From Enemies to Expecting(43)

“It’s not your fault,” she insisted. “It was an accident.”

Just like the first time she’d gotten pregnant. But she hadn’t been on the pill then. In all the years since then, she’d never had so much as a scare. It would be fine.

His tentative smile went leagues toward quelling her panic, as did the way he held her like he never intended to let go.

“You’re very forgiving,” he murmured, his voice gruff with an emotion she wasn’t sure she understood. “And don’t take this the wrong way, but as accidents go, that was an amazing way to have one.”

She nodded against his chest because, yeah. The condom had broken for a reason—the sex had been earth-shattering.

Before she was fully ready to lose his body heat, he rolled from the bed to dispose of the condom remains, then snagged the bottle of champagne, tore off the foil seal and expertly pried it open. “Shall we drink to how real this relationship just got?”

Her pulse jumped into her throat. “What are you talking about?”

Scouting around near the mini fridge, Logan came up with two flutes and poured the champagne. “If you get pregnant, I’ll want to be involved. One hundred percent. Can’t get more real than the reality of failed birth control.”

She took the flute from his outstretched hand and downed it in one gulp, then held it out for more.

“Nothing has failed.” And wouldn’t. She could not handle another miscarriage, another guy who was fine with sex but not the responsibility that came with it. Sure, men got in line for orgasms, but midnight feedings? Forget it.

Except that wasn’t Logan. He’d just said so.

He glanced at her and tossed back his own champagne. “Would a positive pregnancy test be so bad? I mean, let’s play it out. I’d be the baby’s father, no matter what. We’d have to be coparents, which is a relationship in and of itself. Why not make it official and just coparent as a couple?”

Her heart ached as the sentiment pinged around inside her, seeking a place to land. She wished all at once that he’d meant he wanted to be with her because he’d developed feelings for her. Because he couldn’t stand the thought of being apart. But of course he was just talking about the reality of the consequences, not happily-ever-after tied up with a bow.

Fine. She didn’t want that. Or at least she was going to convince herself she didn’t. Really soon.

Besides, her confusion didn’t matter, because there wasn’t going to be a pregnancy. Secretly, she’d always assumed that the horrific nature of her miscarriage had rendered her infertile, but she’d never had it officially checked out.

“I can’t possibly tell you how much I appreciate that,” she said slowly, keeping the rest of her swirl of thoughts under wraps.

His expression warmed. “I’ve always dreamed of having a family.”

“But we don’t have any idea if that’s what’s going to happen,” she countered firmly. “Nor will we for some time. Can’t we just put it away for now?”

“Sure.” He dinged his newly full champagne glass to hers. “For now.”

With all of this academic talk about babies and families and a future with Logan in it, a yearning she’d never allowed to gain traction reared its head, settling into a place in her heart. She was pretty sure it wasn’t going away any time soon.

Regardless, she was not the right woman to fulfill his dreams, which meant she should find a way to stay far away from Logan McLaughlin.

Except she didn’t want to.





Eight

Trinity left to go back to her room, but Logan couldn’t sleep. The whole day had been wild, and the conversation they’d just had put the crazy sauce on the sundae.

He couldn’t stop thinking about the definition of real and how easily he could envision trying to create something that sounded a lot like that with Trinity.

This whole situation had unraveled alarmingly fast.

He’d always thought he’d get married first, then he and his wife would eagerly get on with baby making. They’d take their first pregnancy test together and she’d throw herself into his arms when it turned positive. Happiness would ensue.

Obviously the broken condom had presented another possibility that he might have to get used to—being with Trinity long-term as coparents and maybe more.

Was that what he wanted? Was that what she wanted? They hadn’t really finished the conversation, not to his satisfaction, but he’d been willing to shelve it for the time being, since there was little reason to discuss it at this point.

Except for the fact that he liked the idea of having something real more than he should.