Perfect Fling (Serendipity's Finest 2)

Mike rose to his feet. “She’s got an entire family willing to step up and help her. If you’re going to break her heart, don’t hang around.”

The other man hovered over him, but Cole wasn’t intimidated and refused to rise from his seat or take the bait. “Wasn’t it you who just said bailing on a kid leaves lingering scars?”

Mike glared at him. “It sucked but I dealt with it. All it took was the love of a good woman. Take a hike if you can’t handle it. Erin will find someone worthy of her to step up in your place.”

Cole’s stomach twisted, and he glared at the man he had thought was a friend. “And now we get to the real point. I’m not good enough for your sister.”

“You said it, man.”

Cole set his jaw, willing himself not to launch into anything physical. “I suggest you leave before we both say anything more we might regret. I’m that baby’s father and I’ll be around in whatever capacity Erin and I decide. Deal with it.”

Cole chose this moment to rise to his feet.

“I’ll be watching over my sister, Sanders. And over you.” With that, Mike stormed off, leaving Cole alone to wait for Erin, his entire body tight and wired.

It didn’t matter that half of what Mike said echoed things Cole had thought himself. Hearing someone else say it only made it that much more real, and he was glad he had time to cool off before Erin was finally brought out in a wheelchair.

By then, Cole had calmed down, although her brother’s words reverberated in his brain. Mike had said plenty, but the one thing that hit Cole hardest was the idea of Erin with another man. But with her in front of him, he had to focus on the present—taking a groggy, hurting Erin back to her place.

In the car, she remained silent, and when he glanced over at the passenger seat, he realized she’d fallen asleep.

Watching her, his lips curled into a grin. She was exactly the girl he remembered, innocent and sweet. That she’d been a wildcat in bed, a perfect match for him in every way, in no way detracted from the fact that she was still pure of heart. Her brother knew her well, whether Cole liked it or not. But she was in his life for good, that much he knew. So was his child. A lifelong commitment he hadn’t planned—and the thought made him break into a sweat.

Pushing those thoughts aside, he gently woke Erin up and helped her out of the car and to her condo unit. Injured or not, he was way too aware of her as a sexy female. She wore a soft tank top under a cream silk blouse, which hung loosely off her slender frame. Thanks to the surprisingly cool August temperature, her nipples were puckered and visible through the sheer top, and he figured he was a pig for noticing when she was in such bad shape.

But he was a man, and she leaned against him as he walked her from the car to her house, upping his awareness of all things Erin. From the fragrant and still-familiar scent of her perfume to the way her hair fell loosely around her face, he was struck by her fragility and how much he wanted to take care of her.

The thought caused him to catch his breath and nearly trip. He ground to a halt, pausing for a minute.

“Bedroom’s upstairs,” Erin said, misreading his sudden halt.

He wasn’t about to correct her assumption. “Thanks,” he said, heading up the short flight of steps and into the master bedroom, where he helped settle Erin on the bed.

Around him, the room was a mixture of feminine touches, silk flowers, and small accessories, and sturdy light wood furniture.

“Cole?” She opened her hazel eyes and focused on him.

“Yeah?”

“I just . . . Thank you,” she said softly, and peered up at him with such trust that his entire body absorbed the warmth floating through him.

“You’re welcome,” he said. “Now rest.”

She was out cold before he left the room.

Once downstairs, Cole ran a hand through his hair, feeling more like he was in the twilight zone with every passing minute. A pregnant woman. A stubborn pregnant woman. One he was more than attracted to, even in her disheveled, injured state. If anything, seeing her vulnerable and hurt triggered something in him he’d never felt before. Moving in with her was a mistake.

Unfortunately for him, he had no choice.

• • •

Erin woke, immediately aware of excruciating pain in her arm and the sound of male voices coming from downstairs. She dragged herself out of bed and stopped in the bathroom, groaning when she got a look at her face. One-handed, she washed off what was left of her makeup, brushed her teeth, and headed downstairs to deal with the men in her life.

She found Mike and Sam seated at her kitchen table, stacks of folders around them, Cole hovering in the background. She recognized her work documents, many of them confidential, open in front of Mike.

Furious, she cleared her throat. “Just what do you think you’re doing?”

Mike glanced up, his expression not the least bit remorseful. “I had your recent and open cases sent over. I want to figure out who’d have a stake in getting you out of the way or scaring you into backing off.”