Line of Fire
Line of Fire
Book Two of The Harvest Ridge Series
https://amzn.to/2AFBIo1
K.L. Ramsey
Chapter One
Aaron Steele sat up in his bed, sweat running down his bare chest. It was almost Christmas, but you wouldn’t know it from the weather in California. He missed Colorado winters, especially during the holidays. He missed the friends that he’d left behind in Harvest Ridge, but mostly, he missed Sunny.
God, he missed Sunshine Francis. She was one of the reasons that he’d left Colorado to train forest firefighters in California. She had gotten too close and that was something that he couldn’t let happen. They’d spent one perfect night together, back in April, and she still possessed a piece of his heart. He’d tried to move on, hoping to find a new normal, and he’d been doing just fine until he’d got a message from his best friend, Taggart Harrison.
Tag had all but demanded that Aaron high tail his ass back to Harvest Ridge because Piper and Sunny were in some sort of trouble. This morning, Aaron had talked to his supervisor about taking a leave of absence. He’d promised that he would finish out the week, but then he was heading back to Harvest Ridge. He needed to go home to make sure that Sunny was safe, even knowing how painful it would be to walk away from her again.
He tried to settle down in his uncomfortable, tiny bunk, hoping that sleep would find him again. But that meant that the nightmares would probably catch up to him too. He hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep since that night he’d spent in Sunny’s arms and he’d give just about anything to be snuggled in her bed now. His cock was hard just thinking about her sexy body curled up next to his. But, that wasn’t going to happen. He was too messed up to even consider dragging her into his life; it wouldn’t be fair.
He closed his eyes, and the faces of the men that he’d lost from his company slowly played through his mind, as they had done every night for the past five years.
Aaron had been a new firefighter when his company was called in on the Wolf Creek Pass fire since they had forest fire training. It was the second largest forest fire in Colorado’s history, burning over 110,000 acres. The entire clusterfuck was considered a natural disaster since it had started from a lightning strike. Three forest fires merged to create one of the worst natural disasters the state of Colorado had ever seen. It also took the lives of fifteen of his closest friends—men that he considered his brothers. Three men from his company made it home from that fire, and he was one of them. To this day, he felt a pang of guilt that he was still around, fighting fires and enjoying life, while so many families had lost husbands, fathers and brothers. Honestly, no one was at home waiting for him when he’d returned from that disaster with a few scrapes and a broken arm. He’d taken some time off to heal physically, but the invisible wounds—the demons that he fought every night when he shut his eyes—never healed.
For the short time that he and Sunny were hanging out, he thought that he might be able to get past the guilt of surviving. But then they’d taken it too far, sleeping together, and the feelings that she’d brought to the surface had scared the crap out of him. He’d acted like a first-class heel, avoiding her after their one night, but that had only made her angry. When Sunshine Francis got angry, there was no stopping that woman. She’d made sure that he’d never had a moment’s peace.
At Tag and Piper’s wedding, she mean mugged him, while whispering to the bride. He knew that she was talking about him, the way they both kept looking in his direction. Tag and Torren gave him some shit about just going after her and taking what he wanted, but they didn’t understand the constant turmoil he was in. Guilt does that to a man—turns him inside out and upside down until he doesn’t know which way is up. Aaron couldn’t drag Sunny into his already fucked up life, no matter how much he wanted to. She was better off without him.
Sunny was gorgeous; with her sexy little body and short brown hair she drove him crazy with lust. That’s why going back to Harvest Ridge, even for a few days, scared the shit out of him. He just didn’t know if he’d be able to handle seeing Sunny again. Even if he got through spending the holidays with her, would he want to leave her again? Could he just walk away from her and not look back?
He’d never had a problem with leaving women before. Hell, he was even pretty good at it. He had his time in the air force to thank for that since the military hadn’t left him much choice about where he was sent. He was good at loving and leaving the ladies whenever duty called, and he moved on. He’d spent most of his career in the Middle East, securing flights for military personnel. He would process the soldiers as they went from the field to go back home on leave. He would never forget the faces of the men and women that passed through the base; their ghostlike expressions from the devastation that they witnessed still haunted him.
He’d enlisted in the air force when he was just eighteen, fresh out of high school. He wasn’t sure that he wanted to go to college, so his guidance counselor handed him a pamphlet for each of the military branches. He picked one and the rest was history. Aaron served his mandatory eight years and got out when he was twenty-six. He took some time to travel, not really having a home base. His mom had died the year before he graduated high school and his dad had remarried. His stepmom wasn’t his biggest fan, and he never wanted to cause his dad any trouble, so he stayed away. He got an occasional birthday or Christmas card, but never much more.
He’d drifted from state to state, working odd jobs, not sure what he wanted to do or where he wanted to end up. One day, he stumbled across Harvest Ridge when he blew a tire on his pickup truck. He stayed the night in town, waiting for his new tire to be delivered and he never left. Aaron met Tag and Torren Harrison and the three of them became instant friends, sharing a love of the outdoors. He helped them with their adventure business, leading groups out on hikes, and even went on a few white-water rafting trips to lend a hand.
Tag had introduced him to the chief at the local fire station, and Aaron signed up and trained to be a firefighter. He loved his job, right up until that fateful day, five years ago.
Every man in his company knew what they were getting into that day. They knew how dangerous the fire was and they all agreed that saving Harvest Ridge was too important not to try. Each person in that group either lived in town or had family that did. They couldn’t sit back and hope that the fire would spare their small town. They went up the mountain, right into the belly of the beast, and dug trenches to stop the fire from spreading any further. Their efforts were met with a backdraft, caused by shifting winds. Before the group even knew what hit them, they were surrounded by flames. When Aaron closed his eyes at night, he could still see the terror in his buddies’ eyes and hear their screams of agony, as he had no choice but to retreat down the mountain. Those sounds—and images—would haunt him for the rest of his life, no matter how many mandatory therapy sessions his station forced him to attend.
Now, he was about to turn thirty-four and he had nothing to show for it except regret, guilt and a crazy longing for a woman that he knew was better off without him. Still, he was willing to put himself through a little hell to make sure that Sunny was safe. She had come to mean something to him, although he had no idea what that meant or what to do with those feelings. When he’d talked to Tag, every protective instinct had come to life within him. All he could think about was getting back to Harvest Ridge and keeping Sunny safe. Once he knew that she was alright, he could head back out of town and out of her life. Because keeping Sunny safe from him was also part of the deal.
