Page 35 of Unsure in Love

“But, I’ll bite,” he said. “I wouldn’t say I’m commitment-phobic. I’ve just never been interested in settling down.”

“Why not?”

“Before, my life wasn’t set up for that type of thing. I never felt comfortable subjecting a woman, a family, to my lifestyle.”

My eyes moved over his skin. He had quite a few tribal tats that I’d admired before, but there were a few interesting military ones. Like the one on his left arm of an angry-looking skull wearing a green beret and holding a dagger between its teeth. There were words written beneath it: De Oppresso Liber.

“Before, meaning when you were in the military?”

He nodded. “I didn’t think it was fair to have a woman at home waiting and wondering if I’d come back alive or in a body bag. It sounds morbid, but that was the reality of my job.”

I nodded. “I get it.”

Now, I was having horrible thoughts about him maybe jumping back into military action at some point… and coming home in a body bag. A wave of nausea made me pull in a deep breath. I wasn’t sure if it was caused by wretched morning sickness—which really should be called all-day sickness—or from fear for him. I couldn’t deny that Damian was growing on me. No, that didn’t sound right. I cared about him.

“Men and women do it all the time, have their families waiting at home, wondering, worrying,” he continued. “I simply avoided it.”

Nibbling my lower lip, I asked, “So you’re completely out now, right?” Hopefully, he didn’t hear the panic in my voice. “I mean, you won’t be running off to the other side of the world into danger or anything?”

“I’m retired from the military.” Eyes brimming with amusement collided with mine. “Why? Would you worry about me if I ran off into danger? Would you miss me?”

I let out a derisive snort. “Don’t get too excited, Damian. I’d just hate to be a single parent if I don’t absolutely have to be.” I averted my gaze. “So just spare me the stress and stay safe.” When I glanced back at him, he was grinning like the Cheshire cat. “What?”

“The world won’t end if you admit to caring about me, Cass.”

Rolling my eyes, I got up and busied myself collecting empty takeout boxes. “We’ve been sitting here forever. Now that dinner is over, what’s the plan?”

He watched me with his smug smirk still in place as I moved around the kitchen. “Now we talk, I suppose. There’s a lot to discuss about our…”

“Situation?” I helped. “Yes, there’s plenty to discuss there.” Like how the hell we were going to raise a child together with more than a thousand miles between us. The entire conversation seemed daunting, and I heaved a sigh.

“Sounds like that’s the last thing you want to talk about,” Damian said.

I gasped when I turned and found him standing behind me. Way too close. It wasn’t that I was uncomfortable with his proximity, but I didn’t trust myself around him. When he was this close, all I could think about was getting closer. Intimate. So I made a subtle retreat, which hopefully he didn’t notice.

“Yes, but there’s no avoiding the conversation,” I said.

“We’ve got time. You’re not leaving New York for a few days.” His eyes moved over my face. “You should relax tonight.”

“So, you’re taking me back to my hotel, then?”

“I mean you should relax here, where I know you’re safe.”

“You don’t have to worry about my safety.” Although I liked that he cared…

“The area you’re staying in isn’t ideal.”

“Well, I couldn’t afford the posh settings you’re accustomed to, Mr. CEO.”

He blew out a breath. “You’re a very stubborn woman.”

“You’d think so because you’re used to getting your way. Accept that you can’t always get what you want with me, control freak,” I added with a challenging grin.

Damian went quiet and just stared at me. We stood facing each other, neither of us saying anything. I thought I’d offended him until his laughter floated around us. He had to have the deepest, sexiest laugh I’d ever heard. It caused a tingle in my nether region.

“Somehow, you calling me out with such accuracy is a turn-on. I have no idea how you pull it off.” He shook his head and gazed at me as if I was a creature he was trying to comprehend, and it made me smile harder.

“At least you don’t deny that you’re a control freak. I admire how honest you are with yourself.”

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