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“This is a very bad idea,” she muttered.
She grabbed the lightweight black sweater and her purse from the cedar chest that doubled as a coffee table sitting in front of the green floral love seat. Then she waited by the door for his knock. When it came, she whispered one Mississippi, two Mississippi, and continued until she got to ten before opening the door and forcing a bright smile.
“Hi. You’re early.”
Nathan’s gaze slid from the top of her head to her red-painted toes and the casual black and white low-heeled sandals. There was a gleam in his eyes when he smiled. “The rumor is that you’re on a tight schedule so wasting time wasn’t an option. And you’re obviously ready. You look beautiful.”
“Thanks.”
It was just a line, she told herself. He was only being polite. But all the disclaimers in the world couldn’t stop the glow that went nuclear inside her and the tightness in her chest when she looked at him. The sexy scruff on his cheeks and jaw was missing, proof that he’d shaved. For her.
That started more flutters in her stomach, but she managed to say, “You’re not so bad yourself.”
The truth was that he didn’t have a bad look. She’d seen him in scrubs and in a tux. The current crisply pressed khaki slacks and cream-colored sport shirt showed off the tan on his muscular arms with the added benefit of enhancing his broad shoulders and trim waist. It was impossible to pick a favorite Nathan view when he looked like sin-for-the-taking in everything.
Or nothing?
That thought sent hormones surging through her, and she quickly stepped outside on the porch. After locking the door she said, “Let’s go.”
Nathan followed behind her on the sidewalk so if he found her hurried exit weird, she didn’t know, what with not being able to see his expression. At the curb he opened the car, then cupped her elbow in his palm, handing her inside. The touch did nothing to calm her nerves. In fact it started tingles line dancing up and down her arms.
Before there was time to anesthetize them, he was in the driver’s seat, starting the car. The interior was small and intimate, not nearly enough space to dissipate the masculine scent of his skin. It surrounded her as surely as if he held her in his arms. Less than two weeks ago he’d done just that, the night he hadn’t recognized her. Being that close to him had stirred a fair amount of panic and then she’d made a dash for the exit.
He’d only caught up with her because her shoe broke. Moments later she’d called him a jerk and he’d laughed, then said he wanted to see her again. Turning him down flat hadn’t worked so well and here she was, out of the frying pan and into the fire. So to speak.
Speaking of speaking, she wasn’t doing any, so she tried to think of something witty to say. All she could come up with was, “So where are you taking me?”
Before turning left onto Lake Mead Boulevard, he glanced over. “Have you ever had a nice surprise?”
She wasn’t sure why he’d asked but gave the question some serious thought. “Probably, but I can’t remember one off the top of my head.”
“Well, brace yourself. I promise this one will be good.”
He turned from Horizon Ridge Parkway onto Eastern Avenue and drove up the hill, then pulled into the parking lot of Capriotti’s Italian restaurant. It was dusk and not the optimum time to appreciate the lights across the Vegas Valley, but after the sun set, there would be a spectacular view.
Inside, the muted light made for a romantic atmosphere, and a cozy booth for two in the back corner cranked it up several notches. Their arms touched and Cindy swore she actually heard the crackle of electricity that was anything but static. A little sideways move gave her space but no real breathing room.
The last time a guy had taken her to a restaurant with candles and white tablecloths, he’d sweet-talked his way into her life and her bank account, then proceeded to rob her blind. Nathan probably didn’t need her money, but he stirred a need deep inside and she had an uneasy feeling that he could take from her something far more precious than her good credit rating.
A forty-something waiter with salt-and-pepper hair and wearing black pants and a long-sleeved white shirt appeared beside them. “Dr. Steele, it’s nice to see you again.”
Nathan’s smile was friendly. “Hello, Mario. How are you?”
“Very well.” He looked at Cindy and bowed slightly. “Welcome to Capriotti’s. May I get you something from the bar?”
Dr. Charming met her gaze. “What would you like?”
“Surprise me,” she said wryly.
“Mario, I think we’ll have a bottle of my favorite wine.”
