Page 61 of Her Baby His Gift

Her gaze was intoxicating. Carter didn’t know if Harlem was doing it on purpose or what. At some point, they were going to have to clear the air. He wasn’t sure if either of them were ready for that conversation, so for now, he dodged it. “Let’s take the food into the theater room.”

Harlem could see that Carter was trying to work something out in his mind. She would let him figure it out, and then they would talk about it, especially when she was doing the same. “Okay, sounds good.”

Carter picked up their plates, and Harlem followed him out of the kitchen. He helped her get situated on the couch and then found a movie before sitting next to her.

“Why in God’s name do you have such a big house when you’re the only one in it?”

Carter shrugged. “I liked it.” Of course, there was more to the story than that, but Carter didn’t want to bring down the easiness between them with the real reason he chose this house. Instead, he decided to keep it light as they ate.

“You liked it, huh? Men. I’ll never understand why everything has to always be so big.” Harlem ate a piece of chicken, and the moment it hit her pallet, her eyes rolled into the back of her head from pure ecstasy. “So good.”

Carter enjoyed watching the expressions on her face change. He wondered if she had the same look when making love? The wayward thought caused him to choke.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah. The chicken just went down wrong.” He picked up his drink and took a long sip. “I’m fine.”

They chatted about nothing for a while until Carter began to stare.

“What?” Harlem looked confused.

“You just have a little . . .” Carter reached over and wiped some bbq off the corner of her lips. As he pulled his hand back, their gazes locked and held.

“Thanks.” She said softly. “Carter, we should talk.”There goes following his cues.

He glanced away. “Talk about what?”

“What happened today.”

Shit. Okay. If she’s ready to have that conversation about the kiss, then I’ve got to knuckle up.

“I saw the look on your face as you watched the monitor.”

It wasn’t the conversation he thought she was about to bring up, but they needed to talk about that too. “I’ve had several come to Jesus moments today, and seeing the baby for the first time on the monitor was certainly one of them.” He paused.

Harlem touched his arm when it seemed as if he couldn’t find the words. “Talk to me.”

Carter drew in a breath and released it before speaking. “I don’t think I can watch this baby grow up like a spectator.”

“What does that mean?”

Slowly, Carter inhaled and exhaled. “My father was absent even when he was present. I was always afraid if I ever had kids, I’d be just like him. I never thought I had anything to offer to a child. But today, in the doctor’s office, I felt differently.”

“I always thought of Damian as the father.”

Carter was disappointed, but her response should have been expected. “I know.” He said quietly.

“I don’t anymore.”

He looked up into her eyes. “You don’t?”

“Not since we went to the gravesite.”

“I know you’re still angry, but when that wears off, do you think you might feel differently?”

“I’m pretty sure I won’t.” Harlem decided to come clean. “Damian and I both knew that something was wrong with our relationship long before I got pregnant. I think we hoped that this baby would fix it. I’m not sure either of us realized at the time what we were doing or why. I know for me, I hoped getting pregnant was a way to help us feel connected.”

Carter was genuinely surprised. “You never felt connected?”

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