Page 32 of Lachlan

He moaned into her mouth, his hands tightening on her waist as she lost all restraint. She tugged at his shirt, wanting to feel skin on skin. Lachlan broke the kiss long enough to yank it over his head, tossing it aside. He sucked in a sharp breath as she trailed kisses down the hard planes of his chest.

She froze as something vibrated against her.

“Fuck …” Lachlan muttered, shifting her off of him as he grabbed his cell phone from his pocket.

She glanced down at the screen. The caller ID read “Cora—Goat Scout Coordinator.”

“Goat Scouts?” She asked, frowning as he swiped the device and answered the call.

“Hey Cora, I’m headed there now. Will be there in ten minutes to get her,” Lachlan said, avoiding eye contact. “Tell her Daddy will be there soon, and I’m sorry for not picking her up on time.”

Daddy?

Britt shrunk away from Lachlan as a tidal wave of memories crashed over her.

Her hand rested on her belly as she rubbed the firmness. Usually, after she drank a soda float, the little one would get all hopped up on the sugar and kick. She closed her eyes, waiting and hoping. The flutter emerged softly, then grew stronger.

Britt giggled, pressing her hand against the spot. Loving how the movement of her baby felt inside her. She leaned back in her chair and whispered, “I can’t wait to meet you, my little dove.”

“I’m so sorry. I have to go, but I’ll be back soon,” Lachlan said.

“You have a … child?” Britt choked the words out as numbness infected her.

“I do,” Lachlan said. He looked at her, but now she couldn’t meet his gaze.

“You’re married?”

“No, I’m not. I’m not with anyone.” He was quick to respond. “I’m a single dad to a beautiful little girl.”

“Why are you here with me and not with her?” Her voice trembled as she fought the panic rising within her.

Lachlan grabbed her hands, dipping his head low to force her to look into his eyes. “She was at a lock-in with her Goat Scout troop overnight. I’m supposed to pick her up now, and I’m late.”

“Go,” Britt said, snatching her hands from his. Her words harsher than she intended.

Lachlan didn’t budge. “Hey, you okay?”

She needed him gone. Now. “You should go. Go take care of your daughter. I’ll be fine.”

Confusion raced across his face, but he didn’t argue. As he turned and walked away, Britt reached for the pillow, clutching it against her chest.

She had a child … out there … somewhere.

And possibly a husband, too.

A man she couldn’t remember.

A man who wasn’t Lachlan.

She squeezed her eyes shut as shame and guilt consumed her.

How could she have forgotten them?

What had she done?

Chapter 21

“Doc, I think you need to check our boy out,” Adonis Willliams said, rising from the lounge chair to press a hand against Lachlan’s forehead. The comedic lilt of his words held a hint of concern as his voice carried across the veranda. Ike glanced at his friend, who wasn’t technically a part of Stingray Security, but had agreed to make the team a top client, erasing evidence of their actions with his “cleaning” services.