The Unexpected Series (Unexpected #1-3) (14 page)

“Alright, kids,” Nicole yells over the chaos. “Let Uncle Walker up so he can grab some frozen peas.”

Uncle Walker? I leave him alone for two minutes and my
sister
is calling him their uncle?

The kids peel themselves off one by one and run down to the basement screaming of sword fights. Grunting, Walker stands up and limps to my side. Without thinking, I wrap my arm around his waist. “Are you okay? That looked like it hurt.”

“I’m fine.” He mimics the hold I have on him and lowers his head to my ear so no one can hear. “Good thing you are pregnant because they might have just rendered me infertile. You can tend to it later if you want.”

I want.

Placing a chaste kiss on my lips, he swats my behind and walks to the kitchen. “Let’s go, baby.” I obviously was too distracted to hear my mother call us for dinner.

The dinner is no less than crazy. Brad, having to work at the hospital today, has Nicole taking care of the kiddos on her own again and they are in rare form, throwing things across the table and refusing to eat. I am a bit horrified, though Walker is amused by it all.

“I want at least three, but it looks like four would be a blast,” he confesses and my stomach drops.

The look on my face must be priceless and he pushes my chin up to close my gaping mouth and laughs. I can’t imagine four little Walkers running around.

After we’re all done my mom decides a movie would keep the kids calm while the adults talk. Gathering in the family room, we sit for what I am sure is an interrogation for Walker.

“Walker,” my mom starts. “Why don’t you start by telling us about yourself?”

With his arm around my shoulders, he pulls me closer and rubs my arms. “Well, I just graduated this past May from college and am lucky enough to be working at Hudson along with Erin. Most of my family lives here, in Northbrook, except my parents who moved out to Michigan.”

“What did they say when you told them about the baby?” Trent’s question has the calmness I was experiencing from Walker’s touch quickly fading. I guess I should have asked him that too. How selfish of me not to think about him dealing with that.

“I haven’t told them yet. I want to tell them face to face, and for them to meet my beautiful girl, so we’re going to be doing that this weekend when we head up to visit.” He must be a mind reader because his hold tightens just as I try to push him away.

“I don’t recall the conversation where you asked me to go with you to visit.” The harshness that comes from my mouth embarrasses me. I shouldn’t react like this in front of my family, but unless he asked when I was sleeping, I don’t remember ever agreeing.

“Our date. You said you were free all weekend for Labor Day. I figured it could just be a sixty hour date.” He winks like it’s supposed to cure the anger boiling beneath my skin and continues, essentially dropping the subject. “So, I have a sister Deliah. I’m twenty three, rent an apartment close to Erin and Noelle and am a huge Bears and Cubs fan.”

“Okay, quit the bullshit, Walker. Are you with my sister because she is a sure thing now that she is stuck with you? What happens when the baby is here? Are you going to just drop her like she is nothing and leave her vulnerable and dejected?” Gasps from everyone fill the room and my hold on his arm is like a vise, stunning me silent. If I was embarrassed before, this takes the cake.

“Trent!” Nicole scolds, as my mother demands for him to apologize.

“That was an asshole thing to say,” Noelle chimes in.

“No, Ma! I’m not going to apologize. Answer!” Trent pushes and Walker complies.

“I have no problem with his questions. I have a sister and get being protective.” He gently pushes me away from him and scoots to the edge of the loveseat making sure Trent can see him clearly. “Erin has become everything to me. Yes, the way we met was unconventional and I would give everything I own to have been there for the first three months. It kills me that I wasn’t. I thought of her night and day and when I found her, I knew that I would never let her go again. Ever. If she doesn’t want me then I will spend every day for the rest of my life trying to change her mind. I will love her and our child more than my own life. I will give them everything they could want and more, and not just tangible things but love. Protection. Affection. All the things that someone as amazing as your sister deserves, but it may never be enough. She deserves the moon, so I plan on trying to lasso it every single night until it is hers.”

