14 #2
“You can tell me anything. I’ll always keep your secrets safe.”
Love was there in her eyes, and in the earnest way she spoke. It was another reason to love her.
Lightening things a little, he promised, “I don’t cry myself to sleep anymore, just so you know. That ended after only a few
months, thank God.”
Subdued, she didn’t share in his humor.
Right. Best to get on with it. “The thing is, the memories, the need to be better . . . that’s still there—except I don’t think about it as much when I’m
with you.”
“Then stay with me,” she urged softly, pressing another kiss to his face.
Do this right, he reminded himself, so he got back on track. “I thought I had my priorities lined up. Independence, so I could be my own man. Respect from others, so they’d know I was nothing like my folks. Even now, wanting to be with you, I figured I’d keep my apartment and get it fixed up.”
“But, Kam—”
“I needed you to know that you had options.”
“What do you mean?”
“You could kick me to the curb and not feel bad about it.” Because he had options, too. He was self-reliant, and he didn’t
need her favors. He didn’t need help from anyone.
What a dumbass he’d been.
“I would never,” she said, affronted by the very idea.
So freaking cute. For the sake of her seriousness, he kept his smile at bay. “But you could. You bought a house, moved in,
and you were all set to live on your own until I finagled an invite.”
“I never saw it as finagling.”
“Are you kidding? The way you made me work for it?”
“I didn’t want you to feel obligated.”
“Guess we’ve danced around each other enough, huh? So here goes. That apartment means nothing to me. I love your house, everything
about it. If you want me to stay here—”
“I do.”
“Then I’d love to stay with you. But I pay my own way. I don’t have the same resources as the McCallahans, but I have a decent
savings account, my job is solid, and someday, I may even take over the business. I have a retirement plan.” He cupped her
face. “I have options, so you have options.”
Her lips started to curve . . . but then her gaze shifted away and her warm sigh touched his mouth.
Kam sensed her gearing up for something. “Hey.” He recaptured her gaze, then held it in his own. “What’s wrong?” He was about
to tell her he loved her, but her mood had definitely shifted.
“Do you remember, at the hospital, when I said you and Addie might hate me?”
Without knowing why, the question put him on edge. “By now you should know you were wrong.”
The way she dampened her lips drew his attention. “I need to tell you something.”
Okay, forget kissing her right now. This sounded serious. “Is that so?”
“It’s something . . . big. And important. I should have told you before now, but I . . . So much has happened.”
Needing to brace himself for whatever was about to come, he sat back. Given her injuries, Glory couldn’t do the same. She
looked small, fragile, and painfully vulnerable. “You love me,” he said. It seemed important to reiterate that.
“Yes, I do.”
Just as he’d hoped, hearing it again helped to ease the gripping tension in the back of his neck. He released a tight breath,
knowing he could handle anything else. Once he learned what he was up against, he’d take care of it.
After smoothing her silky hair behind her ear, he let his fingertips drift around the injury on her cheek, and tipped her
chin his way. “No time like the present, right? Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it.” Right now, he was as happy as a man could
be. He wasn’t about to let anything change that.
Maybe if she’d suspected the day would go like this, Glory would have been better prepared. She’d planned on Kam getting home
after a nice outing with the kids. They’d eat, chat, and then she’d tell him that she loved him, just as Glenda had suggested.
Instead, Mike had struck again—twice, apparently—and her regrets were adding up. She was both afraid of what might happen
next and equally determined to level with Kam. He deserved to know about the baby.
What a jumbled bunch of confusion.
When she hesitated, he said, “I won’t hate you, and Addie doesn’t hate anyone.”
“No, she doesn’t. At the hospital, I blamed my melodrama on the meds, but all I’d had was Tylenol.”
A puzzled frown settled into place. “It’s not melodramatic to be upset after a bad wreck, especially with your injuries.”
How unfair to keep him worried, waiting. Well, no more. By staring into his eyes, she was able to borrow some of his strength,
enough to get out the words. “I’m pregnant.”
An arrested expression froze on his face seconds before he reared back and stared at her midriff. A series of reactions flashed
by in rapid order. Disbelief, consternation, humor, shock. His attempt at a smile didn’t quite make it. Neither did his frown.
Glory cleared her throat. “I know it’s a surprise.”
“It’s . . . something.” He couldn’t seem to get his attention off her belly. “You aren’t joking?”
“Would I joke about that?”
“Probably not.” He sucked in a big breath, held it, then blew it out with a whispered, “Pregnant? You’re sure?”
The hard pounding of her heart should have hurt, but instead, it just left her nervous. “They checked me at the hospital.”
