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“Stop.”

Gwen sat up and frowned. “What do you mean, stop?”

“Stop using this pregnancy as an excuse to push people away,” Alex said. “It won’t work on me.”

Gwen swallowed hard, her dark eyes widening slightly as she searched for meaning in his face. “I don’t know what you’re—”

“You want me,” he interrupted. “And I want you just as badly as I did all those months ago. There’s nothing wrong with that. There’s no reason to try to defuse the attraction between us just because of some artificial barrier you’ve put in place. If you want me, give in to your feelings.”

She opened her mouth to argue but his words seemed to have struck her temporarily mute.

Alex thought this might be his opportunity to finally kiss her again the way he ached to …

Dear Reader,

When I was writing the end of my first book—What Lies Beneath—something unexpected happened. The best man and the maid of honor at the wedding started making eyes at one another! Up until that moment, I hadn’t even considered that scenario, but once they hit the dance floor at the reception, it became obvious to me that my next book would have to be about Gwen and Alex.

That’s where the fun started. As an author, it is my job to make sure my characters find their “Happily Ever After,” but also to make them earn it. I’ll admit I get a bit of sick pleasure from making their lives difficult. And messing with Alex was even more enjoyable than usual. What better way to make a notorious playboy quake in his Armani loafers than to confront him with his greatest fear—a pregnant ex-lover.

I can’t wait for you to read Gwen and Alex’s story.

If you enjoy it, tell me by visiting my website at www.andrealaurence.com, like my fan page on Facebook or follow me on Twitter. I love to hear from my readers!

Enjoy!

Andrea

About the Author

ANDREA LAURENCE has been a lover of reading and writing stories since she learned her ABCs. She always dreamed of seeing her work in print and is thrilled to finally be able to share her books with the world. A dedicated West Coast girl transplanted to the deep South, she’s working on her own “happily ever after” with her boyfriend and their collection of animals that shed like nobody’s business. You can contact Andrea at her website, www.andrealaurence.com.

More Than He Expected

Andrea Laurence

www.millsandboon.co.uk

To Mavens Linda Howard and Linda Winstead Jones—

You are more than mentors. More than friends.

You believe in me, push me and give invaluable advice

for both career and life. I only hope that one day

I can be as generous of knowledge and spirit as you are.

And to Maven Beverly Barton —

I miss your laugh. I wish I could’ve shared this

experience with you, but I like to think that wherever

you are … you’re proud of what I’ve accomplished.

Prologue

Saturday, October 20

The Wedding Reception of Will and Adrienne Taylor

It was terribly cliché for the best man to seduce the maid of honor, but damn, that was one sexy woman.

Alex had no intention of using his best friend’s wedding as an opportunity to pick up women. Usually, weddings were filled with misty-eyed romantics wanting more than Alex was willing to offer. He’d planned only to wear the tux and wave goodbye as another of his friends crossed over to the dark side.

But Gwen Wright had thrown a petite, slinky wrench into his plans the minute she had strolled into the welcome breakfast. She’d been wearing a tight brown skirt and beige blouse that made her dark brown eyes pop against peaches-and-cream skin. She’d cast a quick glance at him that morning, appraising him with a small smile curving her peach lips. When their eyes met, the light of mischievousness there had intrigued him.

Will had introduced them a few minutes later, and Alex was pleased to discover she was the maid of honor and his partner in crime for the big day. He’d politely taken her hand, marveling at how soft her skin felt against his. He’d wanted to spend more time talking to her, but he didn’t get the chance. She was swept into the wedding chaos and the moment passed.

He hadn’t had another chance to really talk to her, much less touch her, but the anticipation was building with each hour that ticked by. He tried to focus on Will and what his job as best man entailed, since that evening had been dedicated to bachelor activities with the guys.

But tonight was a different matter. When he’d stood at the rose-covered archway beside Will and watched Gwen come toward him in that clingy pink gown, he thought he might not be able to wait much longer. As he’d escorted her down the aisle at the end of the ceremony, he’d pulled her aside and whispered, “Later,” into her ear. The blush of her cheeks let him know the brief message had come across loud and clear.

And later it would be. Later than he’d planned, actually. Gwen was running the show like a seasoned professional. The first opportunity he had to talk to her was during their obligatory dance, but despite holding her in his arms, he could tell she was a million miles away—making lists, planning the cake cutting … She was a woman on a mission, and he hadn’t made an inch of real progress in his pursuit of her.

Now the bride and groom had departed and the crowd had started to thin. They were quickly closing in on a “now or never” moment. From the other side of the room, he watched her direct the few men charged with taking the wedding gifts back to the apartment. Every gesture, every smile intrigued him. Alex wished he could figure out what it was about Gwen that drew him to her. The impact of her presence had been direct and immediate. If she had some kind of sexual kryptonite that weakened him, he wanted to know it.

And there must be. She’d had his undivided attention for a good part of the last thirty-six hours, and she didn’t even know it. There was no argument that she was beautiful. He loved the way her curly ash-blond hair framed her heart-shaped face and the dark eyes that watched him beneath full lashes. Her petite frame was highlighted by her bridesmaid gown, showing off those shapely calves.

But there was something else about her. Something that drew him in and wouldn’t let him look away. And he was determined to find out what it was.

“It’s later.” Gwen had been sitting for less than forty-five seconds when she heard a man’s voice over her shoulder. Forty-five seconds were not nearly enough to make up for the hours she’d spent on her feet.

She was the maid of honor. It was her job to scurry about and ensure everything was on track. But she was tired. Dog tired. Regardless of what the man wanted from her, he could forget it. Even dancing with Prince Harry had less appeal than kicking off her shoes and face-planting in her bed right now.

Then she looked up and found herself smack-dab in the laser sights of none other than the best man, Alex Stanton. He was looking extraordinarily handsome tonight in his Armani tuxedo, his golden hair tamed for the special occasion. The hazel-eyed bachelor had been charming and friendly toward her for the last few days, but like Gwen, he’d been busy with wedding responsibilities of his own.

She’d tried to ignore the tingle of electricity she’d felt dance across her skin when he’d taken her arm to walk down the aisle. But then, in a brief moment alone, he’d leaned close to her ear and whispered the word “later.” The single utterance was laced with such heavy meaning that it was hard to breathe for a moment. How he’d managed to roll “I want you,” “I’m going to rock your world tonight,” and “I hope you’re prepared” into a single word, she’d never know. He’d followed the promise with a sly smile and wink before he’d pulled away and embraced the newlyweds.

“Miss Wright, may I have this dance?”

Gwen wasn’t sure if she had the strength to make it through another dance with Alex. During their first turn on the dance floor, the electric feeling had intensified; this pull that urged her to press inappropriately close to him while they swayed. She’d spent the song thinking of cheesy knock-knock jokes to distract herself. She didn’t want Alex to think she was throwing herself at him. Regardless of what she’d read into his words earlier, he was dancing with her because he had to. You dance with your cousin if that’s who you’re paired up with in the wedding party.

