Have My Baby (Crescent Cove 1)

Wasn’t completely my fault. I hadn’t had a childless night for a while, and my little girl tended to have a few crappy dreams. Monsters with snapping teeth. Wild dogs. Demons in closets I had to dispel with wise words and hugs in the dark.

I wasn’t even going to touch on exactly how long it had been since I’d had sex. Well, sex with someone other than myself. Self-created booty calls happened often, but with an actual flesh-and-blood woman? It had been a while. Hell, Ally was the woman, even if I hadn’t fully realized it before I’d presented her with that contract. I’d been rocking a boner ever since.

So yeah, I’d been kind of pent-up. Exhaustion had claimed me swiftly, and it had been much preferable to fighting to stay awake to talk about…

Way too much.

No wonder she’d sneaked out on me. Supposed best friend, and I’d dirty-talked her and taken her virginity—which was not my fault, since she’d never seen fit to tell me that little fact until we were getting naked—then fallen asleep as if it was any old night.

Jesus, and I thought my brother was a douche? He had some stiff competition for the title.

Forcing my heavy eyelids open against the sun trying to carve my brain in two, I glanced around and wished for alcohol. Maybe there was something worthwhile in the mini bar.

Those days are over, pal. They ended right about when the condom slipped when you were banging Marjorie in the Mustang. Now you’re a responsible father, remember?

I braced my head in my hands and sucked in a breath. Responsible, right. I had to pick up Laurie. It had to be mid-morning from the amount of sunlight, and I’d told Oliver I’d be there early.

Rubbing my eyes, I kicked off the sheets. And noticed a bright red splotch on the fitted sheet.

Christ. I’d tried to be careful, to take it slow, but I hadn’t at first. I’d rammed my fingers into her like a damn bull, and she’d never—

Before I could argue with myself, I fumbled for my phone on the nightstand. I had to know she was okay. She could hate me, probably did, but I couldn’t move from this room until I knew she was all right. She’d certainly come last night, and I was pretty sure she’d been right there with me for most of it, but she wasn’t here now. She was alone, and I couldn’t fucking bear it.

I typed out a quick text.

Missed you this morning.

Oh yeah, that was how to demonstrate my concern. By couching it in a healthy streak of douche swagger.

She answered swiftly.

Had an early shift at the diner. Eggs Benedict & burnt coffee wait for no man.

You didn’t even leave a note.

Good lord, I might as well have taken out my tampon with that statement. She was probably laughing at my pathetic ass.

From her next reply, it was close.

Was I supposed to? Didn’t realize we’d progressed beyond booty call status to something else.

I gripped the back of my neck. Yeah, so she was annoyed. Whether it was because I’d fallen asleep right after or because we’d had sex in the first place was anyone’s guess. Only way to find out for sure was to piss her off enough to be honest.

I know you’re clearly unfamiliar with booty call protocol, but yeah, it’s good to let the dude know you’re leaving in case he wakes up with a hard dick and wants round two.

Her response was instantaneous.

Sorry, Charlie, that was a one-time event. But good luck finding a more suitable partner. I hear Tinder is nice.

Tinder, huh? You tried that? Is that why you couldn’t find anyone to finish the job?

Thank God you came along. Willing prick and all. You’re such a good Samaritan. When I can walk straight again, I’ll send you a thank-you note.

Pride surged first. I was a man, after all, and fucking a hot chick until she couldn’t move was pretty much every dude’s dream. But she wasn’t some random hot chick. This was Ally, and she wasn’t just a conquest.

She’d been a virgin, for fuck’s sake, and if she was hurting from my lack of finesse, I’d saw off my own dick. Okay, maybe take a swing or two at it at least.

Ah, to hell with it. I was asking, straight out.