Page 180 of The Baby Bargain

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I didn't know how badly I needed that. But I do. I really do. "What happened, princess?"

"Chase…" Her eyes meet mine. She stares back at me like she's about to hand over her heart.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Chase

Iknow the answer, but the words still cut.

She shakes her head. "I'm not…" She presses her forehead to my chest. "I took a test. And I'm not… I'm not pregnant."

I wrap my arms around her. Pull her closer.

She digs her fingers into my shirt. Sucks in a shallow breath. "I knew the odds weren't good. But it still… Fuck."

"Ariel." I bring my hand to her cheek. Catch a tear with my thumb.

She blinks and tears curtain her lashes. "What if it doesn't happen?"

"It will."

"You don't know that." She wraps her arm around my waist. "What if I never…"

"You'll become a mother, Ariel."

"But…"

"Whether you adopt or marry a single dad or kill one of your brother's baby mommas so you can take over—"

She stifles a laugh. "Oh my God."

"You want it badly enough; you'll make it happen."

"Aren't you supposed to be against killing?" She tugs at my black shirt. "You really look ridiculous."

"You're right. Don't kill her. Hit her until she's in a coma," I say. "That doesn't count."

A laugh spills from her lips. "Don't make fun of Matt. He's got his priorities more figured out than you do."

"Probably, yeah."

"And he gets laid more."

This time, I laugh. "Not that he cares."

"Yeah, I mean, have you ever thought about how he could use his powers in other ways?" She wipes a tear. "He could be the world's greatest chef. Or composer."

"Or lover." The guy does have the ability to tune into his senses to hear, feel, smell, taste anything. He can feel cracked ribs, smell the exact brand of whiskey on someone's breath, hear a cry four city blocks away.

But he never uses those skills for sex.

The guy may be fictional, but he's still wasting his life.

"God, could you imagine? If you were that good at reading someone else's body? Their feelings." Her eyes fix on me. "I… I wish I could do that with you."

"You can."

She shakes her head.

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