Chapter 13
Homemade lemonade. Trent could tell by the tiny seeds that drifted to the top after he poured it into two ice-filled glasses.
Did Brittany like to cook? Her well-stocked refrigerator, the cookbooks lined up on the counter and the number of utensils in a crock by the stove indicated she did.
She was also neat, judging from the tidy kitchen. The living room had looked cozy, too, although he’d been too focused on getting her into bed to pay much attention.
What about her job? It startled him that he had no idea what she did for a living although he’d spent some incredibly intimate moments with her. Dallas probably knew but he hadn’t thought to ask.
Probably wouldn’t have even if he’d thought of it. Dallas wouldn’t be impressed that he had so little knowledge of the prospective mother of his child. Except he knew she’d be a good one.
He based that partly on her magnetic personality and her strong ties to the community, but also on her healthy relationship with her own mother. She wasn’t afraid to tell her mom about this plan because she could count on her support and understanding. That said a lot about how she was raised.
But he should know what her job was, for crying out loud. He found a tray and put the glasses on it. Then he spied a ceramic cookie jar in the shape of an apple. Lifting the lid, he breathed in chocolate chips. Okay, those cookies were going along, too.
When he walked in with the tray, she’d propped herself up with a couple of pillows stacked against the headboard.
She took one look at the tray and started laughing. “You found the cookies.”
“They found me. Did you bake them?”
“Yes.”
“Are we allowed to eat them in bed?”
“Depends. Are you messy?”
He liked that answer. Yep, she’d be a good mom. “I’m a bartender. We’re trained to avoid messes.”
“That only tells me you won’t spill your drink.”
“I brought us each a plate. I promise to lean over it when I eat them. I also found coasters for the lemonade.”
“So far, so good. I’m tallying up points on the dad scale.”
“It’s a little late for that. You could already be pregnant.”
“I’m not.”
“The night’s still young.” He carried the tray to her side of the bed and put down a coaster on the nightstand before setting the lemonade on it.
“Not really. We’re creeping up on midnight.”
“You getting sleepy?” He walked to the other side of the bed and deposited his drink and the tray.
“Not me. You?”
“Not a chance.” He arranged his pillows the way she had hers and climbed in. Then he passed her a plate with two cookies on it. “You couldn’t know this, but chocolate chip is my favorite kind.”
“I’d be surprised if it wasn’t. It’s the favorite of more than ninety percent of the people in this country.”
“Now you’re talking like a marketing researcher.”
“Which is what you do, right?” Head over her plate, she bit into her cookie.
“Yes, ma’am.” He followed suit, making sure not to drop any crumbs. She’d taken the time to learn how he made his living. The minute he finished chewing this delicious cookie, he’d ask about her job.
“Ella said you’re working on a project for Lucky, an expansion of the bookstore to another town.”
He nodded. And took another bite. Couldn’t help it. “Good cookies,” he mumbled through a mouthful.
“Eat up. You need the energy. You’re doing all the work while I just lie there.”
“Hardly.” He picked up his lemonade and took a long drink. Awesome lemonade, too. “And once the deed is done, you’ll be doing everything while I loaf around.” He’d meant to ask her a question. About what?
“Will you want to come to the doctor appointments?”
“Absolutely. And anything else you need a lift to. I checked out cribs and playpens online, but we could drive up to Missoula and see what they have. And car seats. We’ll each need one of those.” And he had a question about… something?
“Mom still has my crib and playpen, but I’ll definitely need a car seat. The regulations have all changed.”
“Your mom kept those things for you?”
“She did, and yes, that might be one of the reasons I’m so keen on having a baby.”
“Because she’s mentioned wanting grandchildren?”
“Never. She wouldn’t want to imply it’s my job to provide one. But I’ve seen how she looks at babies whenever we go somewhere together.” She polished off her second cookie and picked up her lemonade. “I’m glad you brought those. I was too nervous to eat dinner.”
