Page 39 of After-Party Consequences

He coughed out a laugh, not sure whether to be insulted now or amused.

‘Are you trying to say you think I’m a selfish bastard withoutsayingI’m a selfish bastard?’

It was supposed to be a joke, but when she studied him, he wasn’t sure he wanted to hear her answer.

‘I don’t know you well enough to know if you’re a complete bastard,’ she said. ‘But I do think you’re deeply cynical. And arrogant. And that you make sure you always get what you want—no matter the collateral damage. Which reminds me, ratherunfortunately, of my father...’ Before he could ask her about the man, she carried on. ‘Then again, you held my hair while I was puking this morning—and took care of me when I didn’t expect you to, which makes you not quite as much of a bastard as he was.’

‘Gee, thanks,’ he said, well and truly damned by her faint praise. What had she expected? That he would ignore her, or worse, be squeamish about a little vomit? ‘Your old man sounds like a real peach,’ he added.

‘You have no idea,’ she said. ‘How about yours? Did you know him?’

‘Nope,’ he said, then added, before he could think better of it, ‘I doubt my mother knew who he was either.’

‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ she said, sympathy shadowing her eyes.

‘Why?’ he asked, determined to deflect her pity. ‘It doesn’t sound like you got much out of knowing your old man.’

‘True,’ she said. ‘But I’m not sure it’s a good thing that neither of us has first-hand knowledge of what a dad is supposed to do.’

‘I guess not,’ he said, glad the flicker of pity had disappeared.

‘I appreciate your directness about the pregnancy,’ she continued, but the sadness and confusion still lurked in her eyes. ‘I’ve got to admit, you’re not the sort of man I wouldeverhave expected to be thrilled about an accidental pregnancy. Especially with a woman like me.’

‘Exactly what kind of woman do you think you are?’ he asked, wanting to make this about her again instead of him.

‘It’s not what kind of womanIthink I am. It’s what kind of womanyouthink I am.’

‘Uh-huh. Enlighten me,’ he said, both annoyed and oddly intrigued by her candour.

‘Reckless, impulsive, immature, entitled,’ she said, her tone flat and pragmatic. But he could see the hurt in her eyes, hearthe defensiveness—and the echo of the fragile girl he’d first met. ‘Basically, not the kind of woman you’d want to be the mother of your child,’ she continued. ‘If you’d had a choice.’

‘You’re right, you are reckless and impulsive,’ he said, because he’d be damned if he’d sugar-coat his opinion of her. After all, she certainly hadn’t sugar-coated her opinion of him. ‘But entitled and immature?’ he continued, determined to prove that while he might be arrogant and cynical, he wasn’t as dumb as she thought he was. ‘I may have seen that when we first met. I don’t see it any more.’

‘Perhaps you better tell me what youdosee now...’ she said, but then she turned away to stare back out the car window. And he realised she was braced to hear the worst—which made him consider his words carefully. He wanted to be honest, but he also had no desire to hurt that girl again.

‘I think you’re passionate, smart, brutally honest and hard-working, and someone who is not afraid of adversity. All of which make you a lot better suited to being a mom than my own mother...’

Her head swung back, and he saw her surprise, but then compassion darkened her eyes.

Why the hell had he mentioned his mom?

‘So, tell me, if you want to have this baby, what are you so terrified of?’ he said before she could start feeling sorry for him again.

Charley stiffened at the direct question. And the probing look in Cade’s eyes.

She wished she hadn’t told him about her fear, because the last thing she needed to do right now was discuss all her insecurities. Frankly, she was already freaking out enough—notleast about the thought of having a link to this man for the rest of her life.

A man who scared her on a lot of levels, and not because he reminded her of her father...but because, in many ways, he didn’t.

Cade was certainly ruthless and arrogant. He was also forthright, and complex. His admission he was thrilled about this pregnancy had astonished her. It had also elated her on a visceral level.

But she knew she couldn’t risk getting too invested in the way he had taken care of her this morning. Or allow his forthright defence of her character and her ability to be a good mother mean too much. All of which was no easy feat when her emotions were all over the place.

Gee, thanks, pregnancy hormones!

She placed her hand on her belly, rubbed the spot where their baby was the size of a prawn and admitted to herself she was also terrified of having to do something so important—something she wasn’t convinced she would have any aptitude for—entirely alone.

What a mess...

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