But several times over the last few hours, she had felt the prickle of awareness on the nape of her neck and caught Alex watching her from across the room. There was an unabashed appreciation in his eyes as he had looked her over, making a warm flush rise to her cheeks. But instead of approaching her, he would flash his trademark smile and disappear into the crowd like a circling shark.

The reception was virtually over now. She had pretty much given up on anything but a quiet cab ride back to her apartment, since by her estimation, “later” had come and gone a long time ago.

And yet here he was asking her to dance. His heated glance sent a shiver down her spine, a tingle of excitement overriding the pain in her toes and sending her heart racing.

Most men did not jump-start a reaction in her like this, but Alex was not most men. To say the millionaire real estate developer was out of her league was an understatement. But he didn’t seem to notice.

As he held his hand out to her, there was no denying what he was offering. He wanted to fulfill his earlier promise and then some. Alex was interested in more than a dance, and by taking his hand, she was agreeing to it all. The building ache of need low in her belly and the suddenly tight press of her breasts against the confines of her fitted gown told her she was anxious to accept his offer.

Gwen looked up at her suitor. He was handsome, charming, rich…. When would she ever have another opportunity like this? She’d had her share of lovers over the years, but few could hold a candle to Alex. His reputation set tongues wagging, and she’d be lying if she’d said she didn’t want some firsthand experience. She deserved a night of fun with a man who knew how to have a good time. She’d been working so hard at the hospital and helping Adrienne. Next year would be just as hectic and, if all went as planned, quite lonely. A no-strings liaison with the playboy might be just what she needed.

One last drink before rehab, so to speak.

Her eyes locked on his, her answer clear as she reached out to offer him her hand. With a triumphant smile, he eased her from her seat and swung her gently around to face him on the seamless, white dance floor.

Without hesitation, Alex wrapped his arm around Gwen’s waist and pressed her tight against him. His bare palm splayed across her lower back, the heat of his touch only intensifying the pulsating desire stirring just under the surface.

She was surprised by her sudden, physical reaction to his touch. It was like a floodgate had opened. She had to suck in a ragged breath to cover the shudder that accompanied the rush of adrenaline through her veins. The spicy scent of Alex’s cologne swirled in her head, mixing with the soft fragrance of roses and candle wax and making her almost light-headed. Gwen could only cling to his shoulders as they rocked back and forth to the slow, seductive music.

They stilled on the floor as the music continued but didn’t pull away from one another. Instead, Alex leaned down and kissed her. It started off soft but quickly intensified once he got a taste—his tongue invading her, his mouth and hands demanding more. And she gave it to him. Gwen arched her back to press her soft body against his hard contours. He growled low in his throat, the vibration rumbling through his chest and teasing the firm peaks of her aching nipples.

Finally, the last few notes of music silenced, breaking the seductive spell that cocooned them from the surrounding world. But Alex didn’t let go, as she had expected. He looked down at her, the gold flecks in his eyes almost glittering with arousal. His jaw was tense, his shoulders rising and falling with his own rapid breathing.

It was time to leave. The hows and wheres and whats were still up in the air, but they couldn’t stay on the dance floor forever. “I need to get my things out of the bridal room,” she said, her voice breathy.

Alex nodded, releasing her from his embrace, and Gwen headed toward the dark hallway at the back of the boathouse.

“Keep it together, girl,” she whispered to herself as she turned the knob and entered the small space. Set up for brides, the room had a vanity and mirror, a chaise lounge, a wardrobe for hanging clothes and its own bathroom. They had cleared out all of Adrienne’s things earlier, but Gwen still had a few items scattered around.

She quickly checked her hair and makeup in the mirror. Her hands trembled as she grabbed her compact and mascara, stuffing them into her purse. She wasn’t sure if it was nerves or arousal rattling her composure.

Gwen was reaching for her hairbrush when she heard the soft click of the door closing, then locking, behind her. She didn’t turn. She only needed to look up to see Alex’s reflection in the vanity’s mirror, his back pressed against the door as he watched her with passion blazing in his eyes.

The where had apparently been decided. And she was glad.

One

Eight Months Later

“I’m almost there,” Alex said. “Fashionably late, as always.”

The voice of his best friend, Will Taylor, sounded through the Bluetooth-enabled sound system of his Corvette. “I’m not really worried. Just wanted to make sure you remembered how to get here.”

“I’m making the last turn now,” Alex lied. He was at least another fifteen minutes from the house in Sag Harbor, but it would soothe his friend’s concerns. This was supposed to be a vacation. The Fourth of July was one of those laid-back holidays with no obligations. There were no schedules, so he couldn’t possibly be late. “Is everyone else already there?” he asked.

“Yes.”

Alex hesitated before asking one last question. “Did Gwen end up bringing someone with her?” It was a dangerous question to ask, but he had to know. He’d rearranged his entire schedule to come out here because she would be there.

“No, she came alone. She rode up with us this morning.”

Excellent, Alex thought, although he didn’t speak the word aloud. As far as he could tell, no one, including Will and Adrienne, knew about what had happened between him and Gwen last fall. So of course they wouldn’t understand his interest in seeing her again. Or his burning desire to have her in his bed every night for the next five days of this trip.

“So what does that make? Ten of us?” Alex tried not to sound like he was fishing. “That’s a nice, round number. I’m glad she was able to take the time off. I haven’t seen her since the wedding, but I figured Adrienne would have her up for the holiday.”

Will made a thoughtful sound but didn’t elaborate. “We’ll see you shortly then.”

“Bye,” Alex said, pressing the button on his steering wheel to terminate the call. Easing back into the soft leather seat, he gripped the wheel tightly and pressed his foot down on the pedal to accelerate.

Gwen would be with them in the Hamptons this week. Alone.

He’d been hopeful, but he hadn’t let himself ask until now. The two weeks they’d spent together after Adrienne and Will’s wedding had been incredible. She was the smartest, funniest, sexiest woman he’d ever been with. It had been quite the pleasant surprise to find such an intriguing woman in such a small package. But to underestimate the spark inside that petite frame was a serious mistake. She was a firecracker in bed and out.

Their two weeks together had flown by, and before he knew it, he’d had to leave for New Orleans. Like all his relationships, it was short and without strings. Just a fun, sexy fling. But unlike most of the women he dated, Gwen hadn’t wanted any more than that. She didn’t eye his bank account or bare ring finger with burning ambition. She was just in it for a good time. He got the feeling she was busy, just as he was, and didn’t want the complication of something serious. It was perfect.

So perfect he was hoping she’d be up for another round.

Apparently their short time together had not been enough for Alex to get his fill of Gwen. He typically grew bored with a woman after a few dates. If they pushed for more, he pushed the end button on his cell phone. He was always open about it, but most women seemed to think they might be the one to tame him. None had come close.

