Page 6
“Where are you going, Honey?” I ask, stepping between her and the door. The position puts me closer than I anticipate, I actually feel her belly press against mine.
At first, I just feel the heat of her body and the press of it, familiar yet not. My hands move of their own accord to cup either side of her stomach, my body knowing hers intimately.
Something flutters against my palm, making me stiffen and Winnie huff. “Well, there you go. Parasite is active.”
I blink hard and stare at where my hand sits. I’ve never felt anything like it before. I’ve helped the local farm veterinarian with the births of calves and foals. Seen a cat birth kittens and found a pregnant stray dog before.
Not like this is my first rodeo with pregnancy.
But even I will admit, it’s entirely different when it’s a human child. Even more so when that child is mine.
The logical side of my brain tells me to question whether I really am the father. Any other man in my position would. They’d grill her until she told the truth, or deny it until a paternity test proved the baby was theirs. And yet, as I take Honey in, I can’t make myself ask that dreaded question.
I stroke her stomach with my thumb, rubbing slow circles against it until I feel that flutter of movement again. “What happens now?” I ask gruffly.
Her lashes flutter as she looks up, meeting my stare. “I don’t know.”
“You really going back to Colorado?”
She shrugs, a hint of regret entering her grey-blue eyes. “I don’t know.”
I’m not a man to hope, and I don’t necessarily think that’s the root of the warmth building in my chest, but I also can’t help but admit the idea of her staying is…nice. Not just nice, but welcome. Because then I don’t have to say goodbye again. To her or…Parasite.
God. Parasite. Most would call it a bean or something cute. But Parasite is definitely a choice.
“That’s a lot of indecision on your part, Honey,” I grumble, tipping my face towards hers. “What do you want?” She swallows, throat bobbing. “And if you say ‘I don’t know’ again—”
“You’ll what, spank me?” She rolls her eyes, the corners of her lips tipping in a smile. It’s almost as if she realises a moment too late what came out of her mouth, because her eyes widen and she huffs. “Shit. Sorry. I’m not even sure why I said that. I think it’s the baby brain, but I don’t really think I can make that excuse for every other part of my life.”
My lips twitch with a smile I try desperately to smother. “I need to know what your plans are, Honey. You staying? Or are you taking yourself and our baby to Colorado?”
Her lips move as though she’s trying to formulate a better response than I don’t know, and the problem is: I hope that is her answer. I can work with I don’t know. I can help with that.
But I don’t think I can convince her to do anything.
“I can’t really go home yet,” she says after a moment, cocking her head. “Not without said plan.”
“Why?” Worry hits me hard. “What would—”
“I haven’t told my family about the baby,” she blurts, cheeks reddening. “And, well, I don’t know how they’d exactly react to me coming home with no plan, no man, and no actionable steps. I think my mother would kick me out if I brought home a baby. I’m an adult woman who still lives with her mother, yes, but that’s—”
I cover her mouth with my hand. As much as I love the sound of her voice—and especially the hint of husk that’s entered it since we last met, which could either be a result of the weather or the pregnancy—I don’t know how much more I can handle.
“What is the first thing you need?” I ask carefully.
She rolls her eyes, and I pull my hand away. “Probably health insurance for when this baby comes. I’ve, uh, let mine slip.”
I grit my teeth and step back. “Then I will get you on mine.”
“What? How? That would only work if—”
“If we’re married, yes, most likely. And we are not having this baby in a damn manger.”
4
WINNIE
Well, of all the things I expected to happen, this was…not the thing.
