There are so many variable outcomes to this scenario. It’s only within my control slightly. This is between the three of us, but there are also my family and Wrenly’s family to consider. I drive toward the park, and I see them the moment I pull in.
The park is deserted. They’re the only two people there, but that’s not what catches my attention. It’s them. They’re sitting at a table together, presumably eating food, because I can see some things in the middle of the table. It’s the most perfect picture.
In fact, at the sight, I lift my phone and open my camera, then take a picture to keep the image. Ryan’s little knees are on the bench as he reaches for something in the middle, and my heart swells.
His dark hair almost glitters in the sunlight. His smile is so fucking bright that I’m glad I have sunglasses on. And then there’s Wrenly. Again, there is a light that surrounds her. That draws me to her. I just don’t know if a light is enough.
Shifting the pickup intoPark, I open the door and climb out of the driver’s seat. If she senses me, she doesn’t look at me as I approach, which is almost scary. But when I open my mouth to make myself known, she turns her head, her eyes bright and her lips curved up into a sexy smile.
“I was hoping that was you and not some creep,” she states.
My brows rise, and she continues. “I saw you drive in and sit there for a minute. I recognized your pickup from last night.”
Shifting my gaze over to the tabletop, I see crackers, cheese, strawberries, blueberries, and turkey meat. “He eats this?” I ask out of a mixture of shock and amazement.
Wrenly laughs. “He has his likes and dislikes, but yeah, he enjoys this stuff. I bought him a cookie from the bakery for a treat. He knows I have it, so he’s not fighting too much,” she says, then she continues. “Why don’t you sit down and join us?”
Sinking down beside her, I watch Ryan. His eyes lift to mine as he plops a blueberry in his mouth, and he smiles. “Dadda.”
“How does he know?” I ask.
Wrenly shifts uncomfortably in her seat. “I’ve shown him pictures from the internet. Pointed at you and told him that you were his daddy.”
That shit makes me happy. It makes it seem less like we’re strangers. Even though I didn’t know about him, I’m not some strange guy standing in front of him. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t understand the word. He just puts my face to it, but it still makes me feel something.
“I don’t know how to navigate this,” I confess. “But I would like you two to come over tonight. Maybe have some dinner and talk more?”
She nods once. “I would like that,” she murmurs.
The last thing I really want to do is talk. Because being this close to her again, being able to see her, smell her, and touch her, is making my cock stand at attention. I want her. Right here on this picnic table.
I know without a doubt that I’m not going to be able to keep my hands off her, especially with my own bed just a few feet away. Instead of throwing her over my shoulder and firemen carrying her to my truck so I can take her home and have my way with her, I stay at the park. And for the next two hours, I watch my son play.
My son—wow.
WRENLY
“You ready?” Eli asks after I’ve called Ryan over to me.
“I am, but I have to walk back. It’s about three miles, so it’ll be about an hour.”
Bending slightly, I pick Ryan up in my arms. He’s a hot, sweaty mess, but I know he’s going to sleep amazingly tonight. And maybe that’s what we need. So we can continue the conversation from last night and also have one about what the future might look like.
His eyes widen before his brows snap together. “You have to walk back?” he asks, his gaze flicking from his parked truck to us, confusion clearly written all over his face.
“I don’t have Ryan’s car seat,” I state. But when that doesn’t clear up his confused expression, I realize it’s because he gave us a ride last night. “Last night, we were only in the parking lot, and nobody was around at all.”
His lips part, and he makes anahhsound. “It’s in your room?” he asks. I hum, and then he thrusts his arm out, his palm facing up. “Keys,” he demands.
“Keys?” I ask.
“Hotel key. I’m going to go and get the car seat.”
There is a moment of silence where I just stare at him. I stare and am unsure of what to say or do. Then he smirks, leaning down slightly, placing his hand on my hip, his fingers gripping me there, squeezing once. I can feel the heat from his hand break through my workout shorts, and I swear it feels like my whole body breaks out in a chill.
“Let me go and get the car seat, baby,” he whispers.
God, his voice is like pure honey. A memory of that night flashes before my eyes. When I was standing in that club waiting for him. When he walked straight up to me. When he was this close, and when my body was no longer my own but belonged solely to his.
