Page 47 of Unexpected Forever
“When I told you I was pregnant, you believed me. I mean, you had a little freak-out session, which is totally understandable. But why didn’t you ask me for proof or something?”
He narrows his eyes. “Because you don’t strike me as the type of woman to lie about something like this.”
His words warm my soul and make me feel special. It’s almost as though he knows me.
“Well.” I run a finger along the edge of my plate. “Didn’t you have a problem with a woman a few years back? Claiming she was carrying your child?”
His jaw tightens and he pushes his empty plate away. “Yes. But that situation was different. She knew the score upfront, and when I chose not to see her again, she retaliated.”
He glances away and runs a hand through his hair. “She thought she could make some cash and get a quick dose of fame to help her acting career.”
“But you…” His eyes meet mine. “I knew the moment I met you that you’d never use me for money or fame. Just like I know even if we aren’t together, we’ll at least be friends for the sake of the baby.”
My stomach dips at his words. I’m touched but also a little sad he knows we could never be anything to each other.
It’s complicateddoesn’t begin to cover it.
“I’ll never keep your child from you, Nate. I promise.”
“I know.”
We stare at each other for a long moment before he blows out a breath and nods to my plate. “Are you finished?”
My stomach turns when I look down at the half-eaten plate of food. “Yeah, I’m good. But I can take care of it.”
Before I rise out of the chair, he swipes both plates and heads to the sink.
I should know better than to underestimate the catcher with the fastest pop time in the majors.
The man moves quickly and precisely.
I stand there, once again watching him, and come to a decision. One that might bite me in the ass later but, in the long run, I think will be the best thing for Nate, me, and the baby.
“Okay, you win.”
He finishes loading and closes the dishwasher, a bemused look on his face. “What did I win?”
“I’ll move in with you, but only until they get rid of the mold at my place. And,”—I hold up a finger—“there will be rules.”
He walks toward me, closing the gap between us, his hazel eyes focused on me. “What kind of rules?”
“One, Iwillbe paying rent, so draw up those papers. Two,”—a second finger joins the first—“I will have my own room. I’m not sharing with you.”
His lips quirk in a smile.
I hold up a third finger. “Which should make rule number three easy-peasy. No sex. Got it?”
“Is that it?”
I think about it for a moment, tapping a finger on my chin. “For now.”
His eyes study my face for a moment before he holds out a hand in the small space between us. “Deal.”
When his hand closes around mine and desire flares in his golden-green eyes, heat pools between my legs.
I lift my chin, sliding my hand from his, and step away. “Glad that’s settled.”
There’s something about Nate Gentry that makes me want to give in way too fast.
