One night stand with my daddy's best friend
20

Chapter 20

Liam

"Hey, what about that one?" Ava pointed to a quaint little restaurant tucked between two towering buildings. "Sure." I placed a hand on her back as we crossed the road.

She walked in a near skip, her brown hair bouncing around her face.

We'd just hit the sidewalk when she turned a full smile on me.

"This is so cool. I've never stopped by for lunch the other times I've come here."

Late lunch, to be exact. The sun swept low in the sky and the temperature was cooler.

"Time to try something new, right?" She beamed. "Come on."

Ava took my hand and led the way into the restaurant. It housed only a few tables. But a couple were empty.

As a couple, we claimed the one closest to the window.

Ava sighed as she sat. Then she looked out the window with wide brown dreamy eyes.

Thinking about the first time I saw her today and now, she was a completely different woman. Her mood lifted quickly after I assured her I was going to be there for her throughout the pregnancy.

It also helped that Dr. Morris was kind and generous with the compliments. You're doing great, Ava. For a first-time mom, you're getting this pretty quickly.

And Ava would blush, happy to with the compliments.

If Dr. Morris was a man, I would be jealous. As it was, I planned to give her some attention of my own when we found the time. She needed to know I would always take care of her-in more ways than one. But for now, I enjoyed this happy version of Ava.

"What are we having?" Ava scanned the menu. She worried her lip between her teeth, eyes flicking over it. "I don't want to overeat. I'll get queasy on the drive back."

I looked at my menu. The array of choices couldn't hold my attention for more than a second. My eyes kept returning to Ava.

"I'll have the roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, and a milkshake." She leaned forward, her breasts plumping on her folded arms, rising out of her top enticingly. "What are you having?"

It took a few seconds to force my gaze back up. Just then, the waiter appeared and asked the same question. After Ava answered, both women turned to me.

"I'll have what she's having."

The waiter left and Ava rewarded my presence with a sweet smile. "What's on your mind?"

You. "I'd say the doctor's appointment went well, right?"

"Yes! Oh, gosh. I thought it'd be a mess the way it started. But it's all good now." She was nearly hopping in her seat. "I had no idea everything was pretty straightforward. It was terrifying at first. And I don't mind all the tests now." A chuckle worked up my throat. "Yes, that's good."

"Oh, and my blood pressure is stable." She reached over and touched my arm. "Can you believe it?"

My lips stretched in a smile. "Yes, it's amazing."

"I can't wait to see our tiny baby on the ultrasound and hear the baby's heartbeat."

I kept from mentioning that this early, what would show up would look nothing like a fully developed baby. Her smile was too precious to ruin. "Dr. Morris said next month."

"Ugh, next month is too far away. I want to do everything right now." "What about we take it slow?" I collected her hand in mine. "Alright?" She rolled her eyes playfully. "Alright." Then her gaze slanted at me. "How come you're this calm?"

I wasn't. My heart felt like it was bubbling over. And every time Ava spoke, the feeling grew bigger.

Daring me to try to contain it.

I was like a kid at Christmas with presents spread out under the tree. Except now, my present was Ava and she was carrying the most precious bundle in the universe.

"I'm not, really. But I'm very happy."

She eyed me. "Dr. Cooper, you're a mystery."

My lip ticked up. And Ava answered with a ear-to-ear full-on grin.

As if tired, she exhaled and dropped back into her seat. A lingering smile

played on her lips. "It's all because you came." "What is?"

"How well the appointment went. Thank you for being there, Liam."

My throat closed up. Why did she sound like I was doing her a favor? "There was nowhere else I'd rather be, Ava. Thank you for calling me."

Our gazes held for a few seconds. Before I could decipher what passed between us, the waiter returned with our orders.

Ava's eyes twinkled as she took in the meal. I frowned. When had she last eaten?

I kept that thought locked up, though. She'd had enough doctoring for one day.

She moaned around a mouthful of potatoes and licked her full pink lips. I tore my gaze away and focused on filling my empty stomach. "How is this going to work?"

I lifted my gaze. A line formed between Ava's brows. I wanted it gone immediately and replaced by one of her big smiles.

"How what's going to work?"

She gestured between us. "Being a mom and dad?" Her nose wrinkled.

I felt it in my chest, too. It was weird thinking of us that way. But pleasant, too.

I thought about her question. "We're both in Hannibal. It shouldn't be a problem."

"Yeah, well. I didn't know what your schedule was like today, and I called you away from your patients."

"I can take time off. I own the clinic."

She pursed her lips. "Are you always this cocky?" "Yes. You never noticed before?"

"Mm-hmm." She picked up her glass and pulled a drink from the straw. Our eyes met and Ava rolled her tongue around it.

My cock jerked in my pants. "Ava."

She giggled and put the drink down. Her smile withered almost immediately. "But think about it, Liam. How will we manage? You may not have been busy today, but another day, you might be." "Ava..."