At best, Gwen had managed to stay on his mind amid the distractions. For the last seven months, Alex had been working on a new real estate development project in New Orleans that had sucked up a lot of his free time. Despite everything, thoughts of her would occasionally sneak into his brain while he was sitting in a boring meeting or lying in his bed at night. She’d even slipped into his thoughts as he’d trolled Bourbon Street. After their time together, it seemed that none of the women he met, especially in a setting like that, were up to par. Night after night he’d slink back to his hotel, alone.

Alex just couldn’t shake the memory of Gwen. The soft caress of her hands across his stomach, the scent of her lavender shampoo, the sharp sass of her wit wrapped in the soft contrast of the Tennessee accent that came out when she was flustered …

Another week together ought to get her out of his system. Then he could get back on the prowl and reaffirm his reputation as a notorious bachelor.

Now that his project had gotten rolling, he could take a step back and let Tabitha and his management team run the show. When he and his friend Wade had started their first real estate development business, they’d been hands-on, start to finish. Now that he’d spun off and had the money to hire talented staff, he could do what he wanted and keep from getting bogged down in the details. He was looking forward to more time to play than he’d had in a long time. A few days in the Hamptons for the Fourth of July holiday was a great way to kick it off.

Alex turned onto the road that would lead to Will and Adrienne’s waterfront vacation estate. Adrienne had concluded the family’s ten-thousand-square-foot summerhouse was far too large for just the two of them and decided to make an event out of it. About eight other people would be joining them this week for some relaxation and fun.

At first, he hadn’t planned to come, but when he realized Gwen would be there, too, he’d changed his mind. Although they’d agreed not to contact each other, there was a part of him that wished she had texted him every now and then. He missed the sound of her laughter and her bright smile. A few days with her could scratch that itch.

What he hadn’t known until now was whether Gwen was bringing someone with her. He was hoping she would be up for Fling 2.0, but he couldn’t be sure. If she’d shown up with another man, this would have been a long, boring week of clambakes, pool parties and cold beds.

A small, worn wooden sign marked the circular driveway to the house. Alex slowed his Corvette and turned in, pulling behind a Range Rover and a silver Mercedes convertible.

He popped his fist against the horn to announce his arrival and climbed out of the car. His khakis and polo shirt had been a touch too warm in the city, but near the water there was a nice breeze making it cooler and much less humid. Perfect for being outside.

“Alex!” Adrienne called out from the front porch. “Will, Alex is here.”

She started down the steps to greet him, and Alex noticed that his best friend’s bride was looking as lovely as ever. She wore a pair of denim shorts with a light green sleeveless blouse tucked in, and her dark hair was pulled into a ponytail, her complexion a bit pink from the sun. To see her now, you’d never know she’d once survived a plane crash and undergone multiple reconstructive surgeries.

As Adrienne held out her arms to hug him, only the thin, white line of a scar up her left forearm remained. Alex pulled her into his embrace and gave her a tight squeeze. He’d been so busy lately he really hadn’t seen much of them, either. In his business, it was feast or famine. Either he was working almost nonstop for months at a time, or he was home, freewheeling while his manager, Tabitha, handled the rest. The project in New Orleans was a big one and sucked up more of his time than he had expected.

“Do you need help with your bags?” she asked. “Will is out back fighting with the new grill.”

The thought of Will grilling brought a smile to Alex’s face. They’d likely starve or call in a caterer before the trip was over. “Nope,” he said, pulling a duffel bag from the passenger’s seat. “This is all I have.”

“I’ll show you to your room, then.”

Alex followed Adrienne and her flip-flops into the house and up the grand, circular staircase that wrapped around the living room. They traveled down a long, white hallway with alternating doorways and artwork on each side.

“Here it is,” she said, opening the door and waving him inside.

Alex went in and tossed his bag down on the queen-size sleigh bed that dominated the room. The bed was covered in an intricately designed quilt and large, fluffy pillows. The light oak wood of the bed matched the tall dresser and bedside stand. There was a flat-screen television, an overstuffed chair and ottoman, and a ceiling fan turning gently to keep air circulating. Honestly, it was far nicer than the hotel room he’d been living in the last few months in New Orleans, and he’d paid quite a bit for the privilege.

“You have your own bathroom,” Adrienne said, gesturing toward a door on the far wall.

“Great. Where is everyone else staying?” Alex wanted to know exactly how far he might have to go in his underwear to get back from Gwen’s room before everyone woke up. If he was lucky, it was her door he could see across the way.

“Emma, Peter and Helena are staying down the hall. Sabine, Jack and Wade are in those rooms across from you. Will and I have the suite downstairs, and Gwen’s room is just off the kitchen.”

Damn. She was about as far from his room as logistically possible. Just great. That would make sneaking around quite a bit more difficult. Alex tried not to frown. He didn’t need Adrienne asking questions.

“Looks like I have everything I need, then.”

“Great. I’ll let you get settled, and we’ll see you downstairs.”

Adrienne slipped out of the room, leaving him alone. He heard the dull slap of her footsteps down the wooden staircase, then pulled back the curtains and watched for her to step out onto the patio. He could see Will out there, hovering over the stainless steel grill that was built into the L-shaped outdoor kitchen they’d added since his last visit. Adrienne kissed him on the cheek and assisted him in investigating the mysteries of the new cooktop.

With the coast clear, he unzipped his bag and pulled out a bottle of wine and a bundle of crimson roses he’d picked up for Gwen on his way out of town. His father had always taught him that a gift was never a bad way to start off on the right foot, especially with women. Alex would’ve gotten her some jewelry, but the last time he’d tried, she’d pretty much laughed in his face. To avoid a repeat, he’d opted for something a little more low-key. With Gwen, he’d learned he had to strike a balance between thoughtful, nice and too expensive.

Hiding them behind his back, he headed downstairs in search of Gwen’s room. He’d stayed in that bedroom a few years back at another summertime Taylor gathering, so now he easily found it near the laundry room and kitchen, tucked away in a remote corner. At one time, it had been the maid’s quarters.

The door was halfway open. From his vantage point, he could see an open suitcase lying on the bed. Alex approached the entry and poked his head around the corner. Gwen was putting clothes away in her dresser.

Her back was to him, so he took a moment to admire her. A strapless cotton sundress flowed in bright colors to her ankles and bare feet. Her curly, ash-blond hair was pulled up in a clip that left soft tendrils at her bare neck. He was suddenly filled with the undeniable urge to kiss her there.

Alex slipped silently into the room, creeping across the plush rug to come up behind her.

“Hello again, gorgeous,” he said, wrapping his arms around her to display the wine and roses and planting a warm kiss at the apex of her neck and shoulder. “These are for you.” He felt her tremble slightly at his touch, then stiffen beneath his hands.

She didn’t turn to him or take the gifts. Instead, a soft, hesitant voice politely replied, “Hello, Alex.”

