Carla Cassidy - Colton 911 - Target In Jeopardy

“When you found out you were pregnant did you, uh, consider other options?”

“No,” she replied firmly. “I never considered anything other than having the babies. I was at a place in my life where I wanted to start my family, but not only did I not have a significant other in my life, I didn’t really want a significant other. These babies felt like a gift from heaven to me and I never considered anything but giving them life.”

“I feel like they’re a gift from heaven, too. Uh...did you have morning sickness?” He looked slightly uncomfortable and this time his smile was sheepish. “I don’t mean to pry. I just feel like I’ve missed out on so much.”

“Dallas, I don’t feel like your prying, and please feel free to ask me whatever you want to know. I’m an open book.” Actually, she was glad that he wanted to know what he’d missed so far about her pregnancy.

Maybe that meant he really was planning on sticking around and being in the babies’ lives. “I was one of the lucky ones who didn’t have much morning sickness. I have had some heartburn, but nothing really severe.”

She didn’t want to share with him the moments of intense loneliness she’d suffered during the last seven and a half months, a loneliness that had surprised her.

It had to be because she didn’t have Zeke in her life anymore. Zeke, who would have made an awesome uncle. She didn’t want Dallas to know that there had been lots of times she’d desperately wished somebody special was around to share the wonder of pregnancy with her.

There had also been moments when she’d felt bad that her babies would not have a father in their lives. She had been acutely aware that it was a choice she had made for them and not a choice they would have made for themselves.

“That’s good. Overall, how are you feeling?”

“Totally fat.” She laughed. “I know it’s all baby fat, but it’s starting to get difficult to get comfortable and by the end of the day I usually have a backache. But it won’t be long and they’ll be here, and I know the minute I hold them in my arms I’ll forget any aches and pains I’ve had.”

Once again his gaze held hers intently. “I just want you to know that from here on out, you aren’t alone in this. From here on out, Avery, I intend to be by your side. And you don’t look fat, you look pregnant and pretty.”

“Thank you,” she replied, as the warmth of a blush filled her cheeks.

His words found that empty well of loneliness inside her and filled it up. They also brought unexpected tears to burn her eyes. She’d thought she was fine and strong to have the babies by herself, and she would have been. But it was nice that he was here now, nice that she didn’t have to go through the rest of this all alone, and that there was a real possibility her babies would have their father in their lives.

Thankfully, at that moment Susan arrived to deliver their dinner, and Avery managed to get her crazy emotions under control.

The main thing she had to remember was the handsome, seemingly kind and slightly shy man across from her was only with her for one reason...because she was pregnant with his babies.

He cared about her only because she was carrying his children. She had to remember he wasn’t with her because he had any kind of a romantic interest in her.

* * *

As they ate their meal the conversation stayed light and easy, even though there were a hundred things Dallas wanted to know about Avery.

He told himself he had to be patient. He didn’t want her to feel like he was coming at her with all his questions at once. He certainly didn’t want to force anything. He just wanted this new and unusual relationship to grow naturally.

It would be great if they could become good friends for the sake of the babies. In truth, he felt like that was vital. They would be sharing custody, and as the twins grew older it would be imperative that he and Avery be a united front in terms of discipline and everything else.

He smiled inwardly at his own thoughts. The babies weren’t even born yet and he already had them as teenagers who might need parental control.

One thing was for certain. She’d said she looked fat, but that wasn’t true. She made a beautiful pregnant woman. Yes, her belly was big and round, but that was the only place she looked like she’d gained weight.

Her skin looked warm and so...so touchable, and she also appeared to glow from within. The black-and-pink-ink blouse made the green of her eyes appear clear and bright. But her beauty had nothing to do with the relationship they needed to build.

“Tell me more about your job,” he now said. “How long have you been a prosecutor?”

“Only for the past year,” she replied. “Before that I was a defense attorney.”

“What made you change?” he asked curiously.

Her green eyes darkened with shadows just before she gazed down at her plate. She took a moment and then looked back at him. “Whether anyone wants to acknowledge it or not, there’s a growing drug problem in this town.”

She paused and then continued, her eyes showing a blaze of passion that vanquished the shadows. “Everyone says drug abuse is a victimless crime, but that’s so not true. I’ve seen the devastation left behind in families when somebody overdoses and dies. I’ve seen families torn apart by a drug addict who is stealing from them and lying to them to support a habit. My mission now is to see that when the police arrest drug dealers, they stay behind bars.”

“A noble mission,” he replied. What he didn’t say was that there was a lot more going on in Whisperwood than drug sales. There was no reason to include murder and a serial killer in their conversation, and potentially change the positive vibe they had between them right now.

Still, she looked wonderfully attractive with that blaze in her eyes and her cheeks flushed with her emotion. She’d looked that way when they had made love. He glanced down into his coffee cup and shoved the inappropriate thoughts out of his head.

As they finished the meal they each talked more about their jobs. She told him about some of the more colorful and funny things that had happened in her work in court.

In turn he told her about some of the rescues he’d been a part of after the hurricane’s floodwaters had swept through the vicinity. “We’re still doing cleanup in several areas.”

By that time they had finished with their dinner. “Are you up for dessert?” he asked.

“Oh no, I’m too full of mashed potatoes and gravy to even think about dessert,” she protested. “But you feel free to order some.”

“No, I’m good to go.” He signaled to Susan for their tab.

“I’m happy to go dutch,” she said.

“That’s unnecessary,” he replied.

“Dallas, I’m used to paying my own way.”

He smiled at her. “For tonight please allow this army sergeant turned cowboy to buy your dinner.”

“Okay, and thank you. But if we go out to eat again, then you must let me pay my own way.”

“I see a lot of meals out in our future,” he replied.

“Or maybe I could cook for you,” she replied.

“Are you a good cook?”

“I think I am. I don’t do anything too fancy, but I can put a pretty decent meal on the table.”

At that time Susan returned to the table with their tab. Dallas paid cash, left a tip and then he and Avery got up from the booth.

She walked ahead of him past the other booths still filled with diners. She had reached the last one when a young man suddenly got up and slammed into her side, nearly knocking her into a nearby table.

“Hey,” Dallas said. He grabbed Avery to him, grateful that she hadn’t fallen.

“Sorry,” the man muttered. “I didn’t see her.” He stared at Avery for a long moment and then slid back into his booth as one of the young men with him snickered.