Page 88 of Full House

She gave him a squint-eyed stare. “You mean the best for you.”

“Fine,” he conceded. “The best for us. Is there anything wrong with that?”

“Well, at least you’re honest,” she said, relaxing back into the couch.

“I’m always honest.” He picked up his coffee and took a sip then gave her cup, still sitting on the table, a frown.

“What?” she asked, glancing at the cup then looking back to him.

“You’re not drinking your coffee. I got you your favorite, caramel macchiato.”

That was thoughtful even if he had acted like an ass a minute ago. “I’m waiting for it to cool off.”

“It’s not hot.” He took another sip of his to prove his point.

Conceding, she lifted her cup, taking a small sip before taking a larger one.

Byron eyed her, a hopeful expression on his face.

She gave him a weak smile. “It’s good. Thanks, again,” she said, setting it back on the table.

That seemed to appease him, and he sat back, lacing his fingers over his rounded stomach. “Now, back on topic.”

“Were we on a topic?”

He gave her a look. “If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a hundred times, sarcasm doesn’t suit you.”

“Oh, but it must,” she leaned forward, picking up her drink and saluting him with it, “for I do it so well.” She took a sip, holding on to it this time.

He rolled his eyes, looking exasperated but ignored her comment by continuing, “I’ve thought about this and think I’ve come up with a solution that will satisfy us both.”

She was willing to hear him out and indicated so by tipping her head.

“A few of the roles you were offered won’t start filming for a year. If you sign a contract now, it will guarantee you’ll have work. That gives you plenty of time with the baby after it’s born and before you need to start. I’ll also keep your name in the media in the interim. If you find working’s not for you after that, you don’t need to take on any more roles. But,” and at this point, he held up a finger, “if you find you still want to work, the offers will keep coming. Which would be unlikely if you don’t secure a role now.”

He leaned forward in his seat as if to emphasize his point. “Is it really such a hardship to commit to one more job, a mere few months out of your life, to secure your career?”

She took another sip of her coffee, reflecting on his words. Byron didn’t rush her, just sat back in his chair, a small smile playing on his lips. Finally, after long minutes, she said, “You state a good case so, in the spirit of compromise, I’ll think about what you’ve said. I can’t promise you I’ll change my mind, but I do promise to rethink my—” she stopped mid-sentence, clutching an arm over her stomach.

“Are you okay?” Byron asked, sitting straighter in his chair.

She set her coffee on the table so she wouldn’t spill it. “Yeah, I just think maybe the coffee’s not settling well.”

Byron frowned and then shrugged. “Okay, so what were you about to say?”

Damn Byron and his one-track mind. “I was just going to say, I—” She grimaced, planting her feet on the floor, leaning forward, hugging her stomach with both arms, and moaned.

“What’s wrong?”

She heard Byron but didn’t respond, too busy trying to catch her breath.

In her periphery she saw Byron stand, skirting the coffee table.

“I think…” She took a couple of panting breaths then continued in a stronger voice, “I think something’s wrong.”

“Sweetheart, I’m home!”

She looked up when Nate called from the entry. She also noticed Byron stop in his tracks, standing at the far end of the coffee table.

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