I watched as Ward walked across the parking lot outside the station, his black curls tousled and his silver eyes piercing me from a good twenty feet away—ridiculously sexy and downright dangerous for my sanity.

He’d been back in Willow Brook for a full two days now, and by sheer luck, I’d managed to avoid being alone with him the entire time. He’d set up meetings with everyone on the crew, including me. I’d begged off with the excuse of a doctor’s appointment—an entirely factual excuse. I did have a doctor’s appointment. Yet, he’d lose his mind if he knew why.

Dr. Jensen confirmed what my four pregnancy tests had already told me—I was pregnant. She estimated me to be approximately four weeks along. It was easy to figure out when I’d gotten pregnant, seeing as I’d only had sex once in the entire past year, although I hadn’t shared that rather depressing detail with her.

She’d been my OB/GYN for years now, so she knew me fairly well. When she’d asked me if I was excited, I’d promptly burst into tears. At which point, she realized that this pregnancy was a massive surprise.

She’d graciously asked me what I wanted to do and carefully explained my options. There would’ve been a time in my life when I would’ve been appreciative to consider options. Even though I was confused and conflicted about my circumstance, I knew with certainty I wanted to have this baby. And that? Well, that put me in a hot mess.

I didn’t like to lie. I was a straightforward person, preferring to cut to the chase and cut through any bullshit. Yet, I had no idea how to talk to Ward about this. None. At all.

Not to mention, I didn’t know how to deal with the small problem related to the spark that just wouldn’t fucking quit between us. Every time I passed through his orbit in the station, my body felt electrified. Little bolts of lightning sent sparks scattering through me. And his eyes, those silver eyes flashing at me, the heat contained within them seared me inside and out.

From the look in his gaze, I was starting to get the sense he had no intention of forgetting what happened between us. Little did he know, there would be a huge reason that would make it impossible to forget.

Ward reached me, stopping a few feet away, the force of his presence setting a subtle vibration off inside of me. He was a strong man with a potent presence—all coiled strength and languid power. He didn’t throw his weight around like some men did, as if they needed to prove their power. He was so damn confident, masculinity and power simply oozed from him.

The moment my gaze collided with his, I had to catch my breath as my pulse took off at a gallop. He stared at me, his eyes locked to mine and his gaze far too knowing for my comfort.

“Hi,” I managed, that single word coming out breathy.

He was quiet for a beat, arching a brow. “You haven’t met with me yet,” he said, pointing out the obvious.

I nodded. “I know. Sorry about that. I really did have a doctor’s appointment.”

I was exceedingly relieved I wasn’t lying about that detail. Truth aside, I was so uncomfortable because of why I had a doctor’s appointment, I didn’t know what else to say.

We were interrupted by the back door to the station opening. Cade and Beck walked out together. They parted ways, each going to their respective vehicles. Cade glanced over, giving a wave just as Beck called over a goodbye. I watched as they climbed into their trucks and drove away.

Ward and I were alone again, a fact of which my body was hyperaware. Butterflies spun in my belly, and liquid need slid through my veins. The effect he had on me was embarrassing.

“Have dinner with me,” he said, his gruff voice sending a shiver over my skin.

Like an idiot, my head was bobbing along in a nod before I even thought about what my answer should’ve been. Definitely no. In fact, what I should’ve done was request to be assigned to a different crew post haste.

Of course, that didn’t resolve the gigantic issue looming before me. I had to somehow find a way to tell Ward I was pregnant and planning to have our baby, a baby I was fairly certain he didn’t want.

Before I could gather myself and backtrack, his mouth curled into a grin. Fuck me. He was dark and dangerous with a broody, rough edge to him. Throw in even a hint of humor, and I had no willpower to resist him. I didn’t even want to. My belly promptly executed a flip as if on command, and my sex clenched.

Ward’s presence could pull the strings on my body like nobody’s business.

“Where?” he asked.

I was still scrambling to rectify my nod, but then I figured I’d look even more ridiculous if I tried to say no now. I almost said Wildlands, but if we were going to see anyone from our crew, it would be there at this time of day.

“Firehouse Café. Have you ever been there?”

“Yup. Met a few of the guys there for coffee this morning. Let’s go,” he said, turning and starting to walk toward his truck.

I stood right where I was, my feet rooted to the ground, because I couldn’t seem to function like a normal human being when he was near me. Glancing back to me, Ward nudged his chin in the direction of his truck.

“I’ll meet you there,” I said quickly.

Right on girl. Look at you! You can still talk.

I really, really didn’t appreciate how off-kilter I was around him.

“I’ll drop you off later,” he replied without hesitation.

His words came out as a statement rather than a question. It was clear he had no expectation I would question him. Normally, I would. He was high handed and a little too domineering for me.

Except in bed.

That was my naughty side. Just as I started to feebly debate that point in my own head, my feet started walking in his direction. My brain was clearly not the driver in this equation.

Ward, of course, had a black truck with every feature you could imagine. It suited him perfectly. The short ride from the station to Firehouse Café was quiet, the air in the truck cab charged. I was wrestling with my desire, struggling to pin it down and vanquish it by my sensible self. Despite my best efforts, it appeared to be a losing cause.

There was that small problem and then the fact I sat there beside him carrying a secret, a very big secret.

When we pulled up at Firehouse Café, I started to climb out on my own, but he moved like lightning. Before I knew it, he was at my door opening it, the momentum from my motion completely stolen by his.

“I could’ve gotten that, you know,” I said, glancing up to catch his eyes.

His lips quirked, a gleam entering his eyes. “I know,” he said simply.

We walked across the parking lot, and somewhere along the way, his hand landed on my low back, the heat of his touch like a brand. Ward had the strangest effect on me. I wouldn’t have normally described myself as a woman who wanted a man to take care of me. But Ward made me yearn for that. The simple gesture, his hand on my back, made me feel as if I was contained in a circle of his, and his alone.

I wanted to punch back at that feeling and tell it to stop being ridiculous. Sweet hell. I had so many internal battles going on, I had a thunderstorm inside of my own brain. If only Ward knew. He would think I was ridiculous.

I knew I was ridiculous.