“I acknowledge your anatomical contribution. And while I had not expected your interest in being a parent—”
“How could I not be interested?” he bit out.
“I don’t have enough fingers and toes to count the times you told me and anyone within earshot that jumping into a shark-infested pool would be more preferable than marriage.”
“Marriage, yes. Fatherhood, no.”
Her confusion only heightened her own anger.
“How could you possibly expect me to separate those two? Oh, the man who sleeps with at least one new supermodel every week also wants to burp a baby and change diapers. A logical conclusion. How could I have missed it?”
Some of his anger faded as he leaned back in his chair and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Why do you always have to be so cold?”
He was excelling at hurtful comments this morning. She wanted to respond truthfully, to snap out that she didn’t like being cold. The world had made her this way.
Cold wasn’t by choice. Cold was by necessity.
“If you’d leave me alone, you wouldn’t be subjected to my company.”
He sighed. “This is not how I wanted this conversation to go.” He nodded toward her plate. “I’m not trying to control you, Calandra. I’ve never been around a pregnant woman before, much less one who’s carryingmychild.”
Ignoring his emphasis onmy, she focused on her water glass. “Impressive given your history.”
“You’re the first I’ve been irresponsible with.” He grimaced. “I had condoms in my damn pocket. But I wanted you so much I just...forgot.”
Damn her traitorous heart and the little jump it gave upon hearing those words.
“I see.”
“I just want to make sure you’re getting everything you need, including nutrients. I’ve heard the phraseeating for two.” He nodded at her plate. “And that’s barely enough to feed a bird.”
She inhaled deeply. Condescending as his voice was, her mind pointed out that, surprisingly, he was just trying to help.
“I appreciate your concern. I wish I could eat more. I’m experiencing horrible nausea. Small meals are best right now.”
He nodded, then glanced around the room. “What do you say we reconvene in the main hallway in ten minutes? I find walking and talking helps me relax.”
“Walk to where?”
He smiled, his jovial nature restored. “It’s a surprise.”
She groaned. “Alejandro, I’m really not—”
“Please.”
And just like that, he cut through her resolve, wielding sincerity like a sword. His use of a simple word laid waste to her armor like no sensual assault could.
“Fine.”
He stood. She kept her eyes on his face.
“Ten minutes.”
And with those parting words he scooped up his coffee and his newspaper and walked out of the dining room without a backward glance. Once his footsteps faded, she sank back into her chair and hung her head.
Years. For years she’d been impervious to men, to their looks, their attempts at seduction, their harshness when they didn’t get their way. Anytime she’d entertained even the slightest thought of allowing one into her life, all she’d had to do was summon an image of her mother as she’d last seen her, paled by death and lying in a casket, and it had kept her armor in place.
She sighed. The doctor had told her it would be another few weeks at least before the baby would move. Aside from the nausea, most days it didn’t seem real, that a child was growing inside her. But when she stopped and thought about it, really thought about it, she was overcome with a love so fierce it stole her breath away.