Page 26 of Finding Forever

“From what I’ve read it’s not as bad as a lot of other people, some can barely keep anything down. I can be okay for days and then suddenlythis.”

“You need to see a doctor. You have no clue what’s normal and what’s not.”

“You still holding out some hope that this is all in my head and that I’m not really pregnant?” she asked, surprising herself by the amount of cynicism she could hear in her voice.

Well, the dark glare that settled over his face definitely matched his voice now.

“I think your ultrasound pretty much laid waste to any such hope,” he pointed out stiffly and she grimaced. Okay, so she wasn’t thinking very clearly right now. “Fern, you’re getting your healthcare advice from the internet. I don’t think I’m anabsolute fucking monster for believing you should see an actual doctor to make sure you and your baby are okay.”

Her hand settled over her abdomen as she silently apologized to her baby for being such terrible mother.

“I know,” she acknowledged. “And you’re right, of course. I just haven’t had the opportunity to do so. Not with things the way they were.”

His mouth thinned and he nodded, the movement abrupt.

“Make an appointment somewhere first thing Monday, okay?”

“Yes.” She folded the hand towel neatly and placed it on the vanity beside the sink, meeting his troubled gaze shyly. “I’m sorry I ruined your breakfast.”

“I was mostly done anyway. Thank you. It was very good.”

“Really?” God, she was fishing for compliments, it was so obvious and pathetic. But Fern had rarely received praise from anyone in her life and she was a complete sucker for even the smallest of compliments.

He nodded again. The same curt gesture as before. His gaze was perceptive but he remained silent and she swallowed down her disappointment when he didn’t elaborate.

“I was thinking I’d take a walk?” And now she sounded like she was asking him for permission, but his expression didn’t change. Instead his beautiful eyes scraped over her features with razor sharp intent.

“A walk?”

“On the beach?” God, she’d really hoped to put more authority into that statement, instead she sounded like an uncertain child.

“We can go after the mist lifts,” he said and her jaw dropped in astonishment before she shook her head silently, struggling to find her words.

“Oh no,” she finally said on a rush of breath. “I meant alone.”

“You don’t want me to join you?”

“No, I mean yes. Only if you want to.” Why was talking to him so awkward? Fern wanted to curl up into a tiny ball and just pretend this whole stupid conversation was over. She covered her face with both hands and groaned, then parted her fingers to peek up at him. He was staring at her like she was some kind of alien creature that had mysteriously landed at his front door. And who could blame him? Fern couldn’t imagine he met many people as socially awkward as she in his usual circles.

“Do you want to?” she finally summoned up the guts to ask in a tiny voice and his lips tilted slightly.

“Do I want to go for a walk on the beach?” he asked and she nodded. “I’m not too big on the beach walks, no,” he said almost gently. “But this is probably not the best time for you to be spotted walking alone on a misty beach. Looking all neglected and pale and forlorn. Best to avoid thetrouble in paradisearticles less than a week after our wedding.”

“Of course,” she said, feeling a little foolish for not thinking of that herself. “I’m sorry, I’m not very good at all of this.”

“All of what?”

“The fake relationship stuff.”

“I’d venture you’re not too good at the real relationship stuff either, given your relative lack of experience in the romance department,” he said, sounding amused. And Fern clenched her teeth at the mockery she thought she heard in that amusement. She angled her head downward, avoiding his gaze. Feeling like a total fool.

His chest heaved on a sigh and she sensed him moving closer. So close that she could feel his heat and smell his delicious, familiar scent.

His hand shifted to grasp her chin between his thumb and index finger and he tilted her face up toward his.

“Fern,” he whispered, his voice growly and gruff andgorgeous. “I’m unfamiliar with this fake relationship business too. And I’m probably not a whole helluva lot better than you at the real relationships either.”

“You’re not?”

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