Kristi sat on the couch, her grin falling flat as she looked up at him. “I know this is a shock. We didn’t plan it, but it’s happening.”
Right. They were having a baby. He couldn’t quite wrap his head around everything that meant.
As much as he wanted to wallow in the memory of his night with Brooke, in the heat and passion and overwhelming pleasure, he couldn’t hide from his responsibilities. But when he looked at Kristi, right now all he saw was the rest of his life without Brooke and that kind of love and passion.
He and Kristi would have something different. Something more subdued, yes, but they’d find a way to be happy. He’d been content with her up until last night, when he’d discovered in Brooke’s arms just what kind of life he could share with a woman.
He and Kristi would find a way back to their rhythm, and he’d settle into the routine they shared this past year.
Kristi sat up straighter, her smile brightening. “Now that I’ve told you, I’m kind of excited for us.”
The band around his chest tightened. The bright future with Brooke he’d gotten a glimpse of last night winked out, leaving him lost in the dark and lonely.
He’d never forget how much he loved her. He’d hold that inside his heart and soul like a secret.
Everyone deserved a few good memories to get them through the hard times in their lives. He’d have his memories of Brooke.
A baby really does change everything.
He choked back the raw emotions clogging his throat, walked to the window, and stared out at the rose garden. Fading in the winter-weak sun, the rose’s spiky sticks stood as barren as his heart.
“We need to plan what comes next.” Kristi couldn’t hide her excitement. “When should we tell everyone? I’ll move in. We’ll make this place ours. My things. Yours. We’ll set up a nursery. We’ll be a family.”
She’d moved on to planning.
He was still stuck on the bomb she’d detonated in his life and the fallout.
He couldn’t stop thinking about Brooke. “You shouldn’t have thrown it in her face that we’re getting married and having a baby. You know how she feels about me.”
I finally know how I feel about her.
One night hadn’t been enough. He wanted more. He wanted a lifetime. But it wasn’t meant to be. “You made it seem like she wasn’t welcome in her own home anymore.”
Brooke walked away. She left.
He wanted her back so bad.
Will this ache ever go away?
“I doubt she’ll want to spend much time here once she graduates college and starts her own life. What with you and me and the baby in the house, she’ll probably prefer a much younger crowd to us.”
He didn’t want to consider the fact that Kristi might be right.
Brooke walked out the door, and she might not come back. Not after what he’d done to her.
He didn’t even want to think of her finding someone else to have a life with and love. She’d loved him practically her whole life. She’d loved him with her whole heart and body last night and into the morning.
He couldn’t imagine her loving another man. It simply hurt too much to even contemplate.
He rubbed the heel of his hand over his aching chest, swallowing the lump in his throat, and tried to breathe through the pain.
But he still managed to make things crystal clear to Kristi. “Remember one thing. Brooke owns a quarter interest in this ranch. This will always be Brooke’s home. Don’t ever make her feel unwelcome here again.” He let her interpret the threat in his words any way she liked because he wouldn’t let her or anyone else hurt Brooke or keep her from coming home.
Kristi didn’t back down. “Are you going to let me make this my home now too?”
He’d never slept with her under this roof. He’d never asked her to stay over with him. But everything had changed and he needed to catch up. “Of course. Once we’re married, we’ll live here together.” He hoped a month or two would be enough time for him to accept that and move forward without this crushing loss weighing so heavily on him.
“Excellent. We can turn the room next to Brooke’s into a nursery.” Kristi’s mouth drew into a tight line. “Of course, she’ll probably want to move to her mother’s side of the house so the baby isn’t waking her up all the time. Plus, we’ll need our privacy.”
