Page 66

“Yeah? What is it?”

“I want family recipes. I want that history to pass down to my kids… which I guess means that I want kids, too.”

I glance over at Brooklyn. “I think, based on how good you are with her, that it would be a damn shame if you didn’t have kids. You’re going to make an incredible dad.”

“You really think so?” he asks and the vulnerability that I don’t usually get to see from him makes my heart ache for a whole new reason. Most of the time, it’s so easy to forget the crap that he carries around with him on a daily basis because he’s spent his whole life learning how to act fine while he’s slowly dying on the inside. It’s a side of him that I’m certain most people don’t get to see and the fact that he so willingly shows it to me means the world. I nod.

“I’m certain of it.”

He reaches across the table with a shy smile on his face as he grabs my hand. “Thanks, gorgeous.”

Brooklyn lets out a big yawn and we both turn to look at her as Lucas chuckles.

“I think someone is tired.”

I nod. “I think you’re right.”

As Lucas begins clearing plates from the table, I stand and unbuckle Brooklyn from her high chair but when I try to lift her into my arms, she starts fussing and reaching for Lucas.

“Looks like I’m chopped liver tonight,” I tell him and he glances over his shoulder. Brooklyn strains as she reaches for him and he chuckles as he sets the plates down on the counter and walks over to us.

“Is that better?” he asks after he picks her up. She shoves her thumb into her mouth and lays her head down on his shoulder as she looks up at me, her eyelids growing heavy.

“She’s going to pass out any second. Do you mind putting her to bed?” I would do it myself but I’m pretty sure that she’d just start fussing again. A part of me loves how much she likes Lucas but there’s a tiny little part that’s heartbroken she wants someone other than me. For thirteen months, it’s just been the two of us and Alice and I wasn’t prepared for this.

Lucas grabs my hand, pulling my gaze up to his. “Come on.”

We walk up the stairs hand in hand as Brooklyn starts to drift off in Lucas’s arms and I stand back by the door to Brooklyn’s room as Lucas carries her over to her crib and lays her down in her bed.

“Blanket?” he whispers, turning back to look at me and I point to the dresser next to her crib. Grabbing the folded blanket off the top, he shakes it out and lays it gently over her before turning back to me and sneaking out of her room.

“Is she out already?”

He nods and my nerves kick in again as we walk back down the stairs. When we reach the bottom, I turn to him and suck in a breath.

“Do you want to go sit on the porch? There is something I want to talk to you about.”

“Sure,” he answers as his gaze flicks across my face, studying me. I’m sure I look just as nervous as I feel right now.

He takes my hand again and we walk out onto the front porch before sitting on the swing. I curl my legs underneath me as he pulls me close and we just swing in silence for a few seconds before he nudges me.

“What did you want to talk about?”

I draw in a ragged breath and wring my hands together. “Um… I just… uh…”

“Hey, it’s okay,” he urges, rubbing his hand along my arm and a sense of calm washes over me as I glance over at him.

“The truth is, Lucas, I think I’m falling for you and you need to know what you’re getting into before that happens.”

He nods, understanding crossing his face. “The reason we’re taking things slow?”

“Yes. See… the thing is… I…” My hands tremble as I suck in another breath and focus on the feeling of his hand skating over my skin. “I don’t know who Brooklyn’s dad is…”

I bite my lip as I peek over at him and his shocked look makes my belly flip. Finally, he nods.

“Uh, okay… that’s not what I was expecting but I can’t say that I was a saint before I met you.”

Shit.