“Exactly. I can call them a mile away.”

“Is that how it is with your guys? You can call them a mile away?”

She raised an eyebrow. “That’s low.”

“Hey, just asking. You know they’re assholes before you get with them, right?”

“Well, considering I’m only using them for sex at first, I guess so. But then things get a little sideways.”

“Is that how little man came along?”

She bit her lip. “I truly thought he loved me. No, it wasn’t a relationship, but we had been on and off for over three years, so it sucked.”

He didn’t like the sound of that, and he was also racking his brain as to who the hell it could be. She hadn’t been with anyone, or yet, he hadn’t met anyone she was with. She was always solo at events, so he really had no clue. He ran his tongue along the inside of his bottom lip. “Are you over him?”

She rolled her eyes. “If I wasn’t before the phone call today, I am now.” He nodded, and she held his gaze. “He’s not on my radar, I promise.”

“Yeah, I’m not worried at all.”

He was.

“Good.”

“Great.”

They shared another smile, and then he clapped his hands together. “You look happy about that,” she observed

He held her gaze, nodding his head. “I am. But also, I’m just happy.”

She shot him a sneaky grin. “It’s a good look on you.”

“It looks good on you too, when you let it.” She pursed her lips at him, and he chuckled as he started to eat once more. “So a boy, huh?”

She grinned. “Yup.”

“Excited? Or did you want a girl?”

Her face lit up a bit. “Well, since I didn’t want a kid to start with, at first, it was just a shock. In fact, it was for most of the time until I saw his little face on the ultrasound, and then I decided I just wanted a healthy kid. And he is. Which is awesome.”

“It is,” he agreed, his heart swelling in his chest. “Has it been an easy pregnancy?”

“No, not at all,” she laughed, leaning on her elbow. “Lots of sickness at the beginning, and the cravings are out of this world.”

“Good thing you like food, then.”

She smiled. “Yeah, but I hate leaving my bed.”

“I can understand that.” Taking the last bite of his taco, he leaned back in the booth. “Have you thought of names?”

She shrugged. “Not really. Just kiddo.”

“Well, Kiddo Monroe won’t do.”

She laughed, her eyes bright as she nodded. “Agreed.”

“You’ll have to pick out a name. My mom will want to know.”

“Yeah,” she agreed, taking a sip of her water. “Any ideas?”

His heart shattered as he stared into her eyes. “I get to help?”

Her face was full of compassion. “I thought he was your kid.”

“He is,” he said automatically, even though it was hard to breathe. “And thanks.”

She gave him a look that was a mixture of fear, but also something more. Almost heat, desire, and soon his body was on fire. More so than it usually was around her. He wanted her. He wanted to pull her into his arms and take her. Make her truly his, but it wasn’t time. He had to lay the groundwork, get her full trust before he gave her his body. She already had his heart, but he wanted her everything, and for that to happen, she had to trust him. Believe in him.

As they stared heatedly at each other, her fork pressing into her bottom lip, he was on fire within seconds. He didn’t care what anyone said. They had an understanding between them, and he, for one, felt right about it. Good, even. Was he scared? Out of his mind. The people who had problems with this would be people he loved and respected, but he was starting to realize, as he looked across the table at the girl he had loved for so long, that he might love her more than the lot of them.

When her phone started to ring, she broke from his gaze as she let out a long breath. “What time is it?”

He glanced at his watch. “Almost seven.”

She exhaled loudly. “I need to take this before the wrath of Elaine Lemiere is upon us.” He just laughed as she answered. “Mom. Yes, I’m fine. No, I’m not crazy. Oh, look, Jensen wants to say hi.”

As he rolled his eyes, she put her mother on speakerphone. “Hey, Elaine.”

“Hello, honey, how are you?”

“Great.”

“Well, I’d say so, marrying my daughter after knocking her up. At least he asked your father. Did you know that, Wren?”

“I did, Mom.”

“Good, because he’s a gentleman.”

Jensen beamed as Wren rolled her eyes. “I know, Mom.”

“About time you found a good one.”

“I’ve known him forever.”

“Well, I always said you two would be perfect together.”

Wren made a face. “When did you say that?”

“To your father and Wells. We all thought so.” Wren rolled her eyes again, but Jensen just grinned. He might have heard Elaine say that. “Emma is excited. I already spoke to her since you wouldn’t answer my calls.”

“Cool. I’m excited to see her.”

“Okay, so this is for real happening?”

“It is,” Jensen said softly. “Are you okay with that?”

“Of course, I am. I love you, honey.”

“I love you too.”

“And I won’t have to worry a bit for her. She’ll be taken care of.”

“She will—completely,” he admitted, and Wren looked at him, a little surprised by his promise.

“I’m going to be a grandma.”

“The hottest one in the town,” he teased, and she cackled like an old biddy.

“I knew I would love you for the rest of my life when I first met you, Jenny,” Elaine admitted, and Wren pursed her lips. “But okay, I’ll let you two get back to dinner. Call me later, Wren?”

“So you can yell at me for not telling you anything? No, I’ll have Jensen with me every time.”

“You are too smart for your own good.”

Jensen laughed at that while they said bye, and Wren hung up. “She won’t yell at me when you’re around.”