“I wasn’t all that hungry at dinnertime, either. The cookies hit the spot. Thanks.”
Setting down her lemonade, she glanced at him. “I have stuff for breakfast, just in case, but we haven’t talked schedules. How long were you planning to stay?”
“As long as you want. I’m self-employed.”
“Well, I’m not, but I don’t have to be at work until nine. Normally it’s eight, but my eight o’clock cancelled.”
That was what he’d wanted to ask! And she’d handed him the perfect opening. “What is it you do, exactly?”
“You don’t know?”
“No, ma’am. I’m embarrassed to say I have no idea. I should have asked Lucky. Or Dallas. I failed to do that. I’ve heard you were a big hit as Casey Cougar. For all I know you’ve been hired to keep bouncing around the gym because they can’t find a decent replacement.”
“Nailed it.” Her blue eyes gleamed with mischief.
“In that case, I want to see you in that outfit.”
“That could be arranged. They gave it to me since the next Casey was a guy who was three sizes larger and the head didn’t fit him, either. They presented it to me in a special ceremony after the last game of the year.”
“Yeah, I need to see you in that.”
“Now?”
“It can wait. But I still don’t know what you’ll be doing starting at nine in the morning.”
“I work for Doc Bradbury.”
“Ella’s dad?”
“No, but you’re not the first person to make that assumption. Ella’s father is Doc Bradley, one of the last great general practitioners. Doc Elaine Bradbury is a dentist. I’m her hygienist.”
“Bradley and Bradbury. What are the chances?”
“It’s confusing. Sometimes newcomers think they’re married to each other.”
“So you’re a dental hygienist.” He automatically ran his tongue over his teeth. He hadn’t been in for a cleaning since he’d left New Jersey.
“I recognize that guilty look in your eye. Don’t worry. Your teeth are beautiful. Sparkling, even, which gets me hot. The grin you flashed me from behind the bar Saturday night dampened my panties.”
That tickled him. He lowered his voice to a seductive murmur. “And they’re all mine.”
“Oooo, baby.” She fluttered her eyelashes at him. “Do you brush and floss those sexy teeth?”
“I do.” He gave her a slow, suggestive smile. “Regularly. Wanna watch?”
“Oh, yeah. Especially if you’ll let me put my fingers in your mouth.”
“Only if I can put my tongue in yours, pretty lady.” And now he wanted to.
She met his gaze and her blue eyes darkened to navy. “Just your tongue? What about your?—”
“I have other plans for that part of me.” He shifted toward her and rose to his knees. Slipping his fingers through her luxurious dark hair, he cupped the back of her head and tilted her mouth up to meet his.
With a soft moan, she slackened her jaw and welcomed the thrust of his tongue. The sound brought an instant response from his cock.
As he continued to kiss the daylights out of her, she began a slow slide downward. He followed, keeping his body aligned above hers until she was lying beneath him, her thighs parted.
He had no trouble finding her warm, wet channel. When he glided slowly in, he thought his head would explode. A frantic pounding in his ears told him his heart was working overtime.
And he couldn’t breathe. He lifted his mouth from hers and sucked in air. “This… this…”
“Is intense.” Her breath feathered his damp lips and her fingers dug into the muscles of his back.
He didn’t dare reach for a pillow. The movement could make him lose focus and come. Instead he engaged his core and tucked his hands under her, lifting her as he pushed deeper.
She gasped.
Bracing himself, he waited for her climax to erupt like it had before. When it didn’t, he began to move, clenching his jaw as the pleasure mounted with each stroke. He had no words, only guttural sounds that blended with her soft, rhythmic cries.
He looked into her eyes and saw his own raw emotions reflected there. Her lips parted. She tensed. Then, with a wail, she came, her contractions rippling over his cock as he bore down.
He thrust once more, and again. Then he turned himself loose, driving in and holding on as his powerful spasms joined hers. He yelled like a man possessed.
Maybe he was a fool who’d end up with a ton of regrets. Worth it.