Page 36 of Make it a Double

With a swipe of my finger, I brought my phone up to my ear and breathed a shaky, “Hello?”

“God, it’s good to hear your voice,” Beckett said wistfully. I could hear his smile. He seemed to relax the moment I answered, sending a wave of guilt crashing over me. “I was worried you were going to avoid me.”

“Avoid you? Why would I do that?” I asked, settling back into my pillows.

His chuckle skated along my skin. Goosebumps cropped up in its wake. “That’s a great question. One I’ve been trying to find an answer to since I got a mouthful of gravel earlier.”

That really wasn’t my finest moment, but in my defense… He shouldn’t have run after me. “Well, maybe you shouldn’t have been standing so close to the back of my car. That’ll teach you not to run after women who are clearly trying to get away from you.”

Beckett’s laughter was smooth and sexy. As much as I wanted to lose myself in it, I refused to be dickmatized—again—by this walking, talking sex god. “You’re right. Any tips or tricks to stop someone running away from me?”

“Buddy, if you need tips and tricks, I don’t know how to help you,” I murmured, trying to stay focused on the fact that I should not be falling for this man’s charm. It was harder than it should be, though. He looked good at the bar. Far better than I had in my embarrassing neon sweatpants and blotchy face.

“You know, I really enjoyed the sweet side of you that I met six months ago, but I think I love it when you’re mean to me more,” he said. I could hear the smile in his tone.

I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping like hell that the sickening urge to flirt with him would go the fuck away. I had three good reasons why it was a horrible idea.

Because you weren’t supposed to see him again.

Because it was only meant to be a one-night thing.

Because you’re pregnant with his baby and have been hiding it for nearly six months.

“Sawyer?” he asked, softening his tone. “It was a joke.”

“I’m fine,” I mumbled. Mortified, but fine.

“Olivia said you hadn’t been feeling well earlier, and that was why you left. I thought it might’ve just been because you didn’t want me to catch you falling for me.”

I snorted. “There’s no chance of that happening.”

He wasn’t deterred by my sass. “Do you need anything? Ginger ale? A shoulder rub? Cuddles?” The hope at the end of his stream of questions was hard to ignore. Especially knowing how badly I wanted all of those things as well, but Beckett couldn’t come here. He couldn’t see me or where I lived. Not now. Not yet.

Maybe not ever.

“Look, I appreciate the offer, but I’m fine. You don’t owe me anything, and we’re definitely not going to play doctor. My ankle is slightly swollen, but that’s it.” Even though I hadn’t chewed on my nails in years, I brought my thumb up to my lips. “Appreciate your concern, though.”

“I could still come over. The cuddles weren’t conditional on you being sick.”

My hand fell away as I sighed. He was making this far harder than it needed to be. “Beckett, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Why not?”

Why not? Was he dumb? Even if we tossed out the reasons he didn’t know, I still had to guard my heart where this man was concerned. There was more on the line than my silly little crush. “Why would it be?”

Beckett huffed a laugh. “Because we were good together.” His voice dropped lower, a sinful whisper full of heated promises. I had to squeeze my thighs together just to keep myself out of trouble. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

Of course, I did. That night played on my mind whenever I slipped my hand between my thighs, which, admittedly, had been a ridiculous number of times over the past few months. The second trimester was no joke. I’d damn near laughed out loud at my doctor’s appointment when he talked about my sex drive increasing, certain that would never happen to me.

Unfortunately, he was right.

“It doesn’t matter, Beckett. It was a one-night stand. Emphasis on the one-night bit. It doesn’t matter how good it may have been. We can’t do it again.”

I heard the rustle of sheets and imagined him sitting up in bed. “Why not?”

“Because—”

“Did you, uh… Did you not enjoy yourself?”