“Great,” she said, laughing. “Your father will be so happy to see you. He’s missed you.”
God, how long had it been since he’d visited his parents? Six months, at least, and like Carly said, he only lived a few minutes from them. “I’ve missed you guys too. I’m sorry I haven’t been by lately.”
“It’s okay, honey. We know how busy you are with work.”
“That’s no excuse.” He made time for women who meant nothing to him, yet he didn’t make time for the people who meant everything to him.
“Your nana will be here too.”
They’d had to check his nana into a home last year. At ninety-three, she’d finally conceded she needed a little help. “I can’t wait to see her.” He knew he shouldn’t ask, but he couldn’t help himself. “Um, have you spoken to Carly? Will she be there?”
Ethel chuckled. “Of course she’ll be here. What would a Thanksgiving dinner be without her pumpkin pie?”
“Then you’ve spoken to her? She’s confirmed that she’s coming?”
“I spoke to her earlier today. Why?”
“We, uh, had a bit of a falling out. I wasn’t sure she’d want to be there if she knew I would be.” Not to mention Sophie. He had no idea whether the girls had made up yet, but he hoped so. He hated having caused a rift between them.
“Well, I didn’t tell her you’d be here since I wasn’t sure myself.”
“And she didn’t ask?”
“No.”
He didn’t know if he should be offended or relieved. “Did she ask you if she could bring anyone? A date maybe?” No way could he sit across from his best friend and Carly at the dinner table. Not even for the sake of his family.
“No, why would she? She’s never brought a date before. Is there someone special in her life?”
“She hasn’t said anything to you about anyone?” If she was serious about Dylan, Brett suspected his mother would be one of the first people to know about it.
“No.”
That had to be a good sign. “Okay, well, good.”
“You’re acting kind of strange, honey. Is something going on? You know I’m always here to lend an ear if you need to talk.”
“And I love you for that, but I need to work this one out on my own. I can’t wait to see you guys.”
“We can’t wait to see you either, sweetie. Oh darn, someone’s at the door. I guess I have to let you go. Bye.”
At least Thanksgiving would be a step toward repairing the rift with his parents. Maybe he could make inroads with Carly at the same time.
***
After a lovely dinner with Sela and Jaxon, Dylan and Carly curled up on her couch and enjoyed a cup of coffee. They’d been talking for almost an hour, about anything and everything. Carly couldn’t remember the last time she’d enjoyed a man’s company so much. She was glad she hadn’t written Dylan off simply because he was Brett’s friend.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said, his smile slipping as he curled a strand of her hair around his fingertip. “And for what it’s worth, I think you’ll be an amazing mom.”
Warmth spread through her at the compliment. She’d always respected Dylan, so his opinion was important to her. “Thank you. I hope so.”
His eyes slid to her lips before he licked his own. “If I had to choose, you’d be exactly the kind of mother I’d want my child to have.”
His comment was so unexpected and deeply flattering. “Stop. You’re making me blush.”
“I’m serious.” He slid a finger under Carly’s chin when she dipped her head. “I’ve been thinking about your situation a lot lately.”
“You have?”
“Yeah.” He chuckled. “I admit I don’t know a lot about how the process works, but, uh, given the choice, wouldn’t you rather choose a person instead of a number to be the father of your baby?” He held up his hand. “I’m not being judgmental, and I hope it doesn’t come across that way. But we’ve known each other a long time, and no matter what happens between us, I want you to be happy. No regrets.”
No regrets. Her night with Brett flashed through her head. Did she regret that? No. She’d gotten to live out a fantasy while solving unanswered questions about the future. It had helped clarify things for her, even if it hadn’t ended the way she would have hoped.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Of course.” She smiled, hoping he couldn’t read her mind. Dylan had been a wonderful, attentive date who seemed truly interested in her. She didn’t want him to know she’d wasted even a moment of their time together thinking about another man.
