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And she wasn’t any calmer than when she’d walked into the kitchen at three a.m.
Liam hadn’t come to bed last night—at least not the bed they shared. Raine tried desperately not to believe that he’d found someone else’s. Never before had he disappeared without a word. But she knew exactly what he meant to convey: he was more than frustrated with her refusal to take the pregnancy test, Thanksgiving… everything.
If something didn’t change, she wouldn’t be able to keep him much longer. At the thought, panic gripped her throat.
She’d texted him this morning to tell him that she missed him, but he hadn’t replied. Her only consolation was that his clothes still hung in the closet. She hoped that meant he was coming back, but she was also aware that he could send for them from New York.
What if she’d driven him away for good? She pressed her hand to her lips to hold in a sob.
In the doorway behind her, she felt a presence. Just by the way the air stirred, she knew Hammer stood, watching her. He’d see all the baked goods—and he’d know exactly what they meant.
She dragged in a steadying breath, then dumped the nuts from the chopper into the batter, avoiding his gaze. “Good morning. I’m just baking. Help yourself.”
Hammer crossed the room and stepped into her personal space, telling her without a word that she wasn’t going to escape whatever he had to say. His thick fingers gripped the counter near her waist, and she felt his body heat along her back. Why the hell hadn’t she worn more than her panties and a tank top? Under his stare, she felt naked.
“Everything looks delicious, precious. Tell me, is it that bad?”
She forced herself to shrug. “I couldn’t sleep. I was bored, so I baked.”
A humorless chuckle rolled from the back of his throat. “This is me you’re talking to. You only bake enough for an army when you’re deeply troubled. Tell me, did the bed feel a little empty last night?”
Why the hell was he taunting her?
She slammed her spoon on the counter. “It’s none of your goddamn business.”
“Turn around.” He waited until she complied with a sigh. “We’re going to talk.”
“Is this official club business?”
“Liam may let you negotiate. You know I won’t. Sit down. Now.”
She braced her hands on his chest, pushing him away. “What the fuck do you want from me? To hear that I screwed up? Yep. You’re right. I royally muffed everything. Happy now?”
“Liam is sleeping off a bottle in a spare bedroom down the hall.” He paused, his voice softening. “Alone.”
God, he could have said most anything else to her and she would have held it together. A fight? Bring it on. She’d love one of those now. Instead, he’d disarmed her with compassion. Damn him.
She and Hammer might have had a bumpy personal relationship, and he might have blown arctic and heat wave on her in the past, but he was still the person she trusted most on this planet. She knew without a doubt that he always wanted what was best for her—even if they had different ideas about what that was. So Raine had a hard time resisting the urge to throw herself against him and cry out her concerns, wrapped in his familiar arms. She couldn’t. He would take on her burdens without hesitation, but that wasn’t fair to either him or to Liam.
She had to keep it to herself. And that made her feel so damn alone.
“Thank you. Please don’t make this tougher for me. If you’re here to remind me that this is day six without a period, believe me, I know.”
With a grim expression, he pulled out a chair and extended his hand. “I don’t want to talk about your period. Friday will come soon enough.” He poured a cup of coffee, then plucked a muffin from the plate and took a bite. And he moaned. “You spoil me with these. They’re the best I’ve ever tasted. Now put your ass in the chair.”
Raine hesitated. There would be no avoiding him. Tenacious bastard.
With a sigh, she eased her butt, still sore from Liam’s paddling, onto the hard wooden chair, trying not to wince.
“A little tender, are you, precious?” he drawled. “Yeah, I heard.”
And wasn’t that completely embarrassing? “You didn’t have to listen.”
“I told you I like hearing you moan, even if it’s not for me.”
She scowled at him. Then when a little ache tightened behind her clit, guilt pricked her. She looked away. “Hammer...”
“I said I was going to be honest from now on, remember?” He sat at the head of the table and leaned toward her.
“Then I’ll be honest, too. I don’t want to discuss Liam with you.”
“That’s too bad because we’re going to chat. Look at me, Raine.” She raised her gaze and wished her heart didn’t stutter in her chest every time he stared at her. “What did Liam punish you for yesterday?”
