Page 198 of Sinning for Santa

“Please make sure the door is locked on your way out.” And with that, I turn and hurry into my bedroom, closing myself in.

I stand with my back to the door, holding my breath, trying to keep my tears at bay until I hear him leave.

I wait. And wait. And wait.

Finally, the sound of my apartment door opening and closing floats down the hallway, and my shoulders sag as the first sob escapes me.

I take the five steps to my bed and fall face first, holding my breath as the pain feels like it’s going to shatter my heart on my next breath as I start to cry.

The sound of my bedroom door opening has me stilling, before I roll around to see Devon storming in.

“I’m not taking no for an answer,” he snaps, his eyes locking onto mine as I gasp. “You can have all the time you need in my fucking bed, in my fucking town, where you belong.” He rakes his hand through his hair before continuing, his eyes giving my bedroom a quick scan.

Oh no.

“You can… can…” He frowns, his eyes leaving me to the far bedside table, and I know exactly what he’s looking at. “Is that…” His gaze darts back to me as he points. “Is that what I think it is?”

I shake my head, my eyes wide, tears still searing my cheeks and I reel with panic at how to explain this.

Or better yet, get him out so I don’t have to.

“It fucking is,” he yells as he starts to round my bed, and I scramble to roll over and crawl across my mattress to reach the bedside table before he does.

My hand grips it, and I’m about to snatch it away, but Devon latches on, his strength far outmatching mine, and he tugs it from my hold.

“Devon!” I yell, pushing up to my knees on the mattress as I try again to snatch it back, but he steps backwards, the frame gripped in both of his hands as his eyes study the picture.

Shit.

SHIT.

“Devon,” I cry, and finally his gaze lifts from the framed picture to look at me.

“Are you… Is there…” His wide eyes drop to my stomach, and my heart melts like butter on hot toast.

He looks so adorable right now. Those big eyes, normally so harsh, are wide and round, making him look younger. Making him look so hopeful.

Wait.

No.

Stop.

Don’t think that way about Devon.

I can’t let myself care.

But then, his lips spread wide, his teeth flash as he beams, a smile so big I’ve never seen him wear it, and oh lord, it’s something else. Something miraculous.

Something I want to see again. And again. And again.

“I did it,” he whispers, still grinning from ear to ear, his gaze darting back to the picture in his hand. “You’re having my baby.”

Dammit. This isn’t how it was meant to go. He was meant to leave me alone. I’d only just started to accept that. I’d only just embraced the idea of being a single mum, and now he comes in and does this.

I’m so confused and annoyed and I just… I just need him to leave.

“No, Devon. I’m havingmybaby.”

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