“Please?” His eyes turned pleading and she couldn’t deny him.
“Okay,” she conceded, unable to refrain from adding a disclaimer. “It’s huge though.”
“Well, there is a baby in there, you realize,” he teased.
She feigned horror. “No.”
Laughing, he slid the shirt up over her belly, allowing it to pool just beneath her breasts. “Can I touch you?”
It occurred to her that he shouldn’t have to ask. They never should have retreated so far away from one another, and certainly not so easily. “Of course.”
Logan’s touch was tentative at first as he lightly skimmed his hand over the top of her belly. “It’s hard to believe that there’s a baby in here, all curled up, waiting to come into the world, isn’t it?”
“It’s easier to believe when you’ve got a foot or an elbow digging into your ribs,” she pointed out wryly.
A smile touched his mouth. “You’ve got me there.” He rubbed her belly for another few seconds before pulling away with what appeared to be reluctance. “We better eat. I’m sure Baby Thumper is hungry as hell.”
He was right. Claire was starving. But even so, she didn’t mind the delay as she dug into her tepid soup with renewed gusto. Spending quality time with Logan had been worth more than warm soup.
“You love her.”
Logan turned from the stove to face Derek. He was in the process of cooking Claire the chicken taco she had so sweetly requested. “No shit.” He gave his friend a look that clearly warned of imminent ass-kicking. Or so Logan thought. “Keep your voice down. Her sister’s up there.”
Derek leaned negligently against the kitchen island, tossing some barbecue potato chips into his mouth. “And the reason why you want to keep the fact that you love the woman who’s carrying your child a secret is?”
“Damn it. Keep your voice down,” Logan ordered, annoyed. “Not that it’s any of your business, but she doesn’t love me. In fact, I’m convinced the only reason that we’ve been so civil to one another is that she’s all weepy. Hormones,” he added with disgust. “She cries at commercials. Anyway, we’ve started over and that’s the best I can hope for at this point.”
His friend raised a brow. “Did you ever think that it might not be the hormones?”
Logan gave him an oh-come-on look. “Did you see her bastard of an ex-husband here last night?”
“Yeah, he came with paperwork. So what?”
“So what?” Logan echoed with disbelief. “So I think she’s still not over him. He’s what caused our last big fight. I walked in on them.”
Derek choked on his chips. Good for him, Logan thought.
“Doing what?”
“Hugging,” Logan allowed, “but I’m not sure that there wasn’t something else going on that I just didn’t see.”
“This is the guy that cheated on her, right?” Derek shoved another handful of chips into his mouth.
When Logan nodded, Derek continued. “No way, Loge. Claire’s not the kind of woman who would go back to a man she can’t trust. Besides, she never really loved him.”
“How do you know?” Logan demanded, feeling defensive.
Derek shrugged. “She told me the other day when we were watching a movie together.”
Logan didn’t like this turn of events, not at all. “You were watching a movie together? And she tells you things?”
His friend looked rather smug. “You were at work and she needed company. It was just some shitty Tom Cruise movie. You know, the older he gets, the worse he gets as far as I’m concerned. I’m a better actor when I’m smashed.”
“Get back to the point.” Logan turned back to his frying chicken and tossed it in the pan so that it wouldn’t burn. “She tells you things?”
“I’m sure she’d tell you things too if you asked.”
Hell. Logan had never thought of that.
“Never thought of it, did you?” There was a grin in Derek’s voice.
Logan didn’t answer. No need to give his friend further reason to gloat. He flicked off the burner and pulled some onions and red peppers from the fridge.
“So you didn’t really tell me why you don’t just tell Claire you love her.”
“Jesus.” Logan pulled a huge steel knife from a drawer and began slicing the onion with more force than necessary. “Would you stop saying that?”
“That you love Claire?” Derek’s tone was all innocence.
“Yes,” Logan gritted from between clenched teeth. “Shut the hell up about it.”
“I can’t help it. I’m enjoying seeing you squirm.”
