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Tears formed in her eyes at their generosity, including John’s. “Why are they being so nice?” Her own mother had kicked her out and here were two strangers willing to do anything to help her.

“It’s just who they are, they both have big hearts. They love knowing that this could be their grandchild, too. This is your home now.”

Looking at John, her jaw quivered. “It must be where you get it from, too.”

John softened. “Don’t cry, honey. You know how I hate to see you cry,” he said, wiping away her tears.

“I can’t help it,” she hiccupped. “It’s these stupid pregnancy hormones.”

John chuckled.

“I can’t stay there without paying my way, and I don’t want to stay once the baby is born, it wouldn’t be fair to your parents. I’ll need to figure out something soon.”

“I’m sure ya’ll could come to some type of agreement.” Gently caressing her jaw, his voice dropped. “Did you know your eyes change color?”

“They do?”

His face softened. “Yeah …” he brought his thumb under her eye, careful not to touch the bruise there. “The outside is a vibrant blue, like a sapphire, but the inside near your pupil is a light green. It reminds me of a gemstone … or the ocean on a sunny summer day in Florida.”

“Alyssa?” he asked when she kept quiet.

“Yeah?”

“I know I shouldn’t after this morning, but can I kiss you right now? I really need to.”

Her heart dropped. She shouldn’t … “Why is that?”

“Because I need to feel your lips on mine … because I miss you.” John shook his head, dropping his hand. What she didn’t understand was that he wanted her because he just did. Why did he have to have a reason?

“What if …” she stammered. “What if it was only once?”

John closed the distance with his lips. He pressed into her softly, careful not to hurt her. Her adorable belly pushed against him and he slid his hands around her neck and threaded his fingers through her soft hair. He held her to him as he sought entrance to her mouth. A soft sigh escaped her throat and her hands trembled on his shoulders. John could tell she was tense through her touch because she never used to hold back before.

“Don’t be nervous. It’s just like before,” he whispered against her lips.

Alyssa nodded and he kissed her again. She had to dig deep for the memories of her and John, the course of their friendship, and kissing for the first time otherwise fear would consume her.

This time she tried not to hold back, but it was a struggle. She’d forgotten the smell of him, the taste … and she wanted more. As they released their hearts into one another through their kiss, it all came back. His sandalwood, earthy scent hit her hard and she parted her lips. When their tongues collided, they both moaned deeply. Arms wrapped around one another and they held

on tight, tongues lapping and caressing as if they couldn’t get enough of each other. His lips on hers, the touch of his hands on her body … were everything in that moment.

But it was all too much too soon, and Alyssa broke the kiss and abruptly stood up from the swing. She was hot, droplets of sweat pooling between her breasts. “We need to stop.” What the hell had she been thinking?

John sat back, taking a deep breath, he expelled it and arranged his pants.

“You’re right. Come sit. I promise to keep my hands to myself this time.”

Alyssa eyed him suspiciously before she sat down. “I don’t trust you.”

“You shouldn’t. I want you,” he said, giving her the grin that she fell for.

Alyssa eased onto the swing holding her stomach. The searing pain in her ribs caused her to grind her teeth. She was in agony and she couldn’t do anything for it. The doctor had given her pregnancy safe medication for pain, but she wouldn’t take it. She refused.

“You don’t have to do this alone, I’m here for you. Let me be here for you.”

She looked at John with tired eyes. “I’m trying, Johnny, I really am. I’m just worried about the future. It’s not just about me anymore, I have another life I have to care for, and it scares the shit out of me”

John scooted closer to Alyssa. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and said, “When Jace died, I realized sweating the small stuff only created more problems for me to worry about. It was a headache I didn’t need. So I decided that I was going to live each day like it’s my last because tomorrow it could all be over. You have a lot on your plate, more than most people your age, but don’t worry about the future right now. Everything will work out because I’m going to be by your side to make sure it does. You have a place to stay with people who want you around. What you need to focus on is recovering and staying healthy.”