Total pages in book: 189
Estimated words: 181808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 909(@200wpm)___ 727(@250wpm)___ 606(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 181808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 909(@200wpm)___ 727(@250wpm)___ 606(@300wpm)
Larissa shook her head seriously. “No, more like work on it until it comes true.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Moon asked Evie to seat him in a corner booth in a back room. He ordered iced tea, then waited for Larissa when Evie returned to the front of the restaurant after seating him.
As he stared unseeingly at the bread basket the waitress had brought, he castigated himself for the way he had acted. Why did she get to him so badly? All he had to do was look at her, and every nerve ending in his body went on high alert. He had never experienced this reaction before with the numerous women he had been with. The more he kept an emotional distance from her, the more out of whack he felt because of the baby. How could he dislike the mother so much while the burgeoning emotions he was beginning to feel for his child were both in the same package currently? Sure, the upheaval would end once his son was born, yet he determined not to let what he was feeling for the baby entwine with Larissa and keep them separate.
She didn’t keep him waiting for long before she was sliding into the booth across from him.
When the waitress approached, she ordered herself a tea. Once the waitress left, they sat in silence, just looking at each other.
“Moon …”
Larissa managed to put her trepidation aside and talk as if they were at least on speaking terms. “I know you dislike me. I apologize for not telling you I was pregnant when I found out. I kept putting it off because I kept imagining if I were you, how I would react if a complete stranger came up to me and told me they were pregnant. I hesitated too long. Then, when I truly was going to tell you, you came to the office and said you didn’t want to see me again. I just … I didn’t know what to do at that point. I left to stay with my mom and give you time to get over your anger toward me. I had every intention of coming back, but my friend asked me to stay with her. She ne—”
Moon’s face remained passive while he took a slice of bread from the basket and started eating.
As she talked, he listened with half an ear while his eye roved over the other customers sitting in the room.
She was still talking when he finished the bread then rubbed his hands together to get rid of the crumbs.
“You know, what I’m hearing is nothing but excuses. Save yourself the trouble. The waitress is coming back; do you want something to eat?”
Larissa smothered down her hurt feelings, hoping that once he had the chance to air his grievances, they could move forward.
“No, thank you. I’m not hungry.”
The thought of eating any food in front of him sent her stomach rolling. His appetite didn’t seem to be affected as he ordered a ribeye dinner and asked the waitress to bring more bread.
“I’ve been looking at several houses for sale. I’ve narrowed it down to four. I’ve set appointments for Friday at twelve with a realtor to show them to you.”
“For now, I’m going to stay in Jamestown.”
“For now”—Moon narrowed his eyes on her—“that works until you decide which home you want.”
“When I’m ready to move back, I’ll find my own place.”
“Exactly when will that be?”
“The question is: why is it so important that I do?” She gave him a questioning glance. “You plainly told me you never wanted to see me in town before I was pregnant. You don’t make any effort to hide how much you dislike me … The way gossip is carried around town, everyone knows how I became pregnant. The baby won’t be coming for several more months, and I really don’t want to go through those months with all of them watching every move I make. No, thanks.”
“I don’t give a rat’s fuck what anyone in this town thinks. I want you near, in town, so if anything happens, I’ll be there.”
“Nothing is going to happen,” she assured him. “Even if something does, I have friends in Jamestown who I can turn to in a moment’s notice until my sisters, or you, can get there.”
Clenching his jaw, Moon nodded his head toward the side without taking his eyes off her. “Plane one of those friends?”
Larissa’s face became pinched. “His name is Jet.”
Moon gave a huff of air through his teeth. “I was being generous calling him Plane. Did Luggage give him his nickname?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t ask. Who nicknamed you—Cow?”
Moon didn’t appreciate the sarcasm coming back at him. “That’s another thing; I don’t want to see his face at your appointments.”
“You don’t have the right to—”
Moon leaned forward in his seat then stopped cold at her reaction. From the flash of fear, it looked as if she thought he was going to hit her. Before he could assure her all he was going to do was keep the glass of tea near her shaky hand from spilling, Jet was there. pulling her out of the booth.