Strays (Red Kings #1) (31 page)

Authors: Emma Kendrick

“I don't want you to feel obligated to be a part of this baby's life in any way. But I also don't want you to keep doubting your decisions about it. If you don't want to be involved, that's fine. The club comes first and I get that.”

“Yeah, the club is my family.” He stared down at her growing stomach, trying to imagine what the baby would look like in a few months. “But so are you... and so is he.”

“Dean, if there's some part of you that wants to be a dad, nobody's stopping you. I just assumed... that you wouldn't want him.”

“A year ago, I would have said that you'd assumed right, no question. Now? I don't know anymore. Look at me though. What the hell kind of father would I make?”

“The kind that takes his infant son on a motorcycle ride even though his mother has repeatedly told you not to?” They laughed and he nodded his head in agreement. “How about we just take it one day at a time? We can figure something out for the next few months, at least until the baby is born. You can see how you feel then.”

Dean shook his head, tempted by the offer but knowing it wasn't the best solution. “That isn't fair to you or him.”

She shrugged slightly, trying to suggest an option that wouldn't scare him off. “Well, you two not getting the chance to meet also wouldn't be fair. Besides, what else have I got to do? I can barely see my feet as it is. Might as well stay in one place until this little demon makes his appearance.”

He watched her closely, eyed the way she sat lightly on the bed, her gaze kind and understanding despite the situation. It was some kind of miracle that the two of them had gotten involved with each other in the first place. And now they were getting the chance to bring a life into the world, to raise their own flesh and blood. He would never get another shot at this, he knew that for a fact. He just didn't have it in himself to pass up the opportunity, as scary as it was.

“I think I'd like that,” he said quietly, smiling softly down at her.

She grinned widely in response, hardly believing how the dreaded afternoon had turned out. This scenario had only ever happened in her wildest dreams, and even though she knew there was still a long way to go in repairing what they had, this was certainly a giant step in the right direction.

“One condition though,” he added, barely able to contain a smirk as she looked at him expectantly. “We are
not
naming this kid Tyler Junior.”

Jackie laughed and closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms around his torso and leaning her head against his chest. “I think I can agree to that.”

Dean wrapped his arms tightly around her shoulders, breathing in the scent of coconut shampoo that he'd missed dearly in their time apart. Despite all of the questions and uncertainty for the future, this felt undeniably right. He felt happy.

Besides, he killed people for a living. How hard could raising a baby possibly be?