“The pinot noir. Excellent choice. I’ll bring it right out.” Before leaving, he handed them menus.
When they were alone Cindy opened hers and said, “So they know your favorite wine. Obviously, you come here often.”
“The food is really good.”
“Do your other women like it?” She was looking at the food choices but not really seeing the words. When she glanced up she saw that he looked more amused than anything else.
“My other women?” he asked. “In spite of what you think and the hospital gossip you base it on, there is no line of women.”
Before she could refute that, someone delivered a basket containing warm rolls wrapped in a white cloth. With a flourish, the guy mixed oil and balsamic vinegar on a plate for dipping. Then Mario returned with the bottle of red and skillfully opened it with a corkscrew and twist of the wrist. After Nathan sipped and approved, the waiter poured them each a glass.
“Do you need a moment or are you ready to order?”
“Cindy?”
She saw fettuccine alfredo and pointed, “I’ll have that.”
“My favorite,” Nathan agreed. “Make it two. And two Caesar salads.”
“Excellent choice,” Mario approved, then quietly left them.
Nathan picked up his wineglass. “Here’s to good surprises.”
“From your mouth to God’s ear.” There was a crystal ring when she touched her glass to his. After taking a drink she said, “That’s very nice.”
“See? Already something good.” He grinned.
She wasn’t so sure. The night wasn’t over yet and getting through unscathed was a goal in jeopardy when he looked at her like she was dessert. That wouldn’t be a problem except she wanted to be dessert.
He leaned back against the leather seat and stretched an arm along the back, his fingers nearly brushing her bare shoulder. “So, how are mumsy and daddy?”
“Actually my parents both passed away several years ago. My father nursed mom through cancer. Then a couple of years later, he had a heart attack.”
“I’m sorry, Cindy. I didn’t mean to bring up—it was a bad joke.”
“My fault. I was messing with you that night at the fundraiser.” She settled her white cloth napkin in her lap. “It was hard losing them both so close together, but Dad was never the same after Mom died. I think he missed her. Now it’s just my brother and me.”
“Is he coming home from college for the summer?”
“No. He’s taking a class, working and sharing an apartment with some buddies. I’m helping out with expenses.” Which wouldn’t be necessary if the sweet-talking jerk who’d wined and dined her hadn’t cleaned out the money her parents left for their children’s education. She took a sip of wine. “You already know about my pathetically normal childhood. I’d like to hear about how you didn’t have one.”
He frowned, an expression just this side of brooding but no less appealing than his grin. “My father was always working. Because he was never home, Mother had hobbies. She took classes. Painting. Knitting. Needlepoint. Calligraphy. Aura reading.” Over the flickering light of the candle, his gaze connected with hers. “Neither of them were around much. I became pretty self-sufficient.”
“It sounds to me like your mother was hurt about your father working so much. She was probably hiding in her hobbies.” She finished off the wine in her glass. “And I can’t decide if you take after her or your father.”
“How about neither?”
She shook her head. “You put in a lot of hours at the hospital.”
“And you know this—how?”
“While the women wait in your line, they talk about you.” The snarky remark made him smile, just as she’d intended. “It’s said that you’re dedicated. So either you’re a workaholic like your father, or you’re hiding like your mom.”
Just then Mario brought their salads. “Is there anything else I can get you?”
“Not right now,” Nathan said.
The light, carefree expression had disappeared and it was her fault. Cindy wished for a filter from her brain to her mouth, but it was too late for that.
They ate in silence for a few minutes. At least he did. She pushed romaine lettuce and croutons around the plate and not much of it got eaten. She wished she’d kept her views to herself.
Finally she couldn’t stand the silence. “Look, Nathan, it’s just my opinion and worth what you paid for it. About now you’re probably regretting this invitation. The offer of sex with no strings attached must look pretty good. Sometimes I don’t know when to keep my mouth shut.”
His eyes turned even darker with an intensity that was almost tangible as his gaze settled on her mouth. “Let’s just say you’ve given me food for thought. Perspective that’s both sincere and sweet.”
