Logan had a patent way of turning her questions into more questions without providing a single answer. “I don’t know,” she said honestly.
Reaching out, he took her left hand in his and turned it palm up, his thumb stroking against her inner wrist. “I don’t want to be the man you’re stuck with.”
“Logan.”
“God knows you deserve better than me,” he continued, ignoring her protest. “Hell, nobody even wanted me when I was a kid and you know how cute everyone thinks kids are.” A self-deprecating smile curled his lips.
“I don’t feel like I’m stuck with you.” She hated that his past still had such a negative effect on him. Her fingers closed over his. “I know your past is a sensitive subject for you, but I think it’s time you let it go. I can’t answer for anyone else all those years ago, but I do know that I wouldn’t be here right now if I didn’t want you in my life. In our baby’s life.”
As if to assert its opinion, the baby lodged its foot right into Claire’s belly. She tugged Logan’s hand to the spot. “See? Baby Thumper agrees.”
Awe shone from his eyes. This was what he’d been missing with her gone from his life. These simple moments were meant to be shared.
His fingers slid to the hem of her maternity shirt. “Can I?”
He wanted to look at her bulging, giant, huge, tremendous, giant pregnancy belly? Claire felt instantly uncomfortable. It was giant. And did she forget to mention tremendous? Not at all the sort of thing she really wanted on display.
“Please?” His eyes turned pleading and she couldn’t deny him.
“Okay,” she conceded, unable to refrain from adding a disclaimer. “It’s huge though.”
“Well, there is a baby in there, you realize,” he teased.
She feigned horror. “No.”
Laughing, he slid the shirt up over her belly, allowing it to pool just beneath her breasts. “Can I touch you?”
It occurred to her that he shouldn’t have to ask. They never should have retreated so far away from one another, and certainly not so easily. “Of course.”
Logan’s touch was tentative at first as he lightly skimmed his hand over the top of her belly. “It’s hard to believe that there’s a baby in here, all curled up, waiting to come into the world, isn’t it?”
“It’s easier to believe when you’ve got a foot or an elbow digging into your ribs,” she pointed out wryly.
A smile touched his mouth. “You’ve got me there.” He rubbed her belly for another few seconds before pulling away with what appeared to be reluctance. “We better eat. I’m sure Baby Thumper is hungry as hell.”
He was right. Claire was starving. But even so, she didn’t mind the delay as she dug into her tepid soup with renewed gusto. Spending quality time with Logan had been worth more than warm soup.
“You love her.”
Logan turned from the stove to face Derek. He was in the process of cooking Claire the chicken taco she had so sweetly requested. “No shit.” He gave his friend a look that clearly warned of imminent ass-kicking. Or so Logan thought. “Keep your voice down. Her sister’s up there.”
Derek leaned negligently against the kitchen island, tossing some barbecue potato chips into his mouth. “And the reason why you want to keep the fact that you love the woman who’s carrying your child a secret is?”
“Damn it. Keep your voice down,” Logan ordered, annoyed. “Not that it’s any of your business, but she doesn’t love me. In fact, I’m convinced the only reason that we’ve been so civil to one another is that she’s all weepy. Hormones,” he added with disgust. “She cries at commercials. Anyway, we’ve started over and that’s the best I can hope for at this point.”
His friend raised a brow. “Did you ever think that it might not be the hormones?”
Logan gave him an oh-come-on look. “Did you see her bastard of an ex-husband here last night?”
“Yeah, he came with paperwork. So what?”
“So what?” Logan echoed with disbelief. “So I think she’s still not over him. He’s what caused our last big fight. I walked in on them.”
Derek choked on his chips. Good for him, Logan thought.
“Doing what?”
“Hugging,” Logan allowed, “but I’m not sure that there wasn’t something else going on that I just didn’t see.”
