Daddy Undercover (Crescent Cove 9)

Caleb nodded. “Understandable. If I got news like that, I’d be in denial too.”

“I wasn’t in denial exactly.” I blew out a breath. “All right, I was. It was a big shock. But now she’s here, and well, I love her. I’m so glad she’s mine.”

“Congratulations, man,” Moose said while August nodded in agreement. “She’s so cute. Will be a heartbreaker someday.”

“No, she won’t, because I carry a gun and I’m adding on a basement to lock her in so she can’t date.” I grinned as she reached up to tug on my whiskers. That was a new trick of hers. “Oh, and she’s also a genius. So, for the rest of you dads—sorry, suckers. Mine’s smarter than yours.”

Moose smiled. “Brayden could say ‘Da’ at five months. Come talk to me when she beats that.”

“Hmm.” Pushing that tidbit aside, I gave them my most encouraging smile. “Since you’re all here, you can help me set up something.”

August rubbed his hands together. “Oh, a crib, maybe? A Ladybug Treasures original. The line’s really taking off,” he added. “I’m going to be putting even more items in our shop.”

“That’s great. You do amazing work. I probably will contact you for one of those soon. Let’s go into my bedroom.”

Caleb shook his head. “Nah, man, I don’t really do the orgy thing. But good for you.”

I ignored him as I stepped into the hall and led the way to the master suite. Once I was inside, I shifted my now quiet daughter to my other arm and pointed toward the glass sliding doors to the deck.

“You’re all going to help me with a very important task. It’s baby’s first photo shoot time.”

“Say what?” Mason glanced at the deck. “You called all of us over here to help you arrange the kid on a bearskin rug?”

“It’s a pelt of fake snow, ass. And no, I wanted to tell all of you in person. If this works out,” I continued with a faint note of desperation, “any of you can use this deck for photo shoots too.”

Caleb put his hands together under his chin. “Really, can I?”

August whacked him on the back of the head. “Sure. We’d be happy to help.” He glanced at Moose, who nodded.

“Yeah. Okay.” John smiled. “Suppose it’s the least I can do.”

Mason rolled his eyes. “Let’s get this over with.”

Eighteen

I stroked the velvety ear of the little brown bunny sticking out of my baby basket. The laughter from the bar floated out to the parking lot. After a shaky start, it was now a sunny and semi-warm day in the Cove. The water lapped at the newly renovated pier and boat launch on the lakefront view of Sharky’s new property line.

My sister had done a damn good job of remodeling and expanding her little business in the short time she’d returned from the city. Erica and Jake had even married on that brand new dock in front of friends and family. What good was it to have the primo outdoor wedding venue if you couldn’t do it up right for yourself?

As with most people in Crescent Cove, they’d done things a little backwards, but Erica had been determined to get herself in a wedding dress before she was showing. Jacob Mills had been all about the fast-forwarded timeline. If he’d had his way, he’d have married her the

first day she stepped back in town.

Another best friends to married story for the annals of Crescent Cove. Even if they’d had a good chunk of time apart. Did that make it easier?

Was that why Jared and I had fumbled so very badly? The blurred lines between friends and…more had been moving for so long we hadn’t been able to see when it had actually changed.

I hugged the basket as I crossed the gravel parking lot. Minty green tulle with jaunty yellow balloons decorated the front door and porch. Frankie had obviously been involved. No one else in our family knew how to tie those kinds of bows or how to get that sort of material harnessed into a semblance of one.

My long navy wool coat flapped around my legs as I picked up the pace. I couldn’t screw around outside any longer. I was late. And I had to face that room of baby things. It wasn’t like I wasn’t surrounded by it at Jared’s place, but…

Everything felt a little bigger with the proof of an imminent newborn right here in the basket in my arms. The bunny, a caramel-colored blanket I’d finished crocheting in the summer, with the matching bear lovey, as well as enough bath time basics to open a small store.

Then there was Jared taking things into very public territory both with the stunt he pulled at Thanksgiving dinner, as well as what had happened right before the tree lighting ceremony. Never mind the betting pool.

It was a lot. Both good and bad.

The good part was definitely because a certain someone had kept me up far too late. Then wouldn’t let me go this morning.