Project Runaway Bride(36)

With a huff, she scribbled over her latest version of the bassinet she could already picture in the corner of her room back at the loft. As supportive as she knew her sisters would be about having a little niece or nephew to spoil rotten, she was pretty sure they wouldn’t be gung ho about adding a line of infant wear to Zaccaro Fashions.

Besides, there were a few more important issues to deal with before she started shopping for furniture for a nursery or suggesting a new design direction to Lily and Zoe.

A knock sounded at the door, and her heart plummeted to her stomach. There was one of the important issues now.

Turning her sketch pad over and setting it aside, Juliet straightened her legs and crossed them at the ankle before calling out, “Come in.”

Reid entered, the top few buttons of his white dress shirt undone, the soft cotton material a lot less crisp than it had been a few hours earlier. She pretended not to notice the V of tanned skin visible at his throat or his strong forearms with his cuffs rolled to his elbows.

He left the door open, which wasn’t necessary, but did make her feel moderately more comfortable. Less like a small woodland animal cornered by a dangerous predator.

The good news was that he looked much less angry himself, less trapped than he had when they’d left for the doctor’s office. On the way back, he’d just looked vacant, on the verge of stunned.

Totally understandable. Which was why she’d brought her lunch upstairs and given him some time alone. To think, or come to terms, or whatever else he needed to do after learning that their little safe sex fling hadn’t been quite so safe after all.

He stood staring at her, hands in his pockets. He didn’t seem to know what to say, though she was certain there was something on his mind or he wouldn’t have knocked to begin with.

“Reid,” she said at the exact same time he said, “Juliet.”

Blowing out a breath, he inclined his head. “You first.”

She wasn’t entirely sure what to say herself, but knew they had to start somewhere. Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she sat up straighter.

“I know you believe me now,” she told him. “About the baby. And I know you believe it’s yours. I wouldn’t even say it if I weren’t sure it was true. I hadn’t been with Paul that way for quite a while before we... You know. And not after, either,” she clarified.

She waited, watching his eyes, praying she wouldn’t see doubt or distrust there. Relief washed over her when his gaze not only remained steadfast, but he offered her a nod of agreement, as well.

“But I don’t want you to think I expect anything of you,” she continued. “You can be as involved as you’re comfortable with. I’m not after your money, either. I mean, I know you and your company are worth quite a bit, and I know that probably makes you suspicious of women you think might be gold diggers. But I’m financially independent myself, and my family is well-off enough on top of that to help me if I need anything. So you don’t have to worry that I’ll come after you for support or try to—” she lifted one shoulder carelessly “—shake you down or anything like that.”

One dark brow rose on the “shake you down” part, which she had felt sort of silly even saying out loud.

“Are you finished?” he asked in a low voice.

Not exactly the response she’d expected, but okay. “Yes.”

“I have one question.”

She swallowed hard. “All right.”

“Are you going to keep it?”

For a second, her heart stopped and her throat closed up, making her think that her morning sickness might not be sticking to just mornings anymore. Without conscious thought, her hand moved to cover her abdomen protectively.

“Of course,” she replied sharply. She shouldn’t have been offended by the question, but she was, and her tone reflected as much.

Long minutes passed in silence while their gazes locked, but neither of them moved. Then Reid pulled his hands from his pockets, lifting one to rub at his slightly stubbled jaw. After a moment, he let his arm drop and gave a brusque, decisive jerk of his head.

“In that case,” he said, “I think we should get married.”

Juliet blinked. There were a lot of things she’d thought he might say, a lot of conversations she’d expected to have over the next few months with the father of her unborn child. But of all the topics she’d imagined, that definitely had not been one of them.

“Excuse me?”

His jaw popped as he took a deep breath, not looking at all pleased that he had to repeat himself. “I think we should get married,” he said again.