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Except, John does the unthinkable and pushes the stop button.
The elevator jerks to an abrupt halt, just as my heart quits beating. The walls close in on me, and the already confined space suddenly feels a thousand times smaller.
“What are you doing?” I panic. “You can’t trap me in here.”
“No one’s trapped.” He raises his hands while simultaneously shifting in front of the buttons so that I can’t unlock the ride. “We’re just going to talk, in the safe, private space of the elevator.”
“Do you want to add kidnapping to the charges I’m going to file against this amateurish clinic?”
“Marissa.” My name rolls out of his mouth in a long exhale, sending a shiver right down my spine. “I get that you’re upset. And you’re right, the clinic is 100 per cent to blame. But it was a mistake, one mistake. This is a state-of-the-art clinic that employs hundreds of people, where we carry out invaluable research projects. Clinlada is one of the few clinics in the country that offers pro-bono fertility care for couples who can’t afford it. If you sue us, yeah, you’ll probably win, make us shut our doors even, but you’ll also hurt many people in the process and that’s not you.”
“Is that why you came after me?” I hiss. “To do damage control? To save your job?”
He takes a step toward me. “I’m a world-class neonatal surgeon with board certifications in Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Fetal Medicine. All I have to do to find another job is snap my fingers”—he does so, too close to my face— “and I’ll have my pick.”
He’s pure confidence, pure masculinity as he stares into my eyes. Gone is the boy I used to know. A man is standing in front of me. An impossibly gorgeous man with smoldering eyes and the most sensual lips.
My gaze drops to them and heat pools in my core as I imagine for a second how all this boldness would translate in bed. Then I mentally slap myself for even having the thought and take a step back. Not that I have much space to travel. My back soon hits the cool metal of the elevator walls and I lean against it.
John’s features soften.
“What do you want from me?” I whisper.
“Don’t shut me out,” he pleads. “We’re in this together.”
I study his face for a long time until I can finally pin what’s not sitting right with me. “Are you happy this happened?” I accuse.
The soft smile on his lips confirms all my suspicions. “A child is always a blessing, and if you’re carrying my baby, of course I’d be happy.”
“This has nothing to do with you and me.”
“I agree.” His words take me by surprise. “I got married once because her birth control malfunctioned, I’m not going down that road again.” It’s his turn to laugh hysterically. “Seems the only way I can have children is by freak accidents.” He turns serious again. Mood swings, apparently, are a side effect of unexpected pregnancies also in dads-to-be. “But Marissa.” He gently grabs me by the shoulders. “A baby is a blessing; you will never love anyone more. And even if you hate me, I can promise you will never regret this happening.”
The enormity of the situation finally slams into me. The fluorescent lights overhead seem to flicker and double, and before I know it, I’m swaying.
I brace for the impact with the floor, but it never comes. Instead, I find myself crushed against warm, hard flesh. John’s chest.
I’m in his arms.
In my state of half stupor, I allow myself to pass a hand over the length of his bicep and to experience the tremor my touch elicits.
“When was the last time you ate?” John asks against my head, his lips brushing my hair.
“Breakfast,” I say, still too fascinated with the feel of his muscles under my fingertips.
“And what did you have?”
“Coffee,” I mumble. “I thought I’d grab lunch after coming here.”
The world shifts and I’m suddenly horizontal, being carried in Johnny Raikes’ powerful arms.
I stare up at him.
Big mistake.
His eyes are smoldering, stormy, intense. And his mouth… mmm… it looks delicious. My tongue darts out to wet my own lips, and the intensity in John’s stare turns up a notch if that’s even possible.
He looks away. Maneuvering me into the cramped space of the elevator, he reaches for the buttons with the hand under my knees and we start to descend again.