A feeling of unease nagged at Alex’s brain and threatened to override the longing building in his gut. This wasn’t the welcome he’d expected from her at all. He’d anticipated a smile, a hug, maybe an enthusiastic “Hello, sugar” … or at the very least, a thank-you for the flowers. Perhaps he had miscalculated. Her less than enthusiastic greeting made him wonder if she was upset with him. Had she expected him to call even though they’d agreed not to? At the time, she’d seemed to understand what they had together, but she wouldn’t be the first woman to be disappointed or upset when the relationship ended as planned.

She finally took the roses and the wine, setting them on top of the dresser without really looking at them, her back still facing him. Note to self—Gwen wasn’t a fan of expensive jewelry, roses or red wine. What did she like?

“How have you been?” she asked. Her voice sounded more normal now, less timid. Perhaps he’d just startled her.

“Busy,” he said, his free hands now planting at her waist. She didn’t pull away, but she didn’t lean back against him, either. The flowers hadn’t done their magic, but he knew just how to thaw out a woman’s cold reception. The feel of his arousal pressed against her back would certainly soothe her pride and let her know how badly she’d been missed. “You?” he asked, letting his palms glide around to her stomach to pull her reluctant body into him.

At least, that was the idea. As his hands ran over a soft, rounded belly instead of the flat, firm one he remembered, Alex paused.

The realization washed over him like a tidal wave. The breath was knocked from his lungs and his muscles seized, allowing him to neither pull away nor spin her around to see the truth with his own two eyes.

“Busy,” she whispered, repeating his words. “And as you may have noticed, pregnant.”

The hands on Gwen’s rounded stomach had turned from a gentle caress to a grip of immovable stone in an instant. The pressing of his fingertips into her belly were almost painful in their intensity. She put her hands over his and pried them away so she could turn around and finally face him.

Gwen hadn’t been sure how she would feel seeing Alex again. The boyishly handsome face was just as she remembered it, sending her heart racing unexpectedly in her chest. Her fingers itched to run through his messy, blond hair. Her lips ached to leave a trail of kisses along the faint stubble of his jaw. In an instant, it was as if the last few months apart had never happened.

But at the same time, Gwen wondered if coming here had been a mistake.

The golden-hazel eyes that had once sparkled with mischievous passion were now wide with unexpressed emotions and burrowing into her stomach. Granted, it was hard to ignore. To say she’d blossomed in the last month was an understatement. She’d gone from a small pooch of a belly to full-blown second trimester almost overnight.

But it wasn’t the surprise on Alex’s face that concerned her. She expected that. It was the red blotches spreading across his skin and the hard, angry line of his jaw. He was always so laid-back and carefree. She’d never seen him upset, but she supposed when you had enough money, you could fix any problem. Now his personality had taken a one-eighty swing, and Gwen wasn’t even certain he’d taken a breath for the last two minutes.

“Breathe, honey, before you pass right out.”

His gaze darted to meet hers, the intensity of it making her chest tight. She wanted to squirm and move away from him, but she stood her ground. She hadn’t done anything wrong. Why should she run?

“Breathe?” he said at last. “You show up here pregnant without saying a word to me about it and tell me to breathe? Were you saving the news for my birthday or something?”

“It’s none of your business what I do. We aren’t an item. Why would I …?” Gwen started to argue, then stopped, realizing her mistake. She’d never thought for a minute that Alex would think this child was his. She was only five months along, but the furious set of his jaw indicated he wasn’t familiar enough with a female gestational cycle to make that distinction.

They’d slept together and now she was pregnant. He’d obviously jumped to the wrong conclusion.

“This isn’t your baby,” Gwen quickly clarified.

Alex opened his mouth to start arguing with her, but her sudden and unexpected response stopped him short.

“Are you certain?” he asked, his face almost pained by the words.

“One hundred percent. I haven’t seen you since November, and I’m only at twenty-two weeks. Unless some of your li’l swimmers decided to camp out in my apartment for the holidays and attack when I was least expecting it, you’re in the clear.”

His brow furrowed, and she could see the anger slowly fade away as the muscles in his neck relaxed. His whole body started to uncoil and he took a deep breath, the casual, easygoing posture she remembered finally gaining hold.

Alex ran a hand through the shaggy strands of his golden hair and shook his head. “You really scared the hell out of me, Gwen.”

She was certain of that. Blended in with the anger glittering in his amber eyes had been a healthy dose of fear. When they were together, they’d been quite meticulous when it came to taking all the proper precautions. They both had their reasons. Alex said he didn’t want the entanglement of a child, although she expected there was more to it than just that. And as for Gwen, well, she was sure he couldn’t guess why it had been so important for her at the time, but an unexpected pregnancy would’ve derailed everything.

“I’m sorry,” Gwen said, the words coming easier with the tension in the room fading. “If you were the father, I would’ve told you. I couldn’t keep a secret like that for long, and Adrienne would’ve had my hide for even trying.”

For her own self-preservation, Gwen had kept her fling with Alex a secret. Adrienne would make a bigger deal out of it than it was intended to be. And by the time her friend had returned from her honeymoon in Bali, Alex was gone and there wasn’t much point in mentioning it. It was just one fantastic last hoorah before her man-break. Nothing more.

Instead, she’d tried to pretend it never happened. The holidays and her pregnancy had done well to distract her. To a point. She blamed the hormones for her more emotional moments when thoughts of Alex slipped through her defenses.

Now Alex looked a touch uncomfortable, shifting his weight and burying his hands in the pockets of his khakis. It was about as close to repentant as she’d ever seen him. “I wish I’d known about all this,” he said. “I mean, Will had no reason to think I would care, but I never would’ve touched you like that. Or brought you wine, obviously.”

Gwen smiled. After eight months without a man, his brief touch had been the highlight of her week. Month, maybe. It was right up there with feeling the baby flutter inside her for the first time. “That’s okay. Pregnancy isn’t contagious.”

Alex laughed, breaking the last of the nervous tension in her bedroom and reminding her of the lover she knew. During those two weeks, they’d spent as much time laughing and talking as they had making love. They’d walked around the city, dined in new restaurants and just enjoyed being in one another’s company. It was easy to be with Alex.

Looking at him now with his bright, charming smile made her long to touch him again. For Alex to hold her and whisper into her ear the way he had before. But that was a pointless fantasy. Alex was just the latest in a long line of men destined not to stick around. As relationships went, Gwen had a miserable track record. She was always drawn to the men that would leave. A guy that was steady, loyal and committed to a woman didn’t even show up on her radar. Probably because she didn’t want one hanging around that long.

“That’s not what I meant,” he said. “I meant I shouldn’t have presumed you were free for us to, uh … I mean, I hope if the father finds out about this that you let him know I didn’t realize you were taken. Will said you came up alone.”

Gwen frowned. “‘Taken’?” Truth be told, she was anything but. Occupied, perhaps, but not taken.

Alex’s glance darted to her left hand as it rested on the swell of her stomach. “I guess I assumed since you were having some guy’s baby that he might mind me groping you. I know I’d probably be crazy with jealousy if someone put the moves on the mother of my child.”

