Page 30 of Falling for Love

Mom’s eyes open wide. “What?”

Dad shakes his head as he meets my gaze. “I know I gave you the always use a condom speech when you were a teenager.”

“You did.”

“We got it, too,” Hudson says.

I can’t help but smile. Ian Dare is a good, solid father. He taught us everything we needed to know to be good men.

I rub my hand along the back of my neck. “For the record, we used a condom. It just didn’t work.”

My father rises from his seat, walks over, and places a hand on my shoulder. “Are you sure it’s y—”

“Mine? Yes.” If there’s one thing I’m certain of, if Taylor said it’s mine, it is. “And she isn’t just some woman I slept with once and never wanted to see again. Her name is Taylor. And she means something to me.”

My parents look at each other in silence. I’ve seen this before. They’re communicating without speaking. They know one another so well, they don’t need to.

“Okay, so when are you going to bring her by so we can meet the mother of our grandchild?” Mom asks. Just like that, she’s accepted the news. Dad too, though his is more of a silent acceptance.

I glance at my watch. “Funny you should ask. Rainey’s bringing her over in a few minutes.”

My mother’s eyes open wide. “How could you not give me a heads-up?” She jumps up from her seat and rushes from the room. If I know her, she’s putting together veggies and a dip and getting glasses ready, maybe her special iced tea.

Dad, the twins, and I talk football until he asks me about the club in Charleston. “What are you up to?” he asks.

“This week is going to be busy. I need to get the documents together for the late-night establishment operational permit. It requires a lot, including a security and management plan, floor plans, and an emergency action plan. It’s going to take up a lot of our time.”

Which will cut into my time with Taylor, but it can’t be helped.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Taylor

My palms are sweaty as I walk into Jack’s parents’ house. Rainey is talking about something, but I stopped listening in the car because my nerves are consuming me. Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Dare. I’m Jack’s baby mama. Lovely.

“Come on. They’re all in the family room.” Rainey takes my hand and pulls me in alongside her. “We’re here!” she announces.

I feel the heat rush to my cheeks but before I can react, Jack is by my side, easing me from his sister and wrapping a supporting arm around my waist. I lean into his side, grateful he knows me so well that he’s there for me without my having to ask. After choosing wrong with Chandler, I’m glad to see there are good men in the world and my baby’s father is one of them.

“It’s all good,” Jack whispers in my ear as his mother walks up to me and extends her arms.

“Welcome to the family, Taylor.”

Smiling, I relax and step into her embrace.

From there, I’m introduced to the rest of the family. Ian Dare, who is extremely intimidating but also welcoming in his own way. His brothers are identical, which makes it hard for me to tell them apart, except Hudson is charming and sweet, while Miles is more reserved and less chatty. Much less. But it’s not personal. He’s more like his dad, while Rainey, Hudson, and Jack are more like their mom. Which makes me wonder whose traits our child will emulate, mine or Jack’s.

Mrs. Dare, who insists I call her Riley, brings out chips and vegetables with a creamy, delicious-tasting dip. “Since I wasn’t prepared for company, I don’t have an actual meal to serve. We can order in, and Hudson brought dessert from his favorite bakery.”

“I passed by it on my way and knew you’d love them,” he says to his mother.

“Kiss-ass,” Miles says under his breath and the man even manages a small smile. Makes him much more approachable.

Ian shakes his head, and I catch an even more imperceptible lift of his lips.

I can’t help but grin.

“Enjoying yourself?” Jack asks, lowering himself onto the cushion beside me on the couch.