Page 31 of Secret Bump

“This one is a keeper,” I say, twirling around.

Mack grins and sits back. “Good. Try another one on.”

All the dresses are keepers, except one which overwhelms me and no matter how big I get with the baby, it’ll never feel comfortable.

“This one isn’t for me.” I glance at Mack, hoping that doesn’t offend him.

He shrugs, then stands. “Let’s set it aside, then.”

He’s got a hanger ready for it when I pull it over my head, then he takes it from me and puts it at the far end of a rack.

I look up at him as he selects a pair of jeans. He returns my gaze, then kneels in front of me. “Step into these.”

Butterflies flutter in my chest as he eases the elastic waistband up over my hips. His hands linger on my belly after he smooths the stretchy panel over it, too, like maybe he feels something special right now, too.

I’m not wearing a bra for any of this, and my bare breasts are right there, just above the fabric he’s smoothing out.

He doesn’t cup them, doesn’t squeeze them, and I ache for that. I need his touch.

He looks at them, though. Looks hungrily as he tugs a t-shirt over my head. My nipples tighten under his inspection and poke through the thin top.

My breath goes shallow and my cheeks turn hot.

“This one looks good,” he says, his voice catching on a rough note. He skates his knuckles down my side to my waist, then he squeezes me there.

As if he’s decided my pregnant belly is the safest part of me to touch.

I close the gap between us and say his name, my voice cracking, and he catches my face in both of his hands.

My eyelids flutter shut. His thumbs trace back and forth over my cheeks as I drag in ragged breaths, trying to be cool.

“I promised you dinner,” he mutters.

I blink my eyes open and catch him staring at me with an intensity that takes my breath away just before he steps back, letting me go.

“You could promise not to leave again if we kiss,” I say, managing to make it sound light.

He pauses. “Would you believe me?”

“I want to.” I sway, lightheaded now. Hopeful. “I really do.”

He takes my arm, turning me toward the kitchen, and nods. “Then let’s have dinner first. And we’ll work our way up to other promises.”

Chapter 18

Mack

FeedingIsabelle is the right choice. Even though I want to kiss her more than I want to breathe, it’s nice to take care of her in a simpler way.

She watches me move around the kitchen, her curiosity obvious.

“You don’t usually cook for yourself,” she observes correctly.

“It’s not the best use of my time.” I grab a cutting board and then select a large chef’s knife. “But I do know how to cook. When I was your age, I couldn’t afford to eat out. Every cent I made went back into the business.”

She blushes. “The first thing I did when I got paid was order takeout.”

“That’s good.” I frown. “Honestly, Isabelle, the choices I made…I wouldn’t want you to have to make them, too. I was driven by demons, not common sense.”

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