Daddy Undercover (Crescent Cove 9)

I glanced around furtively to make sure no one was listening. Luckily, the kitchen was bustling as always, and I was the least of anyone’s concern. “How is she on formula?”

“Coming up on the last one. She’s so hungry. I fed her more than usual tonight. I read in the book it could mean a growth spurt? She still looks the same to me.”

I had to laugh. “You can’t usually tell visually. You got a book?”

“A couple of them. Ordered online from a store in Turnbull. I didn’t want to buy from—”

“Someone not in the Cove. Yeah, yeah.”

He spoke over me. “But it was still a local shop. I still kept my values.”

“Bully for you. I’m going to Walmart tonight since I’ll be home late.”

I bit off a sigh. Now I was doing the home stuff too. God, I needed to saw off my tongue. And numb all my parts below the neck that were so partial to him.

A few in particular, the ones I blamed for those sex dreams. Sleeping in his house separated from him by a few thin walls did not help. Hearing his shower turn on and imagining being with him under the steamy water—

Yeah, that was a dream sequence that did not need to be repeated, thanks.

“That’s fine. I didn’t call you so you would go shopping.”

“Right.”

“I didn’t,” he insisted. “I was just thinking about you, Bee.”

I did another check for nearby people. The coast was clear. Still, I kept my voice low. “While you were changing a dirty diaper, perhaps?”

“I’m not going to pretend I didn’t send up a silent prayer for you to appear during that moment.”

I grinned. “Yet you survived. She loves cuddles after, once the crying stops.”

“She’s so small.”

“She is. But surprisingly tough. She won’t break if you hug her.”

He didn’t respond, and I clutched the phone that much harder. Someday he’d figure it all out.

At least with Samantha, if not in any other way.

“I’ll be there when I can,” I said before hanging up.

I took off my apron and stepped out on the back patio to stare across the dark, rippling water. I’d already taken my break, but I needed a few more minutes.

Most of all, I needed the cold wind to whip some sense back into me.

I didn’t know what I was doing anymore. If I wanted to run away from this whole situation or throw myself at it.

At him.

To take the sheriff by the horns and well, at least tell him how I felt, even if he could never seem to manage to do the same with me.

Maybe he wanted the panties and the movie time and the help with his kid without messy feelings.

We were best friends already. Why did I need more? Even if I didn’t dare have it.

If only coming clean was the only thing standing in our way.

I wrapped my arms around my waist against the chill. Why did it have to be him?