Page 6 of Carly's Heart

“Don’t you love me?” he whined. Birch wanted to punch him in the mouth.

“Let go of her arm,” Birch growled. Mike let go immediately, but glared at Birch.

“Are you leaving me for this cowboy?” he sneered the last word.

“Mike,” she said with way more patience than Birch could have mustered, “I’m leaving you because you won’t stop drinking. I’m afraid you’ll do something dangerous.”

“I love you,” Mike begged.

Carly placed a hand on Mike’s cheek. “Mike. I used to love you. Now ....” Her mouth twisted sadly as she fumbled for words. “I still love you. Like a friend. Not like a wife or lover. We’re over. I can’t watch you destroy yourself. Get your shit together or you’ll never see our child.”

Tears streamed down her face. Birch reached out and took her elbow. “Come on outside. One of the boys can run you home while we finish loading. I’m sure Mike can tell us what needs to be moved.” He led her outside.

As they stepped over the doorjamb, she stumbled and landed against him. Helpless to resist, he wrapped her in his arms and let her cry out her agony. Emotions rode over him like stampeding cattle. Guilt for being glad her marriage was over. Happiness that she was in his arms. Caring and tenderness for her plight. Joy that he could help her move on. And shameful lust for her condition. For the past two months, whenever he thought of her and her gently swelling belly, he imagined she was carrying his child.

God help him, he was in love with her. He had been from the first time he saw her at the diner. He never would have moved in on her while she was in a relationship and now, pregnant, and alone, she didn’t need a man chasing her.

He hugged her close, stroking her back and murmuring senseless sounds of comfort, until her tears ebbed. He’d bide his time and eventually, he’d make his move. But not until he felt she was ready. Not until her heart was healed after the loss of her marriage. He’d be the friend that supported her, not the jerk that hit on her when she was down.

♥♥♥

CARLY FLOPPED ONTO the sofa that came with the condo. The walls were beige, the hardwood a brownish grey. It was in perfect shape and totally without personality. She couldn’t wait to make it her own. Her landlord said she could paint it if she wished. Paint would wait until after the baby came.

She wiggled to get comfortable on the tweed sofa. It and the matching chair weren’t much but would do until she found a living room suite she loved at a price she could afford. She was saving her money in case Mike’s drinking cost him his job and she lost support payments.

Someone knocked on the door. “Come in.”

The door opened almost soundlessly. “Don’t you know to lock your door?” Birch chided gently. “It could have been anyone out here.”

“I knew you were coming with the last load.” She struggled to get up. Even with months left to go, she felt awkward and occasionally struggled to move. Especially when she was exhausted.

“Sit. You need to rest. Just tell us where to put stuff. This box weighs a ton. It says books.”

She stayed where she was. After being up all night last night, and then moving today, she was exhausted. Carrying a child was hard work. “Over there, in the corner please.” She didn’t have a bookcase yet, but she’d seen a great one at Twice Over, the secondhand store.

“As you wish.”

His comment made her wonder if he’d ever seen The Princess Bride. Naw, she was imagining things. His shirt rode up as he hefted the box over her lone chair. His abs rippled. Mesmerized, she stared until he cleared his throat.

“Are you okay? Can I get you anything? Do you need a doctor?”

His concern was touching. “No. I’m good. Just tired. I zoned out for a second.”

“Oh. If you’re sure. I can run out and get you some food?” He made it a question.

“That’s my job. I’ve ordered pizza and there’s beer in the fridge. And sodas for anyone who prefers that.”

“Whatever you ordered is perfect. You don’t have to do anything special for us. This is a favor for a friend, from friends.” He disappeared out the door and his brothers came in. The next twenty minutes was a flurry of activity directed from her chair. Despite her objections, none of them would let her lift anything. It was a relief when they announced that the last box was inside. Tanya hurried in right behind her father and siblings.

“Sorry I’m late. I got stuck at work. I brought you this.” She thrust a Boston fern into Carly’s lap. “Every house needs a housewarming plant.”

“Typical Tanya,” Birch teased, “shows up for the food but misses the work.”

“You know it, bro.” She mock punched his arm. He swayed dramatically and dropped onto the sofa beside Carly just as the doorbell chimed. Tanya whirled around to admit the pizza delivery boy. Sage and Asher, Tanya and Birch’s brothers and their father headed to the bathroom to clean up before eating.

“Feed us, sis. We worked hard. We’re starved,” Birch patted Carly’s knee; the soft touch sent her heart into overdrive. “We can’t let our little mama get hungry.”

Something about his use of the possessive word ‘our’ covered her in warmth like being wrapped in a soft quilt. The man was lethal to her good sense. She pretended not to be affected by Birch and chalked the overreaction up to pregnancy hormones.

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