Page 23 of Taming a Heartbreaker

“And what was that?”

“I asked you not to tell Sloan why you’re here with me. I had no right to do that. He’s your husband and you lied to him for me. Now I feel responsible for your deceit. Married couples shouldn’t keep secrets.”

Leslie leaned across the bed and captured Carmen’s hand in hers. “I didn’t consider it keeping a secret, Carmen. I considered it keeping my word to my best friend. Besides, it doesn’t matter now because Sloan knows the real reason I’m here. That’s what I want to talk to you about. He overheard our conversation when I thought he was in the shower.”

“Well, you were talking loud that night,” Carmen said, smiling. “If you want to tell me that he’ll tell Redford, that’s fine. I know how Redford feels about kids, so he won’t contact me. When my sickness passes, I will contact him and assure him I don’t expect anything from him. In fact, I don’t plan for his name to be on my child’s birth certificate.”

Surprise shown on Leslie’s features. “Why?”

“Because as long as I don’t recognize Redford as my baby’s father, he doesn’t have to worry about having legal obligations. The last thing I want is for him to assume me or my child will stake claim to his wealth. I am giving him an out.”

“You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Yes, and I’ve made up my mind about it, Leslie. I want this baby, and Redford doesn’t. So my decision to omit his name from my little bun’s birth certificate makes perfect sense to me.”

“And what if Redford has changed his mind about being a father?”

Carmen rolled her eyes. “Why do you keep suggesting such a thing when we both know he won’t? I know what he told me.”

“People can change their minds about things, Carmen.”

“Yes, but I doubt he will.”

“But what if he does?”

Carmen rolled her eyes again. “In that case, he’ll have a hard time convincing me, Leslie. Even then I’ll think his reason for changing his mind is suspect.”

“Suspect how?”

She shrugged. “Like there’s an ulterior motive. Namely, that he feels obligated, and that’s the last thing I want or will accept. I have a good job and can take care of my baby on my own. And once I tell my family about my pregnancy, they will be overjoyed and will give my baby all the love my little bun will ever need.”

Leslie didn’t say anything for a while. Then, “Sloan did tell Redford, Carmen, so be prepared.”

“Prepared for what? Redford doesn’t want to be a father and I accept that.”

“Okay,” Leslie said, standing and taking the tray now that she’d finished eating.

Carmen knew by the way Leslie said “okay” that she didn’t necessarily agree. When Leslie didn’t add anything else, Carmen knew that meant Leslie was putting off the subject of Redford for later. Honestly, she preferred that his name didn’t come up at all.

“Get some rest, Carmen. I’ll be back later,” Leslie said, taking the tray away.

“Okay.”

An hour later, Carmen was coming out of the bathroom after dealing with another bout of morning sickness when there was a knock on her bedroom door. She wondered why Leslie was knocking. “Come on in, Leslie.”

She had made it to the bed and was sitting on the side of it when a husky male voice pounded through her ears. It was a voice she recognized immediately. “It’s not Leslie, Carmen.”

She jerked her head around to stare into a pair of dark, penetrating eyes. She was too shocked to do anything but stare back. Then somehow, she found her voice to ask, “Redford, what are you doing here?”

Crossing the room to stand in front of her, Redford said, “Good morning, Carmen. What’s this I hear about you not putting my name on our baby’s birth certificate?”

Chapter Eleven

The moment Redford’s gaze met Carmen’s something fired to life inside of him. Had it been a month? How could she look so damn beautiful while ill? Granted he could see the circles under her eyes, but her skin looked radiant, her eyes bright and those lips he had kissed so many times looked ready to be kissed again.

He knew at that moment it would not have been as easy as he’d assumed to take her out on a date and have the willpower to not make love to her again. Even now, intense desire flowed through his veins, making him aware of everything about her. Even that cute baby-doll gown she had on.

“What are you doing here, Redford?” she asked again, quickly placing the bed covers across her thighs, which had been exposed by her short nightgown. Evidently, she’d noticed his gaze.

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