***
Aaron finished out his work week, as he’d promised, and packed his belongings into the small duffle bag that he practically lived out of. He’d kept his loft in Colorado, only taking what was necessary to California. Aaron hadn’t planned on returning to Harvest Ridge so soon, but he had no choice. He threw his bag in his pickup truck and started the drive back home. If he was lucky, and the weather held, he would be home in two days. He knew that, once he hit the mountains, the weather would be the wild card factor in his drive time.
He needed some news from Tag, but his friend hadn’t called or texted in days. The last thing he heard was that some asshole was trying to get to Piper by using her aunt, Lorna. Sawyer had Torren guarding Sunny and that felt like a kick in the gut. Aaron knew that Torren and Sunny had had a fling awhile back—what if they hooked up again? Sometimes, danger could throw two people together. He shook his head, trying to clear the image of Torren and Sunny in bed. Aaron wanted Sunny to move on and find someone to be with. Hell, he wanted her to fall in love and have a family—kids, a dog, the whole nine yards. If he was being completely honest, he wanted her to find those things with him, but he was smart enough to know that wasn’t a possibility.
He needed to make sure that something hadn’t happened to Tag, Piper or Sunny. The thought of someone hurting Sunny made him madder than hell. He decided to give Sawyer a call—not knowing what the hell was going on wasn’t working for him. He pulled out his cell and dialed Sawyer’s number. His friend’s grumpy greeting made him smile, reminding him that he had been away from home for too long.
“Yeah, Aaron, it’s about fucking time.” Sawyer sounded like he’d been through hell.
“Well, Merry fucking Christmas to you too, man.” Aaron huffed out a laugh.
“Sorry, man. I’ve got a lot going on right now. I’m planning a wedding.”
Aaron wanted to laugh at the thought of Sawyer as a wedding planner.
“So, the whole bodyguard thing didn’t work out then?” Aaron couldn’t help laughing at his own joke. He knew that he was starting to piss Sawyer off, judging from his friend’s growl into the other end of the line.
“I’m throwing Lorna a surprise wedding for Christmas. We are going to have a baby and Piper is helping me to plan a Christmas wedding. We have been trying to reach you for months now, man. Where are you?” Sawyer sounded like he was doing fifteen things at one time, judging from the amount of noise coming from the other end of the line.
“Sorry, man. I’m heading back to town now. I’ll be there tomorrow. Tell me that everyone is safe. Last time I talked to Tag, someone was trying to get to Piper.” Aaron flexed his fingers, then gripped the steering wheel a little tighter, waiting for Sawyer’s response.
“Yeah, Aaron, there is a lot you should know, but I just don’t have the time to talk right now. I’m taking Lorna to dinner in a few hours and I’ve got a million things to do. Everyone here is safe; just get your ass back to town.”
Aaron could hear the worry in Sawyer’s voice and was sure that his friend wasn’t telling him everything. He knew that he was going to regret asking, but he couldn’t help himself.
“Sunny—is she okay?”
Sawyer sighed into his cell, sending up red flags. “Listen, man, I can’t say too much. I promised Sunny that I’d keep my mouth shut and she would fucking kill me if I tell you what’s going on with her. All I’m going to say is hightail your ass back to town and show up to my wedding tomorrow. It’s going to start around noon. And dude, don’t be an ass when you see Sunny; she’s been through enough.”
Aaron could feel his anger. “What the fuck does that mean?”
Sawyer barked out a laugh, into the phone. “I mean don’t act like that, when you see Sunny tomorrow. I’ve got to go, just don’t be late tomorrow and fuck up my wedding day.”
With that, Sawyer ended the call, leaving Aaron to analyze their conversation.
What the hell had happened to Sunny? Whoever was giving her a tough time was going to have to answer to him. God, he’d kick whomever ’s ass needed to be kicked, because picking on his Sunny was just not acceptable. Yeah, he was going to roll into town, take some names and kick some ass. He’d help Sunny fix everything and catch up with all his friends. He was due some downtime. He worked hard these past few months—he deserved some time with his buddies. After the New Year, he’d head back to California and try to forget about Sunny again, even though he knew from experience that was pretty much impossible to do.
Chapter Two
Christmas Day
Aaron was dog tired by the time he pulled up to Tag and Piper’s cabin. He knew that he was late and that he’d probably missed the wedding, but he was hoping to catch all his friends still there. He was so nervous about seeing Sunny, he felt like a teenage boy going on his first date. What the hell was wrong with him? Grown ass men didn’t get butterflies like giddy school girls. Fuck! He needed to get his shit together before heading in to see her.
He wasn’t going to have much time to pull it together—Tag, Sawyer and Lorna emerged from the house, their arms laden with gifts. He jumped out of his truck and jogged over to lend a hand.
“Hey, stranger!” Lorna piled her boxes into the trunk and pulled him in for a hug. He always loved the way she made everyone feel like family.
“Congratulations! I hear that you got hitched.” He wrapped an arm around Lorna, pulling her into his side, and offered his hand to Sawyer, who pulled him in for a quick man hug, complete with back slapping. Lorna giggled beside him.
“Yep, and we’re having a baby. I guess there will be three new Harvest Ridge residents come spring,” Lorna said. Tag cleared his throat and pulled Aaron in for a hug. Aaron didn’t miss the nervous looks that Sawyer and Lorna exchanged.
“Three babies?” Aaron looked between the three of them and he knew that they weren’t telling him something. “Who else is having a baby?”
Tag’s smile was the biggest he had ever seen on his friend’s face. “Pipe and I are having a baby, too.” Aaron howled, hugging his best friend again.
“That’s fantastic news, Tag. I’m so happy for you all.” He helped Lorna and Sawyer with the last of their packages, putting them into their car.
Lorna still seemed nervous. “Well, we’re off.” She went up on her tip toes to hug and kiss Tag and then Aaron on their cheeks. Sawyer shook both of their hands and ushered his new bride into the car. Aaron felt a pang of jealousy and tried to shake it off. He had no business having those desires.
“Well, might as well head in. Pipe will be glad to see you, and Sunny is still here.” Aaron froze at Tag’s words, not sure how he felt about seeing Sunny after waving the happy couple off.
“I need to grab something from my truck, man. I’ll be right behind you, just give me a minute.” Tag nodded and headed back into his cabin. Honestly, Aaron didn’t need anything from his truck, he just needed a minute. Seeing everyone again was stirring up emotions in him that he hadn’t planned on. He needed to get his head together before he faced Sunny.
He hid away in his truck for ten minutes before he decided to stop being a chicken. Sunny was just a woman that he had sex with- once. One fucking time, and that was all she was to him—just a one-night stand. He actually said those words out loud, laughing at how ridiculous they sounded. He couldn’t even fool himself; how would he be able to convince everyone else that he moved on? How would he be able to tell Sunny that she meant nothing to him when he felt so much?
