Page 53 of Stalked

“I did?” She had figured he’d be a little irritated at her running off with his cash, then would never think about her again.

He pressed the button to shut the garage door and turned off the car but still stared straight ahead with his hand on the wheel. “Why do you think I happened to be in Pensacola to identify your body? I had the Pensacola police report sent to my desk every day.”

“To look for me? Because you thought I would be arrested?”

“I figured if you were looking for businessmen as marks to steal from, you would eventually get caught.”

After her behavior in Florida, she really couldn’t blame him for that conclusion, although it still sat heavy in her heart. “And you wanted to press charges too.”

“That’s what I told myself.” He finally looked at her. “But really it was so I could find you again, rescue you from the terrible path I thought you were walking down and bring you back here. Set you straight.”

“You sound like a parole officer.”

He continued as if she hadn’t spoken, his eyes softening. “And then once you were more settled, with a good job and happy with your life, I planned to court you properly. To go out on dates and get to know you.”

“Oh.”

“Because there has not been one single day that I haven’t thought of you. I’ll admit, I wasn’t always happy with you. But I also have to admit that my plan, once I found you again, was to make sure we were together. Even when I thought you were a petty criminal.”

“But you don’t think I’m one anymore?”

He reached over and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “No.”

She asked the question she’d been afraid to ask. “And you believe me when I say the baby is yours?”

“Yes.” His hand slid into her hair and pulled her closer. “And I’m going to do whatever it takes to keep you and the baby safe.”

He closed the distance between their lips. Soft, this time, full of promise but not demand. His thumb brushed along her jaw, sending a rush of sensation racing across her skin. She leaned in closer but stopped when she felt the oddest sensation in her belly.

She jumped back from Steve. “Whoa.” She put both hands on her stomach.

“What? Are you okay? Is something wrong?”

She smiled. “I’m fine. He just kicked. Like, kickedreallyhard.”

She grabbed his hand not in the sling and put it on her stomach under her hand. They waited a moment, and then she felt it again.

Steve’s eyes grew wide. “I felt that.”

Rosalyn’s smile felt so big that it might split her face. “I know! He must be a soccer player or something.”

“Have you felt him move before?”

“I think so, but I thought it was indigestion or something. Never anything this strong.”

They waited a few minutes more, but evidently their little soccer player had gotten tired. Both Rosalyn and Steve were still grinning as he helped her out of the car and led her into the house.

In the midst of all the heartbreak and chaos of the last two days, feeling their baby move so lively inside her made everything seem like it was going to be okay.

But that didn’t stop her from being tired. Steve showed her around as they talked. He stopped and turned to her when they got to the kitchen.

“I don’t have much food.” He grimaced. “Honestly, I don’t usually come here very often during the week. There’s a small apartment within the Omega complex I use. Or just crash on the couch in my office. But I could have an agent deliver us something.”

“No, I’m fine tonight. Although I know I’ll be hungry in the morning.” She was always hungry first thing in the morning, but at least she didn’t wake up sick anymore like she had in the first few months.

“I’ve got waffles and toaster pastries.”

“Do the important people you work with know you eat Pop-Tarts for breakfast?”

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