least.”
I roll my eyes. But then panic sends my pulse into overdrive. “I’m nervous,” I whisper to her.
“Aw. Sweetie. Don’t be. I’m not exactly your baby daddy’s biggest fan, but he went to that place for you. I can at least admit that that’s a start. He obviously loves you very much.”
I’m about to tell her that Skylar obviously loves her very much and press for details about how serious they are when he walks in.
“Hey. Landen’s waiting for you outside, Layla.”
My heart is racing but I’m grinning like an idiot. “Okay.”
“He’s down by the water.”
“Thanks.” I start to step out the back door when I realize I have more to say. “And um, thank you both. For hopping on a flight to Spain when I needed you. For letting me stay here, and just…for everything. Y’all know I don’t have much in the way of family. In my head, y’all are my family.”
“Dammit, Georgia. You’re going to make me cry.” Corin sniffles and wipes her hand roughly under her eyes. “Go get your fine piece of soccer ass already.”
“Hey, I’m a fine piece of soccer ass, thank you very much,” Skylar pipes up, pulling her to him.
She answers him with a kiss and I smile at the both of them. “I love y’all. Very much.”
“We love you, too,” Corin says, swatting Skylar on the arm as he says something into her ear I don’t catch. “If he steps out of line out there, let us know. It’s a big ocean. We can make him disappear.”
I laugh, knowing she’s only half kidding. Taking a deep breath, I step outside and make my way down the wooden steps to the deserted beach. Just as my feet hit the sand, Landen turns.
The sunlight glares off the water, sending light glinting all around him. It takes all the self-control I have not to break into a headlong sprint and launch myself into his arms.
Squinting up at him as I get closer, I bite my lip to keep from grinning maniacally. “Hey, stranger.”
His navy polo shirt is tight on his chest and arms. He’s been working out. His hair is a little longer than before, but other than that, he’s the same. Still my Landen. My fine piece of soccer ass.
“Hi there, beautiful.” He smiles but it doesn’t reach his eyes.
“I’ve missed you,” I say, reaching up to touch his face. It was only six weeks, but it was the most time we’ve ever spent apart. And it sucked.
“Me too, baby.” His eyes drop to my stomach and widen. “Whoa.”
“Easy. Make any mean jokes about my huge belly and I’ll sic Corin on you.”
He laughs as he puts his arms around me. “Pretty soon I probably won’t be able to get my arms around you.”
“Watch your mouth, O’Brien.”
“Yes, ma’am. Hmm, speaking of mouths worth watching…” His mouth lands on mine and I open to him, moaning as his tongue sweeps inside. Suddenly I’m hyperaware of how long it’s been since we’ve made love. Being turned on while pregnant seems to be a bit more intense than what I’m used to. Or maybe it’s the time apart. Or both. I press myself against him, feeling the evidence of just how much he’s missed me as well.
“Landen,” I breathe, pulling him as close as humanly possible.
“I know, baby.” His hands drop to my bottom and he gives me a firm squeeze. “But we need to talk, okay?” Placing a disappointingly chaste kiss against my lips, he sighs and pulls back.
“Okay. Want to tell me about it? I’m kind of dying to know and also unsure of what’s okay to ask.”
Landen takes my hand and helps me lower into the soft sand and sea grass. “You can ask anything you want.”
“Was it awful?” I whisper into the wind. Do you hate me ? I want to add but don’t.
His eyes scan the ocean as he answers. “No, not awful. It was…enlightening, I guess. I learned some things. A lot of things. It was awful being away from you though.”
“Agreed. God I missed you.” We both prop back on our arms, letting the ones closest to one another intertwine as we do.
I roll my eyes. But then panic sends my pulse into overdrive. “I’m nervous,” I whisper to her.
“Aw. Sweetie. Don’t be. I’m not exactly your baby daddy’s biggest fan, but he went to that place for you. I can at least admit that that’s a start. He obviously loves you very much.”
I’m about to tell her that Skylar obviously loves her very much and press for details about how serious they are when he walks in.
“Hey. Landen’s waiting for you outside, Layla.”
My heart is racing but I’m grinning like an idiot. “Okay.”
“He’s down by the water.”
“Thanks.” I start to step out the back door when I realize I have more to say. “And um, thank you both. For hopping on a flight to Spain when I needed you. For letting me stay here, and just…for everything. Y’all know I don’t have much in the way of family. In my head, y’all are my family.”
“Dammit, Georgia. You’re going to make me cry.” Corin sniffles and wipes her hand roughly under her eyes. “Go get your fine piece of soccer ass already.”
“Hey, I’m a fine piece of soccer ass, thank you very much,” Skylar pipes up, pulling her to him.
She answers him with a kiss and I smile at the both of them. “I love y’all. Very much.”
“We love you, too,” Corin says, swatting Skylar on the arm as he says something into her ear I don’t catch. “If he steps out of line out there, let us know. It’s a big ocean. We can make him disappear.”
I laugh, knowing she’s only half kidding. Taking a deep breath, I step outside and make my way down the wooden steps to the deserted beach. Just as my feet hit the sand, Landen turns.
The sunlight glares off the water, sending light glinting all around him. It takes all the self-control I have not to break into a headlong sprint and launch myself into his arms.
Squinting up at him as I get closer, I bite my lip to keep from grinning maniacally. “Hey, stranger.”
His navy polo shirt is tight on his chest and arms. He’s been working out. His hair is a little longer than before, but other than that, he’s the same. Still my Landen. My fine piece of soccer ass.
“Hi there, beautiful.” He smiles but it doesn’t reach his eyes.
“I’ve missed you,” I say, reaching up to touch his face. It was only six weeks, but it was the most time we’ve ever spent apart. And it sucked.
“Me too, baby.” His eyes drop to my stomach and widen. “Whoa.”
“Easy. Make any mean jokes about my huge belly and I’ll sic Corin on you.”
He laughs as he puts his arms around me. “Pretty soon I probably won’t be able to get my arms around you.”
“Watch your mouth, O’Brien.”
“Yes, ma’am. Hmm, speaking of mouths worth watching…” His mouth lands on mine and I open to him, moaning as his tongue sweeps inside. Suddenly I’m hyperaware of how long it’s been since we’ve made love. Being turned on while pregnant seems to be a bit more intense than what I’m used to. Or maybe it’s the time apart. Or both. I press myself against him, feeling the evidence of just how much he’s missed me as well.
“Landen,” I breathe, pulling him as close as humanly possible.
“I know, baby.” His hands drop to my bottom and he gives me a firm squeeze. “But we need to talk, okay?” Placing a disappointingly chaste kiss against my lips, he sighs and pulls back.
“Okay. Want to tell me about it? I’m kind of dying to know and also unsure of what’s okay to ask.”
Landen takes my hand and helps me lower into the soft sand and sea grass. “You can ask anything you want.”
“Was it awful?” I whisper into the wind. Do you hate me ? I want to add but don’t.
His eyes scan the ocean as he answers. “No, not awful. It was…enlightening, I guess. I learned some things. A lot of things. It was awful being away from you though.”
“Agreed. God I missed you.” We both prop back on our arms, letting the ones closest to one another intertwine as we do.
Similar Books