Yay her. It felt like he’d yelled at her even though he hadn’t raised his voice. Unlike that day at the hospital, this time he had a reason to be mad. Amateur psychoanalysis probably wasn’t what he’d signed up for tonight in his quest to know her. He’d no doubt learned everything necessary to form the opinion that this night had been a cheap validation for her pronouncement that he should have taken no for an answer.
Two hours later after more to eat and drink and entertaining, idle conversation, they were standing in front of her open door. Cindy was pleasantly full and still rocking a lovely buzz from his favorite red wine.
“Thanks for dinner.” She looked up and her breath caught.
The inside light showed the glitter in Nathan’s eyes as his knuckles lightly grazed her cheek. “I’m going to kiss you.”
“Do you really think that’s a good idea—”
“No. But all night I haven’t been able to take my eyes off you. I want to see how that sexy, sassy, smart mouth tastes.”
Her heart started to pound until she thought it would jump right out of her chest. “Oh, my—”
“I can’t help it.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with a shaking hand. “I want to feel all the passion you put into being so tough.”
Words were trapped in her throat so she started to shake her head. The feel of his lips stopped her as surely as it shut down all rational thought. One moment his mouth was on hers and the next she was plastered against his body, her arms twining around his neck. His big, warm hands restlessly rubbed up and down her back until her skin prickled with awareness and every nerve ending was on fire. Her breasts were crushed to his chest and ached for the touch of his hand.
In an awkward, erotic dance, he maneuvered her inside then closed the door. As he backed her against the wall, the sound of their raspy, ragged breathing filled her small front room and she let her purse fall off her shoulder. When her arms were around his neck again, he slid his palm over her hip then down her thigh before inching up the hem of her dress.
He hooked his finger into the waistband of her panties and drew them down until she stepped out of the restraining prim cotton. Kissing her senseless, he slipped a finger inside her and played until she was mindless with desire. A breathy moan escaped her throat and he groaned.
“Cindy,” he breathed against her cheek. “I’ve wanted you since the night of that damned dinner. But if you don’t want this, I’ll—”
“No. I want …” Her voice was a wanton whisper. She’d never felt such a powerful need so completely consuming her. There was a very real possibility she would simply implode if he didn’t take her in the next ten seconds. “Now. Nathan. Please. Do you have—”
“Yeah.”
He dropped his wallet on the floor after pulling out a condom and lowered his pants and briefs before covering himself. Then he lifted her, and as her legs circled his waist, he entered her, bracing his forearm against the wall. The thickness of him filled her and took her breath away at the same time. He drove her higher and higher until she shattered into a thousand points of light and shuddered with the pieces of pleasure surging through her.
Moments later he went still and tightened his arms around her, groaning out his own release. As his breathing slowed, he buried his face in her neck and kissed her gently, tenderly. Finally he let her legs go and they slid down as he wrapped his strong arms around her waist and held her to him.
“Wow.” He rested his forehead against hers. “There’s no reason you should believe me, but I really didn’t mean for that to happen.”
“I know.” And neither had she. For whatever reason, she believed him and here they were.
“Bathroom?” He was asking where it was. Hard to believe he hadn’t been further inside than the front door.
“Down the hall,” she said. “First door on the right.”
When he was gone, she slipped her panties back on, picked up her purse and tried to figure out what to say when he returned.
It didn’t take long. Unlike her with the nerves doing a rumba inside her, he looked as cool as Mount Charleston after the first winter snow. But the expression on his face told her there was a problem. And when had she learned to read him so well?
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Probably nothing.”
“Then why do you look like that?”
“The condom broke,” he said.
She blinked at him, trying to make sense of what he was saying. “It broke?”
“That doesn’t mean there’s anything to worry about. It’s probably fine,” he assured her. “I just thought you should know even though the odds of pregnancy are slim.”
And so it had been the perfect storm of an evening. Dinner. Sex. And a broken condom.
So what else was new? That was the story of her life.
