Her big amber eyes were filled with worry. “I know, but—”
“Shh.” He pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “No buts. This situation…it is what it is. But I’m going to take care of you.”
“Certainly I can do more to help than smile and pretend to stay engaged.”
He wanted to assure her that she didn’t need to lift a finger because he didn’t want to scare her. But it was more important that he didn’t leave her defenseless.
“Yeah. Start self-defense classes and basic firearms training today. Get a concealed carry permit. Don’t wait.”
“I-I don’t know if I could shoot someone.”
He raised a brow. “If they were going to kill you and the baby?”
Her face hardened. “I’d have to.”
“And you’d succeed.” He palmed his phone again, then scrolled through his contacts and forwarded one to her. “Call this number before you leave for work. That’s Matt. He’s a good guy; he owes me. I’ll let him know you need a security system in your house ASAP. You tell him when he can come install it.”
Brea’s phone dinged from across the room, but she frowned down at his screen. “Area code 307. Where is that?”
“Wyoming. I spent my summers there with my grandpa. I’ve known Matt most of my life. He’ll fly down here. He’ll hook your house up with the best equipment available. He’ll take care of it for me.”
“What do I tell Daddy? We’ve never had a crime problem here in Sunset. Heck, half the time he forgets to lock our doors and windows.”
“I know.” He snorted. “I went there before I came here.”
She scowled. “Since I wasn’t there, how did you figure out I’d come to Cutter’s?”
“Really want to know?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Why do I have the feeling you’re about to scare me?”
“Terrify might be more accurate.”
“Oh, my gosh. What did you do?”
“Well, since your dad is at Mrs. Collins’s house, or he was at one this morning, I—”
“Doing what?” The truth seemed to dawn on her. “Oh, you think they’re…”
“Fucking. Absolutely. But I found an unlocked window, searched your bedroom, broke into your computer—”
“What?” Her eyes widened. “That’s…stalking.”
“Occupational hazard.” He shrugged. “I also found the video you took of the baby’s heartbeat and sent it to myself. Damn, pretty girl, that hit me hard. I’m not too macho to admit it. I just hate like hell I wasn’t there with you to hear it.”
Her face softened. “I wish you’d been there. It was so humbling to actually hear the life growing inside of me that you and I created together. I barely made it out of the doctor’s office and to my car before I started sobbing.”
One-Mile brought her closer, loving her soft heart. “Yeah? What else did the doctor say?”
“Everything looks normal. She’s pleased with my weight, blood pressure, and measurements so far.”
“So it’s been a normal pregnancy?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Normal…but hellacious. Now that I’m in my second trimester, I’m not tired all the time, so that makes me happy. And the constant nausea has finally tapered off. I don’t know why it’s called morning sickness when it usually lasts until dinner. And now I have heartburn at night, which makes it harder to sleep. But I’m changing my diet and building more breaks into my schedule so I can have the healthiest baby possible.”
Regret clutched his chest as he held her closer. He dusted kisses across her forehead, silently apologizing for the fact she was going through this pregnancy alone. It sucked that he couldn’t see her, soothe her, or share the baby’s progress with her every day. “I’m sorry there have been some shitty parts, but I love that you’re pregnant. And I’m thrilled you’re doing well. In fact”—he swept her hair behind her shoulders, exposing her luscious breasts as he rolled her to her back, settled himself between her legs, and eased inside her so slowly Brea arched and groaned—“I want to compliment you on a job well done in the most personal way I know how. Orgasms work for you?”
When he pressed in to the hilt, she closed her eyes and groaned. “Please…”
“You’re welcome. I intend to be thorough and make sure you know just how much I appreciate you.” He covered her lips with his and fucked her mouth slow and deep, just the way he fucked her body.
But with every deep, grinding, back-clawing thrust inside her, One-Mile swore that if he was still alive after dealing with Montilla, he’d wrap Brea in his arms, claim his place beside her, and make her feel both safe and well pleasured for the rest of her life.
Chapter Seven
One-Mile kissed Brea’s forehead as she slept. Then he dressed, swept up the broken glass in the kitchen so she didn’t cut herself, and reluctantly let himself out of Bryant’s apartment before the sun rose. He locked it behind him with a sigh of utter satisfaction.