Songbird (17 page)

Which one is the real Devin McAllister? Which one will wake up this morning?

“What are you thinking about?” he whispers against my hair.

I grin and look up to find him smiling down at me. “What makes you think I’m thinking about anything?”

“I can tell by the look on your face. You’re deep in thought about something. Or someone.”

“Hoping it’s you?”

“I always hope it’s me.”

I laugh softly and try to remove myself from his grasp, but his arms tighten around me.

“Stay. Just a little while longer.”

With a smile, I cuddle against his chest and close my eyes. “So, how did this happen?”

“You asked me to stay.”

“Not that.
This
.” I squeeze his waist. “I don’t recall falling asleep in your arms last night.”

He strokes my hair. “You didn’t. I don’t really know how this happened. Do you hate it?”

“No, it’s nice, actually.”

“I think so, too.” Devin gently presses his nose against my hair. “How is it possible that you smell so good first thing in the morning?”

I don’t know what to say, so I just smile against his chest. We lay there in a comfortable silence, which is odd because we really shouldn’t feel comfortable at all. We’re virtually strangers—strangers who just happen to be bringing a baby into the world.

Yeah, that’s not messed up at all.

“Devin, is this weird?”

“What do you mean?”

“Shouldn’t this be a little awkward? We barely know each other.”

“I guess it probably should be, but it’s not awkward for me. Is it for you?”

“No . . . and that in itself is awkward. Isn’t it?”

Devin laughs softly and kisses my forehead. “Let me guess. Even when there’s nothing wrong, you tend to overanalyze a situation until you find something to worry about.”

Am I that obvious?

Embarrassed to be pegged so easily, I bury my face against his chest.

“Don’t do that. Don’t hide.”

Looking up, I gasp softly when he traces my bottom lip with his finger.

“I hide a lot. When I’m embarrassed. Nervous.”

“Do I make you nervous?”

“No.”

It’s the truth.
He
doesn’t make me nervous. It’s my reactions to him that make me nervous. My body. My mind. My heart. They’re all at risk whenever he’s around.

“I’m glad, Callie.”

Just then, my stomach decides to growl.

“Hungry, Miss Franklin?”

How embarrassing.
“Apparently.”

“What sounds good?”

I consider this.

“Pancakes and bacon.”

“You’re in luck. I make awesome pancakes.”

“You cook?”

“When forced. But I’ll happily cook for you.”

I wiggle out of his arms. This time, he lets me.

“I’d totally race you, but my very full bladder has other ideas.”

Devin laughs and sits up in bed. “Go do what you need to do. I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”

“Do you have plans for today?” Devin asks.

I pour more syrup on my pancakes. He was right. The boy can cook.

“Not really. I have the rare Saturday free. Do you need to go in?”

“Nope. One of the perks of being the boss is I can take off whenever I want.”

I grin and pass him the bacon. “Must be nice.”

“It has its perks.”

We eat in a comfortable silence. With each bite, I moan appreciatively.

Devin smirks. “I’m glad you have an appetite this morning.”

“Me, too.”
Let’s just pray I can keep it down.
“So, you own your law firm? That’s impressive.”

“Thanks. It’s small, but growing. My parents are big braggers. They love telling people their thirty-year-old son owns his practice. The truth is I’m just too stubborn to share my caseloads with anyone else.”

The mention of his parents makes me think about mine.

“You know, I haven’t told my folks about the baby. My mom’s actually in town. Not to see me, of course. She’s shooting a wedding at Belle Meade Plantation this weekend. I’m sure she’ll want to stop by.”

“You don’t sound very excited about that.”

“You don’t know my mom.”

“What about your dad?”

I smile. “Dad’s great. He’s a retired paramedic. Lives about three hours east of here in a little town called Brandywine.”

“I’ve been rafting there. Pretty place.”

“It is. He loves the mountains. He can hunt, fish, and sit on his porch all day long, and nobody bothers him.”

“Is that where you grew up? In Brandywine?”

“Yeah. My parents divorced when I was fourteen. I split my time between them until Mom got remarried. Her new husband gave me the creeps, so I moved in with my dad. Mom’s been bitter about it ever since. I think she’s on husband number four now. Maybe five. It’s hard to keep up, especially since we rarely speak. She lives in Atlanta.”

“Does that bother you? I mean, it has to, right? The fact that you aren’t close to her.”

I shrug. “My mother’s pretty toxic and impossible to please. Mom was seventeen when she got pregnant with me. The only reason my parents got married was because Grandpa insisted on it. Mom missed out on a lot, so she had really high expectations for me . . . so high it was suffocating. I was playing piano by the time I was five and speaking Italian by second grade.”

“Wow, Callie. That’s incredible.”

“I guess. As I got older, the expectations became ridiculous. I just wanted to be a kid. Dad let me be one. He actually let me date, which is something Mom would never do. She was convinced I’d get pregnant and end up just like her.”

Devin’s face grows ashen. “Oh, she’s going to
love
me.”

I shrug. I stopped worrying what my mom thought about me and my life a long time ago. She can either be happy or not.

“It doesn’t matter, Devin. I’m a grown woman. If I want to have a baby, I’ll have a baby.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he says, grinning. “Speaking of which, would the baby like more pancakes?”

I groan in appreciation. After four pancakes, three slices of bacon, and two glasses of juice, I think I’m finally full.

“I’m done, but it was delicious, Devin. Thanks.”

“Anytime.” He grins and finishes the last of his juice. “So, now that you’re stuffed, I’d like to ask you a question.”

“Hmm, coercion through pancakes. I see how you are.”

“You can say no, but I don’t think you’ll want to.”

“Try me.

“How would you feel about having lunch with my family? It’d just be really casual at their house.”

I’ve met his parents, so this is really no big deal, but I’d never been introduced to them as the
mother of their grandchild
.

“I should probably warn you,” he continues, “they’re ecstatic about the baby. Overjoyed is probably a more accurate description. And they absolutely love you, so there’s nothing at all to be nervous about.”

Well, in that case
 . . .

“I’d love to.”

He smiles.

“What about your mom?” he asks. “Should we invite her, too?”

“Are you kidding? Absolutely not.”

“We have to tell her sometime, Callie. And your dad. We should make plans to visit him soon.”

Holy crap.
Less than twenty-four hours ago, we weren’t speaking to each other. Now, I’m having lunch with his family and he wants to meet my parents.

“You’re a brave man. My dad owns lots of guns, you know.”

“Most hunters do.”

I glare at him.

“Look, Callie. We’re adults. We’re having a baby. We can’t control how they’re going to react to the news. It’s like you said. What we do with our lives is none of their business.”

I frown. “Did I say that?”

“You did. And no matter what happens, I’ll be right here.”

A
fter helping me with the dishes, Devin heads home to shower and change. It’s been such a good morning, so I decide to throw caution to the wind and reach out to my mom. I have enough respect for her work that I decide to send her a text instead of actually calling. I’d hate for her to have to deal with a pissed off bride all because of me.

Give me a call when you can.

Ten seconds later, my phone rings.

“Hey, Mom. I hope I didn’t interrupt the pre-wedding madness.”

“Callie, sweetheart. I was just getting ready to call you.”

Sure you were.

We make idle chit-chat about nothing important, which is pretty normal for us. It’s only when she invites me to brunch that I remember what Devin said.

He’s right. We have to tell her eventually.

“I’ve already eaten, but I was thinking maybe we could meet for lunch tomorrow before you head back?”

“My flight leaves late tonight.”

How typical.
She wasn’t planning to spend time with me at all.

“I have some time this morning. Why don’t I just drop by?”

Now?
I glance around the apartment. It doesn’t look too bad.