Confessions of the World's Oldest Shotgun Bride (13 page)

Kathryn jerked back. “Oh God. I can’t talk to him now. I’m not ready.”

“Good. You won’t have time to obsess. You can spit out the news and move straight to dealing with it.” Amanda picked up the wine glasses and headed for the kitchen. “Did you know Steve was coming over tonight?”

“Not really. I figured he’d drop by sometime this weekend, but I didn’t know when. He likes to surprise me.” Kathryn ran her fingers through her hair. “I really hate that about him.”

The doorbell rang, and Amanda went to answer it, Kathryn at her heels. Amanda opened the door. “Hello, Steve. I’m Amanda.” She looked him up and down with searching eyes.

Steve seemed unperturbed by her scrutiny, but then, he must be used to women staring at him. He stuck out his hand. “Steve Tyler. It’s great to meet you, Amanda. I want to get to know all Kathryn’s friends.”

Amanda held onto his hand for a few extra seconds, examining his face, before she let go. “I want to get to know you too, but I have to run, and you and Kathryn need to talk.”

“Amanda,” Kathryn’s voice squeaked out.

Amanda grabbed her coat from the closet next to the door. “Talk to him,” she said, and was gone.

“Alone at last.” Steve gave Kathryn that sexy little smile that ordinarily made her melt and stepped inside, taking off his bomber jacket. His sweater matched his deep blue eyes. Light from the overhead fixture reflected off his shining blond hair. His jeans fit just right, tight enough to show off his world-class ass, but not tight enough to show his religion. The whole Steve package had been lethal to Kathryn’s self-control, and now she was paying the price.

He stepped closer. The smell of his aftershave set off a minor rebellion in her newly sensitive stomach. He’d shaved for her. She wanted to touch him, but then, she always wanted to touch him. Too bad she hadn’t resisted the urge, or at least confined it to parts of him that were safe.

He looked into her eyes. “What’s up, Kathryn? What do you need to tell me?”

She wasn’t ready for this conversation. She hadn’t had time to plan, to write a script. Overcome by panic, she took a step backward.

Steve frowned. “You look freaked out. What’s wrong?”

“Amanda’s right. We need to talk. But not right now. I’ve had a lousy day.”

He tossed the bomber jacket over the doorknob, slid his hands around her waist and pulled her against him. “Okay, Katie, we don’t have to talk.”

Feeling a burst of anger she knew was irrational, she pushed him away. “Damn it, Steve, don’t you ever think about anything but sex?”

His face reddened. “After all the times you’ve told me you’re only interested in my body, that was a major league cheap shot.”

She fought to keep her self-control and not do something embarrassing, like breaking down in tears. “You’re right. That was unfair. Like I said, I’ve had a lousy day. Can we get together tomorrow night and talk? Unless you have a date.”

His jaw muscles tightened. “Christ, Kathryn, are you trying to piss me off? You know I’m not dating anyone else. I told you how I feel about you. What kind of an asshole do you think I am?”

He was right. Whatever his history, he hadn’t given her any reason to distrust him. Not that he’d had much chance. With an effort, she kept her voice from shaking. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it.” She knew her response was lame, but it was the best she could do.

He stepped forward, looming over her. “If you don’t want to talk and you don’t want to get laid, what do you want?”

“I want you to go away. Just for now. Please.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

He stepped back again. “Fine, you got it,” he said, but instead of turning around, he walked past her into the unit.

She put her hands on her hips. “The door’s the other way, Steve.”

“I need to use the john first. If that’s all right with you.”

His sarcastic tone, and the look on his face, a mix of hurt and anger, ripped at her gut. Unless that was morning sickness. She didn’t want to be bitchy, and she didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but she wasn’t ready to deal with him. She needed time alone to process her new situation. Thank God he’d agreed to go. “Of course. You know where it is.”

Steve stomped to the bathroom and slammed the door. She followed as far as the living room. Sinking onto the couch, she rested her elbows on her knees and buried her face in her hands.

“Damn you, Kathryn.” The sound of Steve’s voice made her look up. He stood in the doorway to the bathroom, his face red and his jaw muscles rigid. The intensity of his expression scared her. “Who the hell do you think you are? You didn’t have any right to keep this from me!” He held the pink box up in one hand and the test strip in the other.

