Dare to Hold (Dare to Love 4)

He blew out a long breath, finally understanding. Or he thought he did. “I realize we’re getting to know each other, but can you give me a little credit? It’s not like I didn’t know you were pregnant going into this.” He was still attracted to her. And that was that.

“Whatever,” Meg said.

He had sisters, which meant he knew she was going to believe what she wanted to, his words be damned. Fine. He’d just go along with the program.

“I need to stop home and change into clean clothes. Then I thought we’d go by my brother’s and give him information to start digging into your ex. After that?” He’d concede defeat on this one. “You can go to the mall while I head over to work and talk to my boss.”

“I wasn’t aware I needed permission,” she said, trying to remain sweet but make her point. She caught his look. “Are you giving notice?”

“Something like that,” he muttered.

She wouldn’t like the next part of his plan, so he intended to put off explaining it to her until her mood and feelings about him improved. He fully expected the fireworks to start again when she found out he wasn’t leaving her alone to deal with her lurking ex.

* * *

The ride to Scott’s took longer than Meg expected, and by the time he pulled off an exit on I-95, she had a throbbing headache. And when he turned onto a tree-lined street with set-back houses—big Spanish-style houses in the adobe coloring she loved, with gates around each—the dull ache turned to a searing pain. “You live here?”

“Sure do.”

“On a cop’s salary? Not that it’s my business,” she quickly said, realizing how rude and uncalled for her remark had been. “I’m sorry. I’m just surprised.”

He turned, his gaze hidden behind really sexy aviators. “I get it. And for the record, I want you to feel like you can ask me anything.” He turned into a long driveway and parked by a two-car garage. He pulled off the sunglasses and left them on the dashboard.

“Okay … then how do you live here?” she asked, feeling a bit braver but still overwhelmed by the upscale neighborhood.

“My mother’s parents passed away, and when my grandfather died, he left us kids each a very nice trust fund. For me, it was a way to separate myself from my father’s money.”

She studied him without interrupting, wanting to understand this enigmatic, complicated man.

He shut the ignition and twisted to face her. “When I was married, we lived in an apartment in South Beach.”

“Married?” This was the first she’d heard of it, and she couldn’t believe the uncomfortable twisting in her belly. She had to remind herself that he’d said he had been married. He wasn’t currently. And he’d been understanding of her past, so she could do no less for him.

He let out a groan. “It was a couple of years ago,” he said, gripping the steering wheel hard. “And in truth, Leah, my ex-wife, was more interested in my family name and status than me. But at the time, I didn’t really care. I thought I loved her, and I wanted her to be happy. What I didn’t realize was that she hated me being a cop and thought I’d eventually give it up because she wanted me to.” He shook his head. “I wouldn’t, and we had many arguments over my hours and my job.”

Meg let out a relieved breath. Because he’d only thought he’d loved his ex and because he was giving up being a cop now and his ex had nothing to do with why.

He reached out and toyed with a long strand of her hair. “What’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?”

She glanced up at him and smiled. “That’s a secret.” And she wasn’t about to reveal she’d been jealous.

His frown and the warning in his dark gaze promised retribution of the most sensual kind, and she squirmed in her seat.

“The house?” she reminded him.

“Right. Umm, things changed between us, and I decided we needed more space.”

“Changed how?” Meg asked.

He grasped her hand and ran his thumb over the pulse point in her wrist. Her sex spasmed, and she swallowed a moan.

“I want to tell you,” he said. “I just don’t think this is the right time. Can you trust me and will you wait?”

She drew a deep breath. Now she was even more curious, but if he wanted time, she’d give it to him. “Okay. Yes. I can wait. Can I see the house though?”

His expression lightened and he nodded. “Let’s go.”

He opened the garage with a remote on his vehicle and came around to her side of the car, helping her out. He clasped her hand and led her through the garage. They walked directly into a laundry room that doubled as a mudroom, with hooks for jackets and a high-end washer and dryer along the far wall.