Now And Always (Crown Creek) by Theresa Leigh

Author:Theresa Leigh [Leigh, Theresa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-02-11T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-One

Ethan

She fit against me like a dream. I held her as her breathing slowed, and her body relaxed, her head growing heavy on my arm.

All I wanted was to have her fall asleep like this. With my free hand, I traced a trail up the hills and valleys of her hips and waist and then up to her silken hair. She liked to be petted, I’d noticed. Like a cat. And I wanted Claire purring.

Pressing a kiss to her shoulder, I whispered, “Are you asleep yet?”

“How am I supposed to ever sleep again?” She bit back a yawn.

“I know, I get it. Now my dreams are never going to measure up to reality.”

“Wow, good line. Were you always this smooth?” she wondered, laughing.

“I could ask you the same thing,” I teased, running my hand back down her silky skin. "Literally though, were you always this smooth?"

"Another great line. Damn.”

I chuckled and slid my hand around her stomach, intending to pull her closer.

She stiffened. Her muscles tightened as she sucked in, drawing her belly away from my touch.

I didn’t know what to do, so I kissed her shoulder again. And waited.

“Everyone already assumes it’s yours,” she blurted.

I froze. I didn’t mean to draw my hand away. But I did, and she let out a shaky breath.

“Don’t cry,” I begged. "Not after what we just did."

"I wish it was yours,” she spat. “I fucking wish it was.”

I held perfectly still.

What would she say if she knew I'd claimed this baby as mine the moment I knew she was pregnant. Even before she'd admitted it to herself, I’d put myself in the position of father. Of Daddy. I took care of her so she could take care of my child, but I hadn't allowed myself to think of it that way because it wasn't actually mine

“Claire?”

“Yes, I do know who the father is,” she said tightly.

“I wasn’t saying—”

“And no, he doesn’t know,” she continued.

I stayed still. I almost forgot to breathe, I was holding myself so carefully, perfectly still.

She rolled onto her stomach and propped herself up on her elbows. She searched my face for something, and when she didn’t find it, she shook her head in confusion. “You’re not going to ask me who?”

“It’s not my business.”

“It kind of is.”

I frowned. I’d never needed to ask her anything, because Claire always told me.

She always told me.

She flopped onto her back. Her arms dropped behind her head in a gesture of surrender, and she stared at the ceiling.

“Remember that fight we had?” she asked.

“No.” I tried to pull her closer. “I’m sure it was stupid, and it doesn’t matter anymore.”

She barked out a laugh. “Of course you remember, don’t be an idiot. It was at the Crown. The week before Halloween.”

She was too stiff to hold now, so I flopped back onto my back too. It was my turn to stare at the ceiling, because of course I remembered. “You were pissed at me for standing up that girl you wanted me to date.

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