Page 153 of Darling Obsession

“A bath would be nice,” I interpret for him. “Followed by sleep. Lots of it.”

I don’t think I’ve ever seen Harlan Vance take anything so seriously as he does right now—when he gently picks me up in his arms, carries me upstairs and into the bathroom, sets me carefully on my feet, and tells me, “Get undressed, Quinn.”

Chapter 26

Quinn

We’re standing in the lady bathroom off Harlan’s bedroom. When I just wrap my arms around myself and definitely don’t start getting undressed, Harlan takes a deep breath, like he’s holding onto his patience, and starts the bath water running.

My attention creeps over to the many beauty products on display. Including a lot of pretty, feminine-looking tubes, jars and bottles, and makeup, which clearly don’t belong to Harlan. They’re all over the countertop, which was stark and empty the last time I was here.

I actually feel nausea creeping up again, but this time, it’s not pregnancy related.

“Has someone else been here?” The words are out of my mouth before I can stop myself. “Another woman?”

He scowls at me. “Of course not.”

“Then what’s all that stuff?”

He turns away, adjusting the temperature of the bath water, so I can’t read his face when he says, “It’s for you.”

I take another look at the items, all the skin care and luxury cosmetics.

There’s a basket of bathing supplies by the bathtub, too.

He got all this stuff for me? To make it more welcoming and comfortable for me, when I finally came back?

He squeezes a dollop of something that smells lovely into the bath, like lavender and vanilla.

“Don’t make it too hot,” I tell him. “It’s not good for the baby.”

“I know that,” he says grumpily. “I’ve read the books.”

“What books?”

“All of them.”

I try to picture that, but can’t.

He glances at me, almost self-consciously, and mumbles, “I listen to audiobooks in the car.”

Somehow, that’s even harder to picture. Harlan and Manus, driving around, listening to audiobooks about pregnancy.

When he approaches me, I suddenly feel shy. Like this is the first time he’s going to see me naked.

“Take off your clothes, Quinn,” he says gently.

“Do I have to?” I joke.

His eyelids lower as his gaze roams down my body. “It will be a much more comfortable bathing experience if you do.”

The way he saysbathing experience, I’m definitely wondering if I’m in for more than a bath here.

When I hesitate, he moves behind me. I can see him in the mirror as he starts unzipping the back of my dress with focus.

I swallow. “My body is changing,” I warn him.

“I hope so. That means the baby is growing.” He drops the dress to my ankles and deftly unhooks my bra.

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