Waking Up Pregnant(90)

                * * *

                By the time Darcy made it back to the kitchen, Jeff had parked and was bringing in a breathtaking vase of flowers and a white pastry box, both of which looked as though they’d taken a hit during their stint in Jeff’s car.

                Still, Gail would be touched by the thoughtful gesture when she got back from the hospital.

                Jeff, looking as weary and worn and sexy and compelling as he had that night after his return from Australia, set his load on the counter, and kept walking toward her.

                “I know you wanted space and I know I just let you go, but, Darcy— I need— I thought— I’m so glad—”

                She went to him, understanding the kind of fear he must have been feeling. Wanting to offer him whatever comfort she could.

                Reaching for his hands she pulled them to the round swell of her belly, pressing them flat. “He’s fine,” she promised. And when a swift little kick met the warm spot covered by Jeff’s open palm, she laughed—all the relief that Jeff was here, all the love and all the nerves bubbling up inside her at once. Finding release in that short moment.

                Jeff stared down at the spot he was now rubbing in a soft circle. He gave her belly one last pat.

                “Darcy, I’m relieved our baby is safe. Of course I am...but—” his voice broke, and shaking his head he cupped her jaw, and then met her eyes with a tortured look “—when I thought something might have happened to you, my God, I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think.”

                The way he was looking at her—what he was saying. It wasn’t the way it sounded. She was seeing what she wanted to see, hearing what she wanted to hear, reading meaning that didn’t exist again.

                This time she knew better.

                She offered the back of his hand a gentle stroke, wanting to remember the feel of it forever, and then stepped back.

                Instead of letting her heart run away from her, she held firm to the reality she knew to be true.

                Jeff cared about her. Of that there had never been a doubt.

                And if ever there was a moment she had the chance to secure the same offer he’d made to her three weeks before—to make her his wife, make them a family—this was it. He’d been afraid of losing them and knowing Jeff, right now the man would probably do anything—say anything—promise anything to make that feeling go away.

                Which was why right now wasn’t the time to talk to him about the possibility of them being together in some capacity. Of finding out what kind of arrangement would give them all what they wanted. Or as close to it as was possible.

                * * *

                She’d done it again. Pulled away from him. Given him another obvious cue she didn’t want what he was offering.

                The right thing to do would be to leave her be. But damn it, doing the “right thing” with Darcy always felt so wrong.

                He’d been curbing his impulses from the word go. Trying to find compromise by taking more than he should without going after all that he wanted. By lying to both of them about what would be enough.

                Letting Darcy down every step of the way.

                He’d thought he’d been honest with her.

                Thought he’d been fair. But the truth was, with every concession he’d made, some secret dark part of him had known he’d be going back for more.