“Please, Aricia. I think I should.”
Why doesn’t she want to talk to me? I feel disturbed that I might have done something horribly wrong the last time I saw her. There’s no way she hated the way my palm felt against her ass when she came so hard from that encounter. It must be something else.
Aricia says her goodbyes to the girl I learn is called Rana. I feel like an idiot for nearly causing a scene over the car.
“What are you doing here, Peter?” Aricia asks as soon as we’re alone together. “How did you know where I live?”
She bought a new house and moved from the house she shared with her late husband, but that didn’t mean she was hard to track down. Most of the realtors in the area have some connection to our family. Vicari Properties out in Syracuse gave me the contact I needed to narrow down my options and I drove around to four different houses before finding the right one.
“You didn’t answer my calls and I was worried about you,” I answer casually, taking in all the details about Aricia that I can since she hasn’t pushed me away.
“I work at a law firm. That means working until late sometimes.”
This isn’t about working late. This is about the unanswered questions between us and the shit I saw in Pittsburgh. The dead kid. How do I even tell her what the hell happened over there? Good news, I found out who drugged us. Bad news, the guy is dead and his pipsqueak girlfriend is now working as my Aunt Viviana’s live-in maid until she gets on her feet.
I wouldn’t mention to Aricia that the pipsqueak is also spying for us…
“I know but… I told you, I was worried.”
I want her to unwrap those arms from around her waist and let me hold her, but Aricia only gives me some of what I want. She sighs and makes room for me to enter her house.
“I’m going to ignore your stalker tendencies and let you in because you do seem worried…” She pauses to close the door behind me. “And we do have something serious to talk about.”
Worry surges in my chest again.
“Did something go wrong today?”
Aricia settles on her couch and I boldly sit next to her, even if I’m sure at this point she would prefer some space. I’m exhausted from the drive and desperate to know what the hell is going on with her since I tried calling her all day to no avail. She was working from home the entire time, which doesn’t exactly calm my bruised ego.
She gives me an uncomfortable look. I want her to open up to me so badly, and even if I’ve been brash and rude before, everything in Pittsburgh makes me want to cling tightly to Aricia. I don’t want to let her out of my sight anymore. I mighthave Lorena contained and know that her boyfriend is dead, but that didn’t give us more answers about the motive behind this.
“Today was crazy. I don’t want to say it went wrong.”
“The test?”
She looks up at me with wide, dark brown eyes. I could get lost in them, they’re so deep. The desire to take her instead of talking with her is strong but… if I get too obsessed with the physical, I’ll miss out on getting to know Aricia’s soul. This is the first time in years that I’ve felt this strong spiritual craving to be close to anyone.
I hate that our choice in the matter was taken from us. There’s no way for me to read Aricia’s mind. I just have to wait patiently for the answer that has nagged at my mind ever since I had to escape in the middle of the night to handle family business. I never would have left Aricia’s side otherwise.
“Do you really want to know?”
“Yes.”
“I’m pregnant.”
She waits for my reaction. I let the news sit for only a second before my emotions surge and I have to admit the truth to Aricia.
“Good.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes. It’s good. I want to be with you, Aricia.”
She sighs and leans back. “Peter… I can’t.”
What?Instantly, I feel defensive fury in my chest. I would burn the entire world for Aricia.
“Can’t do what?”
