Page 22 of Wine, Whiskey, & Lipstick 2

After a few moments of Ben holding her gaze captive, she realized he wouldn’t let it go until she gave him something resembling an affirmation. So, she gave him a weak smile and then slid back down underneath the sheets.

They resettled their bodies into a spooning position, both lost in their own thoughts. Ben didn’t immediately fall back to sleep in case she needed him. He focused on her breathing.

In the comfort of his arms, Dillyn’s mind wandered. She began asking herself unserious and random questions, hoping to quiet all the other noise.

Will our child have brown eyes like me or blue ones like Ben?She had just had the worst nightmare in years, and that’s what she was thinking about?Yep. Simple and mundane.Not ugly and horrifying.Definitely Ben’s demeanor.Like tonight, he was calm and steady.

Dillyn released a small sigh.

It took a while, but eventually, she fell back to sleep. Ben kept his promise. He watched over her until he knew she was sleeping soundly.

He would do whatever it took to make Dillyn feel safe. Even if that meant staying up all night watching over her.

Chapter 10

“There she is sleeping beauty.” Palmer teased as Dillyn made her way into the living room.

She yawned. “I wasn’t asleep. I’ve been working, but I could use a nap.”

“Were you working?” Cat used her fingers to air-quote her question. “Or, were youworking?”

Palmer laughed. “I’m sure Ben was working!”

“Maybe he was.” Dillyn giggled. She quickly looked around for his sister. “Where is Selah?”

“Don’t worry, she won’t hear you talking about sexing her brother. She’s off today. She’ll be back tomorrow.” Cat responded. “Speaking of sexy, have either of you noticed the one guy with the dark hair working in the great room? Talk about sexiness personified. What was his name . . . Greg? Robert? Mike?”

“Girl, you just listed every common male name.” Palmer laughed as she shook her head. “If it was the guy that asked to use our bathroom, his name is Ellison.”

“Oh.” Cat shrugged and giggled as she crossed her legs. “Yes! That was him. He is finefine.”

“He is definitely cute.” Palmer wasn’t impressed. Ellison couldn’t hold a candle to Lucas. The second his name popped up into her mind, she quickly forced a change. Palmer held up two fabric samples for a couch she wanted to reupholster. “What do you guys think about starting work on my house after we finish refurbishing this one?”

Dillyn was fine with whatever Cat and Palmer wanted to do.

Cat shrugged. “You’re over being roomies already?”

“Not exactly.” Palmer hesitated. “It’s just that . . .” Her voice trailed off, causing both Cat and Dillyn to turn their full attention to her.

Palmer bit her lower lip. “How do you feel about having children around here?”

Dillyn’s stomach bottomed out.How did Palmer know that she was pregnant? Who told her? Did Ben tell Lucas?She was going to kill him.Dillyn was just about to explain why she hadn’t been the one to tell them about her pregnancy when Palmer dropped a bomb.

“I want to have a baby, and I’m thinking of doing it alone.”

Dillyn and Cat were both stunned into silence.

After a second or two, Dillyn was the first to speak. “Is that really what you want to do? I mean, you’ve always dreamed of getting married and having a crazy number of kids?”

Palmer sighed. “I’m almost thirty-six. If I don’t start soon, I’ll be lucky to push out two.”

Cat cocked her head to the side, “I get it. I mean, men ain’t shit, so I can see why you want to have a baby alone. If I ever wanted children, I’d take the same route.”

Dillyn turned away from Palmer toward Cat and mouthed, “That’s not helpful.”

Cat mouthed back, “But it’s true.”

Who hurt you?Cat never really talked about ever being in a serious relationship as long as Dillyn had known her. She had always casually dated. It was now clear someone had done a number on her. Dillyn would table that thought for later. For now, Palmer was the focus. She found the nerve to ask the question that was rolling around in her head, “have you talked to Lucas about it?”

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