Daddy Undercover (Crescent Cove Book 9)

by Taryn Quinn

  Bee came through the door, her topknot crooked and drooping over her ear, her eyes wide. “Dios, thank goodness you’re here.”

  Panicked, I strode to her, adrenaline already coursing through me. “Is everything all right? Sami?”

  Bee shook her head before she smiled. Her face was full of pure joy. “No, no, she’s fine.” She squeezed my arm. “She’s with Luna and Kinleigh.” She turned to her mother. “It’s time. Erica just called me.”

  “You? Not her own mother?”

  Then it was a flurry of Spanish and chaos as the women had a conversation I couldn’t follow. The high school Spanish class I’d taken didn’t compute against the bastardized version they spoke.

  “Bah!” Bonnie bustled toward the front door. “I’ll drive.” She pulled out her huge key ring.

  I beat her to the door and plucked it out of her hands. “Oh, no. That’s not happening. I can’t have you driving in the emotional state you both are in. I’ll drive.”

  I shot a look over my shoulder.

  Christian waved me off. “Go, it’s been a slow—”

  I cut him off. “Don’t you say that word. Are you nuts?”

  Christian reddened. “Right. Anyway. I can handle it.”

  Right away, I knew that it was going to be the longest day in the history of days. But it was easier to usher the girls out the door and hustle them toward the squad car. Since I didn’t have a partner for when I was on patrol, the front of the car was full of my scanners and gear. I opened the back door for them.

  Bonnie stopped. “I’ve never been in the back of your squad car.”

  That was weird. “Mine?”

  “Well, I’ve been in one before.” She got in and slid over. “Mija, let’s go.”

  Bee gave me a wide-eyed look then quickly got inside.

  Guess that would be a story for another day. I slammed the door and got in the driver’s side. Bee leaned forward. “She’s at the new birthing center.”

  I nodded. Our little town didn’t boast much more than a clinic so most of the women went to either the hospital or the new birthing center that had been built, thanks to our little baby boom.

  I pulled out of the station and onto Main Street. The lunch rush was still going on so there was a lot of pedestrian traffic as well as cars.

  “Ric just texted me—nope, wait, it’s Jake on her phone. Says not to rush, she’s waiting for a room.”

  “Not rush? I am not missing a minute of my first nieto.”

  Bee sighed. “Ma, we don’t know it’s a boy.”

  “I know it’s a boy. She’s carrying low, and she’s been ready to eat everything in a twelve-mile radius.”

  “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “The women in our family either throw up if they’re having girls or eat everything if they’re having boys. It’s just how it is.”

  “Good to know,” I quipped.

  Bee sat back as the animation in her face vanished. I fixed the mirror so I could get a better look at her. The two women were clutching fingers, and Bonnie had pulled a rosary out of the depths of her purse.

  I turned off Main and onto a side street that would get me to the highway faster. “Everything all right with Erica?”

  Bee nodded. “Yes, just nerves. She can say a rosary in ten minutes flat when she puts her mind to it.”

  I didn’t know much about that kind of thing, but I was pretty sure that was a damn lot of Hail Marys and Our Fathers on the beads.

  We ended up behind a fleet of school buses. Evidently, today was a half day.

  “Great.”

  I took the next right I could to get around the suburbs. When another crush of traffic blocked me, I slapped my steering wheel.

  Bonnie unbuckled herself.

  “Hey.”

  We were a small town and didn’t require the guards that some squad cars had in the back seat. Bonnie leaned forward and flipped on the lights and sirens. “Move it, Sheriff. I’m having a grandbaby.”

  “I can’t condone the use of lights and sirens for a non-emer—”

  I cut myself off at her furious face, then I glanced at Bee who just shrugged. I sighed. It was probably just easier to make an exception.

  This once.

  The cars ahead slowly moved to the shoulder. I fit my way through the small side road to the next main intersection and rolled my way through a red light, then took the next onramp.

  “How’s she doing?” I asked.

  Bee looked down at her phone. “He hasn’t answered.”

