Page 68 of Harry

“It so happens I am with her. I am sitting next to her.” He deliberately misinterpreted her question.

“I am just the woman you knocked up. I’m damn well talking about that bitch.”

“She’s a friend and there is no reason to be jealous. Let me see your ankles.”

“Leave me alone.” She started to rise when the wave of nausea hit her so suddenly, she had to fall back down.

“Baby, what is it?”

“Go away.” She tried desperately to keep the sickness at bay but felt it welling up inside her throat. Pushing off the sofa, she raced into the bathroom and made it just in time.

He was behind her, holding her as she retched her stomach out. When she was finished, he carried her to the sink, so she could rinse out her mouth.

Cradling her against his chest, he carried her to the bed and gently took off her clothes. She was too weak to order him to leave and frankly she did not care. She just wanted to go to sleepfor a very long time. And she felt like weeping. That pissed her off.

“Let me get you something to sleep in.” His deep voice was quiet, his expression one of remorse and guilt.

She ignored the tugging of her heart. He was not getting away that easily.

His hands were gentle as they removed her bra and slipped the silk nightgown over her head. As if realizing she did not want to talk, he remained silent. Turning her head away from him, she stared at the wallpaper, not even turning around when she felt him easing off the bed.

He was gone for several minutes when he came back into the room with a tray.

“Here.” Putting the tray down, he eased her up on the pillows and put the tray over her lap.

“I don’t need you tending to me,” she told him stonily.

“Tough.” He had made tea and included saltines. “I’m here, deal with it.”

“Just go away.”

“Drink.” Picking up the saucer with the cup, he put it to her lips. “I put some ice cubes in so it wouldn’t be so hot.” His eyes met hers. “Can you stop being mad enough to drink this?”

Taking the cup from him, she took several sips and felt her stomach settling.

He sat there and made sure she finished every drop and ate some of the crackers. Taking the tray away, he rose to undress. Sliding back down, she pulled the covers over her and turned her back to him.

With a sigh, he slid in next to her and turned off the lamp.

“She’s just a friend, baby. Dammit Jan, can you please look at me?”

She remained stubbornly turned away.

Clamping his hands on her shoulders, he forced her to face him, but she refused to look at him. “She wanted to talk and… All right. I was wrong to leave you alone and spend so much time with her. “His fingers touched her chin to turn her towards him. “How can you not believe how much I love you?”

He saw the tears overflowing her eyes and cursed softly. “I’m sorry baby.” Pulling her resistant body into his arms, he crushed her against him. “So bloody sorry.”

Chapter 15

He wiped the tears from her cheeks tenderly.

“You are destroying me, baby. Please stop crying.” His lips trailed down her cheek and used his tongue to capture the tears leaking between the seams. “Forgive me.” He eased the tip of his tongue between her lips and toyed with hers. His laser blue eyes were wide open and bored into hers.

He kept his touch light, his arms rubbing her back in a silky soothing motion. She tilted her head back, her throat arched, her tears dried up. He had the power to make her unravel and forget what that she had been mad. That she had suffered greatly seeing him with his ex.

Lifting his mouth from hers, he searched her face. “Baby, I adore you.” He whispered thickly. She was pressed against him, her swollen belly touching his stomach.

“She’s beautiful.”