When she’d called her mother and told her about the pregnancy, Anne’s response had been a succinct well, that’ll kill your chances of finding a good man. Meg winced at the memory she’d tried hard to push far, far away. Was that how her mother felt about her? That once her dad had left, Meg had been a burden and in the way of her finding her prince? Heaven knew, she never had.
Meg dressed and drove home, trying her best not to dwell on sad or negative thoughts. As the doctor had pointed out, she didn’t need added stress in her life.
It helped when Luke called to fill her in about his search on Mike’s parents. On paper, at least, they weren’t the monsters Mike had painted them out to be. Although Meg needed to know more, along with time to digest what she’d learned, she calmed a bit about meeting them.
She walked into the house and headed straight for the kitchen, where she found Scott sitting with her note and a cup of coffee in front of him. Razor stubble covered his handsome face.
He wore a tee-shirt, a pair of track pants, and his feet were bare. Her mouth watered at the sexy picture he presented.
“Good morning,” she said, setting her purse, keys, and the sonogram photograph on the table.
“How was your appointment?” he asked.
She shrugged. “Everything’s fine.”
“Are you sure?” he asked gruffly.
“Why wouldn’t it be? Can I get you more coffee?” she asked, changing the subject.
“No thanks.” He stared into the mug, his expression unreadable. “I’m fine.”
He didn’t sound fine, but she couldn’t read what was bugging him. Surely he hadn’t wanted to go with her to the doctor. That thought was ridiculous in the extreme.
He picked up the picture and stared at the small black-and-white photo.
She wrapped her hand around the top of the nearest chair and gripped it hard. “It’s hard to really see anything,” she said, suddenly uncomfortable.
Scott stared at the sonogram picture. He’d seen one before, when one of the guys at the station was passing it around like a proud dad. His ex had never brought one home to show him.
Looking at Meg’s baby had his insides twisting with so many conflicting emotions it was hard to name them all. But the one that stuck out, the most surprising one, was longing.
He placed the picture back on the table. “You didn’t have to go alone.”
She pinned him with a surprisingly steady, certain gaze. “Yes, I did.” She paused, as if waiting for him to say more. When he didn’t, she straightened her shoulders. “Look, I really appreciate everything you’re doing for me. And I’m … enjoying what we have.”
She sounded so blasé. Words like enjoy and appreciate didn’t come close to the feelings she churned up inside of him. When he’d woken up to find her side of the bed empty, no Meg to wrap himself around, he’d been thrown. Which showed him how quickly he’d gotten used to having her in his life. And when he’d found her note in the kitchen, he’d been … hurt that she’d gone to her appointment alone. He didn’t understand the feelings, couldn’t figure out what to do with them, but there they were.
“Scott, are you listening?” she asked.
“Yes.” He didn’t like what he was hearing, but he was definitely listening.
“Okay.” She licked her lips nervously. “Well, I was saying, I really think it’s better if we keep the personal separate from—”
“From what?” He rose and stepped into her personal space, deliberately crowding her.
He needed to be close, to touch her, to inhale her scent and feel that his world was set right again. Dammit, she tied him in knots.
The minute he crowded her, her words trailed off. Her eyes dilated, her breathing slowed, and she swallowed hard, the action causing her throat to move up and down. He had the sudden desire to kiss her there, to run his teeth along her silken skin.
But she was making a point. One he didn’t like. She’d put him on edge, and there was only one outlet that would make him feel better. But first they had to get a few things straight.
“You’d like to separate the personal from the … what?” he asked, his voice dark. He heard the warning in his tone.
“Sex,” she said on a rush. “You couldn’t possibly have wanted to go with me to the doctor this morning, so I didn’t wake you. Now you’re acting all hurt and pissed off, and I don’t get it.”
“Join the club, baby. I don’t get it either. But you make me crazy. You make me want things I shouldn’t, things that will come back and bite me in the ass in the end. But it doesn’t stop me from wanting.”
He grasped her arms and hauled her against him, sealing his lips over hers. Her hands came to his shoulders, and for a brief second, he thought she’d push him away. Then her hands curled into his shirt, her lips softened, and she gave herself over to the kiss and to him.