Oh shit. So much for buying time. She glared at him. “Yeah? Well, you had no right to go snooping through my trash.”

“Right. The best defense is a good offense.” He waved the stick. “I went to wash my hands and this was in plain sight in the sink. So yes, I dug the box out of the trash. I had to make sure I understood the results. Since apparently you were planning to throw me out of your house without telling me you’re pregnant with my baby.”

She made her voice gentle. “Steve, I never intended to keep this from you. I only just found out myself. I was going to tell you later, after I had some time to decide what to do.”

“Well excuse the hell out of me, but how did this get to be all your decision?” He strode to the couch with his eyes locked on hers. She shivered and crossed her arms over her chest. He sat beside her, placing the box and test strip on the coffee table. “We made the baby together, we make the decisions together. End of story. Not that there’s anything to decide. We’re getting married.”

She rolled her eyes, touched but exasperated. “Married? You have to be joking. That was about the most unromantic proposal I’ve ever heard. Besides, we barely know each other, except in the biblical sense. I’m not marrying you.”

“Sure you are. With a baby on the way, you have to.”

She shook her head. “Have to? What century are you living in? The concept of ‘having to’ get married went out with the hula hoop.”

He grabbed her forearm, gently but firmly. “Not with men of honor it didn’t. My child will have my last name, and a real family.” He let go of her arm and tilted her chin up with his index finger, forcing her to look at his face. “You’re used to winning, but if you fight me on this, you’ll get more than you bargained for.”

It was true, she hadn’t bargained on him being so eager to take on this new responsibility. The idea that he was ready to fight to form a family with her sent happy shivers through her. But he wasn’t being realistic. She tried to reason with him. “You haven’t thought this all the way through. We’re not ready for marriage and a baby. We should at least consider the other options.”

“What other options?” His eyes narrowed and his expression turned cold. He grabbed her by both forearms. “You are not going to have an abortion. Do you hear me? You are not throwing away our child like yesterday’s garbage.”

“Let go of me.” She struggled without success to escape from his grasp. “You have no right to bully me. It’s my choice.”

“Legally it’s your decision, but if you think I won’t do everything I can to talk you out of it, you’re crazy. It would be wrong, Katie.” Releasing her arms, he raked his fingers through his hair. “I’m sure Mom wasn’t thrilled to find out she was pregnant with me. My brother and sister were ten and twelve. What if she’d taken the easy way out?”

Kathryn’s eyes welled up, and she touched his cheek. “Steve, your mom loves you like crazy.”

He put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. “I know. That’s my point. You’ll love our baby too.”

She rested her hands on his waist. “I’m not saying I want an abortion. I haven’t decided anything yet. I’ll admit, the idea doesn’t feel right.”

“That’s because you’re not the kind of person who flakes out on her obligations.” He lifted his hands and cupped her face. “Katie, we haven’t done anything wrong. We took precautions. They didn’t work. Now we need to be responsible and give this child we’ve made the best life we can. That means living with both parents.”

Kathryn wiggled away from him and rested her head against the back of the sofa. “I can’t believe this is happening to me.”

He frowned. “Enough with the drama, Katie. Stop acting like having my baby is a fate worse than death. It’s insulting.”

She shrank back, feeling the tears welling up in her eyes. “Don’t be like that.”

He let out a sigh, then laid a hand on her stomach. “I know we didn’t plan this, but hasn’t it occurred to you what an amazing kid we must have made? Think about it. My looks and your brains.”

“As George Bernard Shaw supposedly said in a similar situation, what if it’s the other way around?”

His body grew rigid. “That would be okay too. You’re a beautiful woman, and I’m not stupid.”

She sat up straighter and looked him in the eye. “I never said you were stupid. I don’t think that.”

“Maybe not, but you think I’m not serious, not good enough to be the father of your baby.”

“You’ve got it wrong. I’m not upset about having a baby with you; I’m upset about having a baby at all. A baby wasn’t in my plans.”

“Well, tough. We made one anyway. You can’t change that.”

She felt her forehead wrinkling as she looked at him in curiosity. “This can’t have been in your plans either. Aren’t you even a little upset?”

