With Honor. Rhonda Lee Carver

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      Jasmine unlocked the door to her room. Shane’s eyes were on her, she knew. Turning, their gazes met and her breath caught. He leaned casually against the wall, powerful and virile, as if he belonged there with her. Did he work to look that cool and composed? Her insides melted. What had she been thinking by inviting him back to her room? Sure, she had puked all over his ABU’s and the odor of the vomit suffocated her, yet she didn’t owe him anything. That should teach him a lesson to not be an ass.

      Pushing open the door, she stepped aside so he could pass. He filled every inch of space with his size, including her available oxygen, making her dizzy. Once the room stopped spinning, she tossed the keys onto the table and slipped off her shoes. “Bathroom is in there,” she said. He came to the room to clean up and then maybe she could get down to the nitty-gritty of why she had come.

      “I'll take you up on that.”

      “Please do.” The smell of vomit wafted underneath her nose as he walked by her. In the logical part of her brain, she realized she should be mortified. Maybe her lack of embarrassment stemmed from Shane's casual attitude about the whole thing. She wondered how other men would handle being vomited on by a woman they barely knew.

      Jasmine listened as Shane closed the door to the bathroom. Rustling sounds drew her attention. Imagining him taking off his shirt made tingles spiral up her body. Her hormones weren’t out-of-whack because he was partially naked on the other side of the wall. In fact, he had nothing to do with her raging emotions. She denied any connection. The water came on. Moving to the far side of the room, she tried to block the sounds of splashing water.

      Once before, she’d given in to her womanly needs, but that could never happen again–not with a man like Shane. Every woman needed to have herself a bad boy at least once. Dangerous men were a rite of passage. He certainly fit the bill. Cocky, self-assured and egotistical.

      The water shut off in the bathroom. Sitting at the desk, she tried several positions on the leather chair until she was certain she looked calm and serene, two things she didn’t feel inside. She took a deep breath just as the door came open.

      He stepped into her view and her heart skipped a beat. How could he do that to her?

      “Better?” she asked.

      “Much.” His smile softened his features. His ABU jacket was gone and he wore a crisp white tee and uniform pants that were wet in spots where he must have wiped them. She refused to stare at his toned arms, broad chest and lean waist. He crossed the room to sit on the end of the bed. “Jasmine, I get that you’re angry because I skipped out after we slept together and then recanted my story with the magazine, but I have a feeling there’s more that you need to tell me.”

      Nodding, she moistened her lips. “There is.” Her throat tightened. No more procrastinating. “I’m pregnant.”

      He went through several expressions, then his face went blank. He didn’t say a word. Did he understand?

      “I’m pregnant by you.”

      The room became so silent that she could hear her heart beat. When she’d given up on him responding, he shifted on the bed and said, “Really? By me?”

      “Yes. You and I…well, the night we had sex, it happened.”

      “What the hell? Aren’t you on the pill?”

      His skin turned pale and she wondered if he’d spew now from shock. “No, I wasn’t.”

      “I always use condoms.” His voice turned gruff.

      “You did. You’re a smart guy. At least I hope so, since I’m having your child, but not all birth control is mistake-proof.”

      Running a palm down his leg, she flinched at the severe look he gave her. “How do you know it’s mine?”

      His words hurt, but she’d expected as much. Getting up, she went to her purse, taking out the folded slip of paper and business card. She handed them to Shane.

      “What are these?”

      “A letter from my doctor stating that I’m eleven-weeks pregnant. There is also his business card so that you can call him with any questions that you may have.”

      Taking the items, he stared at them for the longest time. She’d never have thought a man like Shane Conner could be speechless.

      “I know that this must be a huge shock. I was floored.”

      “There’s no chance you’ll decide to, you know…” He seemed to debate which words to use. “Get rid of it?”

      “No. I plan to keep it.”

      “Okay, then.”

      “Although we did this together, I am prepared to do this alone. The pregnancy was an accident, but I truly believe it’s meant to be.”

      “I need some time to toss this around. Can we agree to meet tomorrow?” He looked like he could fall off the bed.

      “Okay. That’s fine.”

      “You can come by my place around ten.”

      “I can trust that you won’t high tail it out of the country, right?” She hoped to ease the tension with a bit of humor. Her intention fizzled.

      “Lady, СКАЧАТЬ