“Like I said, I’ve been thinking a lot about your dilemma.”
“I don’t know that I’d call it a dilemma exactly.” She became increasingly uneasy under his scrutiny. Carly had a feeling whatever Dylan was about to say would be a game changer.
“This may sound crazy, but just hear me out before you respond,” he said, lacing his fingers through hers.
“Okaaay.” The hair on the back of her neck stood at attention. “But I’m not gonna lie, you’re making me kind of nervous here, Dyl.”
“I don’t mean to, but this is kind of a big deal.”
She could tell he was making an effort to keep his voice calm and level.
He took a deep breath before he said, “You know I love kids, right?”
“Sure.” Oh, no. Please don’t tell me this is going where I think it is.
“I’m at a really good place in my life right now. My football career is over, so I’m not traveling as much. The business is on solid ground, and I feel like I’m ready for a new challenge.”
“A new challenge?” She took a sip of coffee when her throat tightened, making it difficult to speak. She really didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but he was making it difficult. “What did you have in mind?”
“I thought about your reasons for wanting to have a baby at this stage in your life, and it makes sense.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
“You and I aren’t all that different, you know.” He moved in closer, releasing her hand to grip her knee. “We both want the same things out of life.”
She couldn’t speak. If she did, the tremble in her voice would give away her trepidation.
“We want someone to love. We want children in our lives.” He brushed his lips across hers. “We could be really good together, Carly. Think about it.”
She closed her eyes when he deepened the kiss. Her mind was at war, part of her screaming that his proposition was ludicrous while the other told her she’d be crazy not to go for it.
Threading his hand through her hair, he whispered, “Why would you want an anonymous sperm donor when you could have me? I know we don’t know where this is going between us yet, but we’ve been friends a long time. We like and respect each other, and I know that’ll never change. Even if we don’t work as a couple, that doesn’t mean we couldn’t be great co-parents.”
“Co-parents?” She cleared her throat, unable to meet his eyes. The hopefulness in them would break her heart. Dylan was such a good man, and he was offering an answer to her prayers. She wouldn’t have to go it alone. She would have a strong partner to support her and share the best and worst moments of her child’s life. “This is a huge decision. What happens if things don’t work out between us and you fall in love with someone else? How do you think she’ll feel about you having a child with someone else?”
“She’d just have to accept it. Like you, I’m tired of making decisions based on how other people think or feel. I’ll admit when Brett first told me about your plans, I thought you were rushing into things, but after talking to you about it, I can see that you’ve really thought this through and it’s what you want.”
“It is.” She touched his face, thinking how blessed she was to have a friend who was willing to help her make her dream come true. “But this is my dream, not yours. You don’t have to do this just because—”
He flattened her palm against his racing
heart as he looked into her eyes. “I’m offering this because I’ve thought a lot about it since I learned of your plans, and this is what I want. I want to be a dad. I want to share the experience of raising a child with a woman who’s as excited about it as I am. Think about it—it makes sense.”
Oddly, everything he said did make sense. The tingling sweat on her forehead had subsided, her breathing had returned to normal, and calm was washing through her. Maybe Dylan was right. Maybe this was the best possible option. “Can I think about it?”
He laughed as he pulled her into his arms. “Of course, take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere.”
I’m not going anywhere. She believed him with every fiber of her being, which made him the perfect candidate for the father of her baby. Could she really do it? Could she have a baby with Brett’s best friend?
Chapter Eight
Carly was apprehensive about spending Thanksgiving with the Easton family given the tension between her and Brett and Sophie, but when Ethel had called to invite her, she couldn’t disappoint the only woman who’d ever been a real mother to her.
She and Ethel were alone in the kitchen, preparing side dishes, while Sophie and Brett watched a game with their father and grandmother in the family room. Since they were a safe distance away, Carly decided to take advantage of the privacy to open up to Ethel about Dylan’s proposition. Ethel knew Dylan and what kind of man he was. If anyone could help Carly sort through her mixed emotions, it would be Ethel.
