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Before she could contemplate what she was going to say to him, he was pushing her gently into his car and they were on their way to the paint store.
"Nick, pull over, I'm going to be sick." she grabbed at his arm about a mile down the road.
Nick didn't hesitate. He came to a full stop, got out of the car and came over to pull her out of her seat. On one side of the road was a long row of apartment buildings, on the other a park. Not the kind of park a woman should get sick in, too manicured, too perfect.
Gently Nick held her by the shoulders while she fought her nausea. Afterwards Nick offered his handkerchief and held her close till she felt better. He kissed the top of her head and she inhaled the soft scent of his after shave. His muscles were tensed against her arms, but warm and inviting too. He smiled tenderly at her when she looked up at him.
Kelsey felt protected for the first time in a long time and there was a great need in her for comfort. Would it hurt to give in just this once, she reasoned. Had Ralph ever been this gentle, they might have made a go of their marriage. But there was no soft side to Ralph. And the last thing she wanted to think about when in Nick's arms was Ralph.
Nick's lips mingled against her forehead as he held her in his arms, and she felt the heat rise between them. He couldn't hide the fact that she affected him. Somehow he seemed stronger than ever, although he didn't exert that strength on her. His need of her was obvious from the slight brush of his hips. He seemed to ignore it but Kelsey couldn't stop reacting to his nearness. She knew he wanted her, and she hadn't been the least prepared for his withdrawal. She was shaking.
"Better?" he asked in a lowered voice.
Kelsey nodded mutely. No! Worse, she wanted to scream aloud. She wanted a real kiss from him, needed it. And she wanted him to need it just as badly.
In an hour they had picked out the palest yellow paint, and a pale yellow and brown Mr. and Mrs. Teddy bear border in the store and returned to Kelsey's apartment.
Nick insisted she take it easy, he propped her up in an easy chair and laid her feet on an ottoman. His gaze searched hers, his mobile mouth twitching with amusement. Satisfied that she was resting comfortably, he returned to the task in the middle room.
Kelsey relaxed despite the growing tensions within her.
The kiss had taken her by surprise, as had his whole visit. She had no idea why he had decided to do this for her and the baby, but today she couldn't fight it. Today, she would indulge him, just a little, she decided as she drifted off to sleep. After all, what real harm was there?
Two hours later, she woke to find Nick pouring her a cup of tea and staring down at her intently. "Feeling better?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I am." She yawned and stretched like a fat cat.
"Good. Listen, I'm nearly finished with the painting. Jackson called; he's coming over with Pizza and Cokes. You don't mind do you?"
"Jackson?" She sat straight in her chair. Had Jackson joined Nick's side now? That's all she needed, her best friend deserting her.
"Yeah, he called. I told him what we were doing and he asked if he could help. I told him the painting was nearly finished but that we could use some grub if he cared to pick something up. He said he'd be over about sixish. That's okay with you, isn't it?"
Kelsey sat very still, eyeing Nick with new perception. What was he really up to? "Look Nick, I appreciate what you're doing, really. It's very sweet of you, but I don't think…"
"I know, you think I should butt out, and I will, when everything is set up, and I know you can handle things on your own. I just can't leave you in the lurches and live with myself. You can understand that, can't you?"
"I suppose. But I could have had a contractor come in," She insisted trying to find a way to stop him and not hurt his feelings.
"Yeah, you could, but what is the use of that? Why waste all that money just to get someone to paint the room, and set the furniture up. It's a waste when I can do the work for you for nothing. Look Kelsey, it's as simple as this, I am the father of this child, and I want an active part." When she threw up a hand he nodded. "At least until the baby is born."
"Furniture?" He was sidetracking her again. If she didn't stop him soon he'd be moving in with the baby.
"Sure, we've got to pick out some furniture for the kid. We'll need a bed, a changing table, and a dresser, and some toys, lots of bedding and infant clothes. Mama made a list for me earlier."
"I can't believe you talked this over with your mother. You didn't even consult me before you told her. What will she think of me? I can't believe any of this. I can't believe I've let you go so far. Look, I didn't want to hurt your feelings. Obviously you've let things get out of hand because you're emotionally involved with the thought of having a baby, but Nick it has to stop. I can take care of all that later." She felt control slipping away again and was determined she wouldn't let him push her too far. Even if his pushing was gentle, his voice soft, his eyes caressing.
"Sure, you could order it all from a catalog, too. But I got to thinking about all that, and Kelsey, this baby is going to be born differently. We are going to go together and pick out the furniture, and set the kid up right, with love. I mean just because you and I can't make it together, doesn't mean we can't both love the kid, does it?" Nick's face twisted into a strange kind of frown, filled with emotions.
Couldn't make it? It was probably the first thing Nick had said that made real sense, but why was Kelsey rejecting that statement in her mind. Couldn't make it? Is that what he thought? "No, of course not, but Nick, I don't want to see you get hurt. You can't be a part of the baby's life. You've got to understand this, now." Kelsey demanded taking the tea he offered her.
"We'll talk about that later," Nick said quietly. "You should learn to accept help when you can get it."
"I'm only thinking of you," she began. "I don't want you to be hurt by this, Nick. You've done your part, its over."
"Thanks, but don't worry about me so much, babe. I'm a big boy."
Nick returned to his painting a few minutes later, whistling all the while he worked, and Kelsey tried to look at some paperwork from her office, but her eyes kept straying to the middle bedroom, her thoughts to Nick—and their baby. Dear sweet Nick, the father of her baby. How could she be cruel and not let him do this? And how could she let him?