That was one thing Gwen certainly didn’t have to worry about. “I assure you that Robert isn’t really concerned with what I do or with whom.”

In an instant, a touch of Alex’s previous anger returned, and a dark pink colored the outer shell of his ears. His hazel gaze pinned her on the spot. “Robert who? Tell me the bastard’s name.”

Gwen’s eyes widened in shock. She wasn’t quite sure if it was because Alex looked as though he was ready to punch the baby’s father in the face, or because he cared enough to go to the trouble. She thought she was just another notch in the proverbial bedpost. Certainly it wouldn’t warrant such a protective response from him. “What does it matter? What are you going to do about it?”

“I’m going to sit him down and make sure he does right by you and his child.”

“Good lord.” Gwen laughed. “You sound like my Paw-Paw. Are you going to take your shotgun, too?”

“If I had one. I might go buy a gun just for the occasion.”

Gwen’s lower back was beginning to throb from standing in one place for too long. It was just one of the joys the second trimester had brought, along with insatiable hunger and an aching, expanding belly. A fair trade for the end of morning sickness, she supposed. She moved over to the bed to sit at the edge. “I appreciate the offer, but that won’t be necessary. The situation is complicated and will take more than a few minutes to explain. But trust me when I tell you Robert is a perfectly wonderful husband and will be just as good a father.”

“He’s married? Jesus, Gwen. Maybe you need a talking-to as well.”

Gwen sighed and patted the mattress beside her. “Sit down, Alex.”

He hesitated for a moment, then settled down beside her. He maintained what he probably thought was the proper distance from a mother-to-be, but she could still feel the warmth of him, and the scent of his cologne hovered in the air she breathed. It took everything she had not to close her eyes and imagine being in his arms again. Not that she ever would be. Even if he had been interested initially, there was nothing quite like a surprise pregnancy to kill the mood.

“Listen, you’ve got the wrong idea about all of this. The father hasn’t done anything wrong. In fact, his wife knows about everything and approves. Robert and Susan are good people who suffered a horrible tragedy that no one should ever have to face. I had the power to help them, so I did.”

Alex watched her speak, visibly struggling to see where she was going with this. She understood the confusion. Her own mother hadn’t approved, even when she had all the details. Especially when she had all the details. Only Adrienne, who knew Gwen was a marshmallow underneath her hard candy shell, could see why she had to do this for people who were practically strangers.

She took a deep breath. “I told you this wasn’t your baby, but I didn’t tell you the whole story. The truth is this isn’t my baby, either.”

Two

“I’m a surrogate.”

Alex fully understood the meaning of the term, but somehow he couldn’t connect it in his brain where Gwen was concerned. “This isn’t your baby?”

“No. Someone else’s bun is baking in my oven. I’m just a rental. This is Robert and Susan’s baby biologically, and as soon as the adoption paperwork is filed, it will be theirs legally as well.”

This was certainly unexpected. The pendulum of his emotions had swung wildly from one side to the other and back over the last few minutes. First, he was a father. Then he wasn’t. Now she wasn’t even a mother. He’d never anticipated that procreation could be this complicated. “Why would you agree to do something like that?”

Gwen shrugged. “Why wouldn’t I? It wasn’t like I was in a serious relationship or had other plans that would interfere. I spend a lot of my time at the hospital, and that’s where I met them. Susan was a patient on my floor for several weeks after being in a severe car wreck in the Lincoln Tunnel. She was seven months pregnant at the time. Not only did she lose the baby, but she isn’t able to carry another child. They were such a sweet couple, going through so much pain. How could I turn down the opportunity to help them?”

“You’re being compensated, right?”

Gwen frowned, her nose wrinkling delicately. “Of course not. You sound like my mother. They’re paying my medical expenses, but that’s it. I didn’t do this for the money, and frankly, they aren’t in a position to pay even if it wasn’t illegal. This isn’t some fancy workaround for a rich, thin society woman who doesn’t want to ruin her figure with pregnancy.”

Alex wasn’t quite sure what to say. She was a damn saint and probably the only woman on his roster who could come close to qualifying. He wasn’t used to being around women like that. “Are you getting anything out of this other than a warm, fuzzy feeling?”

“Some distance,” she said. “When I volunteered to do this, I decided I would use the time to take a break from relationships.”

“So, what, you’ve sworn off men?”

Gwen smiled. “Yes, for now.”

He wasn’t quite sure what to say to that. He lived in a world where people of means indulged in whatever, whenever they wanted. Alex let his gaze drop to Gwen’s hand as it rested on the soft swell of her stomach. Around her wrist was a silver charm bracelet with a heart-shaped lock charm. The one he’d bought her at Tiffany during their previous time together. “You’re wearing your bracelet,” he said.

Gwen smiled and held out her wrist to look at it. “I’ve worn it every day since you bought it for me.”

Alex shook his head. He’d practically had to force the gift on Gwen. She’d finally chosen the bracelet under the threat of not leaving the store until she picked something. She’d refused diamond earrings. The roses and wine had been a complete failure. But at least she liked the bracelet.

“It’s my chastity bracelet.”

“What?” Alex nearly choked. “Like a chastity belt?”

“Slightly less medieval, but the same basic idea. I wear it as a reminder.”

“You’re using my gift as a reminder to avoid men? The irony is rich.”

Gwen shrugged. “It was perfect timing. You insisted I buy something. I saw the lock charm in the case, and I knew it was the perfect symbol of the new journey I was starting on. A subtle reminder to stay on track, as if being pregnant wouldn’t do that for me already. I mean, who’d want me like this? It was the perfect time to quit dating.”

Alex was about to tell her that he, for one, would still want her, when Adrienne’s voice in the kitchen caught their attention. “Gwen?” she called.

“You’d better go,” Gwen said, standing quickly. She picked up the roses and wine from the dresser and thrust them back at him. “Take these with you. I don’t want to explain where they came from.”

Alex wasn’t quite ready to leave, but he wasn’t ready to explain to Adrienne why he was alone with Gwen, either. Jumping up, he stuck his head out the doorway toward the kitchen, then dashed off in the other direction. He rounded the corner into the living room unseen and opted to head back to his room to finish unpacking. Or at least, to decompress. He’d had too big a shock in the last few minutes to go out onto the patio and be the life of the party just yet.

Talk about a game changer! For the most part, Alex thought he had women figured out. Between his mother and the list of ladies who had drifted in and out over his lifetime, he had a pretty solid understanding of the female of the species.

The exception was Gwen.

Somehow she took all his expectations and tossed them out the window. She was a genuinely good person. The first moment he’d laid eyes on her, she had been running herself ragged to make Will and Adrienne’s wedding special. Later, he’d discovered she spent her working hours taking care of the sick, and from the looks of things now, she sacrificed her precious personal time for others, too. He couldn’t imagine even one of the women he’d dated over the last ten years agreeing to anything like that. The majority of them were looking for some hedonistic pleasure or a sugar daddy. Either way, it was all about them. Selfish and spoiled, every last one of them. It was no wonder he never wanted to keep them around for long.

