Fall for You (Flirting with Forever Book 4) Page 17

  “Of course.” A nurse who stands off to the side steps forward. “Beth will take you back to see her.”

  Decision made, I quickly ask, “Both of us are allowed back with her?”

  Liam doesn’t say anything, just silently squeezes my hand in support and I squeeze right back. Can he tell that this is me admitting that I need him? That I want to be with him?

  “Yes, of course. Just limit the length of your visit because she’ll need to rest. Normally, we would be sending her home, but I’d like to keep her overnight to monitor her for a while.” With a wave, the doctor hurries off down the hall.

  Beth gives us a bright smile. “If you’ll come this way, I’ll take you to her now.”

  As we follow her through the double doors at the end of the hall, Liam lets go of my hand and gathers me to his side. His embrace gives me the comfort that I desperately need. He’s been a rock ever since he arrived unexpectedly. I’m used to going it alone and because of that, I hadn’t understood that I needed him until he’d shown up out of the blue, thanks to Sophia. It feels good to have someone to lean on—someone to take care of me, for once.

  Beth stops at room 302 and nudges the door open. “Ready for some visitors, Meg?”

  “Well, sure. I’m feeling okay now.”

  Hearing my mom sound mostly like herself is such a relief. It’s as if my entire body sighs with it. Liam’s fingers press into my hip as he guides me forward into the room, seeming to sense that I still need the support. “Hi, Mom. How are you feeling?”

  Liam lets me go as I bend down to carefully hug my mother, taking care to avoid hurting her bandaged wrist.

  Mom snorts good-naturedly as I stand up. Yes, Mom and I have always been the snorting kind. Can’t even help ourselves. “Never mind me, I see you’ve brought Liam with you. Tell me about that.”

  He chuckles behind me. “I think she’s going to be just fine.” He directs his next comment to Mom. “It’s good to see you again, Meg. Olivia was just raving to her mother about how good her birthday cake was.”

  Mom smiles. “You bring that sweet girl in to meet me real soon.” She glances down at her wrist. “Well, maybe give me a few weeks.”

  I throw a grin over my shoulder at him and reach for his hand. “Actually, Mom, Olivia asked if she could help me after school while you were recovering, so I think she’ll be around quite a bit.”

  Mom’s face lights up. “That’s a great idea. I can’t wait to meet her.” She glances down at Liam’s hand, interlaced with mine, and gets a slightly dreamy look on her face.

  I don’t know if she thinks since Liam and I are dating she might get to treat Olivia as a surrogate grandchild or what, but boy do we have another big surprise for her.

  “Soon, for sure.” My teeth sink into my lower lip and my head swivels to gaze at Liam. “Should I tell her, do you think?”

  “That’s your call. But your friends already know, so I say why not.”

  “Tell me what? Is everything okay?”

  My hand hovers over my stomach as my eyes connect with hers again. “Liam and I—we’re having a baby, Mom.”

  Mom blinks twice and her lips part, temporarily in shock. She huffs out a breath. “I can’t believe it. Really?”

  I cover my mouth, trying not to giggle. I can’t remember ever shocking her like this in my life. “Really. Congrats, Grandma.”

  Her gaze shifts to Liam, a twinkle in her eye. “I knew you were the one for her the minute you walked into the bakery looking for a cake. And that was before I realized you already knew each other. How about that?”

  Liam draws me close. “I still have to convince her of a few things, but I’ve known since the very first night we met. Although, you’ll have to ask her if she came back that night for me or her friend’s things.” He winks at her conspiratorially, and they share a laugh at my expense.

  I don’t even mind.

  Chapter 35

  Liam

  After staying with Meg for a while, we head back to Quinn’s. She’s exhausted and by the time we pull into the driveway, she’s sound asleep. I gingerly take her keys and bag out of her lap, trying not to wake her. I exit my vehicle, unlock the front door, letting myself in, then drop her things on a console table near the entrance.

