Caught in Us (Caught Series Book 4), Kacey Shea [top 50 books to read .TXT] 📗

I have something to prove, not only to Alicia, but to myself.

When I pull up to the massive house, they’re waiting outside. It looks almost comical, the two of them sitting next to a toddler booster seat waiting to hitch a ride outside such a lavish estate. Maybe there’s a reason she doesn’t want me coming to the door. Or she doesn’t want me to meet her parents? Or maybe talking to Simon? God, is she embarrassed for others to find out I’m Matthew’s father? I hope not. I’m not a doctor or millionaire, but I’m hard-working and I’m prepared to be involved—both financial and emotionally—in my son’s life.

Fuck. I’m already overthinking this. It’s quite possible she’s just prepared and ready to leave. I glance at the dash after putting the truck into park to make sure I’m not late, but no, I’m actually ten minutes early.

Nerves rattle my chest as I hop down from the cab and walk around to meet my son. My child. Wow. The weight of the responsibility settles on my shoulders, but it doesn’t scare me. I’m prepared to take it on. I might not feel worthy or ready for fatherhood, but I can’t deny it’s something I’ve always hoped and prayed for. Hell, not so long ago I dreamed of having a child with Alicia. Now I do. It’s not exactly how I expected, but that doesn’t lessen the gift of it. We have a child, and today I get to spend the day with him. My eyes blink back the emotion from the joy filling my heart.

“Morning.” I force my pulse to calm as I meet Alicia’s wary gaze.

“Hey.” She looks as overwhelmed as I feel.

“Truck! Truck!” Matthew points at my vehicle, his body bouncing without his feet leaving the ground. It’s so fucking cute.

“He likes trucks?”

“Anything with wheels.” Alicia smiles softly. She reaches for Matthew’s hand and then the car seat.

“Here, let me.” I step forward and take the seat from her.

“Thanks.” She looks down at Matthew, who doesn’t appear shy or concerned by my presence. He must have an adventurous spirit like his mama.

I take the seat to install in the back seat of the truck. My firefighter training and all the community safety events I’ve worked comes in handy, because I get the seat secured in no time. Before I climb back out, I look over my shoulder and find Alicia staring—quite appreciatively—at my backside. A smirk works its way onto my lips, but I can’t deny the slight ego boost her stare provides. “You wanna check it out first?”

Her gaze snaps to mine and her cheeks darken with a blush. “Uh.”

Yeah. You’re busted. “The car seat?” I nearly laugh out loud. “Make sure I installed it right?”

“Right,” she says before addressing Matthew. “Stay here, Matty. No running. Remember we have to be careful around cars.”

“Okay, Mama. No run.” A serious frown crinkles his forehead.

Alicia smiles and then shuffles past me to climb into the truck.

I squat down next to Matthew, worried my height and size might be intimidating to the little guy. Alicia and I didn’t discuss specifics about today, other than the museum, so I don’t exactly know how to introduce myself. I so badly want him to know I’m his dad. How I promise to love him for the rest of my life. How I never want to miss another day of his life. “Hey, bud, you ready to have a fun day?”

His eyes stare back at me, wide and deep brown, so much like my own.

Fuck. This is hard. I wish I could pull him into my arms, but he already appears unimpressed. I make it my personal mission to win him over, no matter what it takes. “You like my truck? It’s pretty cool, huh?”

His eyes twinkle with interest. “Truck!”

“Can you hand him up to me?” Alicia says from the open door.

“You wanna go for a ride in my truck with Mommy?” I hold out my arms.

“Yes!” he says, his little mouth adding an extra sound to the word so it comes out more like yesh. Adorable. Seriously, I know I’m biased, but could this kid be any cuter?

“Up you go.” I pick him up and walk the few steps to Alicia.

He reaches for her and is out of my arms all too soon. Emotion simultaneously constricts and expands my breath. Regret. Fear. Hope. I feel everything. It’s something that wouldn’t have happened if I wasn’t sober. It’s moments like these when my brain doesn’t know which to prefer. Experiencing life in all its highs and lows is a gift and a curse. But long ago I vowed to always choose the more feeling path. Even if it hurts. I never want to numb myself again. Life is too precious. I refuse to take any of these moments for granted.

“Okay, he’s buckled and ready to go.” Alicia hops down from the back seat.

I open the front passenger door.

She doesn’t quite meet my gaze as she climbs inside, the nervous energy pulsating between us.

Eager to push past this newness and find comfortable common ground, I walk around the truck to get behind the wheel. I really hope this museum thing isn’t a bust. I think some laughter and fun will do us good. “I was thinking we could check out this children’s museum?” I start my truck and begin pulling out of the long private drive. “It’s supposed to be great.”

“Sure.” She picks at her nails, glancing back at Matthew. “Yeah.”

Shit. Maybe I’ve already messed up. “Unless you think he won’t like it?” I glance into my rear mirror, worry twisting my gut. The last thing I want is to disappoint him. “Would something else be better?” I pull to a stop at the end of the drive, now unsure if I should follow the route to the museum.

“It’s good, Chase.” Alicia rests her fingers lightly on my forearm, dropping them after she draws my gaze to hers. Her smile is gentle. “He’s two. He’ll love