Her Motherhood Wish (Parent Portal 3)

Because it would end what had only just begun?

He’d assured her he was always going to be around. Because of Alan. But a lot of people raised kids without really even speaking to each other.

“It’s a cookout on a private stretch of beach not far from here, actually. Retro and I are going to be heading there as soon as we drop you off.”

“Okay.” She really didn’t need a blow-by-blow accounting.

“I’m the host,” he continued, stopping in the sand to look up at her. She met Retro’s gaze. The dog sat and was staring at her as though she knew something was coming.

“It’s for my crew and their families.”

She got it. He had plans...

“I can’t take you,” he said, his voice changing, and she finally looked up at him. At the short, bushy blond hair, the smoothly shaved skin, those eyes that showed her so much more than his words said.

She read regret there. And she was starting to understand.

“Because they’d think we’re an item.”

“Yes.”

“You don’t want people to see us together.”

Regret surged through her, now, too. Something else they shared.

“We can’t be an item,” he said. “That’s my boundary.” He was still holding her gaze, his face just so incredibly beautiful to her. More than handsome...he was it. The man to her woman.

“We can’t be a couple.”

She’d known that.

And a flower in her soul wilted.

“And I can’t have casual sex with you.”

His honesty broke through to places in her heart no one had ever been before.

“I don’t think I’d find sex with you casual, either,” she said, needing so badly to kiss him even as she said the words, but knowing just as strongly that she wouldn’t.

“Other than that, I have no boundaries.” In that split second, everything changed. Instead of doors closing, it felt like Wood had just opened them. Wide.

“So...we’re friends.”

“I can see you being the best friend I’ve ever had.”

“Yeah, me, too,” she said. Smiling. Retro moved, nudging against Wood’s thigh, and hers. As if to say she wanted to be included in their

relationship, too.

To give them her blessing.

Or to stop them from doing something they’d both regret. Like stepping half a foot closer and actually touching.

“And as for Alan...as I said, I want you involved, Wood, if you want to be. I’m not saying that your opinion will reign supreme or anything. I always have the final say because the ultimate responsibility is all mine, but I want you to weigh in on any major decisions. If you want to be consulted.”

“Always. Anything. Major, just big or really small...”

She had more to say...tried to keep her mouth shut...but couldn’t. “I’m thinking about telling him from the outset that you’re his father,” she said. “In today’s world, with so many different lifestyles, we can help him understand that while you aren’t part of our family, you are family to him.”