Page 49

“Together?! Oh, you’re way too much!” She pushes off the stool and grabs her clutch, racing over to the front door. Just as she makes it, she trips on the mat and stumbles forward, crashing hard onto the wood.

“Fuck!” I bolt across and gather her in my arms. “Are you okay?” Pressing my palm across her lower stomach. “For fuck’s sake, Kate, be careful.”

“I-I need to leave.”

A red bump starts to appear on her forehead. “No way are you leaving. My pregnant girl just crashed into a door. There’s no way I’m letting you out of my sight.”

She scoffs. “Let me make a couple of things really clear for you, Jensen. I’mnotyour girl. I’m Kate Monroe. I might be carrying your child, but we are not together. Also, I am leaving, thank you very much. I’m fine.”

Kate rests her hand on the handle behind her, but I shoot an arm out and press my hand firmly against the door to prevent it from opening. Her back is to me as I squeeze my eyes shut, her citrus scent swirling around me. “Don’t go. I’m sorry I came on strong. But eighteen months of you driving me wild, and then this news lit the simmering fire I’ve been burning for you. I’ll give you time to think about us, to come to terms with how we’re meant for each other. But while you do that, just know I’m going to be at your every beck and call. I’m going to spoil the shit out of you andmybaby. You’re my princess, Katherine.”

She doesn’t say another word as she pulls on the handle, and this time, I release my arm, letting her leave.

Pulling the door shut behind her, she leaves me standing in my empty apartment, processing everything that’s justhappened and all that I’ve admitted out loud. Just like popping the cork on a champagne bottle, I exploded, unable to reel in my feelings anymore. But how the fuck was I supposed to hold everything back when she turned up at my place and brought me the greatest news of my life on what has always been the hardest day? July sixteenth—the day Lauren walked out of my life and left me standing at the altar but now, the day Kate Monroe offered me the best gift I’ve ever received.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

JENSEN

Me

Are you at home?

Princess

Yes.

Then why won’t you answer your door?

Technically, I’m not in my apartment, but I am in my building.

Doing what?

Having a coffee with a friend. I’ll be a half hour.

I stand in front of her door, typing out a response. I didn’t know Kate had friends outside of our group, and definitely not one living in the same building as her.

I have to be at the airport in an hour, so I was stopping by to drop off a few things. But give me this friend’s apartment number and I can stop by and say hi.

AUDREY is eighty years old and is nervous about strange men. What “things” are you dropping off?

Come down, and you’ll find out. It would make sense for me to have a key to your place, just in case you need me.

Yeah, not happening. I’ve gotten by fine these past thirty-five years.

That was before you were carrying my baby.

I’ll be down in a minute.

It has to be ten minutes before Kate rounds the corner, walking toward me down her corridor.

Dressed in a long black flowing skirt and a white cropped T-shirt. Her hair is up in a high-top ponytail with a few pieces framing her face.

What is it going to take to get this girl on my side?

Sliding her key into the lock, she opens the door and waves her arm inside for me to enter.

“What have you got there?” She eyes the bags I’m holding as we both walk across to her kitchen counter.