Page 105 of Serving the Maestro

The words just sort of rolled over me.

Jazz gave me a nervous look. “Did you hear me?”

“Yeah. I think...are you sure?”

“Unless several tests are wrong, then...yeah. I’m pregnant.” She tugged her hand free from mine and put it in her lap, rubbing both palms up and down her thighs in a nervous gesture. “And I don’t know who the dad is. You have to understand that. It could be you or—”

I caught her hand again, then her chin, guiding her face to mine.

“One question. Do you want the baby?”

Jazz blinked, and in a moment, her eyes filled with tears. “I’m not sure, but...I think so. I mean, I hope you are the dad, but even if Roger’s the father...” The words faded away, and finally, she whispered, “Is that terrible? I don’t even know how to feel about this. He raped me. If I ever see him again, I’ll tear his face off. But...this may be my only chance to have a baby.”

“It’s not terrible.”

Her gaze came back to mine. “But if he’s the dad—”

“Don’t do that to yourself, Jazz,” I said, already seeing the fear and worry in her eyes. “Sperm doesn’t make a guy a father. I don’t know my father—I know his name, but him? No. There’s more to being a parent than the genetic material. And that prick won’t ever come near you again. If he tries, I’ll rip his balls out through his nose.”

Her eyes widened at that, and then a half-smile curved her lips. “Graphic, baby.”

“I’ve got a vivid imagination.” Seeing her eyes lighten eased some of the weight in my gut. I brushed her hair back. “In the end, Jazz, whatever you decide about the pregnancy, I’ll back you all the way. And if you want to have the baby...and if you’ll let me, I’ll be the baby’s dad. Me. Nobody else.”

“You want that?” she whispered.

“More than anything.” Pressing my brow to hers, I said, “Will you just give me half a chance to show you?”

She laid a hand on my cheek. “Baby, I think you already have.”

Then she pressed her mouth to mine.

I tugged her closer, groaning as her lips parted, relief and need and love crushing me.

“Excuse me...”

I heard the words. So did Jazz.

But it wasn’t until somebody forcefully cleared their throat that we parted.

The airline attendant, eyes amused but mouth stern glanced at me. “Sir, is that your seat?”

“I...ah...”

“I told him he could sit there as long as the lady was okay with it.”

I glanced back and saw the guy I’d talked into swapping seats with me.

He grinned. “Guess you worked it out.”

“Yeah.” I shifted my focus to the airline attendant and tried a charming smile. “I’m sorry...we had a fight, and I wasn’t going to let her get away without begging her to take me back.”

“Hmmm.” She cocked a brow and glanced at Jazz. “I guess he begs well?”

Jazz, her cheeks pink, replied, “Better than anybody I’ve ever met.”

EPILOGUE

JAZZ

---