Songbird (21 page)

With a shuddering groan, his mouth captures mine.
Thank God.
If it weren’t for his frantic kisses, I’d wonder if he wanted me at all.

“I can’t do this,” he says softly. “I just can’t. I’m sorry.”

He collapses against the mattress and shields his face with his arm. Stunned and breathless, I stare up at the ceiling and try to figure out what happened between the living room and my bed.

What had I done wrong?

Insecurity floods me. Pulling the blanket around me, I turn onto my side, away from him, and try to make sense of it all.

Devin wanted me, physically. But maybe his mind has other ideas. Or maybe his heart. It’d been fine the night at the hotel—when he didn’t have to worry about attachments or consequences—but now that we’re growing closer and I’m pregnant with his child, he just can’t bring himself to make love to me.

It’s completely humiliating.

A tear trickles down my cheek, and I angrily wipe it away.

“Callie, please don’t cry. I’m sorry.”

“I’m not crying.”

Too bad my sniffle totally gives me away. He wraps his arm around me and pulls me close to his chest.

“I want you so much. Please don’t doubt that.” My stupid body trembles when his warm breath caresses my neck. “Everything about you turns me on. Your voice. Your smell. Your laugh. You drive me crazy. You have ever since the night we met in that bar. You’re all I want. All the time.”

“Then why did you stop?”

I turn over in his arms. My heart thaws a little when I see the absolute fear on his face.
He’s scared? Why is he scared?

With a sigh, he strokes my hair before pinning a strand behind my ear. “What if I hurt you? What if I hurt the baby? I don’t know how to do this, Callie. I’ve never been . . .
gentle
. Tenderness means you care. I’ve never cared.”

I smile. “So what you’re saying is you care about me?”

“You know I do, Callie. You and the baby.”

“That’s really sweet, but Devin . . . our baby is like the size of a grape right now. All protected and safe and swimming in amniotic fluid. You can’t hurt it.”

I can tell by the expression on his face that I’m not convincing him.

“Remember that night at the hotel?” he asks.

I smirk. “Vaguely.”

“I was rough with you.”

“You weren’t
rough
. You were . . . passionate. Big difference. And on that second night, you were almost tender . . . until I told you not to be.”

“You said
don’t be sweet
. I always wondered why.”

“Because I felt . . .”

Unable to find the words, I close my eyes and bury my face against his chest. He pulls me close and kisses the top of my hair. Then he whispers against my ear.

“I felt it, too.”

With tears in my eyes, I look up to find him gazing down at me.

“I didn’t think I’d ever see you again. That’s why I told you to not be sweet with me.”

“I didn’t think I’d ever see you again, Songbird. I guess fate had other ideas.”

I’d never believed in things like fate and destiny, but I can’t deny the chaotic series of events that have brought us here.

“Do you believe in that? Fate, I mean.”

“I didn’t use to. I think I do now.”

He kisses me then . . . a sweet, toe-curling kiss that sends shivers up my spine.

“Did you ask the doctor about sex?” he asks softly.

“No. I mean, it wasn’t really a priority at the time.”

“Well, thank God for that. I’d hate to have to kill some bastard for putting his hands on you.”

I roll my eyes. “You know, these caveman tendencies of yours are going to take some getting used to.”

“I know. I’ll try to keep him under control.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

We grin at each other.

“So, no sex?”

“Wow, you really have a one-track mind, don’t you?”

I pout. Devin laughs and kisses my lips.

“I’d really like to wait until we talk to the doctor.”

We’ll see about that.

With a firm nod, I wiggle out of his arms and climb out of bed.

“Where are you going?”

“Getting dressed. I wouldn’t want to be too tempting for you.”

“Baby, I hate to break it to you, but you’re just as tempting in clothes as you are without them.”

“Hmm.”

Very deliberately, I slowly slip the blanket off my body, letting it fall onto the floor. I hear his quiet groan as I take my time searching for something to wear. I grab a blue tank top and a matching pair of boy shorts and slip them on. I wear them around the house all the time, but then again, I’m used to living alone.

Which reminds me
 . . .

I turn to find him gazing at my body. I grin.

“Devin? I think you should go home tonight.”

This gets his attention. His eyes snap to mine.

“Why?”

“This is what I normally wear around the house, and I wouldn’t want you to be too tempted.”

