“And I thought I ought to check on you, see how you are. See if you need anything.” He cleared his throat and looked at her.
Was she supposed to understand what the hell he wanted? Because it wasn’t getting through to her.
“I’m doing quite well. I have a new job, with good benefits.” Though the biggest benefit—Damien in her bed—was no longer available. “I’m feeling better now that the morning sickness has passed, and the doctor says everything is progressing normally. I don’t really need anything right now.” Except for him to go home so she could lie on her bed and give large melancholy sighs as she thought about her boss.
“We could get back together,” he blurted suddenly, ramming his hand into his pocket. “Pick up where we left off.”
Mandy closed her eyes and prayed she would not strangle the biological father of her unborn child. Searching for every shred of decency she possessed, she spoke slowly so she wouldn’t start cursing at him. “I don’t think that’s possible, Ben. I don’t have the feelings for you I once did.”
“I’m not suggesting we live together or anything.” He hastened to make qualifications to his statement as if she hadn’t even spoken. “I don’t think either of us is ready for that. But I want to be in our child’s life. And yours. We’ve a permanent bond now, Mandy.”
That’s what she was afraid of. “I won’t deny our child its father if you want to be involved.”
Ben came toward her and smiled, sitting next to her on the couch. “I knew you’d be a sport about this, Mandy. I just needed time to get used to the idea. You can understand that.”
Oh, she could understand it all right. But unlike him, she hadn’t been given the option of ignoring the situation for three months. She turned, her patience entirely used up, when she saw that Ben was leaning toward her.
Oh, dear God, he was going to kiss her. She stood hastily up, bumping Ben’s nose with her arm. “I’m really done up, Ben. Why don’t you call me in a few days when you’ve thought out exactly what it is you want.”
“I know what I want. You and our child.” His gaze went to her chest as he stood up next to her. “You’ve changed since I saw you last. You look bloody fantastic, Mandy.”
If he tried to touch her breast she was going to scream. “Ben!”
“What?” He looked genuinely surprised, which meant he hadn’t been listening to a word she’d said. “I care about you, Mandy. We were together for six months, and I thought you’dbe happy now that I’ve come to my senses. A child needs both parents.”
That was true. It was absolutely true. Yet she suddenly felt like crying. “Ben, please just give me some space. I’m really tired. Please.”
She wondered what would happen to his face if she told him that she’d just got back from having sex with her boss. Would he turn purple? Would his face just slide right off onto her hardwood floors? Would he suffer an apoplexy? It seemed safer not to find out right at the moment.
“All right, of course.” He touched her elbow, the picture of concern. “You can call me at home or at the office anytime, you know that. My ex-wife is throwing a graduation party for Nick on Saturday, but other than that I’m free.”
She nodded. “I’ll be in touch.” It didn’t matter that she’d be perfectly happy to never see Ben again. He was this baby’s biological father and there was no way around that. If he wanted to be a father, a real father, she couldn’t deny him or her baby that relationship.
But that didn’t include her. There was no way she could rekindle whatever feelings she’d had for Ben. Not after his abandonment.
Not after Damien.
Ben let himself out, and Caroline and Jamie burst from their bedrooms to find her clutching her stomach, tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Are you okay?” Jamie grabbed her hands and led her to the couch.
“Of all the nerve,” Caroline proclaimed. “Where exactly does he think he’s been for the last three months?”
Mandy started to cry harder.
Jamie clucked. “Oh, honey, don’t cry. It will all work out.”
“He’s not worth it,” Caroline assured her.
Mandy shook her head. “It’s not that.”
“What is it?” Jamie wiped the tears off her cheeks with the bell sleeves of her prairie top.
“I had sex with Damien Sharpton!”
Caroline’s jaw dropped. Jamie looked confused. “Just now?”
“Well, not in the taxi! When we were in Punta Cana.”