  “I’m sure she’s fine.” I met her gaze in the mirror. “Erica is strong, and that baby will make a grand entrance. We probably have tons of time.”

  She nodded. “You’re probably right.” She chewed on her lower lip and twisted her fingers.

  I stepped on the gas and flew up the highway. It was only a few exits away, but nerves buzzed in the car like a hive. I turned off the lights and sirens right before we turned into the birthing center. No need to get people upset just because my ladies were.

  I pulled to the front entrance and hopped out. Both women were trying to open the back doors. I opened Bee’s side first and pulled her out. “You’re all right?”

  She nodded. “I’m fine.” She patted my chest and gave me a brave, nervy smile. “I just need to see my sister.”

  “You’re sure that’s all it is?”

  “Later.” Bonnie pushed Gina out of the way. “Kiss and make up later.” She knocked Gina into me because of her massive bag.

  I caught Gina at the waist. “We need to make up?”

  Bee shook her head. “Don’t mind her.” She went on her toes and kissed me. “Will you come in? Or do you need to get back?”

  “Kinleigh is okay taking Sami?”

  She nodded. “She, Luna, and Ryan were having a girls’ night. Said Sami just made it a party.”

  “Okay. I’ll go park and be right in.”

  She nibbled her lower lip. “You don’t have to stay—”

  I leaned down and kissed her hard. “Your family is my family, Bee. Get used to it.”

  Her eyes were misty as she nodded. “Okay.” She cupped my face. “Okay.” She kissed me lightly. “I’ll see you in a few.”

  “Count on it.” I watched her rush after her mother. She was still wearing her diner uniform and apron.

  If the birth lasted longer than a few hours—and with it being Erica’s first baby, it could—I’d go get them supplies. I just hoped it wouldn’t take a million years.

  A nervous Bee made me anxious, as well. Would she be like this if we had a kid? One we’d made together. The hum of energy inside me ratcheted up to a tight chest at the thought. Her round with my baby, her a bundle of nerves and joy. Would it be a girl or a boy?

  I didn’t much care. In fact, I was getting used to being outnumbered in my house. Between the dog and my girls, there wasn’t a whole helluva lot of testosterone in my cabin these days.

  Speaking of my dog, I sent off a text for my brother to take Sadie for the evening. Then I parked, locked up, and headed in after my girl.

  The clinic was busy, but not at the frenetic pace of a hospital. It was more of a hushed space with soft colors that were supposed to invoke calm. Not sure why it made me even more wound up.

  Was this my future?

  I wasn’t in a rush to do the kid thing again. I liked watching Sami bloom between us, and I was selfish enough to want this newness with Bee to last a bit longer. But I could see it. And it wasn’t in the far-off distance anymore.

  Everything seemed possible now.

  I stopped in the gift shop for a selection of caffeinated and non-caffeinated beverages to hold us over. At the counter, I added a Burt’s Bees chapstick to the pile. I didn’t see Gina’s purse in the mix, and she went a little crazy if she didn’t have her tube of lip balm.

  I gave the checkout girl a quick smile and gathered my belongings. As I walked down the hall, I saw signs for the lab and another for elevators to t
he maternity ward. My pocket buzzed with a text back from my brother that he’d take care of Sadie and another from Gina letting me know which floor to meet them on.

  Ten minutes later, I finally found the corner waiting room. Gina and Gabby were sitting together by the window. Kayla was pacing the length of the area rug stitched with lettered baby blocks. Enrique and Bonnie were huddled close together on a loveseat.

  Gina popped up as soon as she saw me. “Hey.”

  I gathered her in for a quick hug. “Any word?”

  “No. Jake said he’d be out with some details soon.” She peeked in the bag. “What’s all this?”

  “Figured it was easier to stop in the gift shop than to try to find a vending machine.”

  “Always prepared.” She dipped her hand in. “Is this for me?”

  “Who else likes that gritty stuff?”

  She wrinkled her nose at me. “You like it well enough when I keep my lips soft, now don’t you?” she asked in a low voice.

