Falling for Gracie by Susan Mallery

Author:Susan Mallery
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HQN Books
Published: 2017-05-20T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

RILEY WATCHED CLOSELY as Gracie reacted to his statement. Her eyes widened slightly, her mouth twisted and her shoulders slumped. Obviously this was not the topic she’d hoped they would discuss. But did that mean she was guilty of setting him up in more ways than one?

He couldn’t decide, and he hadn’t been able to come to a decision all day. He wanted to say he knew Gracie, but did he? She was funny and smart and led with her heart and her chin, but he’d been used by women before. Was she any different or was she just better at it?

“Come on in,” she said, and led the way into the house.

He followed her into the kitchen where she put down her purse and turned toward him. She folded her arms over her chest.

“It was just one time,” she said, sounding more defensive than angry. “The odds of anything happening are really, really slim.”

What he didn’t understand was how it had happened at all. Ever since he’d been a kid and thought he’d gotten Pam pregnant, he’d been obsessively careful. But last night....

“I agree it’s unlikely,” he said. “But I want to know.”

She nodded and walked to the large calendar on the wall. Stickers of cakes had been placed on various dates with the names and locations next to them in black felt pen. She counted out the days twice, then sighed.

“My period is due in twelve days.”

Riley figured he knew as much or as little about the inner workings of the female reproductive system as the next guy. He prided himself on being good in bed, but the baby-making stuff was more of a mystery. Information reluctantly learned in high school sex-ed drifted through his brain. If he remembered correctly, midcycle was the most dangerous time. Well, shit.

“How long after that can you find out if you’re pregnant?” he asked.

She winced. “I don’t know. A couple of days. I’ve never used a pregnancy test myself, but I’ve heard they’re fast and you don’t need to be very late.”

She turned to face him. Her eyes were wide and troubled. “Don’t you think it’s a tiny bit premature to be having this conversation? Can’t we just wait and see what happens?”

“Sure.”

He had the information he needed now. He would bide his time until she either got her period or he had proof she was pregnant. While he didn’t want a repeat of Pam’s performance, he also wasn’t willing to walk away from his responsibilities. His father had walked out twenty-one years ago, but Riley still remembered everything about the day. He wouldn’t do that to any kid of his.

“It’s just the odds are so against me being...you know.” She swallowed. “Honestly, I can’t take on one more thing. I’ve got wedding cakes, my family, you, whoever is following one of us, the newspaper pictures. I just can’t deal with any more.”

As she spoke, she reached for her purse, then dug out her bottle of antacids. After popping two and chewing them, she sighed.

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