Chapter Two #2
“You could have sent word, Sunny. I would have helped you.” Aaron let her move to the other side of the bed, giving her some space.
Every fiber of his being wanted to pull her back into his arms and never let her go, but wasn’t that why he left in the first place?
Wanting Sunny was never his problem. He wasn’t good for her.
Hell, he wasn’t good for anyone. He would be a horrible husband and probably a shitty father.
But that didn’t make him want to walk away—this baby was his responsibility.
He wanted to help Sunny, and he wanted to try to be a father to their daughter.
The thought of having a little girl left a lump of emotion lodged in his throat; he had no clue what to do with a daughter.
“Sure, I could have forced Tag to tell you, but he didn’t want to get involved. And what would you have done when you found out? Would you have come back into town and taken care of me? Would you have taken care of this baby?” She barked out her laugh as if mocking him with her words.
“Yes, I would have fucking taken care of you both, but I wasn’t given the chance. You kept our baby a secret from me. Why, Sunny? Were you afraid that I couldn’t handle being a father or that I’d be a shitty one?” Sunny gasped as if he slapped her.
“Oh, Aaron, is that what you think? I know that you are going to be a fantastic dad. I just didn’t want to be your obligation.
I was a one-night stand, and then she happened.
” Sunny rubbed her belly, and God, he wanted to touch her again.
“You don’t have to worry about us, Aaron.
We’ve done just fine without you, and we will continue to be fine once you leave again.
That’s the plan, right? You’re going to leave again? ”
Aaron knew that Sunny was right. She was fine without him, but dammit, he wanted her to need him just a little bit.
He planned on going back out to California.
He was training future firefighters, and at last, he felt important, like he was finally fulfilling his purpose.
Five years ago, he almost quit, but Tag convinced him to keep going.
Aaron knew that he had done everything that he could to save his team, but the guilt of losing so many men stayed with him.
Tag was the one to help him through all the painful goodbyes.
His best friend went to all fifteen funerals with him, standing by his side, helping him through it all.
Tag was also the reason why he stayed in Harvest Ridge and tried to lay down roots.
But then Sunny happened, and when a California station called to ask him to train some of their forest fighters, he jumped at the chance.
Finding Sunny pregnant with his child threw a monkey wrench in his plans to go back to training firefighters in California.
He knew that he couldn’t just leave his child and move on as if she didn’t exist; it was just not who he was.
He wanted his little girl to have her father around; he at least owed Sunny that.
“No, Sunny. I’m not leaving again. I’ve decided to stick around, and the station said that they could add me back to the team.
” It wasn’t a total lie—his captain called him just about every week to ask him to come back to Harvest Ridge.
“So, I’m not going anywhere.” She squinted at him as if she didn’t quite believe what he was saying.
“And when did you decide to stick around, Aaron? Was it before or after you found out I’m carrying your baby?” Geez, Sunny looked downright pissed. She was never like this before, crying one minute and angry as hell the next.
“I’m sticking around, isn’t that what you want to hear? Or do you still feel that I’m not good enough to be a father?” Her anger fizzled to pity, and he almost wanted her to be mad again. Angry Sunny, he could handle. The woman who sat before him now, pitying him, just plain threw him off.
“You know what, do what you want to do. Just know that I don’t need you to stick around for our sake.
” Sunny rubbed her huge belly, driving home her point.
“We’ve gotten this far without your help, and we’ll be fine for whatever life throws our way, won’t we, baby girl?
” Aaron didn’t answer her—he wasn’t sure what to say.
A part of him was jealous that she had already bonded with their daughter and was even talking to her, and he didn’t even know that she existed.
“God, you’re a pain in my ass, woman! I’m sticking around town. I’ll be here to help you with our daughter because I want to be a part of her life. You’re going to have to get used to sharing, honey,” he spat.
“Yeah, if that’s not the pot calling the kettle black!
How dare you make this my fault—you left us.
” Sunny shimmied down the bed, trying to find the floor.
It was almost comical watching her try to maneuver with her giant belly.
Aaron at least had the good sense not to laugh at her struggling to escape the bed.
“Fuck!” Sunny shouted. She lay back, practically on top of him, seeming to give up.
She was breathing hard, and he felt bad for thinking the whole scene funny.
She was having a hard time. He cupped her belly, rubbing what he assumed was his daughter’s foot.
“When are you due?” His voice was almost a whisper. If they were going to make this work, he was going to have to make some concessions. One being that he couldn’t bully his way through. Sunny wouldn’t go for him telling her what to do; she was always very independent.
