“He loves you,” she whispered in my ear. “I’m sure of it. And I know you feel the same way about him. You may not have planned this, but you guys will work it out.” She pulled me into her arms. “Jake is right. You have to try and relax, hon. For your baby’s sake.”
My baby.How could this be my life?
ChapterNineteen
Rhett
When someone rang my doorbell after eight o’clock, I assumed it was Diego. He said if he decided to go into town for a beer he’d pass by and pick me up. I wasn’t really in the mood to socialize, but I wouldn’t turn him down.
My gut twisted painfully when I opened the door and saw Briar standing on the other side. WTF? Just when I’d stopped thinking about her every other minute she had to show up and upend my world again? No! Hell, no!
“What are you doing here?” Her gaze dropped to the ground and I felt like an asshole for being so brusque. I knew she wouldn’t have flown hours to see me if it wasn’t important.
“Can I come in?”
I glanced at the small black suitcase clutched in her hand. Surely, she didn’t expect me to invite her to stay with me. I could barely handle being in the same room with her, let alone sharing a house again.
“You came all this way,” I said, taking a step back. “I guess the least I can do is hear you out.”
I let my gaze rake over her as she walked to the windows facing the ocean. She was dressed casually. Black linen joggers, a white tank top, and flip flops with a white linen button down shirt. Her hair was in a messy bun and her make-up had long-since faded, but she still looked so damn beautiful just looking at her put the squeeze on my heart.
“Um, could I get a glass of water, please?” she asked, glancing at me. “I’m feeling a little dehydrated.” She pressed her fingertips to her temples. “I should have grabbed a bottle of water at the airport, but I was just in a hurry to get here.”
It pissed me off to think that she wasn’t taking care of herself. It was hot as Hades in Costa Rica right now, in the middle of the dry season, and so damn close to the Equator, proper hydration was a matter of survival.
“Sit down,” I snapped, gesturing to the huge cream sectional facing the window. “I’ll get you a water.”
“Thanks.” She sighed, palming her forehead.
I clenched my teeth, drawing on all my training to remain calm. Breathing. In through the nose, out through the mouth. But Briar had always been the only person on the planet who could get me tied up in knots like this. But it wasn’t just seeing her again that had me on edge. It was the fact that she’d flown thousands of miles for this face-to-face and I needed to know why.
I grabbed a beer for myself, assuming I would need it to get through this little meeting. After she’d said whatever she came here to say, I’d find a nearby hotel with an available room and drop her off before calling on my jet to take her home tomorrow, because one thing I was certain about: I wasn’t hopping back on the Briar train. Not after I’d fought so hard for a little peace of mind.
“Here,” I said, thrusting the bottle in her hand. “Drink all of it. You can’t afford to get dehydrated in this heat.” Costa Rica was amazing, but the health care system was sorely lacking. The nearest medical clinic was twenty-five minutes away by car and closed at eight o’clock every night. I couldn’t let her get sick on me.
“Thank you.” She took a few sips before replacing the cap and set it on the table. “So, you’re still mad at me, huh?”
I gave her the are-you-for-real look before shaking my head in disgust. “You made your choice, Briar. I made mine. So, what the hell are you doing here? I’m not going to keep doing this dance with you. I’ve told you that before, but this time I mean it.”
She nodded, looking miserable as she stared straight ahead, taking in the ocean views. “This is beautiful, Rhett. I can see why you wouldn’t be anxious to come home.” Her gaze slid in my direction. “Or are you just hiding out here because you can’t stand to be in the same city as me?”
I could understand why she thought I hated her. Our relationship had always been tumultuous. Lots of push and pull. Frustration mingled with satisfaction. Passion danced with fury. Words spewed like venom… but a friendship that had endured years. When it came down to it, I’d been the guy she called when she needed back-up and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
“I’m not hiding out.” I tipped my beer back. “I’m on vacation, big difference.”
“I know.” She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “I get why you needed to get away. It hasn’t been easy for me either, trying to move on.”
I raised an eyebrow, tightening my grip on the bottle before bringing it back to my lips for a deep pull. “You’ve been trying to move on? What the hell does that mean? You’re dating again? Already?” The thought of her under another man again, so soon after she’d been mine, made the jealousy morph into something all-consuming.
“No.” She touched my thigh. “Of course I haven’t been dating. Rhett, how could I? You’re all I’ve been able to think about.” She removed her hand from my leg when I scowled at it. “Um, how about you? Anyone special here?”
I slammed my beer down on the coffee table, making her jump. “Don’t ask me stupid questions! Just say what you came all this way to say already!”
“I’m pregnant,” she whispered.
I felt the blood rush to my head as a tear glided down her cheek before she could brush it away. “What did you say?”
She shook her head, looking miserable as she reached for her water bottle. “I wasn’t feeling all that great, so Gia came to my house this morning with a pregnancy test. I was in denial at first. I thought there was no way I could be pregnant, but I took two tests. Both were positive, so I’m pretty sure I am. I’ll go to a doctor as soon as I get home—”
