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)
“I plan to. And you’re going with me when I do. I’m not leaving you alone, remember?”
She decided not to dignify that comment with an answer.
“We’ll order in today so you can rest, and we’ll go food shopping tomorrow. You’re not working until next week. The doctor said you should take it easy.”
Erin frowned. He might be right, but he was also bossy and controlling. “Any other orders for me?”
He lifted his head from the fridge and pinned her with his dark stare. “As I recall, you liked it when I gave orders.”
Her heart skipped a beat. Yikes! The man went right for the jugular.
“It’s rude to remind me of that,” she muttered.
He chuckled and she turned to walk out of the room.
“Where are you going?”
“To take a painkiller and watch some TV.”
“Not on an empty stomach,” he said. “I’ll make you some eggs.”
She whipped her head around to face him. “You cook?” Because she didn’t.
“If I want to eat, I cook. Living over Joe’s and the coffee shop, I haven’t bothered much, but in this place? Yeah. I’ll cook. How about you?” he asked.
Her mother always said she’d regret not spending any time in the kitchen with her, and Erin never thought she’d agree. “Umm . . .”
He raked his gaze over her. “Really? How the hell do you survive?”
“Takeout! Mom lives half a mile away. My best friend’s family owns the diner in town. I’m hardly starving.”
“You’re skinny, though, and now you’re eating for two.” He opened and closed drawers until he found the skillet and other cooking utensils he was looking for. “Sit.” He tapped the chair with a spatula.
She eased herself into the chair, unwilling to confess that her legs had been about to give out, the pain from her arm making her dizzy and weak.
“I hope you’re always going to be this easy,” he said, his pleased smile causing a distinct flip in her stomach.
“Don’t count on it,” she muttered.
“Considering you don’t cook, your house is filled with all the right tools.”
“What can I say? My mom still holds out hope.” Her mom. Whom Erin would soon have to tell she was pregnant.
Nausea that had nothing to do with hunger or morning sickness filled her at the realization, and she lay her head on the table to wait for her food.
* * *
Erin survived Cole’s first night at her house by passing out and not waking up until late the next morning. Since she was in her bed with no recollection of how she got there, she realized she must have fallen asleep watching TV after dinner. Which meant Cole must have carried her to bed. Quite the knight he’s turning out to be, she thought.
A dark knight who’d spent years undercover doing who knows what . . . or with whom. He obviously carried the emotional scars, and he’d been a brooding bad boy when she’d known him before. But now? She couldn’t read his moods or feelings about their situation, but he was certainly stepping up and taking care of her.
For Erin, who’d never found a guy who treated her like she was precious or meant something to him, she found she appreciated being pampered when she wasn’t feeling well. And that was the thought that had her ready to get up and back on her feet.
She couldn’t get used to Cole taking care of her. From here on out, she’d take care of herself and their child. He’d have a say in their baby’s life, and she wasn’t an idiot . . . she’d accept reasonable financial help. But for Erin, this pregnancy meant giving up the dream of having the love and marriage her parents shared. That her brother and Cara now had. That Alexa and Luke had. Finding a good man was hard enough. Finding one willing to take on another man’s baby? Those were few and far between. But her reality didn’t mean she could allow herself to mistake Cole’s obligation to her baby as caring for her. He’d made himself clear each time she’d seen him post-one-night-stand.
The truth sent a knifelike pain to her heart, and as she climbed out of bed, the throbbing in her arm added to her torment. But she managed. Once again, she awkwardly used the bathroom and brushed her teeth with one hand, and she was starting for the kitchen when the doorbell rang.
Cole beat her to the front door. She heard him talking to someone outside, looking around before letting whoever it was inside.
Macy barreled past him, waiting until he shut the door and turned toward her before getting in his face. “What are you doing here, and where’s Erin?” her friend demanded.
“I’m right here,” Erin said from the top of the stairs.
Both Macy and Cole turned as Erin walked down the few steps to greet her friend. Macy’s gaze ran over her, her wide-eyed panic subsiding when she saw for herself Erin was okay. “Oh, honey,” she said, her gaze falling on the bandage and sling. “Come sit.”