“In three weeks, but the doctor says I may have to go early. I’m so tiny and she’s so—big.” He chuckled, rubbing Sunny’s belly, loving the feel of her in his arms.
“I’m sorry that I wasn’t here, honey. I’d give anything to have been here to help you get ready for our baby. But you are just as much to blame here as I am. You should have told me.” She heaved out a sigh.
“I know that, but it’s hard to talk to someone when they go out of their way to avoid you. After our night together, you treated me like I had the plague. You wouldn’t talk to me, and you barely noticed my existence.” Sunny sobbed, and he pulled her into his arms.
“I noticed, baby. I was just too busy being a stubborn asshole that I didn’t think about what my actions were doing to you.
I’m sorry.” She sniffled and wiped her nose on his shirt, causing him to laugh again.
He couldn’t remember the last time he smiled, let alone laughed.
God, he missed her. If he didn’t play his cards right, she would never let him back in.
He needed to tread carefully with his next question; otherwise, he stood the chance of pissing her off again.
“Tag told me that you are back at home, living with your parents.” Sunny nodded against his chest. “I’m guessing it’s a little crowded with all of your brothers and sisters.
” Sunny had four brothers and three sisters.
She moved away from home as soon as she turned eighteen.
First, she and Piper did some traveling after high school.
When they got back to Harvest Ridge, she took over her grandmother’s bakery and renamed it Sunny’s Buns.
“My mom persuaded me to move back to the farm, saying that it would be best for me and the baby. She’s going to help with her while I have to work. I’ve also hired a new girl to help me with baking in the morning. I’ve gotten too big to do everything around the bakery.”
“Well, it must be crowded at your parents’ house.” Aaron knew he was fishing, but Sunny still didn’t catch on.
“Yeah, the baby and I will share a room with Willa—she’s a heavy sleeper. What’s with all the questions?” Aaron shrugged, going for nonchalant.
“I’m just thinking out loud here, but I still have my loft, and it does have three bedrooms. Why don’t you move in with me?” Sunny squinted her eyes again, this time giving him a warning that he had pissed her off.
“No,” Sunny said. She finally waddled to the end of the bed and stood. Still a little woozy, she put her hand to her head.
“Dammit, Sunny, sit down.” He pulled her back down to bed. “I think you need to be checked out. When was the last time you ate?” Sunny didn’t answer at first, and his growl echoed through the room.
“Fine, I ate breakfast, but nothing since.” She crossed her arms over her chest, and he couldn’t help but notice how much bigger her boobs were.
“Fuck, Sunny, you need to eat. It’s past dinner time.
” She wanted to protest, but as soon as she opened her mouth, he sealed his lips over hers, pulling her into his body.
And Lord help him, she felt right in his arms. It was as if she had completed a puzzle that he had been working on for years.
He broke away from their kiss, leaving them both breathless.
“First, I’m going to feed you. Then, I’m taking you to the doctor to make sure that you and our baby are okay.
After that, we are going to your parents’ house.
I will help you pack up your stuff, and I’m taking you back to my place.
You need help with our baby? Well, here I am, honey.
” He stood in front of her, his arms open wide.
“But I can’t—” He covered her mouth with his hand before she could get out another word.
“You can and you will, honey. We are going to share custody of this baby, and for the time being, she will have both of her parents under one roof, taking care of her. This baby is more important than our differences.” Sunny bit his fingers, and he swore.
The little minx was going to give him trouble at every turn.
“Fine,” she shouted. “I’ll move in with you under one condition,” she said.
“All right, let’s hear it.” He held his breath. Did she just agree to move in with him?
“I get my own room, and we are just two people raising our child together, strictly platonic.” He wanted to balk at her suggestion, but the look on her face made him reconsider.
He knew that the chemistry between them was bigger than Sunny’s stubborn streak.
He didn’t want to scare her off before she even packed her bags.
He would move her into her own room, and then they could see where things ended up.
Judging from the kiss that they just shared, she wouldn’t be in her own room for very long.
At least this way, he could help with the baby and be involved in both of their lives.
“All right,” he agreed.
“Good.” She held out her hand to shake on it. He took her hand in his, noticing her shiver at his touch. “Just two friends living together, raising this baby,” She added. Sunny wrapped her arms around her belly, driving home her point.
“Sure, honey. If that’s the way you want it.
We’re just two friends, living under the same roof, raising our baby.
” Aaron smiled down at Sunny; he couldn’t help it.
The thought of trying to tame someone as free-spirited as Sunshine Francis was going to be difficult, and he was always up for a challenge.