“You have to do what you think is best.” He walked over to her bed, reached down and took her hand in his. “I just want you to be happy.”
A tear slid down her cheek. She’d never seen Marcus so solemn. Even she had to admit there was more to her decision to stay with Logan than convenience and necessity. She wanted him back and it scared the hell out of her. She had a moment of terrible panic, questioning her decision. She wanted to be happy too, but could she find happiness with Logan? She only knew she had to try.
“You’ve been such a wonderful friend to me over the last few weeks, Marcus. I can’t tell you how much it means to me. How much you mean to me.”
“I feel the same way,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “If you need anything, let me know.”
On impulse, she hugged him to her and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you for everything.”
The sound of a throat being cleared killed the moment. Claire turned to find Logan hovering in the doorway, his eyes dark, jaw clenched. He oozed fury. Claire could feel it wrap around her like a physical entity.
“Am I interrupting?” His tone was mocking.
“Not at all.” Marcus straightened and gave Logan a measuring look. “I was just on my way out.” He gave Claire’s hand a final squeeze. “Take care of yourself and the baby, Claire,” he said softly. And then, he was gone.
Logan strode across the room, stopping only when he reached her bedside. “I think now would be a good time for you to explain some things to me.”
Though he couched it as a suggestion, she knew he really wasn’t giving her an option. He was still seething. She knew from experience that she would have to be every bit as firm as him if she wanted to win this battle. “Sit down, Logan,” she commanded. “I don’t need you towering over me like an angry bear.”
His lips tightened, but he did as she asked, sinking down onto the bed next to her. His hip barely brushed against hers, just enough to send sparks running through her body. She wished she wasn’t so pregnant, lying on his guest bed like a beached whale. But life was never fair.
“I’m sitting,” he said, his voice clipped. “It’s your turn.”
“Fine.” She decided it would be best to proceed with caution. “What do you want me to explain?”
Logan’s eyes were hard as they searched hers. “Were you sleeping with him?”
“What?” He really thought she’d been sleeping with Marcus? Claire didn’t think she’d heard him correctly.
“Were you?” he demanded.
“It’s not really any of your business,” Claire informed him coolly, stung that he actually believed she was a wild bed-hopper capable of jumping from one man to the next.
“I think itismy business. I want to know where the hell I stand in all this.” He raked a hand through his hair, leaving it standing on end. “Do we need to talk custody? I don’t really like the idea of you exposing our child to a string of boyfriends.”
She crossed her arms over her chest, thoroughly annoyed with him now. “So now I’m not just sleeping with Marcus, I have a string of boyfriends too. Who are all these men anyway? If I’m enjoying their charms, it would be fair if I at least knew their names.”
“Don’t be a smartass.” His voice was cold. “You know what I mean. If this is the path you’re choosing, I’d like to be warned. I may want to seek sole custody after all.”
Was this the man who had been so wonderful this morning, promising to be there for her when she needed him? If this was the treatment she could expect from him, even moving in with her parents seemed like a viable option. She studied him for a moment, trying to reconcile the many faces and moods he showed her, when understanding dawned.
“You’re jealous, aren’t you?” Everything fell into place, making perfect sense to her.
He stared.
“You are.” She could read it on his face and she felt her anger begin to fade. “Logan, Marcus and I are just friends, good friends.”
“That’s it?”
“Yes.”
Logan began making light circle patterns along the top of the comforter tucked around her. He focused on his finger’s progress before speaking again. “He seemed to want more from you than friendship.”
“He’s been kind, nothing more. He knows that I’m not ready for that.”
Logan’s finger stilled and he looked up. “You’re not ready for that now, or you won’t ever be ready for that?”
“I don’t know,” she answered truthfully. He didn’t like that response, she could tell. “But I do know that my main focus right now is this baby.” She patted her belly. “Our baby.”