But Gwen … having a stranger’s baby and asking for nothing in return? To subject her body to the ravages of childbearing without the benefit of having her own child when she was done? That wasn’t exactly like loaning your neighbor a cup of sugar or donating an old coat to the homeless shelter. She was taking charity to a whole new level.

Alex slipped into his bedroom and shut the door behind him to block out the rest of the world. It wasn’t until his weight sank down into the soft mattress that the rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins finally seemed to subside.

Gwen was a remarkable woman. Smart, funny, caring, but saint or no, Alex had to admit he was still relieved to find that wasn’t his child. There were worse women in Manhattan to be bound to through the bonds of shared custody, but that had been close. Too close.

Since he’d started his heated pursuit of women, Alex had been nearly religious about using protection. It was the only way to shield himself. Not only from disease but from the women out there who would like nothing better than to have his child and a permanent connection to his bank accounts. The Stanton Steel company had made a fortune during the race to build railroads across the United States. The generations since then had done well investing it. And Alex was the sole heir to it all.

By necessity, his record with women was flawless. To the dismay of women everywhere, no one had conceived Alex Stanton’s child. And for that, he was eternally grateful. He wasn’t interested in the emotional, physical and financial entanglements. If his parents had taught him nothing else, they had shown him that marriage for the sake of a child made everyone miserable in the end. He had no intention of becoming a workaholic who bought his son’s affections, like his father, or an emotionally abusive recluse like his mother, who blamed her son for her own wretched existence.

If he died single and childless, Alex would consider that a victory. He’d rather donate his fortune to charity just to hear the collective sound of the hearts of every ambitious socialite in Manhattan breaking.

And yet … for half a heartbeat when he’d thought Gwen was having his baby … there’d been this feeling he hadn’t anticipated. Sure, he was angry with her for keeping it from him and sort of freaked out in general, but he’d also had a touch of excitement. He’d told himself after their weeks together that his thoughts of Gwen would fade. Continuing in any kind of real relationship with her would just lead to expectations he couldn’t fulfill.

But in that moment, fate had very nearly made the decision for him. If that child was his, then perhaps Gwen could be, too. Not just a holiday fling, but something beyond that. Maybe they wouldn’t have the kind of family pictured on Christmas cards, but there could be more than what they’d had. And he’d wanted it. The thought had flashed through his mind almost as quickly as his heart had raced in his chest.

And then it was gone.

Alex would never tell another living soul about his moment of weakness. Nor would he admit that, when she’d said the baby wasn’t his, he’d felt a pang of regret and jealousy mingled in with the rush of relief.

What the hell was wrong with him?

Certainly he didn’t require a baby as an excuse to have Gwen in his arms again. That was a life-changing complication he simply didn’t need. But knowing that she was still single, albeit a bit preoccupied, meant his plans for this week hadn’t completely fallen apart yet. If she was interested, they could still have a little fun and, hopefully, this time he’d be able to move on when it was over.

Alex heard a familiar melody of a woman’s laughter from the patio. He strode to the window and pulled aside the curtain. Gwen had joined the others outside. She was standing near the sparkling turquoise pool, talking to Adrienne and another woman he didn’t know. He couldn’t hear their conversation, but Adrienne spoke and Gwen laughed again.

He had missed that sound. When Gwen was really tickled, she laughed wholeheartedly. No polite, uptight chuckles from her. He loved how she could let herself go. Whether it was laughter or pleasure, she allowed herself to just feel it and react without worrying what other people thought. As he watched, her head tipped back and she giggled in unrestrained amusement. Her eyes closed, her white smile flashing up at him. Her movement allowed the golden sunlight to highlight the creamy expanse of her chest and shoulders exposed by her dress.

Alex had been too preoccupied earlier to notice how Gwen had changed since he had seen her in November. Last year, long hours at the hospital and attempts to diet before the wedding had trimmed her petite frame to the point of being almost too thin, in his opinion. Women always worried too much about those last few vanity pounds. In his experience, a woman with curves and a healthy appetite was more fun both in bed and out.

Now, as he watched her from the window, he could see Gwen was obviously pregnant, but everything about her seemed to be softer and more welcoming. Her skin radiated a rosy, maternal glow. Her breasts were fuller and her hips a touch rounder. Pregnancy really suited her.

And him.

The fire in his gut that had been building since he had gotten into the car this morning returned. The shock of their previous discussion had dulled it, but now it was back with renewed fervor. The woman he’d fantasized about for months was here, looking more beautiful than he remembered. Standing in the sunlight with her long, flowing dress, she looked more like some ancient Greek fertility goddess than a nurse.

The tightness in his groin forced him to shift his stance uncomfortably. Alex was surprised by his visceral reaction to her. There was something primal piqued by her new, soft curves. Typically the sight of a pregnant woman threw up red flags declaring her off-limits. It was something he’d never considered, given he never planned to settle down and start a family.

But Gwen wasn’t off-limits. Her situation was unique and certainly complicated, but he didn’t see any barriers between them. If she could be coaxed into continuing their affair, they could spend another fantastic week in bed together. Alex wanted that week to start as soon as possible.

“Sworn off men, have you, Gwen? We’ll just see about that.”

Letting the curtain drop, he headed downstairs to join the party and begin his heated pursuit of Gwen Wright.

“About damn time!” Will shouted toward the house.

Gwen turned that direction in time to see Alex strut onto the blue flagstone patio that arched out from the house. The tall, white pergola that lined the back of the house was covered in clematis vines this time of year, and it shaded almost everything below. Patches of dark and light danced across his face as he approached the outdoor kitchen, where everyone had congregated.

“The party can officially start,” he announced, giving Gwen a brilliant smile before he bent down to pull a cold bottle of locally microbrewed beer out of the small refrigerator inset to the right of the grill.

The small gesture brought a wave of warmth to her cheeks that had nothing to do with the sun. Perhaps she’d worried for nothing. When Adrienne had first invited her up here for the Independence Day holiday, she’d had doubts. Her friend had promised her a relaxing vacation by the ocean with nothing but fun and friends. It sounded like a dream.

The time away from work would be a godsend, as would going a couple days without having to climb the four flights of stairs to her apartment. Her daily routine got rougher as each week ticked by. She couldn’t imagine what it would be like in the last few months. She needed this break more than she’d realized.

But she’d known seeing Alex again would be awkward. Her being pregnant made it doubly so. It wasn’t because they had parted on bad terms. They had both known it was nothing more than a little short-term fun. He’d had a business trip to go on, and it had seemed like the right time to end whatever they had going. But once he was gone, she’d been left with this restless, icky feeling she’d never felt before.

