“You said you weren’t married.”
An accusation? Screw that. “I’m not.”
Colt searched her face. His expression eased. “Planning to get married?”
“Planning to judge much?” Hurt put a stranglehold on her, urging her to get away.
She did not come home for this.
Pivoting around, she marched from the room. Knowing he followed, she made a beeline to the front door. She started to open it.
Just as quickly, his open palm quietly closed it again. Crowded in close to her back, he kept that long arm extended past her temple, bracing it on the door as if he needed the support.
Warm breath drifted over her ear. “You misunderstand, Charish.”
She seriously needed him to back up a little so she could think. Or even breathe.
“I wasn’t judging, okay?”
Glaring at him over her shoulder, she said, “Yes, you were.”
“No...” Huffing out a breath, he asked, “Can we just talk?”
“We were talking.” Her mouth felt too dry to swallow. “You were doing what you always do, helping too much and being too nice, then just like that, you—”
Taking her shoulders, he gently turned her to face him, but kept her between him and the door, both immovable.
For a heart-stopping second, she thought he was going to kiss her.
Then his gaze lifted from her mouth to her eyes. “Let’s rewind.”
Holding his gaze was impossible, so she nodded while staring at his throat.
“You’re pregnant?”
Since his tone was so moderate, she tried to answer in kind. “Yes. Due in early February.”
Thumbs gently massaging her shoulders, he asked, “You’re happy about it?”
Her heart swelled. Nodding fast, she smiled. “Very.”
For a moment, his hands gripped her more firmly. “The baby’s dad?”
Daring a peek up at him, she saw wariness in his dark eyes, and something more, something she didn’t understand and didn’t want to dwell on. “He’s out of the picture.”
Gradually, his shoulders relaxed. “You’re sure?”
This was the easier part. “He and I weren’t close. It was...one of those things.” A thing where she hadn’t been out on a date in forever, she was too lonely, he was a friend of a friend—but she saw no reason to explain all that. “It happened, and even with protection, I got pregnant. He was appalled, even angry. I assured him I didn’t need anything from him, but he wanted that set in stone, so he found a lawyer, and with my written agreement, he was relieved of paternal rights.”
Disbelief turned Colt into a storm cloud again. “He signed over his rights?”
Yeah, that had been her reaction as well. As much as she immediately loved her baby, Tony had immediately wanted off the hook. “He even paid the lawyer fees. Would have paid for an abortion or adoption fees, too. He was very firm that he wasn’t cut out to be a father.”
“What a jackass.”
His attitude floored her. “Well, not really. I mean, he was nice enough, but he had plans and it didn’t include a child. I understood that, but I didn’t want to chance moving away, starting over, if he was going to change his mind, so I’m glad we took care of things legally.”
His gaze searched hers, looking for things she hadn’t said, trying to uncover any hurt feelings. When it came to Tony, there were none.
Hoping to convince him, she smiled. “It really is that simple.”
Colt released a tight breath. “That’s why you came home?”
Home. That’s exactly how she looked at it.
She could think more easily if he’d give her some space. Yet, at the same time, the human contact, with his implicit understanding, offered a distinctive form of comfort that she longed for. “Clearbrook is a great place to raise a kid.”
His gentle smile removed all the hard feelings from moments ago. “Yeah, it is.” Finally, he stepped back, going only as far as the couch, where he sprawled into a corner. “A baby.”
The wonder in his attitude brought her closer, then she took the chair adjacent to him. “I’m still getting used to the idea myself.”
“Your mom let you move away?” Grinning now, he said, “Dad would lose his mind if he had a grandkid on the way and I moved out of reach.”
No, her mother hadn’t been thrilled, but she’d understood and had even apologized for uprooting her all those years ago. “Mom and Hank aren’t that far away. They’ll come for a long visit when I have the baby, and then often after that. In a couple more years, they plan to move closer, maybe into a condo or something.” Colt’s acceptance stole her reservations and helped ease her fears about the future. Having his friendship meant a lot—probably more than it should have. She wouldn’t worry about that now, though. It felt too good, having her circumstances not only accepted, but celebrated. “She understood that I wanted a fresh start.”
Sitting forward, he asked, “Do you know what you’re having?”
“Not yet, no.” Her smile twitched. “I sort of want to be surprised.”
He grinned with her. “Have any names picked out?”
Now she outright laughed. “You’re getting way ahead of me. It seems like I found out, had to settle things with Tony, then I made plans to move, had to find an ob-gyn in the area, and a job, and a house.” It still overwhelmed her, thinking about it all. “I did all that long distance, then turned in my notice at my old job. Since Mom and Hank gave me furniture, I arranged the movers... It’s been a little crazy.”
“That was a lot to take on.”
He said it with acknowledgment of what she’d accomplished, with admiration, too, instead of suggesting that she might have gotten in over her head. He had faith in her, always had. “I was prepared to spend a week just getting set up, but now it’s almost done thanks to you.”
“I’m glad I was here to help.”
Yes, now that he was being so wonderful, she was glad, too. “Your friendship means a lot to me, Colt. Thank you.”
His sharpened glance cut her way, but only for a second. “Right. Guess you have time to get the crib set up.”
“I want to paint and decorate that room first. And the baby will be in a bassinet by the bed for a while anyway.” Placing a hand on her stomach, she sighed...and gave a soft confession. “I’m so excited to be a mom, but I’m also scared silly.”