After my father kissed me too, they both left and I turned to Tackle.
“Tell me what happened.”
“Your father said there’s a job opening with State.”
“My mom told me. How do you feel about it?”
“I don’t want to be away from you and the baby.”
I breathed a sigh of relief.
“I told him the only way I’d consider it is if I worked from home.”
“Home? What about the travel?”
Tackle’s eyes scrunched. “I’d never take anything that involved travel. God, I can’t even imagine being away from you and our little girl for a couple of hours, let alone days.”
“You’re serious, aren’t you?”
He studied me. “Of course I am.”
“Thank you.”
“I don’t know why you’re thanking me, but you’re welcome. You should know my reasons are entirely selfish, though.”
“No, they aren’t, and it’s only one of many reasons I love you.”
The door opened, and the doctor I’d seen in the emergency room walked in. “Ready to go home?”
r /> “So ready.”
36
Tackle
“What are you doing?” Sloane asked when I lifted her from the car into my arms.
“Carrying you inside.”
“Tackle, I can—”
“The doctor was very clear. You have to stay off your feet unless you want to spend the rest of your pregnancy in the hospital.”
Instead of arguing, she put her arms around my neck. “I’m heavy.”
I laughed. “You’re anything but heavy.”
“Did you fight back?” she asked, barely touching the area beneath my still-swollen eye.
“Only to try to protect myself.”
“Knox had no right.”
“We both knew he’d be angry.” As I approached the back steps of our house, the door swung open and Halo walked out.
“Want me to take her?”
I tightened my grip on Sloane’s body. “I’ve got you, peanut.”