Logan finished up the onion and moved on to the pepper. “You’re evil, you know.”
“While we’re talking about evil, was it you that I saw spying on Claire and the bastard ex-husband last night?” Derek inquired mildly.
Logan grimaced. “Spying is such an ugly word. It was more like hovering.” His knife thwacked against the cutting board loudly. “Besides, she saw me.”
“I’m telling you, all you have to do is ask her.”
“Ask her what?” Logan was feeling rather frustrated by the conversation. He didn’t, as a rule, talk with people about his emotions. On rare occasions, always with Claire, he had been persuaded to open up a little. But talking made him damn uncomfortable.
“Ask her how she feels, for starters.”
“And what makes you an expert on this?” Logan asked dryly. After all, Derek was on his way out of a bad marriage that had ended in a messy divorce. If he knew so damn much about talking and asking, then why was he here and not with Trina?
Okay, that was being unfair, he inwardly acknowledged. Derek wasn’t with Trina because she was a bitch and a cheater and hadn’t had the guts to tell him so to his face.
“You do have a point,” Derek allowed, his voice sounding strained. “I know I fuck up everything I touch.”
“Hell, that’s not true.” Logan turned to look at his friend. “I was being a jackass. I’m sorry.”
Derek shrugged. “It’s only the truth. But where Claire’s concerned, I do think that talking to each other would do you both a world of good. Maybe if I had talked to Trina, we wouldn’t be where we are today. She always wanted to talk in the beginning. I just thought it was that Dr. Phil shit, not to mention her therapist and her agent always in her ear, but maybe this whole thing, the affair, everything, maybe it was my fault.”
“Don’t lay all the blame at your door,” Logan advised. “I know you loved her, but Trina Wade has always been a selfish bitch.”
“True enough. I’ve begun to realize that selfish bitches are all a washed-up, ex-drunk, ex-actor can find these days. In fact, I’m swearing off all women.” Derek grinned. “But not you. You’ve found yourself a good woman and God knows a good woman is hard to find. I suggest you hold on to her.”
Logan nodded, the action a bit jerky. “That’s what I’m trying to do. I just wish I knew how.”
“I just wish I knew how to tell him that I want to be a real part of his life,” Claire told Sophie.
Sophie gave her a worried look. “Do you think he’s ready to handle that, hon?”
“I don’t know,” Claire said, feeling miserable. “We’ve spent a month and a half together and I think we’ve been getting closer.” Her doctor had been happy with her progress, and she’d been taken off strict bed rest after two weeks but was still restricted to limited movement. She had chosen to stay with Logan anyway, content to allow him to dote on her. She patted her belly. “Besides, the baby will be here soon, so I feel like I should do something before he or she arrives. I just don’t know what to say to him. I don’t want him to feel obligated. Do you think he feels obligated, Soph?”
Her sister pondered the question. “It’s hard to say, but I have the feeling that he’s the sort of man who never really feels obligated to do anything. My impression of him is that he’s a man who only does what he wants.”
“He may seem that way, but he’s really no
t as bad as you think he is,” Claire defended him. “You have to admit he’s been wonderful to me while I’ve been staying here.”
Sophie pursed her lips. “He’s been wonderful in the past and then turned into a jerk,” she pointed out. “Don’t forget about how wonderful your Maryland trip was and then how he ruined it by being a complete jackass afterward.”
“That was partially my fault.” Feeling uncomfortable, Claire shifted a bit on the bed. “He was upset because he thought I was keeping our relationship a secret.”
“You were keeping it a secret.”
Leave it to one’s sister, she thought, to remind one of one’s shortcomings. “Only because I didn’t want to face Mom about it. I knew how she would react and I was trying to avoid it until the last possible moment.”
“Even so, he wouldn’t have had to react quite the way he did.”
“You don’t know his past like I do.” Claire paused, aware that she was championing Logan and unable to stop. She was beginning to think that Derek was right, that she did love Logan. “He was a foster kid growing up and he’s really sensitive about it. He thought I was ashamed of him.”
