often. Jordan couldn’t help but feel a little envious of the ease with which everyone else seemed to get along with Lauren. Was he the only person in the world with whom she turned on that cool aloofness?
Maybe he deserved it. But he was trying to make amends. Leaning casually against the corner of the counter, he was able to observe her with total freedom. The bright yellow sundress she wore fit loosely enough that only an observant eye would have noticed that it was a maternity dress. Narrow straps showed off the smooth skin of her shoulders and her slender bare arms to their best advantage. Her rich blond hair captured the glow from the artificial lighting and her beautiful face showed none of the inner turmoil that she must be feeling at this moment.
Finally, the woman selected a pot of gloxinia attractively decorated with pinkish-purple foil to match the velvety bell-shaped flowers. As they walked back toward the counter, the woman asked, “When is your baby due? I know you’ve told me before, but I can’t seem to remember.”
Lauren’s hand lifted to rest protectively on her stomach as she cast a frantic glance at Jordan.
Don’t tell her,
her eyes pleaded with him.
I wouldn’t do that to you,
his eyes answered as he gave an almost indiscernible shake of his head.
“It’s—it’s due around June fifteenth,” Lauren finally stammered out loud.
“You’ve got that wonderful glow that all pregnant women get. Of course, you’ve always been attractive, but now you look even better.” The older woman rattled out the compliment. “It’s just too bad you don’t have a husband to share this with. I remember how much Henry enjoyed going through my pregnancies with me. I think he got as much joy out of feeling my babies kick inside me as I did. I’ll never forget the look on his face the first time he was hugging me and my little Rachel kicked him.”
As if pulled by an invisible force, Lauren’s gaze was locked to Jordan’s. She could read no mockery, no anger and no trickery in his eyes, only a vulnerability that shook her to her very core. This baby
did
mean something to him. What if he really was the father and she was denying him the pleasure of watching his child develop?
But darn it, it wasn’t her fault. Why should she suddenly become the villain in this? She hadn’t asked for her baby to have any acknowledged father other than her deceased husband, Johnny.
But Jordan hadn’t asked for this either. It was something he was trying to live with. After all, he had a lot to lose, too. And even if the courts eventually granted him some of his fatherly rights, he would still have missed out on the beginning of his child’s life. Even though she didn’t want to, Lauren was beginning to feel sorry for him. Good Jeez, the next thing she knew, she would probably even start liking him, she thought to herself in exasperation. And that was something she couldn’t afford to do.
Jordan saw Lauren’s blue eyes brighten with unshed tears. Why couldn’t he get her to understand that he didn’t want to hurt her?
Trust me,
he pleaded silently.
Let me share this with you.
He sensed her indecision and knew they had a long way to go from here. But first he must convince her that his intentions were honorable and his feelings completely natural. But he also knew that she would be fighting him all the way.
“I’d hate to think of how lonely and frightened I would have been if I hadn’t had Henry there to hold my hand during that first birth.” The older woman continued with her reminiscing, unaware of the silent conversation going on over her head. Apparently having noticed the handsome man leaning against the counter and sensing that she had interrupted a very personal conversation, she added with a sly glance in Jordan’s direction, “You should find yourself a nice young fella to take care of you and that baby. It’s not good for a mother to raise a child
Maybe he deserved it. But he was trying to make amends. Leaning casually against the corner of the counter, he was able to observe her with total freedom. The bright yellow sundress she wore fit loosely enough that only an observant eye would have noticed that it was a maternity dress. Narrow straps showed off the smooth skin of her shoulders and her slender bare arms to their best advantage. Her rich blond hair captured the glow from the artificial lighting and her beautiful face showed none of the inner turmoil that she must be feeling at this moment.
Finally, the woman selected a pot of gloxinia attractively decorated with pinkish-purple foil to match the velvety bell-shaped flowers. As they walked back toward the counter, the woman asked, “When is your baby due? I know you’ve told me before, but I can’t seem to remember.”
Lauren’s hand lifted to rest protectively on her stomach as she cast a frantic glance at Jordan.
Don’t tell her,
her eyes pleaded with him.
I wouldn’t do that to you,
his eyes answered as he gave an almost indiscernible shake of his head.
“It’s—it’s due around June fifteenth,” Lauren finally stammered out loud.
“You’ve got that wonderful glow that all pregnant women get. Of course, you’ve always been attractive, but now you look even better.” The older woman rattled out the compliment. “It’s just too bad you don’t have a husband to share this with. I remember how much Henry enjoyed going through my pregnancies with me. I think he got as much joy out of feeling my babies kick inside me as I did. I’ll never forget the look on his face the first time he was hugging me and my little Rachel kicked him.”
As if pulled by an invisible force, Lauren’s gaze was locked to Jordan’s. She could read no mockery, no anger and no trickery in his eyes, only a vulnerability that shook her to her very core. This baby
did
mean something to him. What if he really was the father and she was denying him the pleasure of watching his child develop?
But darn it, it wasn’t her fault. Why should she suddenly become the villain in this? She hadn’t asked for her baby to have any acknowledged father other than her deceased husband, Johnny.
But Jordan hadn’t asked for this either. It was something he was trying to live with. After all, he had a lot to lose, too. And even if the courts eventually granted him some of his fatherly rights, he would still have missed out on the beginning of his child’s life. Even though she didn’t want to, Lauren was beginning to feel sorry for him. Good Jeez, the next thing she knew, she would probably even start liking him, she thought to herself in exasperation. And that was something she couldn’t afford to do.
Jordan saw Lauren’s blue eyes brighten with unshed tears. Why couldn’t he get her to understand that he didn’t want to hurt her?
Trust me,
he pleaded silently.
Let me share this with you.
He sensed her indecision and knew they had a long way to go from here. But first he must convince her that his intentions were honorable and his feelings completely natural. But he also knew that she would be fighting him all the way.
“I’d hate to think of how lonely and frightened I would have been if I hadn’t had Henry there to hold my hand during that first birth.” The older woman continued with her reminiscing, unaware of the silent conversation going on over her head. Apparently having noticed the handsome man leaning against the counter and sensing that she had interrupted a very personal conversation, she added with a sly glance in Jordan’s direction, “You should find yourself a nice young fella to take care of you and that baby. It’s not good for a mother to raise a child
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