Aaron slammed his truck door shut and made his way to the cabin. He always loved the way Tag’s cabin felt so warm and homey. Now that Tag had Piper and a baby on the way, it seemed like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Someday. Yeah, that thought was probably a lie too.
He pulled the front door open and stepped into the warm cabin to find Piper crowding Sunny, shouting her name. Both Tag and Pipe looked worried as Sunny started to fall. Aaron’s protective instincts kicked in and he darted over to Sunny and pulled her into his arms before her body hit the floor and God, she felt so good in his arms. He couldn’t get enough of her body snuggled up against his.
“Oh God, Aaron, I’m so sorry,” Piper croaked. He looked at Piper who was staring at Sunny’s swollen belly. How had he missed that, when he first walked in? Sunny was pregnant.
***
Aaron couldn’t take his eyes off Sunny as he cradled her against his chest. She was pregnant and, if he had to guess, the baby was his. Judging from the size of her belly, she was due any minute and that just about gutted him. Why hadn’t she told him about the baby—his baby? He should have been given the chance to be there for them both, but Sunny had never told him—never given him the option to do the right thing.
He carried her into Tag and Piper’s spare room and laid her on the bed. Piper was hot on his heels. He didn’t want to talk to her; he wanted to talk to Sunny. He needed to know if the baby was his, although he felt deep down in his gut that it was. He sat down next to Sunny and pulled her into his arms.
“Do you think we should call an ambulance?” Piper looked at her best friend, worried.
“I think she just fainted. She’ll be fine. I caught her before she hit the floor.” He rested his palm on her belly and felt the baby kick. He wanted to pull his hand away, feeling like he was intruding on something personal, but he was mesmerized by the little person inside her.
“Is the baby mine?” He didn’t mean to growl his question but—damn it—his emotions were in overdrive at the thought of his baby growing inside of Sunny.
“Aaron,” Piper stuttered, “I think that might be a question you should ask Sunny.” Aaron groaned, knowing that Piper’s answer was all he needed. The baby was his, but Piper didn’t want to be the one to tell him. Still, he needed to have a little chat with Sunny. Why would she keep his baby from him?
“Fine. Help me wake her up so that she can confirm that she’s been pregnant with my child for the past eight months and didn’t bother to tell me.” He saw Piper’s expression and the pity that she felt for him. He didn’t need her fucking pity—he needed to be told the truth.
“I’ll go and get some cold compresses and see if we have any smelling salts.” Piper left the room, leaving him alone with Sunny and his baby. God, she was beautiful. She always reminded him of a fairy or sprite. Her dark hair was cut short again. He liked her hair short; she called it her pixie cut and it would make him laugh, because that was exactly what she was—a pixie. It was almost impossible to believe that her tiny frame could carry such a big belly. At 4 feet 11, he couldn’t imagine her pregnancy had been an easy one—she was so little. He pulled her in closer, loving the feel of having her in his arms again.
They’d spent one perfect night together, during a freak April blizzard. He’d lost a piece of his heart that night and he’d left it with her the entire time he was gone. It appeared that he’d left a little more than a piece of his heart with Sunny. He wrapped his arms around her belly, resting his palms against the squirming baby inside of her womb. He loved the little kicks and tugs. He could see little feet and elbows poke Sunny’s skin and he was sure that the little one was going to rip her in two.
“Sunny, you need to wake up, honey.” He kissed the top of her head, inhaling her scent, loving the way her hair always smelled like peaches. Aaron rubbed her belly and couldn’t help but chuckle at how the baby seemed to follow his hands, kicking and stretching Sunny’s skin.
“Baby, you need to wake up and talk to me.” She stirred this time, almost turning over to face him. She sat up with a start, as if not realizing where she was.
Aaron pulled her back down onto his body. “Easy, honey. You fainted; you need to take it slowly.” Sunny snuggled into his hold, as if she was settling in to take another nap.
“Oh no! We talk before you sleep.” Sunny’s whole body stiffened in his arms. He rubbed his hand down her back and rested his other hand on her belly.
“Maybe we can talk later, you know—like when the wedding is over.” Sunny was stalling and he wasn’t about to let her off so easily.
“The wedding is over, and we can talk now. I think we should start with this little guy.” He palmed her belly and felt another kick. “Is he mine Sunny?”
She sighed against his chest. “It’s a she and yes. She is yours.” Sunny sobbed, and he tightened his arms around her. He always hated seeing Sunny cry; she was usually so happy. He liked to tease her, calling her ‘his little ray of sunshine’. She never seemed to mind the nickname but now, she was more like a storm cloud.
“Aw, Sunny, don’t cry baby.” He kissed the top of her head again and she stilled in his arms.
“No, Aaron, don’t.” She tried to free herself from his hold, but he didn’t allow that. He worried that if he let her go, she would disappear before he got his answers.
“You have no right to hold me or kiss my head. You need to stop touching me and calling me your little pet names. You left, Aaron, with no word to anyone but Tag. You just left.” Her tears ran freely down her cheeks and he didn’t know what to do.
“You could have sent word, Sunny. I would have helped you.” Aaron let her move to the other side of the bed, giving her some space. Every fiber of his being wanted to pull her back into his arms and never let her go, but wasn’t that why he left in the first place? Wanting Sunny was never his problem. He wasn’t good for her. Hell, he wasn’t good for anyone. He would be a horrible husband and probably a shitty father. But that didn’t make him want to walk away—this baby was his responsibility. He wanted to help Sunny and he wanted to try to be a father to their daughter. The thought of having a little girl left a lump in his throat; he had no clue what to do with a daughter.
“Sure, I could have forced Tag to tell you, but he didn’t want to get involved. And what would you have done when you found out? Would you have come back into town and taken care of me? Would you have taken care of this baby?” She barked out her laugh, as if mocking him with her words.
“Yes, I would have fucking taken care of you both, but I wasn’t given the chance. You kept our baby a secret from me. Why, Sunny? Were you afraid that I couldn’t handle being a father or that I’d be a shitty one?”
Sunny gasped as if he’d slapped her.
“Oh, Aaron, is that what you think? I know that you are going to be a fantastic dad. I just didn’t want to be your obligation. I was a one-night stand and then she happened.” Sunny rubbed her belly and, God, he wanted to touch her again. “You don’t have to worry about us, Aaron. We’ve done just fine without you and we will continue to be fine once you leave again. That’s the plan, right? You’re going to leave again?”
Aaron knew that Sunny was right. She was fine without him, but, damnit , he wanted her to need him just a little bit. He did plan on going back out to California. He was training future firefighters and at last, he felt important like he was finally fulfilling his purpose.
