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)
But why were they going through this to begin with? She’d said she had an IUD and she didn’t strike him as the type to lie. “So… I have to ask. How?”
She twisted her hands in front of her, not meeting his gaze. “Apparently my IUD failed because it was due to be changed. I thought I was covered. I honestly did. I mean, who does this… twice?” She gestured to her still flat stomach.
“Hey. Come sit.” He patted the cushion beside him.
She lowered herself onto the sofa, holding herself stiff and apart.
“Relax. I’m not angry. Surprised and in shock? Yeah. But you can breathe.” Reaching out, he rubbed her back in comforting circles and she expelled a long stream of air.
She finally met his gaze and in her eyes he saw warmth and gratitude. “How did I get this lucky… twice? Noah was a gentleman about it, and now you?” She shook her head in disbelief.
“What did happen with Noah?” He’d never thought to ask, and now that he had? He realized he was actually jealous of his brother-in-law because he’d been with Charlotte first.
“Well, we were both in Toronto, me at a conference, and we met in the airport while waiting for our flight home. A massive snowstorm came through and the airline put us up at a hotel. One thing led to another… We used a condom but… I won’t say we were unlucky because I love my girls.”
He really disliked hearing about her night with Noah, but he’d asked, so he set his jaw and continued to listen.
“It was just one of those things that happened. Once in a lifetime, at least that’s what I assumed at the time.” Her lips twisted in a wry smile. “But here we are.”
“Here we are. I hope you don’t mind me asking but were you and Noah ever… involved?”
Her light laughter filled the room. “No. We were tipsy, there was a brief attraction but we agreed from the beginning all either of us wanted to do was co-parent.”
He couldn’t deny being relieved. Then again, considering his sister and Noah’s relationship, and how much Fallon liked Charlotte, he’d never considered her an issue for either of them. He put those thoughts out of his head and focused on the present.
“Have you known you were pregnant for a while?” Because he’d known for five minutes and he was reeling.
She shook her head. “Not really. I took a test before I left the dig site and I planned on telling you when we were alone. I just had to find the right way to do it.”
He recalled being about to kiss her when she’d blurted out the news. “You definitely did that.”
Her cheeks flushed pink. “Sorry. I wasn’t really thinking, but I didn’t want things to get more complicated between us before you knew about the baby.” She rested her hands on her stomach and a weird sensation settled in his chest.
“Are we complicated?” he asked, rubbing where it felt like heartburn and not an overwhelming rush of emotion. It had to be too soon for that. Right?
“We shouldn’t be. We should be smart about this. Figure out how we want to handle things.”
He narrowed his gaze. “Handle things? As in whether or not to keep the baby?” he asked, unable to keep the accusation from his tone.
He’d only known about the pregnancy for a short time but he was already coming to accept his life was about to go in a whole new direction. And the moment he thought she might take that away, he realized he was okay with the big change that was coming his way. He didn’t want her to make a choice that would rid him of the option of being a parent.
“No, I’m not debating whether or not to keep the baby, although that decision is mine to make. My body, my choice,” she said firmly.
He nodded, relieved. “For the record, I agree. It just wasn’t a direction I wanted you to take.”
“I’m glad you feel that way. And I’m relieved you know. At least I can put that worry to rest.”
“You can,” he said, as he rose to his feet. “Now, can I order lunch and feed you? You’re eating for two.” He grinned and her easy smile lifted the weight that had settled in his stomach during their conversation.
She shook her head. “Thanks, but I’m tired. This whole reveal wore me out. I’m going to go back to my hotel and take a nap.”
He really didn’t want her staying at a hotel when he had an apartment right downstairs just waiting for her to say yes. She’d already figured out he’d knocked down the rent, but she didn’t know he and Noah had talked and agreed on a number they thought she might eventually accept. He knew her independence was important to her and now wasn’t the time to push. On anything.