Tears fall down my cheek with his declaration. The walls around my heart that Robert created come crashing to the ground shattering as if they can never be rebuilt. Walker has officially taken over my heart. Wiping the wetness off my face with my fingers, I stand up grabbing his hand.

“We have to go. I’m tired. I think Walker has had enough for one day.” I turn to Noelle. “Ready?”

She agrees and starts to hug everyone goodbye. I do the same and take a few minutes to love on my nieces and nephews before I go.

“I’m sorry, Erin,” Trent says walking us to the door. “I just needed to ask.”

“I understand. I love you,” I say leaving him in the doorway to shake Walker’s hand and repeat his apology to him.

Walker accepts, giving my brother a break.

Noelle uses the bathroom before we leave, so I take Walker outside and show him how much his words affected me. We turn the corner out of sight and I shove him against the garage door and wrap my arms around his neck. “Walker, that was the sweetest thing anyone has ever said about me. Thank you for that.”

“I told you, Erin. I’m not going anywhere and anyone who thinks so will be proved wrong and anyone standing in my way will be dealt with. Family included.”

“Catch me,” I say as I jump up. He does and my lips crash to his, relentless.

His mouth opens slightly and I push my tongue through, hoping to convey every emotion I am feeling. Lust, admiration, even something close to love, for this man.

His massive fingers grip my thighs so tight they start to throb, working me into a frenzy. He spins me so my back is now against the hard metal of the door. Our lips break apart but his move to the curve where my neck meets my chest. Uncontrollable moans escape my lips, and I push my breasts so they are inches from his mouth. All he has to do is lower my tank top just a little...

“Seriously? Can you two wait until we get home?” Noelle interrupts, jumping into the truck, and I’m left wishing she would go the hell away so I can feel his lips everywhere on my body. “I’ll make sure to wear earplugs tonight.”

“Don’t make me go home, Erin. I’m staying the night.” Walker’s mouth covers every inch of my neck. There is no way I can say no.

“Okay,” I agree as he drags my body down his, setting me on my feet.

I
t’s been six days since our date to Wrigley and five since he met my family. He has practically been a staple at Noelle’s and my house and I’m trying to keep anything below my belly button to myself. We know we have an amazing physical connection, lots of heavy petting since Sunday has proved that, but I’m trying to focus on the other aspects of our relationship. Waking up next to him has been nice and true to his word, he has taken care of me.

School has started and per my begging and pleading we are attempting to keep our relationship under wraps for the moment. I don’t want to begin the new year with a scandal. Teachers at a middle school are worse at gossip than the students. I have yet to tell the Principal about my impending bundle of joy and have a meeting scheduled at the beginning of next week to inform him. In the meantime, I’m trying to find clothes that hide my fifteen weeks and growing belly but don’t make it obvious I’m hiding something.

The door opens before the first bell rings and I don’t have to look up to see who it is. “Hey, Walker. How are you?” I’m still trying to become comfortable calling him babe or baby.

His lack of response has me looking up from my grade book. I find him absently walking down the rows of desk towards mine, nose in a small book. “What is that?” I ask curiously.

His eyes find mine as he lifts the book up so I can see what has him preoccupied.

It’s a small blue book with what looks like a pink egg in the center and little sperm figures trying to penetrate it. “My Boys Can Swim?” I laugh hysterically trying to catch my breath.

“What? It’s helpful and hey I’m damn proud! My bad boys broke that condom open and got you with one shot!” His chest puffs up like a proud freaking peacock.

Ignoring his comment I continue writing down the grades for yesterday’s homework knowing that he likes to sit until just before students file in. I’m sure the rumors have already started even though we maintain no physical contact. At school anyways.

I slam the book shut earning his attention once again eyeing the brown bag in his hand. “What’s in the bag?”

The first bell rings notifying us that students will soon enter our rooms. He lifts the bag up shaking it as if to ask ‘this bag?’ and I nod. He reaches in teasingly, but doesn’t pull the contents out.