"And we're different people, too. You're a sophisticated doctor from New York and I'm Ava, the house cleaner. Those are worlds apart! How will "

"Hey." I took her hand in mine, rubbing it softly. "We'll make it work.

People make crazy situations work all the time. Don't get all worked up, okay?"

She bit her lip. "You're sure?"

As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.com is your destination for the complete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! I nodded. "100 percent." I frowned. "Well, more like ninety-nine, since there's the 1 percent that is Thomas."

"Oh, crap. My dad." Ava pulled her hand from mine to curl it in her lap. "He's a huge 1 percent."

She probably was twisting her fingers into a pretzel with worry. If I could, I'd say something reassuring. But nothing came to mind.

Between the both of us, we would work things out. Thomas was another challenge all on its own.

We stayed silent for a few moments before Ava broke it.

"I don't like lying to him." Her eyes were hidden from me as she looked down at her lap. "I've always told him everything. He's been all I've had my whole life. I feel lousy keeping this from him." "Ava, look at me."

Her head came up and the torn look in her eyes razored through me.

"It's not real until Dad knows." Her lips trembled. "I don't want to disappoint him." A pause, then her brows shot up. "Wait, no. That didn't come out right. I'm not saying sleeping with you at all is a cause for someone to feel disappointed. Or having a baby with you is wrong, it's just "

She was red in the face. I could let this go on. The beginnings of a smile were already pulling at my lips. I bit on my inner cheek to hide it.

"I get it."

"Oh, um, thanks." She offered me a small smile. "What are we going to do, Liam?"

I exhaled, looking out at the fading sun. Thomas had been my friend forever. The last thing I wanted was for him to feel betrayed.

Or think I took advantage of our closeness to get to Ava. Or worse, that I preyed on her.

I knew Thomas too well. That's exactly where his mind would go. There was no helping it.

I feared the fallout. Especially for Ava's sake. He loved and doted on her.

I didn't want to ruin their relationship.

Or our friendship.

My shoulders hunched at the thought.

"Liam?" Ava's soft voice brought me back to the present.

I turned to her wide-eyed brown gaze. I swallowed the lump in my throat.

She trusted me to be here, to help.

Not spiral into worst-case-scenario thoughts. But I couldn't lie, either.

"Thomas probably won't take it well."

She sighed like I confirmed what she thought. "He may feel betrayed, angry..." "Disappointed."

"But we can't control how he feels, Ava. We can't control how anyone feels."

Her eyes fell shut and she muttered, "I know. I'm just-I don't want anything to go wrong. Can't he just be happy for us?"

I scoffed. "I doubt that." "So, what do we do?"

Our gazes held and I knew she was thinking what I was thinking. But neither of us was inclined to say it first. When it was finally out in the open, there would be no taking it back and we'd have to follow through. "Tell him," Ava stated firmly.

"Tell him," I echoed at the same time.

As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.com is your destination for the complete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! "Aw, shit." Ava slumped in her seat. "I was hoping you'd say 'run away.""

I chuckled. "I'm too old to run."

Her gaze roamed hungrily up my body, contradicting my statement. But she didn't comment. "And I'll be too big to run in a few months."

She rubbed her belly.

A couple of seconds passed. "So, we're telling him."

I leaned forward and held my left hand out. She placed her right one in mine. "Are you okay with that?"

She squeezed my hand and nodded. "Yes." "Good."

"When?"

"He invited me over for dinner on Sunday."

"This Sunday?" Her chest started to rise and fall under her pale pink blouse.

I nodded and firmed my hold on her hand. "The sooner the better, don't you think?"

She swallowed. "I guess."

"If we don't do this, we'll never stop looking over our shoulders." "I'm not ready."

"Well, there are four days to get ready." Ava eyed me. "You're way too calm."

I smiled. "I'm not." She smiled back.

"What if we put that on a back burner for now? We're miles away from Hannibal and it's a lovely evening. No need to worry ourselves sick tonight."

She smiled and extracted her hand, resuming her eating. "Okay." Her eyes went to my plate. "Let's play a game. First to finish eating wins."

I chuckled. "And what's the prize?"

"The winner gets the other person's leftovers."

"Wait, you said you'd feel queasy if you ate too much."

"I'm having a good day." She tapped her stomach. "Are you scared?

Trying to wiggle your way out?" I raised a brow.

She was already halfway done. But I was also very competitive. "Let's do it."

"Okay, ready?" I nodded.

We dug in.

"Oh my God, Liam! You're going too fast. Go back to picking at your food."

"It's a competition! What am I supposed to do?" I mumbled around a mouthful.

"But your mouth's bigger than mine." "How?"

"It is!"

I resumed shoveling chicken into my mouth. "I won't go easy on you." "That's it!" She threw herself into it, not looking at me.

Smiling, I sat back and watched her. She could have my plate and five more. Whatever she wanted.

As long as the fire in her eyes kept blazing and her sweet smile remained.