Page 26 of Taming a Heartbreaker

He recalled his mother telling him how sick she’d been in the early months of her pregnancy with him. His father had told him one time, or two, maybe three, what a difficult pregnancy she’d had. He had been tempted to call his mother and ask her about it, but then she would question his inquiry.

Right now, he was reluctant to let anyone know. Especially Lorelei St. James. She would catch the next plane out of Skagway—although she hated flying—to help take care of the woman who would be giving birth to her first grandchild.

His parents would demand he do the right thing, and to them that meant a wedding. Redford would have to reiterate to his parents how he felt about marrying any woman, baby or no baby. Although he could accept becoming a father, there was no way he could accept the role of husband to anyone. Ever.

More than once, his father had questioned why he hadn’t gotten over what Candy had done and moved on after all this time. It was hard to explain to a man who’d married the woman he loved at twenty and who’d been faithful to her through high school and a nearly forty-year marriage that a deceitful Candy had broken his heart in a way that could never be repaired.

Carmen shifted in bed and so did his gaze on her. It moved from her stomach to her face. She still had that peaceful look, and he was glad for that. When he’d returned with his luggage, Leslie told him Carmen had thrown up for the third time that day. He could tell Leslie was concerned. According to Leslie, the doctor had warned Carmen that things might get worse before they got better. More than anything, he wanted her to know he would be here for her and their child. No matter how long it took, he would remain right here.

Last night from his hotel room, confident of his executive team’s ability to handle things in his absence, he had told them he would be taking an official leave of absence for the next six weeks, possibly longer. Although he was certain they were curious as to the reason, he hadn’t told them any more than that.

Redford moved the chair sideways, closer to the bed. Then, leaning back, he stretched out his legs in front of him. He might as well grab some sleep. He had a feeling when she woke up and he laid out his plans for the next few weeks, she would not be happy about them. That meant he needed to come up with a counter-plan.

Not only was he an obsessive researcher, but he had the art of persuasion and negotiation down pat. He intended to use those skills because he refused to leave her. She was having his baby, and he was determined to take care of them both.

Carmen’s eyes felt heavy, but she lifted them open when she picked up the scent of a man. Not just any man but that of Redford St. James. There was no way she could not recognize his cologne when the fragrance had been entrenched in her skin after they’d made love. Was that the reason she had dreamed about him practically every night since? Replaying in her mind everything they’d done? Their actions in the cottage were what had gotten her in this condition. But still, she couldn’t wipe from her mind all those images of a naked Redford, his dark eyes heated with desire and a certain body part fully erect.

Now he was here, clothed, with his head tilted back, sleeping. And she couldn’t take her eyes off him. For now, she wouldn’t question why. Her gaze moved over his gorgeous facial features. She couldn’t help wondering which of them he would pass on to her son or daughter. Maybe the shape of his nose, or maybe the hypnotic curve of his lips, or possibly his noble yet angular jaw. She was certain her child would be beautiful because of him. Carmen shifted her gaze back to his eyes.

She was certain she hadn’t made a sound, but suddenly his eyes opened and she fought back a gasp when his intense gaze held hers. She felt a tingling sensation that began in her breasts and slowly moved down her body to stop right there in the apex of her thighs.

Surely this wasn’t supposed to be happening to her when she was a sick woman. A woman who couldn’t keep anything in her stomach. Evidently, that had nothing to do with desire. Well, it should. Did she need to remind herself again that desiring Redford St. James was the reason she was in this condition?

“You’re awake.”

His voice was deep, husky and too sexy for this time of day. “Did you expect me to sleep the entire day?”

“It wouldn’t be uncommon for a pregnant woman.”

She wondered how he would know such a thing and decided to ask him.

“Research. You wouldn’t believe all the information I’ve read on pregnancy since finding out about yours.”

She’d heard about his obsession with research. More than once she’d heard Sloan call him Einstein. “We need to talk, Redford,” she said, deciding not to put it off any longer.

“Okay,” he said, straightening up in his chair and looking at her intently with a sensual smile on his face.

Carmen refused to let his smile get to her. There was no way she would let him stay here to take care of her, no matter what he wanted to prove. She was about to tell him that when nauseousness swept over her, and she recognized what it was. Ignoring the dizziness, she quickly got out of bed to rush into the bathroom. Before her feet could touch the floor, she was swept into strong arms—arms whose strength she remembered—as he quickly carried her to the bathroom.

Chapter Twelve

The moment Redford had placed Carmen on her feet, she dropped to her knees in front of the commode. He stood there feeling useless because there was nothing he could do. Then he felt a degree of guilt because he had brought this on her by getting her pregnant. He wasn’t an amateur when it came to having sex with a woman and he had taken precautions. However, he hadn’t known being inside her body would drive him over the edge four times.

He hadn’t expected it and definitely hadn’t prepared for it. When it had happened, all he could do was let things rip. He’d been too gripped in the throes of ecstasy to do anything other than maintain a frantic rhythm while thrusting deeper inside of her.

The sound of her throwing up caught his attention and he dropped down on the floor beside her to gently rub her back, while wishing there was more he could do. At that moment she and the baby were the center of his thoughts, and the sound of her emptying her stomach like this tore at his heart.

He wasn’t sure just how long the two of them remained on that floor, but he’d known she’d finished when he felt her back flinch beneath his hand. That’s when she must have realized he was down there with her. He hadn’t been around a pregnant woman who’d had a difficult pregnancy before. Leslie had had an easy pregnancy, and according to Tyler, Keosha had had morning sickness but had only thrown up a few times. He could definitely see why Leslie was worried about Carmen.

“Thanks for bringing me in here. Not sure I would have made it in time.”

When she stood and flushed the toilet, he stood as well. His hand moving from her back to gently stroke her braid. “You don’t have to thank me, Carmen. I’m glad I was here.”

She didn’t say anything as she moved to the vanity. He watched as she uncapped a bottle of water on ice to drench a face cloth before using it to pat her face. Then she brushed her teeth and thoroughly rinsed out her mouth with mouthwash. She met his gaze in the mirror.

“You look beautiful, Carmen.”

“Thanks.”

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