Unexpected (The Unexpected Series) (13 page)

A blush runs through my cheeks as his thumbs run across them. “Thank you.”

“Glad you agree,” he comments, entwining our fingers and pulling me to the bedroom door, “On all accounts.”

“What?” He says nothing and I continue to allow him to lead the way to the kitchen, the sweet chocolate aroma distracting me. “Wait. No. Not my boyfriend. You’re not.”

“I am Erin. Live it. Love it. Accept it.” He lightly pushes my shoulders down to sit in the kitchen chair. “If you want it to be official...me asking and all that crap, it won’t happen. It would give you the opportunity to say no. I’m not going to let the mother of my child date anyone else but me. No other man will be touching you or even come close ever again if I have anything to do with it.”

Is he serious? Even if I wanted to date someone else, what man in their right mind would take on a woman who is pregnant with someone else’s child? But, the thought of last night has me squirming in my chair.

Think clearly Erin. Don’t let him push you around.

“I don’t plan on dating anyone else, Walker. So, there is no need for all of that.” My teeth bite down on a crispy piece of bacon as Walker pours syrup over my pancakes.

“So, if you plan on being with me only then it means we are exclusive, which in turn means that you are my girlfriend. And as my girlfriend and the woman pregnant with the heir to my throne," he pauses to wink at me and then continues, “you need to eat.” Pointing to the syrupy soaked heaven in front of me, he smiles. My stomach decides to make the choice for me.

“We can label it. But if I am going to be your girlfriend you have to stop being so pushy. Stop assuming that I’m going to go along with your crazy shit.” I moan a little as the first bite of chocolate hits my taste buds.
God this is so good.

“Not gonna happen, I’m a ‘push to get what I want’ kind of guy. The last time I didn’t go after what I wanted she ran out the door and out of my life for three months. Thankfully fate brought us back together so, no, I’m not relenting. Now eat.” He shovels a huge pile of food into his mouth essentially putting an end to the conversation.

Looking at him, I lay my fears on the line. “I just don’t want to get hurt again.”

“Never. I treasure what is mine.” His serious tone seeps into my body causing a shiver up my spine. “And you, Erin Decker, are mine.”

His words are genuine and for the first time in almost four months I feel like there is hope for me yet. I just might be able to let myself trust someone and open up.

“Ok, then.” I drop my fork down with a clang onto the plate. “Ask me.”

His eyes look up from his plate. “You won’t say no?”

I shake my head side to side.

His smooth fingers lift mine up and bring them to meet his other hand. “Erin. Will you be exclusive with me and give me the title of luckiest fucking boyfriend ever?”

Laughing I accept and seal it with a quick kiss.

“So, what are you doing next weekend?” He asks, taking a sip of orange juice.

“Relaxing. It’s Labor Day weekend and I was just planning on hanging out around here.” God these pancakes are good. He was right. Best in the burbs. “Why?”

“Go on a date with me, again. Friday night.” It’s not a question. It’s a statement.

“Again with not giving me a chance to say no.” I shake my head not sure if his persistence will ever get old. “What time?”

“Four. I’ll give you more details later.” He stands up kissing me on the forehead, takes his plate to the sink, rinses it off and tosses it in the dishwasher.

I savor every last bite before standing to help him clean up but he finishes before I get the chance. How amazing is this man? He got up early, made breakfast and now is done cleaning it up? I’m not sure he is real but the soreness between my legs is telling me there is absolutely nothing fake about him.

F
ive o’clock rolls around way too fast with the day spent lounging around, showering, stealing a few heated kisses, and getting ready for an evening of hell with my family. Once Noelle stopped laughing at Walker’s conversation with my mother she said she wouldn’t miss this dinner for anything.

I’m amazed at how comfortable I’ve become with Walker in such a short time and even though I was practically bullied into becoming officially exclusive with him, he has proven with each passing hour that I won’t regret it. I’ve never felt so cherished or wanted as much as when he looks at me or kisses me. So loved. He has been nothing short of a doting father to be.

Looking at Walker as he sits next to me I can’t help but think about my daddy and what he would have thought of him. A college graduate, shaping the young minds of America, taking responsibility for an unplanned child with his daughter, and trying with all his might to make her an honest woman. He would love him, and if not for those reasons, for his love of football and baseball. Walker even played in high school just up the road from where I went at Glenbrook North High School.

I only hope Walker can be even half the dad that mine was. I never felt like a burden to him. Even after long hours at work he would come home and talk to me about my day, what I did and play with all three of us kids on the floor. He never missed a recital, game, or school event. Every significant memory I have in my life has my father in it. A hard working man that valued his family over anything else. I can see that in Walker.

I know that regardless of whether things work out between the two of us, our child will have memories of Walker and me cheering them on, supporting them with love , accepting them, pushing them to be the best they can be. Everything and anything I could want for them will be given to them.

The drive to my mom’s house isn’t long, though the arguing between Walker and Noelle about who gets to be in the birthing room makes it seem like forever.

“Do you really think Erin is going to let you in there over the child’s own father?” Walker asks, completely astounded by her declaration that only she will be in the delivery room. “Or her
own
mother?”

“I do, actually. I mean, I did clean up her puke for like three months and we’ve known each other longer. Besides do you really want to see her shit on the delivery table?” Noelle blurts out, completely mortifying me.

“Noe! Stop!” I yell from the passenger side of Walker’s black truck.

“So, that’s true?” He glances at me in disbelief. “Women shit on the table?”

“Oh. My. God! Can we not talk about this? YES! They do. The baby is pushing on all of your intestines and so unintentional pooping can occur.” Maybe no one should be in the room when the baby is born.

Walker and Noelle break out in a chorus of laughter inciting my anger.

