Vicious Read Online Free PDF Page B

hadn’t.
    What if this baby didn’t like her? Suppose the baby sensed somehow that she was no good at being a parent?
    The idea of her impending motherhood shook her all over again. This poor child was doomed! She could just see him sitting on the bleachers alone at the soccer field because Jess was caught up in a case and forgot to pick him up. If they had a girl, it would be even worse. What did she know about little pink dresses and hair bows? Her experience with dance classes and dance mothers proved without doubt that she would not do well in that environment. She’d never worn a tutu in her life. Mothers carried all manner of emergency essentials in their purses. Jess carried a Glock, latex gloves and M&Ms.
    She couldn’t breathe.
    “Eat while it’s still warm.” Dan tugged off the mitt and pointed to a stool on the opposite side of the island. “Coffee? OJ?”
    Jess blinked. Somehow, she inhaled a breath. Calm down before you start hyperventilating. You can do this . She forced a smile. “How about both?” The coffee was for her, the OJ for the baby. A reasonable compromise.
    Breakfast wasn’t usually her favorite meal, but her stomach rumbled as if she hadn’t eaten in days. The scents alone had her appetite revved into high gear. She scooted onto a stool and plopped her bag on the one next to her as he settled a plate on the granite counter in front of her. Her mouth watered. She might not even bother with a fork.
    “Butter?”
    No was on the tip of her tongue but instead of saying it she licked her lips and confessed, “Absolutely. Maybe some jelly, if you have any.”
    He quirked an eyebrow at her. “This is Alabama, Jess, jelly is a staple of every kitchen.”
    She’d bet her beloved Mary Jane pumps this southern boy had only recently stocked his pantry with traditional staples. A shiver went through her as she pondered the concept that Daniel Burnett was nesting. A few months older than her, he had the successful career, the power of his family name and the respect of the community. Even after three failed marriages, he was ready for a wife and family.
    Careful what you wish for .
    As she slathered butter and jelly on her biscuit, all thought of her big news and of murder cases vanished. She dug into the meal, the rejoicing of her taste buds overriding all other brain activity. Orange juice and coffee appeared in front of her and she barely stopped chewing long enough to say thanks.
    When she’d scraped the last morsel from her plate, she realized he was watching her.
    “Glad you enjoyed it.” He munched on a strip of crisp bacon.
    Jess patted her mouth with the napkin that had landed next to her plate at some point. “You sure you didn’t hire someone to sneak in here and make breakfast while I was in the shower?” Maybe he’d been taking some of those cooking classes his friend Gina Coleman raved about.
    Stop being petty, Jess . Gina was Birmingham’s hotshot TV news reporter. She was gorgeous and she and Dan had once been an item.
    Something else Jess had struggled with since returning to her hometown—all Dan’s ex girlfriends and wives. All rich. And all gorgeous. She sighed, feeling frumpier with every passing minute.
    Stop putting off the inevitable . No matter that she was confident he would be thrilled about the baby, she also understood his need to hover would increase exponentially.
    Complicated. So, so complicated .
    Jess cleared her throat. “I wanted to discuss—”
    The old fashioned clang of her cell phone’s ringtone echoed from deep within her bag. The rattle of Dan’s cell vibrating on the counter joined the cacophony.
    Their gazes met and for one instant she wondered what it would be like to have a few days away with Dan. No work… no Eric Spears. Was a little time for themselves with no interruptions too much to ask for?
    A break would give her the chance to tell him about the pregnancy and for them to figure things out.
    But that wasn’t going to happen