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I forgot she was even there.

Through that door came a sight that froze the blood in my veins.

A sight that stopped my heart in its tracks.

A million powerful emotions swept me, and even I couldn’t have said which was the most dominant.

Relief. Anger. Horror. Hurt. Elation.

Lust. Yes, that. Rage. So much of that. Raw pain, that most of all.

It was Nova, wearing a little café apron and staring at me with something awful in her eyes.

But even that arresting, dreadful look on her face didn’t grab my full attention. My eyes were on her belly. Her obviously pregnant belly.

I’m not even sure what I said to Jovie, how I dismissed her, but whatever it was, she took it well, even giving me a rather sympathetic, “Good luck, Carter,” as she left.

It was curious, but I was too distracted by my own personal train wreck of a life to care about Jovie’s strange attitude.

I have no idea how long Nova and I stared at each other before she turned around and went back through the door.

I didn’t move a muscle for who knows how long, and she didn’t come back out.

Another waitress came by and I ordered a coffee, still staring at the door.

I drank three cups black before I realized I’d been sitting there for hours, and Nova hadn’t come back out.

It didn’t matter, I thought at first. I’d wait all fucking day. I was going to stalk her until she went into fucking labor.

It sank in somewhat more slowly that the café probably had an exit in the back for employees, and she might have actually slipped away.

I felt true panic then. I waved down my waitress and asked, “Is that pregnant waitress still here?”

She glanced toward the back of the store, then to me, looking distinctly uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, sir. She went home sick. Is there anything I can help you with?”

I knew there was nothing I wanted to ask her that she could actually answer so I left without another word.

Before the day was over, I’d hired a private investigator. I spent the night sitting in my car in the underground Fashion Show Mall parking lot, staked out at a spot I’d figured she’d have to pass to get back to her job, but even that was no guarantee. It may well have been her day off.

Or hell, for all I knew, she might not even come back now that I knew how to find her.

I lucked out when she passed by my car around noon.

I didn’t even consciously decide to move, I hadn’t figured out what I’d do with her once I found her, but with no planning and no permission from my brain, I had her backed into the concrete wall and caged in with both arms.

She was trembling and looking at me like I was a stranger. Just then I felt like one. I’d never been so furious in my life. Or so hurt. I felt like a wounded animal.

I could practically feel her neck in my hands, though I didn’t lay one finger on her.

I didn’t even know what to say to her. It was just a stare down for quite some time.

Finally I said, “You’re coming with me.”

I hadn’t realized that was going to come out of my mouth, but I didn’t take it back.

Abduction it was.

“Get in my car,” I added in a growl.