  That was the damn truth. I curled my fingers into the loopholes of her navy work pants. “Hopefully, we won’t be here all night. Then you can remind me why I love it so much.”

  She rolled her eyes at me, but quickly glossed her lips with the watermelon-flavored balm. “It’s probably going to be a long one.”

  “I don’t care.”

  She tapped the badge on my chest. “You sure you don’t have to get back to work? I’d understand.”

  I tucked my finger under her chin. “Haven’t you figured it out yet? I’m not going anywhere.”

  The look in her eyes made me wonder what was going on in that beautiful brain of hers. I was hoping it was just nerves, but it felt like it might be more.

  And I just wasn’t sure why.

  Twenty-Two

  “How long is this going to take?”

  I crossed to Kayla, whose nerves had hit an all-time high when her brother only spared us a scant two minute update. Erica was getting close enough that we couldn’t go back to visit her. She was advancing quickly.

  Shocker. My sister did everything fast.

  “Babies are definitely on their own timetable. However,” I gripped her fingers, “this is my sister. She will probably will it out and set some sort of record in town.”

  “Are they betting on her too?” Jared muttered.

  I gave him an arched brow, and he slouched down on the oddly uncomfortable couch. It was a pretty seafoam green, but there was no give to those cushions. I led Kayla back to them anyway and sat down.

  “So, tell me what kind of menu you are going to put together for baby Mills?”

  Kayla was an amazing chef, minus the degree. One of those natural cooks I wished I could be. I was a serviceable one when I took the time to deep-dive into Pinterest. And when I convinced Mitch to let me add something crazy to the menu just to spice up the sameness of my life.

  Now?

  No sameness. And definitely no boring moments anymore.

  But asking the question let Kayla spin out. She started babbling about the waffle breakfast she was going to create if it was a girl, and a burger bar with pretzels and pub cheese for a boy. Obviously, she’d been thinking about it for a while.

  Then again with Jake being a firefighter—and a code enforcement chief to boot—there was going to be much partying after the baby came.

  Kayla suddenly jackknifed up. “Ben.”

  I looked over my shoulder. A very muscular man stood in the doorway to the waiting room with a CCFD hat in his hands.

  “Hey, Kayla. How’s the Chief doing?”

  She crossed to him and went on her toes to hug the big guy. “He’s shitting himself.”

  I laughed. Kayla certainly knew her brother.

  Seven more guys appeared wearing various states of firefighter gear. The dimpled Ben seemed to only have eyes for my sister-in-law though.

  Not so surprisingly, the nursing staff kept finding reasons to come and check on us.

  I knew a few of the firefighters by sight from the diner, and a few more by name from various town functions. The CCFD worked closely with Brooks, so he was finally entertained. An iPad was propped up on one of the corner tables to watch some shouty sports show the guys always seemed to like.

  My dad sneaked over to watch with them.

  The Ramos men knew they had to stay put, but that didn’t mean they weren’t bored out of their minds with the waiting game. My brother was stuck on a site, but he would be along after work.

  Suddenly, Brooks broke off from the crowded corner and went to the window. He took his phone out. I braced for him to tell me he was called back for some emergency. He turned to face the outside, his other hand up to his opposite ear so he could hear his conversation.

  Like a magnet, I crossed the room to him and touched his back. Usually, he’d hold a finger up to me to give him a second, but this time, he pulled me under his arm.

  “Yes. I can definitely be there. There’s a lab here, actually. I’ll have the report sent to you and to me. Right. I can make it next week. Perfect.” He smiled down at me. “Thanks, Preston.”

  Oh, his lawyer.

  “Well, looks like the paperwork is a go. The judge agreed to go ahead with the official paperwork to make Sami mine.” He tucked a lock of hair around my ear. “She could be ours. She already is.”

  Before I could reply, Jake burst into the room. “It’s a boy!”

  The chaos that ensued had everyone jumping up and swarming around him for details.

  Brooks hauled me in for a hug, lifting me off my feet. “Well, look at you, Tia Bee.”

