“There are no arguments, Nicole. Just plain hard facts.” He held up one finger. “Fact one. You’re pregnant and have been restricted to bed rest. Total and complete bed rest until the first trimester’s over.”
She’d argue if she could, but so far Kevin hadn’t said anything inaccurate. It was just his solutions she found fault with and he hadn’t mentioned those again. Yet. She folded her arms over her chest. “Go on.”
“So who’s going to fix your meals? Do your shopping? Be around in case there’s a problem? Janine? I don’t think that’s fair, expecting her to handle two pregnancies, do you? Besides, she’s leaving at the end of the week. She wanted to cancel her flight, but I insisted you’d be well taken care of.”
Nikki shut her eyes. Not only was he persistent, but he was also right She couldn’t be a burden to Janine. She’d never even consider it. But why had fate doomed her to be someone’s responsibility, especially Kevin’s? Why, when she was just getting her life together, did she have to end up flat on her back? Her savings were minimal, but if she could have hung on for another few months of work...
“You aren’t exactly in a position to babysit,” she reminded him. “Don’t you have to work?”
“I’ve given this a lot of thought. Don hired me to put a new security system in place and screen employees. The system’s been up and working for a while now. I need to do check-ins and updates, but I don’t need to work nine to five. And I can hire a housekeeper for the hours I’m out of the house.”
The room began to spin and Nikki grabbed onto the bedrail. “You do not have to plan your entire life around me. I’m perfectly capable of staying alone during the day.”
“Not in a walk-up apartment, so you can forget that idea now. Can we at least agree Janine’s place isn’t going to work?”
The thought of three flights of stairs was overwhelming now and she felt her options closing in on her. “Yes,” she admitted. “Janine’s place is out. So say I move in.” She swallowed over the lump and forced the next words from her throat. “With you.” God, how would she survive living with Kevin on a day-to-day basis? Knowing he was taking care of her because she was carrying his child? Dealing with the constant sexual awareness he generated inside her? Coping with the knowledge she cared too much about the loner ex-cop?
She shook her head. “Say I move in with you. There’s no reason you have to spend money on a housekeeper just to look out for me.”
He shrugged. “I was going to hire someone anyway.”
“Once a week, maybe. But daily...”
“Damn it, Nicole do you really have to argue every little point? Look around you. What are your options? I know I’m no prince, but I’m the best you’ve got so make the best of it, okay?” He ran a frustrated hand through his hair, and Nikki suffered a rush of shame.
She didn’t want to be a burden or an obligation, but she couldn’t change the fact that she was. Kevin would view her that way whether she liked it or not. She might not like it, but she was damn lucky she had Kevin willing to take her in. “I appreciate all you want to do for m
e. And yes, I’ll move in. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“But I’m not giving in on the full-time maid, so you can forget that now.”
Kevin stifled a groan. The last thing he wanted was to upset her. He respected her independence, much as she thought otherwise. To have her grovel didn’t please him or do anything for his male ego.
He’d won his most important concession. She was moving in. No need to push further. “Okay. Part-time help it is,” he said.
She raised her eyebrows. “That was almost too easy.”
“Disappointed?” he asked.
She smiled. “No. Just relieved.”
“Good.” Apparently he’d made another point then. He wouldn’t abandon her or his child. Did she believe him? He shook his head, knowing he didn’t want to delve deeply into the answer.
“Okay then. I’ll go over to Janine’s and pack up your things before coming back for you.”
She nodded.
The conversation hadn’t gone as smoothly as he’d hoped, and now wasn’t the time to bring up her other problems. The baby would be covered under his insurance, but Nikki would not. She had no coverage for any medical bills or serious problems that might yet arise. Nor did she have the money to cover the bills for the medical care both she and the baby deserved right now.
Although he’d been impressed by the clinic and its range of services, the distance between his suburban home and the city clinic wasn’t safe, should there be another emergency. Add to that the location, which made him uneasy in the first place, and Kevin thought he had a good argument for switching to a private doctor in a suburban hospital. Not that Nikki would agree.
If he could get past her pride, there was much he could offer, including paying for her pregnancy medical care—like the emergency room visit last night. The solution he had in mind, however, would probably scare the living daylights out of her, because it sure as hell rocked his world.
Marriage. Commitment. Trust. He shuddered, knowing how he ranked in that particular department. Although he’d pay for Nikki’s care regardless of whether she became his wife, the baby needed the legalities of marriage. Because then his child would have his name. And so would Nikki, from there on in. No illegitimate stigma, no complications.
He glanced over. Her eyes were still moist, her jaw clamped tight. She’d given in, but not willingly. He was the last person she wanted to turn to for anything. He didn’t blame her, but she had no choice. So yes, he’d won one battle, but he had a hunch that was nothing compared to the fight ahead.