Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
He refocused on Erin, guilt riding him that she’d been alone through three months of misery, when he was equally responsible for causing her pregnancy. Now she’d mentioned a doctor’s appointment he’d known nothing about. He was shocked by how possessive he felt about her in such a short time, warning signals going off in his brain. She didn’t want him hovering, but suddenly he needed to be there for her, to take care of her, to show her she wasn’t alone.
Which went against every instinct he had that told him to encourage her to preserve her independence because she’d need it when he was gone. But he couldn’t let her go through this alone when he was here, now. Especially because once he was gone, she’d be needing that independent streak of hers once more.
* * *
Already exhausted before her day had even begun, Erin made her way back downstairs, her nerves shot from this morning. What kind of sicko would leave a dead animal outside her door and not get specific about what they wanted from her? Leave who alone? Which case? Why?
Her stomach grumbled and she realized she was so hungry she could barely think. Well, at least the nausea had passed.
She found Cole in the kitchen with a delicious-looking breakfast of French toast and orange juice waiting for her at the table. “You really missed your calling,” she said with a grin.
He’d shocked her with his culinary skills, and she suddenly had an urge to learn how to feed herself this well. Not to mention her child.
“Not really. I just like to eat,” he said with an endearing grin.
“Would you teach me?” she asked. “You know, so I can give little him or her the kind of Sunday meals my mom gave us?”
Cole’s eyes warmed as she spoke. “Yeah, I can do that.”
She reached for the maple syrup and smothered her French toast. “I remember how my dad would go get the papers, and when he came home, Mom would have the most amazing pancakes waiting for when he came back and we all woke up.” Erin would love to have that in her future.
Of course Cole wouldn’t be part of that scenario, and she quickly glanced down at her plate, not wanting him to see the disappointment in her eyes.
Instead she cut herself a piece and tasted. “Oh my God, you are a magician.”
He laughed and began eating his own food. “So tell me more about this doctor’s appointment you have today.”
She shrugged. “Nothing much to tell. Just a normal monthly appointment. You can just drop me off at the hospital. My doctor sees me there, and I’ll call you when it’s time to pick me up.”
“Erin,” he said, a distinct edge to his voice. “Just because you were alone before doesn’t mean you are now.”
She glanced up, noticed the tight set to his jaw, and realized he was worried about her safety. “You can sit in the waiting room if it makes you feel better, but nobody’s going to hurt me in a hospital.” She drank a long sip of orange juice and her body thanked her by perking up a bit more.
“Try again, sweetheart.”
She narrowed her gaze. “Surely you don’t want to sit in the same room while the doctor examines me!”
His grip tightened around his fork. “That’s exactly what I want.”
“But it’s just me and my doctor! Nobody can get near me!” Not even her brothers would make such a ridiculous demand, and they were as overprotective as they came.
“This has nothing to do with someone being after you.”
She placed her glass back on the table. “Then what? I don’t get it, and you’re going to have to lay it out for me.”
“Did it occur to you that I might want to be there for you? For our baby’s doctor appointment?”
No, she thought. It hadn’t occurred to her. She’d gone into this thinking she was alone. Even after he’d said he’d be there for her and the baby, she thought he’d meant just financially.
He was only living here now because she might be in danger, not because he wanted to be with Erin. He’d made that clear last night. Given a choice, he’d be in his room over Joe’s, ignoring her when they saw each other in town. Sex was a perk, nothing more. Even as obvious hurt and frustration flashed in his expression, she couldn’t understand it.
“You don’t have to go through this by yourself. I’ll be with you today, and I want a list of future appointments. I’ll be going with you from now on.”
“Umm, okay.” Maybe?
She wasn’t sure how she felt about his proclamation. She doubted he knew either, considering the conflicting messages he was sending her.
No future. You aren’t alone. Two very different concepts, and her head was spinning, but one thing stood out. She’d hurt his feelings by not including him, but she’d never have thought Cole would be interested in the little things her doctor discussed with her about the baby.