He playfully growls and jumps out of bed, but I’m too fast. We both laugh as I sprint out of the bedroom.

Devin did go home that night. He actually went home every night for the rest of the week, much to my dismay.

Operation Seduce Baby Daddy can’t commence if Daddy refuses to play along.

We had met every night for dinner, though, and each evening ended with a heavy make-out session that did nothing but leave us both frustrated.

“It’s ironic,” Lorie says one day over lunch. “You slept together twice in one weekend, and now the guy won’t even touch you.”

“Oh, he touches me. He’s insanely affectionate.”

Megan places her fork on her empty plate. “Well, I think it’s sweet. Simon says that you and the baby are all Devin talks about.”

Lorie nods. “Owen says the same. I do believe our Callie has tamed the manwhore that was once Devin McAllister.”

I roll my eyes. “Great. Could we possibly talk about something else? Anything else? And
where
is my dessert?”

The girls laugh. So what if I inhaled my grilled chicken sandwich, fries, and half of Lorie’s salmon? I still want my cherry cheesecake.

While we wait, Megan shows us photos from her honeymoon. We’re passing her cell back and forth when I feel my own phone vibrate on the table. Glancing at the screen, I smile when I see the message is from Devin.

I miss you, Songbird.

How’s your meeting?

Boring. Entertain me, please.

You should focus on your client, Mr. McAllister.

I’d rather focus on you, Miss Franklin.

I giggle. Lorie clears her throat. I glance up to find my two best friends smiling like idiots in my direction.

“Shut up. Both of you.”

Megan grins. “We’re just not used to seeing you so . . .”

“Happy,” Lorie finishes. “It’s nice.”

“Thanks. It must be all those mommy hormones surging through me.”

The waiter finally shows up with my cheesecake. I check the time.
Good thing I asked for it to go
. Reaching into my bag, I pull out some cash and toss it on the table.

“Love you both, but I have to get back to work.”

We hug and promise to call each other later in the week. I’ve barely stepped outside the restaurant when my phone rings.

“Callie Franklin.”

“You left me hanging.”

I grin and start the short trip back to the office. “I was having lunch with the girls. Besides, Devin, your client isn’t paying you to text with your . . . whatever I am.”

“That’s a good point. We should probably give you an official title or something.”

“If you start calling me your baby mama, I will have to seriously reconsider our upcoming road trip.”

After much begging, Devin finally convinced me we need to visit my dad. I don’t really mind—I enjoy my hometown and spending time with my father—but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was nervous. I don’t expect Dad’s reaction to be anything like my mom’s, but I’m still not sure how he’ll react to the news.

“Do you call me your baby daddy?”

Yes.
“Of course not.”

He laughs. “Well, I’ll think of something.”

We make dinner plans before hanging up. It’s scary how natural this seems, as if we’re just some ordinary couple when we’re anything but. We’ve done everything backwards so far, but I get the sense that Devin is serious when he says he’s determined to make this work. We’re still getting to know each other—which is weird when you consider our situation—but it’s easy to see how passionate he is about the family and the law. We’ve talked some about our childhoods, and I can always detect a sadness coming from him that I can’t quite understand. I think a lot about that day at his parent’s house and those pictures on the mantle. No matter how hard I try, I can’t get Tinkerbell’s face out of my mind. I don’t know if it’s my reporter’s instincts or just women’s intuition, but there’s something there. An old girlfriend? A member of the family? More pictures of the girl are scattered throughout their house, but no one’s mentioned her, and I just can’t bring myself to ask. He’ll tell me when he’s ready.

I spend the rest of my afternoon preparing for my interview with the real estate tycoon turned mayoral candidate. It’s a feature interview for our special election edition, and I’m thrilled Frank’s giving me the opportunity. I’m just finishing up when I hear my name being called from the stairs. I look up to find Devin’s delivery boy, holding a big bouquet of white roses. Devin had stopped with the daily dose of flowers, so this is definitely a nice surprise. I wave at the guy, who spots me from across the room before making his way over to my desk.

I grin sheepishly. “I’m sorry about this.”

“Happy to do it, Miss Franklin. Besides, Mr. McAllister tips really well. Have a nice day.”

After thanking him, I reach for the card, smiling brightly when I see Devin’s handwriting.

I’m thinking your official title should be girlfriend.

Love,

Your Baby Daddy