“You okay, sugar?” Ethel asked, chopping sweet potatoes. “You’ve been kind of quiet today.”
Here it is—your opening. “Um, actually, there is something on my mind. I was hoping you could help me out with a problem.” Carly cut carrots, grateful to have something to do with her hands. “It’s not a problem exactly; it’s more of a decision.”
Ethel wiped her hands on her apron and perched on the stool. “Shoot. I’m listening.”
That’s what Carly loved about her best friend’s mother. She’d always been there whenever Carly had a problem. Too bad she couldn’t say the same about her own mother. “You know I’ve been thinking about having a baby.”
“I wanted to ask if you’ve looked into your options yet, but I didn’t want to pry. I figured you’d talk to me when you were ready.”
“I have looked into my options, but something unexpected happened.”
Ethel gave Carly a quick once-over, her voice dropping to a hushed tone. “Are you pregnant?”
“No.” Carly’s face flamed when she thought about the fact she could have very well been pregnant with Ethel’s grandchild had she not taken that pill. “Um, you know Dylan…”
“What about him?” Ethel’s eyes narrowed. “You and Dylan? I had no idea!”
“It’s a fairly recent thing.” Carly set the knife down when she realized her hands were shaking. She hadn’t expected that conversation to be so difficult, which confirmed she really was taking Dylan’s offer seriously. “You know we’ve been friends since high school, but we’ve gotten closer over the last couple of months, when he was convincing me to take on the High Rollers design project.”
Ethel looked a little wistful. “Dylan’s a great guy. No question about it.”
“Yeah, he is.” Carly got a cramp in her stomach, a sure sign of nervous tension. “Here’s the thing… Dylan, uh, wants us to have a baby together.”
“He what?”
A sudden chill washed over Carly. She turned to see Brett standing in the doorway. She hadn’t intended for him to find out that way. When and if the time came, she’d planned to sit him down and explain why she’d decided to take Dylan up on his offer.
He fisted his hands at his sides, looking as though it was taking everything in him not to put one of those enormous fists through the wall in his mama’s newly remodeled kitchen. “Outside. Now.”
“Brett, this isn’t a good time,” Carly said, her voice shaky. She felt Ethel’s eyes sweeping over them, obviously trying to figure out why Brett was a smelting pot of rage and tension.
“I don’t give a goddamn! Outside now!”
“Brett!” Ethel admonished. “Don’t talk to her that way. If she doesn’t want to—”
“It’s okay, Ethel,” Carly said, touching the older woman’s arm. “It’s better if we discuss this outside.” The last thing she wanted was to ruin their holiday dinner, especially since it was a rarity for them to get together as a family. “We’ll be right back.”
Carly led Brett outside, and they walked a good distance away from the house. She sat on an old tire swing Brett’s father had hung for his kids when they were young and waited for Brett to start what she knew would be an uncomfortable conversation.
He paced back and forth in front of her, looking as though he needed to burn off some frustration. “You can’t be serious about this.”
“Why can’t I?” She wrapped her arms around the old ropes, twisting the swing to provide some distraction from the apprehension snaking through her.
“Jesus Christ, do I have to spell it out for you?” He threw up his hands. “Dylan’s one of my best friends. You and I just had sex not more than—”
“Ssshhh,” she whispered, looking toward the back door. She knew it was unlikely anyone would come out to the backyard, but she didn’t want to take the chance. “Your family can’t know about us.”
“Why the hell not? I’m sick and tired of keeping my mouth shut. I want my family to know. More importantly, I want Dylan to know.”
“Please.” She used the only weapon she had to plead with him: her eyes. “I’m begging you, don’t do that. We need to forget what happened. It was a mistake. It never should have happened.”
He grabbed the ropes, holding her in place. “I swear to God, if I hear you say that one more time, I won’t be responsible for my actions.”