Three weeks later the pregnancy odds went up when Cindy’s normally punctual period was late. She’d told herself it could be delayed for any number of reasons and stress was at the top of her list. But just to cover her bases she’d peed on a stick and nearly fainted when the word pregnant appeared.
On an ironic note, in the twenty-one days since “seeing” Nathan, he hadn’t once badgered her for a phone number or joined her in the cafeteria for lunch. So sleeping with him to get him out of her life had actually worked.
What she hadn’t expected was relief and disappointment in equal parts. Then she did the pregnancy test and shock pushed out every other emotion.
She’d just gotten off work and was waiting in the hall outside the NICU for Nathan to be finished with hospital rounds. This wasn’t the best place to talk, but she didn’t know what else to do. Thanks to her, no phone numbers had been exchanged. And it seemed like forever before he came out of the unit, but that was probably normal when your life was falling apart.
Nathan stopped short when he saw her leaning against the far wall. There was an expression on his face that she couldn’t decipher. And it didn’t matter anyway.
“We need to talk.” Her fingers twisted together as she looked to her left and right, making sure that employees moving in the hall were too far away to hear.
“Hello to you, too.”
“Sorry. I’m a little freaked out.”
“Ah. So we should go somewhere private?” he asked.
“That would probably be best.”
He rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. “How about the Revello Lounge. It’s at the M Resort. Do you know it?”
“I’ll meet you there.”
The one-year-old hotel was on the corner of Mercy Medical Center Parkway and Las Vegas Blvd. Fifteen minutes after leaving the hospital she turned left into the resort lot and found a parking place close to the lobby entrance. She walked inside and took the escalator up, stepping off onto the shiny marble floor. To her right was the gift shop, a café and a pastry place called Baby Cakes. Fate was having a laugh at her expense.
She found the lounge, which was all glass, amber lights and modern glitz. Nathan was waiting in a quiet corner and she took the leather barrel-backed chair across the chrome table from him. They each ordered club soda with lime. She would have preferred something stronger. There was no way to soften the news and she didn’t try.
“I’m pregnant.”
He was all brooding silence before saying, “I figured.”
“I’m pretty sure when you promised me a good surprise at dinner you didn’t mean a baby.”
“I never planned for anything to happen.”
She believed that, and yet he carried a condom. A faulty one.
Just then the cocktail waitress appeared with their drinks and set them down on napkins. “Can I get you anything else?”
Cindy figured she had about all she could stand and shook her head.
“We’re good,” Nathan said and the woman drifted away.
“You might be good, but I’m pregnant.” Cindy picked up her drink and played with the straw. “This is Las Vegas and odds are fickle at best. But I can’t believe my luck is this bad.”
“Yours?” He was still in his scrubs and checked the pager on his waistband. “What about mine? It appears the planets aligned just right and you were fertile.”
“Right back at you, buster,” she said.
“I was hoping you were on an alternative method of birth control.”
“Since I’m not seeing anyone, there was no reason.” She glared at him. “And can we talk about the condom? That was yours so don’t even try to make this my fault.”
“That’s not what I meant. Look, Cindy, I take full responsibility—”
“Don’t.” She couldn’t handle an apology right now.
She’d been a willing participant as soon as his lips touched hers. For God’s sake, she’d thought about him naked when he’d picked her up. All through dinner something had been sizzling between them. They’d had sex. Then nothing.
One minute he’d been pestering her for a phone number, the next he completely disappeared. Yet again she’d been fooled. He really was just one of those guys who refused to give up until he got what he wanted. This time he got more than he’d bargained for, but she was also paying a high price.
“This is not part of my plan,” she said.
He nodded. “Plans have a way of changing.”
Cindy felt a bubble of panic mix with hysteria that was barely held in check. She couldn’t handle calm rationality any more than his apology. This was her life. She’d made a bad decision in the past but was working things out. For a short time there had been light at the end of the tunnel, and now it was connected to a speeding locomotive. All because she’d won that stupid raffle ticket and slid into hell when Nathan Steele noticed her.