“That you wanted to hide my baby from me? Yes. That I’m going to be a father? Honestly, no. Sure, it’s a surprise, but I’m ready. I’ll deal.”

“You’re taking this better than I am. I’m not sure I’m ready to trade in my Corvette for a minivan.”

A look of annoyance settled on his face. “No need. I’m sure we can find a baby seat to fit your Corvette.”

“And one to fit your... good grief, I don’t even know what you drive. We’re talking about having a baby together, and I have no clue what kind of car you drive.” Suddenly Kathryn felt more tired than she’d ever felt in her life. She let her body go slack against the sofa cushions. “Can we finish this conversation tomorrow? I’m dead on my feet.”

He leaned down and looked into her face. “Yes, your eyelids are drooping. You need plenty of sleep in your condition.” He pulled her to her feet. “Time for bed.”

“And time for you to go home. I told you, I’m not in the mood for sex.” That was an understatement. After the news she’d gotten today, the very idea of sex made her nauseous. Unless that was morning sickness. But then again, the two things were related.

He crossed his arms over his chest and scowled. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’ll sleep on the couch. But I’m not going anywhere. Not until we settle things.”

One look at his face was enough to convince her he meant business. She shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

“I will.” He continued to glare at her as he dropped onto the couch.

“I’ll get you a blanket,” she said in resignation.

* * *

Steve woke up the next morning feeling stiff from his night on the sofa. He sat up and stretched. In hindsight it would have made more sense to go home, but at the time it had seemed important not to give Katie the satisfaction of tossing him out.

Katie. Beautiful, aggravating Katie. His woman. The mother of his child.

A baby—they were having a baby! A tie that would bind Katie to him forever. After over a decade of playing Uncle Steve to his nieces and nephews, he was graduating to Daddy.

Was the child growing inside her a boy or a girl? Not that it mattered, but his gut said girl. He could picture her already. A little princess with his blond hair and Katie’s big brown eyes. He imagined himself pushing her around in a stroller and holding her in his arms when she was baptized. Even changing her diapers and wiping up strained carrots when she threw food everywhere. Everything that came with being a dad. Sure, the idea was scary, but mostly it was exciting. Things couldn’t have worked out better if he’d planned it.

Only first he had to straighten things out with Katie. He still couldn’t believe she’d meant to keep this news from him, even temporarily. But he needed to get over himself. Now was no time for them to fight. They had to work together as a team.

Rising from the couch, he strode to the bedroom door and peeked inside. Katie was curled up in a ball, obviously still in a deep sleep. Better not to wake her before she was ready. She was sleeping for two now.

In the meantime, he might as well do a little recon of her condo. The only other time he’d been there, he hadn’t checked out much more than the couch—well, the couch and Katie. The place wasn’t much larger than his crummy bachelor apartment, though with its view of the Potomac River, it was certainly more impressive. In addition to the bedroom and the living room-dining room combo, there was a home office. The furniture was high quality, but there wasn’t much of it, and there was no clutter anywhere. Even the office didn’t look lived in. Good, that would make it easier to convert the room into a nursery. But Katie would have more than a little adjusting to do when they added a baby to the mix. Babies weren’t neat.

He doubled back to the kitchen. Again, no signs of life. The stove looked like it had never been used. He opened the refrigerator. A typical single woman’s fridge—practically empty. No milk, no fruits or veggies, none of the wholesome foods she’d need to grow a healthy baby.

Okay, that was something he could fix. He left Katie a note and slipped out the front door, making sure it didn’t lock behind him. Taking the elevator to the lobby, he noticed Tina on duty at the front desk. Good. He’d be able to get back into the building without buzzing Katie. He walked the block to where his car was parked on the street. A Mustang—he’d have to tell Katie. Though he might trade it in for an SUV. He’d want something bigger once the baby came.

Half an hour later he was back with two bags of groceries under his arms. A helpful clerk had shown him the prenatal vitamins and also sold him a liter of ginger ale, in case his pregnant fiancée got morning sickness. Entering the lobby, he made a beeline for the desk, where Tina was absorbed in a textbook. “What are you studying?” he asked.