“Yes, I understand the background. But even if he moves away, he could have kept his share in the business. Or was there something more than business between you?”
“No, he thought handling the business remotely would be too complicated. And the two of us were never involved. I know better than to mix a business partnership with romance.”
Oh, damn. How would he take that after last night? She gazed at his inscrutable expression and decided she’d better tackle this head-on.
“Matt, about what happened last night—”
But his cell phone chimed from the dresser just as she started talking. She stopped while he took the call.
“Pearce,” he answered. “Okay, good.”
He hung up and tossed the phone on the bedside table.
“That was the driver. He said they should have the road cleared in an hour or so. He’ll pick us up then.” He grabbed his pajama top and pulled it on. “In the meantime, I think we’re long overdue for some caffeine. We can take our coffee in the living room and sit by the fire. We have some things we need to talk about.”
Her heart stopped at those words, but she nodded.
“I set the coffeemaker to start automatically, so it should be all ready. Are you coming?”
She was totally naked under the covers and was not about to hop out of the bed just yet.
“I’ll meet you downstairs.”
As soon as he left the room, she slipped from under the covers and dashed across the room, then peered out the doorway to see him disappear down the stairs. She hurried down the hall to her room and retrieved the robe he’d given her.
* * *
Matt walked into the kitchen and poured two cups of coffee, then walked through the door to the living room. Kate sat on the couch waiting for him. He sat down beside her.
“Matt, I’m sorry about last night.”
“You’re sorry?”
His stomach churned. Why was she sorry? Sure, he knew they couldn’t really carry on their relationship, especially given certain facts he was not about to tell her, but he would never regret what happened between them last night.
“I’m sorry that things went too far, and I’m sorry if I hurt you. Back then … and now.”
“You don’t have to apologize. Especially about last night. There is, however, something important I need to ask you.”
At his serious tone, she glanced up. “What is it?”
“Is it possible that you could be pregnant after last night?”
* * *
Shock vaulted through Kate. “What? No, why would you ask that?” Then she realized. “Oh, we didn’t use a condom.”
“That’s right. I’m really sorry, Kate.”
“I didn’t even think about it. I mean, I know you. I trust you. It never even occurred to me that there’d be a problem. I mean, safety-wise.” She glanced at him and noticed his tight expression had softened a little. “And I’m on birth control. I’m sorry, I should have told you.”
Relief washed across his features. “Good. I wouldn’t want a pregnancy to result from what we did last night.”
Her stomach churned and she had to steady her breathing. As sensible as his statement was, it felt like a rejection. Of course he wouldn’t want to be saddled with her and a bastard child just because of one night of indiscretion. Even though he had tons of money to spare, he wasn’t the type of man who would just pay her off with child support. He was the kind of man who would want to be present for his son or daughter. And that would mean he’d be stuck with her, even if just for regular visits with their child.
Their child. The thought of having a child with Matt made her want to weep. Because she loved him and would love to have his child. But she and Matt just weren’t right for each other. Oh, how she wished they were. He would be a wonderful father. And she would love to spend the rest of her life with him.
As she watched him take a sip of his coffee, her gaze slid along his square jaw covered in dark stubble, then down his pajama top to the solid, muscular c