I stared at him for a long time, watched the way his jaw clenched and the blue in his eyes shifted from royal to sky blue.
“What?”
“Nothing, it’s just I don’t think I’ve heard you speak so many words at once.”
His lips tugged into an amused grin. “Funny.”
His words filtered through the tension and I blinked rapidly, knowing I needed to clear up this misunderstanding. “I’m not ashamed that I’m pregnant, least of all by you Grady.”
He frowned and folded those massive arms. “So what is the problem then? Talk to me Margot.”
I sighed, because the truth wasn’t easy, and I didn’t exactly feel comfortable admitting my failings to Grady of all people. “I’m too old to have a one night stand, never mind unsafe casual sex. It’s embarrassing.” I covered my face with both hands and shook my head. “I replayed that night and neither one of us, not once, even spared a thought to protection.”
Grady nodded. “I’ll admit that I was too busy wanting to get my hands and mouth on you to think about anything but your body, naked. But as for the rest of the world, for all they know, the condom broke. Or my swimmers are Olympians. Anything. People get pregnant all the time, and in a town like this, what people don’t know they will make up.”
“And that’s the problem. What they’re making up makes me look awful, and worse, silly.”
“It’s none of their damn business Margot.”
I frowned at his words. “You don’t care if people talk about you? About us?”
He laughed. “Hell no. Not unless they plan to get up for feedings, save for college, have the birds and the bees talk, or whatever else we have to do to get this kid from infancy to adulthood. Their opinion means less than nothing to me, and it shouldn’t mean anything to you either.”
He was right, people would talk no matter what. Even once the truth was revealed, they would say what they wanted and believe whatever made the best story. “Thank you for that Grady. Your perspective is refreshing.”
“It’s realistic. When I first came to town people whispered about me behind my back, and even to my face. They speculated on everything from me being a fresh out of prison ex-con, in the witness protection program, and even a spy on the run.”
“A spy! I hadn’t heard that one, but yeah, that’s a good story. Not as good as the lottery winner making his own slice of heaven.”
“See? One hot night together and you get the baby you always wanted, and I get a kid I didn’t even know I wanted.” He shrugged. “It’s better than anything they could make up, and they don’t even know it, so it’s like our little secret.”
I grinned. “You’re an optimist,” I said with a sigh. “Another thing I didn’t know about you.”
“I’m a pragmatist,” he said with a smile as he got to his feet. “And we have months and years to get to know more about each other Margot.”
“I suppose you’re right about that.” It was odd, to think that a man I wasn’t in a relationship with in any way, would without a doubt be in my life forever.
“Enjoy your lunch Margot, and if you need anything, food cravings, a shoulder to cry on, someone to bitch about your friends to, I am your first call.”
It would take some getting used to, but I wanted to get this right, to find a working co-parenting relationship with this man. “Okay Grady. I’m going to do my best. I promise.”
He smiled and my heart stopped beating in my chest. It was wide and genuine, and so white it nearly blinded me. “That’s all I’m asking. Take it easy.”
I’m not ashamed to admit that I watched his tight backside and long muscular legs until they disappeared from view. And then I caught a few more seconds when I peeked out the window at his retreating form.
The man was hell on a woman’s libido, and mine was now working overtime.
Chapter 14
Grady
“Is there a special lady in your life big brother?” My sister Beth’s laugh sounded light and airy on the other side of the video call, her smile was bright and I smiled in return.
“Is there someone special in your life,” I rolled my eyes and shot back, sure that would get her off my case, at least for a moment or two.
But my sister was like a dog with a bone, or more specifically, a bloodhound on the scent. Somehow. “There are several someone’s actually, now answer my question! Who is she?”
“It’s not like that.” I shook my head, because there was no way to explain my situation with Margot to my little sister, especially to mention a baby when I haven’t told our mama yet.
Beth barked out a laugh. “So there is someone! Wait until Mama hears, she’ll be so thrilled. You know she thinks you’re hiding from the world in that small town, don’t you?”