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“If you tell me to butt out, I will. But I’m not going to stop asking until you do.”
She liked persistence. And the timbre of his voice sent a shiver down her spine. But how silly was that? Seven and a half months pregnant and she felt shivers?
Darcy inhaled, sighed. Maybe talking would help. It would distract her from her fascination with her host if nothing else. “My mom had me when she was seventeen. I never knew my dad. He and my mom broke up before I was born. Life was hard for her. And despite always,alwayssaying I’d never wind up like my mother, here I am. I’ve followed in her footsteps by having a baby alone.” She tried to smile, but couldn’t. “I mean, sure, I’m older than she was and I have career skills. But sometimes I’m not sure I’m ready to be a mother. Would the baby be better off with someone else? You know…adopted. But then I feel it move and I know I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I gave it up.”
Garret’s hand touched her shoulder. “Do you have to do this alone? It takes two to make a baby.”
“Stephen wants nothing to do with it. Us.”
“That’s his loss, Darcy. As to being a mom, I’d say every woman has doubts. Wonders if she’s doing a good job.”
“The books say it’s normal but…”
“But?”
“But I’ve always wanted too much. Wanted way too much.”
“How so?”
She stared at the big screen and saw her plans for her life disintegrating. “When I had a baby I wanted to be married to the man I’d spend the rest of my life with, someone who’d share the good and the bad. And now, with everything that’s gone on, I just don’t know how that can happen.” She paused. “I see these elderly couples holding hands and talking, and I wonder what have they done—what secrets do they know—to make it so many years together. I don’t know anything about that kind of staying power, so how could I have it?”
Garret took the bottle from her hand and put it in the case, then snagged her fingers and squeezed them gently. The trace of oils warmed with the contact of their skin, releasing the scent. “You can have anything you set your mind to. And I don’t doubt you’ll give your baby the best life you possibly can.”
“I will.”I promise.
“You’re better off without that guy. Instead of wondering why Dad doesn’t love him or her, your baby will grow up knowing your love and protection. You’re saving your baby from that kind of insecurity.”
“I don’t ever want the baby to feel like she’s a burden or a mistake. Stephen was a mistake, but not this baby.”
“You are going to be a great mom.” Garret handed the case to her. “Now tell me about the rest of those. What do they do?”
She welcomed Garret’s attempt to distract her. To get her mind off whatever the future might hold. But she could see what the effort was costing him by the pain in his eyes, by the way he turned his head, rubbed his temple.
“Listen, forget the oils.” She hesitated, then jumped up from the couch as fast as her beached-whale body could travel. “It’s obvious your head is killing you and you’re sitting there trying to take care of me when I’m the one who should be helping you. Have you ever had a massage?”
Chapter 10
GARRET STAREDat her, concern changing to confusion and then pure leeriness. No doubt he was thinking she’d gone off a hormonal cliff. From sad and reflective to happy and talking massages in less than five minutes? She supposed it would freak a few people out, but the sight of him in pain bothered her.
“No, I haven’t, but it’s okay. You don’t—”
“Ido.You want me to be comfortable here, right?”
“Right, but—”
“I can help you. I’m feeling really bad about you getting stuck with me and then—” she waved a hand toward where she’d been sitting “—going all gushy like I did. No guy wants a woman dumping on them, especially not when you look like your head is about to explode.”
He chuckled and rubbed his neck. “I asked you to dump on me. I could tell something was bothering you and you needed to talk. Better out than in where it upsets Penelope.”
She made a face at his attempt at a name.Penelope?Unless Cruz was attached to the end of it or there was a lot of cash in the bank account, the kid wouldn’t stand a chance on the playground. It was yet another example of how different their lives were. “I’m not doing anything here but eating your food and kicking you out of your bed.”
“You haven’t been a problem, Darcy. If I thought you were I would’ve braved the roads today. Ever think of that? But I didn’t because I’ve enjoyed our time together. Maybe too much.”
Too much?She smiled. “Me, too.”
“Good. So don’t worry about me sleeping out here. I don’t sleep that well, anyway.”
“I know.”
