Lucky Baby (Crescent Cove 11)

“That I do.” He nodded at Butch. “Who’s your friend?”

I lifted up B and set her on Cohen’s good leg. “Meet Butch. She’s my feisty fur baby. Well, my guy’s baby, but she’s mine now too.”

Not our only baby, but one thing at a time.

“Well, hey there, Butch.” He gave me a raised brow. “Her?”

“Long story. My guy is sorta odd sometimes, but I like him.” I propped my elbows on my knees and tucked my chin in my hand. “Actually, I love him.”

B burrowed into my brother, her tail swishing against Cohen’s track pants. “Whoa? Love him?”

“Yep.”

“The big guy who came to the memorial?”

“That’s the one.”

“Well, if you’re happy...”

“I am.” It almost seemed like tempting fate to say it, but I was learning to let myself enjoy whatever this was between us. Trying to anyway.

Kinder, gentler Tish was still a work in progress, but luckily, my guy was patient.

“He seems pretty protective of you. That’s kind of interesting.”

My palms were now officially sweating. “I’ve got a little more news for you.”

“Uh oh.”

“You know, since I kept the other thing from you.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Yeah.”

Time to just go for it. “You’re going to be an uncle.”

“What?” He set Butch on the arm of the chair and scrambled to his feet. “Oh, shit. Fuck. Shit. Ow.”

I laughed and sat up straighter. “Careful.”

“Dammit, I haven’t been doing my exercises.” He hissed and rubbed his leg. “Uncle?”

“You should be doing your exercises.”

“And you should know better about birth control.”

“Yeah, well, that’s a story too. I live in a strange little town that seems to be a tad baby-crazy.”

“It’s gotta be if you got knocked up.”

“Hey.”

He laughed. “Can you grab my cane?” He grimaced. “I can grab it myself but—”

“Let me help.”

“You sure, preggers? You don’t need to strain something.”