Page 28 of Bartender's Surprise Baby

"Well, let's go back before she has a panic attack wondering what secrets of hers I'm revealing to you." He laughed and turned around, waving at Rob, who stood there staring with furrowed brows.

I had a feeling it was the secrets I could reveal that had her so worried. "Okay. Fine." I took a few steps in Rob's direction, and we walked in silence for a few steps, but Xavier was a talker.

"Go easy on Rob. She's been burned before and never by anybody who actually gave a damn about her."

My mind instantly went to the asshole who used her to get his big break. "I'm not going to hurt her." And I wouldn't let anyone else hurt her either.

"This is going to be so much fun!" He practically squealed as he bounded up the steps and disappeared inside the house, leaving me and Rob alone.

"That's Xavier," she said with a shy smile.

"He's a character."

Rob laughed, but it was perfunctory. "He's a good guy. And he's more likely to fight me for you than to fight for my love."

"Yeah," I said and nervously rubbed the back of my head. "I figured that out."

"You were jealous," she replied in a sing-song tone.

"I was," I admitted. "Insanely so."

"You have nothing to worry about, Levi. I'm pretty into this hot bartender I'm seeing. At least, I think we're seeing each other."

"We are," I growled and hooked one arm around her waist before I kissed the hell out of her, right there on her doorstep, where half the busybodies in town could see.

It wasn't a complete declaration of my feelings, but it was close enough.

For now.

17ROB

"Have you given any thought to Easter brunch?" I wrapped my arms around Levi's shoulders, smiling at him even though the bar was totally packed tonight. It was the second day in a row that my morning sickness had been minimal, and I was excited about it. And horny. "It's just around the corner."

Levi nodded and tightened his hold on my hips. "I have thought about it, but isn't brunch kind of fancy?"

"Brunch is what you make it. It's often fancy, but this is Easter, so you'll be feeding all types. Make it good and serve it fancy, it's the best of both worlds." I pressed a soft kiss to his lips.

His lips twitched. "How many types do you think there are in Holiday Grove?"

"Easy." I held up my hand, ticking my fingers as I talked. "Moms who don't want to cook. Families who don't go to church but want to go out. Single girls and guys. Couples. All types."

"Okay, I promise it's at the top of my list of things to think about for tomorrow, okay?" Before I could answer, he kissed me again. It was hot with the promise of even more heat later.

"Okay. I'm not trying to be pushy, but—" I smiled. "You've been doing such magic in here, and the town is loving it."

"I know, and I'm really grateful to you for encouraging me to do this. And for being my bartender so I could give it a go."

"My pleasure." It really was. Watching him do something he so clearly loved only made me love him more. Yeah, I know, a few days in and I was already able to say the words to myself.

"So hey, I want to talk later. Wanna stay with me tonight?"

I nodded. If he was offering a sleepover, it was a safe assumption he wasn't about to dump me. But he could tell you he wants no part of fatherhood. Or that, I realized too late. "Sure."

The swinging door opened, and the new waitress, Livvy, popped her head in. "Sorry to interrupt, but we're backed up."

"Sorry!" I pressed a quick kiss to Levi's lips and slithered away. "I'm coming."

"There she is," Xavier shouted above the music and other conversations. "Flushed, mussed, and freshly kissed."

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