This silence? Not sure I can deal with it.
She’s watching me thoughtfully but doesn’t say anything.
“I’m not sure what to do with myself.” And then I grin. “Got any ideas?”
Her head drops back a few seconds after I catch her rolling her eyes at me. “I thought you said you wanted to find the workout room.”
“Weight room.” I correct her.
“Weight room.” Her gaze skates over me. “You wanna change first?”
I glance down at my jeans and boots. The T-shirt’s fine but… “Hadn’t thought about it.” I scratch the side of my face. “You okay with walking?”
One delicate hand flutters to the top of her stomach. “It’s strongly encouraged.” And then she bites her bottom lip. “Colt?” Our eyes meet. This is crazy as shit but I’m so fucking attracted to this woman.
It doesn’t make sense.
And it’s mutual. I see it in her eyes. The way her breath catches.
I can smell it. Want. Need. Desire.
“Can you show me around?” I just want to talk to her right now. Hear her giggle again.
“Sure.”
I pass the other water to her and after pausing for a second, she takes it from me. Our hands make contact for that split second and I shake my head. Insane. I gesture to the door with a flourish. “Ladies first.”
After closing the door behind us, I place one hand on her lower back and the other on her shoulder. Damn, she’s wound tight. I dig my fingers into her muscles. She doesn’t resist. Her head drops back a little, and the low, satisfied moan she exhales shoots straight to my cock. I feel it in every cell of my body.
“It shouldn’t. But oh, my God, that feels so good.”
I massage the skin by her neck with my thumb. “When are you due?” I don’t know much about pregnancy. In fact, I’ve spent my entire adult life ensuring that I didn’t.
“Six weeks,” she answers. She pulls away from me and starts walking again.
“Where’s the dad?” I’m getting personal. I dig anyway.
At first, I don’t think she’ll answer. She’s turned us onto the main path before responding.
“It didn’t work out.” Her answer is vague but confirms what I want to hear. Not that I want her to be alone, exactly. I just don’t like the idea of some faceless bastard touching her.
She’s in a shit situation. Women like to say they can do everything on their own and all that, but I know better. My mom worked three jobs so she could raise me and my brother. She looks at least ten years older than she really is. I wonder what kind of support Charlie has. Parents? Friends?
“You scared?” Way too personal. Doesn’t matter because I want her answer and I’m used to getting what I want.
She exhales a deep breath but surrenders to my inquisition. “Terrified. And excited. But, yeah. Yeah, I’m scared.” We’re walking slower now, away from the offices. “But I know everything will work out fine.” Her smile’s a little wobbly. And then she surprises me. “Do you have kids?”
My first instinct is to answer glibly.“Not that I know of.”But I trap the words before they fly out. Loathing creeps up my throat. It’s not impossible to think that I might have some mini me out there somewhere. Except the women I’ve been with would track me down. Demand support.
And they’d deserve it.
“I don’t think so,” I answer honestly. “I keep it wrapped up.” This is a weird conversation for us to be having.
She laughs. “Good to know.” I like the sound of her laugh. She plays with a few strands of her long blond hair. “I get the feeling you don’t really want to be here.” Ah, she’s gonna get personal right back.
It’s hard to admit that the people in your life think you’ve become unstable. “Being on the road. Screws with your balance, I guess.”
“You said something about being obligated. So, your bosses… they’re worried about you, then?”
