A Baby Between Them. C.J. Carmichael

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СКАЧАТЬ had a bit of a shock.”

      “I’ll say.”

      She waited for him to upbraid her again, for not sharing the news sooner. And if he even tried, she was more than prepared to fight back.

      But in his eyes she saw more resignation than outrage.

      “So,” she said. “Will you be leaving in the morning?” On the drive home he’d made it clear that he wouldn’t be staying any longer than necessary.

      “That’s what I’ve been thinking about.”

      He leaned a hand on the door frame and she tried not to notice how good he looked. He skied to stay in shape—skied and mountain biked. Clearly his regimen worked, because he had not gained an ounce since their night together in Philadelphia.

      It wasn’t fair. If babies couldn’t be produced simply with test tubes and incubators, couldn’t the process at least require the man to gain weight, too?

      “So,” she prodded. “The results of all this thinking are…?”

      “For eight months you’ve been dealing with this—” he cleared his throat “—this pregnancy, on your own.”

      “True.”

      “It’s time I did my share.”

      “Great.” She cupped her hands around her belly. “I’ll just slip this off and hand it over.”

      His grin was the first sign she’d been given that he still had a sense of humor.

      “I’ll bet you wish you could.”

      “You have no idea.”

      He realized she’d been leaning against the wall. “I’m sorry. I’m keeping you up, and you’re obviously exhausted.”

      But she wanted to hear what he had to say. How he was planning to start shouldering his share of the load. “It’s okay. I’m going to have to pee in another hour, anyway. It’s hardly worth going back to bed.”

      He didn’t buy it. “Come on, Rae.” He opened her bedroom door and waited at the doorway until she’d settled back into bed.

      “Can I get you anything?”

      “Yeah, a pedicure and a box of bonbons.”

      He didn’t laugh as she’d expected him to.

      “Maybe tomorrow.”

      “But tomorrow you’ll be gone.”

      “Is that what you want?”

      The man was infuriating. It was too late for mind games. “I told you there was plenty of room in this house for two. You’re the one who decided you didn’t want to stay.”

      There’d been a split second when she’d first seen him in the kitchen, when she’d had a crazy thought. He’s come for me, her foolish self had cheered. He’s finally realized how much he loves me, and he’s come to get me and take me home.

      It hurt to admit to herself just how pathetic she could be. Her only consolation was that Aidan didn’t know about this weakness of hers. Her weakness for him.

      And that was what really made her crazy. Even now that she knew he was the sort of man who would sleep with an employee, then move her like a pawn to a different city, she was still deeply affected by him.

      She hated that.

      Thank God he was leaving.

      “So where are you going?” she asked again.

      “I’ve decided I’d like to stay. If that’s still okay with you.”

      Why the about-face? She tried to read the answer in his eyes, but it was too late and she was too tired. “I don’t understand.”

      “It’s not that complicated. I’d like to stay here with you until the baby’s born.”

      Rae’s stomach dropped at the word baby. “Aidan, I’ve already told you that you don’t have to worry about that. It’s nothing to do with you.”

      “You’re wrong. This baby definitely has something to do with me. And for the next few weeks, so do you.”

      CHAPTER FIVE

      “GO TO HELL, AIDAN. I didn’t need you for the first eight months of this pregnancy and I don’t need you now.”

      Aidan took Rae’s insult without comment.

      “If I were you,” she continued, “I’d catch a flight to Hawaii and enjoy myself. Have yourself a real vacation.”

      “Oh, really. You want me to sit on a beach and drink mai tais while you stay here and have our baby?”

      “Don’t call it ‘ours.’ It isn’t ours, Aidan. It belongs to Julia and Neil Thompson. They’re the ones who’ll get to call this baby ‘ours.’”

      Aidan reeled. “Julia and Neil Thompson?”

      She nodded. “I arranged the adoption through an agency. I handpicked the parents myself, and they’re perfect. Julia’s a kindergarten teacher. She’s got to love kids, right? And Neil’s a social worker, so he’ll be one of those warm, sensitive types, too.”

      “Warm and sensitive.”

      Every time Rae stopped talking it seemed all Aidan could do was repeat the last few words she’d said.

      “Snap out of it, Aidan. What’s the problem? I told you I was putting the baby up for adoption.”

      “But…” Aidan blinked his eyes several times. “Do you have more information on these people?”

      “Sure. The agency sent me reams of background information.”

      “Okay.” He took a deep breath. “You’re tired. You should get some sleep. But in the morning I’m going to want to read everything you’ve got.”

      “But…”

      He shut the door and she heard his footsteps as he walked away down the hall.

      Oddly enough, Rae did fall asleep after that, and when she woke up the next morning, Aidan’s words were still in her head. This baby definitely has something to do to me. And for the next few weeks, so do you.

      He’d made his decision out of guilt and responsibility. Rae was certain this was the case. And yet, she had to admit that she was glad, really, really glad, he’d decided to stay.

      She wasn’t happy about feeling this way. In fact, she hated to think that the man still held this much power over her.

      But there it was. When it came to Aidan Wythe, she was an absolute fool.

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