You rescued him, nursed him to health, and after many passionate nights, he disappears. You go on with your life and find out you are carrying his child. Just as you think you've moved on an inch, he reappears.
You allow yourself to be led down the hall, taking your leave from Dr. Campbell's office. Part of you wants to tell him to drop dead. Part of you want to believe everything he is saying, but what bothers you are his reasons. Is it possible he is just here for the baby, and the easiest way to be around is to be with you? Does he love you like that?
He leads you to the building garage, and you realize he is taking you to his car. "What if I don't want to get married?"
He turns and you almost back a step.
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"I beg your pardon?"
"You've been gone for three months without a word," you remind. "What makes you think that I haven't moved on?"
He reclaims your hand and starts moving. "Carrying my child? I don't think so."
"My ex-boyfriend—"
"Is an ex for a reason," August interjects. "and you and I are not over."
"We aren't?"
He turns again and your breath hitches.
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"I had unfinished business, I told you that," August says softly. "What did I tell you that night?" When you do not answer, he goes on, and caresses your cheek to boot. "I said, 'if things were different.' Well they are, kitten." He nears you, and he looks at your lips, but kisses your forehead, and you suppress your disappointment. You wanted him to kiss you and you chastise yourself for it.
When he stops at an SUV, you frown. He once told you about a sports car he owned, but this certainly isn't it.
"It's a family vehicle," August says. "one of the best." He chuckles. "Don't worry, my brat is alright."
You stop walking. "Your brat?"
"Oh, you'll meet her eventually." He opens the car door for you. "I have a place for us. You can move out of that box of an apartment immediately—"
Whoa! "No, I don't."
He gestures for you to get in. "Yes, you do, and yes you should."
You back away from the car, realizing this could be a slippery slope. "You do not control my life!"
He leaves the car door open, and closes the distance between you in two strides. "But half of that little one is me-mine," he purrs. "and so are you."
His eyes are intense, his body only mere inches from contact with your own, and you feel your heart begin to race. "You can't tell me what to do," you realize you sound childish, but you don't care. For the second time in your life, August Walker drops into your life and changes everything. No, no, no...not this time.
"But I can make a case-" He gently grabs you and spins you around, effectively trapping you between his body, the open door, and his extended arm offering a path to his awaiting passenger's seat. "please." He rubs his stubbly cheek against yours, and your eyes close, body swooning at the mere scent of him, his aftershave. What is it about him, you whimper softly. Hormones? His nose brushes yours. "Get. In. The. Car." He pauses as you hold your breath, his forehead against yours as he whispers, "Please."
"I have my own mind." The soft declaration sounds hollow to you, but you need to say it.
"I know, and I have to convince you to change it," he whispers, his eyes soft. "Come see the place I have. If you don't like it..." he lets his voice trail off. His eyes lower, and he looks almost sad.
You feel a victory as he starts the motor, but you feel yourself soften at his vulnerability. "Okay." As he drives you realize he didn't give another alternative.
You look over at him, and he gives a small smile. "You won't regret this."
Remembering his drive when he was injured and was trying to recover to settle a score, you sigh with the realization that life as you know it was over the second he closed the car door either way.