Finding Sunny pregnant with his child really threw a monkey wrench in his plans to go back to training firefighters in California. He knew that he couldn’t just leave his child and move on as if she didn’t exist; it was just not who he was. He wanted his little girl to have her father around; he at least owed Sunny that.
“No, Sunny. I’m not leaving again. I’ve decided to stick around, and the station said that they could add me back to the team.” It wasn’t a total lie—his captain called him just about every week to ask him to come back to Harvest Ridge. “So, I’m not going anywhere.”
She squinted at him as if she didn’t quite believe what he was saying.
“And when did you decide to stick around, Aaron? Was it before or after you found out I’m carrying your baby?” Geez, Sunny looked downright pissed. She was never like this before, crying one minute and angry as hell the next.
“I’m sticking around, isn’t that what you want to hear? Or do you still feel that I’m not good enough to be a father?” Her anger fizzled to pity, and he almost wanted her to be mad again. Angry Sunny, he could handle. The woman who sat before him now, pitying him, threw him off.
“You know what, do what you want to do. Just know that I don’t need you to stick around for our sake.” Sunny rubbed her huge belly, driving home her point. “We’ve gotten this far without your help and we’ll be fine for whatever life throws our way, won’t we baby girl?”
Aaron didn’t answer her—he wasn’t sure what to say. A part of him was jealous that she’d already bonded with their daughter, was even talking to her, and he hadn’t even known that she existed.
“God, you’re a pain in my ass, woman! I’m sticking around town. I’ll be here to help you with our daughter because I want to be a part of her life. You’re going to have to get used to sharing, honey.”
“Yeah, if that’s not the pot calling the kettle black! How dare you make this my fault—you left us.” Sunny shimmied down the bed, trying to find the end. It was almost comical watching her trying to maneuver with her giant belly. Aaron at least had the good sense not to laugh at her struggling to escape the bed.
“Fuck!” She laid back, practically on top of him, seeming to give up. She was breathing hard and he felt bad for thinking the whole scene funny. She was really having a hard time. He cupped her belly, rubbing what he assumed was his daughter’s foot.
“When are you due?” His voice was almost a whisper. If they were going to make this work, he was going to have to make some concessions. One being that he couldn’t bully his way through. Sunny wouldn’t go for him telling her what to do; she was always very independent.
“In three weeks, but the doctor says I may have to go early. I’m so tiny and she’s so … big.” He chuckled, rubbing Sunny’s belly, loving the feel of her in his arms.
“I’m sorry that I wasn’t here, honey. I’d give anything to have been here to help you get ready for our baby. But, you are just as much to blame here as I am. You should have told me.”
She heaved out a sigh. “I know that, but it’s hard to talk to someone when they go out of their way to avoid you. After our night together, you treated me like I had the plague. You wouldn’t talk to me and you barely noticed my existence.” Sunny sobbed and he pulled her into his arms.
“I noticed, baby. I was just too busy being a stubborn asshole that I didn’t think about what my actions were doing to you. I’m sorry.” She sniffled and wiped her nose on his shirt, causing him to laugh again. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d smiled, let alone laughed. God, he’d missed her. If he didn’t play his cards right, she would never let him back in. He needed to tread carefully with his next question, otherwise he stood the chance of pissing her off again.
“Tag told me that you are back at home, living with your parents.” Sunny nodded against his chest. “I’m guessing it’s a little crowded, with all of your brothers and sisters.” Sunny had four brothers and three sisters. She’d moved away from home as soon as she turned eighteen. First, she and Piper had done some traveling, after high school. When they’d got back to Harvest Ridge, she’d taken over her grandmother’s bakery, and renamed it Sunny’s Buns.
“My mom convinced me to move back to the farm, that it would be best for me and the baby. She’s going to help with her while I have to work. I’ve also hired a new girl to help me with the baking in the morning. I’ve gotten too big to do everything around the bakery.”
“Well, it must be crowded at your parents’ house.” Aaron knew he was fishing but Sunny still hadn’t caught on.
“Yeah, the baby and I will share a room with Willa—she’s a heavy sleeper. What’s with all the questions?”
Aaron shrugged, going for nonchalant. “I’m just thinking out loud here, but I still have my loft and it does have three bedrooms. Why don’t you move in with me?”
Sunny squinted her eyes again, this time giving him warning that he’d pissed her off.
“No.”
She finally waddled to the end of the bed and stood. Still a little woozy, she put her hand to her head.
“Damnit, Sunny, sit down.” He pulled her back down to the bed. “I think you need to be checked out. When was the last time you ate?” Sunny didn’t answer at first—his growl echoed through the room.
“Fine, I ate breakfast but nothing since.” She crossed her arms over her chest and he couldn’t help but notice how much bigger her boobs were.
“Fuck, Sunny, you need to eat. It’s past dinner time.” She wanted to protest, but as soon as she opened her mouth, he sealed his lips over hers, pulling her into his body. And, Lord help him, she felt right in his arms. It was as if she completed a puzzle that he had been working on for years.
He broke away from their kiss, leaving them both breathless. “First, I’m going to feed you. Then, I’m taking you to the doctor to make sure that you and our baby are okay. After that, we are going to your parents’ house. I will help you pack up your stuff and I’m taking you back to my place. You need help with our baby? Well, here I am, honey.” He stood in front of her, his arms open wide.
“But, I can’t—”
He covered her mouth with his hand before she could get out another word.
“You can, and you will, honey. We are going to share custody of this baby and, for the time being, she will have both of her parents, under one roof, taking care of her. This baby is more important than our differences.” Sunny bit his fingers and he swore. The little minx was going to give him trouble at every turn.
“Fine,” she shouted. “I’ll move in with you under one condition.”
“Alright, let’s hear it.” He held his breath. Had she really agreed to move in with him?
“I get my own room and we are just two people raising our child together, strictly platonic.” He wanted to balk at her suggestion, but the look on her face made him reconsider. He knew that the chemistry between them was bigger than Sunny’s stubborn streak. He didn’t want to scare her off before she’d even packed her bags. He would move her into her own room and then they could see where things ended up. Judging from the kiss that they just shared, she wouldn’t be in her own room for very long. At least this way, he could help with the baby and be involved in both of their lives.
“Alright,” he agreed.
“Good.” She held out her hand to shake on it. He took her hand in his, noticing her shiver at his touch. “Just two friends living together, raising this baby.” She wrapped her arms around her belly, driving home her point.
“Sure, honey. If that’s the way you want it. We’re just two friends, living under the same roof, raising our baby.” Aaron smiled down at Sunny; he couldn’t help it. The thought of trying to tame someone as free-spirited as Sunshine Francis was going to be difficult, and he was always up for a challenge.
