page10 (1/2)

Bounding up her steps, I tuck my phone in my back pocket and rap sharply on her door

And then she’s there, s way too pretty and sexy in a pair of well-fitted jeans and a slouchy, lightweight sweater She wears no h Dax had told ht that she’s actually two years older than I am

She doesn’t look it one fucking bit

“Hey,” she says with a warm smile and steps back from her doorway in a silent invitation for me to enter

I’htly surprised by her apparent happiness to see ht without any real explanation to her I expect she thought I was just out of sorts, but still…I don’t think most women take kindly to that type of brush off

Except…Pepper isn’t “most women”

She’s incredibly unique unto her own

I take in her living room and have no doubt about what I just interrupted Her coffee table is pushed across the roo bags stacked along the couch and in thepaper, dispensers of tape, a box of bows and a pair of scissors

I turn to face her “Sorry for just barging in like this”

She shrugs and the ing That in turn leads me to look at her slender neck, laid bare by the fact she wears her hair so da up some presents for the family”

Pepper stares ather hands into the front pockets of her jeans and rocking back and forth on her bare feet It’s a clear indication that the ball is in my court to explain my presence

“Uh to clear ot a call from Louise Mankle”

“Oh,” Pepper o wide, and her voice is louder as she repeats, “Oh”

I nod with a wan smile “Yeah…paternity test is back and the baby is mine”