Page 39 of An Heir Made In Hawaii (Hot Winter Escapes)

“You’re welcome.”

As he gazed down at her, the air shifted, heated between them. His eyes dropped down to her lips. His hands tightened on her hips as he heard the sharp intake of her breath. Slowly, he lowered his head. He didn’t just want to kiss her, he needed to feel her mouth beneath his, to possess her once more—

A high-pitched squeal broke through the haze of lust. His head jerked up. A young man was kneeling on the cold cobblestones, his fingers clutched around a black jewelry box opened up to a glittering ring that a woman with black curls was currently gushing over.

Anika stepped back and looked away, her cheeks flushed.

“I should get back to the inn.”

Part of him wanted to pull her back into his arms, to finish what they had started. But it was better this way, he decided as they moved away from the wall, to step back from desire. They needed to move slow, not give in to sensual urges that would distract them.

And, he decided as he followed her out of the courtyard, while he had confided in Anika, he needed to ease into whatever this relationship was slowly. Letting down his guard too soon, rushing in, could result all too easily in heartbreak.

CHAPTER TWELVE

ANIKACLUTCHEDHERhands in her lap, her eyes laser-focused on the clock ticking in the doctor’s waiting room. Their appointment had been for fifteen minutes ago. She normally handled changes in routine very well. But damn it, she wanted to see her baby.

The door to the lobby opened. Anika glanced up, then did a double take as Nicholas strode in.

“Nicholas?”

The smile he shot her sent her heart catapulting into her throat. He walked over and sat in the chair next to her.

“You haven’t gone back yet, have you?”

“No.”

“Good.” He glanced at his watch. “First time I’ve been glad a doctor has been late.”

“What are you doing here?”

He frowned. “Today’s the ultrasound, right?”

“Yes, but...”

“You did invite me,” he reminded with a slight smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“I’m surprised,” she finally replied. “Any time we’ve talked about the baby, you’ve been...removed.” And he had been. Ever since their sojourn to the castle, he’d dropped by twice, once to take her out for tea, the other simply to check on her. He’d even mentioned reading a couple of articles about what to expect in the second trimester. But compared to the relaxed, enjoyable camaraderie they’d enjoyed that day, he’d been distant.

“After what you told me about David, I understand needing some time,” she hurried to add. “I just thought this might be too much for you.”

He watched her for a long moment before reaching over and settling his hand on top of hers. The slide of his skin on hers made her breath catch.

“I want to be here.”

The sincerity in his eyes soothed away her words of protest. She realized that a part of her didn’t want him there because she didn’t want to get attached. She had started to, that day at the castle. But then he’d disappeared so quickly she’d wondered if she had imagined the deep intimacy she’d felt with him.

She didn’t want him to show up, be a part of this journey, only to pull away later when things became real. Things like waking up in the middle of the night to feed a screaming infant or changing what seemed like a never-ending number of diapers. Nicholas might dominate boardrooms and offices around the globe, but somehow, she couldn’t picture him balancing a squalling baby in his arms while warming up a bottle at one in the morning.

Still, she wasn’t going to make him pay the price for her insecurities. They had months to go before they would face any of those obstacles. At some point in the near future, they would discuss what that first year would look like, the extent of how Nicholas would be involved.

But for today, she was going to focus on finally getting to see the life growing inside her.

The nurse called them back and escorted them into a dim room with a reclined medical chair. An ultrasound technician walked them through the procedure as she laid a towel over Anika’s waist and spread a thick jelly over her abdomen.

“So, is this your first?” she asked cheerfully as she picked up a wand with a circular piece on the end.

“Yes,” Anika replied, her heart beating fast as she watched the screen.

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