Page 39 of Prince of Tides
As I spoke, I rubbed my stomach. I knew it wasn’t sentient in any way yet, but I still wanted it to know it was loved. Thatmy babywas loved.
“Okay,” Rip said, not bothering to hide his relief. “So, what now?”
“What do you mean? Baby is going to grow, and then I’ll have it.”
“I meant about us,” Rip said. “You made it fairly clear the last time I saw you that you wanted nothing to do with me. That you weren’t interested in anything.”
I frowned at Rip. It was true, Ihadsaid that, and in my mind, I’d figured it was probably the best for both of us. That entire day had been a clusterfuck of everything and anything. Moving on had seemed easiest. But the way he spoke …
“Areyouinterested?” I asked.
“Very much,” he said with a seriousness that surprised me.
How could he be that interested when we’d never had any normal interactions? It didn’t make much in the way of sense to me, at least.
“But you don’t know me,” I said, deciding to point that out.
Rip’s jaw worked several times, as he worked through his thoughts.
“I’d like to,” he said with a shrug of his broad shoulders. “Very much. That is, of course, if you’re up for it.”
“I actually hadn’t considered that part,” I admitted.
Rip glanced at the clock on the wall. “Well, I know it’s a bit early, but how would you feel about letting me take you to dinner?”
“Like a date?” I asked, wondering why my heart was suddenly fluttering wildly.
“Not ‘like’ a date,” Rip said. “But actually a date. You and me. First date.”
I mulled it over.
A first date? I was only a few weeks out of a truly serious long-term relationship. Was my mind really back in the space to date again? It had been so long since I’d experienced that phase of things. Did I know how to flirt and such? More importantly, did I want to do that with Rip?
Looking at him, I couldn’t deny my attraction. Not just physical, either. While my mind had been preoccupied with telling him about the pregnancy, I hadn’tentirelybeen able to ignore my memories ofhowI’d gotten pregnant.
As I’d told Mel, he was good. Really, really good. A large part of me wouldn’t mind experiencing that again.
Bonus, you can’t get pregnant this time.
I snorted, unable to stop myself.
“What?” Rip asked, looking slightly wounded.
“Oh, no,” I said, waving both my hands. “That wasn’t about you. Just a stray humorous thought. I promise.”
He didn’t seem overly convinced, but he didn’t push it.
“Okay, fine, one date,” I said, caving and giving the answer I’d been leaning toward the entire time.
Rip grinned, and my heart added a beat. Or skipped one. I wasn’t too sure. I was too busy trying to figure out if it was a good idea or a really, really,reallybad one.
I never did come up with an answer.
Chapter Twenty-One
Laurie
“You know that I need you to answer a ton of questions, right?” I asked as we were escorted to a private booth at the back of a restaurant.
