Page 50 of Trials of a One Night Stand
I’m still not getting what he’s saying. “Us?”
“A nice house and cute kids.”
I don’t miss the plural. I’m pretty sure my brain short-circuited and ovaries exploded. That explains why my mouth opens, then closes like a fish.
I need a minute. Who am I kidding? I doubt I’ll recover from this. Nate Lowe strikes me more as a penthouse condo kind of guy. Well, if you took away the baby on his lap, the sugar glider cuddling against his neck, and a toddler pouring him another glass of tea. Somehow, I find my voice. “Is this what you want?”
“Might be nice.”
Might. There’s only one way for me to take that word and his nonchalant tone, and that makes me question whether I can count on the man himself. I can’t count on might be or his blasé attitude. The truth is I’d rather go through a pregnancy and labor by myself than have my heart broken by being let down again. I don’t know if that makes me smart or stupid. Even though I’m over Colton, I can’t forget what he did to me. And if someone who claimed to love you for years can lie and cheat on you, then anyone, especially a guy I hardly know, can do the exact same thing to me.
“What do you think?” he asks.
I have no idea what to say, so I do the one thing I can think of—toss his words back at him. “Might be.”
He nods, which tells me nothing, and he returns to playing with the girls.
Maybe Nate wants what his brother has. Although I’m not sure how my pregnancy fits into that vision. Yes, he’s the father, but how do we fit together? I like him. I’m attracted to him. But I don’t love him. I don’t really know him. Nor him me. Not to mention the case.
Nate leans toward me, adjusting Willow in his arms. “Something wrong?”
“I’m tired.” The words fly out. Not only is my body tired but also my brain. I tend to overanalyze everything, always have. “I’m ready to eat and then get to bed.”
He winks. The gesture shouldn’t look that charming. “Sounds like a plan to me.”
“Alone.” As soon as I say the word, I want to take it back. The truth is, I’m not sure what I want now, which scares me because I always thought I knew what I wanted since I watched an episode of Law & Order when I was nine. Colton played into my dreams by talking about our future, but it was all talk—everything from our wedding to having kids. That’s why I won’t do the same thing with Nate. I can’t pretend and play house with him. We might be the parents of a baby, but we aren’t a family, and I’m not sure we’ll ever be one. “I appreciate everything you’re doing for me. The bodyguards. Introducing me to your brother, sister-in-law, and nieces…”
His gaze narrows. “I hear a but coming.”
“But I need some space.” Saying the words doesn’t loosen the imaginary band around my chest. The tightness remains. “With the trial, I can’t afford to be distracted.”
“So I distract you.” He grins smugly. “I’m glad to hear that. I’m also happy to give you whatever you need. If that’s space, you’ve got it.”
“Thanks.” I only wish I knew what I really wanted or needed right now. Maybe by the time the trial’s finished, I’ll know. I sure hope so.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
NATE
On the first day of the trial, I’m buzzing with energy, and I can’t stand still as I wait for Cliff in the courthouse lobby. I haven’t seen Jayne since the dinner with Ashton and Chloe, and I miss her more than I thought possible. The only thing I’ve received from Jayne is a text with the time and address of her first OB appointment in case I want to join her. I do, and I’m taking that afternoon off. Nothing will keep me from that or her. I only hope her needing space will end soon. Did I mention I miss her?
It’s been a couple of weeks since I walked her back to the house and said good night. I receive daily reports from the security firm watching over her, but it’s far from enough. I want to be with her. And not just in the biblical sense, though I want to have sex with her too.
I understand what she means about me being a distraction. She’s a big one for me when my focus should be on the lawsuit and work too.
My phone rings, and Zelda’s name appears on the screen. I answer immediately and turn my back to the people entering the building. “Hey, how’s it going?”
“I should be asking you that.” She speaks quickly, which tells me she’s stressed. That makes two of us.
“I’m here early and waiting for Cliff.” I try to keep my voice steady and without emotion. She reads me like no other, and I don’t want her to worry when she’s not feeling well. “It’ll be fine, Zel.”
Her drawn-out sigh tells me where her mind is. “I wish I were there.”
“We agreed you’re still too sick. You do remember you ended up in the emergency room on Saturday because you couldn’t breathe?” I’d met Jack there after he called me. “Which wouldn’t have been necessary if you’d listened to me, Jack, and all the scientists who told you you’ve had that cough for too long.”
“I know, but I’m feeling so much better now that I’m on antibiotics.” She coughs as if on cue. “I even wore a new fragrance Christina created. I smell like hints of chocolate, vanilla, and caramel rather than sweat and clinical despair.”
“You didn’t smell that bad.” I’ll never admit she did, and seeing her so sick, as sick as I’ve ever seen her, frightened me to my core. Jack was shaken too, especially since he lost his first fiancée. The two of us had to rely on each other to get through it, and I realized just what a solid guy he is.
