“I forgot to set the alarm, and we need to be at the airport likenow.”
I jumped from the bed, adrenaline pumping.“Okay.Okay.Bathroom, then clothes.”
I darted toward the door, only to skid to a halt and turn back to Millie.“Um, do you need to go first?”
She giggled.“I do.Thanks for asking.And thanks for the show.”
I looked down, realizing I had a raging hard-on pressing against my underwear.Millie sashayed by me, trailing her fingers across my stomach as she went, which caused me to shiver and my dick to jump.I flattened her palm to my stomach.
“Keep that up and we’ll miss our flight,” I growled.
Her lips parted, and her eyes widened.She dropped her gaze to my pulsing erection.Her cheeks flushed.“Ida Jane needs me.”
I let her go, but I couldn’t stop my sour response.“So do I.”
Millie slid the bathroom door shut as she mumbled a response.All I made out was “don’t really thinkI’msexy.”
I scratched behind my ear.Millie thought I didn’t find her sexy?
Well, shit.That wouldn’t do.I was going to have to up my game.No way in hell was she allowed to think she wasn’t the only woman on my mind—and the only woman Iwantedon my mind.
We madeit to the airport and onto the plane, but I couldn’t help but worry the stress of our hurried arrival had been bad for Millie and the baby.I seemed to spend all my time worrying about the two of them, and I wasn’t sure I liked the feelings my concern generated.
Like, I wasn’t good enough for Millie.Like I’d be a terrible father to Bree—how could I not be?My parental examples were shit.Except for Alyssa.And maybe Coach, who pissed me off with his high expectations and disappointed head shakes.
Once we touched down in Houston, I sent Alyssa a text, letting her know Millie and I were back in the States.She responded with:Hell, yeah!Hard part’s done.Turn on the charm!.I’ll expect a call once you’re settled.
I shook my head at her enthusiasm.That was the thing about Alyssa; she expected me to succeed at anything I put my mind to.I texted her back.
When are you coming to visit?I’m ready to buy your ticket.
She didn’t respond immediately, but I’d cajole her later.She didn’t fly much, and the idea of getting on a plane frightened her.While I understood, I couldn’t get back to see her as much as I should have—because of my hockey schedule but also because of the unhappy memories held by my parents’ house down the street.I’d been working on getting Alyssa out of the neighborhood, but so far, she’d dug in her heels, enjoying her role as elder stateswoman.She’d also paid off her home, which was an enormous deal.
I pushed my phone into my pocket.
“You ready?”I asked once the seatbelt sign dinged off.
Millie looked at me, and the trepidation in her eyes took my breath away.Something was wrong.Very wrong.
“The baby?”I asked, panicking.
Shit.Shit.I knew twenty-six hours of travel was a bad idea.
Millie dropped her lashes, then her chin, hiding her face from me.“No.She’s fine.We’re fine.”
“Something isnotfine, Millicent,” I said, my tone stern.“Ineedyou to talk to me about your dad—what happened before.”The emotion was too intense for her to hide.Did Millie think I only cared about our kid?Something told me that yes, she worried I only cared about her because she was carrying our daughter.
She sucked in a slow, shuddering breath that I somehow felt in my shoulders and neck.“I just don’t like Houston much.”
“Bullshit,” I snapped, probably much more harshly than I needed to.
Her gaze shot to mine, the fire I loved burning brightly.“You don’t get to tell me how I feel about this city—”
“I’m not telling you how you feel.I’m calling crap on that being the reason you looked like I was about to shiv you.What’s going on?”
She licked her lips.
“Sir?Would you two please deplane?”
