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“How’s everything with you, Duncan? We haven’t talked much lately.”
Duncan glanced at his cousin. “You’ve been busy.” His gaze landed on Jamie.
“I’m sorry if you aren’t happy Jamie and I are dating, but—”
“Yeah, I told you how I felt about that, but you aren’t a very good listener.”
Jamie’s jaw dropped. “Duncan.”
“He’s my cousin, and you’re carrying my baby.”
“Shhh.” Jamie glanced around the room. “Seriously? Could you embarrass me any more today?” She smiled politely at the people waiting nearby who were watching the three of them then turned to Duncan. “Max has been nothing but understanding about our past mistake.”
Duncan took a deep breath in and looked her straight in the eye. “It wasn’t a mistake.”
Jamie’s mouth fell open a little at his words. “I thought …” Her lips pressed together, and he thought he saw tears in her eyes.
Was she happy that he’d said that? He pressed on. “I know it was wrong, the way it happened, but we’re having this baby together, Jamie, and I can’t seem to regret that.”
He watched her until he got her attention again, wishing he could tell her how he really felt about her. He’d been so caught up in worrying about the kind of girl he thought he was supposed to marry, that he’d missed the one right in front of him.
The next hour was mostly quiet as they waited for Jamie’s blood draw and parted ways. Max held the door of his car open for Jamie, then got in and drove off, taking Duncan’s family away with him.
Chapter 39
That was a little awkward, huh?” Max said as they drove toward Jamie’s apartment.
“It was fine.”
“Maybe we should’ve waited until after the baby’s born to start dating.”
“He isn’t waiting until after the baby’s born to get married, so we’re not going to pause our life because he’s uncomfortable.”
He took her hand and squeezed.
She smiled, then watched out the window as they drove. Duncan was acting differently. The way he was looking at her, talking to her, touching her. He was less guarded than he’d been in recent weeks. And there was that moment in the doctor’s office when it felt like he was going to tell her something, but they’d been interrupted.
Max pulled up to her place and left the engine running.
“Thanks for sticking around for my appointment today. I know you have to get back for work.”
“I was happy to be there for you.” He leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “I’ll call you tonight, okay?”
“Okay.” She gave him a sweet smile then got out and waved goodbye as he drove away.
Jamie felt antsy and a little queasy as she went inside. She puttered around the house all afternoon and into the evening, straightening up her kitchen, putting dishes away, wiping the counter. It wasn’t really dirty, but one of her pregnancy books said sometimes pregnant women had a desire to nest—to clean and prepare the home for the baby. It felt a little too soon for nesting, but it helped to distract her so she wouldn’t think about the intensity in Duncan’s eyes when he told her their night together wasn’t a mistake.
He’d actually said those words.
All this time, she thought he regretted it. What had changed?
A knock pulled her from her thoughts, and she went to open the door. On the other side, she found Duncan taking up the entire space, one forearm against either side of the door frame.
“Duncan, what are you—”
Before she had a chance to finish her question, he stepped into her apartment, took her face in his hands, and pressed his lips against hers.
This had to be a dream. That’s all she could think as his fingertips slid along the sides of her neck and into her hair, angling her head as he deepened the kiss. And she didn’t fight him. She couldn’t, even though her mind kept reminding her of two very important facts—she had a boyfriend, and he had a fiancée.