Perfect Fling (Serendipity's Finest 2)

“Erin?” Faith asked softly.

Meeting Cole’s gaze, Erin gave him a tiny nod back.

But he saw how awkward things had become and he didn’t want her to think he was dumping it all on her. “Erin’s pregnant. You all would’ve figured it out soon enough,” Cole said, reaching out a hand toward the water.

The tightness in her face gave way to relief. She clasped his hand and climbed out to stand next to him. “We’re having a baby,” she told them.

There. It was out, Cole thought. Dizziness that had nothing to do with the heat assaulted him as the women around them shrieked. The other guys came running to see what the commotion was all about. As they found themselves the center of attention, they were separated by the surprised well-wishers patting Cole on the back and kissing Erin’s cheeks.

He accepted the congratulations, ducked most of the questions, and finally managed to catch Erin’s gaze. She appeared flustered and overwhelmed by the attention and when she lifted a hand and tugged on her ear, he knew he’d read her correctly.

“Hey, Nick, you going to show Erin and me that house sometime this century?” Cole called out to his cousin.

Nick caught on quick. “Yeah. Let’s go through the house so I can grab my keys. Everyone go back to your regularly scheduled programming,” Nick ordered.

Cole grabbed Erin’s hand and pulled her away from her well-meaning, question-hungry friends.

“Hurry back,” Kate called to their retreating backs. “The natives will be getting hungry soon.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Nick grumbled, but even Cole could hear the good-natured chuckle behind the words.

With Cole’s hand on Erin’s back, they followed Nick to the house.

Erin didn’t say a word but Cole sensed her need for peace, quiet, and space. If she didn’t get better after the house tour, he’d make their excuses and get her home. Ironic, that she was the one who’d needed to get away from the crush of people, not him.

Surprisingly, even between Nick’s pushing Cole on personal issues and the public reveal of Erin’s pregnancy, Cole didn’t feel a hint of the anxiety he’d anticipated. They drove to his cousin’s place and walked around the massive house, which Erin loved, and the tour seemed to draw her out of her shock. Nick had even had a decorator come in and furnish it, so selling the house really would be like selling a model home.

While Nick explained each room and the extras he’d built in, Cole’s mind drifted and he contemplated the day further. Cole hadn’t been the outsider he’d expected to be. Everyone talked to him, wanting to catch up and make friendly conversation. Shockingly, Cole had been not just receptive but he’d also enjoyed hearing what was going on in old acquaintances’ lives. In return, some of the guys suggested they meet up for drinks at Joe’s or that Cole join them for poker one night soon.

Cole’s conclusion was startling. When he didn’t withdraw into himself or put himself on the fringe of the crowd, he seemed to be accepted readily enough. Which made him wonder if his reception on his return was more about his own behavior toward everyone else rather than their feelings about him.

It would be something to think about if he’d planned on sticking around. But he didn’t. He ignored the sudden uncomfortable feeling that arose at the thought of leaving Serendipity.

Twelve

Erin was exhausted. She lay her head back against the seat while Cole drove them home. Boy, would she miss this chauffeur service when his time was done. She couldn’t believe how quickly she’d gotten used to being taken care of. Such a dangerous proposition, but at this moment, as she kicked off her shoes and curled into the seat, she couldn’t bring herself to care.

Although she’d long since accepted being pregnant, she hadn’t thought about the world knowing. The exposure had taken everything out of her. So had watching the happy couples. Families, she amended. A melancholy sadness washed over her for what she’d never have with the father of her child. But Erin knew once the exhaustion went away, the sadness would go with it, to be replaced by her determination to make the most of their time together and see where things led.

After all, Erin had always prided herself on being a go-with-the-flow kind of person. All things considered, she’d dealt with the pregnancy news, the shooting, and the stalking, and she hadn’t fallen apart. Yay her. Maybe it came from having such a stable family behind her, something Cole didn’t, and which he’d admitted had affected how he viewed life.

She sighed and closed her eyes, determined to let sleep overtake her, at least for the ride home. Better than talking about what was bothering her, something Cole, with his perceptive personality, was sure to notice.

Unfortunately, her mind was too worked up to slow down and just be, even for a few short minutes, but she kept her eyes closed. Just in case.

Of course, her thoughts went to Cole and that moment before they walked into Nick’s, when she’d caught the hint of vulnerability in his expression. She was as attuned to him as he was to her. She hadn’t expected him to admit why the day would be difficult for him, but he had. He’d let her in a little more.

And in the end, he’d not just survived the day, but he’d found a place with these people—if he wanted one.

Please let him want that place with them, but most of all, with me, she thought. Because though she wouldn’t let herself use the word, not even in the most private recesses of her own mind, she was falling in . . . everything with Cole Sanders.

Even if she couldn’t sleep, she let the lull of the truck soothe her wayward thoughts until she felt the familiar set of turns into the condo complex and, finally, into her driveway.

“Stay here.”

Cole’s voice pulled her out of her stupor, and she forced her heavy eyelids open to see two police cars in front of her house, lights flashing. Her neighbors had congregated on their lawns. Cara and Sam, who’d left Nick’s before Cole and Erin had arrived for their evening shift, stood on her front porch.

Erin threw open her car door and headed for her brother.