Page 41 of Unexpectedly Falling
It’s faint, soft whimpers that grow louder with each passing second.
Remi.
Jensen.
What the fuck was I thinking?
Pressing my hands into his chest, I push him back with enough force to break the spell that had nearly pulled us under.
“That shouldn’t have happened,” I say jumping off the counter and smoothing my shirt down as I try and hide the way my body is vibrating from being so turned on I could scream.
“Nessa.”
“We’re adults, Jensen. We shared a kiss—not the end of the world.” He opens his mouth like he wants to refute that statement but closes it just as fast, pressing his lips into a firm line.
“Right.”
“And you’re such a nice guy but—” Remi cries again. “Do you want me to get her or…”
“I’ll get her.”
I nod and take a step back toward the hall. “Good. That will be good for you to see her—reinforce that she’s here.” Heblinks at me, his body tense as he watches me continue toward my room. It feels like some weird predatory dance with me retreating and him advancing, eating up the space between us.
He watches me for a moment longer before pushing his way into the room, her cries getting louder before he slips inside and closes the door behind him.
I stand frozen in the darkened hall, my feet refusing to take me to the privacy of my room where I can take care of the throbbing between my legs. It feels wrong, but I’ll never make it if I don’t find some relief—it’s been too long and my lips are still tingling from that kiss.
Mind made up, I walk the rest of the way to my room and lock the door so I can indulge—just this once.
21
NESSA
Iaudibly sigh when I hear Jensen’s truck pull into the driveway. We’d barely interacted the morning after our kiss, and I didn’t like the unease that had settled in my belly because of it. Jensen had hustled around the house getting ready for a double shift and I’d tried to get Remi to settle for more than five minutes.
Both of us gave the other a wide berth until he’d kissed Remi on the forehead and left with a short nod in my direction. I’d told Coach Turner that I’d be working remotely on a couple of things between naps and feedings because I just couldn’t manage facing the world.
Or putting on real pants.
It was a good thing too, because Remi had doubled down in the afternoon and overnight. Nothing I did was enough, and the more she fussed, the scarier the deep dive into the medical forums online became.
Tears of relief fill my eyes when I see Jensen because even thoughwemight not be okay, we’ll be okay for Remi.
His boots seem to drag up the porch steps, and I meet his tired eyes as soon as he steps through the door.
“Rough night?” he asks and I nod.
“I kept checking her temperature every couple of hours but it hasn’t changed. She wouldn’t let me put her down and she feels so warm, but everything I read online says it’s just a low-grade fever but she’s never had one of those before –” It all comes out in a whoosh as his worried eyes meet mine. “Should we call the pediatrician?”
“I-I don’t know,” he says before taking Remi in his arms and looking at the clock on the wall. “But I know who will.”
Pulling his phone from his pocket, he taps on the screen and places it on the counter as it rings.
“What’s wrong?” Dottie says in lieu of hello.
“Nothin’, Mama, it’s just?—”
“Don’t lie to me, boy. I raised you better than that.”
