Page 34 of Taming a Heartbreaker

He leaned forward in his chair. “Regardless, that’s not going to work, Carmen.”

She lifted a brow. “What isn’t going to work?”

“You taking care of yourself.”

“It will work, Redford.” Now that she had agreed to legally acknowledge him as the baby’s father, did he assume that meant he could boss her around or have a say in her affairs? She was about to ask him that when his next words stopped her.

“I think I should stay here with you.”

She tilted her head to look at him. “Why?”

“Because of that other issue you and I discussed.”

Carmen arched a brow. “What issue is that?”

“Our bonding of friendship for our child. Have you forgotten about that?”

Yes, she had. “We can do that after the baby is born.”

“I prefer starting the process now.” He captured her hand in his, pausing as if he was trying to collect his thoughts. “It’s important for me to see you through this period of your pregnancy, Carmen.”

“Why?” she asked, trying to ignore the sensations flooding her being while he held her hand.

He looked down at their joined hands before glancing back up at her. “Just like you said, there are things about your pregnancy you intend to tell our baby when he or she gets older. There are things I’d want to tell them as well. More than anything, I want him or her to know I was here with you during that rough time. I want them to know I’m a father who cared and loved them from the very beginning. Since we won’t be getting married, that’s important to me. Will you give me the chance to do that, Carmen?”

Redford stared at her, taking in the way she nibbled on her bottom lip as she thought about his request. Although she was the one who’d suggested they talk, he figured she hadn’t counted on the turn their discussion would take. More than likely she’d assumed that the moment he was told he could leave, he would do so and that would be the end of it. He could tell by the look in her eyes that she’d been surprised he wanted to stay. There was no way he could leave her like this.

He had stood outside the bathroom door and heard her. She might be getting used to all that throwing up, but he wasn’t. He had done his research and knew if it continued or worsened, her condition could escalate into hyperemesis gravidarum. He didn’t want that and figured she didn’t either.

While waiting for an answer, he knew the one thing he should do was stop looking at her mouth. Otherwise, he would recall how it had tasted each time he’d kissed her that night, and the shape of her lips beneath his and how they were a perfect fit.

Redford forced his gaze to the bright yellow gown she was wearing. It was sleeveless and showed a pair of beautiful shoulders. He also noted the way the tops of her breasts were visible beneath the V-neckline. That’s one thing he’d taken notice of since being here, her sexy gowns. Although they weren’t anything too revealing, they looked sexy on her nonetheless.

Thinking it was best to tame the lust he felt humming through his veins, he lowered his gaze to her hand, which he was still holding. He suddenly noticed how it felt—smooth yet tense. He sensed vulnerability and had a feeling he was responsible for it. That night they’d spent together had been nothing but a one-night stand for him, but it had meant a lot more than that for her.

He raised his gaze from their hands to look into her eyes. That’s when he saw a multitude of emotions in their depths. He saw the vulnerability he had suspected, as well as uncertainty and fear. Fear? What was she afraid of? He stared deeper and saw what she was trying to hide. Desire.

He now understood her apprehension. She was concerned that if he hung around, she would let her guard down and something would develop between them. He had to assure her that wouldn’t be happening. He broke the silence between them by saying, “Just so you know, Carmen, I made a decision to come here to see you even before I knew about the baby.”

“Why?” Her voice conveyed her surprise.

“Because after that night I spent with you, I wasn’t myself.”

Her forehead bunched. “You weren’t yourself how?”

He could feel the tension slowly easing from her hand. Satisfied with that, he released it to stand up. He paced, gathering his thoughts. It was important that she understood why the last thing she should do is fear him. If anything, he should fear her.

He stopped pacing and stood in front of her. “A lot happened between us that night that I hadn’t counted on.”

“I bet my pregnancy was one of them,” she said.

He knew her statement was meant to shake off the awkwardness between them, to lighten the mood. “You’re right. Your pregnancy was one of them because I honestly thought we’d used sufficient birth control.”

He didn’t say anything for a minute and then spoke again. “What I hadn’t counted on, Carmen, was still thinking about you days and weeks later. Reliving that night in my mind and thinking it was the most perfect night I’d ever shared with a woman. So perfect that...”

She lifted a brow when he paused. “That what?”

“I haven’t desired another woman since then.”

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