“I can understand that having that kind of past might make someone feel self-conscious.” Sophie sounded reluctant to make such an admission. She had decided that Logan was no good for her sister and it would be hard to convince her otherwise. “But I still think his behavior left a lot to be desired.”
“He’s not used to communicating,” Claire continued. But he had been making an effort recently. For her sake, she liked to think.
“I hope he gets used to it,” Sophie said tartly.
“He’s opening up a little at a time.” She shifted again, unable to find a comfortable position. She was beginning to feel crampy.
“Are you okay?” Sophie looked concerned. “Can I get you something?”
“I’m fine.” Well, she was almost fine, but there was no need to tell her sister that she was feeling a little under the weather. Everything was perfectly fine, she was sure of it.
“Are you sure he’s being good to you?”
“Positive. And Derek’s being great too.” At that moment, Caesar pushed his way in through the partially closed bedroom door, offering up a noisy meow as if to announce himself. “Caesar too,” she added with a smile as the cat waddled over to her bed and jumped up, purring crazily and rubbing against her arm. “He sleeps with me most nights. Derek’s jealous because I’ve stolen him.”
“Don’t you find it a little strange to have a famous actor living in the same house as you?” Sophie put in, moving on to a less confrontational subject. “What’s he like?”
“He’s the sweetest man.” Claire laughed, thinking of how he played Go Fish and watched movies with her. She lowered her voice. “At first it was strange, but he’s just like anyone else. I really think he’s lost right now. He’s a recovering alcoholic and he’s in the middle of a bad divorce. He told me all about it. His soon-to-be ex-wife, Trina Wade, sounds like a horrible person. He’s lucky to be rid of her, although I don’t think he’s realized that yet.”
“The world is full of breakups, make-ups, and heartaches,” Sophie said with a sigh. “I can’t believe I was lucky enough to find Trevor. My life has been so happy with him.” She grabbed Claire’s hand and gave it an impulsive squeeze. “I want that same kind of happiness for you.”
“I know.”
“I’m just not sure that you’ll be able to find it with Logan.”
Neither was Claire, but she had decided not to let her doubts hold her back anymore. If there was even a chance that she could be with Logan, she had to go after it, seize it, do whatever she could with it.
“I want to be able to find it with him,” Claire said softly. “I’m going to do my best to do it.”
“Then I wish you luck.” Sophie’s eyes were still clouded, but the smile curving her lips was genuine.
“I have a feeling I might need it,” Claire returned. “Thanks, Soph. I know Logan’s not your first choice for me, but I appreciate that you’ve supported my decisions from the beginning.”
“Hey.” Sophie gave her an awkward half-hug so that their bellies didn’t collide. “That’s what sisters are for.”
Claire was sitting on the edge of the bed, hands clenched in her lap, trying to maintain a sense of calm. After Sophie had left and Logan had brought her his very scrumptious chicken tacos, she’d gone to the bathroom to pee. Except that she was fairly certain that her water had broken instead. Deciding not to panic, she had cleaned up the bathroom and packed her overnight bag, including an outfit her mother had bought for the baby.
The baby.
God, it was hard to believe—almost impossible to believe, really—that soon she would be dressing her own child in the soft white outfit dotted with ducks, putting booties on the little feet, the matching cap with the yellow tassel on a little head. She was going to be a mother. Suddenly, the reality of it all washed over her with an emotion so powerful her hands trembled.
She doubled over as a contraction hit her more forcefully than any she had experienced up until now. It was about another two weeks to her due date, but Baby Thumper didn’t seem to care. He or she was on the way.
“Claire, I made you a cup of tea.”
She glanced up to find Logan striding into the room, teacup in hand. “It’s some kind of orange spice something-or-other. I hope you don’t mind. I’m out of the other stuff. What’s the matter, sweetheart? Are you okay? Is the baby okay?”
