Sure, she’s a force. Strong and confident and capable. But I don’t worry about her tryingto eat my face off.
"I'm not talking about my mother." He lifts one hand like he's going to reach for me, but then it drops. "And I really can't get out of this. Not after what happened at Thanksgiving. She’ll never forgive me."
My brows pinch as I stare up at him. "What happened at Thanksgiving?"
One corner of Titus’s mouth tips up. "I'm sure you’ll hear all about it tomorrow." He lifts his hand again, but this time it comes to rest against my back. "Let's go see what we have in the kitchen to make for dessert tomorrow." Titus’s scowl is back as he follows me through the house. "Because there's no way the rest of those assholes are trying your caramel cake. Then I'll never get rid of them."
14
Titus
"This is not at all like driving a car." Mariah grips the wheel of the UTV that was delivered earlier today, looking a little terrified as she directs it across my family's property.
She's not the only one terrified.
Seeing her sitting behind the wheel, knowing how similar her pregnancy seems to be going to Kara's, has me struggling to breathe.
I know she’s safe. Even if for some reason she were to pass out right this very minute, I could make sure we stayed on the road. There’s not a tree in sight and we aren’t even going twenty miles an hour.
Still, I'm struggling.
But I won't try to control her. Won't tell her she's not allowed to drive around the property. Especially since I bought this just for her. Chose a top-of-the-line model with every safety feature imaginable. For all intents and purposes, she’s cocooned in a giant airbag.
I still might throw up.
"You sure you don't want to drive?" Mariah glances my way, knuckles getting whiter with each passing second. "I don't really feel comfortable."
That's all she needs to say. I won't hold her back, but I also won't push her. Won't leave her struggling when it's something I can easily remedy.
"Pull over here." I motion to a flat spot free of rocks and brush.
Once she’s stopped, I unhook my belt, stopping her as she moves to open her door. "Stay in here."
The weather has taken a bit of a turn. It's not awful yet, but the temperature has dropped and the wind is picking up. Just like I won't make her drive when she doesn't want to, I'm also not going to make her get out when she doesn't have to.
I round the front of the vehicle, opening her door. "Scoot across."
When I browsed the available options on this side-by-side, I discovered I was able to choose between two bucket seats and a console, or a single seat running straight across. I chose the latter. For... reasons. Reasons like Mariah being able to scoot close to me if she gets cold. Reasons like having a spot for a car seat.
As soon as Mariah has left enough space for me to get in, I settle into her spot, waiting until she's buckled up before pulling back onto the drive. The tires skid a little looking for traction against the slippery surface, and Mariah sucks in a breath. She must be more nervous about riding in this thing than I expected, and my hand automatically reaches for her, gripping one knee so she knows I've got her.
I've tried not to touch her over the past twenty-four hours. Even attempted to stay in my rooms this morning to work. I made it all of ten minutes after I heard her moving around before I packed up my computer and went to sit at the island.
I couldn't stand not having my eyes on her. Being there if she needed me. Ready in case something happened.
I hoped to God it wouldn't, because the last time something happened I didn't make the best choices. Tried to make even worse ones. And I would have if it wasn't for my mother's impeccably awful timing.
"Do you think your brothers will all be here tonight?" There's caution in Mariah’s question. And I'm not gonna lie, I really fucking like that she's cautious about my brothers. I know what I am and I know what I'm not. And they’re everything I'm not. Charming. Outgoing. Funny and personable.
Can easily leave their house.
I also know my brothers well enough to say not a single one of them would bat an eye at discovering Mariah's pregnancy. We grew up watching our dad take care of our mother. He does everything in his power to make her happy. To spoil her. I was probably the first of my brothers to understand the dynamic. How satisfying it can feel to take care of a woman who doesn't need you.
Discovering Mariah’s a package deal leveled that instinct up. I'm going to guess my brothers would feel the same.
I can’t guarantee it since, technically, I've only seen one of them in a real relationship, and that was years ago when youth prevailed and stupidity reigned. Tobias was a fucking idiot, and I’m willing to bet he would do anything to go back and change what happened.
I know exactly how he feels.
