From Temptation to Twins(61)
“Our lawyer sent you our price,” Melissa said. “It’s nonnegotiable.”
“I’m not here to negotiate, Melissa. I’m here to give you what you want.”
Jules knew she should leave, but she couldn’t make herself move. She stared at Caleb’s handsome profile, unable to look away.
“What we wanted,” Melissa said, her voice going louder, “What Jules wanted was the Crab Shack.”
“I know,” he answered. “And I’m here to give Jules what she wants. You can have the easement. You can build the Crab Shack. I’ll give up on Neo.”
Jules let out a gasp.
Caleb turned.
He saw her, and his dark gaze pinned her down.
“Jules?” Melissa peeked around the corner.
“Jules.” There was a sigh of relief in Caleb’s voice, and he started up the stairs.
Jules struggled to keep her voice even. She had to hold it together. “No.”
His brow furrowed, clearly confused.
“No,” she repeated, calling on her strength. “We don’t want the easement. The decision’s been made.”
He drew closer. “Change the decision. You won. You win. I’m giving you everything you asked for.”
He was clearly baffled, and he was annoyed. And she was in love with him. And she was never going to see him again.
Melissa started up the staircase. “Jules?”
“It’s not just about you,” Jules told Caleb. “It’s about my dad, and Melissa and me.”
“But—”
“Go away,” she told him as she leaned against the railing, trying to make herself as narrow as possible on the staircase. The last thing she wanted was for him to touch her on the way past. “Just leave me alone. I don’t ever want to see you again.”
He stopped beside her. “Listen, Jules. I know I’ve been unreasonable.”
“Didn’t you hear me?” Her heart was breaking, and she needed this to be over with.
He stared at her in silence.
Melissa’s voice was hesitant. “Jules? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Completely fine. And I want to be alone.”
She moved past Caleb, and she moved past Melissa.
Caleb stayed put, but Melissa followed her down the stairs and into the house.
“Jules?” Melissa closed the door behind them and touched Jules’s shoulder.
Jules flinched.
“What on earth?” Melissa asked. “Dad will get over it. This is our chance.”
Jules knew she had to come clean.
Tears threatened, and she sniffed.
“Jules?” There was worry in Melissa’s voice as she came around to face Jules.
“I’m pregnant,” Jules whispered.
Melissa froze.
Jules nodded, oddly relieved to speak the truth. “I’m pregnant with Caleb’s baby.”
“That makes no sense.”
“It happened in San Francisco.”
“You made love with Caleb?”
“He can’t know,” Jules said. “And Dad can never know. I’ll come up with a story, say it was a one-night stand with some other guy. He’ll be disappointed, of course.”
“What?” Melissa was obviously astonished.
“But he’ll believe me. He’ll have no reason not to believe me.”
“Forget Dad. What about Caleb?”
“He thought I was on birth control. I was. The hormone shots. But, I got mixed up.” She put a hand to her forehead. “I can’t believe I got mixed up.”
“You’re going to lie to Caleb.” Melissa’s gaze went to Jules’s stomach. “You’re going to lie to him about his own child?”
Children. It was children. Caleb’s children.
Jules’s chest swelled with emotion that she couldn’t seem to make go away.
“I’m not going to lie to him,” she managed. “I’m simply going to stay silent.”
“You have to tell him, Jules.”
“No.” Jules shook her head. She knew she was making the right decision. “I won’t. I can’t.” The only way this worked was if she disappeared from Caleb’s life and kept the secret forever.
Melissa took Jules’s hand. She walked backward, leading her into the living room. Her voice went softer. “You’re not thinking straight, Jules. You’re in a panic. How long have you known? When did you find out?”
“Three days. The day Dad got here.”
“Sit down.”
“You won’t change my mind.”
“I won’t try to change your mind. For now, I’m just trying to calm you down. Being this upset can’t be good for the baby. Sit.” Melissa sat on the sofa and waited for Jules to follow suit.