Claim My Baby (Crescent Cove 2)

“Leave it. You’re gorgeous.”

“I’ve been hitting the chocolate and salt hard…” I trailed off and took a breath, focusing instead on the lovely necklace he’d given me. My insecurities were improving, but they had the worst habit of resurfacing at the most inconvenient times.

I traced a fingertip over the small bow at the center of the chain, already envisioning it around my neck. “Did I mention this is beautiful? Thank you.”

“It reminded me of you. Lovely and strong beneath the fragility on the surface.”

“Is that how you see me?”

“Yes. Along with smart and funny and resourceful. Sometimes a pain in the ass. Always an amazing lover.”

By the end, I was grinning. I couldn’t argue with the pain-in-the-ass part. It was sterling truth.

“Hold up your hair.”

I lifted it and he fastened the necklace around my neck, his fingers shifting it around until the bow centered at the base of my throat. I reached up to touch it and grabbed his fingers too, holding them in place over the necklace as I found his mouth with my own.

“Thank you. I love it,” I murmured between kisses.

“It suits you, just as I knew it would.” He gave my fingers a squeeze as he eased back and glanced at the clock beside the bed. “We should sleep.”

“Do I look that exhausted?”

“Sleeping for two now,” he said lightly, rolling off the bed and padding across the floor to the bathroom. A minute later, the door clicked shut.

I yawned and curled up against the pillows, drawing the sheet and blanket over me. Maybe I’d be able to rest now. It had been an exhausting week, and my back-to-back orgasms were definitely taking their toll.

My fingers fumbled for the necklace and I closed my eyes, smiling at the water turning on in the bathroom. Those were the normal, happy sounds of living with someone. I wanted that life. Maybe even with him.

I snuggled deeper into the pillows. Maybe.

The next sound I heard was the buzz of my cell phone. I reached for it on the nightstand, shifting away from Oliver’s heavy arm draped over my waist, and blearily opened my eyes. It was still dark and I struggled to make out the message from my mom.

Swinging into town, baby girl. We’re taking the scenic route, so you have some time. We know you’re not good with mornings. Just put on the coffeepot when you wake up.

Uh-oh. They might be on the way to my place, but I obviously was not there. I typed out a response without thinking.

I’m not home. Can you swing by the Hamilton cabin instead?

It seemed as if texting bubbles appeared on the screen forever without a message coming through. I rubbed my eyes. Hmm, maybe I should’ve told them why. Or not.

Definitely not. They could figure it out on their own, right?

Then again, they might not know the address. The cabin had been rarely used until recently, and I wouldn’t be surprised if lots of people in town didn’t realize it was owned by the Hamilton family. Just in case, I texted the address. My mom replied a moment later.

When you say Hamilton, you mean…

Oliver? Remember him?

This pause was even longer than the last one. I huffed out a breath and wiggled to try to calm my insistent bladder. Dammit, I’d been having a really good dream about Oliver and hot chocolate sauce. Hopefully, I could slip right back into it when this version of Chinese water torture ended.

I thought u hated him? U only ever mentioned him as Ally’s pain-in-the-ass BIL.

I almost snorted aloud. Well, he’s still a pain, but he’s a stud in the sack.

She probably wouldn’t have been amused if I answered that. I would’ve been though. As it was, I was giggling under my breath at the thought.

It wasn’t good that she’d remembered my previous feelings about him. Especially once I informed her he’d knocked me up. Totally on accident, but still.