Page 17 of Bad Boy Bakers, Vol. 2

Chapter Nine

Cash managed to wait twenty minutes before going after Hadley.

He wasn’t actively worried about her, but he didn’t like the idea of them not being a united front, no matter how well her brother had taken the news of their involvement.

He parked beside her car in the driveway and was about to head for the front door when Holt’s voice rang out from somewhere behind the house.

“You’re pregnant?!”

Oh, shit.

Changing directions, he raced for the fence, vaulting over the chain link, rather than trying to find the gate. B.B., sensing a game was afoot, came bolting across the yard for an interception as he barreled toward the back patio, where Hadley stood with her brother.

She spotted him first. “I didn’t realize you hadn’t told him that part.”

Skidding to a stop beside her, he pivoted to escape the jumping dog. “Not mine to tell.” If she elected to end this pregnancy, he didn’t see any reason that information should go beyond the two of them. “I should have clarified before you left.”

Did it mean something that she’d told Holt? Or was it simply a slip of the tongue because she’d thought he already knew? Not willing or ready to go down that rabbit hole, he ranged himself slightly in front of her, close enough to see the flat fury in his friend’s gaze, despite the low light.

“Is this why?” Holt demanded.

“Why what?” she asked.

Why he wanted to marry her. Why he was in a hurry. Why he couldn’t wait. Cash understood all of it and the concern that lay beneath the sudden animosity.

“No. I literally found out this morning, and as you’re well aware, we’ve been here for days.”

“Okay.” Holt blew out a slow breath and scrubbed both hands over his face. “Okay.” His gaze bounced from Cash to Hadley and back again, the gears in his big-brother brain clearly grinding and popping as he tried to process the information. “You two are having a baby. Holy shit.”

Before he could go further down that track, Cash interjected, “It’s early yet.

She hasn’t decided one way or the other what we’re going to do about that.

” He had no idea where Holt fell on this issue, but he was prepared to do whatever was necessary to shield Hadley if he didn’t approve of her choice.

“Actually, I have.”

As her slim hand slid into his, Cash turned, hardly daring to breathe as he searched her face. But he couldn’t read the answer beyond nerves.

She swallowed hard. “I want to do this.”

Was he reading this right? She wanted to do this? Have the baby? Jump into the whole parenthood thing? As if understanding his lack of clarity, she pulled their joined hands to her belly, laying them over the child they’d made.

All the emotions he’d had on lockdown since this morning threatened to riot, but Cash held them in check. Heart hammering, he tightened his hand on hers and stepped closer. “Are you sure?”

Her mouth curved, just a little. “With anybody else, I’d say no. With you? With you, it makes sense. If I’m going to do the world’s scariest thing, it ought to be with the person who helps me be fearless because I know he’s always there to catch me when I fall.”

“Hadley.” Undone, Cash buried his free hand in her hair and pressed his brow to hers. She was choosing them. Choosing him. He knew the level of trust that cost her, and it cut him off at the knees.

Dimly, he was aware of Cayla snagging her husband. “Let’s just give them some time. They’re having a moment.”

“But—”

“C’mon.”

Quiet footsteps moved away, heading back inside the house.

They stood breathing together for long moments before Hadley pulled back, uncertain eyes searching his face.

“Is this… okay with you? You’ve been working so hard to be Switzerland, but I thought maybe this was the direction you were leaning.

And, I mean, that wasn’t the only reason I chose this way, but it’s a contributing factor, and if I got it wrong—”

Cash pressed a finger to her lips to stem the worried babble. “You didn’t get it wrong. I’m just soaking in the news. We’re having a baby.” The words felt strange on his tongue. Strange, but kind of wonderful. “We’re having a baby!”

He let the emotion come now, a hot flood of joy that crashed past the walls he’d erected to hold everything in and protect his heart, opening him to everything.

To her. Riding the wave of it, he took her mouth in a searing kiss.

She rose to her toes, pressing against him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, and he never wanted to let her go.

Now he didn’t have to. Because this woman—his woman—had chosen to keep the family they’d accidentally started.

Easing her back to her feet, he grinned down at her. “God, I love you.”

It wasn’t until her eyes went wide that he realized what had just popped out. Shit. That wasn’t how he’d meant to tell her.

