Page 36 of Under Fire in Big Sky

He put breakfast in the oven. No need to set a timer. When it came to baking, his internal clock was spot-on. He didn’t make mistakes. Not in the kitchen. Not at work. Not in any area of his life, except for when it came to Liv. Taking care of his mother had forced him to be better, to do the right thing. But with Liv, nothing was simple.

The first time she talked about marriage and babies, asked him if he might ever want anything serious, he contemplated getting a vasectomy. Even scheduled an appointment.

But he couldn’t bring himself to do it. She never came right out and told him what she wanted. Not that he’d asked. Maybe deep down he knew that someday, she might want more, and a part of him wanted to be capable of giving it to her.

Otherwise, why didn’t he go through with it and get the big snip?

He took the food out of the oven. Added the lemon glaze. Left it to cool. Sipped his coffee.

For five years, he’d kept everything compartmentalized. Now those compartments were colliding. Breaking apart. Disappearing.

A kid was going to be a permanent part of the equation. How could he walk away now?

To this day, his father abandoning him still hurt, like a splinter embedded in his heart. He wouldn’t do that to his child.

But how could he break the cycle and keep them both safe? Protect them from the horrible cloud of tragedy that clung to him like a shadow?

Like a stain.

That part was unclear, and it terrified him.

His phone pinged with a text. He swiped the screen and checked it.

Takoda: Questioned Purdom. Skittish. Definitely hiding something. Odds high the FWP report was falsified. Bo is checking his financials.

Eli: Thanks. Let me know as soon as you have more.

“What smells so delicious?” Liv asked, and he looked over at her.

She was gorgeous. Half awake. Bare-faced. Spread out and naked beneath the sheets.

Eli put breakfast on a plate, brought it over, and sat beside her. “Blueberry lemon scones. They’re still warm.”

“Yum.” She sat up and took one. “They look so cute. Little triangles. Like they came from a bakery.” She bit into it and groaned like she was having an orgasm.

He loved all the noises and little sounds she made, in bed, and especially when she was eating his cooking. Which was also usually in bed.

“Why on earth haven’t you made these for me sooner?” she asked, chewing around the food in her mouth.

“Because you weren’t eating carbs before, but now I get to flex my skills and show you what I’m capable of in the kitchen.”

“Yes, please.” She curled an arm around his neck and kissed him.

Her mouth was soft and warm and sweet.

Liv finished the first scone and licked her fingers. “These are incredible and so are you.” She grabbed another and bit into it.

“I’m glad you feel that way because I’ve been thinking we should get married.”

She choked on the food in her mouth and stared at him. “What?”

“You’re pregnant and with this kid, we’re going to be in each other’s lives forever. We might as well. It only makes sense. Right?”

Narrowing her eyes, she glared at him like he’d just suggested the worst thing in the world. “You think this is what I want? A proposal because it makes sense?”

Didn’t she?

He was getting the impression he miscalculated. “You want the baby. We get along whenever we’re together and the sex is great. I don’t understand.”