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Nash knew he had fallen into a hole so deep, there was no way out and he was starting to wish for things that could never be.
Eight
Lily resisted the urge to throw her phone, and she would pull the childish tantrum if she didn’t have to go through the annoyance of getting a new one.
But she wasn’t one to waste money.
For pity’s sake, she was so sick of certain people in the industry—ahem, producers, actors, etc.—assuming that because they were a big name, she would jump at the chance to work with them. Then when she declined, the offer of more money really set her teeth to grinding. She couldn’t be bought, something they found hard to believe.
Thankfully her agent, Ian, had called with the movie options and the ridiculous counteroffers. He was still trying to find her a film that could accommodate her expanding belly, but Lily wasn’t sure how work would fit into the life she was envisioning with Nash. The baby was no problem. A relationship with Nash? How would he feel about Hollywood? There was no way she could stay away from the limelight and she knew he was a private man. He’d made no definite declarations to her, yet she found herself hoping everything would work out, because she truly wanted this amazing man in her life, and not just for the baby.
Swinging her legs around, she propped her feet up on the leather sofa and settled back against the cushioned armrest. This relaxing nonsense was getting really old really fast and she had only been here a few days. If this lasted her entire pregnancy she would go insane.
Added to that, Nash was very attentive to her needs. Okay, wait, that wasn’t a bad thing at all. But the man wouldn’t let her do anything for herself. He insisted she take it easy and rest until her next appointment when the doctor would come and assess her.
Funny, Lily didn’t recall agreeing to stay with him that long. Apparently he’d assumed she would just live here. That was definitely a talk they would be having soon. At some point she’d have to leave, to pack her things and go back to her life. She didn’t want all of this uncertainty in her future.
And she was still reeling from the news that Nash was Damon Barrington’s son. Even though her first gut reaction was anger, she had to give Nash the benefit of the doubt. The man was obviously torn. He was struggling with this new identity and working as a groom to get close to his biological father. How could she hold that against him?
He hadn’t deliberately lied to her and she’d seen the turmoil he’d battled with over revealing the truth to her. What had he done before coming to the Barringtons’ estate? Had he been a groom elsewhere? She assumed he worked with horses since he’d told her he did that as a child. Obviously love for the animals and hard work were in his blood.
Had she been in his shoes, she wouldn’t have disclosed her secret to a virtual stranger, either.
Oh, how fate had other plans for them. Lily never would’ve dreamed she’d be living in Nash’s cottage, pregnant with his child while he debated on when and how to drop the paternity bomb on the racing mogul.
The sooner the past came out, the better. Wasn’t that true for any type of potential relationship?
The front door opened and closed seconds before Nash’s heavy footfalls moved through the foyer. He rounded the arched doorway into the living room and offered her a half smile.
“You look like I feel.” She rested an arm along the back of the couch, taking in his lean form as he propped a shoulder against the door frame. “Bad day?”
“I’m grabbing a shower and heading back to the estate.” Nash ran a hand along his short beard, around to the back of his neck as he let out a sigh. “I’m going to tell him.”
Lily jerked up, gripping the back of the couch. “Does he know you’re coming back?”
“Yeah.”
Lily couldn’t believe he was ready to take this step. She knew he wanted to, but she had no idea he was doing it so soon after telling her. Had opening up to her released something else in him? Something that made him want to get his life in order before the baby came? And, dare she hope, for them to move forward together?
“Do you want me to come?”
Nash’s eyes met her, his toe-curling smile spread across his face. “I would, but only if you’re comfortable going.”
Lily came to her feet, smoothing her simple cotton dress down her legs. Rounding the couch, she crossed the cozy living room. Encircling his neck with her arms, Lily answered his devastating smile with her own.
“I don’t want to assume anything in any part of your life, Nash. I know our relationship has been a whirlwind, but I don’t think you should go through this alone.”
