Unexpected Romance (15 page)

She
adjusted the heater and said nothing until they found a restaurant.

Outside
the car, he took her hands. "I know we have unusual
circumstances, but you are giving me the greatest gift of all. You
are carrying a part of me around in you. I don't know what is going
to happen between us. Let me take care of you."

She
pulled away. "I can't rely on you."

"Our
agreement says I will cover your needs while we live together. You
need a better car."

"There
was a number attached to my needs. How much you'll give me. I'll pay
for the car from that."

Chris
closed his eyes. He had more money in his bank account than he knew
what to do with. Sure, much of it was invested, but he had more from
his first contract than most people had in their lives.

"I'm
giving you a car, Tonya."

She
crossed her arms over her chest. "You don't get to decide that.
And I think I'd rather go home."

He
threw up his hands. "I don't get it. I'm nice to you, I don't
push, I don't demand, I don't ask anything of you. Why do you fight
me on providing for you?"

"How
long will you provide?"

He
grabbed her elbows and pulled her close so he could look in her eyes.
He held her close enough to see the light green flecks in her irises;
so he could smell her shampoo; a scent he was quickly becoming
addicted to.

He
saw the fear in her eyes and felt it in the tremble of her body. His
heart sink in his chest.

"You
could decide next year or two seconds from now that you don't want to
live with me, I'll continue taking care of you. Maybe next week
you'll fall in love with the mail man. Or maybe we’ll decide to
stay together. I have no idea, I'm flying blind into this."

"Aren't
you scared?" she asked in a gravelly voice.

He
shook his head, their noses practically touching. "Fear is you
trying to control the uncontrollable. You can't control me, I can't
control you. Granted, you have a lot more uncertainty."

"I'm
totally vulnerable, Chris. I'm at your mercy. With a word, I could be
dust and you could have the baby."

He
pulled her into an embrace. She shook against him. He stroked her
hair. "Shh. We won't talk about this now. I won’t upset
you." He held her until she relaxed against him.

He
pressed his lips against her forehead for a moment. "Let's go
eat. You'll feel better once your blood sugar is normal."

He
took her hand as they entered into the restaurant, her body leaning
on him for strength. A paradox, since he was what she feared most.

There
was nothing he could do but give her time and reason to trust him.

Tony
turned again then pulled the blanket over her shoulder. She flipped
the other way.

She
threw off her blankets and sat on the edge of the bed. She rubbed her
face with her hands, then pulled them through her hair.

She
couldn't sleep. Her body wanted something she shouldn't want.
Something she'd been getting only when Chris was out of town.

She
went to the bathroom and relieved herself. She left the tiny room and
turned off the light. She walked down the hall past her door. She
opened the door to Chris's room and stood there.

They'd
been in a truce of sorts since their chat on ultrasound day last
week. He'd left and returned since then.

He
stirred as if he sensed her presence. She took a step inside.
Forbidden fruit, sleeping with the enemy. She crawled into the empty
side of the bed and curled up. She pulled the blanket over her body
and resisted, with her whole being, the draw of his heat.

Finally,
in his bed, she fell asleep.

Tony
woke peacefully, as if she’d slept on a cloud. She didn’t
know if she’d ever slept so soundly. She found herself pressed
against a warm body. A very male warm body. She could feel the
scratch of his leg hair against her soft, smooth skin. His hand
rested on her rounded belly.

She
closed her eyes and prayed he was still sleeping and she could slip
away. She started to wiggle away.

"Good
morning."

Her
eyes flew up to look. He was awake. And could have guessed it: sleep
rumbled Chris looked hotter than daytime Chris? Or she’d
forgotten that part. His face had a sparse covering of dark stubble,
it matched his hair.

She
tipped her head down and hid her face. In his shoulder.

She
should get up and leave the room. Pretend this never happened.

"So…"
His fingers stroked her belly lightly.

"I
couldn't sleep."

"And
since you've been sleeping in my bed while I’m gone."

She
blinked at him, not knowing what to say.

"I'm
not complaining." He pulled his bottom lip into his mouth.

She
felt tears threaten her eyes. She felt vulnerable, lying there in his
arms, his far too-knowing eyes prying her secrets from her.

"All
the signs your unconscious is giving off say, try a relationship. Try
this."

A
cold chill of fear ran down her spine, making her stomach churn. "My
heart and my stomach, say otherwise.”

"I'd
leave town before I ever hurt you. And not only because I fear your
brother."

"That's
comforting."

"Tonya,
this is my baby in you. He is going to need two parents. He's going
to need a family. I'm not leaving you to raise our baby alone. I
won't."

She
looked at him, tears welling up. Everything he said hit her right
where she was most vulnerable. Family, dad, support, money. She
wanted all those things. Could she actually have all the things she
dreamed about? She wanted to believe him. She wanted it, him, a
family, more than anything.

"What
would change? If I were to agree to a relationship. Is this about
getting into my pants?"

He
looked slightly embarrassed. He ran a hand over his head. "It
would be something we’d talk about. The sex was really great.
Wasn't it?" He looked down at her cuddled up to him.

That
was her cue to run. Now.

He
was talking about sex. How good she felt in his arms, under him. She
squirmed and avoided his gaze.

"Never
mind. You don't have any comparisons. Don't answer. How would a
relationship change? You'd sleep here every night, I'd call you when
I'm gone to chat. And you'd kiss me when I get home and tell me you
miss me. And you'd tell me when you're scared or angry. Isn't that
what a relationship is like?"

