Page 54 of Plum

“She wasn’thissecretary. She wasasecretary. She worked in the purchasing department or something like that. She stalked him. Slipped on the elevator at the last minute. Hid in the parking garage. That kind of thing.”

“So, she stalked him.” I wink at him. “Kind of like I did when I kept showing up at your work—Oh. No. That was you. Not me.”

“The genes are strong.”

“So, our babies are doomed to be little creepers?” I’m joking, but damn, as soon as it’s out of my mouth—Adam don’t find it funny. His jaw firms, and something flashes behind his bright blue eyes.

“Joking,” I say, trying to lighten the mood again, but his attention is all on me, and it’s a powerful thing, all that focus and intensity pinning you down, an unknown storm raging behind his eyes.

“Do you want that, Jo-Beth? A baby?”

Well, fuck. I don’t know. I always thought I didn’t. One woman like me alone with no family ain’t strong enough to protect a little one. But I don’t want to saynonow, in this moment. I don’t know why, but I don’t.

“I thought we were talking about how your parents met?”

“Are you not going to answer my question?”

“Ain’t you gonna answer mine?”

After a beat when he seems to wrestle with something dark, he lets his lips slide into a casual smile, and he relaxes back into his chair. He don’t look relaxed, though. It’s like he’s shoved on that confident, detached mask he’s got, but he was in a hurry, so he hasn’t got it on quite right.

“All right, Jo-Beth,” he says. “I’ll tell you anything. My parents? Well, my mother got knocked up by a loser when she was barely eighteen. She struggled—we struggled—and then she met my stepfather, and now she lunches and organizes soirees like she never had to make ends meet once in her life. You think this is crazy, you and me, but I don’t. I’ve seen it work.”

“So your mom and stepdad are gonna welcome me with open arms? And that stepbrother?”

His gaze drops to his lap. Yeah. That’s what I thought.

“They’ll know what I am. Ain’t no hiding it.”

“It’s not their business.”

“I don’t even know why we’re talkin’ about this. We just met. I don’t even know if I like you.” I struggle up to sitting. I can’t be all hopeless and lying down at the same time. Adam rises to his feet to help me, and then he stays close, standing at my side, stroking his big hands down my shoulders.

“You like me.” His lips brush against my temple, his breath hot against my skin. My pulse kicks up a notch.

“You like me more.” I can’t help it. I raise my face, eyes closed, searching blindly for his lips.

He kisses me, long and slow and gentle. “Maybe. It doesn’t bother me if it doesn’t bother you.”

“I’m scared,” I whisper against his rough cheek.

He leans his forehead against mine. “I’m fucking terrified.”

And then a throat clears, the doctor enters, and Adam leaps back like we got busted by the police in the back seat of his car. Turns out, I have a severe sprain. I need to wear an ankle support, and I’m supposed to stay off my feet for four to eight weeks. He says a whole bunch of other things, but after “four to eight weeks,” I hear nothing.

I can’tnot workfor a month or two. The bank don’tnotsend the mortgage bill if you send them a doctor’s note.

Maybe Cue will hook me up with some desk work at one of the other Steel Bones businesses. Deb is always stressed out. I’m sure she could use some help with the paperwork. I don’t know computers, but I’m not useless.

Fuck.

I look up, and I realize the doctor and Adam are both staring at me.

“Yes?”

“He asked you if you have any questions.”

Shit. I have no idea what he was saying. I look to Adam.

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