Page 106 of Upon an April Night

After sharing a nice dinner, Jamie hugged her friend at the door. “Thank you for everything, Shannon.”

“Any time.” Shannon glanced back over her shoulder as she walked out. “Think about what I said.”

“I will.” How could she not?

“Are you coming to the studio tomorrow?”

“I have to or I’ll get behind on edits and album designs.”

“You could work from home.”

Jamie shook her head. “I need to get out of the apartment.”

“Okay. See you tomorrow.”

She returned to her bedroom once Shannon was gone and reclined against her headboard. She knew she shouldn’t, but she kept replaying the kiss over and over in her mind. It wasn’t just a fantasy. Duncan had kissed her again. Her mind replayed the conversation and stopped on the last thing he’d said to her that day.

I want us to be a family.

It was what she wanted more than anything, to be with him, to raise their baby together. It scared her that she might get everything she wanted so badly because it seemed too good to be true. She wanted to go to him right now and tell him she wanted him too. But they needed to have a serious talk before any of that could happen.

And she wasn’t sure what to do about Max. He was the sweetest, kindest man, so willing to be there for her through her pregnancy with another man’s child, and he’d never judged her, which was wonderful and refreshing.

But Duncan had. He had judged her based on her past and had gone looking for his future elsewhere instead of trying to help her change. He hadn’t once asked her if she believed in Jesus or wanted to. If he had, maybe things would’ve been different from the start. Instead, he gave in to his attraction to her then found someone he saw as better. That wound still bled and wasn’t easily overlooked.

Chapter 41

Duncan sat on the sun porch with a mug of steaming coffee, staring out at the back yard at nothing in particular. His mind was on Jamie, replaying the kiss they’d shared. He hadn’t gone there with a plan to kiss her, but as soon as she opened the door, his longing for her had taken over. He needed her as close as he could get her, to feel her lips against his again after all those months. And it was so much better than he remembered.

But now things felt so up in the air. He’d told her how he felt. He’d put himself out there, and she hadn’t responded as he’d hoped. He wanted her to dump his cousin and be with him. He wanted her to be his forever.

The quiet shuffle of Nana’s slippers on the carpet caught his attention.

“Good morning, Nana.”

“Morning, my dear boy.” She stopped beside him and leaned down to kiss his cheek. “Did you sleep well?”

“Not really.” He took a swig of the dark liquid.

“How is she?” Nana asked as she sat in her rocking chair.

“Who?” He played dumb.

“Jamie.”

“Why don’t you ask Max?” he snarled.

“You’ll never win her with an attitude like that.”

“What makes you think I want to win her?” He stared out into the yard again. Nana’s silence drew his attention her way.

Her head was cocked to the side, and she stared at him disapprovingly.

“I’m sorry. You’re right. I can’t help it. It drives me crazy to see them together.”

“Don’t you think that’s how she felt seeing you with Dréa?”

His head dropped forward. “I do now.” He looked up at her. “I really blew it, didn’t I?”

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