Carly was breathless as she watched his rage transform into lust right before his lips descended on hers. She should have pushed him away, but she couldn’t find the strength to fight when his tongue pushed past her lips. His hands closed around her face, tipping her head back as he worked his magic on her mouth… and her emotional suit of armor. As he deepened the kiss, he projected an energy so powerful, so demanding, she had no choice but to give in. The kiss was an erotic sequence of advance and retreat, claim and surrender.
When they pulled apart, he slid his moist lips across hers as though he couldn’t bear to lose the connection. “That’s the reason you can’t even think about having a baby with another man.”
Carly closed her eyes and prayed that when she opened them, this would just be another painful daydream starring the man she could never have. She didn’t want it to be real. If it was, she would have to make an impossible choice. Staring into his dark eyes, she knew she couldn’t continue to run from the truth. A part of her would always love him, but that didn’t mean she would let those feelings prevent her from having the future she wanted.
“You’re wrong.” She set her hands on his shoulders, trying to prove to him that she could touch him and still think clearly. “What we have is chemistry, plain and simple.”
“It’s more than that, and you know it.” He shifted her hand to his chest so she could feel his heart racing. “A kiss wouldn’t make my heart pound this way. This feeling is the exhilaration that comes with realizing your—”
“Stop!” She couldn’t hear him say that she was his future, his destiny, his soul mate… his forever. Those words would crush her because she couldn’t allow herself to believe them, no matter how much she might want to. “You’re just saying these things because you can’t stand the thought of me having a baby with Dylan.”
His lips were sealed firmly shut. The muscle in his jaw twitched as his eyes warned her she was straddling a dangerous line. “You’re not going to have a baby with Dylan. Ever.”
“You have no right to tell me what to do!” She shoved his solid chest, but that was like trying to knock down a brick wall with a pl
astic hammer. “I’ll sleep with anyone I want, I’ll have a baby with anyone I want, and—”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” he murmured, his rough hands skating up her arms. “You couldn’t have sex with someone else without thinking about me.”
She hated him for being so smug, but she resented him even more for being right. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He brushed his thumbs over her breasts, watching with approval as her nipples pebbled. “This is what I’m talking about, the way you react to me. You can’t tell me you’ve ever wanted another man as much as you want me.”
He was right. All of the other men in her life had been a consolation prize, and sadly, they’d known it. “I don’t want you.” She cursed her weakness when a sob seeped past her lips.
His large hand moved up her chest before circling her neck. His finger glided over the pulse point. “You don’t want to want me, but you can’t help yourself. The logical part of your brain is telling you that I’ll hurt you again, that I’ll disappoint you because that’s who I am.”
“If you know that, then why are you doing this? Is it fun for you to watch me squirm?” A tear leaked out of her eye, and she knew it was too late to pretend his words weren’t hitting their mark. “Is it good for your ego to believe that I’m still in love with you, that no other man could satisfy me the way you did?”
“Baby, what happened between us was just a taste of how incredible it could be.” He brushed his thumbs over the pulse points on either side of her neck, smiling when his words made her heartbeat kick up a notch. “We were both under the influence, but next time, it’ll be just you and me. No alcohol, no lies, no tears. I’ll make your other lovers a distant memory.”
She closed her eyes to shut out the sight of his overpowering body. But when she did, it only heightened the allure of his spicy cologne and whispered promises. How was she supposed to resist when he refused to fight fair?
“I’ll prove to you that this was worth waiting for. I’ll make your body mine. Your heart mine.”
Those were the words she’d needed to hear to break his spell. “Never.” With a slight smile of defiance, she pushed his hands away. “Listen carefully. Read my lips. I will never again be that stupid, naïve little girl who propositioned you in that parking lot. You think you still have some powerful hold over me? You’re wrong. Sure, you were good in bed, but not good enough for me to sacrifice my self-esteem for whatever scraps you’re willing to throw my way.”
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