Harry entered the room, pulling Karina's attention back once more before the conversation got too heavy.
"It's getting late." The baker announced, "I'll be worried about you two ladies on the road." He grinned, wiping his hands on a towel.
"Oh hush, I'm a fantastic driver. Safest on the road." My mother in law shot back, frowning at him.
I glanced at Lewis, clearing my throat as I shifted uncomfortably in my chair.
"Actually, I'm going to stay for just a bit." I said slowly, "I want to check out some of the, uh, old recipes." I finally decided with a halfhearted shrug, "I'd like to be able to tell the baby about them."
Was that convincing, at all?
Karina blinked at me, as though she couldn't decide whether that was sweet or pathetic.
Harry on the other hand, happily responded, "What a nice idea, Macy." He glanced sideways at Karina, stepping towards her slightly, "I wouldn't want to worry about you making it home alone. Perhaps I should go with you?"
Karina's gaze slowly swiveled to the gray haired man, and I could have sworn I almost saw a blush on her tan face.
She chuckled, hesitantly, "Well. I suppose that would be acceptable." She finally said, allowing him to guide her towards the door.
"You get her home safe, now." Harry said, opening the door for Karina, pointing back at Lewis firmly.
"Don't you worry, Bircham." Lewis nodded, closing his book.
I waved goodbye, watching as the pair headed towards Karina's car.
Slowly, I turned back to Lewis, observing him as he carefully lay his books one on top of the other and turned back to me.
His hands folded in his lap, simply staring at me.
Uncomfortable under his scrutinizing gaze, I softly took the plate of cookies off my belly and set them on the table, lowering my feet to the ground.
"...what is it you wanted to show me?" I asked softly, suddenly afraid of what he had up his sleeve.
The butterflies swirled inside of me as he slowly climbed to his feet. He stood there beside my chair, his fingers brushing over my shoulder.
I swallowed the lump growing in my throat, wincing slightly as the baby, seeming to sense my anxiety, started doing somersaults inside of me.
"Are you alight?" Lewis asked quickly, kneeling down to eye level.
His hand slid against my own, squeezing my fingers.
"Yes, just fine. Baby is moving around a lot in there." I laughed uneasily, glad to have broken the stillness of the moment.
"Why did you decide to stay?" He asked softly, lips parting over white teeth.
Why had I stayed? I knew it would be trouble. I knew nothing innocent would happen here.
Was I desperate for affection? Was I in denial that Lewis Carson could still be attracted to me when I was huge with another man's baby? He'd already shown multiple times that he didn't care.
S0 why then, would a married woman put herself in this position?
I opened my mouth, shaking my head, as he reached up and put a single finger against my lips.
"I don't want to hear 'I don't know.'" He said softly, leaning closer against the edge of the chair.
His other hand traced the flesh of my shoulder, a tremor rolling down my back as I stared at him, wide eyed and silent.
"You know exactly why you stayed." He finally said, burning finger on my lips sliding around the back of my head as he leaned in closer.
His warm, perfect lips descended on my own, heat bursting in my belly.
I gasped against his mouth, chills rolling throughout me. His warmth was everywhere, like a blanket. My entire body was hot, like a waterfall rushing over me.
His taste infiltrated my mouth and his sweet scent in my nose.
He pulled back, green eyes wide and lips parted.
"I...that was amazing." He whispered, and I could all but see the fireworks exploding behind his eyes.
"My water just broke." I responded, gasping as I struggled to remain calm.
Chapter Nine
It was early. I wasn’t far enough along for the baby to come now.
"No!" I said, grabbing my belly while Lewis whipped out his cellphone and called an ambulance, "It cannot come now!"
It was only 34 weeks, we still had another month. Sebastian wasn't home, and I wasn't prepared.
"Calm down." Lewis whispered, staring at me, "Take a deep breath. They're going to be here any minute."
He slid the phone in his pocket and gently grabbed my shoulders, rubbing them with his warm palms.
I inhaled, holding the breath like a hostage in my lungs. My heart was pounding, my jeans were soaked through, though I was too terrified to care. Lewis pulled me up against him, as best he could with the giant baby bulge in between us, his hands now rubbing my back.
I clung to him, releasing the breath in a huge whoosh as a giant, crippling pain suddenly seemed to clamp down on my whole body.