The Deputy's Baby

But even those thoughts gave him little ground to argue with. Though Henry had to admit he didn’t like the idea of Cassie with someone else, he knew it was for the better.

People around him got hurt. Plain and simple.

But that didn’t stop him from accepting the offer.

He still wanted to see her. If only to make sure she was really okay.

They said goodbye to Suzy, asking again to be kept in the loop, and were on the road to Matt’s house within minutes. The detective gave directions, but other than that their conversation was light. Henry wanted to get to know more about him but decided he already knew enough. The lead detective was good at his job, nice to his team and loyal.

He reminded Henry of Calvin, his old partner.

A good man.

A man that Cassie deserves.

The thought popped into his head so quickly he couldn’t brace himself for it.

How had a woman he’d known for such a short time affected him so much? It made no sense. And was dangerous. Henry needed this job. He needed a new start. Banishing any and all thoughts of Cassie Gates past professionalism wasn’t something he wanted. He needed it.

Get a grip on yourself.

Henry loosened his shoulders, put on a polite smile and was ready when they finally pulled up to the detective’s house.

“Home sweet home,” Matt said over the hood of the car when they got out. “I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to eat a horse.”

The house was a good size with a nice yard. Simple and quaint. Two cars were parked in the driveway. One Henry recognized as the detective’s personal vehicle, the other he’d not seen before. Lights were on in the dining room, the curtains open enough that Henry got a clear view of the table.

And Cassie sitting at its end.

She must have felt his stare. She looked out the window and met his eyes.

She didn’t smile.

Maybe coming hadn’t been a good idea.

“I should also probably warn you,” started Matt, walking up the sidewalk that led to his front door. He paused at it, hand on the handle. “You’re about to meet a very loud, slightly intrusive woman. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love her, but sometimes she can be a little overpowering when you first get to know her.” There was a smile in his voice. “She calls it curiosity.”

Henry didn’t remember Cassie being loud, certainly not intrusive. At the bar she hadn’t kept poking around when he’d said he couldn’t talk about his current job and, in fact, hadn’t asked too many really personal questions at all. He’d treated her in kind.

Still, he had to remind himself he didn’t know her past their one shared night of passion.

That passion.

Even months later his body remembered it. Craved it.

Henry cleared his throat and followed the detective inside. He was just about to agree with his earlier thought that coming had been a bad idea when they made it to the dining room. Cassie was staring up at them. She looked tired. It reminded him that there were more important things than their past. She’d been witness to one of her friends almost dying across from her.

“I invited Henry to join us for dinner,” Matt greeted. “Since...well, today didn’t go as planned.”

Cassie looked between them. It encouraged Henry to respond.

“It’s nice to officially meet you,” he lied again. If she was with the detective, he didn’t want to make anything awkward. Not when Riker County was his chance to start over. He didn’t want to make enemies his first week on the job. And judging by the look she was giving him, he could only assume she was trying to figure out what to say herself. The least he could do was try to help her out.

Cassie’s green, green eyes widened, but she didn’t get a chance to respond. Sound from the other room turned into a flurry of motion that converged on the detective next to him within seconds. Henry tensed, but Matt was laughing into the hair of the woman whose arms were wrapped around him.

“My God, Maggie,” he said, reciprocating the embrace. “Ever think about playing football?”

The woman covered his mouth with hers in a quick but strong kiss. She wasn’t smiling when she pulled away.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” she said. “If something had happened to you, I would have hurt you myself.”

“Of that I have no doubt.” Matt reached up and squeezed her shoulder. He turned to Henry. “This is Maggie Carson. Apparently my linebacker of a fiancée. Maggie, this is our newest deputy I was telling you about. Henry Ward.”

Maggie’s gaze lifted to his. Her handshake was firm.

“Thanks for bringing him home,” she said, sincere. “My car’s been acting up and I stole his to pick Cassie up from the hospital.”

Henry felt his eyebrow rise. He turned to Cassie. “I thought you said you were okay.”

He wouldn’t have left her alone otherwise.

She gave him a polite smile, one he’d seen when he first met her at the Eagle, and stood from her seat.

Henry’s eyes zipped downward.

Right to Cassie’s stomach.

She placed a hand over it, protectively.

“I was,” she said. “But I wanted to make sure he was, too.”

Chapter Three (#u160bac0e-890a-5ac5-a740-28aa9cec7c8a)

“You’re pregnant.”

It wasn’t a question but it wasn’t a statement, either. It felt like a confused in-between. Henry Ward had been thrown for a loop and was still trying to find his way back to solid ground. Cassie tried to help, even if she was also looking for some better footing herself.

It wasn’t every day that the father of your child appeared out of thin air for the first time since the night he’d spent with you months before, then potentially saved your life and pretended he’d never met you before.

It was all confusing.

“I am,” she confirmed, though it wasn’t needed. “Seven months, give or take.”

Cassie would bet Henry was doing some of the fastest math he’d ever done in his life. All while staring at her pregnant belly. Since she’d never had kids before, she wasn’t showing as much, but there was no denying the bump once she brought attention to it.

The man wasn’t stupid. If his math was even in the ballpark, he’d guess that he was the father. However, he didn’t ask the question. Then again, she didn’t think he would. Not after he’d made it clear they didn’t know each other.

You didn’t speak up, either, Cassie pointed out to herself.