perfectly safe.”
“The alarm system looks pretty standard,” he said with a scowl.
Erin shrugged. “It does its job. It’ll dial Central Station if someone breaks in. If the condo and its alarm was good enough for Cara when she lived here, it’s good enough for me.”
His frown deepened. “I’m staying.”
From the determined set of his jaw, she decided not to argue. “Then let’s see what I’ve got for lunch,” she muttered, pulling open the refrigerator.
Cole came up behind her, his body heat warm, his masculine scent drifting toward her. She didn’t know why he had such a potent effect on her, but just his nearness aroused her, despite the pain she was in. And arousal and desire for this man were what had gotten her pregnant to begin with. So why wasn’t a complete one-eighty in her life enough to dampen her need?
He peered over her shoulder at the contents of the fridge. “That’s it?” He sounded alarmed.
She took in the Greek yogurt, orange juice, eggs, skim milk, and fruit. Oh, and the multiple bags of Oreos she’d been craving when she wasn’t nauseous. She preferred the cookies hard, cold, and crunchy. “What’s wrong?”
“There’s no substantial food in there, that’s what. No wonder you were ready to pass out and starving,” he muttered.
She blinked. “Uh, that was morning sickness,” she informed him.
He cocked an eyebrow. “Maybe.”
Stubborn man. “Fine. Go fill up a shopping cart to your heart’s content.”
“I plan to. And you’re going with me when I do. I’m not leaving you alone, remember?”
She decided not to dignify that comment with an answer.
“We’ll order in today so you can rest, and we’ll go food shopping tomorrow. You’re not working until next week. The doctor said you should take it easy.”
Erin frowned. He might be right, but he was also bossy and controlling. “Any other orders for me?”
He lifted his head from the fridge and pinned her with his dark stare. “As I recall, you liked it when I gave orders.”
Her heart skipped a beat. Yikes! The man went right for the jugular.
“It’s rude to remind me of that,” she muttered.
He chuckled and she turned to walk out of the room.
“Where are you going?”
“To take a painkiller and watch some TV.”
“Not on an empty stomach,” he said. “I’ll make you some eggs.”
She whipped her head around to face him. “You cook?” Because she didn’t.
“If I want to eat, I cook. Living over Joe’s and the coffee shop, I haven’t bothered much, but in this place? Yeah. I’ll cook. How about you?” he asked.
Her mother always said she’d regret not spending any time in the kitchen with her, and Erin never thought she’d agree. “Umm . . .”
He raked his gaze over her. “Really? How the hell do you survive?”
“Takeout! Mom lives half a mile away. My best friend’s family owns the diner in town. I’m hardly starving.”
“You’re skinny, though, and now you’re eating for two.” He opened and closed drawers until he found the skillet and other cooking utensils he was looking for. “Sit.” He tapped the chair with a spatula.
She eased herself into the chair, unwilling to confess that her legs had been about to give out, the pain from her arm making her dizzy and weak.
“I hope you’re always going to be this easy,” he said, his pleased smile causing a distinct flip in her stomach.
“Don’t count on it,” she muttered.
“Considering you don’t cook, your house is filled with all the right tools.”
“What can I say? My mom still holds out hope.” Her mom. Whom Erin would soon have to tell she was pregnant.
Nausea that had nothing to do with hunger or morning sickness filled her at the realization, and she lay her head on the table to wait for her food.
• • •
Erin survived Cole’s first night at her house by passing out and not waking up until late the next morning. Since she was in her bed with no recollection of how she got
“The alarm system looks pretty standard,” he said with a scowl.
Erin shrugged. “It does its job. It’ll dial Central Station if someone breaks in. If the condo and its alarm was good enough for Cara when she lived here, it’s good enough for me.”
His frown deepened. “I’m staying.”
From the determined set of his jaw, she decided not to argue. “Then let’s see what I’ve got for lunch,” she muttered, pulling open the refrigerator.
Cole came up behind her, his body heat warm, his masculine scent drifting toward her. She didn’t know why he had such a potent effect on her, but just his nearness aroused her, despite the pain she was in. And arousal and desire for this man were what had gotten her pregnant to begin with. So why wasn’t a complete one-eighty in her life enough to dampen her need?
He peered over her shoulder at the contents of the fridge. “That’s it?” He sounded alarmed.
She took in the Greek yogurt, orange juice, eggs, skim milk, and fruit. Oh, and the multiple bags of Oreos she’d been craving when she wasn’t nauseous. She preferred the cookies hard, cold, and crunchy. “What’s wrong?”
“There’s no substantial food in there, that’s what. No wonder you were ready to pass out and starving,” he muttered.
She blinked. “Uh, that was morning sickness,” she informed him.
He cocked an eyebrow. “Maybe.”
Stubborn man. “Fine. Go fill up a shopping cart to your heart’s content.”
“I plan to. And you’re going with me when I do. I’m not leaving you alone, remember?”
She decided not to dignify that comment with an answer.
“We’ll order in today so you can rest, and we’ll go food shopping tomorrow. You’re not working until next week. The doctor said you should take it easy.”
Erin frowned. He might be right, but he was also bossy and controlling. “Any other orders for me?”
He lifted his head from the fridge and pinned her with his dark stare. “As I recall, you liked it when I gave orders.”
Her heart skipped a beat. Yikes! The man went right for the jugular.
“It’s rude to remind me of that,” she muttered.
He chuckled and she turned to walk out of the room.
“Where are you going?”
“To take a painkiller and watch some TV.”
“Not on an empty stomach,” he said. “I’ll make you some eggs.”
She whipped her head around to face him. “You cook?” Because she didn’t.
“If I want to eat, I cook. Living over Joe’s and the coffee shop, I haven’t bothered much, but in this place? Yeah. I’ll cook. How about you?” he asked.
Her mother always said she’d regret not spending any time in the kitchen with her, and Erin never thought she’d agree. “Umm . . .”
He raked his gaze over her. “Really? How the hell do you survive?”
“Takeout! Mom lives half a mile away. My best friend’s family owns the diner in town. I’m hardly starving.”
“You’re skinny, though, and now you’re eating for two.” He opened and closed drawers until he found the skillet and other cooking utensils he was looking for. “Sit.” He tapped the chair with a spatula.
She eased herself into the chair, unwilling to confess that her legs had been about to give out, the pain from her arm making her dizzy and weak.
“I hope you’re always going to be this easy,” he said, his pleased smile causing a distinct flip in her stomach.
“Don’t count on it,” she muttered.
“Considering you don’t cook, your house is filled with all the right tools.”
“What can I say? My mom still holds out hope.” Her mom. Whom Erin would soon have to tell she was pregnant.
Nausea that had nothing to do with hunger or morning sickness filled her at the realization, and she lay her head on the table to wait for her food.
• • •
Erin survived Cole’s first night at her house by passing out and not waking up until late the next morning. Since she was in her bed with no recollection of how she got
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