“You know.”
She shook her head. “I don’t, unless you tell me. Are you getting any sleep?”
“None.”
“You should—”
“I know.” He scrubbed his hand over his face. “I don’t remember this part. The panic, the stress.”
“Were you around in those first few days when…” She trailed off and waved her hand. “None of my business.”
“It’s okay. You can ask.” He nodded in the direction of Becca’s room. “I was there. Rachel and I, we got married. Not the right call, in hindsight, but I was doing the right thing. I was there every day. I didn’t go away to school until we split up. Then there were two years when she was little that I wasn’t around day in, day out. But that was it. But those early days…I was there, but it was a long time ago. I don’t remember much of how we survived.”
“It gets easier with each passing day. Tomorrow will likely be a bit teary, but by the day after that, her milk will start to come in and they’ll figure this thing out.”
He gave her a tired smile. “Never thought I’d be talking about my baby nursing a baby.”
“You still haven’t wrapped your head around it, have you?”
“I’m still sitting on that couch out there, processing her telling me she’s pregnant.”
Kerry moved closer and rubbed her hand against his forearm. “Earth to Owen. You’ve got that grandchild now.”
Her touch unlocked a confession he hadn’t shared with anyone else. “I’m happy for her. Heisperfect. I just…I didn’t think I’d have another baby in the house. There was supposed to be a golden age in there where I could date and have this place to myself.”
She nodded and slipped her hand away, her fingers trailing through the crisp hair on his arm. Her gaze lingered on his face, though, her eyes thoughtful, almost curious.
In another time and place, he’d catch her wrist and bring her touch back to his body.
“I should go,” she said.
But she didn’t move away, and suddenly, Owen realized just how close she was. “Kerry…”
She blinked slowly as she tipped her head to the side. Her dark hair bounced, the waves baring a long stretch of her neck, and lust punched him straight in the face. Bam, sucker.
He reached for her, his fingertips brushing her cheekbone. She shivered, and maybe he’d have missed it if she were any further away, but she was right against him.
“We can’t do this, right?”
He cupped her cheek anyway.
“No, probably not.” She pressed into his touch, her eyelids fluttering shut. “Owen…”
“I waited a long time,” he rumbled. “For it to be my turn again.”
“You said that.”
“It’s going to a while still. I can’t—”
“And I can’t, either,” she whispered. “Not with a client’s father. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry.” He forced a smile he didn’t feel. The heat swirling through his body demanded he kiss her, taste her. “You’re good with her.”
“Maybe in a few months. After she’s discharged, and we’re just neighbours and colleagues…” She trailed off, then a single word slipped into the air between them on a breathy whisper. “Friends.”
Could he pretend to just be friends after he’d had her so close to being in his arms?
Bam. Sucker.