Like
Corey and Nicole.

"Eventually
you'd get bored. Really fast if there was nothing physical." She
couldn't bring herself to say sex, or making love. Her heart raced in
her chest as she tried to consider his words objectively. She wasn't
sure if it was fear or hope driving her heart. Maybe she could have
this, she could have him.

"We'd
work on the physical stuff. You already cuddle with me and kiss me.
I've been letting you take the lead, but I think if we worked on our
emotional togetherness, if you felt safe with me, you'd feel sexy."
His eyes roamed her body. "You look sexy all the time anyway."

And
that was it, she was cooked. She was in love with him. And when he
left it would break her heart. She looked down to where his hand
covered her bump. At least she'd be left with a part of him.

She
forced herself to meet his eyes, her heart in her throat. She spoke
around the exquisite pain of being in love for the first time. "Okay,
we can try. We can try a relationship."

His
smile was tight as he looked down at her. He was worried. He kissed
her forehead then wiggled out from under her. She stared at his ass,
covered only by a thin pair of cotton boxers. Good grief, he'd been
practically naked in bed with her.

He
turned around. "I'm going to grab a quick shower before we go
out for breakfast."

"I
can cook you breakfast. We have everything."

"Then
one of us has to do the dishes."

"Stacking
the dishwasher is so much work.”

He
smiled. "You aren't going to win. Let's go for breakfast then
maybe we'll go wander downtown for a while and check out some shops.
I never do that."

She
smiled back at him. Her chest felt light with joy and hope, and her
stomach heavy with fear. "Okay, let's go."

Corey
sat at Tonya and Chris's dining-room table.

"Thanks
for inviting us over for supper," Nicole said. Well, she was
damn chipper.

"I'm
glad you came," Tonya said, as she passed the potato bowl to
Chris.

It
wouldn't be so bad, except Chris kept touching her. Casual little
touches. Kissing. They'd kissed twice since he arrived.

Nicole
rubbed his inner thigh and gave him a look. He smiled at her, but
shook his head. He'd promised to be supportive during their meal.

"So,
how are you feeling?" Nicole asked.

"Good.
Feeling lots of movement. Chris even says he felt a little the other
night." She smiled at him and reached for him. He touched her
hand and smiled back.

Corey
stabbed at his meat.

"Paige
gets so excited. When I pick her up, she asks to feel her brother
kicking." Nicole turned to the girl. "Paigey, did you know
Auntie Tony has a baby in her?"

Paige
clapped her hands. "My baby?"

"Mommy
is having your baby. Auntie Tony is having your cousin. You will be
friends and play together. I don't know whether to hope you have a
girl or a boy."

"Chris
says he hopes the baby is healthy with ten fingers and ten toes,"
Tonya said.

Well,
wasn't Chris special?

"That's
so sweet. Isn't he sweet, Corey?" Nicole squeezed his leg.

Corey
nearly choked on his drink. He coughed for a few moments, while
nodding like a bobble head. "Very, uh, nice," he managed to
get out, while Nicole rubbed his back.

"Before
I forget," Nicole rushed forward with, sparing him, "Jessa
and Tanner requested I bring dessert home for them."

"I'm
sorry it didn't work out that they couldn't come too. Juggling
everyone's schedule," Tonya said.

"It's
fine," Corey said.

"They
miss you. Jessa is already talking about babysitting," Nicole
added.

"She
doesn't babysit for us, so don't get your hopes up. She doesn't like
changing diapers,” Corey said. They all laughed.

By
the time he and Nicole headed home, he felt relaxed about the
situation. Chris was taking his responsibility toward Tonya
seriously. They had a legal agreement about support for her and the
future baby; any future children, apparently.

Tonya
announced she was in a relationship with Chris. He smiled warmly at
her and squeezed her hand.

Maybe
it wasn't an announcement, but it felt like one. Corey was glad
Nicole was driving home, because he wasn't paying attention at all.

"Did
I respond to Tony the right way?"

"When?
I thought I might slap you at supper, you were locked in a perpetual
glare at your plate.”

"When
she said they were dating, I tried my damnedest to be supportive.
Maybe, we can hope things will turn out all right."

"I
think they still have some obstacles to overcome with each other. I
think Tony's in love and Chris cares for her. It's a start."

"I
hope they can get their shit together for the baby."

Nicole
laughed. Paige laughed behind them. Corey's heart swelled.

Yes,
maybe Tony would make a little family with her and Chris and their
child. Before Nicole, he never dreamed of settling down to raise a
family. Now, there were few men more devoted. He puffed his chest
proudly.

"What
are you smiling at?" Nicole asked, as she parked her van in the
garage.

"How
happy I am. I never dreamed I'd get any of this. I have everything a
man could dream of."

Nicole
leaned over and kissed him. "I'm glad. I love you, and you've
made my life complete. And now Paigey and Matthew. Jess and Tanner."

"I'm
not sure I like Matthew any better than Ethan. I love you too. And
although you are getting round again, you might be surprised to hear
that I am insanely attracted to you. I can't keep my damn hands off
you." He slid his hands up her thigh.

"I
am surprised actually. But you have to keep your hands to yourself
until we do some sleepy time things."

He
pulled away, with a pout. "Fine, but after she's asleep, you are
mine."

"I
always will be."

God,
he was getting sappy. He didn't mind one bit either.

Chris
brushed his teeth while he watched Tonya in the mirror doing the same
thing.

"So
that went well?" he asked, as he tucked his toothbrush in the
holder.