The Billionaire's Best Friend(34)

She shrugged and met his eyes. “It’s not uncommon for a woman to miscarry that early on. Some women don’t even know they’re pregnant at that point.” More tears slid down her face, but her body no longer shook.

He knew very little about a woman’s pregnancy past the creation phase, so he’d accept her word on that one. “I’m so . . . Lauren I wish . . .” He stopped, unsure of what he wanted to say. So instead of trying again, he moved closer and gathered her up in his arms. At first she remained still, but then she wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned into him.

“I wish you’d told me so I could have been here for you.” Nate spoke softly. Anger still burned inside him, but so did loss. A child. They’d almost had a child together.

Lauren’s arms tightened around him. “It’s in the past now. We can’t change any of it.” She spoke without looking up at him.

It may have been in the past, but he needed to know. “Would you have told me after the baby was born?” He didn’t want to believe she would have kept that from him if she’d had the baby. Still, who knew?

Silence stretched out between them. When he could no longer take it, Nate took a step back, forcing Lauren to loosen her embrace. “Lauren?” Her tear-filled eyes met his, and the pain he saw in them nearly brought him to his knees.

“I don’t know,” she whispered. “But it doesn’t matter anyway. I didn’t have the baby, and we both have our own lives now.”

He’d come in pissed and hurt. Hell, he still was. Right now, though, that didn’t matter. He had Lauren in his arms, and they were talking rather than arguing. “We might have separate lives now, but that doesn’t change the fact that I still love you.” He’d never been one to be subtle, so he saw no reason to start now. Without any hesitation, he bent his head toward her for a kiss. Lauren’s tongue darted out to moisten her lips, but otherwise she didn’t move. When his lips settled on hers, she flinched slightly but didn’t pull away.

Taking it slow, he moved his mouth against her lips and pulled her closer so their bodies touched from chest to thigh. In response, Lauren slid her arms up and over his shoulders. Then her fingers began to dance across the back of his neck. The gentle caress shot his already aroused body into the stratosphere. With his tongue he teased her lips open. When her lips parted, his tongue slid inside and rubbed against hers. He was no longer in control, and hungry for Lauren’s touch. Their kiss became wild. Moving his hands up her back, he dug his fingers into her hair, pulling it from the elastic in the process. The soft strands covered his hands, and memories of lying together with her hair tickling his chest rushed through his mind. How many times had her hair covered him as they relaxed? At the time, he never would have thought he’d miss it. But now with her so close, he realized just how much he’d missed even the little insignificant things with her.

“God, Lauren.” He pulled away when the need for air became too great. “I’ve missed you so much.” He rested his check against her hair and inhaled her shampoo.

Lauren’s hand froze in place on his neck then she jumped away from him. “Nate . . . I that . . .” she said, breathless. Her face turned red as she stumbled over her words. “We shouldn’t . . . I’m with Kevin.” She took another step backward.

He fought the urge to swear aloud. He’d thought they were getting somewhere. She sure as hell kissed him as if she wanted him. “If you loved him, you wouldn’t have just kissed me the way you did.”

“I’m happy with him.” She looked over at the dog rather than him when she answered him.

He heard the truth beneath her words. She didn’t love the other guy and she knew it. She just didn’t want to admit it to him or herself. “Be honest, Lauren. You don’t love him.” Nate took a step closer. “Maybe you can lie to him, but not to me. I know you too well. There’s still something between us.”

Lauren swallowed and held his gaze. “I always know where I stand with Kevin, and I know he won’t up and leave.”

Kevin sounded more like a dog than a boyfriend. “I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart.” The endearment rolled off his tongue. He’d never used it with any other woman.

Lauren opened her mouth but said nothing. Instead, she crossed her arms protectively around herself and searched his face.

“Come on, Lauren. Give us a chance.” Nate never begged but if he thought it would help, he’d do it now.

“I don’t know,” Lauren answered, looking away. “I need time to think.”