Chapter 34
There’s nothing like knowing the offensive line will riot for you.
Terri
My phone beeps and I groan. I am not ready to get up. I am entirely too comfortable laying in bed with a big football player wrapped around me. Those are words I never thought I’d say.
I never thought I’d open myself up to a relationship with a man. Not a real relationship with feelings and a baby.
The idea of being vulnerable enough to open up to a man has fear racing through my veins. I’ve been low-key terrified since I found out I was pregnant. Falling for the baby’s dad was never part of the plan. But here we are.
Will he stay? Will he abandon me if something happens to the baby? Will he…
I squeeze my eyes shut and force those thoughts away. Nolan has proven he’s here to stay. He’s constantly doing sweet things for me, such as bringing me Chinese food or making sure my fridge is stocked. He even cancelled his March obligations to make sure he’s available when the baby arrives.
I can’t keep second guessing him. It’s not fair to him.
My phone beeps again. Nolan squeezes my middle. “Answer your phone, sweetheart. It might be important. What if it’s your dad?”
His words have me flying toward my phone. “Dad?”
Hudson chuckles. “Don’t think I’m old enough to be your dad.”
“Sorry,” I apologize to my boss. “What do you need?” I check the time. “At eight in the morning.”
“We need to meet. I thought we could do a breakfast meeting.”
My stomach drops. Meet? Why would I need to meet Hudson? Usually, he stops by my office whenever he needs to talk.
Shit on a smuggler. He’s firing me. He found out I’m pregnant and doesn’t think I can handle the job anymore. You fall asleep at work one time. Okay, two. But whatever.
I won’t make this easy for him. Firing someone for being pregnant is against the law.
I clear my throat. “When and where?”
“I booked a private room for nine.”
“See you then.”
I hang up the phone and throw it on the bed. “Drowning pirates!”
“What’s wrong? Is it the baby? What do you need?” Nolan jumps out of bed and pulls on his jeans. “I’m ready. Where are we going?”
I blink up at him. “Ready? You’re wearing jeans but no shoes or shirt. No shoes. No shirt. No service.”
“This isn’t a time to joke. What’s happening?” He pulls on his shoes.
“Slow down. This doesn’t involve you.”
He growls. “I thought we were past this. You and this baby involve me. End of discussion.”
“It’s about my job. Hudson’s going to fire me.”
“Fire you for what?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Breaking his rule about having a relationship with a guest of the resort? Getting pregnant? Falling asleep at my desk twice? Take your pick.”
He scowls. “None of those things is reason enough to fire you.”
I lift an eyebrow. “I broke a rule. A rule he is very serious about.”
“This is my fault. I’ll talk to him. I’ll smooth it out. I was planning to talk to him anyway.”
“No. This is my job. This has nothing to do with you.”
“Except you literally just said you’re getting fired because of me.”
I wag a finger at him. “This is not about you. It’s about me breaking the rules.”
He blows out a breath. “You broke the rule for me.”
“It was still my choice.”
“Fine. I won’t go with you. But I’m driving.”
“You’re going in the opposite direction, and I need my car so I can get home later. Don’t you have a meeting with Coach Knox today?”
He swears under his breath. “I forgot.” He checks the time. “I can make you something to eat before I go.”
“No need. I’m having a breakfast meeting with Hudson.”
He pulls on his t-shirt before sitting on the bed to tie his shoes. “Will you let me know what happens?”
“I will if you will.”
“Deal.” He presses his mouth to mine in a hard kiss. It’s over entirely too quickly. “Call if you need anything. I l…” He cuts himself off with a shake of his head. “Be careful.”
I watch him walk out with my mouth hanging open. Was he going to say he loves me? Does he love me?
My heart pounds in my chest as excitement and fear battle for top billing in my body. Holy mermaids. The man I’m falling for might love me. But what if…
I shut those thoughts off and climb out of bed. I am not letting fear rule me. Not today.
