Page 35 of Surprise Baby for Mr. Fischer

“Mom will calm him down. She’s happy to have a grandbaby on the way. I don’t think she cares much about how and who with.” She patted me on the shoulder. “Thanks for taking one for the team.” My sisters seemed to think that, with me having the first grandchild, our mother would lay off the big hints for us to settle down and give her grandchildren.

“So not the reason why I’m having this baby.”

“I thought you were having this baby because you had all that hot sex.” She laughed uncontrollably, her amusement at herself clearly evident.

My face didn’t just heat up—fire exploded across my cheeks. “Why did I ever tell you any of the details?”

“‘Cause you love me best.” She grinned. Hope and I were closest in age, being only eleven months apart. “And I’m living the sexy times vicariously through you.”

“No luck with the dating app?”

She shook her head. “It’s slightly better than the weirdos I used to meet out, but not much.” My poor sister was a magnet for terrible dates. “No one I want to hop into bed with, that’s for sure. I’m not even close to findingthe one.”

“You’ll find him.”

“Maybe, or maybe I’ll just become a spinster aunt,” she teased. “Enough aboutmydating life. What's going on with you and Lincoln?”

I shrugged. Not hearing from him hurt.

“That's not okay. You told him you're having his baby. The guy's an asshole if he doesn't want to be involved. You’re amazing, and this baby will be just as amazing.”

“Hope, it’s a lot to take in. He never thought he'd have kids.”

“I don't care. He's got one now. He needs to man up.”

The bell above the door tinkled. Hope and I both looked over at the same time. Watching Lincoln walk in had my leg bouncing like crazy behind the counter. I was having a hard time reading his expression, and it made me nervous. As much as I’d wanted to hear from him over the last few days, now that he was here, I wasn’t sure I wanted to know his answer.

Crossing her arms over her chest, Hope glared at Lincoln. “Speak of the devil. ‘Bout time you showed up.”

Lincoln kept quiet. It was probably his safest move.

I put my hand on my sister’s arm. “It’s okay, Hope. Can you give us a minute?”

She didn’t move.

“Alone.” I jerked my head toward the back of the store.

Hope drew her two fingers up to her eyes and flicked them at Lincoln. “I’ll be watching you. If you make my sister cry, you’ll be sorry.” Reluctantly, she left the room.

I'd been dreaming of this conversation, playing variations out in my head over the past two days. But now, after talking to Whitney, I wondered if I was ready for it.

Our eyes met and held.

He gave me a nervous smile. “Can we talk?”