cel

my face. "That

I wanted to say that, my

at me like I'd just confessed to robb

like a romance. No dinners, no flirting, no build-up. He di

nothing

shook her head. But then, she

tion sur

ked at me like he saw more than I wanted him to. Of course, I

ieved," I s

aid nothing. Then,

well k

didn't kno

wicked. "You really went all out an

us bab

head immedi

inked.

mly. "He's nothing, just... the cont

t. You said it over and over in the past, but I di

turned back to me. "But what if the kid grows up as

answer ri

. I had thought about love, in my own way. B

han enough love, time, and resources that can la

hen she smiled, "You're goi

oat ti

ng to be

glass. "And to the tiny human wh

ther end of the bar. "Corey, you planning to work toda

er heard of multi

away while she rolled

ights dimmer, and the bar packed with people calling for drinks. Corey and I could ba

felt like her tenth customer, "What do you th

companies, being rich. I flew back home right after the evaluatio

t called? Tex

he h

n't expec

in my chest. Half relief, half

doesn't get into another accident that suddenly needs my time and se

called back now, when I was already pregnant with hi

face because she reached acros

enough to carry. "You've wanted this baby for so long. And som

ed and bl

'd ever say that

again, how

at the corner of my

the bar, "Get used to it. You're not just living for yourself

r orders, then glanced

es

ver the music, "that ma

d my mind. I wasn't sure Dom Vitali was the

my face calm. "Then he'll j

that

w and close, righ

nd, I thought I

impossible to forget. The kind of cologne that wrap

need to t

t voice. I

at alone made my body freeze instantly. My stomach pi

more, and didn't notice how pale I'd gone. She had no idea how t

man might sho

t m

Vi

r. The music, the voices, the heat. The crowd itself

. I couldn't seem to draw in enough

almost instantly, a bottle was place

la

mach d

out someone else. Anyone else. But there was no one st

ounter in front of me, filled to the brim. I stared a

n his voice came again, m

slightly against my lip as my hands shook too badly to control it.

I would be looking straight at the man who had no idea

.. he alr

hit me hard,

at as I started coughing. I tried to place it

ingle dr

e I made. Without hesitation, I lifted the glass with shaking fingers and forced m

t slowly, my pulse pounding so loud I was s

fully, forcing a polite smile.

he water was fidgeting now. He kept glancing over my should

will b

odded too fast

et against my arm and the faint scent of his co

om your p

orgot how to breathe. Heat rushed to my face, my ch

split open beneath my f

like we were old friends. "At what point did you decide

had

r, panic, regret. They crashed into me together unt

efused to

Not in fro

if he had, he could not be so sure we were talki

e but

it was a lifeline, even as i

ed in this one thing

motion, respect, success. I had worked hard, yes, but I had ne

had told myself I could do this without consequences.

t here

k realization that this was the one thing I could not co

il

my hands gripping the edge

enly, despite the pounding in my chest. "I was hire

I was alre

enough, maybe I could disappea

was sti

solid, and

k gaze pressing into my skin or the warning

d flatly, almost bored. "You