Page 32 of Bride for Keeps

His gaze was so solemn, socaring. It nearly undid her completely.

“Let’s go inside and get you something to eat,” he said, acknowledging nothing at all.

She wanted to argue, but what other choice did she have? Shewashungry, and feeling nauseous, and still fuzzy from sleep.

If they went inside, he’d take his hand off her stomach and she could remember that she’d made a decision. The right decision, and second thoughts and doubts were only weakness talking.

God, she really hoped she could remember that.

*

Carter deposited Sierraon the expensive leather couch Mom had bought in one of her redecorating frenzies. Carter had never figured the furniture in the family cabin made much of a difference when there were big picture windows showing a breathtaking view of the mountains and valley below.

Who cared what the indoors looked like?

He’d already been inside to turn the heat up and whatnot while Sierra had been sleeping, so it was nice and warm, but he grabbed one of the throw blankets from the sleek, modern cabinet that dominated the side wall anyway.

He draped it over Sierra’s lap, not missing the angry glare she kept focused on him.

He knew she’d be angry for taking her anywhere but home, and maybe he should feel guilty about that. But he wasn’t. She kept walking away just when they were getting somewhere. Maybe he shouldn’t be so impatient after three days, but in reality it had been something like months.

His fault, yes, but that just meant it was his responsibility to fix things. So, he would.

“Soup? Frozen pizza? I can make some hot chocolate.”

She groaned from over on the couch. “Just one. Whichever one. But just one, please.”

“It’s a little early to be having morning sickness,” he offered, looking over his shoulder at her.

She was typing angrily onto her phone. “Why don’t you crawl inside my stomach and tell it that?”

Carter opened a cabinet and grabbed two cans of chicken noodle soup. She was likely texting her parents. Or maybe Lina. “Right. Well. Just so you know, I told your parents you wouldn’t be home.”

When there was nothing but a vibrating silence, Carter glanced away from his soup preparations to her spot on the couch.

Her mouth was hanging open and she stared at him like he was some kind of psychopath.

“I didn’t want them to worry,” he explained, focusing back on the task of dumping soup into a pot on the stove. “I knew they would worry, considering they likely knew you’d been with me and it was only supposed to be for a brief meeting. So, I called your mom and told her we were going away for a day or two to try and work things out.”

“A day or…” She inhaled deeply as if trying to calm herself. “Is this high-handed bullshit supposed to be winning me over?” she demanded.

“No, it’s supposed to be giving me a chance.” He frowned at the soup. “All I want is a chance.”

She didn’t have anything to say to that, so he focused on getting bowls and rounding up crackers. He was lucky Mom and Dad had been here last weekend and one of their hospital friends was coming up next so they weren’t bare bones on the necessities. Too bad he hadn’t had a chance to buy a carton of milk. Sierra should probably be drinking milk.

No doubt her parents were taking good care of her though, except… He filled the bowls and walked them to the little glass table he hated eating at, but it was too cold to eat outside. “Have you told your parents?” he asked.

“Told them what? I think they figured out the whole I’m leaving you thing.”

“That we’re pregnant.”

He imagined the snort of derision she gave him was over the wordwe’rebut that wasn’t about to stop him from considering thistheirpregnancy even if he didn’t have to do any of the hard parts.

“I haven’t told them. I…” She placed her hands over her stomach. “It’s so early. It feels… I don’t want to start telling people until it feels more certain. More possible.”

Carter nodded. “I haven’t told anyone either, and I won’t until you’re ready. But I still want to come to your first appointment.”

“Right because the entire medical community wouldn’t spread that around like wildfire. Carter and Sierra McArthur were in her OBGYN’s office together! I think we know what that means. And I hear they’re divorcing. The elder Dr. McArthur will be so thrilled to be rid of that trash.”

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