At five minutes to nine, I march into the private dining area. I spent the entire time I was getting ready and driving here forming arguments for why Hudson can’t fire me. Why he’d regret it.
I come to a screeching halt when I notice the amount of food in the middle of the table.
Hudson stands. “I wasn’t sure what you’d want. And I know how much pregnant women need to eat.”
Wow. This is amazing. Instead of telling him how amazing it is, I bark out: “You can’t fire me because I’m pregnant!”
He holds up his hands. “Fire you? Why do you think I’m firing you?”
I fist my hands on my hips. “Because I’m pregnant. And the father is a football player on the Steel City Seals team. And you expressly forbade us from getting involved with the players.”
He threads a hand through his hair. “My wife has given me so much shit for making that rule.”
“Remind me to send Nova a bunch of flowers.”
He motions to the chair across from him. I debate standing my ground, but my mouth is watering at those cranberry pancakes. The cranberry syrup is made with pure maple syrup and is to die for.
I sit across from him and add a pile of cranberry pancakes to my plate. “Please wait until I finish these before firing me. Cranberry pancakes are holy.”
He chuckles. “I wouldn’t get in between a pregnant woman and food. I’m not an idiot.” He clears his throat. “And I’m not firing you.”
I pause with my fork near my mouth. “You’re not?”
“Nope.”
I chew on my bite as I study him. “Then, what’s with the breakfast meeting? We never have unexpected meetings.”
“I have an offer for you.”
“An offer? Does Nova know?”
His cheeks darken. “Actually, it was her idea.”
“Are you into pregnant women?” My nose wrinkles. “I’m not interested in a threesome. I don’t care how hot you are. I’ve got my own hot man.”
He chuckles. “Is every woman on Smuggler’s Hideaway crazy?”
I shake my fork at him. “And damn proud of it!”
His face sobers. “I want to offer you the position of resort operations manager.”
My eyes widen. “Operations Manager? That’s a big promotion.”
“You’d still oversee events but at a more supervisory level. You’d also oversee guest services and hospitality staff.”
My stomach tingles with excitement. This is a big promotion. More responsibility. More money. More reasonable hours.
Reasonable hours? I glare at Hudson. “Is this a pity hire?”
“What?”
“You know I’m pregnant. You don’t want me working all the crazy hours I do now. You offer me a promotion.”
He growls. “I would never offer anyone a promotion they didn’t deserve. You’ve been overseeing events for years already. And with Jana leaving, this seemed the perfect time to promote you.”
“Jana’s leaving?”
“Gave me three months' notice yesterday. Which gives you enough time to hire and train your replacement.”
My brain immediately goes into problem solving mode. “I want to offer the job to my assistant, Nadia. She hasn’t been at the resort long, but her instincts are good.”
He shrugs. “It’s your decision. Does this mean you’ll accept the job?”
My phone beeps with a message. “Excuse me. I need to make sure this isn’t an emergency.”
I talked to the team. We’re ready to walk out of the resort if Hudson fires you.
“Huh. I guess I don’t have a choice. I accept the job.”
His brow wrinkles. “What do you mean? You don’t have a choice?”
“Nolan organized the team. They’re ready to walk out if you fire me.”
He sighs. “Damn quarterbacks. They always think they’re in charge. Are you prepared for how he’ll try to control your life and manage everything?”
I snort. “He can try.”
The offensive line is making protest posters now.
“I need to stop Nolan. He’s now organizing a protest.”
“Quarterbacks,” he mutters.
I message back.
No need to protest. I got a promotion. I’m the new resort operations manager!
Congrats! I’ll tell the team to stand down. I’ll be by tonight to celebrate. I’m so fucking proud of you, sprite. You deserve this.
Warmth spreads through my body. He’s supporting me. Not pushing me. Not directing me. Supporting me.
I’m the luckiest woman in the world. I woke this morning in bed with the man I love, and now I have the promotion I’ve wanted for years. Nothing can stop me now.