Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“Someone’s got it bad.” Laughing, Nick handed Cole a cold bottle of beer. “You two seem to have come to an understanding.”
Cole shrugged, still not used to personal conversations like these. Still, this was Nick. “Erin figures if we’re together right now, there’s no reason to hide it. Once her pregnancy becomes obvious, people will know I’m the father anyway.” He took a long pull of brew, which tasted good in the summer heat.
“Why do I hear a but coming?”
Cole groaned. Wasn’t it obvious? “But my job hasn’t changed, and I’m not here to build white picket fences. I’m not built for that life.”
Nick raised an eyebrow. “You’re looking pretty comfortable surrounded by the proverbial one right now,” his cousin pointed out.
“It’s temporary. She knows that. So do you, asshole.”
Nick snorted. “Yeah, like Erin’s going to be easy to walk away from.” He gestured to the water, where Erin lifted her little charge up high and pressed her lips to the girl’s cheek, causing her to shriek with delight and kick her little legs in excitement.
Something warm unfurled in Cole’s chest. He told himself it was that she’d be a great mother to their kid, nothing more. “I do what I do. I’m not going to leave her here wondering when my cover’s over, when she’ll hear from me. Or if she’ll get a call that says my cover was blown and I’m not ever coming back.”
Cole shook his head, remembering the last guy whose wife had to receive that kind of news. No way would he put Erin through that hell.
“I still say it’s her call to make,” Nick insisted.
Cole exhaled hard. “That’s not how it is between us. It’s forced proximity and just sex.” He winced as he spoke the words that felt like a lie coming from his lips and a betrayal to everything Erin stood for.
Nothing about Erin was just anything. Still, whatever it is, for as long as it lasts, she’d said, and he’d agreed. If she’d developed deeper feelings for him, she was smart enough to keep them to herself because he’d made his future plans clear.
Nick tipped the bottle back and drank before addressing Cole. “Keep telling yourself that. I’m sure it’ll keep you warm when you’re undercover. I’m through hitting my head against a wall. Did I tell you I bought property on the edge of the lake and built a house on spec?”
Grateful for the subject change because it meant he could ignore the knot that felt like a ball stuck in his chest, Cole shook his head. “I’m waiting for housing sales to pick up a little before I list it.”
“That’s great.”
“Want to take a quick look? I’ve got some time before I have to start grilling burgers.”
“Sure thing.” Nick was always proud of his finished projects, and Cole enjoyed looking at his cousin’s talent.
He stood and, along with Nick, walked to the water to tell Kate and Erin where they were going.
Erin met his gaze and lifted a hand to her ear in question.
He grinned, knowing she was asking if he was feeling closed in and ready to go home. Worrying about him and looking out for him.
Cole pushed those thoughts away and shook his head. “Nick is going to drive me around the lake and show me the house he built and is ready to put on the market.”
Her eyes lit up. “Ooh, another Nick Mancini masterpiece? Can I come?”
“Sure thing,” Nick said, pride in his voice.
Faith took her wriggling daughter from Erin’s arms. “I told you that’s the good thing about being a friend or relative. You can enjoy the baby and give them back!”
Erin laughed. “Soon enough, I’ll be looking for people to relieve me,” she said, and everyone around them slid into stunned silence.
“What?!” Kate asked, her voice rising in pitch.
Cole froze.
Erin’s eyes opened wide, and her cheeks turned bright red as she realized her slip of the tongue. “Umm . . . I—”
Cole met her gaze and gave her permission with a slight tip of his head. It was her call if she wanted to cover or reveal. But he couldn’t deny his stomach was in knots as she pondered her decision.
“Erin?” Faith asked softly.
Meeting Cole’s gaze, Erin gave him a tiny nod back.
But he saw how awkward things had become and didn’t want her to think he was dumping it all on her. “Erin’s pregnant. You all would’ve figured it out soon enough,” Cole said, reaching out a hand toward the water.
The tightness in her face gave way to relief. She clasped his hand and climbed out to stand next to him. “We’re having a baby,” she told them.
There. It was out, Cole thought. Dizziness that had nothing to do with the heat assaulted him as the women around them shrieked. The other guys came running to see what the commotion was all about. As they found themselves the center of attention, they were separated by the surprised well-wishers patting Cole on the back and kissing Erin’s cheeks.