Page 40 of There Are No Words

“That’s okay. I just wanted to tell you.”

“Why not?”

I shrugged. “We don’t have any. Oddly enough, they’re on my grocery list this week. Although, Baby didn’t get the memo we were out.”

“There’s a gas station and food mart that’s open twenty-four hours.”

“How do you know that?”

He shrugged. “I own a pub. I usually get home pretty late and sometimes need to stop in for things.”

“Okayyy.” I placed a finger on my lip and shook my head.

Then he nudged his head toward the inside of his room. “Let me just get dressed, and I’ll head out.”

I crossed my arms. “You don’t have to, really.”

“If you’re craving it, I do,” he insisted.

Leaving the door open, he went inside. I followed him in, but still stayed close to the door. My eyes fell on his bed and I swallowed. It wasn’t like we’d even had sex on his bed, and yet, just looking at it, my mind kept wandering to a vision of Brady’s body over mine as I laid on it.

I cleared my throat as he opened a drawer to get clothes. “So, are you okay?” He shook his head. “I mean, other than the craving.”

I nodded, flipping my hair to one side. “Yeah. I’ve been thinking, though. I don’t want to tell anyone the gender of the baby. Not yet anyway.”

He got his clothes out and tossed them on the bed. “Really? Why? It’s not like we don’t already know it. So why keep it a secret?”

I swayed my head back and forth, a smile forming on my lips. “Since we’re not going to be surprised, I want to make it a fun surprise for everyone else. I was thinking we can tell everyone at once at the baby shower.”

He brought his hand to the hem of his shirt and began pulling it over his head. Coughing, I turned on my heel and tried not to look his way, letting my attention fall to just about anything and everything else.Oh, hey, look at his closet door.It took all of my willpower, just so you know.

“Do men usually go to baby showers?”

I raked my teeth over my bottom lip. “They can be co-ed. That way you, my dad, Dom, and the guys can come.”

“All right. If that’s what you want.”

“It is.”

“Allegra.” The way he said my name made my heart melt.

“Mmhmm,” I answered, waiting to hear what he had to say.

I felt hot breath on my neck and didn’t need to turn around to know that he was standing right behind me, his mouth mere inches from my skin. If I moved, even a little, I knew his mouth would be on mine. Was that what I wanted, though? I thought it was, but then I had to go and remember all the reasons we were a bad idea.

“You can turn around, Allegra. It’s nothing you haven’t seen before.”

I swallowed hard and closed my eyes, praying for strength. Because I knew if I turned around, then I would do something we’d both regret later. He may have thought he wanted me, but he wasn’t thinking clearly, not really. After a while, he’d see why us being together wasn’t a good idea. Being with someone like me may have been interesting at first, but it would wear on himeventually. I didn’t want to see that happen. So this was for the best.

I stepped away from him, so I could think clearly. “Which is why I don’t need to see it again. Once was enough,” I lied.

He snickered. “You lie to yourself too often.”

He knew me so damn well. “Thanks for sharing this moment with me. You really don’t have to go out, but if you do, I appreciate it.” And with that, I left his room and didn’t look back. I couldn’t.

Chapter Fourteen

Brady