Page 103 of Crashing the Altar
“Even so, you could have waited. What difference would it have made if you found out now versus after the birth? You should be glad this isn’t your kid because the stress of all this bullshit sent her to the hospital. You putmybaby’s life at risk.”
The man had the good sense to visibly pale. “I-I didn’t think—”
I scoffed. “’Course you didn’t. Not about anyone other than yourself, that’s for sure.” My free fist clenched at my side. “Do us all a favor and see yourself out of Rust Canyon. I’m sure you’ll find the community less than friendly after you fucked with one of their own.”
Jake audibly swallowed before nodding. “Yeah.” Peeking around my broad frame, he muttered, “I’m really sorry, Penny. For everything.”
Penny pressed her forehead into my back, hiding from him.
I jerked my chin down the hallway. “I think you’d better go.”
Hanging his head, Jake continued his trek toward the exit. Once he was out of sight, I let out a heavy breath before bringing Penny around to my front.
My hands cradled her face, and I searched her beautiful green eyes. “You okay?”
Tears still clung to her lashes, and when she blinked, a few of them broke free. “I am now.”
“We’re done looking back. From here on out, we only focus on the future, all right?”
My best friend, who I was so damn lucky to now call my wife, beamed up at me. “I can get on board with that, Mr. Sullivan.”
I loved this woman so much that my heart threatened to explode. When our baby got here, I knew it would absolutely ruin me. In the best way possible.
With my arm curled around her waist, I led her from the courthouse.
“We got married and got pregnant at the speed of light. What do you say we slow down for a bit after all this?”
When she remained silent for too long, I dared to peek down at Penny, who had an all-too-familiar sparkle in her eyes.
“Aw, come on, Tripp,” she teased. “Nothing gets my blood pumping like the thrill rides. Don’t you remember I fell asleep that one time you forced me to ride the carousel at the fair? Fast is way more fun.”
My head dropped back on a chuckle. I should’ve known better than to even ask.
Fast or slow, I didn’t care. Just so long as Penny—and our growing little family—was at the center of it all.
Chapter 27
Penny
Trippwalkedthroughthefront door to the cabin and stopped short. Eyes surveying the mess set before him—dozens of shopping bags surrounding large brown boxes containing baby furniture—he asked, “Whoa, what happened in here?”
Exhausted, I flopped onto the couch with a huff. “Our mothers.”
“Ah, that tracks.” He nodded with a knowing grin while approaching where I lay sprawled out. With a tap to my feet, Tripp commanded, “Lift up.”
I pulled my knees up as far as my six-month-pregnant belly would allow to move my feet out of the way so my husband could join me on the loveseat that was far too small for the two—well, technically three—of us.
As soon as he was seated, I stretched my legs across his lap. He leaned forward slightly to drop a large roll of paper on the coffee table, but before I could ask about it, I was distracted by the firm press of thumbs into the arch of my foot.
My eyes slid closed, and my head dropped back on a moan. “Fuck, that feels good.”
“You’d tell me if you were overdoing it, right?”
I cracked one eyelid open. “It was just shopping, baby.”
He hummed his displeasure. “Pretty sure anything you bought today could have been purchased online and shipped directly to the ranch. Soon as I walked in the door, I could see how exhausted you are. I have half a mind to wring our mamas’ necks for wearing you out. They should know better.”
Though I’d left my stress behind when we walked out of that courthouse months ago, Tripp’s had been a constant since the morning he’d rushed me to that emergency room in Kansas.
