“Hey.” He pulled back and tipped her chin so she looked at him. “Buying some wine to share after the baby is born is the bare minimum of what you deserve. I hope you know I would do anything for you.”
A look crossed her face that she quickly masked. It almost looked pained, but before he could question it, she smiled up at him and stepped away.
“That’s because you’re an amazing man.”
They continued walking around the winery and toward a stage where a band was playing. They found some chairs and sat down, listening to the music as the sun set. Jake stole severalglances at Claire, who seemed to carry a troubled look on her face. Things with Charles hadn’t seemed to get better as he was still smearing her to the press, but Jake knew deep down that her look had nothing to do with Charles.
And it had everything to do with him.
His stomach felt uneasy. But this wasn’t the time nor the place to have a conversation about it.
Slowly, the rest of the group joined them, and they all listened to the local band play. When the winery got busier, they decided it would be best to leave before they drew a crowd.
18
The group was at a hotel for the night, and Celine had pulled some strings to get them into adjoining rooms again. Ben had yet to notice or say anything if he had. But Jake wasn’t about to ask questions. They would deal with that when it came time.
Jake held Claire in his arms while a movie played in front of them. His hands rested on her belly.
Despite the child not being his, he felt a connection with the baby. His protective instinct was coming out, and because the baby was Claire’s, he automatically loved him or her.
He pressed a kiss to her temple.
“Claire,” he whispered.
“Hmm?”
“What’s going on between us?”
She stilled. “I don’t know.”
“You’ve just seemed tense around me. Almost like you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop. Did I do something to upset you?”
“No.”
Jake sat up and moved around to the front of Claire. She looked like a deer in headlights, with her arms wrapped protectively around herself.
“Why don’t I believe you? You can tell me what I did. Let’s talk about it.”
Tears sprang to her eyes and just when he was about to reach for her, she moved off the bed and walked through the adjoining door to her own room. He quickly followed, half worried she’d close it and lock him out.
“I’m not sure this is going to work.”
The air rushed out of his lungs. The heavy weight of their past settled on him. She couldn’t possibly be ending things before they could even begin. Again.
“Why?” he asked, just as he reached her.
“Because I’m having a baby, and Charles is smearing my name.”
“What does that have to do with anything? It’s all lies.”
“But everyone else doesn’t know that!”
“I know it.”
“I don’t want you to resent me.”
“I would never.”
