep making love to you if we don’t get it right? Damn, woman. If I’d known you were planning to put me through that kind of torture, I?—”
“Stop it.” She grinned. “I’m just trying to manage expectations.”
“Then manage this. I’m in, whether it happens this month or not. We’ll keep trying until we achieve the goal.”
“Thank you for that.” The prospect of additional attempts didn’t bother her. Sounded like fun.
The glow in his eyes intensified. “But you’ll be pregnant by the end of the week. And we both know it.”
Her body clenched in response to the waves of sexuality rolling off him. Oh, yeah, she’d picked the right man for the job.