Chapter 36
Never trust a man who makes three dinner reservations.
Terri
“Congrats, sprite!” Nolan shouts when I open the door. He smiles, but the twinkle in his blue eyes is missing.
Before I have a chance to ask what’s wrong, he kisses me. The world falls away with his lips on mine and his tongue in my mouth. There’s no worry about my new job. No worry about the baby. There’s just this.
All too soon it’s over, and he pulls away.
“These are from the team.” He shoves a bunch of flowers at me.
“The team ready to stage a riot?” I giggle.
“The team’s a family. Always there for you. Annoying sometimes.” Pain flashes in his eyes, but he blinks and it’s gone. “I made reservations for our celebration. You ready?”
“Reservations where?”
“First, I thought the resort since it has the fanciest restaurant on the island. But then I worried you might not want to eat where you work. Then, I thought Smuggler’s Cove Restaurant but Gage warned me about the Smuggler’s Reenactment Dinner.
You are not being kidnapped – pretend or not.
Finally, I realized we didn’t finish our picnic the other day when we were playing mini golf and thought we could do a picnic. ”
I wag a finger at him. “You can’t blame the thunderstorm on me. I’m not Poseidon. I don’t rule the sea.”
“You claimed a thunderstorm was on the way when I was finally catching up to you. There wasn’t one drop of rain.”
“Blame the radar.”
He chuckles.
“What did you decide in the end?”
He rubs his nose. “I couldn’t decide.”
“You couldn’t decide?” Realization hits me. “You made reservations at the resort and Smuggler’s Cove Restaurant, didn’t you?”
The tips of his ears darken. “And I brought a picnic basket in case you want to have a picnic at Prohibition Beach.”
“I’m not eating at the beach. I have to pee every five minutes, and there are no public toilets. I’m too old to put on a bathing suit and wade into the water every time I need to go.”
He chuckles. “Is that what you usually do?”
My cheeks warm but I answer anyway. “Yep. All the smugglers do.”
“Okay. No beach. We’ll save the picnic for after the little mermaid arrives.”
My hand automatically drifts to my stomach. “I can’t wait for my stomach to pop.”
His hand covers mine. “Me either. You’re going to be even more gorgeous.”
My eyes narrow. “You’re only saying that because my boobs keep getting bigger.”
He shrugs. “I’m a man.”
I rake my gaze over him. He’s dressed in khakis and a button-down shirt. The shirt strains against his shoulders, and he’s rolled up the sleeves to showcase his sexy forearms.
Sexy forearms? Since when are forearms sexy? Apparently, since now.
He growls and steps closer. He pinches my chin and lifts my head until our gazes clash. His eyes flare with passion and heat.
“Do not look at me like you want to eat me or we won’t be getting any dinner.”
My nipples tingle at his deep voice. “I’m on board with this plan.”
He kisses my nose before retreating. “I’m not. You need food. Our little mermaid needs food. No distracting me.”
I bark out a laugh. “Me? I’m the one distracting you?”
He motions to me. “You’re standing there all sexy with your hair I know is soft as silk around your shoulders. You’re wearing a strapless dress that makes me want to kiss your naked skin. And your dress hugs your chest in all the right ways. I—”
I slap a hand over his mouth. “If you insist on having dinner first, you need to stop now.”
He licks my hand and I squeak before dropping it. “Okay. Dinner. Where do you want to go? The resort or Smuggler’s Cove Restaurant.”
“Let’s go to Five Fathoms Brewing. I’m in the mood for a burger.”
“Five Fathoms it is.”
I quickly put the flowers away and lock up my house. He grasps my hand and leads me to his SUV.
I tug on his hold. “It’s a five-minute walk.”
He scowls. “Are you sure?”
I growl. “If you’re saying I can’t walk five minutes because I’m pregnant, we’re going to have words.”
“Just making sure you’re not tired. You had a busy day.”
I blow out a breath. “You are not kidding. Jana found out I accepted the position of Resort Operations Manager and she immediately began training me to take over from her. I think she wants to leave earlier than the three months she told Hudson.”
“What did you think of the work?”
I grin up at him. “I liked it. I like the overview. Don’t get me wrong. I’m good at the details, but I will not miss brides calling me at two a.m. to complain the color of the napkins is space cadet and they ordered midnight blue. No one can tell the difference!”
He chuckles as he opens the door to the brewery for me. I notice his wince, but I don’t remark on it. Not yet.
“Hi, Addy!” I greet the hostess with a wiggle of my eyebrows. “How’s Gage doing?”
She grunts. “This island is too small sometimes.”
She’s been itching to escape since forever. But she’s helping to raise her siblings and refuses to move.
I place a hand on my stomach. “I think this island is the perfect place to grow up.”
Her gaze drops to my stomach. “Congrats, by the way.”
I sigh. “This island.”
She barks out a laugh. “Not as fun when it’s directed your way, is it?”
I stick my tongue out at her. “Do you have a quiet table?”
“For you and the handsome baby daddy? Sure. Follow me.”