  I run both hands through my hair. I’m still trying to wrap my head around everything—what a fucking day. It’d started out miserable. Our relationship had been in a bad place, a nonexistent place. Then there’d been Meg’s surgery and Quinn’s subsequent breakdown. Sophia’s trust that I was who Quinn needed. The show of support from my ex and our daughter. News of the baby openly revealed to everyone we care about. And finally, true happiness, as all signals point to Quinn and me moving forward together.

  The RAV4’s hinge creaks as I open the passenger door, and Quinn’s lashes flutter before her eyes open. “I was trying not to wake you.”

  “Where are we?” She frowns, clearly out of it.

  “Your house. I thought you’d be more comfortable here.”

  “Oh. Thanks for bringing me home.” She hesitates, pressing those sweet lips of hers together.

  “What is it?” I rest my forearm on the top of the door opening, ducking down to look at her.

  She blinks a few times. “It feels weird to be home when Mom isn’t here. And I was so scared when they wouldn’t let me see her, I just—”

  I make her look at me, a few fingers under her chin lift her face to mine. “Quinn, you are always the one taking care of everyone else. Let me take care of you tonight.”

  Her brow furrows.

  “I’d like to stay with you. If you’ll let me.”

  “Oh. What about Olivia?”

  “She’s with Becky for the three-day weekend.” I reach into the car, unfasten Quinn’s belt, and scoop her into my arms. I carry her like a bride up the driveway and into the house. I don’t set her down until we reach her bedroom.

  With care, I lay Quinn on the bed. This woman—she’s carrying my child. I get all choked up thinking about it.

  Her eyes, despite how tired she is, still sparkle. I could lose myself in them. In fact, I already have. I take no time at all in stripping down to my boxer briefs before joining her on the bed, helping her out of her clothing, too.

  I tug her into my arms, and she rests her head on my chest. “Long day, huh?”

  “Yeah.” She sighs. “Did Olivia tell you that she came to see me yesterday afternoon?” She pats my chest. “Not for tutoring. But to talk.”

  My brow furrows and my lips skim across the top of her head. “No. What was that all about? I was pretty surprised when she showed up with Becky at the hospital.”

  “She cried, Liam.”

  Aw, shit. “She did?” I know damn well this is because she has it in her head that Quinn and I being apart is her fault. And dammit, I let her think that.

  “Yeah. We talked things through. She practically begged me to date you.” Quinn laughs in my arms. “It was actually pretty cute. She likes me, I think.” She rears back to see my face when my chest rumbles with laughter. “That girl is tricky, but she’s pretty special. You and Becky have done a good job with her.”

  “Quinn? Are we going to listen to the advice of a sixteen-year-old girl?”

  “I think we’d better. Otherwise, who knows what else she’ll have up her sleeve.”

  “Thank goodness, because you and me being apart is not a workable option for me. I want to be here for everything—or there—or somewhere. Just so long as we’re together. That’s all that matters to me.” I lower my lips to hers, kissing her soft and slow, relishing the idea of us together.

  Forever.

  That’s what I want with Quinn—a lifetime of forevers.

  As our touches become more heated, our hands and lips more frantic, I have a feeling it will always be this way with her. I slide her panties off as she removes her bra. My boxer briefs follow, then I nudge her legs open with my knee. I bend forward to touch my lips to hers before trailing
my mouth down her body, adoring every part of her. When my lips land on her stomach, I ease back, caressing her belly with my hands, still in awe over the miracle we’ve made together.

  Quinn holds out her arms and pulls me down until I cover her body. As my erection teases at her center, she lets out a little whimper. “I need you, Liam.”

  I groan. “Trust me, I need you, too.” I slide inside her body, knowing nothing could ever feel more perfect and knowing I’m in love with this woman. I close my eyes as I begin to move. “I need you like nothing else, Quinn. Please say you’ll stay with me.”