Desperate that she should believe him, he framed her face between his hands.

“I love you. You. I’ve loved you for years.

And I’ve been in love with you for months but too afraid to say it, for fear of scaring you off.

It has nothing to do with your pregnancy or you deciding to keep the baby.

This is not conditional. It wouldn’t have changed if you’d gone the other way on this decision.

I need you to know that. To believe it.”

Her fingers curled gently around his wrists. “Cash?”

Afraid he was holding her too tight, he loosened his grip. “Yeah?”

“I love you, too.” Her smile spread wide. “Basically since I was thirteen. I’ve just been waiting for you to catch up.”

They beamed at each other.

Because he couldn’t resist, he dropped his hand to her still flat stomach. “This is wild.”

Her face twisted with a wry smile. “Yeah, well, God forbid I do things the usual way.”

“I love your way. In fact, I hope it’s a girl and that she’s just like you.”

“You are a very brave man,” Holt announced.

As one, they turned to face him, finding him and Cayla tucked in the doorway, grinning.

“Is it safe to say congratulations yet?” he asked.

Tugging Hadley against his side, Cash pressed a kiss to her brow. “Yeah. I think congratulations are perfect.”

Cayla clapped her hands in glee. “Good. Then I can start planning the party to celebrate!”

“I thought you were kidding about the party.” Hadley eyed the patio that had been transformed with cafe lights, coordinated festive decorations, and a long table covered with more food than a small army needed.

Cayla just grinned. “I never joke about parties. Just wait until I get a chance to plan your baby shower.”

“Baby shower?” she squeaked.

“Too soon?”

“Maybe a little. I’m still getting used to the idea.” Though the concept of her impending parenthood was slightly less terrifying today than it was yesterday.

She’d reached a point of being cautiously happy and maybe even a little excited about it.

It was way sooner than she’d have planned, but a part of her recognized that she had so many hangups around children and parenting that, had it been left to a plan, she might never have done it at all.

She and Cash would do better by their kid than had been done for them.

They’d stayed up late last night, really talking about everything.

Not in a rigid, must-have-everything-planned-out kind of way, but approaching their future with a hopeful dreaming that was new to them both.

They wanted a future together, and it had been kind of glorious to imagine what that might look like.

He loved her. He was in love with her, as she was with him.

Being able to trust in that after all the upheaval of the past week was such a gift.

She’d meant what she’d told him. He enabled her to be fearless.

It wasn’t like she wasn’t scared to death that she’d find some way to screw this whole thing up.

Nine months—less than, really—was hardly enough time to figure everything out, and there was no instruction manual.

Yeah, she couldn’t think too hard about that, because she’d start freaking out again.

But no matter what scary thing came down the pike, Cash would be with her.

He’d help her figure out how to navigate it.

And whatever they couldn’t tackle together, well, that was what therapy was for.

The doorbell rang, setting Banana Bread off on another barking fit as she raced for the front.

“That’ll be the start of our guests.”

It turned out to be all of them. Brax and Mia came in with Leno and both their kids.

Rachel and Jonah were right behind, with Otis on a leash.

They all fell into what felt like a well-orchestrated dance, inserting casserole dishes—more food?

Really?—into the spread, and herding tiny humans and animals out into the backyard.

Uncertain what to do, Hadley stood off to one side.

Arms slid around her from behind. “You look a little shell-shocked.”

She leaned back into Cash, folding her hands over his on her belly and wondering if his gesture was on purpose or unconscious. Either way, it made her feel safe and relaxed. “My sister-in-law is a whirlwind.”

Rachel spotted them first. “Does this mean the cat is out of the bag?”

Cash’s laugh rumbled against her back. “Holt knows that we’re together.”

“Thank God. I’ve been dying, sitting on the news.”

Mia scooped up some salsa on a chip. “I didn’t think they’d ever get around to telling him.”

Cash stiffened. “Wait. You knew, too?”

“Oh, brother, we all knew,” Jonah said.

“Or guessed,” Brax added. “Except Holt. We kept thinking he’d clue in, but… eh.”

Holt divided a glare among the lot of them. “I think I resent your implication.”

“It was right under your nose, dude,” Jonah added.

Cayla slid an arm around her husband. “I mean… it kinda was, honey. I suspected months ago.”

