Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53717 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53717 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 269(@200wpm)___ 215(@250wpm)___ 179(@300wpm)
“Fascinating,” she murmured, impressed by both his collection and taste in art. Who knew they had so much in common? He’d never mentioned his interest in archaeology but clearly he had an appreciation for ancient artifacts.
She settled onto a comfortable couch and went through her phone, checking mail, social media, and texts. She hoped to hear from her brother, the only family she kept in touch with, but he’d been silent since she’d been home. Not that she was surprised. He had his share of troubles in his life and she hoped everything was okay.
When she ran out of things to do, she began to read a mystery novel she’d started. A blaring car horn startled her, and she jumped and glanced at the time on her phone. She’d been here for an hour. Though she understood Noah had an emergency, she didn’t want to sit here waiting. Swiping through her phone screen, she found the Uber app, intending to send for a ride.
“Shit, I am so sorry.” Jared joined her, looking more harried than when he’d left.
This time he had been running his fingers through his hair and hers itched to do the same. Clearly, it was time to get out of here. “I was just about to go home. You’re busy and I don’t want to take you away from something important.” She already knew the pressure he was under to take the bulk of the firm’s workload from his father.
“No. Please stay. Brooke has it all under control. Do you want to go see the apartment?” He glanced at his watch and grimaced. “How about we order something to eat, check out the apartment, and by the time it gets here, it’ll be lunchtime.”
She shook her head. “It’s fine. I got a quick glimpse while you were on the phone and it’s gorgeous, but it’s honestly going to be out of my budget.”
He glanced at her, amusement in his gaze, his sexy lips lifting in a smile. “How do you even know what the rent is? We haven’t discussed it.”
She didn’t want to play games. “Fine. How much is it?”
He gave her a number that was absolutely too low and he was obviously doing her a favor. She wanted to snap at him that she didn’t need charity but held the words back. He was attempting to be a nice guy and probably trying not to rip off his brother-in-law, assuming he knew Noah was helping her out for the girls’ sake. Her independence and ability to take care of her twins meant everything to her. Accepting help from Noah was bad enough.
Instead of letting her embarrassment get the better of her, she drew in and released a deep breath before speaking. “I know you’re trying to help but I couldn’t take it for that price. We both know it’s worth way more than that.”
“It might be, but I’d rather have a tenant I know and like than someone who could be a pain in the ass right below me.” He wiggled his eyebrows and she laughed, breaking the tension as she suspected was his intent.
“Just tell me you’ll consider it. Give it some real thought.”
Inside, her stomach twisted but she nodded. “I’ll think about it.”
He placed a hand on her shoulder, and she felt his heated touch through the fabric of her top. Their gazes locked and awareness settled between them. In fact, she actually felt like the air crackled with static electricity, the sparks between them were so potent.
He stepped closer and tilted his head down, his intent clear, and she panicked.
“Don’t!” she exclaimed, unable to let him kiss her before he knew the truth.
Confusion wrinkled his brows. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m pregnant,” she blurted out, watching as his eyes opened wide and the implications of her statement dawned.
He stepped back, grasping onto the back of the nearest chair. “And it’s—”
“Yours.”
He sucked in a startled breath. A few seconds passed in silence as he processed what she’d said. He glanced at her still flat stomach in disbelief and tried to swallow though his throat had gone dry. “Holy shit.”
At least he hadn’t asked if she was certain he was the father. She didn’t think she could have handled that humiliation.
“I need to sit down,” he said, and she gestured to the sofa.
He lowered himself to the seat and she kept quiet, giving him the space she assumed he needed. With butterflies in her stomach, she waited for his reaction.
Chapter Six
Just when Jared thought his life couldn’t get more complicated. He was going to be a father. He stared at nothing, trying to sort out his feelings. Was he startled? Yes. Worried about how his life was going to change? No doubt about it. Concerned about making time when work was so all-consuming? That, too.
But at his core he was a pragmatist. How else could he be living and breathing business, other than the basic reason? His family needed him to step up and he’d had no choice. But he was going to have to look deeper now because he wasn’t letting Charlotte go through this alone. He might be stunned but he knew the kind of man he was. He’d step up.