Rogue Hearts

“The difference is that none of those positions come with Smith’s recommendation. Something like that means a lot and can mean the difference between starting out fresh or beginning a position that has a lot of weight to it. I don’t want Smith to think I’m taking this lightly.”

“So you want to take my child several states away from me just to please your boss?”

“It’s not even a child yet. I’m only four weeks pregnant. In the first trimester, there’s a high risk of miscarriage. We have months before this even impacts you. I get you can’t leave your children behind here and move with me, but that’s you. I’m talking about me, and I have to at least think about myself and my future in all of this.”

Victoria was worried it would come to this. It was one of the things that bothered her when Andrei found out about the baby. Most women probably worried that their guy would pack up and leave town to get away from them. Her problem was the exact opposite.

Andrei was stressed out about the possibility that she could leave him and take the new job, making it difficult for him to see the baby.

“That’s just it. This stops being about you second you got pregnant. There is no you anymore. There is only us.”

Guilt filled her gut for hassling Andrei about going away to Chicago. For most of her life, she only had to worry about herself. No other lives had to be considered, which meant she always chose the decision that was best for her. But she couldn’t push away the words Andrei was trying to get through to her. Victoria’s life was no longer her own. Maybe she was being selfish, but did a baby mean she had to give up her dream?

He placed a bowl of broth in front of her.

She quirked an eyebrow up. “What’s this?”

“It’s a family recipe. My mother made this all the time and she was pregnant with us. It should help with the nausea allow you to get some food down.”

The delicious smell of the broth invaded her senses and reminded her that she hadn’t eaten much all day.

“Try it,” he said.

“What if I can’t keep it down?”

“Just try it.”

Their talk of Chicago and the baby still floated around her in her head, but she didn’t argue with him on this because she was starving.

She took the spoon into a liquid and brought to her lips. A burst of hearty flavor filled her mouth and satisfied her taste buds. Although she couldn’t place the specific flavors in the recipe, it suits her stomach as she took a spoonful of more and more until she had almost finished the entire thing.

“I’ll take that as a sign that you like it.” The corner of Andrei’s mouth slid up into a half smile. “Let me get you some more.” He took her full and refilled it before she could ask him to.

Andrei confounded her in more ways than one. He was drop-dead gorgeous and the ruthless defense attorney in the courtroom. The man was also the best lover she ever had, putting her needs before his own. Now, he was taking care of her again without her having to ask. Any woman would be crazy not to want him, so why was she so set on pushing him away?

A future in Chicago seemed like the safer option, far away from her passionate and sometimes mystifying lover.

“We have to figure this out,” she said as he put the newly refilled bowl of broth in front of her. “The problem isn’t going away just because we stop talking about it.”

“I know. Eat your soup.”

She downed this bowl a little slower than the first. The whole time Victoria knew that he watched her as she ate. With anyone else, she would’ve found such scrutiny creepy. This, however, seemed peaceful and homey, more domestic than she was used to but still comforting all the same.

Every once in awhile, she will look up to find him grinning back at her, but she didn’t question it or tease him. She simply ate quietly as he continued to watch her every movement.

“I want you to meet my family,” he said all of a sudden.

She nearly choked on her last spoonful of broth. “Meet your family?”

“Yeah. One weekend a month we go to the main house outside of the city to eat and have some time away. Would you like to spend the weekend with us?”

“You don’t just want me to meet your family. You want me to spend the weekend with them?”

“You make it sound like something bad. I think the meeting would be great, Victoria.”

“Would your family be okay with a stranger coming?”

“You’re not a stranger. At least you won’t be when you meet them. I think it’s about time. You are having my baby, after all. It makes sense to meet them. You’ll get the chance to see where I grew up.”