She grabs some menus and leads us to my favorite table. It’s in a little alcove beyond the bar. Most people don’t realize it’s here since you’re shielded from the view of most of the visitors in the restaurant.
Nolan pulls out my chair before sitting across from me. “Can we get a bottle of non-alcoholic champagne?”
Addy laughs. “Non-alcoholic champagne? In a brewery? On an island obsessed with moonshine? Sure. Coming right up.”
“Stop being a pill,” I tell her. “There’s non-alcoholic champagne leftover from the Foam & Fable Storytelling Night. Mayor Lana insisted on non-alcoholic after she read some article about Gen Z not being drinkers.”
“I forgot about that.” She groans. “Lana made graphs and gave us a lecture.”
“Lana does love to talk.”
“And get married. Hint. Hint. Nudge. Nudge.”
I glare at her. “Go get the champagne. This is not a marriage proposal. I got a new job. We’re celebrating.”
“That’s right. You’re the new Resort Operations Manager at Hideaway Haven Resort. Congrats!” She hurries away before I can thank her or complain about how gossip travels faster than a mermaid can swim.
“Does everyone know everyone’s business on the island?” Nolan asks once we’re alone again.
“Pretty much. Smuggler’s Hideaway is basically a small town. Except it’s an island and we have three small towns.”
“And you’re obsessed with moonshine and mermaids.”
“Mermaids, yes.” I pat my stomach. “Moonshine not so much.”
Addy arrives with a bottle of non-alcoholic champagne. “You’re lucky. The bartender keeps a bottle chilled since he claims one of the owners is always getting pregnant.”
Nolan appears confused.
“Five Fathoms is owned by five women. They used to be hell-raisers. Now, they’re all settled down,” I explain.
Addy snorts. “They’re still hell-raisers. Didn’t you hear about how they dissected the plastic mermaid at Mermaid Mini Golf?”
Nolan barks out a laugh. “They sound fun.”
I wag a finger at him. “Don’t go getting ideas. They’re all in committed relationships.”
“As am I.” His words sound like a vow.
“Oh boy.” Addy fans herself. “I’m going to leave you two alone now.”
Nolan opens the bottle and pours us glasses.
I raise mine in the air. “To the future!”
Pain flashes in his eyes.
I slam the glass on the table. “That’s it. What’s going on?”
He clears his throat. “We’re celebrating your promotion.”
“And yet you look like I’m forcing you to walk the gangplank at gunpoint. What is it?”
He blows out a breath. “I don’t want to ruin your celebration.”
“Nolan,” I growl.
“Fine.” He reaches across the table to grasp my hand. “I didn’t want to tell you this way but it’s important you know before I say the rest.”
“Know what?” I ask when he pauses.
“I love you.”
My heart batters against my chest and breathing becomes impossible. “You did? I mean you do? I…”
He smiles and for the first time this evening it reaches his eyes. They sparkle. “I love you, Terri Jordan. I love how stubborn you are. I love how beautiful you are. I love how strong you are. I love how you care for everyone around you. I want to build a life with you and our little mermaid.”
Happiness fills me. This is exactly what I want. What I’ve been afraid to reach for. But Nolan broke through all my walls. My defenses had no chance against his pursuit.
I swallow. “You want to build a life with me?”
He nods.
“But your career.”
He grimaces. “My career is over.”
“Since when? You literally went to practice today.”
“I can’t keep doing it.”
My brow wrinkles. “Doing what?”
“Playing with my shoulder.”
“Your injury? I thought it was better.”
“It’s manageable, but it’s not better.”
“And so you’re quitting?”
“I’m not quitting. I’m retiring.”
“Now? Before the Super Bowl?”
“Yes, before the Super Bowl.”
Before the Super Bowl? All he’s talked about all summer is the Super Bowl. How he’s leading the team. How it’s the Seals’ year.
And yet he’s quitting. Because of me.
I won’t be his regret. I won’t ruin his life. The same way pregnancy ruined my mother’s life. No. I won’t allow it. “Would you have retired if it weren’t for me and the little mermaid?”
He grimaces. It’s all the answer I need.
“You wouldn’t have. You would have kept playing. You would have had a chance at the Super Bowl ring you’ve been dreaming of your entire life. I’m not allowing you to sacrifice the goal you’ve been working on for years.”
“You’re not allowing me to do anything. I made my decision.”
“A decision you wouldn’t have made if it weren’t for me.” I stand. “I can’t do this. I can’t ruin your life. We’ll co-parent.” I place a hand on my belly. “The little mermaid is as much yours as mine, but this relationship is over.”
He jumps to his feet. “I tell you I love you and you end our relationship? This is not how things work.”
I wipe the tears falling from my eyes. “I’m sorry, Nolan. I can’t do this.”
I rush away and practically slam into Addy. She places an arm around my shoulders and leads me to the back hallway and into the office.
“Sit. Relax. Stress isn’t good for the baby.”
The baby. I need to think of the little mermaid. I place my hand on my stomach and inhale deep breaths until my tears slow.