Page 77 of Forced Knocked-Up Mate

Damn, I didn’t even call in sick so the other girls could open the bakery! I have to get my shit together!

When I open the door, I’m surprised to see Peter on the other side of it. Just like yesterday, he’s dressed in clean, smart clothes, and he’s even gotten a haircut that makes him look respectable. Maybe even a bit cultured.

“Lucy, is everything okay?” he asks, eyes narrowing with concern. “I’ve been trying to call.”

“My phone is on silent,” I remember. “I slept through the alarm, I think. Let me get dressed. I’ve got to get to work.”

“Oh, I opened the bakery.”

I stare at him for a few seconds, sure that I didn’t hear him correctly. “You what?”

“Well, I was ready at five am. I swung by, but when you didn’t answer your phone, I figured one of the others would beopening, so I went in. No one came, so I called Fiona, and she gave me the key so I could start.”

“I’m sorry, what?” I still don’t believe my ears.

He grins, and I’ve never seen such a happy look in his bright green eyes. “I got the leftovers stacked away, fresh items out on the shelves, fed the morning crowd, and got Sarah settled in so I could come and check on you.”

“I… I don’t know what to say.”

“Are you okay, though, really? Everyone’s pretty worried about you. Fiona says you’ve never missed a day like this, not without telling anyone.”

“I’m fine,” I answer a bit too abruptly. “I’ll get dressed and come in with you. Just give me a minute. You can come in if you want.”

“Okay,” he says. “Thanks.”

I walk down the hall to my room, feeling like I’ve been dropped into the twilight zone. I still don’t believe this change in him can last, but now I have a new fear.

If I tell him about the baby, then he’ll be trapped with me. Just like he was with the spell.

No, I realize with horror.It will be worse, because the spell wasn’t even working most of the time. Finding out he has a kid will bind him to me permanently. He’ll never be able to leave.

I get dressed, miserably considering my options. I desperately want to talk to Fiona, but her potentially telling Rider would worry me too much. Rider would probably immediately tell Peter.

When I get out to the kitchen, Peter has the kettle on and has made a couple of slices of whole-grain toast.

“Peter?”

“Sit down,” he says, smiling. “I just figured if you weren’t well, you’d need something light… and you should eat.”

I take a piece of toast gratefully, watching him clean the kitchen while I eat. For the last few days, I haven’t bothered with my usual routine, and the whole house is a bit of a wreck. Peter does the dishes and wipes down the chairs, remembering exactly how I like things done.

This is fucking bananas.

“Still hungry?” he asks as I finish my toast.

I shake my head. “I’m fine. We should go.”

“The others will have it under control. Maybe you should have a rest day.”

“No, I want to go in,” I say, getting up. “I feel bad enough about totally dozing this morning.”

“It’s okay, Lucy,” he says reassuringly, smiling. “I’ve got you. We’re a team now.”

“Peter,” I say, sighing. “I appreciate everything you’re doing right now. But you can’t just walk back into my life and fix everything with a few nice gestures and gifts.”

“I know,” he says, losing his smile. He steps towards me and gently takes my hand as he looks into my eyes. “My apology comes with no strings attached. No expectations. I want to make this up to you because it’s the right thing to do. If you decide to give me another chance, that would be amazing, but that isn’t why I’m doing this.”

My eyes burn, blurring my vision, and my lip trembles. I bite it hard, blinking as I refuse to let the tears flow.

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