The nurse nodded. “Okay. The doctor will be in shortly,” she replied and stepped out of the room.

Bethy jerked on my arm causing me to look at her. “He didn’t use a condom? Is he crazy? Dammit! He should’ve thought to ask you if you were pregnant. What a douche bag. Here I was feeling sorry for him because he doesn’t know he’s gonna be a papa and he didn’t use a damn condom. He should have been contacting you in four weeks to make sure you weren’t pregnant. What an idiot.”

Bethy was pacing in front of me now. I just watched her. What did I say to this? I was just as wrong in the situation. I’d been the one to strip naked, climb on top of him and fuck his brains out that night. He’d been a guy and the last thing on his mind had been stopping to put on a condom. I hadn’t given him much time to think. But sharing the details of mine and Rush’s sex life with Bethy wasn’t going to happen. So I kept my mouth shut.

“He deserves this. He should have checked on you. Don’t tell the jackass. He thinks he can use that thing and not put a jacket on it then he can live in ignorance for all I care. I’ll be here for you. Me and you. We got this.” Bethy looked ready to take on the world at the moment. It made me smile. I wouldn’t be in Rosemary when the baby was born. I wish I could be. I wanted my baby to have someone else to love it. Bethy would make an excellent aunt. The thought made me sad. My smile disappeared.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you,” Bethy said dropping her hands from her waist with a concerned look on her face.

“No. You didn’t. I just wish… I just wish I didn’t have to leave. I want my baby to know you.”

Bethy walked over and wrapped her arms around my shoulders and squeezed. “You will tell me where you live and I’ll come see the two of you all the time. Or you could stay and live with me. When the baby is born Rush is bound to be gone. He doesn’t stay in Rosemary past the summer. We’d have time to get you two settled into life before he came back. Just think about it. Don’t worry over any final decisions right now.”

Would Rush leave? Would he give up on me and leave Rosemary? Or would he stay? My heart hurt thinking of him walking away from me. As much as I knew it wouldn’t work I wanted him to fight for me. I wanted him to find a way that we could be together even if I knew it was impossible.

Two hours later we were back at Bethy’s apartment and I had prenatal vitamins and several pamphlets about having a healthy pregnancy. I tucked them away in my suitcase. I needed a warm bath and a nap.

Bethy knocked once on the bathroom door and walked inside. She was holding her phone in one hand and smiling like an idiot. “You’re not going to believe this,” she paused and shook her head like she was still in disbelief. “Woods just called. He said the condo is ours for the same cost I am paying now on this apartment. He said it’s a job perk since having two of his employees on the club grounds will be helpful. He also said we would both be without a job if we tried to decline his offer.”

I sank down onto the closed toilet seat and stared up at her. He was doing this because I was pregnant. This was his way of helping out. I wanted to scream at him and hug his neck all at one time. Tears stung my eyes. “Is he still on the phone?” I asked when I realized Bethy was still holding it close to her ear.

“No this is Jace. He said this has to do with you. You aren’t… like seeing him or anything are you?” she asked slowly. That must have been Jace’s question. She was repeating it like she didn’t believe it even as she said it.

“Can you mute the phone?” I asked her quietly.

Her eyes went wide and she nodded. Once it was safely muted she stared at me like she didn’t recognize me. What did she think? I was leading Woods on while I was pregnant with Rush’s baby? Surely not. “Bethy, he knows. Woods knows.”

Realization dawned on her and her mouth dropped open. “How?” she asked.

“He put me on the morning shift in the dining room. The kitchen… it smelled like bacon.”

Bethy made a big “o” with her mouth and nodded. She got it. She reached up and unmuted her phone. “There is nothing going on with Woods and Blaire. He has just become a friend of hers and wants to help out. That’s all.”

Bethy rolled her eyes at something Jace said then called him crazy and hung up. “Okay, so he knows you’re pregnant with Rush’s baby and he’s giving us a condo for dirt cheap? This is like the best thing ever. Wait until you see this place. If he lets us stay after the baby is born your room is plenty big enough for a crib! It’s perfect.”

I couldn’t think that far ahead. Right now I just needed to go find Woods and talk to him. If I did leave in four months I didn’t want this deal to go away for Bethy. I needed to make sure of that before I let her get too excited.

Rush

Jace had called to let me know the girls were moving into the condo on the club property today. I hadn’t seen her since the incident on the golf course. Not for lack of trying. I’d tried to put myself in her path at the club several times and it never worked. I’d even stopped by yesterday and she’d been gone. Darla had said she and Bethy were both off work so I assumed they’d gone to do something together.

I pulled up to Bethy’s apartment and instantly noticed Woods’ car. What the hell was he doing here? I jerked my door open and headed for the door when I heard Blaire’s voice. Turning I walked toward Woods’ car until I saw Woods leaning against the wall it was parked beside and listening to Blaire with a smile on his face. One I was about to wipe off.

“If you’re sure, then thank you,” Blaire said quietly as if she didn’t want anyone to hear her.

“Positive,” Woods replied as his eyes lifted to meet mine. The smile on his face disappeared.

Blaire turned her head to glance over her shoulder. The surprise on her face as her eyes met mine hurt. Maybe I shouldn’t be here right now. I didn’t want to lose it and scare her off but I was real close to going into a blind rage. Why were they talking alone? What was he positive about?

“Rush?” Blaire said, walking away from Woods and toward me. “What are you doing here?”

Woods chuckled and shook his head then opened his car door. “I’m sure he came to help. I’ll leave before he takes that ugly scowl out on me.”

He was leaving. Good.

“Are you here to help us move?” she asked, watching me carefully.

“Yeah, I am,” I replied. The tension left me as Woods’ BMW roared to life and he drove off.

“How did you know we were moving?”

“Jace called me,” I replied.

She shifted her feet nervously. I hated that I made her nervous.

“I wanted to help, Blaire. I’m sorry about Nan the other day. I’ve talked to her. She won’t be–”

“Don’t worry about it. You don’t have to apologize for her. I don’t hold it against you. I understand.”

No, she didn’t. I could see it in her eyes that she didn’t understand. I reached out and took her hand. I just needed to touch her somehow. She trembled as my fingers brushed her palm. Her teeth bit down on her bottom lip the same way I wanted to.

“Blaire,” I said and stopped because I wasn’t sure what else to say. The truth was too much right now.

She lifted her eyes from our hands and I could see the desire there. Really? Was I dreaming this one up or was she… was she really? I slipped a finger up her palm and caressed the inside of her wrist. She trembled again. Holy shit. She was affected by my touch. I stepped closer to her and ran my hand slowly up her arm.I was waiting on her to push me off and put the distance between us I expected from her.

When I got high enough my thumb grazed the side of her breast and she grabbed my free arm as she shuddered. What the fuck? “Blaire,” I whispered, pressing her back until she was against the brick wall of the apartment building and my chest was inches away from touching hers.