Book Two of The Harvest Ridge Series
https://amzn.to/2AFBIo1
K.L. Ramsey
Chapter One
Aaron Steele sat up in his bed, sweat running down his bare chest. It was almost Christmas, but you wouldn’t know it from the weather in California. He missed Colorado winters, especially during the holidays. He missed the friends that he’d left behind in Harvest Ridge, but mostly, he missed Sunny.
God, he missed Sunshine Francis. She was one of the reasons that he’d left Colorado to train forest firefighters in California. She had gotten too close and that was something that he couldn’t let happen. They’d spent one perfect night together, back in April, and she still possessed a piece of his heart. He’d tried to move on, hoping to find a new normal, and he’d been doing just fine until he’d got a message from his best friend, Taggart Harrison.
Tag had all but demanded that Aaron high tail his ass back to Harvest Ridge because Piper and Sunny were in some sort of trouble. This morning, Aaron had talked to his supervisor about taking a leave of absence. He’d promised that he would finish out the week, but then he was heading back to Harvest Ridge. He needed to go home to make sure that Sunny was safe, even knowing how painful it would be to walk away from her again.
He tried to settle down in his uncomfortable, tiny bunk, hoping that sleep would find him again. But that meant that the nightmares would probably catch up to him too. He hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep since that night he’d spent in Sunny’s arms and he’d give just about anything to be snuggled in her bed now. His cock was hard just thinking about her sexy body curled up next to his. But, that wasn’t going to happen. He was too messed up to even consider dragging her into his life; it wouldn’t be fair.
He closed his eyes, and the faces of the men that he’d lost from his company slowly played through his mind, as they had done every night for the past five years.
Aaron had been a new firefighter when his company was called in on the Wolf Creek Pass fire since they had forest fire training. It was the second largest forest fire in Colorado’s history, burning over 110,000 acres. The entire clusterfuck was considered a natural disaster since it had started from a lightning strike. Three forest fires merged to create one of the worst natural disasters the state of Colorado had ever seen. It also took the lives of fifteen of his closest friends—men that he considered his brothers. Three men from his company made it home from that fire, and he was one of them. To this day, he felt a pang of guilt that he was still around, fighting fires and enjoying life, while so many families had lost husbands, fathers and brothers. Honestly, no one was at home waiting for him when he’d returned from that disaster with a few scrapes and a broken arm. He’d taken some time off to heal physically, but the invisible wounds—the demons that he fought every night when he shut his eyes—never healed.
For the short time that he and Sunny were hanging out, he thought that he might be able to get past the guilt of surviving. But then they’d taken it too far, sleeping together, and the feelings that she’d brought to the surface had scared the crap out of him. He’d acted like a first-class heel, avoiding her after their one night, but that had only made her angry. When Sunshine Francis got angry, there was no stopping that woman. She’d made sure that he’d never had a moment’s peace.
At Tag and Piper’s wedding, she mean mugged him, while whispering to the bride. He knew that she was talking about him, the way they both kept looking in his direction. Tag and Torren gave him some shit about just going after her and taking what he wanted, but they didn’t understand the constant turmoil he was in. Guilt does that to a man—turns him inside out and upside down until he doesn’t know which way is up. Aaron couldn’t drag Sunny into his already fucked up life, no matter how much he wanted to. She was better off without him.
Sunny was gorgeous; with her sexy little body and short brown hair she drove him crazy with lust. That’s why going back to Harvest Ridge, even for a few days, scared the shit out of him. He just didn’t know if he’d be able to handle seeing Sunny again. Even if he got through spending the holidays with her, would he want to leave her again? Could he just walk away from her and not look back?
He’d never had a problem with leaving women before. Hell, he was even pretty good at it. He had his time in the air force to thank for that since the military hadn’t left him much choice about where he was sent. He was good at loving and leaving the ladies whenever duty called, and he moved on. He’d spent most of his career in the Middle East, securing flights for military personnel. He would process the soldiers as they went from the field to go back home on leave. He would never forget the faces of the men and women that passed through the base; their ghostlike expressions from the devastation that they witnessed still haunted him.
He’d enlisted in the air force when he was just eighteen, fresh out of high school. He wasn’t sure that he wanted to go to college, so his guidance counselor handed him a pamphlet for each of the military branches. He picked one and the rest was history. Aaron served his mandatory eight years and got out when he was twenty-six. He took some time to travel, not really having a home base. His mom had died the year before he graduated high school and his dad had remarried. His stepmom wasn’t his biggest fan, and he never wanted to cause his dad any trouble, so he stayed away. He got an occasional birthday or Christmas card, but never much more.
He’d drifted from state to state, working odd jobs, not sure what he wanted to do or where he wanted to end up. One day, he stumbled across Harvest Ridge when he blew a tire on his pickup truck. He stayed the night in town, waiting for his new tire to be delivered and he never left. Aaron met Tag and Torren Harrison and the three of them became instant friends, sharing a love of the outdoors. He helped them with their adventure business, leading groups out on hikes, and even went on a few white-water rafting trips to lend a hand.
Tag had introduced him to the chief at the local fire station, and Aaron signed up and trained to be a firefighter. He loved his job, right up until that fateful day, five years ago.
Every man in his company knew what they were getting into that day. They knew how dangerous the fire was and they all agreed that saving Harvest Ridge was too important not to try. Each person in that group either lived in town or had family that did. They couldn’t sit back and hope that the fire would spare their small town. They went up the mountain, right into the belly of the beast, and dug trenches to stop the fire from spreading any further. Their efforts were met with a backdraft, caused by shifting winds. Before the group even knew what hit them, they were surrounded by flames. When Aaron closed his eyes at night, he could still see the terror in his buddies’ eyes and hear their screams of agony, as he had no choice but to retreat down the mountain. Those sounds—and images—would haunt him for the rest of his life, no matter how many mandatory therapy sessions his station forced him to attend.
Now, he was about to turn thirty-four and he had nothing to show for it except regret, guilt and a crazy longing for a woman that he knew was better off without him. Still, he was willing to put himself through a little hell to make sure that Sunny was safe. She had come to mean something to him, although he had no idea what that meant or what to do with those feelings. When he’d talked to Tag, every protective instinct had come to life within him. All he could think about was getting back to Harvest Ridge and keeping Sunny safe. Once he knew that she was alright, he could head back out of town and out of her life. Because keeping Sunny safe from him was also part of the deal.
***
Aaron finished out his work week, as he’d promised, and packed his belongings into the small duffle bag that he practically lived out of. He’d kept his loft in Colorado, only taking what was necessary to California. Aaron hadn’t planned on returning to Harvest Ridge so soon, but he had no choice. He threw his bag in his pickup truck and started the drive back home. If he was lucky, and the weather held, he would be home in two days. He knew that, once he hit the mountains, the weather would be the wild card factor in his drive time.
