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She’d also be a single, out-of-work mother. What the hell was she going to do?
Tears threatened again, but then the baby gave her a big gummy, toothless smile, smacking her a second time with all the warm fuzzies.
Her mental whiplash was so strong she almost forgot about her sick stomach. She hurriedly paid for the pills and left the pharmacy. On the way out, her phone started ringing, and she snatched it to her ear.
“Graham.”
“Lena.”
Ugh. Slade.
“What?” she snapped at him.
“I thought I could take you to dinner tonight.”
She stopped on the sidewalk, contemplating his invitation. She supposed it was time they had a conversation about this.
She blew out a sigh, centering herself for the battle to come. “Fine. I have to eat. But we can’t be seen leaving headquarters together. Where do you want to meet?”
“My hotel.”
His deep voice shot sparks into her core. All of a sudden, she was burning up for her baby daddy. Desire pooled low in her stomach.
Meeting at his hotel wassucha terrible idea. But likely to prove so satisfying too…
“See you at seven, Slade.” Not bothering with a goodbye, she pocketed the phone, nestling it next to the little photo of their child.
TWELVE
Slade just about had everything ready for Lena’s arrival. He had the room tidy, his dirty clothes out of sight in a shopping bag, and his damp towels hung on the bar in the bathroom. He had one of her favorite movies queued up to watch on TV.
He leaned closer to the bathroom mirror to check out the cut near his eye. It was scabbed over, but he didn’t want to remind Lena of what happened in Mexico. Tonight, arguing was out. They were going to get along, dammit, if it was the last thing he ever did.
He must be breaking her down, though. She’d readily agreed to dinner. At his hotel. Which meant she was either looking forward to seeing him again…or her hormones were off the charts and she wanted him for his body.
He’d take that.
With a last glance at his reflection, he swung out the bathroom door just as he heard a knock.
Heart soaring, he reached the door and peeked out to see his beautiful woman standing outside.
When he opened the door, he wore a crooked smile. “MJ.”
She rolled her eyes. “If you want me to come in, you better not call me that.”
He stepped aside, and she breezed past him, stirring the air around her so he caught a whiff of her shampoo.
His body tensed at the small reminder of how right she felt nestled against him.
Letting the door shut, he twisted the lock while Lena looked around the room. “This must have cost big bucks.”
He shrugged. “What else am I going to spend my money on now that you don’t let me shower you with gifts?”
She laughed dismissively. “What do I possibly need?”
As he studied her, the mask she wore with him ever since the day she told him she was through with their marriage seemed to shift.
He glimpsed raw emotion on her features before she gained control over it.
