Chapter Fourteen

I drove home with happy, clean feet that looked fabulous with pretty pink toenails. Halle and Heather made up and drove home together. I never heard back from Declan. I hope that meant his meeting was going well. Or maybe he was running scared from the earlier text. I mean, how many men really wanted to date a lactating zombie?

That’s why I was surprised to see his truck in the drive when I arrived home. I pulled up behind him. He was out of his truck as soon as he saw me.

He opened my car door and helped me out. A smile danced in his eyes.

“What are you doing here?” I gazed up into his handsome face. I loved the five o’clock shadow he had going on.

He leaned in and brushed my lips. “I thought it would be better to respond to your message in person.”

“I’m surprised you aren’t running away.”

He pushed me against the car and leaned in, careful of the precious cargo I carried. He trailed kisses up and down my neck. “If you’re trying to get rid of me, it’s not working,” he breathed against my neck.

His touch had me tingling from head to toe. “I just want you to know what you’re signing up for.”

“Mel, I’m in this for the long haul. I’ll make sure I always have extra t-shirts on hand for any breastmilk leaks. Besides, you look hot in my shirts, so I’m rooting for those.”

I laughed into his chest.

He rubbed my back. “And if you ever need a nap, I’m your man. I’m up for baby duty anytime, day or night.”

I looked up and peered into his sincere eyes. “Are you really sure?”

“Trust me.”

“I want to.”

“We’ll keep working on it. But for now,” he pulled my hand, “the cove and water are calling.”

“The water is still cool at night this time of year.”

“Believe me, you’ll be plenty warm.” His words alone sent a surge of heat through my body.

He didn’t lie. I found myself wrapped up in him under a blanket of water. With each kiss, I found myself falling deeper and deeper for him. I ran my fingers through his thick, wet hair. He looked perfect under the glow of the moonlight. I loved the feel of his hand silkily falling down my arm leaving trails of raised skin as he went.

“I wish I would have never left you,” he whispered.

“I wish you would have trusted me.”

He leaned his forehead against mine. “Me too.”

“Why didn’t you believe me?”

He skimmed my lips. He tasted like saltwater and honey. “It never dawned on me you would say no. In my eighteen-year-old mind it didn’t make sense. The only logical explanation was that there was someone else.”

“And how was that logical? We were inseparable.”

“I was eighteen.”

“For a long time, I dreamed you would come for me.”

He pulled me closer against his taut chest. “I thought about it all the time, but by the time I was smart enough, I figured it was too late. I heard you were serious with someone at Clemson.”

I rested my head on his shoulder and let the waves lull us. “There’s no looking back now.”

“I want you to be able to trust me, Mel. I’m not that boy.”

“You promised to be patient.”

“Like I said, I’m not going anywhere.”

He went on to prove that. But life meant to test us, as well.

~*~

He started off with stopping by for a quick minute at work. Spring was a busy time of year for him and me. It was construction season. Daddy was gone more and more on site. He had taken me with him a few times, but he was more paranoid than me about my pregnancy, so he felt more comfortable with me in the office. And I didn’t complain. I preferred the beautiful, clean, and climate controlled environment of our office over the trailers that didn’t have adequate air conditioning this time of year. The days were getting warmer and more humid.

And I loved that Declan could pop in from time to time.

Today he came bearing a box and a smile.

I looked up from my laptop. “What’s this? My birthday isn’t until next week.”

He carried over the box and set it on my desk. “Speaking of which, I do have some ideas, but do you have anything in mind?”

I loved that he asked. “Something low-key with just the two of us sounds perfect.”

“I like the way you think.”

I stood up to peek in the box. I laughed as I peered in. “Let me guess, you talked to your sister.”

He looked so proud of himself. “Yes, ma’am.” He started pulling out the items one by one. “She said these nursing pads are the best and prevent leaks, but I’m still holding out for you wearing my shirts. Here’s some cream, she said it prevents cracking. She likes this pump and said it was a lifesaver. I didn’t even know you could pump.” He set it aside before pulling out a couple of books and handing them to me. “She said these were the best purchases of her life, that she learned more from them than she ever learned in any class.”

I didn’t even look them over. I set them down and met him on the other side of my desk. I grabbed his shirt and pulled him to me.

His grin said he was hoping that would happen.

“I think I may be falling in love with you, Declan Shaw.” That just came falling out of my mouth, but it was true.

He brushed his hand through my hair. “I never stopped loving you.” He pressed his lips against mine.

I pulled away from him. “Do you really love me?”

He nodded, but it was his eyes that shouted yes.

A single tear ran down my cheek.

He kissed my forehead. “I wish I could stay, but I have to get to an appointment. What time is your class over tonight?”

I sighed. I was debating on whether to go or not. They kind of depressed me. “I think nine.”

He cocked his head. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“That’s not true.”

“It’s just that going to these classes is a glaring reminder that I’m a single parent.”

“You’re not single.” He pulled me to him. “And all you have to do is say the word and I’ll go with you. I’ll even be there in the delivery room with you if you want me to.”

I bit my lip. I had thought about asking but . . . “What if we break up? And you realize the kind of things that go on in a delivery room, right? It goes way beyond leaked breastmilk.”

“First of all, we aren’t breaking up.” He rested his hand on my abdomen. “And I want to experience this with you. I want to be the one holding your hand. I want to be there when this little man takes his first breath.”

I rested my hand on his cheek. “I’m going to make you late if you keep talking like that.”

He groaned. “Don’t tempt me. Text me the address where the class is held and I’ll meet you there.”

I nodded, too choked up to speak.

He bent down and kissed my belly. “Be good for your mom, try to stay out of her ribs, and lay off the heartburn.”

I laughed and ran my fingers through his hair.

He stood up and kissed me hard once. “I’ll see you later.”

He didn’t know how much I looked forward to it.

But I wasn’t sure how much he was looking forward to the delivery room scene after the first birthing class and the videos they showed of real deliveries. While I was in awe with the power and wonderment of the female body, he whispered in my ear, “It reminds me of the movie Alien.”

He was all in, though, when it came time to learn massage techniques to help me through contractions. And when one of the husbands in the class raised his hand and asked the instructor, “I read that making out and caressing your wife during labor can help. Is that true?”

His wife’s eyes about bulged out and she smacked him.

The instructor, to my surprise, validated the husband. “There have been studies that show that intense kissing can help stimulate and even help labor progress.”

The men in the class all erupted in a collective grin, even the one I brought.

“I think we should test this theory out.” Declan kissed the side of my head.

I didn’t know if that was going to happen, but having him by my side at class that night meant the world to me. Knowing that I had someone to count on that was only there for me was a life changing moment. I knew my friends would have been there, but now that Halle and my doctor were dating, that was a no go, and Heather and my doctor in the same room was probably not a good call at this time.

I knew Declan would be drama free.

But little did I know the drama life had in store for us.