I can’t let Matt win. He can never win.
“She is your responsibility.”
His grip tightens.
I narrow my eyes and speak through clenched teeth. “You can’t walk out on her like you walked out on me.”
“We’ll see about that.”
I grab his forearms and dig my nails into his flesh. If only I could rip his skin off and make him eat his words. “You have no idea how I wish—”
Suddenly, a wall of muscle separates Matt from me.
“You will never touch her again.” Adam’s voice is as hard as my anger. “Never.”
Crap.
Why would Adam do that?
He walks straight at Matt, who backs away, looking at me as though I’ve done something wrong. “This guy again?”
Adam pushes Matt. “Yeah. This guy.”
Under my breath, I say, “Uh oh.”
Matt stumbles backward off the porch, landing on his ass. He jumps to his feet, fists flying.
Oh Lord, this is seriously bad.
Adam ducks the first punch and lands a jab to Matt’s ribs.
My lungs snatch at the air, trying to catch my breath, but somehow I can’t. So I clamp my arms over my ribs.
With a grunt, Matt grabs his side and staggers backward. His mouth hardens and his eyes narrow. He lunges at Adam, who dodges to the left and leaves Matt stumbling across the walkway.
Matt comes at him again.
I close my eyes.
Adam’s going to get hurt defending me.
I peek through my lashes, unable to stop myself from looking to see what will happen next.
I flinch as Adam lands a punch square in Matt’s face.
He grabs his nose. Blood drips from under his hand.
When Matt turns, zeroing in on me, Adam shakes his head and steps between us. “Don’t even—”
“Who do you think you are?” Matt slings blood from his fingers, staining the grass and concrete with scarlet droplets.
“I’m the man who loves this woman and that little girl in there.”
I gasp as the world falls from beneath my feet. I steady myself with a hand on the front porch rail.
Adam says, “You don’t want them? Fine. They don’t need you. So carry your ass on down the fucking road.”
It’s one thing for Adam to say he loves me when he’s stinkin’ ass drunk—easy to brush off as nothing. It’s something completely different to hear him say it sober and in defense of me and my sweet girl.
Matt swipes at the dust and debris sticking to him. “Fine. I will. You want ‘em? Be my guest.”
Adam grabs Matt’s collar and shoves him toward his car. “Fuck you, douchebag. Get out of here before I shove my foot so far up your ass, you’ll taste boot leather for a month.”
Matt clambers to his car, throwing himself into his seat and slamming the door.
The built up pressure in my chest eases as I holler, “Fuck you and the whore you rode out on.”
Matt’s arm shoots out the window as he flips us the bird. Tires screech as he takes off down the street.
Adam turns toward me. “The only good thing about that fucker is that little girl in there.”
“I did get the best part of him in her, didn’t I?” I head into the house.
Adam follows with his hand on my lower back, warm and comforting.
Inside, he catches my fingers and pulls me to him.
My heart stutters.
He traps me against the door. His arms cage me as his body presses close. “I meant what I said out there.”
My tummy flutters, but not with nausea this time. I search his eyes for the truth of his words. His gaze doesn’t waver—not in the least.
“That he’s a dickhead?” I let a small smile slip across my face.
He lays a hand on my belly, his voice barely a whisper. “I love you and Clarissa. And I’ll love this baby too, if you’ll give me a chance. We aren’t going in different directions. I’m going wherever you are. That’s the only place I want to be. I’m so sorry it took so long for me to tell you that.”
For a writer, I never seem to know what words to use when it’s important to say something—anything.
I worry my lower lip, trying to think how to answer him.
He cups my jaw. “I don’t have the tools to write the perfect romance, but I’d like to try. Help me find the right words—I still mean that.”
My throat all but closes over with the emotions bottling up in my chest. His hazel eyes stare into mine.
“Leave the romance writing to me.” I brush his mouth with my lips. “I only needed those three words. I love you too.”
ADAM
Ryan sits like a little king on his sun lounger by the pool, his cast covered with drawings and good wishes from friends and family. He’s got Tucker fetching and carrying drinks, snacks, and pretty much anything he can think of, taking full advantage of the situation. Little shit.