Baby On The Way Read Online Free PDF Page A

they reached the sidewalk.
    There, however, beneath the shelter of a huge, old oak growing in the parkway, he paused and turned her to face him, thankful to be away from the other women and finally alone with Libby.
    The rain had dampened her brown hair to a dark chestnut. When he’d first met her, her hair had curved gently along her jaw. Now, it fell to her shoulders in a silky brown curtain, half hiding her face as she glanced away from him. Feathery strands clung to her pale cheeks and tiny diamond drops misted her dark lashes. He gently touched her cheek and she glanced up at him. Her soft brown eyes held a wary expression and he did what he’d longed to do from the first moment of seeing her huddled in that chair. Reaching out he put his hand firmly on her belly again. “It’s mine,” he said. “This is my baby.”
    His tone brooked no argument and he could see, once again, the helpless acknowledgment of his claim in her soft brown eyes. Then her mouth firmed and she stepped away. “This baby is none of your business.”
    Something inside him flared in angry denial at her words. His jaw set. “When we made love, everything about you became my business.”
    “Why? Because I’m pregnant?” She held his gaze steadily. “You made love with other women and moved on. What makes me so special?”
    He didn’t know, but she was. The rain continued to fall, dampening his shirt and glistening on her cheeks as he tried to decide how to explain. The memory ofthe night they’d spent together had been with him daily, coiling his gut with sweet, hot desire. He’d never been bothered by such a distraction before and it had irritated him to be robbed of the complete absorption in his work that he’d always taken for granted.
    So he’d fought to regain it, plunging into that problem in Saudi, moving on immediately to handle a communication breakdown in Seoul, refusing to call her until he had this disturbing craving under control. But she’d stayed in his mind until finally he’d focused on finishing up as quickly as possible, grimly determined to get back to see her, to settle his unruly emotions. Only to discover his desire for her burned hotter than ever.
    Staring down into her face, a feeling of possessiveness swept over him—too strong to be denied, yet too new to be explainable. He abandoned the attempt for the moment, replying instead to the unspoken accusation in her voice. “There haven’t been that many women in the past—and the few there were didn’t want commitment any more than I did.”
    “Good for you. Neither do L”
    Before he could stop her, she stalked away. Her shoulders were tensed in outrage, her hands fisted at her sides. The slight waddle in her hips made her look like an indignant duck.
    He caught up with her at his truck, and she climbed in huffily. Slamming the door behind her, he strode to the other side and turned on the ignition. He didn’t try to talk as he drove the narrow, winding road through town, deciding to wait until they got home before continuing the conversation, but he glanced over now andagain to where she sat stiffly beside him, staring out the window at the old houses flowing past. His gaze traced the white curve of her cheek, the somber set of her soft mouth.
    As if sensing his stare, she looked at him fleetingly, her lips tightening before she turned away. Her light, sweet scent—so hauntingly familiar—drifted his way. Del stared straight ahead again, his hands tightening on the wheel as desire gripped him. He had the urge to park the truck and haul Libby into his arms, to kiss her like he’d thought of kissing her all the time he’d been gone. He’d do it, too, if she hadn’t been so angry. Why was she so reluctant to admit the baby was his? Maybe she was worried, wondering how he’d react. It must have been hard on her all these months, handling everything alone.
    He frowned at the thought. Surely she knew that now that he was here, he’d take care of