He needed some news from Tag, but his friend hadn’t called or texted in days. The last thing he heard was that some asshole was trying to get to Piper by using her aunt, Lorna. Sawyer had Torren guarding Sunny and that felt like a kick in the gut. Aaron knew that Torren and Sunny had had a fling awhile back—what if they hooked up again? Sometimes, danger could throw two people together. He shook his head, trying to clear the image of Torren and Sunny in bed. Aaron wanted Sunny to move on and find someone to be with. Hell, he wanted her to fall in love and have a family—kids, a dog, the whole nine yards. If he was being completely honest, he wanted her to find those things with him, but he was smart enough to know that wasn’t a possibility.
He needed to make sure that something hadn’t happened to Tag, Piper or Sunny. The thought of someone hurting Sunny made him madder than hell. He decided to give Sawyer a call—not knowing what the hell was going on wasn’t working for him. He pulled out his cell and dialed Sawyer’s number. His friend’s grumpy greeting made him smile, reminding him that he had been away from home for too long.
“Yeah, Aaron, it’s about fucking time.” Sawyer sounded like he’d been through hell.
“Well, Merry fucking Christmas to you too, man.” Aaron huffed out a laugh.
“Sorry, man. I’ve got a lot going on right now. I’m planning a wedding.”
Aaron wanted to laugh at the thought of Sawyer as a wedding planner.
“So, the whole bodyguard thing didn’t work out then?” Aaron couldn’t help laughing at his own joke. He knew that he was starting to piss Sawyer off, judging from his friend’s growl into the other end of the line.
“I’m throwing Lorna a surprise wedding for Christmas. We are going to have a baby and Piper is helping me to plan a Christmas wedding. We have been trying to reach you for months now, man. Where are you?” Sawyer sounded like he was doing fifteen things at one time, judging from the amount of noise coming from the other end of the line.
“Sorry, man. I’m heading back to town now. I’ll be there tomorrow. Tell me that everyone is safe. Last time I talked to Tag, someone was trying to get to Piper.” Aaron flexed his fingers, then gripped the steering wheel a little tighter, waiting for Sawyer’s response.
“Yeah, Aaron, there is a lot you should know, but I just don’t have the time to talk right now. I’m taking Lorna to dinner in a few hours and I’ve got a million things to do. Everyone here is safe; just get your ass back to town.”
Aaron could hear the worry in Sawyer’s voice and was sure that his friend wasn’t telling him everything. He knew that he was going to regret asking, but he couldn’t help himself.
“Sunny—is she okay?”
Sawyer sighed into his cell, sending up red flags. “Listen, man, I can’t say too much. I promised Sunny that I’d keep my mouth shut and she would fucking kill me if I tell you what’s going on with her. All I’m going to say is hightail your ass back to town and show up to my wedding tomorrow. It’s going to start around noon. And dude, don’t be an ass when you see Sunny; she’s been through enough.”
Aaron could feel his anger. “What the fuck does that mean?”
Sawyer barked out a laugh, into the phone. “I mean don’t act like that, when you see Sunny tomorrow. I’ve got to go, just don’t be late tomorrow and fuck up my wedding day.”
With that, Sawyer ended the call, leaving Aaron to analyze their conversation.
What the hell had happened to Sunny? Whoever was giving her a tough time was going to have to answer to him. God, he’d kick whomever ’s ass needed to be kicked, because picking on his Sunny was just not acceptable. Yeah, he was going to roll into town, take some names and kick some ass. He’d help Sunny fix everything and catch up with all his friends. He was due some downtime. He worked hard these past few months—he deserved some time with his buddies. After the New Year, he’d head back to California and try to forget about Sunny again, even though he knew from experience that was pretty much impossible to do.
Chapter Two
Christmas Day
Aaron was dog tired by the time he pulled up to Tag and Piper’s cabin. He knew that he was late and that he’d probably missed the wedding, but he was hoping to catch all his friends still there. He was so nervous about seeing Sunny, he felt like a teenage boy going on his first date. What the hell was wrong with him? Grown ass men didn’t get butterflies like giddy school girls. Fuck! He needed to get his shit together before heading in to see her.
He wasn’t going to have much time to pull it together—Tag, Sawyer and Lorna emerged from the house, their arms laden with gifts. He jumped out of his truck and jogged over to lend a hand.
“Hey, stranger!” Lorna piled her boxes into the trunk and pulled him in for a hug. He always loved the way she made everyone feel like family.
“Congratulations! I hear that you got hitched.” He wrapped an arm around Lorna, pulling her into his side, and offered his hand to Sawyer, who pulled him in for a quick man hug, complete with back slapping. Lorna giggled beside him.
“Yep, and we’re having a baby. I guess there will be three new Harvest Ridge residents come spring,” Lorna said. Tag cleared his throat and pulled Aaron in for a hug. Aaron didn’t miss the nervous looks that Sawyer and Lorna exchanged.
“Three babies?” Aaron looked between the three of them and he knew that they weren’t telling him something. “Who else is having a baby?”
Tag’s smile was the biggest he had ever seen on his friend’s face. “Pipe and I are having a baby, too.” Aaron howled, hugging his best friend again.
“That’s fantastic news, Tag. I’m so happy for you all.” He helped Lorna and Sawyer with the last of their packages, putting them into their car.
Lorna still seemed nervous. “Well, we’re off.” She went up on her tip toes to hug and kiss Tag and then Aaron on their cheeks. Sawyer shook both of their hands and ushered his new bride into the car. Aaron felt a pang of jealousy and tried to shake it off. He had no business having those desires.
“Well, might as well head in. Pipe will be glad to see you, and Sunny is still here.” Aaron froze at Tag’s words, not sure how he felt about seeing Sunny after waving the happy couple off.
“I need to grab something from my truck, man. I’ll be right behind you, just give me a minute.” Tag nodded and headed back into his cabin. Honestly, Aaron didn’t need anything from his truck, he just needed a minute. Seeing everyone again was stirring up emotions in him that he hadn’t planned on. He needed to get his head together before he faced Sunny.
He hid away in his truck for ten minutes before he decided to stop being a chicken. Sunny was just a woman that he had sex with- once. One fucking time, and that was all she was to him—just a one-night stand. He actually said those words out loud, laughing at how ridiculous they sounded. He couldn’t even fool himself; how would he be able to convince everyone else that he moved on? How would he be able to tell Sunny that she meant nothing to him when he felt so much?
