Pit Stop: Baby! (Crescent Cove 4)

Her eyes twinkled as she licked cream cheese and jam from the side of her hand.

“That’s gross.”

“Don’t knock it till you try it.” She ripped off a piece and held it out to me.

I took her wrist and licked the blackberry jam from her thumb. Her chewing slowed and her dark eyes got that look. The one that made me want to toss her over my shoulder and drag her back upstairs.

But that wouldn’t help us get to know one another.

I knew she kept slotting me in the sperm donor role. I wanted her to see I was more than that. I needed more than that. And that meant I needed to keep my dick in my pants for at least most of the night.

God save me.

I took the piece of bagel and huffed out a surprised moan.

“Good, right?”

“That sweet and savory thing. I’m a fan.”

She smiled as she took another bite. “I know, right?”

“Is that a craving thing? Or you just like it?”

“No. One of my roommates was from England. Seems they do this on English muffins. Also delicious. Of course I don’t think they call them the same thing.”

“Just a muffin?”

She wrinkled her nose. “Smart ass.”

“Anyway, she got me to try it. It took me longer to say yes, by the way.”

“I pretty much like most food, unlike my brother. And traveling all over, I learned that weird food didn’t always mean bad. Though some of it really does. Grits? Yeah, still a hard pass no matter how my buddies dress them up down south.”

“Texture,” we both said in unison.

“Exactly.” I picked up my toasted cheese sandwich. I was going to look like one. I pretty much ate it every other day since I’d had lunch with Rylee that first day I was in town. Hard to believe so much had changed so fast.

I swallowed hard as Ry licked her thumb again. “Sure that bagel is enough?”

“I’m going to bribe Macy for some of her sweet and savory popcorn mix.”

“So that’s a thing then?”

She shrugged. “I guess. I never really thought about it, but I have been eating a lot of sweet and salty things lately.”

“Speaking of.”

“All baby, all the time, Kramer.”

“I was just thinking about the parents thing. We should tell them. Maybe together?”

Her brows lifted. “Hey, mom. Meet my baby mama Rylee.”

I reached across the table and covered her hand. “Would you stop with that? You’re more than that to me. I don’t think you get that.”

She started to pull her hand away, but I held it tight. “Why?”

“Why not? You’re bright, funny, stupidly beautiful, and we clicked since that very first night.”