A Tricky Proposition(45)

She brought logic to bear on last night’s events, and squashed the giddy delight bubbling in her heart. She’d strayed a long way from the reason she was in this mess in the first place. Becoming a mom. Time to put things with Jason in perspective. They were friends. Physical intimacy might be messing with their heads at this point, but once she was pregnant all sex would cease and their relationship would go back to being casual and supportive.

“I started coffee,” she announced as she stepped into her bedroom and stopped dead at the sight of the person standing by her dresser.

Lily dropped something into Ming’s jewelry box and smiled at her sister. “I borrowed your earrings. I hope that’s okay.”

“It’s fine.” From her sister, Ming’s gaze went straight to the bed and found it empty. Relief shot through her, making her knees wobble. “I thought you were in Portland.”

“I came back early.”

Since Lily wasn’t asking the questions Ming was expecting, she could only assume her sister hadn’t run into Jason. “Ah, great.”

Where the hell was he?

“How come Jason’s car is in the driveway?” Lily asked.

Ming hovered near the doorway to the hall, hoping her sister would take the hint and come with her. “Max’s bachelor party was last night. He had a little too much to drink so I drove him home and brought the car back here.”

Too late she realized she could have just said he was staying in the guest room. That would at least have given him a reason to be in the house at this hour. Now he was trapped until she could get away from Lily.

Her sister wandered toward the window seat. “I put an offer in on a house.”

“Really?” What was going to happen between her and Evan if she was moving away?

Lily plopped down on the cushioned seat and set a pillow in her lap, looking as if she was settling in for a long talk. “You sound surprised.”

Ming shot a glance toward the short hallway, flanked by walk-in closets, that led to her bathroom. He had to be in there.

“I guess I was hoping you’d change your mind.” She pulled underwear and clothes from her dresser and headed toward the bathroom. “Let me get dressed and then you can tell me all about it.”

Her heart thumped vigorously as she shut the bathroom door behind her.

Jason leaned, fully clothed and completely at ease, against her vanity. “I thought you said she was spending the weekend with Evan.”

“She was.” Ming frowned when she realized he clearly thought she’d lied to him. “Something must have happened. She seems upset.” Ming dropped her robe and stepped into her clothes, ignoring his appreciative leer. “Did she see you?”

“I was already dressed and in here when I heard you start talking.” Readying himself to make a break for it.

“You were leaving?” Ming shouldn’t have been surprised. Last night was over. Time to return their relationship to an easygoing, friendly place. Hadn’t she been thinking the same thing? So why did her stomach feel like she’d been eating lead? “Did you intend to say goodbye or just sneak out while I was downstairs with Muffin?”

“Don’t be like that.”

“Why don’t you tell me exactly how I’m supposed to be.”

Not wanting her sister to get suspicious, Ming returned to the bedroom without waiting for Jason’s answer. Her heart ached, but she refused to give in to the pain pressing on the edge of her consciousness.

Since Lily seemed entrenched in Ming’s room, she sat beside her sister on the window seat. To catch Lily’s attention, Ming put her hand on her knee. “Tell me about the house.”

“House?”

“The one you put an offer in on.”

“It’s just a house.”

“How many bedrooms does it have?”

“Two.”

Curious about whatever was plaguing her sister, Ming was distracted by Muffin investigating her way toward the bathroom. “Nice neighborhood?”

“I think I made a huge mistake.”

“Then withdraw the offer.” She held her breath and waited for the terrier to discover Jason and erupt in a fit of barking.

“Not the house. The guy I’ve been seeing.”

With an effort, Ming returned her full attention to her sister. “I thought you were just friends.”

“It’s gone a little further than that.”

“You’re sleeping together?” She asked the question even though she suspected the answer was yes.

Although the fact that her ex-fiancé was dating her sister continued to cause Ming minor discomfort, she was relieved that her strongest emotion was concern for her sister. When jealousy had been her first reaction to the realization that Lily and Evan were involved, Ming had worried that she was turning into a horrible person.