“You don’t understand,” she said. “I have another semester of classes. I’m doing my internship, not to mention a full-time job. My bills aren’t going to pay themselves. And I’m putting my brother through college. Harry is my responsibility.”
“It doesn’t have to be all on you. He can get student loans.”
“No. I can’t let him do that. The subject of blame keeps coming up. Between you and me the fault for this pregnancy is about equal. But the fact that my brother’s college money is gone is all on me.” She put her glass back on the table without drinking any of the club soda in it. “I was supposed to take care of his college fund. My father left me in charge of the money. How can I tell him that what our father left for his education isn’t there?
“My parents started putting away money for school when each of us was born. One of the last things Dad said to me was to see that my little brother graduated from UCLA. Harry wants to be a lawyer.”
“Good for him.”
“Not if he can’t get his degree.” Cindy twisted her fingers together in her lap.
“Why can’t he?” Nathan’s frown deepened. “What happened?”
“There was a guy.” She met his gaze and figured he was thinking that there always was. “Conrad Worthington. At least that’s what he said his name was. The cops couldn’t find any trace of him.”
“What did he do?”
“He charmed me into trusting him, told me he loved me, then cleaned out my bank account.” She drew in a shuddering breath. “He maxed out my existing credit cards and all the ones he could get in my name.”
“Son of a bitch.” Nathan’s hands, resting on the arms of the chair, curled into fists.
“Yeah. I called him that, too, and a few things I can’t repeat. The banks refused to forgive the debt, but I managed to negotiate payments. I dropped out of school and worked two jobs for a while. When I had better control over the situation, I started taking a few night classes, which is why it’s taking so long to get my degree. But I had everything under control and it was going according to plan. The thing is, I’m still paying for that mess. I can’t afford another one.” Even in the dim light she saw when his expression went from brooding to pity. She could stand just about anything but that. “And then you came along. Dr. Charming. Wanting my phone number and not taking no for an answer.”
“I didn’t mean for this to happen,” he said again.
She believed him, but that didn’t help when panic was her go-to emotion. “It’s all fun and games until the condom breaks and someone gets pregnant.”
Chapter Five
Nathan’s head felt like it was ready to explode. It was a sensation that was becoming increasingly familiar where Cindy Elliott was concerned, but this time wasn’t about passion. He struggled to process information that was a lot of fact swamped by buckets of emotion.
Fact: The condom broke.
Fact: She was pregnant.
Fact: The odds of this happening were ridiculously low, which put it firmly in the miracle column.
Emotion: He went from holy crap my boys are badass to holy crap I’m going to be a father.
That was a fact that gave him serious pause since he’d been parented in absentia and had no working model of how to raise a kid.
Cindy was staring at him, then abruptly she stood and slid her purse more firmly on her shoulder. “I just thought you should know about the baby.”
“Are you leaving?” He didn’t think she could surprise him any more, but somehow she always did.
“We’re done here.”
“Not by a long shot. Sit down.”
“Why should I?”
He met her gaze and the fear there went a long way toward tamping down his irritation. “For one thing this habit you have of running out on me is really getting old.”
“And?” She folded her arms over her chest. “You said ‘for one thing,’ which means there’s another reason I should sit.”
“We’re not even close to being done here.”
“What else is there to say?” Her tone oozed suspicion and mistrust, but she sat.
“I’m not sure,” he admitted. “This is a shock.”
“Tell me about it. At least you told me when—you know.” She looked down, suddenly shy. Charmingly so.
Nathan knew she meant he’d warned her about the condom malfunction. He realized something else, too. She didn’t trust him to not run out on her like the last bozo who’d robbed her blind then dumped on her and disappeared. If nothing else, being on his own as a kid had taught him to be the soul of responsibility.
He leaned toward her and rested his elbows on his knees as their gazes locked. Her brown eyes were a mixture of gold and cinnamon with a healthy dose of innocence thrown in. The vulnerability there tugged at him, making him want to fold her in his arms, a feeling that came out of nowhere. The things he couldn’t explain made him acutely uncomfortable.
“Look, Cindy, you’re not in this alone.”
“What does that mean?” she asked.