Mine to Hold by Shayla Black Read Free Book Online Page B

no.”
    For a moment, Del wanted to balk. She didn’t like guns. In that moment, she didn’t like Tyler, either. But he was right. It was for her own good—and Seth’s. She nodded.
    “Good.” He lifted some of the damp ends of her hair between his fingers and rubbed, his gaze delving deep into her.
    For a second, Del couldn’t breathe, and she fell back in time, Memorial Day weekend two years ago. The hint of summer, the smell of beer, the laughter . . . then the feel of Tyler’s hands peeling off her clothing, his cock burying deep inside her as Eric’s eyes darkened with arousal.
    “Angel,” Tyler murmured, his thumb brushing softly across her cheek. “I’m glad you came to me. I wish you’d come sooner.”
    Her belly knotted, and her breathing turned shallow. Unless she wanted to fall into his arms and repeat her mistake all over again, she needed to pull away.
    She stepped back, forcing nonchalance. “We’ve both moved on.”
    Anger tightened Tyler’s face. “I’m not letting Seth out of my life again.”
    Her first instinct was to argue. Where the hell had he been for the last two years? But that was unfair; she’d sent him away. And she had to put Seth first. “He’d benefit from a father figure. We can work together on visitation. I don’t need child support.”
    Tyler grabbed her arm and dragged her closer. “Stubborn woman. Don’t doubt that we’re going to work this out. Every last detail.”
    He meant that, and his adamancy surprised her. “Never took you for the fatherly type.”
    “One look at his face changed everything for me, Del.”
    She couldn’t argue that. The entire stretch of her pregnancy, she’d felt disassociated from the fact that a child was growing inside her and focused on how this would further affect her job, her body, her life. The moment she set eyes on Seth’s face, he’d become the most important priority, hands down. As far as she’d been concerned, everything else would work itself out.
    “Fair enough.”
    “When the timing is better, I want to hear about every moment I missed.”
    A part of her tried to hate him for wanting to be so involved, as if he’d implied that she wasn’t a good enough parent all by herself. Another part of her was so damn touched that he cared about their child. She swallowed back tears. It had been a long time since she hadn’t felt alone. Allowing herself to feel at all close to Tyler was dangerous for her on so many levels . . . She stepped back.
    “Of course.”
    Suddenly, Seth, wailing his displeasure, toddled around the corner, dragging his bath towel. Del ran for him, trying to juggle her own towel and get a free hand to pick up her son. Tyler beat her to it, scooping him up against his broad chest and dusting a kiss on his ruddy cheek.
    “Let’s get dressed for bed, Spidey.”
    Seth patted Tyler’s face and smiled.
    Del couldn’t help it; her heart melted. They looked so very much alike. Seeing the affection beginning to bring them together choked her up. She turned away.
    “We got this,” Tyler insisted. “Go get yourself ready for bed. And take this with you.”
    Reaching into his back pocket, he withdrew a big gray T-shirt that said LOUISIANA CAJUN COUNTRY , with a cartoon of a bearded man riding an alligator next to a tiny rowboat, holding a shotgun.
    It was one of the ugliest things she’d ever seen. “To sleep in?
    “Sure.” He slanted her a considering glance. “Unless you still sleep naked.”
    “My sleeping attire is irrelevant. Thank you.” She plucked the shirt from his grasp, then turned away without another word.
    Back in the bathroom, she shut and locked the door, blinking furiously and trying to bring her breathing back under control. But Tyler’s scent, all woodsy and male with something so vital, lingered on the shirt. He was like smelling pure testosterone. And she had no choice but to wear the damn thing. With her bag elsewhere, it was this or the towel.
    With a dusting of hand