Nine Months Part 2 (36 Hours) by Beverly Barton

Author:Beverly Barton [Barton, Beverly]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-04-23T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

“I’m sorry, Paige. I let things get out of hand last night,” Jared told her. “What happened was my fault, and I had no right to get angry with you and storm off the way I did.”

“It wasn’t all your fault,” she said. “I’m as guilty as you are. There just seems to be this magnetism between us that we can’t resist.”

“Do you suppose we can still be friends?” he asked. “For Angela’s sake?”

“We can try…for the baby’s sake.”

He didn’t offer his hand to her for the traditional deal-making handshake, nor did she offer hers. Jared had come to realize that it was dangerous for them to touch, and he suspected that she had come to the same conclusion. Paige might be faking her reluctance to marry him and her disinterest in his wealth, but the one thing he knew she wasn’t faking was her desire for him.

He took her to breakfast at Ellynton’s in the hotel before they headed back to Grand Springs. Their return trip, if a bit strained, was pleasant enough. But she seemed as relieved as he was when they arrived at her apartment.

“You go on in,” he told her. “I’ll unload everything.”

Smiling, Paige nodded agreement. She needed rest, especially after not sleeping more than a few hours last night. It had been sheer torment to reject Jared, to sleep alone in her bed, knowing he was only a few steps away. Had she been wrong to deny them both the pleasure they so desperately wanted?

Jared gathered up an armful of packages and followed her into her apartment. She held the door open for him.

“Where do you want all this stuff?” he asked.

“Just put it down in here,” she said. “I’ll unpack everything later.”

He stacked the boxes in a corner of her living room, then returned to the Jeep for a second load. After he brought in the remainder of their purchases, he hesitated in the doorway.

“Take the rest of the day off from work and get some rest.” He surveyed her from head to toe. She was so beautiful. So desirable. So tempting.

“Thank you. I am tired.”

He hovered in the doorway, looking at her with hungry eyes, and she knew what he wanted. What they both wanted.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Jared said.

“In the morning, at the office.”

“Call me if you need anything.”

“I’m sure I won’t need…I’m fine.”

“Take care.”

“I will.”

He walked away. She closed and locked the door. Wrapping her arms around herself, she bit down on her bottom lip in an effort not to cry. But tears filled her eyes. She had put herself in a no-win situation. No matter what she did about her relationship with Jared, she couldn’t be happy. She could never be happy unless he loved her. Truly loved her for the woman she was.

* * *

The next day Paige arrived at the office wearing one of her new maternity dresses, a hunter green woolen sheath, adorned with brass buttons. The dress was a bit sophisticated for her tastes, but Jared had insisted it was perfect for her.

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