Page 42 of Dangerous Affair (The Phoenix Three #2)

One Year Later…

F or the tenth time—probably even more—Liam eyed the board announcing arrivals. It hadn’t changed since he’d checked it two minutes ago. Quinn’s flight was still showing as late. Didn’t the airline know she was on the plane and how much he needed to see her, to feel her in his arms again?

They’d talked almost every night that she was in Puerto Rico following a devastating hurricane, FaceTimed whenever possible, engaged in phone sex many of those times, which was hot but wasn’t the same as being able to touch her.

In—he glanced at the board again—twenty-one minutes her plane would land, and he would be hard-pressed not to go open the aircraft’s exit door himself and dare anyone to move before he got to her.

He’d even bought a cheap ticket to fly from Myrtle Beach to Charlotte that he wouldn’t use just so he could get past security and wait for her at the gate. He was a goner. He knew it and didn’t care. When his brothers had teased him for doing that, he’d shrugged and said, “Bite me.”

Keeping his mouth shut about her going on this particular trip, knowing she was pregnant, was the hardest thing he’d ever done, but he’d made a promise to himself that he’d never be that guy .

The one who tried to control her or thought her job wasn’t important.

If he wished she would lie low until after the baby was born—and maybe a year or two after that—he was a smart man and would be keeping that thought to himself.

It felt like hours, but finally the board showed that her plane had landed. He laughed as he put his hand over his pounding heart. The woman would always send his heart racing, and he was grateful every day that he’d found her.

And there she was. Her eyes widened at seeing him at the gate, and then a big, beautiful smile greeted him. He wrapped his arms around her. “Welcome home.”

“You bought a ticket, didn’t you?”

“Guilty. Couldn’t handle waiting in baggage for you to get down there. Couldn’t wait that long to see you.” He took her camera bag from her and slipped it over his shoulder, then he kissed her with all the longing of missing her the past two weeks.

“I love you, Liam.”

“Love you more, Quinn.”

“Nuh-uh.”

“Uh-huh.” It was a little game that they played every time she returned home. From the first time she’d finally said it to him, hearing those words from her mouth was a blessing he’d never take for granted.

“Let’s go home where I can give you a proper welcome.” Needing to touch her, he took her hand as they walked. When they reached baggage and were waiting for her suitcase, he put his hand on her stomach, and his breath caught. “You have a baby bump.”

“Popped out overnight. Little bean’s growing like a weed.”

He pulled on her hand. “Let’s go.”

“What? I don’t have my bag yet.”

“Don’t care. I’ll come back for it. Right now, I need to see you naked. See this baby bump for myself.” For the first time, it felt real, that his baby really was in there. There wasn’t a happier man on this planet than him. He was sure of it.

The bell rang that luggage was coming out, and he sighed. His escape plan foiled, he impatiently waited for her suitcase. As soon as he saw it drop down, he went to get it. “Now can we go?”

She laughed. “Yes, Daddy, we can go.”

Daddy! Hot damn, he loved the sound of that.

* * *

Liam sat on the edge of their bed, his gaze on Quinn’s stomach as she undressed.

They hadn’t planned for a baby so soon, but because of her travel schedule and constant time zone changes, she’d chosen an IUD over birth control pills.

It rarely happened, but hers had dislodged and she hadn’t realized it for a few days.

Next thing they knew, they were having a baby.

“We need to look for a house,” he said as he held his palm over the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. Who knew a baby bump could bring tears to his eyes?

“We do?”

“Yeah, a condo’s no place to bring up our little girl.”

“How do you know it’s not a little boy?”

“Because I want a little girl with red hair and green eyes who’ll wrap me around her little finger.”

“Maybe I want a little boy with blue eyes.”

“Next time.” He caressed that precious baby bump.

Honestly, he didn’t care whether it was a boy or girl, but he loved that she got salty every time he insisted their baby was a girl.

“Why don’t you go take a bath, get the travel grime off.

By the time you get out, I’ll have dinner ready. We’re eating on the balcony.”

“You really know how to treat a lady.”

“Only this lady.” He tapped her stomach. “Go.”

While she bathed, he got everything ready.

He’d had to use the discipline he’d learned as a Raider to not toss her on the bed—yes, she still loved for him to do that—and make love to her as soon as they walked in the door.

It had been a close call, though, when she’d stood naked before him having been gone for two weeks and with her new baby bump.

But tonight was the night, and when he made love to her, he wanted it to be with his ring on her finger.

He was nervous as hell. He surveyed his efforts.

Her favorite pregnancy food and drink were a steak and peanut butter milkshake.

