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“Christ,” I hissed, pressing a hand to my heart and glad I hadn’t looped the vacuum cleaner cord around my neck yet.
My pulse skyrocketed with nerves as I hopped onto the carpet. Even though it was impossible for anyone to know, I still wondered if someone had figured out my plan.
Hoping no one was here to stop me, I hurried to the entrance to see who it was.
Then I used my body to block the interior so my visitor couldn’t see in, and I opened the door, peering out.
I did not expect to find the person who stood on my doorstep at all.
4
LUCY OLIVIA
I absolutely dreaded making my second trip to the Merrill house.
I guess I really hadn’t needed to go there, but after confessing all the humiliating details of my pregnancy origins to my family and getting their full support and offer of help, I began to think of the thing growing inside me as an actual child.
And I realized that someday this child was probably going to talk. And ask questions. Lots of questions. Just like my six-year-old nephew, Braiden, did. And I could already picture him or her asking the very first one.
But, Mama, who’s my daddy?
Honestly, I hadn’t known all that much about Duke Merrill. Ergo, here I was. Again.
Remembering the last time I’d been here, I shuddered in revulsion, then winced in guilt because I wasn’t being very respectful of the dead. Poor Duke couldn’t help it that he’d been so bad in the sack. He’d just been happy for one last orgasm. And I should be satisfied with giving him a smile on his way out.
If only it hadn’t ended with me turning i
nto a soon-to-be mother.
Dear God, even the word mother made me break out in a cold sweat. I was so not ready for parenthood.
But never mind that. I was here for an entirely different reason. Or maybe it was because of that very reason I was here. Part of me was already acting motherly and striving to give my child whatever I thought was needed.
Steeling my resolve before seeing Duke’s brother again, I fisted my hands at my sides, blew out a long breath, and then I did it.
I knocked on the door.
My pulse picked up and nerves set in when I heard footsteps approaching from the inside. Then I winced as the latch clicked and the door began to open.
Vaughn appeared before I was ready for him, all tall and imposing, dark eyes meeting mine and sending a punch of intimidation and attraction right through me.
Wait. Did I just say attraction? Yeah, scratch that. That word totally had not meant to come out of my thoughts. Because I was not attracted to Vaughn Merrill. I mean, just because a person was attractive didn’t automatically mean you had to form some kind of sexual—
No, not sexual. Jesus, why did I keep thinking words I didn’t mean to? This was getting bad. And all the while, he just stood there, waiting for me to speak, while my brain fumbled over words I didn’t want it to think.
He had a thick covering of facial hair now, and the rings under his eyes told me he hadn’t been sleeping well. The poor man was still mourning. It hadn’t even been three months since he’d buried his brother.
Damn, maybe I should’ve waited a bit before making this house call.
Oh well. Too late now. He was already standing there, still just looking at me.
Waiting.
Stomach twitching with sympathy, I shed all the spite and resentment and—okay, fine—attraction I’d been feeling for him, and I heaved in a big breath before saying, “Hi,” as brightly as I could.
His eyes twitched as he squinted at me in confusion.
Certain that meant he didn’t recognize me, I clasped my hands together and said, “You probably don’t remember me, but—”