  Chapter 36

  Quinn

  He wants me. He wants me with him. Always. I whisper next to his ear as he pumps into me with sure strokes, “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  His lips slant over mine in a seemingly unending kiss that takes my breath away. He brings me right to the brink again and again with his caressing hands, hot mouth, and powerful cock until the orgasm overwhelms me, sweeping through my body from head to toes. My emotions are so all over the place, my breath comes out in gasps, moans, and everything in between. Everything I feel for this man has been there right from the start. Some unknown attraction to him, some idea that we’d be perfect together … I don’t know where it came from, and it took me quite some time for my brain to catch up to everything else I’ve been feeling. But I’m ready now—I’m ready for anything and everything, so long as it’s with Liam.

  Chasing his release, he moves quickly, rocking into me, grinding his pelvis against mine, and sending me spinning off into another universe. Stars burst behind my eyelids. I capture his head between my hands, look deeply into his eyes, then kiss him like it’s the first time—full of wonder and excitement.

  “Oh God, Quinn. You feel so fucking good.” He tucks his head next to my ear and groans as he comes, pouring himself into me.

  Late the next morning, we’re a chaotic mess of tangled limbs and sheets. I don’t care. I just know what I feel, and my heart pounds with it.

  On my nightstand, my phone vibrates. Lazily, I pick it up, tilting it toward me as I see there’s a voice mail from a number I don’t know. In a flash, I’ve jerked to sitting upright in the bed, my hands fumbling with the phone.

  Liam’s also sat up, calm as can be. “It’s probably nothing. Breathe.”

  My rock.

  “But what if it’s about my mom?” I can’t keep the fear out of my voice.

  “Let’s find out, then.” He takes the phone from me, puts it on speaker, then taps to play the message.

  “Hi, Ms. Lockmore? This is Mary from the financial department at the hospital.”

  I freeze, clutching at the sheets, lifting them in front of me.

  “I’m sorry to call first thing, but I know you had come to us to ask about a payment plan yesterday, and I wanted to let you know that there’s no need. The bill is now paid in full. Have a good day.”

  “Wait, what?” I frown, not understanding. “But I just talked to them yesterday.” I’m about to climb off the bed in a huff to call them back when Liam wraps his hand around my arm.

  When I look at him, it finally hits me what's happened. “Did you do what I think you did?” I wet my lips as I gaze at him, the edges of his lips tilting up into a sheepish smile.

  “Yes.”

  “But—”

  He pulls me into his arms and brushes my tousled bed hair back from my face. “What good is money if I can’t help the people I love?”

  My brain does a minor short-circuit. When my eyes are finally able to focus on him, two things hit me all at once. First, he paid Mom’s surgery bill, and second—

  “You love me?” Tears prick behind my eyes.

  He nods, staring at me intently. “I love the way you take care of everyone in your life.” He nips at my shoulder with his lips. “I love your body.” He skims his fingertips over me as he holds me. I shiver. “I love your sharp mind. I love your dry sense of humor. I love the way you are with Olivia”—he visibly swallows—“and how I know you’ll be with this baby.” He runs his hand over my belly where our child is nestled safe. “Quinn, I love you.”

  My hands shaking, I lift them to his face, running my fingers lightly over his skin as I study his eyes. “I love you, Liam. I love everything about you.”

  “I want us to have a life together, Quinn. I don’t know what that looks like yet, but I know I need you.”

  My voice hitches. The confusion over how to respond to him must be clear in my eyes because he kisses me sweetly and shakes his head.

  “We’ll figure it all out. Olivia, your mom, everything.”

  “I never thought I’d get here.”

  He smirks. “You know, when Olivia was talking to me about you on the phone last night, there were two phrases she kept saying that stuck out. ‘Be happy’”—he stamps a kiss on my lips—“and ‘never say never.’”

  Epilogue

  Zoey

  Sophia has the best ideas. Honestly, meeting at Meg’s bakery for our book club is a win-win. We get to help out in the back, taking the stress off of Quinn’s mom’s recovery as we help to make all sorts of cookies, muffins, and cupcakes. Sampling some of the treats while gabbing about everything from books to life and everything in between seems pretty perfect.