“You know what? Screw the two of you! My mom can be in the room and you both can sit out in the waiting area.” My arms cross over my chest like a toddler.

Apparently they find that even funnier because the laughing gets louder.

“Baby.” Walker’s hand reaches over uncrossing my arms and lays his hand on my thigh. “Don’t be mad. We’re just playing around. Isn’t it nice to see your best friend and fiancé getting along?”

“What?” Noelle and I both yell out simultaneously.

“Fiancé? Are you insane?” I turn my head to look out the window stifling a giggle of my own. So damn pushy.

“Only when it comes to you Erin and whatever happens during the birth of our baby, I don’t care, I just want to be there for their first breath...so I’m one of the first faces they see.” He pulls me up and I feel l his lips graze my knuckles as my guarded heart opens up a smidge more.

“Ok, you two are going to have to clean up my vomit with that fluffy shit. Knock it off and turn here, baby daddy.” Noelle fake gags from the back seat while pointing Walker in the direction of my mom’s street.

“One day Noelle,” Walker states making the turn. “You are going to find the love of your life when you least expect it. You are going to be walking around minding your own business, just going on your merry way and SMACK! Love is going to knock you on your ass.”

“It doesn’t happen that fast Walker. You need to work on love and trust before it can wrap you up so much you can’t see straight,” she counters.

His double squeeze of my hand has me turning back to face his emerald eyes. “I’m proof that it does, indeed, happen that fucking fast.”

Speechless.

I point out my mom’s house and the truck pulls into the driveway. I spot Trent in the doorway just like last time. I’m getting used to seeing him in my father’s place and it’s helping me heal over his loss. The look on his face is anything but soothing though. His dark brown eyes zoned in on the driver side of the truck...Walker.

“He looks pissed.” Noelle states the obvious. “And hot! Erin, seriously, why don’t you tell me how much hotter he gets each day? I can’t believe that bitch dropped him and that cute ass baby of his.”

Walker looks at me for explanation and I give him a slight shrug hoping he drops it until I fill him in on my crazy family history.

The walk up the steps is thick with tension, Walker’s eyes not leaving Trent’s. The screen door opens and Trent’s eyes flash to Noelle’s, changing his demeanor from hard ass to just not happy. To my surprise Trent’s hand comes out to shake Walker’s. “Trent Decker, Erin’s brother.”

“Walker Prescott, Erin’s boyfriend.” He shakes firmly and earns me a questioning look from Trent.

“Boyfriend?” My mother’s voice carries over my brother’s broad shoulders. “Well if you would return my phone calls, I would know that you two have brought your relationship to the next level.”

“Well,” Noelle says, pushing past us all and bringing my mother in for a quick hug. “In the car they were engaged, so I would say they brought it down a notch since.” She winks at me and then shamelessly rubs her hand over Trent’s shirt. “Wow! Fatherhood looks sexy on you.”

My little brother’s eyes follow Noelle’s ass down the hallway as she makes herself at home. After my mom pokes Trent in his side, she introduces herself jokingly to Walker as his future mother in law. I’m shocked as she leaves me hugless, kissless and without a greeting. She puts her arm through his and pulls him the way Noelle went.

“You brought Noelle?” Trent’s harsh whisper pulls me from the sight of my mother and my baby’s father so cozy with each other. “You know how I feel about her.”

“You really need to tell her Trent. Having a child won’t determine if she dates you or not. She loves Jason. If you want to be with her, let her know before some other guy comes along and tries to sweep her off her perfectly pedicured feet.” I pat his shoulder leaving him in the door.

Saying Trent has a crush on Noelle is a huge understatement. Last year when Alex left him with little Jason, he decided to really take a look at his life. The construction business he was starting with his friend Colin had just taken off and he was dealing with the unexpected load of being a single parent. I helped him out since I was off all summer, to Robert’s dismay. Every time Trent came to pick up Jason, if Noelle was home, he seemed to fall more and more for her snarky attitude and love for his son.

She was his type. Beautiful, smart, and despite how anal retentive she is about certain things, when it comes to Jason, she treated him (and his messes) like her own. So, a year later Trent is still quietly admiring her from afar, even though he hasn’t seen her in almost two months. He has sworn me to secrecy, but I am constantly telling him that he needs to get off his ass and tell her.

Loud giggling carries through the house leading me to the family room where I find the sexiest thing I have ever seen. Walker is in the middle of the area rug, laughing, with all five of my nieces and nephews while they use him as a wrestling buddy. Body slam after body slam he takes a serious beating from each of them. Two year old Nick delivering the below the belt blow that brings tears to Walker’s eyes and an end to the fun.

“Alright kids,” Nicole yells over the chaos. “Let Uncle Walker up so he can grab some frozen peas.”

Uncle Walker? I leave him alone for two minutes and my
sister
is calling him their uncle?

The kids peel themselves off one by one and run down to the basement screaming of sword fights. Grunting, Walker stands up and limps to my side. Without thinking I wrap my arm around his waist. “Are you ok? That looked like it hurt.”

“I’m fine.” He mimics the hold I have on him and lowers his head to my ear so no one can hear. “Good thing you are pregnant because they might have just rendered me infertile. You can tend to it later if you want.”

I want.

Placing a chaste kiss on my lips he swats my behind and walks to the kitchen. “Let’s go baby.” I obviously was too distracted to hear my mother call us for dinner.

The dinner is no less than crazy. Brad, having to work at the hospital today, has Nicole taking care of the kiddos on her own again and they are in rare form, throwing things across the table and refusing to eat. I am a bit horrified, though Walker is amused by it all.

“I want at least three, but it looks like four would be a blast,” he confesses and my stomach drops.

The look on my face must be priceless and he pushes my chin up to close my gaping mouth and laughs. I can’t imagine four little Walkers running around.