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And that, that was the reason she wasn’t telling him yet. He was so caught up in worrying about her it would be too much. She would tell him. But not until they were more steady in the relationship. She glanced at her belly. Too bad they were on a ticking time clock.
“Very funny. And you hog all the hot water. I’ll be right out, I promise.” She deliberately injected s
ome levity into her voice, hoping that worked.
“Okay, suit yourself. I’ll just content myself with making you breakfast then.”
He was going to cook? Oh boy. “No, that’s okay. Besides, I wanted to do something for you after all the things you did for me last night.”
His laugh was low and made her skin hum in anticipation. “Oh you liked that, did you? If you let me, I can do more things for you, and then you’ll want to make me lunch and dinner.”
“Rafe DeMarco, you are a fiend.”
“You better believe it.” She heard his footsteps moving away from her, and she sagged against the counter. What was she going to do?
All she knew was she didn’t want Rafe to be with her because he felt like he had to be. She was making the right call. She knew what it was like to grow up with a father who tolerated her more than loved her.
She was making the right choice. At least she hoped she was.
Diana took a quick shower, then came out to find the room empty. She could only hope that Rafe wasn’t really trying to cook, otherwise she’d have to explain to his family why he’d almost burned down their penthouse.
“There you are!” Lucia appeared in the doorway to the room just as she was leaving. “Rafe was threatening to cook, so I took over. I’m making pancakes and wanted to know if you’re hungry.”
Diana was helpless in the face of Lucia’s relentless cheerfulness. It was so surreal standing here with Rafe’s sister, knowing that she was possibly carrying the woman’s niece or nephew. Would Lucia be so nice to her if she knew all the trouble she’d brought to her brother’s doorstep?
“Yeah, I’m not sure I can eat anything heavy right now. Maybe just some tea? My stomach isn’t cooperating this morning.”
“Of course. I have this great mint tea that’ll soothe your stomach. Come on.” Lucia wrapped an arm around her shoulders and gave her a gentle squeeze.
“You’ve all been so welcoming,” Diana murmured, still taken aback by the warm reception from people who had no reason to trust her. Given everything she’d heard about Lucia’s life, she wouldn’t blame her for being distrusting of everyone.
“Well, of course. I’ve never seen my brother smile so much. I’d just about given up hope on getting him to loosen up. Clearly you’re a miracle worker.”
Diana blushed. “I don’t know about that.”
“Well, I do. He’s never looked at anyone the way he looks at you. It’s given me hope for the first time in years.”
They’d reached the kitchen by now, and they paused in the doorway to observe Rafe from across the room. Wearing loose sweatpants and a tight T-shirt, he looked like a snack while talking to Lucia’s husband. Noah was a handsome man too, but he might as well have been invisible for all that Diana noticed him. No, for her it was all Rafe. All the time.
Damn, she had it bad.
“Look at him. He’s just… I mean, he can have any woman he wants.” Diana grimaced at the insecure words as soon as they left her mouth.
But Lucia just grinned. “I know. And he’s found the one he wants. The one who loves him. Nothing could make me happier.”
Chapter Twelve
Everything was slowly falling apart.
It didn’t matter what he tried, Rafe couldn’t seem to get his footing. Something was up with Diana. She’d been acting strangely for a couple of days now. Quieter than usual. Watching him warily. Had he done something? Every night they went to bed and made love like they were on fire. Like there was a desperate need to be with each other. To hold on to each other. Almost as if they would never get to do it again.
That shit worried him.
“Is there a reason you’re staring at her and not talking to her?” Oskar leaned against the kitchen counter, watching him watch Diana in the living room.
The sight of the big blond man watching his woman made Rafe glower. “Mind your business.”
Oskar shrugged. “Sort of is my business, man. We all live here. If you’re going to make me watch you moon over your girl, I’m going to have something to say.”
