Page 79 of Her Inconvenient Groom (French Conquests 4)

She appreciated that her brother was so willing to stand up for her, bristling as he was by the hint of a threat. Since the debacle at the hospital, both he and Dennis had been way nicer to her. The rifts were healing.

But this was a private matter. “It’s fine,” she insisted.

Tom peered at Dustin again. “You sure? Because I can throw him out.”

Chantelle almost smiled at this, because Dustin was more muscular and taller than Tom, an executive chained to a desk most days, who had already begun sporting a paunch. She brushed her damp cheek on her sleeve and offered reassurance. “Not today, okay?”

“Okay.” Tom still seemed to have his doubts. He backed out anyway, but not before giving Dustin a hard stare and sending her the ‘call me’ signal with his fingers and thumb.

They were alone again and she noticed that throughout the short diversion, Dustin hadn’t let go of her hand.

“Where were we?” he asked with the merest hint of humor.

“You were denying paternity of that baby,” she answered dryly.

“Right. I—”

“Dustin, science is in our corner.”

“What do you mean?”

She sighed. “I want you to take a paternity test. That way we will know once and for all.”

He nodded slowly, agreeing. “What if she is mine?”

“Then you do the right thing.”

“What do you consider the right thing? Do you expect me to divorce you and marry Jen?”

The idea of that hurt worse than she expected. “I can’t ask you to marry anyone. But I would expect you to be there for your child, financially as well as emotionally. You may not trust your ex. You may not love her, but you will be a father to your child.”

He let Chantelle’s hands go and folded his arms, tilting his head to one side to assess her. “And when the test proves the baby isn’t mine? Will you ever trust me again? Would you ever want me again?”

She looked down at her feet before she answered. “I don’t want you either way.”

He pounced. “And you call me a liar?”

“Yes, I’m not ly—” she vehemently disagreed.

“You love me,” he said confidently.

She couldn’t tell another lie. Her love for him was worth more than that, too much for her to disgrace it by denial. This time, she looked into his eyes when she answered. “Yes.”

His face almost glowed with triumphant delight. He took her hand again and pulled her to him. “Then why should we burden ourselves with pain? Why should we deny ourselves, and throw this precious gift of love right back into the universe’s face?” His voice softened. “I love you, Chantelle. That has been true ever since the first time I said it, and will always be true.”

She struggled with something deep inside, and her heart won the battle. She slumped against him. “Dustin. My heart—”

“Is in the devoted hands. I will take care of it. As I’m sure you’ll care for mine.”

She tilted her face upwards, allowing him to kiss her, and he did so fervently.

“I came here thinking I might never again feel your lips,” he said fervently.

She wanted to close her eyes to take in the scent and feel of him more fully, but was scared that if she did, he might vaporize and she’d discover he had been nothing but a wisp. There was something nagging at her. She pulled away.

For a second, he looked frightened.

“I have a condition.” Maybe she sounded bossy, came off as harsh, but it needed to be done.

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