Eventually the complications of her life had put those concerns out of her head, but it had just confirmed some of the thoughts she’d been having about her choices in men. As in—she always made bad ones. Alex was no different. And it just wasn’t working for her anymore. The decision to take the next year off from dating was obviously a wise choice.

But Alex didn’t know how she felt about things. Their relationship had ended on a positive note as far as he was concerned. And given the firm arousal that had pressed into her back less than an hour ago, he’d arrived alone and interested in having another go at it.

At least he had. Until twenty-two weeks of belly had come between them. Now he probably thought she was as sexy as a beluga whale—or worse in Alex’s mind—a pregnant woman.

It was probably for the best. There was a reason why she’d planned her man-break to coincide with the pregnancy. It was built-in willpower. And lately, she’d needed it. The months of celibacy and the second-trimester hormones had done a number on her libido. If Alex was still interested, she’d be tempted to use him for a couple nights of hot sex, the way he used every other woman in his life. Turnabout was fair play, right?

But, fortunately, she didn’t have to worry. Alex would stay at arm’s length from her all week, and she wouldn’t need the strength necessary to turn him down. And she would have to turn him down. She’d done so well. She didn’t want to fall off the wagon, even for a guy like Alex.

“Alex, have you met everybody?” Adrienne set down her glass of tea on the table and began fulfilling her role as hostess by introducing her guests.

Gwen had heard it all before, but she listened a second time in the hope she would actually retain the information. First was Emma, Adrienne’s half sister of sorts. She was actually the child of George and Pauline Dempsey, who had lost their older daughter in the same wreck that had nearly killed Adrienne. They’d unofficially adopted Adrienne and let her take Emma shopping or on trips from time to time. Emma had just graduated from high school, and when she got home, she had to pack up and get ready for her freshman year at Yale.

Next was Sabine, a somewhat funky twentysomething who managed Adrienne’s boutique. She had a nose piercing and a bright purple stripe in her black hair, so Gwen wasn’t quite sure what to make of her. Adrienne ran in diverse circles.

Peter and Helena were a middle-aged couple who lived in the brownstone next to Will and Adrienne’s new place on the Upper West Side. Rounding off the crowd was Wade, one of Will and Alex’s friends from Yale and Alex’s former business partner, and Jack, an editor for one of the big New York publishing houses. Apparently he had worked with Will at the paper a few years back.

It was a blur of names and faces that Gwen would forget the minute the next name was called. She’d blame her short-term memory loss on the pregnancy—it was easy to label almost anything as a symptom of her condition—but the truth of the matter was that she was simply bad with names. At work, it was easy. All the staff had name tags, and all the patients had their names on a plaque outside their door or a clipboard hanging at the foot of their bed.

When the introductions were finished, she decided her time standing in the sun was over. It had felt good at first, but now she was a minute or two from starting to burn. Taking her glass of iced tea, Gwen returned to the shade of the pergola and sat down on one of the cushioned Adirondack chairs.

Leaning back into the cool comfort of her chair, she instantly felt better. Thank goodness she wasn’t full-term in the heat of the summer. Gwen wasn’t sure she could bear that. Her apartment didn’t have central air, just a small unit in the bedroom window. Most of the time she was cold natured and it suited her fine, but she’d had fire running through her veins the last few months.

Taking a refreshing sip of the sweet tea she’d brewed earlier, she watched the men gather around the grill. Apparently millionaires could run companies and build empires, but outdoor cooking was a challenge. She watched Alex open the cabinet beneath it and make some adjustments to the propane line. A few minutes later, a roar of success sounded from the group.

“We have fire!” the editor guy—Jack?—shouted triumphantly.

Adrienne patted them all on the back and headed toward the house. “I’m off to prepare the meat,” she said with a smile as she slipped inside.

Sabine with the purple hair quickly grew bored with the sight of an operating gas grill and came to sit in the shade with Gwen. They hadn’t spoken much since she’d arrived. She was sure the woman was perfectly nice—Adrienne was a good judge of people—but Gwen just didn’t know what they had in common to discuss.

“When are you due?” Sabine asked before taking a sip from her beer.

“Mid-October,” Gwen said, although watching the other woman made her think the day couldn’t come soon enough. Of all the lifestyle changes she’d had to make, the hardest had been giving up her favorite beer. She didn’t drink much, but there was just something soothing about popping the top on a cold one after a long shift, plopping onto the couch and watching a few hours of reality television on her DVR.

“My son will be two in October, so I understand where you’re at. Do you know what you’re having yet?”

Gwen tried not to look too surprised to learn Sabine was a mother. Imagining her own mother with purple hair was just impossible. “A little girl. I had the ultrasound last week.”

Susan and Robert had been over the moon in the doctor’s office. It was hard to see the fuzzy image on the screen from her vantage point, but she tried not to be too disappointed. This was their baby after all, not hers. They did give her a copy of the latest ultrasound picture to show off. Unfortunately, it was in her purse on her bed when she needed it.

“Do you have any names picked out yet?”

The more pregnant Gwen became, the more of these questions she had to field. It had been easy when no one could tell she was pregnant. Now, unless it was just a quick comment from a stranger on the subway, it was best to tell them about her situation before they pressed on.

“No, actually, I’m a surrogate, so the baby technically isn’t mine to name. I think her parents are considering Caroline Joy and Abigail Rose. Every time I talk to them they’ve changed it again. For now I just call her Peanut, because that’s what she looked like on the first sonogram.”

Sabine’s eyes had grown wider as Gwen talked. Apparently dropping a detail like that and carrying on without pause had thrown her off her guard. “A surrogate? Wow. I don’t think I could ever do that,” she finally said.

“Why is that?”

“Being pregnant is such a life-changing experience. Whether or not the child is yours, you’re going to bond with it. To go through months with that baby inside you and then to give it away … I just couldn’t do it.”

Gwen tried not to frown at Sabine. She probably didn’t realize how her words would affect her. But they struck a chord. Gwen had never been interested in having a family of her own. She’d spent too much of her childhood being pushed aside by her mother when a new man came into her life. She wasn’t about to do that to a child of her own. Acting as a surrogate seemed like an intriguing opportunity. Since she’d never thought she’d have kids, she’d never thought she would experience pregnancy.

Never once did she consider that she’d form an emotional attachment to another person’s child. But Sabine was right. She’d underestimated what it was like to have life growing inside her. The moment she’d felt the first flutter in her stomach, Peanut had become a real person to her. She’d gotten in the habit of talking to the baby when she was alone in her apartment. She was the one who helped Gwen pick out what she would have for lunch. The silent child had become her main companion when her crowd of bar-hopping friends didn’t know how to act around her anymore.

Gwen hadn’t really realized it until that moment, but she had bonded with the baby. With four more months to go, how much worse would it get? She didn’t even want to think about it. She was too prone to getting emotional lately.