“So besides that book you just saw I’ve been doing some research and I’m finding such interesting facts about our baby.” His eyebrows rise goading me to question what he found.

“Like?” I ask impatiently. He can’t know more than I do. I’ve been reading every damn baby book possible and even baby name books.

“Since you are officially fifteen weeks today, I read that the little one is the size of an apple,” he says finally pulling a green apple out of the bag. Turning it this way and that he asks, “Can you believe they are already that big?”

Staring at the fruit in his hand, I can believe it. It’s a long way from the bean I saw back in July. He takes the few steps necessary to stand at the front of my desk and places it down in front of me looking at me with seduction. “You look so fucking hot, Erin. I’m having a really hard time keeping my hands off of you right now.”

Turning around, he says goodbye and heads towards the door as the second bell rings. My classroom is still empty and my hormones are on high Walker alert.

“Why a green apple, Walker? Aren’t apples for teachers typically red?” I call out before he hits the doorway.

Without missing a beat he spins around, arms braced on the doorframe, and I’m met with lust filled eyes. His black polo stretching as far as it will go across his heaving chest. “I’ve heard green makes you horny.”

“You don’t need anything green to get me horny, Walker. All you have to do is walk into a room,” I state, and by his expression, I can tell he wasn’t expecting that to come out of my mouth.

Pushing off the frame he stalks towards me like a man on a mission. As soon as he is a breath away his palms wrap around my neck pulling his mouth to mine. This kiss is different than the atmosphere. It’s gentle, fueled by passion, and sexy as hell. At any moment we could be caught, but I don’t care. My no touching below the belt rule is killing me and my dreams are getting more and more persistent. I want him, and I want him here. Now.

Dragging himself away from me with a pained look he smiles, and I realize he just doesn’t want to stop. “You surprise me, Erin. At every turn I am taken by surprise and I love it.” He walks backwards and runs his hands through his hair. “I’m falling for you, baby. Hard. Real hard.”

And he’s gone before he can hear me whisper “me too.”

The tips of my fingers run along my lower lip feeling the loss of his. Kids shuffle into the room but I barely notice. Taking their seats, one of the overachieving students yells my name but I’m a goner.

Walker’s reading books, looking things up like an excited father to be. He’s falling for me. Hard. I tried to protect my heart and after only a week, it is now his to guard and I trust him to do it. I trust him.

“Ms. Decker, is something wrong?” My student breaks me out of my trance.

“Oh, no, Sarah. No, everything is just perfect. Thank you,” I reply asking them all to take their seats and open their books.

A small chuckle comes from another girl Liz sitting directly next to Sarah. “Maybe Mr. Prescott’s cute face has her distracted. He just left her room for like the hundredth day in a row,” she whispers.

Shaking my head, it has to be bright red. “Alright, girls. Quit talking and open up your books.”

Yes, his cute face does have me distracted...as well as his smoking hot body.

With each passing period the level of necessity I have for Walker’s touch increases exponentially. In between each class, he enters my classroom with something green. Each time saying, “I walked in the room hoping you were as hot for me as I am for you...but just in case I brought this...” laying down an object on my desk and skimming the tips of his fingers over my lower lip.

After first period, it was a green pen. Confused by what he meant, I quickly figured it out when he brought in a green sticky note pad the next time. Later, it was a green Gatorade, green sharpie and green sheet of construction paper that said “falling so hard”. I was ready for last bell, so I could get him away from here and put my hands on him.

~~

S
ince it’s Friday, school passes by at a snail’s pace. It seems to do that when you are looking forward to the first weekend after the year starts and it’s a three day one at that, not to mention Walker has me completely keyed up. I shouldn’t complain. I love that we are keeping each other on our toes. I am nervous though. We leave for Michigan today and in just a few short hours, I will be meeting his parents who have no clue I am pregnant.