Page 12 of Riding Free

I watch her flip some switches and then shift the handle up to the middle of the little seat before she grips the handle and takes it from me. I’m impressed. I mean, I would have figured it out, but I didn’t want her getting hot in the back of her car while I did it.

Digging my keys out of my pocket, I find the house key and shove it into the lock. It takes a few tries and some manhandling, but I get the door open. Pushing it hard, I step into the entry, flicking on the lights.

“C’mon in,” I grunt as I move toward the living room.

The door closes behind me, and then she’s there. Right in front of me, carrying a baby. We stare at one another for a long moment in silence. I’m not sure what to say at this point. I have a million things going through my head, most of which involve both of us being completely naked.

Keely sets a bag and the carrier down on the couch, and I watch as she flips some more shit around, guides the handle back again, and then unbuckles the baby before picking her up. I watch the baby. It’s got its legs curled and tucked up while its arms stretch and its back arches.

It’s the tiniest little bundle I’ve ever seen.

“Is it okay if I sit here?” Keely asks.

The awkwardness has now entered the building. I dip my chin in a single nod, then clear my throat as I take them in. Keely isn’t focused on me, though. It’s as if I’m not even here. The only thing that matters in the whole fucking world is this baby. I don’t know if I should feel jealous about that, but I don’t—not even an ounce.

In fact, what I feel is mesmerized, and I don’t understand it. There needs to be a conversation that surrounds this baby, and if I sat down and did the math, I have a feeling I know exactly how it’s going to go.

“Keely,” I begin.

She lifts her head, her light-brown eyes widening as she looks up at me. She shakes her head from side to side a couple of times, her blond hair flying around her shoulders. I want to tuck the stray strands behind her ear, but I’m not close enough to her.

“You need to tell me what the fuck is going on here.”

“If I get her back to sleep, we can talk after.”

After.

I know what after she’s referring to, and as much as I want to fuck her first the way I’d originally planned, now that we’re here and face to face, alone, well, with the baby, I think I need to know first, not after.

It’s my turn to shake my head, but only once. “Keely,” I say, my tone very much a warning. She inhales a deep breath, holds it for a moment, then lets it out in a whoosh before she shifts her focus to the baby in her arms.

“Her name is Thea,” she whispers.

I arch a brow because I already heard her say that. I’m going to need more from her. Instead of pushing her to give me what I want, I wait. Keely pinches her eyes closed tightly, then slowly opens them and drags her gaze up my torso, connecting with my own.

“She’s yours.”

Her whispered words slam into me as if she’s screamed them through a megaphone. Mine. I blink. Then sway, catching myself before I fall on my ass. Because her words feel like she’s fucking pushed me. Even though I somewhat expected her to say that, it still feels like a fucking surprise.

“Mine,” I murmur.

I walk over to the recliner in the room, the only other piece of furniture, and sink down onto the edge of the cushion. Bending slightly, I rest my elbows on my thighs, lacing my fingers together in front of my lips.

“Mine,” I repeat, shifting my gaze to meet hers.

I flick my gaze down to the baby, then slide it back up to meet hers. I don’t know what to say. What to do. I’m afraid if I say the wrong thing, I will fuck this up, but at the same time, there’s only one thing to do.

“You’re both mine,” I state.

“Hound,” she breathes.

We stare at one another in the silence that follows. I’m not changing my mind. I’m claiming them right here and now. She’s my old lady, and that’s my baby. They’re mine, and I’m keeping them.

CHAPTER

NINE

KEELY