Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 64406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
“I don’t understand. That’s good news, right?” What had him so concerned?
He nodded. “It is. It seems a politician was caught buying drugs from an undercover cop last night and most of the paparazzi have moved on, so you can go home,” he said, and she was unable to read his feelings on the matter.
She told herself it was for the best. Staying with Harrison and sleeping in his bed would only lead to confusion and heartache later on.
“Zach also spoke to the doorman. He was going to ask the guy to call you when the coast was clear for you to get back to your life.”
She tipped her head to the side. “I appreciate your family helping me.” A warm, fuzzy feeling crowded her chest, one she wasn’t used to feeling.
“You’re one of us now, which is something you’ll learn.” He folded his arms across his chest. “The doorman gave him a envelope for you but with all the craziness of the reporters and the tenants complaining they couldn’t get into the building—”
She winced, wondering how to make the inconvenience up to her neighbors.
“The doorman doesn’t know or remember who left it. Zach is bringing it over now,” Harrison said.
“I need to take a shower before he gets here.” She flipped the covers off but before she could turn to climb out of the bed, Harrison had her lying flat and pinned beneath his big, hard body. “What are you doing?” she asked, breathless from the shock.
He gazed down at her, his expression serious. “Making sure we’re on the same page before you leave my bed.”
She swallowed hard but enjoyed every inch of him pressing her into the mattress. “What page is that?”
“I’m the last guy to look to the future and make promises. You know that. I know that. But we can agree the baby changed the playing field.”
He paused, and she realized he was waiting for a reply, so she nodded. “It did,” she agreed. “And that’s how we ended up back here. Together. Let’s not forget we agreed to short term, and things were over before I found out I was pregnant.” She might as well tell him exactly where her head was when it came to them.
“I’m not going to deny the baby was the catalyst, but I never stopped thinking about you after we went our separate ways. Or after the engagement party.”
When she’d gotten pregnant.
“You were always different than other women. You affected me in ways no one ever has before.”
She blinked up at him, taking in his words. Was he saying they’d have reached out at some point, regardless?
“I just want you to keep that in mind.” Leaning down, he brushed his lips over hers. “Go shower. I’ll wait for Zach.”
* * *
Harrison watched Winter walk to the bathroom, his T-shirt falling to her mid-thigh, and he swallowed a groan, feeling possessive of the woman carrying his child. When his hand cupped her stomach, a wave of protectiveness washed over him and everything inside him stilled. In that silent moment, he let go of his past and his hectic childhood, all but forgot the woman who’d betrayed him, and he’d seen and felt his future.
He’d been a fool to let her walk away this summer when everything inside him screamed she was the one. But an inability to commit and worry about being hurt had held him back.
He didn’t share Winter’s fear of abandonment but understood it in a way most people couldn’t. That was something he hadn’t told her yet. She knew the facts about his mother, Audrey, but not the emotional wreckage she’d left behind. His past actually gave him hope that he could breach her walls.
The sound of the shower shook him out of his thoughts. Harrison wanted nothing more than to join Winter in the steamy room and watch the water rivulets run over her bare skin. Hell, he’d wanted to fuck her in his bed, but he’d thought before acting on impulse, and it was a damned good thing he had.
Because he was walking a tightrope with the mother-to-be of his baby. All her independence hid deep insecurities, and for now, he needed to focus on keeping her safe and in his life.
His cell buzzed, and a glance told him Zach was on his way up. Harrison climbed out of bed and pulled on a T-shirt he’d grabbed from his drawer. Then he strode to the foyer and met his brother at the door, opening it before Zach needed to knock.
Zach stepped inside. “Morning.”
“Morning. How are you?” Harrison asked.
“I’m a little tired. How about some coffee for your errand running brother?” he asked as he shrugged off his leather jacket, hanging the garment in the closet by the front entrance.
Harrison turned and walked to the kitchen, his sibling behind him. “Come make yourself a cup.”