Page 84 of Sugarloaf Ridge Lies

My hackles raise. Does she think I’m trying to take advantage of the situation? “What else am I supposed to do?”

She swallows. “I know you really like her. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“This isn’t about us.”

She narrows her eyes, and her mouth tilts up at the corner. “Us?”

I blow out a breath. “It’s not what you think.”

“You were looking pretty cosy in there.”

We were?“I was consoling a woman who just lost everything. The least I could do is comfort her.”

“I know, and I love you for that. But you need to guard your heart, Jerry.”

She says it as if it’s easy.

Yeah, well it’s too late for that.

***

As the bacon sizzlesto the right level of crisp, Liv walks into the kitchen, no makeup, honey hair tangled. She’s in one of Daynah’s long dresses which fits snug around her torso, then falls to the floor.

I pull my stare from the curve of her rounded belly before I give in to the very real urge to touch her, glide my fingers over her bump.Is it possible that she’s more beautiful than when we first met?

“Morning,” she says and smooths her hands over her stomach, drawing my gaze like a magnet. “Damn. I need to go shopping. Whilst I appreciate the clothes, this belly is getting bigger by the day, I’m sure of it. Please thank Daynah for me though.”

I clear my throat. “I’ll be sure to let her know. And I’m happy to take you shopping, by the way. Whatever you need.”

She slumps into the chair with a loud sigh and pushes her hair back from her face. “I need to ring my insurer. I have no idea how long it takes to sort out stuff like this. At least my boss has given me some time to sort things out.”

“Hey, one thing at a time. You need to eat.”

I put some bread in the toaster and dish food onto two plates.

“You’re right. Babe and I need food.”

The toaster takes its time. The silence makes it hard to think of what to say next. Finally, golden toast pops up. I slather on butter and set our plates on the table.

“You’re looking well,” I say, my voice is tight. I don’t want to say the wrong thing, but she needs to know that even though she might feel like the world is against her, she looks fit and healthy. “Things good? With the baby?”

She bites the edge of her toast, the butter creating a gloss on her top lip. She licks at it, and I have to stop myself from mirroring the action.

“It’s the one thing in my life thatisgoing well.”

Oh, baby. What’s been going on with you since we broke up?

“If I’m honest, I feel... broken.”

My chest tightens knowing this kind, beautiful woman feels so low. Fucking broken.How the fuck do I fix this?

I reach over and smooth my hand over hers. “You might think you’re broken, but all I see is brave. You’ll pick yourself up, I know it. I’m just lucky to be a part of that, to be able to help in some way.”

“Thanks.” She extends her hand and traces her finger over the skin above my left eye.

“You didn’t go see the doctor to get fixed up. After the fight.”The night she told me she was pregnant.

“No.” I wasn’t thinking straight that night, or in the days after. “Chicks dig scars, right?”

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