Weird on the milkshake, but his lady had a craving for it, so that’s what she’d get.

Then the icing on the cake was…literally cake icing.

He chuckled as he opened a can of the coconut pecan frosting she craved, stuck the special spoon in it, and carried it out to the balcony.

He wondered how long it would take her to notice.

The grill was hot and ready for the steaks, and the asparagus were seasoned and wrapped in foil, ready to go on the grill.

He paused to appreciate his efforts. He’d spread candles out on the balcony, scattered rose petals over the table—so far, the wind hadn’t blown them away—and had soft music playing on the outside speakers he’d installed while she was gone.

“Perfect.” Those romance novels he’d read on deployment had taught him much. Now he just needed the woman all this was intended for.

And there she was. He quickly stepped inside, stopping her in the kitchen. “Stay here a minute and close your eyes.”

“Why?”

He laughed. “Always with the questions. That’s an order, Little Marine, and good soldiers don’t question their orders.”

She saluted him. “Sir, yes, sir!”

Once her eyes were closed, he got her peanut butter milkshake from the refrigerator, and after taking it out to the balcony, he returned for her.

He took a moment to just look at her. Her hair was down and wild, the way she knew he liked it.

She’d put on one of his white dress shirts with the sleeves rolled up that she’d stolen from him and loved wearing.

There was something about seeing her in his shirt that did it for him.

“I can feel you staring at me.”

He loved that she was that attuned to him. “Can’t help it. You take my breath away, baby.” Wait for it…

“I’m not a baby.”

“No, you’re all woman.” My woman. He didn’t dare say that either.

“Can I open my eyes now?”

“Not yet.” He took her hand. “We’re walking out to the balcony. I’ll tell you when you can open them.” When he had her facing the table, he let go and stepped to her side so he could watch her face. “You can open them.”

Her gaze took in the candles, the rose petals, and the table set with her mother’s delicate china. “Liam,” she whispered.

That was all he needed, to hear the wonderment in her voice and to see the pure pleasure in her eyes.

She stepped to the table and picked up the can of frosting. “What’s this?”

Well, that didn’t take long.

She pulled the spoon from the icing. “Is this…”

“A baby spoon.”

“It’s pink.”

“Yep, for our little girl.” Wait for it…

“Our little boy’s not going to like eating out of a pink spoon.”

Her attention returned to the spoon and what was tied on the end of it. “What’s in this lace? Oh, it’s… Liam?”

When she turned to him again, he was on a knee.

“Quinn Sullivan, you are my heart, the reason for the smiles on my face. With all that I am, I love you and our baby girl…” He grinned.

“Or boy. I promise to respect you, support you in all that matters to you, and to always protect you and the family we’re creating. I—”

“Yes!” She fell to her knees in front of him. “Yes, yes, yes.” She peppered kisses all over his smiling face. “I thought you’d never ask.”

He laughed. “Well, technically, I haven’t yet.”

“Then for God’s sake, get on with it. I want to put that ring on.”

“Impatient little thing. I have a long speech I’ve been practicing, but I guess I’ll just skip to the end. Quinn, will you marry me and make me the happiest man who ever lived?”

“If you missed it the first time, my answer is yes. A hundred times yes.” She pulled the lace from the spoon and untied the ribbon holding it closed.

He took the ring. “With this ring, I promise to do everything in my power to make sure you’re never sorry you love me.” He slipped it on her finger. “If you don’t like it, we can exchange it for one you do.”

“Hush, you.” She held her hand up. “It’s beautiful.”

“You’re beautiful.” He’d taken Harlow ring shopping with him, and when they’d seen the white gold two-carat emerald cut diamond engagement ring, they both said it was perfect for Quinn. Beautiful in its simplicity.

“I love you, Liam.”

“Love you more.”

“Nuh-uh.”

“Uh-huh.”

He stood, bringing her up with him. “How hungry are you?”

“Very… For you.”

“Good answer.” When she reached to set the frosting on the table, he shook his head. “I have some ideas for that. Bring it with us.”

Her eyes lit up with delight. “You wicked boy.”

“You have no idea.” He carried his soon-to-be wife to their bedroom, where he showed her just how wicked he could be.

Later, after they’d gone back to the balcony and had their dinner, then a little more wickedness under the stars, he’d carried her back to bed. As she slept with him wrapped around her, he rested his hand on her baby bump.

“Hey, little girl,” he quietly said. “Your daddy can’t wait to meet you.”

“Boy,” Quinn mumbled.

He buried his smile against her neck. Liam had his family and knew he was a lucky man.

* * * * *

Keep reading for an excerpt from Renegade Baby Protector by Addison Fox.