Before she could so much as blink, he was on his knees in front of her, his big hands on her knees. “Claire, sweetheart, say something.”
The contraction abated and she looked down into his starkly beautiful face. When she saw the worry carved in lines around his eyes, on his forehead, she put her hands atop his. “I’m fine and so is the baby, but I think Baby Thumper’s a little anxious.”
“What do you mean?” His fingers tightened on her knees.
“Logan, my water broke.”
“What?” He looked around in comical bewilderment. “Where? When?”
She smiled softly. “About half an hour ago, I think, in the bathroom.”
“Half an hour ago?” He shook his head. “Jesus Christ, Claire, why didn’t you say something? We have to get you to the hospital. Now.”
He shot to his feet and began pacing the room like a caged tiger. “We have to pack your overnight bag.”
“Did it.”
“And call your sister and your mother.”
“Good point. But that can wait until we get to the hospital.”
“True.” Logan raked a hand through his hair. “Can you walk, sweetheart, or do you want me to carry you?”
She couldn’t quite contain the giggle that rose in her throat. His concern was so charming, so sweet. “I don’t think you can pick me up right now. Besides, I can walk just fine. There have only been a few contractions so far.”
“Contractions? You’re having contractions?” Logan looked and sounded as if he were about to have a heart attack.
“It’s okay.” She stood and walked to him, looking up into his eyes. “Everything that’s happening is normal. Don’t worry.”
“How can I not worry?” His voice sounded hoarse, almost desperate. “I’ve never done this before. I have no idea what to expect and it scares the hell out of me.” He paused. “Should you be standing up right now?”
“Standing is fine now that I’ll be having the baby,” she assured him. “Besides, it feels so good to stretch my legs.”
“Why don’t I help you downstairs and then you can stay with Derek while I load up the car?” Logan suggested, still looking as worried as before.
She allowed him to help her downstairs, not because she needed the assistance but because it seemed to make Logan feel better to be holding on to her. He bellowed for Derek when they reached the first floor and Derek came running from the kitchen, a half-eaten taco in his hand. “What’s going on?” he deman
ded.
“Her water broke,” Logan informed his friend, seeming to think that the contractions had affected Claire’s ability to speak for herself. “Watch her while I go back up and get her overnight bag, will you?”
Before Derek could so much as nod, Logan shot back up the stairs, taking them two at a time. Grinning, Claire turned to Derek. “He’s a little worried.”
“He cares, Claire,” Derek said pointedly.
The way Logan was reacting confirmed Derek’s words. But the real question was how much did he care? And was his concern mostly for the baby, or for her too?
Logan practically launched himself down the stairs then, carrying a large canvas tote. Claire bit her lip. “Logan, that’s the wrong bag,” she told him, feeling guilty for making him run all the way back upstairs again. But she couldn’t take the bag of books she’d brought with her to keep her occupied during bed rest and not her clothing. “It’s the green one with the leather that’s supposed to look like croc.”
“Shit.” Without another word, he turned and took the stairs three at a time.
Claire stifled a giggle. “He’s trying so hard.”
“Maybe a little too hard,” Derek returned with a grin of his own. “I’ve never seen him so…”
“Eager to help?” she finished.
“I was thinking more along the lines of lost, like a cat chasing its tail, but call it what you will.” Derek’s grin faded. “Seriously though, take care of yourself and Baby Thumper.”
“I will.” Another contraction slammed into her and she unconsciously reached out and grabbed Derek’s free hand, her fingers tightening. “Contraction,” she said apologetically.
“Strong grip,” he said with a wince.
“Wimp,” she accused without heat. She made an effort to loosen her grip.
Logan rushed down the stairs, her large green bag in his hand this time. “Got it.” He held it up in triumph, slightly out of breath. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”
“Yes.” She bit her lip to keep from telling him to stop asking her if she was okay. His intentions were good, and he looked so worried and yes, lost, like Derek had said.
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