Again, it didn’t really matter. Chad knew he had used a condom. He couldn’t accuse her of trapping him. She would never have done that to him anyway. She loved him too much.
If she was going to have him, she wanted all of him. His love. His devotion. His whole heart and soul.
What would he do?
More importantly, what would he want her to do?
Because she had made up her mind about one thing already. Whether he decided to be involved or not, she was having this baby.
Chapter Fourteen
“Hey there, rodeo queen,” Chad drawled when he opened the door for Catie.
He looked gorgeous, as usual. His snug fitting jeans hugged his firm rear-end and sat below his hips at just the right angle to show off the cuts in his hip bones. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, damn him. His golden muscular chest made her heart race.
He reached toward her. “You been crying, sugar?”
Crying. Bawling. Heck, yes. He’d be crying in a minute, too.
She sniffed. “A little.”
“What on earth is wrong? Can I help?”
“I don’t know that you can, Chad.” Catie stifled a sob. “But I do need to talk to you.”
“Well, now, come on in, then.” He led her to the kitchen. “Brenda whipped us up a nice lunch. You want some tea?” He grinned. “Some raspberry tea?”
Catie’s tummy lurched at the thought of food. It was too early for morning sickness. She had a couple of more weeks before that lovely part of pregnancy set in. Nope, this nausea came from having to tell perpetual bachelor Chad McCray that he was about to become a father.
“Tea’d be fine, but I can’t eat. I’m not feeling quite myself.”
“All right. Sit on down.” He motioned to his kitchen table. “I’ll get you some tea, and then you can tell me what’s got that pretty face all in a frown.”
He brought her tea, sat down next to her, took her hand, and rubbed his thumb into her palm. It felt warm. It felt good.
“Catie, there’s something I need to say to you.”
“What?”
“Well, I hope this’ll help you feel better. Course I might be overestimating my importance in your life.” He looked into his lap. “But I sure hope not. Anyway”—he took her other hand—“I’d like to…see you. Romantically. You know, take you on a date. Get to know each other better.”
Her heart sank. Was her dream actually coming true? Now that she had to tell him she was pregnant? Tears threatened behind her eyes. “Chad—”
“Let me finish.” He cleared his throat. “I know we went to bed quickly. I wanted it. I don’t have to tell you that.”
“I wanted it too. And I meant it when I said you didn’t owe me anything.” I still mean it, Catie thought, even though… She couldn’t finish the thought.
“I know you did, sugar. But I’m hoping you’ll let me be more of a part of your life. I… I have strong feelings for you. I’d like to see where they could lead.”
“Uh, well, sure, Chad. I’d like that, too, but—”
“But what, sugar?”
“I have something I have to tell you. I hope you’ll be happy. I just don’t know.” She choked back another sob and sniffed.
Chad stood and brought a box of tissues to her.
“Thank you.”