Because Cash hadn’t moved, Hadley turned to look up at him and burst out laughing at the dumbfounded expression on his face. “I thought you were supposed to be a spy.”

He grimaced. “Evidently I’m rusty. Guess it’s a good thing I retired from the field.”

Jonah offered him a conciliatory beer. “Can’t hide love, man.”

“Then it’s a good thing I don’t have to try anymore.” Cash shot Hadley a look that had her toes curling inside her booties.

There was a chorus of “awwwww.”

“I think there should be a toast to the happy couple.” Brax started passing out drinks from the cooler.

When he held out a long-neck bottle, Hadley angled her head. “Um…”

“No alcohol for the mama to be,” Cayla informed him.

Brax went brows up. “You’re… oh. Oh!”

“Wait, seriously?” Jonah asked.

“Did you seriously not realize that pregnancy test the other day wasn’t Cayla’s?” Mia asked.

“Why should we have known that?” Brax wanted to know.

Laughing, Hadley accepted a Dr. Pepper. As their friends made toasts to their happiness and impending parenthood, she cuddled up against Cash’s side, sliding an arm around his waist. He pulled her closer and pressed a kiss to her brow.

Being a naturally demonstrative person, she appreciated no longer having to squash her inclinations toward PDA.

She wondered how scandalized Holt would be if she gave Cash’s very fine butt a squeeze.

Amused by the prospect, she slid her hand down from his waist, noticing a lump in his pocket.

Curious, she slipped her hand inside, her fingers closing around something hard.

Figuring it was another of his tech gadgets, she pulled it out.

“What’s this?”

Cash spun, and Hadley instinctively dodged, childhood memories of keep away fueling her agility to hold the thing out of his reach.

He snagged her around the waist. “No. No. Give that back.”

Giggling, she turned over her hand. The sight of the black velvet ring box had her going stock still, the can of Dr. Pepper falling from her other hand.

Cash froze, and no one said a word as she flipped it open.

The ring inside flashed fire in the ambient light.

The artist in her swooned at the delicate filigreed setting housing the central ruby and surrounding diamonds.

The woman hardly dared breathe. Unable to speak, she lifted her gaze to his.

“You weren’t supposed to see that yet.” His brows drew together, obviously trying to gauge her reaction.

Hadley wasn’t sure how to feel. She didn’t believe in getting married because of a child. She’d told him that. When had he even had time to go pick one up? Tipping the box, she read the name of the jeweler embossed on the satin lining of the top and went brows up.

“This is from Nelson Coleman.” They were one of the biggest jewelers in Baltimore.

“Yeah.”

She met his eyes again. “You bought this before we came down here.”

He didn’t flinch. “Yeah. I wanted him to know I was serious, even if you weren’t ready to.”

All the tension bled out at the acknowledgment. He’d bought the ring before he even knew about the baby. That was all she needed to know.

“Then yes.”

Cash blinked. “Sorry?”

“I’m saying yes.”

His lips began to twitch. “I haven’t asked yet.”

Flashing a mischievous grin, she closed the box and slid it back into his pocket. “Okay. Then you have my answer to sit on until you decide to act.” With a pat, she stepped back.

Cash grabbed her hand, staying her progress. “Well, you’ve done it now.” As he dropped down to one knee, she heard whispered voices behind them.

“Are you getting this?” Rachel muttered.

“Why doesn’t he have flowers?” Maddie asked.

“Shh!” Cayla hissed.

“If you hadn’t gotten all nosy, I’d have had time to figure out a speech and some romance.

But you’re getting what you’re getting now.

” He took a breath. “Hadley, you’ve always been the brightest, boldest, biggest light of my life.

You drive me crazy in the best possible way.

Drive me crazy forever. Keep my life from being dull and gray. Marry me? Please.”

She stroked his cheek, reveling in the feel of his beard against her palm. “You know, for a spontaneous proposal, I think that was pretty good. It definitely worked for me. The answer’s still yes.”

With a laugh, he pulled the ring from the box and slid it onto her left hand.

“Kiss! Kiss!” Maddie shouted.

“Don’t mind if I do.” Cash rose to his feet, scooping her up in one smooth motion and capturing her mouth with his.