Page 96 of Hidden By His Side

Ramiro moved the mouse over to the one she was staring at. “This one, then.”

Summer’s nerves spiked. “I didn’t say that one.”

“You don’t have to say anything. I’ll keep scrolling in case there’s another one you like better.”

There wasn’t. Nothing was as beautiful as that one set. She let out a breathy sigh when he scrolled back up to click on the one she liked best, then she shifted with guilt. “You really don’t have to buy it,” she tried again.

His arm wrapped around her stomach, pulling her back against him. “I like spoiling you. You’ll have to get used to it.”

His words made her squirm, and he groaned in her ear. “Keep moving against me like that, and we won’t get any work done today.”

She bit her lip, her pulse racing at the urge to test how true that was. She shifted again, just a small shift.

Ramiro’s mouth found her neck, sucking there and making tingles shoot everywhere. He nipped over the wet spot he’d made. “You won’t distract me from buying you this.”

She grabbed his hand, dragging it to her breast. “Are you sure?”

He hummed in his throat as he bit down a little harder. “Positive. Look, it’s going in the cart even now.”

She gasped, opening her eyes to look. He really was buying the tea set. She imagined using it, and butterflies swooped inside her stomach along with the racing tingles from his mouth.

Her eyes drifted up to the tabs, the word ‘nursery’ on the one behind the current active tab making her throat squeeze. Her body tensed, and Ramiro raised his head.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.” She tried to slide off his lap, but his grip stopped her.

“Summer?” he asked, turning her to face him.

She plastered on a smile. “It’s really nothing.”

He hummed, his eyes narrowing as he studied her. Then he looked back at the computer, and she tried to slip away again.

“There are other sites if you don’t like this tea set. I can—”

Her hand covered his mouth. “That’s not it. I love that one. You’ve made me so happy.”

He pulled her hand away. “Then why aren’t you smiling your real smile?”

Her lips dropped, the ache of holding the smile fading.

He shifted his hands to rub her back, his eyes searching hers again. “Did I come on too strong?” He seemed to realize he was touching her. She hated how his hands dropped away. “I liked being teased by you, but maybe I took it too far.”

“No!” She grabbed his hands and dragged them back to her hips. The last thing she wanted was for him to go back to beingcareful with her, not after he’d finally let go. “It’s none of that. I just…” She swallowed, closing her eyes. “I noticed the other tab,” she admitted.

He shifted forward, clicking with the mouse. “The nursery research?”

She nodded. “You don’t have to research that. I’m not keeping the baby.” Saying the words felt like dragging gravel up her throat. She didn’t want to think about this. She didn’t want to think about this at all.

Ramiro’s hands drew her against his chest. His heart beat a little fast under her ear as his arms tightened around her.

“What if I’ve been thinking about keeping her?”

Ice filled her veins as her breath caught. No. He couldn’t dangle that in front of her. He didn’t mean it.

“I haven’t seen you pursuing the adoption idea. It makes me think you might want to keep her.”

Summer wished she could close her ears. “No. I can’t.”

---