He shrugged again, forking up eggs at a speed that impressed and fascinated me. Big guy like him had a huge appetite in more ways than one apparently.
I pressed my thighs together at the sudden ache between them.
Settle down, down there. Not the time or place. You already practically mounted him for all to see.
“You know, I wonder if August is aware his little sister is looking for a baby.”
I tucked into my eggs for another minute or so until the worst of my hunger was slaked, then tilted my head. “The guy who owns the furniture place?”
“Yeah. Aug’s a good guy. Just imagining how I’d feel if my baby sister Maddy was on the lookout for a baby daddy. Of course she’s only seventeen, so that’s unlikely, but still.”
“Perhaps he should feel like it’s none of his business?” I suggested sweetly, refilling my coffee mug and taking a sip.
The coffee burned my tongue, which probably served me right for putting that wounded expression on Murphy’s face.
“I didn’t mean there was anything wrong with it.”
“No.” I sighed. “I’m sure you didn’t. It’s just a sensitive subject. Especially when I can’t help feeling like some people equate baby daddy with sugar daddy, and that’s so off base, it’s silly.”
“Yeah, considering you wanted takeout on that score, it definitely doesn’t make sense.”
I smiled despite the lingering flare of annoyance. Saying that methods of procreation were a touchy topic for me didn’t begin to cover it.
Then again, it was probably good Murphy wasn’t one hundred percent perfect in everything he did and said, though he was damn close. I didn’t want to fall in love with him.
I didn’t, right? That wasn’t part of the plan.
For him or me.
“Takeout is the last resort for a lot of us, trust me. If the option for a healthy, loving relationship presented itself, most of us would happily go for it. But it’s hard out there for a pimp, man.”
Murphy’s lips twisted. “Yeah. Tell me about it.”
“Most of us still want the fairy tale, Murphy.” I looked down at my plate. “What you offered me a few minutes ago was more than I ever expected. Considering my past, it just wasn’t something I thought was a possibility, and I didn’t want to regret not trying to have a child when I have so much love to give. Sure, it might happen for me later. But what if it doesn’t?”
“What if,” he echoed, setting down his fork to take my hand again across the table. That firm grip centered me faster than any amount of pretty words
ever could. “As for that date I want to take you on, I’d like for us to have a fancy dinner. Maybe do some dancing, though I suck at it. Then I want to take you home and make love to you.” He didn’t blush. Didn’t look away. “I want very much to give you those things.”
My lips trembled into a smile. Maybe I preferred his touch to pretty words, but he had a way with those as well. “I want them too. When?”
“Saturday night?”
I squeezed his hand and took a shaky breath. “You have yourself a date.”
Fourteen
Vee
Cabin Fortress: I can’t get you off my mind.
Vee: Ditto. What are you wearing tonight?
Cabin Fortress: Um…pants and a shirt?
Vee: Can you be more descriptive, pls? I’m planning my outfit.
Cabin Fortress: I haven’t thought about it yet. I guess a nice vest, shirt, and pants. We’re going to a nice place.