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Every night she slept in Matt’s bed, and every morning she woke with him holding her. He was trying; that was clear. He even bought her a ridiculously large SUV, despite her protests, so she wouldn’t feel trapped in his apartment. The size of the car was for his piece of mind.
But he still held back. Something was preventing him from breaking free of those restraints, but Hannah was willing to be patient.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
ONLY A COUPLE WEEKS remained before Hannah was to give birth. The house was coming together quickly and, from the daily updates, she loved what she saw. It also meant that she would soon have to make a decision as to whether she married Matt or not. A decision that was becoming increasingly difficult. At times she wanted that life, because she wanted Matt. Sometimes she couldn’t picture her life without him by her side. Other times, she questioned their connection.
So, when Matt told Hannah about Sarah’s party, a part of her silently celebrated. Here was a huge part of his life that she would get to experience. Sarah was massively important to him. Hannah had overheard their calls, the frequency with which they spoke. The tenderness in his voice even when she could tell he was riling Sarah up.
‘Should I be worried?’ Hannah joked as they drove to Virginia Water early on Saturday morning. The car was packed with an overnight bag and her hospital bag just in case. In fact, they were more than prepared for their baby’s arrival, with Matt having turned one of the guest rooms on the opposite wing of the apartment into a nursery.
Hannah had insisted he didn’t need to, when she would have the cot in her room, but he had insisted on a back-up plan in case there were any snags with the house. Not that there would be, but Hannah had let it slide.
The only thing they didn’t have was a name and they could not come to an agreement on one.
‘Of Sarah?’ Matt rubbed his smooth jaw, thinking over the answer. The morning sun glinted in his green eyes. Hannah was struck by how beautiful he was. Then he turned to her and smiled and she couldn’t breathe. If she was going to spend her life with this man, she really needed to get a handle on her reaction to him.
Not that she wanted to. Even if the lack of oxygen killed a few brain cells.
‘Umm...’ Hannah had to remind herself that she had asked a question.
Thankfully, Matt wanted to say more. ‘She can be a bit protective...’ he rolled his eyes ‘...but you’ll like her.’
Anyone who was protective of Matt was all right in her book.
‘Are you nervous? It’s just a garden party. There’ll be a few of her friends there and us,’ he said.
‘No, of course not.’ Hannah batted away his concern.
A large hand squeezed her thigh.
‘It will be fine.’
Such a small touch had the power to calm her, ease her worry for just a little while, make her feel safe. The air in the car grew thick. His hand was starting to sear her through the fabric of her jumpsuit, making her skin come alive. As if Matt could feel it too, he removed it and cleared his throat.
‘You know, we still haven’t agreed.’ Hannah tried to bring back the lightness from before. This was probably the best way, especially since the comically loud groan from Matt made her laugh.
‘Not this again.’
‘Our child needs a name. What about Jack?’
‘No.’
‘What’s wrong with Jack?’ she protested.
‘It goes in a box,’ he mumbled.
‘You’re being ridiculous. Okay, fine...’ She turned in her seat to face him. ‘What do you think is a good name?’
‘Off the top of my head? Matthew.’ He grinned.
‘Of course you’d say that. Vetoed.’
‘What’s wrong with Matthew?’
‘Nothing. I just don’t think our child will have a big enough head to be named Matthew.’
Matt barked out a laugh. ‘Fine,’ he conceded, wiping a tear from his eye. ‘What about Travis?’
