Even thoughhe’dmade it.
He was a fantastic cook, and I’d be stupid to turn it down.
“Oh,” I said lightly. “Thank you, but you didn’t have to.”
He dished up the steak, cooked exactly how I liked it—well done—and handed me a bottle of chilled mineral water. He placed the plate on the single placemat at the table and handed me cutlery.
I stared at him as he pulled out his mother’s Tupperware and loaded it with food.
He wasn’t eating here.
Why?
My stomach lurched.
“I’ll wash up then I’ve got to go to work. I hope you enjoy it.” Victor glanced at me before stacking the dishwasher and rinsing trays and pans.
Of course. He had to work. But now he was living back here, surely, he didn’tneedto work that second job.
Not that I cared—I was just trying to make sense of it. He hummed as he moved around the kitchen, a smile on his lips.
“You seem happier.” I couldn’t stop the comment if I’d tried.
But what right did he have to be happy?
Victor looked up, suds on his arms as he scrubbed the pots.
“I saw our baby today.” His eyes shone.
I wasn’t expecting that.
I cut into my steak and tried not to moan when it melted on my tongue. Soon I was shovelling the food into my mouth, Victor be damned.
“Yeah. It was pretty special,” I agreed.
Victor grinned at me, and for a second, it was like all was forgotten. “Our baby, Lila. I never thought it would happen for us.”
I nodded. “I sure didn’t expect it.”
Victor tilted his head, gazing at me. “It suits you. Being pregnant…” His gaze dropped over my body, and a flash of heat appeared in his eyes.
I didn’t know what to do with that, so I cleared my throat and focused on finishing my meal.
Even when Victor was trying not to look at me, he was. It eased some of my anxiety about my changing body, the way he was looking at me like he wanted to spread me out on the table and fucking devour me. My cheeks flushed at the thought, but there was no way in hellhe’dbe doing that to me again.
Even though he wasincredibleat it.
Christ, I can’t think about that.
He finished cleaning the kitchen, and I slid my plate into the dishwasher, making sure to bend over close enough to him that I heard his breath hitch.
A smile tugged at my lips as I stretched, yawning loudly.
“I’m going to bed,” I said, moving past him. I couldn’t help but smell his delicious scent, the one that was just him—all soap and the cologne I’d bought him last Christmas.
He reached out and caught my hand, turning me so I was facing him. Up close, everything felt like it always had, him about to kiss me before I went to bed…but everything was different now. My gaze dropped to his lips, lips I had kissed so many times—but that were tainted now.
“Lila…I still love you.” His voice was hoarse as he searched my eyes. “I always will.”
