Page 126 of Vacation Friends

But when Cecilia told him the news, he’d understand.

“I knew you came one other time before,” he continued. “But I just assumed that was a once in a lifetime mistake.”

His words felt like a slap. A once in a lifetime mistake? What did that even mean?

And this whole time he had known she’d left him those cookies, and he hadn’t said a word? Not even a thank you?

Cecilia wasn’t sure what she thought about that.

“This couldn’t wait, and you weren’t answering your phone,” she explained as she remembered her purpose in coming here.

“What’s going on, Cecilia? It’s a bad time.”

She glanced at the floor beyond his desk, and something red caught her eye. Something silky and red.

Garrick seemed to know she’d seen it and used his foot to push it out of the way.

It was a negligee, wasn’t it?

No, what sense would that make? It wasn’t as if she ever came into the office. And that would just be weird anyway.

Maybe it was a silk pocket square. But why would he push it out of the way if that was all it was?

“You came here to tell me something,” he prodded her.

Her hand went to her stomach. “I’m pregnant.”

She watched his face carefully, unsure how he’d react. But she hoped it was one of delight.

Instead, his eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

“I took two tests. I’m definitely pregnant. I guess that explains why I’ve been feeling a little nauseous lately.”

“Whose baby is it?”

Again, she felt as if she had been slapped. “Yours, of course. Whose do you think it would be? I haven’t been with anyone else. You know me better than that.”

He pressed his lips together and didn’t say anything a moment.

Cecilia gave him some time to process the news. She knew it was a lot to swallow.

“I don’t know how that happened,” he finally said. “I thought we took precautions.”

“I don’t know what happened either. I didn’t plan on having a baby anytime soon. But I was hoping we might speed up that timeline of you taking care of me.”

He narrowed his eyes as he observed her. “What exactly did you think I meant by that?”

Why did he make it sound as if he’d never said something like that? She’d heard his tone when he’d asked that question. It had been intimate and full of promises.

She wasn’t losing her mind.

“I thought that meant you wanted to be with me,” she said, trying to keep the whine out of her voice.

Garrick stared at her, something hardening in his gaze. “Well, you don’t need to worry. I will take care of you. I’ll give you money to take care of the pregnancy.”

“You mean, money to pay for my doctor’s visits?”

His gaze remained cold. “I mean so you can eliminate the pregnancy.”

---