Pit Stop: Baby! (Crescent Cove 4)

Don’t leave us.

A shiver went through me and I rubbed my forearms to ward it off. “There’s new security measures, you just said it yourself. It’s safer, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it’s safer. But there are no guarantees. And Jesus, Rylee, I have a kid on the way. Do you honestly think I want to be out there pushing my luck every day? Before, I didn’t see it that way. Rarely thought about the danger at all. Now I can’t help thinking of all I have at home.” He pushed his hand through his hair. “I didn’t understand why Dare quit. I didn’t get it back then. Now I do.”

Tears were constricting my throat and I wasn’t sure if I could force the words out. “You’re worried about us and I appreciate that so much. But if we hold you back from what we love, you’re going to resent us eventually. You won’t be able to help yourself.”

“Don’t you get it yet? I don’t love racing anymore.” He shoved his chair back from the table. “I love you, Rylee.”

Twenty-Two

Rylee stared at me as if I’d just shocked her down to her toes.

Because she was the most stubborn woman I’d ever known, I probably had.

I rose from the chair I’d pushed back and walked to the sink. I didn’t have far to go since her kitchen was the size of the bathroom in our new place.

My new place right now. But I still had hope.

I was stubborn too. Had to be to deal with Ry.

“Is this because I’m pregnant?” she asked finally.

I didn’t turn to face her because I was afraid I wouldn’t be rational. She tended to push all my buttons, and when I had my pants on, I didn’t always appreciate it.

“You mean do I love you because you’re carrying my child?”

“Don’t make it sound so…intimate.”

“It is intimate. Christ, woman. How does it get any more intimate than that?”

My beautiful pain in the ass didn’t respond.

“No, I don’t love you because you’re pregnant. I love you because you’re strong and smart and determined and I never know what you’ll throw at me from one moment to the next. And I love you because you want our baby as much as I do. You want to be the best parent you can be even though you’re scared shitless. Just as I am. And I love you because I’m clearly a little bit crazy.” I huffed out a breath. “That cover it?”

She pushed to her feet and started clearing the table. I still didn’t look at her, but I heard her doing it and it pissed me off. Then she slammed her platter on the wood. “We’ve only known each other since before Christmas. You can’t possibly love me yet.”

“No? Is there a date when it’s allowed? Tell me and I’ll pretend I don’t until then if it suits you.”

She surprised the hell out of me by laughing. “I’m trying to be reasonable.”

“Why start now?”

I expected her to rail at me. Instead, she laughed again. “You’re right. We haven’t been reasonable from the fucking start.”

“It’s still better than me delivering you a pizza. That’s only started like what, fifty pornos? And look at Dare and Kel. They’re blissfully happy and don’t give a crap what anyone thinks.”

“That’s the only dumb thing Kelsey’s ever done though. Well, minus dating Tommy the loser, but that’s over with. Me, I’m the queen of dumb moves. It’s so not the same.”

“You’re going to have to tell me what’s dumb about finding the love of your life and settling down and being happy. Because I’m not following.”

“What if you’re settling? If you’re confusing hot chemistry and cute baby toes with a lifetime love? How can we possibly know so fast?”

“How does anyone know? There’s no goddamn guarantees for anything on this planet, huntress, and e

specially not when it comes to finding the perfect person for you. Not someone who’s perfect, period, but perfect for you. Huge difference.”

“Super quick to say I’m not perfect, weren’t you?”