The Best Mistake (Not Just Friends 1)

He intertwined their fingers together, holding her tightly. With his other hand he cupped the side of her face and tilted her head, deepening the kiss. At the first swipe of his tongue against her bottom lip she moaned and opened further.

The kiss was heated and penetrating, and all he did was drag his tongue along hers, tease and tantalize it until she was chasing it back into his mouth and doing the same.

His deep, vibrating groan resonated all the way to her core, sending shockwaves throughout her entire body.

He broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers. “I want this, Shoshanna. God, I want this so badly, baby.”

She opened her eyes just as he leaned back. If she hadn’t been sitting down she would probably be a pool of liquid on the floor. He ran his hand over his hair, causing the strands to stand on end. His aroma invaded her senses. It was clean and crisp, like soap and motor oil, with a touch of freshly cut lumber.

“I have something to tell you, Toby.” She really didn’t want to break this spell they were in, but he needed to know about the baby. Her words were hushed because she anticipated, almost feared, how he would react. She didn’t want this to end, but the truth needed to be said.

“What is it, baby?” he said in a low voice, and then cupped her face, stroking her cheek with his thumb. The way he looked at her right then, serious, genuine, had her holding her breath. For a heartbeat they stared at each other. With his gaze locked on hers, and his thumb on her cheek he said, “You’re too good for me, but I will not be going anywhere, because I want you, Shoshanna. You can tell me anything.” He flicked his gaze to hers and then looked at her mouth, as if the sight mesmerized him.

She looked away from him for a second, and then heard him sigh softly.

“Look at me, baby.”

She looked at him, so scared to say the next words.

“You can talk to me about anything.”

“I am pregnant, Toby, and the baby is yours.”

21

Toby stared at Shoshanna, tried to wrap his head around what she had just said, but he felt like someone had just kicked him in the balls and run off without him being able to catch his breath.

He stared at the small picture she had just handed him, and stared at the black and white image that would forever change his life.

“Please say something,” Shoshanna said, her hands twisting together, and her nervousness tangible.

He lifted his head from staring at the picture, looked at her with what he knew were wide eyes and a stunned expression, and then stared at the picture again. Shoshanna was having his baby.

She was pregnant, carrying his child, and he was going to be a father. It was a tiny, bean shaped thing, but his baby. “I don’t know what to say, Shoshanna.”

And he didn’t. He had never seen himself with someone for a long period of time, let alone having a child. But he wanted to be with Shoshanna, and knowing that she was his now and carrying his baby made him … happy.

He looked at her again, anticipation and excitement filling him. He couldn’t help it. She watched him with wide eyes, her lips parted, and probably scared as hell.

“Please say something.” Her voice was soft. “Are you just as frightened as I am? Are you going to leave?” There was a slight waver in the way she spoke.

“We’re going to have a baby, Shoshanna,” he said softly, still so fucking stunned that he wasn’t sure what to say or how to react.

“I wasn’t sure if showing you the picture was a good thing, but when I saw the ultrasound when I got the pregnancy confirmed, I thought—hoped—you would want to see it.”

He reached for her, and before she could say anything he had her in his lap. They were young, but he knew how he felt. Toby felt high, a little frightened, yeah, but he was ready for this. He went with his instincts, and they were feeling good.

“You’re happy? This doesn’t freak you out?”

Toby leaned back. Her eyes were still wide, and before he could think about what he was doing, or the major impact this had on his life, he leaned down and kissed her softly. “I am not worrying about the negative, but only the positive of this. I will be a father, and you’ll be the mother of my baby, Shoshanna.”

She stared at him, bit her bottom lip, and looked so nervous. “This is so fast. I mean I’ve known you my entire life, but it’s like we are strangers, and now we are having a baby after a one-night stand.”