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"We can’t, Coen, that’s just it Did you not hear what I said to Keegan? Everything’s fast with us, but fast feels right when I’m with you I just--­" I cut off on a strained sob and dropped my face into my hands "This isn’t some insecurity ofridiculous because I don’t want to lose you I can’t have Parker lose you, do you understand? I can’t have him fall in love with you and lose you! It seems dumb to you, it may seem dumb to everyonebut his heart is my prioritynot mine"

Coen moved my hands from my face, and tilted my head back so he could brush the tears back He stayed silent for long minutes as he cradled my face in his hands, and I braced ree that he couldn’t do this

"I can’t proan softly "I can’t promise a future because I’ve seen toois certain But hat you know aboutyou--­leaving the wo I want You asked me why I pushed so hard for thisdo you not seeafter only a ­couple weeks for so away more tears, I looked up into his pained expression, and everything in me ached at the hurt I saw there

"You’re terrified of ill happen to you and Parker if I leavehave you even realized that you already gave me a taste of what it would be like for you to leave?"

"Coen," I cried out, and covered my mouth with shaky hands

"I can’t promise you forever But neither can you All I can promise you is that I want you, I want to be with you, I want to be there for your son--­and I can’t begin to fatho either of you" His dark eyes moved back and forth between ed to choke out, " ’Kay"

A soft breath blew past his lips as relief settled over his face "Now can we stop with this bullshit? I told you, I’ll have this saht with you a thousand times, but Duchess, that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t stop There has to be soreed," I whispered

Brushing a kiss across my lips, he wipedhis forehead fall against h "Jesus Christ, Duchess I told you, you’ll be the death ofus back toward the couch, he pulledsideways on his lap and wrapped his arms around me "I’ on the path up and down ht it out, talked everything through, and it’s behind us now So there’s no need to say you’re sorry anymore"

I couldn’t even reize for everything I’d done I looked up at him, and waited for his dark eyes to ree with--­"

"Parker, wait!" I heard Erica say just before I heard my son’s voice "Coen!"

Coen easily slidthe worn-­outto be my dad?" Parker jumped up on the couch on the other side of Coen and waited expectantly for an answer

Even though Coen knew this was probably coht--­about this, my body still tensed at what Coen’s reaction would be

Coen see slowly "I don’t know, bud Your o before we’ll know that"

Parker’s face scrunched together, and I knew he didn’t understand why Coen didn’t have a definite answer right now

"But I proet to beco out his hand

Parker slapped his hand against Coen’s and set to become your dad My heart warmed and somehow seemed to ache even more when I realized I’d alain

When Parker took off for the kitchen, Coen leaned toward ain "Jesus Thank God you warned ht have taken off" Coen blew out a heavy breath before giving rin

I slapped his stomach and narrowed my eyes at hi of you"

He smiled warmly and pulled ht where we should be, Duchess, because I’ht

Coen--­Septehposition and looked wildly aroundtoo fast, and it took ain here My condo Where I was every ain felt too real I could feel the dry heat, hear the tortured screaunpowder, see the--­