Aaron slammed his truck door shut and made his way to the cabin. He always loved the way Tag’s cabin felt so warm and homey. Now that Tag had Piper and a baby on the way, it seemed like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Someday. Yeah, that thought was probably a lie too.
He pulled the front door open and stepped into the warm cabin to find Piper crowding Sunny, shouting her name. Both Tag and Pipe looked worried as Sunny started to fall. Aaron’s protective instincts kicked in and he darted over to Sunny and pulled her into his arms before her body hit the floor and God, she felt so good in his arms. He couldn’t get enough of her body snuggled up against his.
“Oh God, Aaron, I’m so sorry,” Piper croaked. He looked at Piper who was staring at Sunny’s swollen belly. How had he missed that, when he first walked in? Sunny was pregnant.
***
Aaron couldn’t take his eyes off Sunny as he cradled her against his chest. She was pregnant and, if he had to guess, the baby was his. Judging from the size of her belly, she was due any minute and that just about gutted him. Why hadn’t she told him about the baby—his baby? He should have been given the chance to be there for them both, but Sunny had never told him—never given him the option to do the right thing.
He carried her into Tag and Piper’s spare room and laid her on the bed. Piper was hot on his heels. He didn’t want to talk to her; he wanted to talk to Sunny. He needed to know if the baby was his, although he felt deep down in his gut that it was. He sat down next to Sunny and pulled her into his arms.
“Do you think we should call an ambulance?” Piper looked at her best friend, worried.
“I think she just fainted. She’ll be fine. I caught her before she hit the floor.” He rested his palm on her belly and felt the baby kick. He wanted to pull his hand away, feeling like he was intruding on something personal, but he was mesmerized by the little person inside her.
“Is the baby mine?” He didn’t mean to growl his question but—damn it—his emotions were in overdrive at the thought of his baby growing inside of Sunny.
“Aaron,” Piper stuttered, “I think that might be a question you should ask Sunny.” Aaron groaned, knowing that Piper’s answer was all he needed. The baby was his, but Piper didn’t want to be the one to tell him. Still, he needed to have a little chat with Sunny. Why would she keep his baby from him?
“Fine. Help me wake her up so that she can confirm that she’s been pregnant with my child for the past eight months and didn’t bother to tell me.” He saw Piper’s expression and the pity that she felt for him. He didn’t need her fucking pity—he needed to be told the truth.
“I’ll go and get some cold compresses and see if we have any smelling salts.” Piper left the room, leaving him alone with Sunny and his baby. God, she was beautiful. She always reminded him of a fairy or sprite. Her dark hair was cut short again. He liked her hair short; she called it her pixie cut and it would make him laugh, because that was exactly what she was—a pixie. It was almost impossible to believe that her tiny frame could carry such a big belly. At 4 feet 11, he couldn’t imagine her pregnancy had been an easy one—she was so little. He pulled her in closer, loving the feel of having her in his arms again.
They’d spent one perfect night together, during a freak April blizzard. He’d lost a piece of his heart that night and he’d left it with her the entire time he was gone. It appeared that he’d left a little more than a piece of his heart with Sunny. He wrapped his arms around her belly, resting his palms against the squirming baby inside of her womb. He loved the little kicks and tugs. He could see little feet and elbows poke Sunny’s skin and he was sure that the little one was going to rip her in two.
“Sunny, you need to wake up, honey.” He kissed the top of her head, inhaling her scent, loving the way her hair always smelled like peaches. Aaron rubbed her belly and couldn’t help but chuckle at how the baby seemed to follow his hands, kicking and stretching Sunny’s skin.
“Baby, you need to wake up and talk to me.” She stirred this time, almost turning over to face him. She sat up with a start, as if not realizing where she was.
Aaron pulled her back down onto his body. “Easy, honey. You fainted; you need to take it slowly.” Sunny snuggled into his hold, as if she was settling in to take another nap.
“Oh no! We talk before you sleep.” Sunny’s whole body stiffened in his arms. He rubbed his hand down her back and rested his other hand on her belly.
“Maybe we can talk later, you know—like when the wedding is over.” Sunny was stalling and he wasn’t about to let her off so easily.
“The wedding is over, and we can talk now. I think we should start with this little guy.” He palmed her belly and felt another kick. “Is he mine Sunny?”
She sighed against his chest. “It’s a she and yes. She is yours.” Sunny sobbed, and he tightened his arms around her. He always hated seeing Sunny cry; she was usually so happy. He liked to tease her, calling her ‘his little ray of sunshine’. She never seemed to mind the nickname but now, she was more like a storm cloud.
“Aw, Sunny, don’t cry baby.” He kissed the top of her head again and she stilled in his arms.
“No, Aaron, don’t.” She tried to free herself from his hold, but he didn’t allow that. He worried that if he let her go, she would disappear before he got his answers.
“You have no right to hold me or kiss my head. You need to stop touching me and calling me your little pet names. You left, Aaron, with no word to anyone but Tag. You just left.” Her tears ran freely down her cheeks and he didn’t know what to do.
“You could have sent word, Sunny. I would have helped you.” Aaron let her move to the other side of the bed, giving her some space. Every fiber of his being wanted to pull her back into his arms and never let her go, but wasn’t that why he left in the first place? Wanting Sunny was never his problem. He wasn’t good for her. Hell, he wasn’t good for anyone. He would be a horrible husband and probably a shitty father. But that didn’t make him want to walk away—this baby was his responsibility. He wanted to help Sunny and he wanted to try to be a father to their daughter. The thought of having a little girl left a lump in his throat; he had no clue what to do with a daughter.
“Sure, I could have forced Tag to tell you, but he didn’t want to get involved. And what would you have done when you found out? Would you have come back into town and taken care of me? Would you have taken care of this baby?” She barked out her laugh, as if mocking him with her words.
“Yes, I would have fucking taken care of you both, but I wasn’t given the chance. You kept our baby a secret from me. Why, Sunny? Were you afraid that I couldn’t handle being a father or that I’d be a shitty one?”
Sunny gasped as if he’d slapped her.
“Oh, Aaron, is that what you think? I know that you are going to be a fantastic dad. I just didn’t want to be your obligation. I was a one-night stand and then she happened.” Sunny rubbed her belly and, God, he wanted to touch her again. “You don’t have to worry about us, Aaron. We’ve done just fine without you and we will continue to be fine once you leave again. That’s the plan, right? You’re going to leave again?”
Aaron knew that Sunny was right. She was fine without him, but, damnit , he wanted her to need him just a little bit. He did plan on going back out to California. He was training future firefighters and at last, he felt important like he was finally fulfilling his purpose.