Confused, she turned away from Sabine and found Alex watching her from across the patio. He was leaning casually against one of the white wooden posts, while either Jack or Wade, she couldn’t be sure, talked to him. But he wasn’t looking at them or even pretending to. He was looking at her. There was an intensity in his hazel eyes, but there was something different there than the desire he’d directed at her in the past. It almost felt like admiration, although she had no idea why Alex would look at her that way. She was pregnant, broke and overworked. That was no condition to admire.

“He is one sexy piece of man,” Sabine commented, still oblivious to the effect her words had on Gwen.

The comment startled Gwen into turning back to the woman beside her. Sabine’s gaze was focused exactly in Alex’s direction. Gwen had no claim to him, but the thought of him and Sabine together brought on a surge of jealousy that chased away the last of her confusing emotions. She opted to play dumb. “Who? Wade?”

“No, the guy who came late. Alex.”

“Ahh,” Gwen said, not trusting herself to comment further without sounding either bitter or jealous to the other woman’s ears.

“Pity for me, but I think he’s into you.”

That perked Gwen’s attention. Her head snapped toward him, but he had returned to his conversation. “Why would you say that?”

“Because he keeps watching you.”

“Maybe I’m just funny-looking.” She sighed.

“Nope,” Sabine said with certainty. “When you’re not watching, he’s looking at you like you’re the sweetest strawberry tart in the bakery window. He definitely wants a taste.”

Gwen subconsciously stroked her rounded stomach and shook her head. “I appreciate you thinking so, but somehow I doubt he wants to take a bite out of this.”

At that, Sabine cracked a crooked, knowing grin. “Oh, he does,” she assured.

“Well, even if that were true, my life is a little complicated right now. I’m not interested.”

Sabine laughed and shook her head. “I hardly think that matters. I’ve had my share of experience with those rich, cocky types. They get what they want, and they don’t care who they have to roll over in the process. If I were you, I’d let him have his way with you. And let me tell you something if you don’t already know. Between all the hormones and the increased blood flow, sex in the second trimester can be absolutely mind-blowing. I bet that in the experienced hands of a man like Alex, you can multiply that by ten at least.”

Gwen’s jaw dropped open, but she didn’t have the words to respond. Instead, she shifted her gaze back to Alex. This time he was watching her, and his obvious, heated appraisal was enough to send a surprising surge of desire down her spine.

Well, hell. She hadn’t counted on him still being attracted to her. That certainly complicated things.

Willpower, she reminded herself as she sucked in a deep breath and began fidgeting with her bracelet. She was on a man-break, and Alex was just the kind of man who had necessitated the break to begin with. Her attraction to him was nothing more than hormones and months of celibacy conspiring against her. But she could fight it. She had to. It didn’t matter what Alex wanted. He couldn’t just snap his fingers and get his way.

And yet, as she looked at him across the patio, Gwen was fairly certain her celibacy streak was on the verge of coming to a wild, passionate end.

Three

By the time Gwen had taken the last bite of her dinner, she thought she might literally burst. She’d recently regained her appetite, and everything tasted so good, she couldn’t help herself. She’d had a grilled chicken breast and a cheeseburger in addition to the array of sides Adrienne had prepared. She was stuffed.

At least for an hour or so.

Given that Alex was watching her with his predatory gaze the whole time, she probably should’ve curbed her ravenous appetite and picked delicately at her food, but Peanut would have her way. After a rough first trimester living on saltines and lemon-lime soda, the hunger and the ability to keep it down were welcome. Even if the extra pounds were not. The doctor said she was right on track with her weight gain, but after a lifetime of trying to get smaller, not bigger, it was hard to change how she thought about things.

After they were done eating, several of the ladies started rounding up dishes, and the guys went inside for what promised to be a rowdy and high-stakes game of poker. Gwen scooped up her plate and a nearby bowl of potato salad and followed the other women into the kitchen.

“What are you doing?” Helena chided, snatching the items away from her the moment she crossed the threshold into the house. “You need to rest.”

Gwen frowned. “I’m pregnant, not paralyzed. If washing dishes is hazardous to my condition, someone needs to tell me, because I’ve been doing it the whole time.”

“Of course not. But take the opportunity to relax for once,” Adrienne said, brushing past her with a platter and another bowl. “We can handle it.”

The cherry-and-granite kitchen was quite large, but even Gwen realized that the four women already in there were bumping elbows and dancing around to clean up. A fifth one with a protruding belly probably wouldn’t be much help.

With a sigh, she snatched one of her favorite peppermint candies from the bag she left on the counter, turned, and went back outside. The sun had set, but the sky was still bright with orange-and-red hues streaking across it. Beyond the pool and the expansive lawn that extended on both sides of the house, she spied the boathouse and pier that led out into the harbor.

A walk would probably help things settle, she decided. She slipped out of her sandals and kicked them to the side, then headed across the perfectly manicured lawn. The blades of grass were soft and cool, welcoming the bottoms of her feet to sink into them. It was a beautiful evening, one like she hadn’t experienced in a long time. Along the tree line, she could see the blinking dance of fireflies as they appeared for the night. The breeze coming off the water was warm and salty, mingling with the scent of freshly mown grass.

It reminded her of her home in Tennessee. There, of course, the water was the creek that ran behind her grandparents’ house, but the grass and the flashing lightning bugs were just the same. She had the urge to climb into the tire swing her Paw-Paw had hung for her and sway for hours, as she used to.

For a brief moment, Gwen was overcome with homesickness. She loved Manhattan—the energy, the excitement, the culture. But it had never felt like home to her. It made her wonder if she ever would’ve left Tennessee if it hadn’t been the only way to get away from her mother. Following a guy she barely had lukewarm feelings for wasn’t very smart, but it was a sure ticket out of her mother’s clutches.

In the end, she and Ty went their separate ways, but she had gotten what she wanted from him—about six hundred miles of breathing room and her very own apartment, albeit tiny.

Gwen reached the pier and opted to walk out to the edge and watch the water. The occasional boat would sail by and send a ripple across the surface, but for the most part, the water was calm and still this time of day. At the end of the rough, wooden planks, she sucked in a lungful of ocean air and sighed.

She enjoyed getting away from the chaos more than she’d expected. There was a serenity out here that seemed to sink into her bones and force her muscles to unknot. Even Peanut had settled down and stopped squirming around. It was a shame she wasn’t in the right tax bracket to live out here. She’d have to take a job as a live-in nurse for some old, rich Hamptons resident to do that. Unfortunately, caring for an entitled hypochondriac didn’t really work for her.

Perhaps, after the baby was born, she should give some more thought about going back to Tennessee. That would probably make it easier on everyone with no awkward, obligatory visits. Robert and Susan could just take their baby and continue life as it was before their accident, and Gwen could return to the life she knew and start fresh.

The black, still waters around her beckoned. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been in a body of water that wasn’t chlorinated, and she wanted to put her feet in it. Easing back, she sat on the boards and pulled her dress up to her knees. The water was cool and refreshing as she slipped her bare feet in to just above the ankles.

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