Perfect Fling (Serendipity's Finest 2)

“I’ll call Kate and see what she needs in the way of food,” Macy told Nick.

“And I’ll bring one of Aunt Lulu’s cakes,” Erin said before Macy could take over that idea.

“Because we all know you can’t cook.” Macy snickered.

Erin shook her head. “I’ll have you know that Cole promised to teach me,” Erin said, knowing that in that instant, she’d mentally and verbally committed to her course of action. She’d drop her guard and let him in, hoping he’d do the same.

And if things fell apart? Well, like Macy said, at least she’d know she’d given it her best effort. Then when he left, she’d have a baby to raise and a job to keep her so busy she wouldn’t have time to miss him when he was gone.

It was a nice lie she told herself, anyway. The distinct ringing of a cell phone broke into Erin’s thoughts.

She looked to where the sound came from as Cole pulled his phone from his pocket. “Sanders,” he said. “What do you have for me?”

He listened, his steady gaze never leaving Erin. It had to be answers on the ballistics from her shooting. Her stomach in knots, she leaned forward, waiting for him to finish the call.

“Yeah, I got it. I’ll pass it on to someone who can run down the lead. Expect a call from a Mike Marsden. Thanks. I owe you one.” He ended the call and looked at Erin. “They traced the bullet to a gun used in a shooting last year. With a little luck, the guy who owns it is someone for hire or he can tell us where he unloaded the gun or who has it now. It’s a long shot, but it’s all we’ve got.”

Erin drank a long sip of water to ease the dryness in her mouth. “At least it’s something.”

“I’m going to step outside and call Mike. Let him get the information and start to run down the lead. I’ll be right back. Don’t move,” he ordered Erin.

Since she was suddenly dizzy and shaken, she wasn’t about to argue with the command.

• • •

Although Erin had decided to go all in with Cole, after his possessive show about sleeping with her and her not seeing other men, she’d also expected him to act first. But in the last forty-eight hours, he’d been on his best behavior, leaving Erin with the decision about how to start showing him the kind of future he could have with her. It wasn’t all about sex; that much she understood.

A life with her included friends, family, dinners out, and work functions. She had the latter coming up Saturday night and she’d already informed Cole he’d need a suit and tie, which had necessitated a mall trip after work the other day. They had Nick’s party on Sunday, which was another place she could out them in public by being affectionate in front of others, if that was her intention. But she couldn’t do any of those things if she and Cole didn’t establish a change in their relationship here. At home.

It would have to be tonight, then, Erin decided, nerves making her stomach dance and flutter. But first she had to deal with welcoming her parents home, and of course telling them her news. From the shooting to her pregnancy, they were completely in the dark.

She had no desire to have such a personal conversation in front of her brothers, who were already biased against Cole. In fact, she decided she’d have to talk to her mom alone, and discuss how to break the truth to her father. She didn’t think her brothers would have the nerve to be the ones to tell Simon that news.

Erin changed from her work clothes, choosing a sexier panty and bra set than normal because she planned to end up in Cole’s bed. But when she attempted to button her jeans, she had no luck closing them. Overnight they had stopped fitting. She stripped them off, walked to her closet, and began a systematic trying-on of her casual clothes, only to have the same result.

Frustrated, she tossed item by item onto the bed.

“Erin, almost time to go,” Cole called from the hallway, knocking on her door.

“I’m not going anywhere,” she yelled back, eyeing the pile in disbelief.

He entered without knocking.

She didn’t bother to cover up. First, he’d seen it all before. Second, she was too upset with herself for not thinking ahead about buying maternity clothes. And third, she had a plan, and belly or not, she might as well see if he responded.

He did. One look and his eyes glazed with desire, and relief flowed through her. She did everything she could not to squeeze her legs together in an effort to alleviate the sudden ache in her core.

“What’s going on?” he asked, his voice gruff, the raspy sound setting her nerve endings aflame.

“Umm, I’m having a . . . malfunction.”

He cocked his head to one side, his gaze never leaving her exposed body. “Explain.”

She gestured to the bed. His gaze followed the direction of her hand and blinked in shock. “Whoa. Your closet explode?”

“Along with my middle,” she muttered. “Nothing fits.”

He was gentleman enough not to comment. “Why not wear what you had on for work?” he asked, rather diplomatically, she thought.