  I couldn’t even think. I was being passed around from family member to family member, friend to friend. Large firefighters gave me slapping hugs, and in the middle of it all, Jared was standing by the window with a smile on his face and his fists tucked under his arms.

  All official-looking in the insanity.

  An older nurse appeared. She hadn’t been nearly as flirtatious and amused by the waiting room explosion. “Excuse me, I realize this is amazing news, but we still are a hospital and have other mothers-to-be trying to—ohh.”

  Ben and Adam Parish, one of the newer firefighters that had just moved to town, took turns spinning the nurse around in a celebratory twirl. Ben started it and Adam finished it with a huge smile, twinkling ridiculously blue eyes and with a hint of the devil in his dark curls.

  He dipped the nurse and laid a kiss on her lips before lifting her back up. “We have a new little boy in our midst. Time to celebrate.”

  Jared slipped an arm around my waist and drew me back against him. “Your people sure know how to do it up. Imagine what a wedding would be like?” He kissed my neck. “Are you going in to see your sister?”

  My heart was racing. Wedding?

  Babies.

  His baby—ours?

  No, she was his. Technically.

  But God, she felt like mine. Maybe she would be the only baby that would ever be mine.

  Nothing seemed as important and amazing as the love I had for this man. But would it still be the same when he found out that maybe all of this wouldn’t be part of our future? That we could only share it with others. Could I really take that from him?

  He’d flourished so much since Sami had come into his—our—life.

  Dios, I couldn’t think. I couldn’t breathe around all the joy and emotion overflowing in the room.

  I nodded, but I took a moment to hold him closer, to press my cheek against his warm, bearded one. The earthy scent of him wrapped around me as surely as the warmth from his arms and chest.

  “I need to see Ric. Sisters.”

  He kissed my temple. “Understood. I need to do the blood test for my lawyer. I’m going to duck downstairs before the lab closes for the day. See if they can get me in.”

  I turned in his arms and hugged him. “I’m so glad you’re getting a little closer to her being yours. Not that she isn’t already.”

  He drew back and cupped my face. “She’s as mu
ch yours as she is mine. And not because I expect you to step into the role, but because you were made for it, Bee.”

  Oh, how I wished I was. But I would always feel like Sami was mine. Even if there was no future for her father and I, she’d always know how much I loved her.

  He frowned. “What’s wrong?”

  I shook my head and sniffed back the tears that wanted to come. “I’m just a little overwhelmed.”

  Seeing Jake’s happiness at being a father had brought all of what I was hiding into sharp focus. I didn’t want to shut off any roads for Jared and being with me might mean he’d only be a dad to one.

  Could I do that to him?

  “Hey, Tia Bee. Let’s go before the animals bust in there,” Gabby called from just outside the waiting room. “I need to get my hands on that baby.”

  I covered his hands on my face, the tears falling anyway. “Guess that Tia Bee is going to stick.”

  “As well it should.” He leaned in and kissed me quick. “Go enjoy. I’ll be here waiting for you.”

  “Okay. Good luck.”

  “Gina!”

  I crossed my eyes at Brooks, gave him a goofy grin, and then backed away and ran to my sister.

  The hallway down to the private rooms was much quieter. Grumbles and congratulations and the general chaos of a full room made everything seem even more solemn.

  “She’s in 409.” Gabby grabbed my hand and dragged me after her.

  Outside the door to Erica’s room was a sweet little elephant on a tiny shelf below the number. A little blue flag was tucked in the end of his trunk.

  Gabby’s face went utterly soft. “Aww. I can’t with this place. It’s like a complete mom overkill with cuteness.”

  She peeked in the skinny window and another squeak came out. “She’s doing the boob thing. Should we wait? You know, bonding and shit?”

  “I’m sure she won’t care.” I knocked and Erica looked up from the little bundle in her arms to wave us in. “Hey.”

  Gabby blasted by me. “Oh, Ric.” She slapped her hand over her mouth. “I knew you’d have the cutest baby, but wow.” She sat beside her on the bed. “He’s the most handsome baby in all the world.”