  Also pretty perfect is the way Liam adores Quinn. My insides get all melty as he kisses her before running a hand over her stomach in a gesture so sweet it’s bound to give me a toothache. It seems like the day of Meg’s surgery was a turning point for them and everything has shifted and righted itself in her world. I’m glad for them. They really are adorable together, Olivia included. In the back of my head, I make a mental note to check in with Liam’s daughter to make sure everything is better for her at school. Last I heard, she’s getting ready to go on a date with the boy she’d been worked up over all semester. Too cute.

  Liam takes his leave with Heath, Sawyer, and Damon, who are going for a drink together at Shawn’s bar. Quinn had this great idea that Shawn should carry Liam’s ciders at his bar, so I know they are going to discuss that, among other things.

  Soon, we get down to the business of baking and chatting away, and it’s the same, but also different. We’ve gone from one of us engaged and everyone else completely unattached to not one but two babies on the way and only one of us is still single—hint, it’s me. It’s enough to blow my mind, but this is the way life works. It can change when you least expect it. Personal experience taught me all about that a long time ago.

  “Hadleigh, what did you think was about to happen when the pterodactyl caught the heroine with its beak or whatever and flew her off to its cave dwelling?” I giggle, unable to stop myself from egging her on.

  “I’m not sure what I saw happening, but it sure as hell wasn’t that. I think we’ve officially found my limit, girls.”

  Madison scoops dough and plops it on the cookie sheet, laughing. “Hadleigh’s hard limit is dinosaur love. Who could have guessed that one?”

  Sophia just shakes her head with a slight smirk. “As a science teacher, I’m going to say none of that was physically possible.”

  “I’m still finding it hard to believe Hadleigh has a limit. The shape-shifting bear was okay, as was the blue alien with two dicks, but not the dino porn. Got it.” Quinn cracks up as Hadleigh cringes, shuddering.

  I wave my spatula in the air from where I’m taking baked cookies off a hot cookie sheet. “Is anyone else going to bring up the fact that the female character was supposedly impregnated? I was confused. Aren’t you science teachers supposed to be yelling about pterodactyls and how they would have laid eggs, not had live births?” I belly laugh. “Or maybe Madison or Piper should be telling us that these kinds of books definitely require suspension of belief?”

  “I don’t know what I’d think about carrying a pterodactyl baby. I’m scared enough to be carrying Damon’s—I’ve been warned by his mom that he weighed nearly ten pounds.” Piper gives her best yikes face and snickers.<
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  Quinn bites her lip. “Crap. I guess I’d better ask Becky about how big Olivia was at birth.”

  Sophia nods. “Yep.” A timer goes off at the oven and she turns it off, then checks on the cupcakes. From over her shoulder, she asks, “How are both of our mamas feeling?”

  “Still barfing every day.” Quinn shakes her head.

  Piper grins. “I feel fantastic. No problems at all.”

  Quinn groans. “Ugh. She’s even got that glow. Not fair.”

  I zone out, deep in my own thoughts. Speaking of pregnant women, something must be in the water at school … I mentally shake myself. I knew when I’d chosen to work in a high school that I might have to deal with things like this. I hope I can handle it.

  And that’s not the only thing thrown my way and giving me extra anxiety lately. Miles gave me the heads-up last Friday that he has a conference he’d like for me to attend.

  With him.

  SNEAK PEEK: UNEDITED

  CHARMED BY YOU

  CHAPTER 1: Zoey

  I’m absolutely covered head to toe in powdered sugar and having the time of my life. If there’s a mess to be made, I’ll be the one making it—especially when I bake. My grin spreads wide across my face as my friends and I howl with laughter, and I can’t even remember at this point what was so funny. We’re technically at our book club meeting, but we’re at Quinn’s mom’s bakery giving her a hand. Meg had surgery last week and the girls and I have been chipping in as much as we can to help Quinn out. Because that’s what friends do. I glance around the room. These women? Well, they are absolutely friends—but I think if you asked any one of us, they’d say the same—we’re more like family.

  “Zoey, what was this conference you said you needed to tell us about?” Sophia looks up from where she’s scooping more cupcake batter into liners.