Daddy in Disguise (Crescent Cove 7)

I cleared my throat. “So, what about those Yankees?”

“Outta season, Mace. You’re serious right now?”

“As serious as the word pregnant on that little white stick.” I had to admit to a little sick glee at the way his jaw sagged. I patted his chest. “Congratulations, Daddy.”

I was prepared for him to reach for the nearest chair. Maybe even to flee from the room entirely while he processed the reality of having the fastest swimmers on the block.

So, maybe not the fastest on this block. This was Crescent Cove, after all. All sperm were in competition for the Olympics. But still, he’d done just fine.

However, I was not prepared for him to sweep me up into his arms and kiss me like he hadn’t seen me in five years or had just come back from the war or—well, something way huger than just a day at work.

“I fucking love you.” He tugged on my lower lip with his teeth. “You’re incredible.”

“I love you too. So are you, obviously. You clearly set some land and speed records, dude.” Laughing, I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back. Eagerly. Hungrily. I may have rubbed against him like a needy kitten.

Maybe if we were really quiet, Dani would be none the wiser.

Welcome to enjoying sex while parenting 101, Macy. Hope you enjoy your eighteen-year-plus stay.

But Gideon wasn’t finished with his praise. “Your ovaries are like, commercial grade.”

I had to pause mid-kiss for that one. “Thanks? I grew them myself.”

He started to laugh as he tipped his forehead against mine. “Oh my God. It was supposed to take like a year so you didn’t flip out.”

“Surprise.”

“Yeah, the best surprise. The best one I’ve ever gotten after Dani. And now I have two.” His Adam’s apple bobbed as he gazed at me, still holding me in his arms as if I was weightless. Not struggling at all. Just staring at me as if I’d created atoms with the power of my mind.

And I kind of had—although other parts of me had been involved, while my mind had definitely been absent—but he’d helped. This amazing thing was one we’d built together.

Kind of like The Haunt. And the renovations on this house. And even the café. He’d been there with me in one form or another since nearly the beginning of my journey here in Crescent Cove. All along the way, we’d been adding bricks and markers. Solidifying our foundation. Creating something real that would continue on beyond us.

A life. A legacy. A family.

“Now you’ve done it.” I waved my hand at my face and started doing times tables backward in my head. I had been doing so well. I hadn’t shed one tear so far today.

Other than when the vet had told me Trick was truly a trick, but c’mon, how many pregnancies could one woman hear about in a day and not go a little crazy?

“What? Oh, shit, did I hurt you? It’s new. Did I do something? Here, let me set you down.”

“I’m fine.” I had to laugh through my misty moment as he carefully set me in the nearest armchair. “We’re fine.”

He crouched in front of me and gripped my hands, bringing them to his mouth. I wasn’t one to get fanciful, but I’d never seen a more reverent look on someone’s face in all my life.

“We’re is such a good word.”

Smiling, I brushed the hair off his forehead and decided I wouldn’t kill him today. Maybe not even this week. Because right now? Being pregnant felt pretty damn good. “The best word.”

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