She was so unsure of her next steps and what to do. Kam said he wanted to be with her. But that was before he knew it wasn’t
just her.
She would be a mother.
He would be a father.
“I thought about telling Callie, but I couldn’t. Not before I told you.”
He audibly swallowed. “So no one knows? I mean, besides you.” He added with suspicion, “Since the wreck?” Then he shook his
head. “No, you’re right. It’s been chaotic.”
He was probably in shock after the way she’d just thrown that at him. “Miserable timing on my part, I know. You’ve already had a rough day—”
“But it wrapped up with you saying you love me.” His face went blank again. “No wait. Guess it’s wrapping up with you telling
me you’re pregnant, right? And you knew before we even left the hospital?”
“You seem hung up on that part.” And he sounded on the ragged edge. “I wanted to tell you, I swear.” She wanted to shout it
to everyone. “Between the wreck and my injuries, and stupid Mike causing trouble . . .”
“Hey.” His hand, big and warm, settled against her cheek. “I get it, babe. It was a lot coming at you all at once.”
How could he be so understanding? She didn’t even understand herself. “Still, that’s no excuse.”
“I’m just sorry you’ve been dealing with this all on your own.” His thumb brushed her lips, and he leaned in to lightly kiss
her, then stared at her middle again. “You didn’t even tell Callie?”
“She’s so happy with Tanner and her new life, and I don’t want to bring my problems to her.”
New worries filled his green gaze. “A baby is a problem?”
“Your baby,” she explained, in case he hadn’t understood the ramifications.
“Yeah, I figured.”
His even tone and the mild way he said it further confounded her.
Glory stared at him, lost to his thoughts, having no idea how he felt about it. “Kam . . .”
“It happened in the front hall, didn’t it?” Relaxing back into his seat, he settled very near to her. “We stepped in the door
and immediately got carried away.”
Deadpan, she said, “Oh, good. You remember.”
His mouth quirked into a grin. “Remember, think about, and relish.” He skimmed a kiss over her cheek, her jaw, and up to her ear. “You rocked my world. It was like a fantasy come to life. I’m sure when I’m too old to get it up anymore, I’ll still be remembering it fondly.”
Good Lord, she’d just told him they’d be having a baby, and he wanted to joke around?
Drawing back again, he looked at her. “Answer me, Glory. Will a baby be a problem for you?”
Adamant, she shook her head. “No.” The love she already felt for the life growing inside her left her no doubts. “It’s everything
else that worries me. Not the baby,” she hurried to explain. “I can afford it.”
“I assumed so.”
“I’ve already considered ways I can adjust my schedule. That is, once I’m able to go back to work.”
“Then let’s start with the biggest worry. Mike, I assume?”
Yes, Mike scared her. She didn’t know who else might get hurt before he was out of her life. She didn’t know when he’d show
up, what trouble he’d cause, or when it would end.
At this particular moment, though, Kam was her biggest concern. He’d just agreed to give up his goals, his apartment, and
she’d tossed something new—and very serious—at him.
“I love your family, Kam. You know I don’t have one of my own. I have Callie’s mom and dad, and I love them, but it’s not
the same.”
By way of agreement, he said, “Liz isn’t the nurturing type.”
She never had been, though she’d been amazingly attentive with Glory’s recent injuries. “Addie’s been so kind to me, and Tanner
is like the brother I never had.”
“Just so we’re clear here: I’m not your brother.”
She choked on a laugh, then flinched at the discomfort. “Believe me, I’m well aware.”
“Hey, don’t do that.” Helping to readjust her, he fixed the pillow behind her and straightened the quilt over her legs. “No emoting in painful ways, okay? I can’t bear it. When you hurt, I hurt.”
That caused her to snort.
Grinning, he continued, “Okay, so I don’t feel your physical pain, but I swear, babe, it devastates me, so let’s keep this
discussion calm and even.” His large palm cupped over the slight curve of her belly, lightly caressing. “There’s a baby under
those broken ribs, and I’m certain he doesn’t want you hurt any more than I do.”
“Do you want a boy?”
“Or a girl.”
“Well,” she said, “odds are good for either.”
This grin was bigger, with pleasure overtaking the residual shock. “Addie won’t hate you, not ever, so forget that.”
“I’ve brought so much confusion.”
“No, that’s on Mike, not you. Plus, Tanner loves Callie more than life, and in every way possible, she considers you her sister.
We’re all glad that you’re here with us and not facing Mike on your own.” He kissed her temple. “Tell me the real problem.”
No one could be that obtuse. “I’m not married.”
“Like that’s a requirement.” The snarky comment felt like a slap.