Finding Sunny pregnant with his child really threw a monkey wrench in his plans to go back to training firefighters in California. He knew that he couldn’t just leave his child and move on as if she didn’t exist; it was just not who he was. He wanted his little girl to have her father around; he at least owed Sunny that.
“No, Sunny. I’m not leaving again. I’ve decided to stick around, and the station said that they could add me back to the team.” It wasn’t a total lie—his captain called him just about every week to ask him to come back to Harvest Ridge. “So, I’m not going anywhere.”
She squinted at him as if she didn’t quite believe what he was saying.
“And when did you decide to stick around, Aaron? Was it before or after you found out I’m carrying your baby?” Geez, Sunny looked downright pissed. She was never like this before, crying one minute and angry as hell the next.
“I’m sticking around, isn’t that what you want to hear? Or do you still feel that I’m not good enough to be a father?” Her anger fizzled to pity, and he almost wanted her to be mad again. Angry Sunny, he could handle. The woman who sat before him now, pitying him, threw him off.
“You know what, do what you want to do. Just know that I don’t need you to stick around for our sake.” Sunny rubbed her huge belly, driving home her point. “We’ve gotten this far without your help and we’ll be fine for whatever life throws our way, won’t we baby girl?”
Aaron didn’t answer her—he wasn’t sure what to say. A part of him was jealous that she’d already bonded with their daughter, was even talking to her, and he hadn’t even known that she existed.
“God, you’re a pain in my ass, woman! I’m sticking around town. I’ll be here to help you with our daughter because I want to be a part of her life. You’re going to have to get used to sharing, honey.”
“Yeah, if that’s not the pot calling the kettle black! How dare you make this my fault—you left us.” Sunny shimmied down the bed, trying to find the end. It was almost comical watching her trying to maneuver with her giant belly. Aaron at least had the good sense not to laugh at her struggling to escape the bed.
“Fuck!” She laid back, practically on top of him, seeming to give up. She was breathing hard and he felt bad for thinking the whole scene funny. She was really having a hard time. He cupped her belly, rubbing what he assumed was his daughter’s foot.
“When are you due?” His voice was almost a whisper. If they were going to make this work, he was going to have to make some concessions. One being that he couldn’t bully his way through. Sunny wouldn’t go for him telling her what to do; she was always very independent.
“In three weeks, but the doctor says I may have to go early. I’m so tiny and she’s so … big.” He chuckled, rubbing Sunny’s belly, loving the feel of her in his arms.
“I’m sorry that I wasn’t here, honey. I’d give anything to have been here to help you get ready for our baby. But, you are just as much to blame here as I am. You should have told me.”
She heaved out a sigh. “I know that, but it’s hard to talk to someone when they go out of their way to avoid you. After our night together, you treated me like I had the plague. You wouldn’t talk to me and you barely noticed my existence.” Sunny sobbed and he pulled her into his arms.
“I noticed, baby. I was just too busy being a stubborn asshole that I didn’t think about what my actions were doing to you. I’m sorry.” She sniffled and wiped her nose on his shirt, causing him to laugh again. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d smiled, let alone laughed. God, he’d missed her. If he didn’t play his cards right, she would never let him back in. He needed to tread carefully with his next question, otherwise he stood the chance of pissing her off again.
“Tag told me that you are back at home, living with your parents.” Sunny nodded against his chest. “I’m guessing it’s a little crowded, with all of your brothers and sisters.” Sunny had four brothers and three sisters. She’d moved away from home as soon as she turned eighteen. First, she and Piper had done some traveling, after high school. When they’d got back to Harvest Ridge, she’d taken over her grandmother’s bakery, and renamed it Sunny’s Buns.
“My mom convinced me to move back to the farm, that it would be best for me and the baby. She’s going to help with her while I have to work. I’ve also hired a new girl to help me with the baking in the morning. I’ve gotten too big to do everything around the bakery.”
“Well, it must be crowded at your parents’ house.” Aaron knew he was fishing but Sunny still hadn’t caught on.
“Yeah, the baby and I will share a room with Willa—she’s a heavy sleeper. What’s with all the questions?”
Aaron shrugged, going for nonchalant. “I’m just thinking out loud here, but I still have my loft and it does have three bedrooms. Why don’t you move in with me?”
Sunny squinted her eyes again, this time giving him warning that he’d pissed her off.
“No.”
She finally waddled to the end of the bed and stood. Still a little woozy, she put her hand to her head.
“Damnit, Sunny, sit down.” He pulled her back down to the bed. “I think you need to be checked out. When was the last time you ate?” Sunny didn’t answer at first—his growl echoed through the room.
“Fine, I ate breakfast but nothing since.” She crossed her arms over her chest and he couldn’t help but notice how much bigger her boobs were.
“Fuck, Sunny, you need to eat. It’s past dinner time.” She wanted to protest, but as soon as she opened her mouth, he sealed his lips over hers, pulling her into his body. And, Lord help him, she felt right in his arms. It was as if she completed a puzzle that he had been working on for years.
He broke away from their kiss, leaving them both breathless. “First, I’m going to feed you. Then, I’m taking you to the doctor to make sure that you and our baby are okay. After that, we are going to your parents’ house. I will help you pack up your stuff and I’m taking you back to my place. You need help with our baby? Well, here I am, honey.” He stood in front of her, his arms open wide.
“But, I can’t—”
He covered her mouth with his hand before she could get out another word.
“You can, and you will, honey. We are going to share custody of this baby and, for the time being, she will have both of her parents, under one roof, taking care of her. This baby is more important than our differences.” Sunny bit his fingers and he swore. The little minx was going to give him trouble at every turn.
“Fine,” she shouted. “I’ll move in with you under one condition.”
“Alright, let’s hear it.” He held his breath. Had she really agreed to move in with him?
“I get my own room and we are just two people raising our child together, strictly platonic.” He wanted to balk at her suggestion, but the look on her face made him reconsider. He knew that the chemistry between them was bigger than Sunny’s stubborn streak. He didn’t want to scare her off before she’d even packed her bags. He would move her into her own room and then they could see where things ended up. Judging from the kiss that they just shared, she wouldn’t be in her own room for very long. At least this way, he could help with the baby and be involved in both of their lives.
“Alright,” he agreed.
“Good.” She held out her hand to shake on it. He took her hand in his, noticing her shiver at his touch. “Just two friends living together, raising this baby.” She wrapped her arms around her belly, driving home her point.
“Sure, honey. If that’s the way you want it. We’re just two friends, living under the same roof, raising our baby.” Aaron smiled down at Sunny; he couldn’t help it. The thought of trying to tame someone as free-spirited as Sunshine Francis was going to be difficult, and he was always up for a challenge.
No comments have been added yet.
