“She was going to but you’d left. Who was she, Cam?”
Cameron leaned back in his chair and stared at his brother until Preston lowered his eyes. He wasn’t about to tell his family about Jasmine and the baby until after she’d gone through the battery of tests. He knew she was concerned about fetal abnormalities because of her age, but whatever the outcome Cameron would be there for her—for them.
“She’s my interior decorator.”And the mother of my unborn child,he mused. It had taken him more than twenty-four hours to accept the reality Jasmine was carrying his child. He had stopped questioning himself about why her, and not another woman with whom he’d slept since becoming sexually active.
Jasmine had talked about destiny, and how she believed in predestination, which led Cameron to believe if Hannah hadn’t invited him to her wedding, his path and Jasmine’s would’ve never crossed.
When they’d returned from the hospital he had lost track on time when he sat on the chair next to the bed in his bedroom suite, watching Jasmine as she slept, and he didn’t have to be a mind reader to know she was emotionally distraught. Her apparent shock and tears communicated she wasn’t prepared for an unplanned pregnancy—and with a man with whom she hadn’t known a week. She hadn’t mentioned theAword and there was no way Cameron would have suggested she undergo an abortion. That would have to be Jasmine’s call. And his passionate plea that he wanted Jasmine and the baby had come from his fear of losing her; he wanted her with or without a child.
“Have you commissioned her to decorate your home?” Preston asked.
Cameron nodded. “Yes.”
“Where did you find her?”
“What’s up with the inquisition, brother?”
Preston smiled. “I’m just asking,brother,because it’s been a while since you’ve been seen in public with a woman.”
Cameron knew Preston was right. He hadn’t dated a woman since meeting Jasmine in October. “I’ve taken a break.”
“Good for you, Cam. And I know what you’re talking about. There had been a time when I dated a lot of women before I realized they’d all begun to look and sound alike. I also took a break and when I met Madison for the first time I knew within days she was the woman I wanted to marry. I know you don’t like her—”
“I never said I didn’t like Madison,” Cameron interrupted. “She’s my sister-in-law and the mother of my niece and nephew, which means she’s family. Madison is still pissed at me because I wouldn’t go out with her best friend, and it’s time she let that go.”
Preston blinked slowly, reminding Cameron of an owl. “Maddie never said anything to me about that.”
“And why should she?” Cameron asked. “It was between me, Madison, and Lindsay Worthington.”
“Lindsay? You’re telling me my wife tried hooking you up with Lindsay?”
Cameron bit back a smile when saw his brother’s shocked expression. “Do you know another Lindsay?”
“Well, damn, Cam. Maddie should know you’d never go out with someone like her. She talks so much that only someone who’s hearing impaired would be able to spend more than ten minutes with her.”
“I don’t want you to say anything to Madison about this, because as far as I’m concerned it’s moot.”
“She has no call to act like you don’t exist whenever you’re around because of someone who can’t get a man.”
“Let it go, Preston. Your wife doesn’t have to like me, but that doesn’t change how I feel about her.” Cameron was always polite to his sister-in-law and treated her with respect, and had forgiven her outburst when he told her he wasn’t interested in her friend. What he hadn’t told Madison was that he wouldn’t have anything to do with Lindsay even if she was the last woman on the face of the Earth.
“No problem, Cam. I won’t say anything to her.”
Cameron’s cellphone’s ringtone indicated a call from Jasmine. “Excuse me, but I have to take this call.” He picked up the phone. “Please hold on a second,” he said in a quiet voice. “Preston, could you close the door on your way out? How are you?” he asked her once the door closed behind his brother.
“I’m okay.”
“You’re just okay?” It’d been a week since they were last together, although they managed to talk to each other at least twice a day.
“Maybe I should’ve said I’m good.”
Cameron didn’t believe her, and suspected Jasmine was still being plagued by nausea. “I’m glad to hear that.”
“I just finished going over the plans and rendering of your home and I’d like to suggest a few changes, but only after discussing them with your architect and engineer.”
“Let me see if I can arrange a meeting where the four of us can get together. I’ll call you back as soon as I talk to them.”
“Don’t set it up for Thursday morning because I have an appointment with Hannah’s obstetrician.”
