Page 32 of Forever, Finally

“F-fine,” she said, trying to catch her breath and get control. “It’s the shower.”

“What? I can’t hear you. What’s wrong? I’m coming in.”

She weakly gestured that it was all right, then realized two things. First, he couldn’t see what she was doing and second, that she was naked.

She grabbed for a towel just as the bathroom door opened. A very worried-looking Jake stepped into the steamy room.

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt? Is it the baby?”

She was still laughing and it was too difficult to speak, so she waved at the shower.

As he moved toward her, she pulled the towel up in front of herself and stepped out of the way.

He tried the handle, swore and spun it around in a complete circle.

“Does even one damn thing in this house work?” he demanded.

His outrage made her laugh more. Jake looked at her and began to smile. Then he chuckled.

“I’m glad you’re seeing the bright side of things,” he told her.

“I love this house,” she said with a giggle. “It’s a challenge.”

“It’s more than that.”

He crouched by the toilet where there was a small door that opened onto the water pipes. He turned the knobs there and the water in the shower slowed, then stopped.

“I can replace the taps,” he said. “I’ll get a new set when I buy the ones for the kitchen. In the morning I’ll check all the bathrooms.”

She tried not to laugh. “There’s a sink in the garage.”

“That, too.”

His expression sharpened slightly and she realized he wasn’t laughing anymore. Some of her humor faded.

“Don’t be mad,” she said quickly. “I know there’s a lot going wrong, but it’s fixable, right?” She hated the thought of moving, but if he wasn’t going to be happy here… “Would you rather live in your house and sell this one?”

“What?”

“You looked really unhappy. I don’t want you to hate your home.”

“What are you talking about?”

She frowned. “We were laughing two seconds ago. Now you look upset.”

He turned away. “It has nothing to do with the damn house, okay?”

He started to leave. Lily didn’t like how the conversation was going. She grabbed his arm. “Jake, wait. What’s wrong? I feel like we’re fighting again and I have no idea why.”

His eyes narrowed as he spun toward her. “I know you think of me as your best friend and about as interesting as a neutered dog, but I’m a man. I have wants and needs and standing here talking while you’re naked and so damn beautiful that I can hardly breathe is pure torture.”

He raised his hands, then dropped them. “You’re pregnant. I get that. Even if you were interested we couldn’t do anything. It’s not right. So I’m just some sick bastard who wants you in his bed. I’ll get over it.”

He stalked out of the bathroom and seconds later she heard a door slam.

She stared after him. His words sank in and their meaning clicked into place. He wanted her? He didn’t think she was a hideous cow? He thought she didn’t want him?

“Wait,” she called as she hurried after him, dripping water as she went. “It’s okay. My doctor keeps telling me it’s okay for me to make love.” She skidded to a stop at the top of the hall. Wait. That didn’t sound very romantic. “I mean, I feel the same way.”