14 #3
A tiny flame of annoyance ignited. Was he being deliberately mean? “I’ve been a disappointment my entire life! First, to my
parents, then to Callie’s parents. I don’t want to disappoint them again.”
“Fuck ’em.” Despite the dismissive words, his touch remained gentle, his smile more so. “Tell me the problem.”
The tiny flame flared brighter. “You.” Her voice rose and her breath huffed. “You’re the problem!”
As if he’d known all along what she would say, he nodded. “So we’re clear, I’ve always wanted my own family.”
“You have Addie. You have Tanner.”
“A mom, a brother, and now Callie as a sis.” Nodding his agreement, he added, “I thank God for them every single day.” His
intent gaze moved over her face. “It’s not the same as my own little family, though.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re telling me you want the baby?”
“Damn right I do.”
“But . . .” She wanted to ask, Do you want me? The words got stuck in her throat.
When she said no more, his expression turned guarded. “Do you want the baby?”
“Yes.” Until she saw his shoulders relax, she hadn’t realized how stiffly he held himself.
“Do you plan to marry me?”
Next to wanting her baby, she wanted that the most. Marriage, her own home, an opportunity to show the world how a baby should
be loved, how family should be. “Is that what you want?”
“I love you, Glory. Of course, I want to marry you.”
Her world changed, all her irritation evaporating, crowded out by pure joy. “You love me? Really?”
“You being who you are, how you are—I never stood a chance.”
Her smile came with a small, flustered laugh. “I’d like to both smack you and kiss you.”
The sincerity of the moment kept his own smile at bay. “I vote you just go on loving me.”
“Guaranteed, but . . .”
“But nothing.”
“I’m such a mess. Largely out of commission, with a dirtbag hot on my heels. And look at me.”
“I love looking at you.”
That made her heart flutter. “I mean . . . I know I look awful.”
“Silly, Glory. Your appeal isn’t only your very pretty face. It’s those eyes that always look vulnerable but also ready to
take on the world. The mouth that begs to be kissed, even while giving me a hard time.”
She smiled.
“And that. The smile that always reaches inside to poke at my heart.”
“I don’t poke.”
His level look said otherwise, in the nicest possible way. “It’s also you, Glory, the sister who always has Callie’s back.
The woman who thinks about a dog when she has broken bones and cuts. The caring soul who immediately forgives a kid who landed
on the wrong track even when it caused her pain.”
Is that how he really saw her? She felt her eyes growing damp, knew tears would only make her look worse, but these were happy
tears, and she couldn’t seem to control them.
“The daughter,” he continued quietly, “who loves, even when the pseudo mom offers more criticism than care.”
“Liz has been terrific lately.”
Pleasure curled his mouth. “Loyal, sexy, strong—and now carrying my baby.” One hand covered her stomach. The other cradled
her cheek as he leaned in to kiss her. “Everything will be fine; you’ll see.”
“How can you be so sure, when I’m so unsure about it all?”
“Easy. If we’re together, I can figure out the rest.”
She frowned at him, kissed him, and said, “You mean we can, right?”
“Yeah.” The intimate smile showed in his eyes, if not on his mouth. “That’s exactly what I meant.”
Kam had doubted that she’d be able to sleep. He’d doubted that he would sleep. But here it was, morning already, and he’d only stirred awake when PB stretched.
Once settled together on the couch, the dog had joined them. Funny how much Kam adored the little pooch already. She was a
cute, smart thing, quickly learning that she needed to be easy around Glory.
He hadn’t lied about feeling her pain. If he could have taken it for her, he gladly would have. Seeing how slowly she still
had to move, how shallowly she breathed, and the bruises . . . She’d healed a lot, proven by how she’d gotten around yesterday,
yet parts of the left side of her body remained badly bruised. It amazed him that only two ribs had fractured.
“Hey, sweetheart,” he whispered to PB, stroking a hand down her back and then rubbing her velvet-soft ears. “Need to take
a leak, huh? Me, too.” Trying not to disturb Glory, who slept on, he set the dog on the floor and then got to his feet.
Glory looked boneless, slumped as she was against the corner of the couch, carefully propped in place with soft pillows so
she wouldn’t unnecessarily jar her ribs or shoulder. Her tangled fair hair half concealed her face, but he could see her pink
lips, slightly parted, and the fading bruise that remained on her left cheek. One lax hand rested over her lap. As if reaching
for him, her right hand was on the couch beside her.
They’d both slept more soundly for a change. Only once had he been awakened by her movements, but even then, she hadn’t fully
stirred, merely shifted a tiny bit. He hoped that meant she was indeed healing, her pain lessening a little each day.
The love he felt for her was enough to level him. And now there was a baby, a tiny son or daughter, binding them together. Glory had been carrying that weight on her own. It was his fault that she hadn’t immediately trusted him enough to share with him. He’d fix that somehow.
She was it for him, the one woman he wanted to love for the rest of his life.
Yet, somewhere out there, Mike was plotting something. It was enough to make his muscles clench.
Knowing he couldn’t keep PB waiting, he snagged his phone off the end table and gave a pat to his thigh. PB fell into step
with him. He detoured to the bathroom, saying, “Sorry, girl, but me first.” Next, he stepped into the extra bedroom and pulled
on flannel pants but nothing else. He didn’t want to push his luck with the dog, but he also didn’t want to face Mrs. Simmons
in his boxers.
So far, PB had been terrific about going outside, but no reason to take chances, so he was ready in under a minute. After
hooking the leash to the dog’s collar, he led her out the back door. The dew-wet grass, in need of a cut, smelled fresh. Even
this early, the September air felt muggy. It’d be another scorcher for sure. When he glanced up, he thought it might also
be stormy. He imagined Glory sweating and grinned. She’d probably hate it, but to care for the dog, she’d face the heat.
That reminded him, he needed to speak with her about using extra care. Maybe it was the need to hold on to his happiness,
but he had a bad feeling that things with Mike were spiraling out of control. With that thought in mind, he checked the time
on his phone, then called his brother.
Tanner answered with, “Everything okay?”
“Yup. Just taking PB out and figured I’d check in.”
“Got it. I don’t know if you saw the weather report, but we’ll have storms all day, so I’m buttoning things up around here.”
“Need any help?”
“Nope. But you’ll be pleased to know that Kirby is coming by again. After talking with him a while, I’ve decided to hire him myself.”