Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
“Sure thing.”
“How is Mia?” my mother asks. “I was hoping she’d come for dinner.”
I frown at the question because I really don’t know how Mia is. “She’s… she hasn’t been herself. She was sick and it’s lingered. I think it’s got her all out of sorts.”
“Maybe you should talk to her and find out what’s going on,” my mother suggests.
“I asked if she’s okay. Beyond that, there isn’t much I can do. I’m sure she has a lot on her mind, what with testifying this week.”
“Hmm. Well, I hope she feels better.”
“Me, too.”
And it isn’t like there is anything more I can do for her, I think, because Mia certainly isn’t communicating with me.
Chapter Eleven
Austin
“I’m nervous,” Mia admits as I pull the car into a parking lot in Manhattan for her trial prep with the district attorney. “I mean, not nervous for the prep but for the trial on Friday, which is ridiculous considering I’ve done this before.”
“It’s normal to be worked up. First of all, this guy has been trying to scare you away from testifying. And second, it’s nerve-racking not knowing what the defense is going to ask you. The good news is, it’ll all be over soon.” I place my hand on hers, and to my surprise, she doesn’t pull back.
Her skin is soft and my dick notices. Of course, it does. It is the first time I’ve really touched her since I carried her up to my bed.
Took care of her.
Fell asleep beside her.
Woke up holding her, her lithe, warm body curled back into mine.
Since life felt right and good, if only she hadn’t been sick. And she’s been sick for a while now. A niggling thought suddenly prickles at my brain.
No. We used protection.
But maybe it didn’t work?
One thing I know for sure, if she is pregnant, unlike Kayla, Mia didn’t arrange for it to happen.
How did I not recognize the possibility before? It isn’t the flu, no fever, no cough, chills, congestion. And the longer it goes on, the less likely it is a stomach bug.
Hell, it was right in front of me this whole time, and I was blind. Because Kayla had a textbook perfect pregnancy, no morning sickness at all.
Mia could be pregnant.
Fuck.
But instead of panic, I feel an overwhelming sense of rightness settle over me, making me wonder, what the hell have I been fighting so damned hard against?
She is my perfect complement in all ways. An out-of-the-blue realization? Maybe. Or maybe not. Maybe it’s been floating around in the back of my mind for a long time now, but I took my time coming to the right place because she’s been here all along.
I was an ass, letting things go on as they’ve been, Mia always there in my life but not where she should be. In my bed. In my heart.
I love her.
I blink. Glance at her delicate profile, the serious expression on her face an indicator of the way she’d withdrawn from me because I let her.
“Austin? I asked if you’re ready to get out of the car,” she says, concern in her voice.
I blink again. “Yeah.” I’m not. Inside I am trembling.
I want nothing more than to take her into my arms and put her out of her misery. Whether she knows, suspects, or not, she needs me. But there is something she has to get through first, and it needs her focus. However, when this mess that is screwing with her life ends, we are going to have a serious talk about our future.
Because her being around isn’t enough for me. Not when she’s become as essential to me as breathing.
I climb out and stride around to her side, helping her stand. “Are you feeling okay?” I ask. She seems fine this morning, but I have the sense she is hiding as much as she can from him… and now I understand why.
“Yes. Better today,” she says, ducking her head, not meeting my gaze.
She obviously doesn’t want me to know. Because I made it clear I don’t want to start over with marriage, a family. I damn myself for being so clueless.
“You ready to do this?” I ask.
She nods. “I don’t think I’ll be in with Kate for long. An hour, tops.”
“I’ll be waiting when you get out. I’m not leaving you alone.”
“I appreciate that.”
I deal with the parking lot attendant and lead Mia out to the street. On the walk to the office, I keep an eye on everything going on around me. The city is busy, people rushing to work on a normal morning, but I have an arm around Mia, holding her close, ready to protect her if need be.
We approach the building, which has five steps up and a set of double doors through which to enter. Before we reach the first step, Mia looks down and her sunglasses fall from her head to the ground.