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“What are you doing here?”

All my joy flees and is replaced with something darker, something cold that eats away at all the happiness I’ve just experienced.

“What is it, Cara? Are you okay?” Graham asks, and my eyes flicker from his concerned look to Braxton’s even worse one, but I’ve never seen this expression on him and I don’t know what to make of it.

I look back to Graham. “What’s he doing here?” I’m almost shrieking. Panic is buzzing in my veins, making my arms tremble and my voice shake.

“He came to talk. Now, what were you shouting for? Is everything okay?”

Behind him, Braxton’s lips are pinched together, his gaze never moving from me. I canfeelhim watching me he’s so intense.

I shake my head. “I’m okay.” I’m not telling him why I was crying out like it was Christmas morning and Santa just delivered me a real live unicorn. Actually, screw that. Braxton’s here. And I’m not letting him ruin this. Not this.

I look directly at him, showing him all my pain and my hurt and there’s no joy in my voice when I say, “I just felt the baby move.”

Chapter 29

Braxton

I just felt the baby move.

I move quickly, too quickly for Graham to stop me, and I’m in front of Cara, her wide, terrified blue eyes on me as she steps out of my reach. I missed it.

I missed my baby move for the first time.

“Cara—”

“Don’t you dare come any closer to me.”

“I can explain.” My gaze drops to her stomach. I’ve had my hands all over her, but every night we’re on the couch I’m touching her, pressing my hand to her belly in hopes I’ll feel the baby move and of course,of course,it happens on this day. When I can’t touch her, when I can’t pull her into my arms without fear of getting a right hook to my jaw. “I’m so sorry, honey. So sorry. Please let me explain last night.”

“Why should I? You didn’t care about letting me explain.”

“I know. I’m a dick. That’s part of what I need to explain.”

“No explanation needed. That was loud and clear.”

I’d smile at her sass if she weren’t so damn angry she might twist off my balls.

Car keys jingle behind me, and then Graham is next to me, pushing me out of the way to get to Cara.

“No bloodshed, you two, these carpets are a pain to keep clean.”

I grunt, because this dude not only has some serious guts, after we got the shitty part out of the way at my office earlier, I also learned he’s hilarious.

Cara could do worse with a friend than Graham, but not sure she could do a whole lot better.

I stand there, watching another man bend down to kiss her cheek, but the entire time Graham is moving toward her, touching her, resting his hand on her belly that I desperately wish was my fucking hand, she’s still gaping at me.

He whispers something in her ear and I can’t hear it, but her eyes flash wide as her jaw sets back to really, really mad, and probably more hurt.

“Pizza should be here soon,” he says when he moves back. “Already paid and tipped so you two have fun. I’m going out for a while.” He grins down at Cara. “And if you’re not here when I get back, I’ll get the key from you some other time.”

“I’ll be here,” she snaps, still staring at me.

My lips twitch but I pull back my grin before it comes out. The hell she will.

“Mm-hmmm.” Graham steps toward me and slaps my shoulder. “Be good to her.”