A Baby for Christmas
Turning her shoulders to face the TV, Paige shifted a little closer to Ryan. After a moment she settled against his arm and rested her head on his shoulder. “Thank you for tonight. You’ve helped me almost forget the situation I’ve gotten myself into.”
Ryan felt all the blood in his body pulse toward his right side, warming every point of contact between them. He sat very still, trying not to show either his surprise or the effect her touch had on him. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. You’ll be settled soon, and everything will fall back into place.”
“I don’t know, Ryan. I’m starting to wonder if I did the right thing leaving Matt. I’m not used to being alone.” She titled her face up to him, her gaze open and direct as it fixed onto his. Ryan’s heart lurched hard against his breastbone. The vulnerability in her hazel eyes stirred a swell of compassion in him—as the nearness of her enticing mouth stirred something more primal.
“It’s not so bad being single,” he said. “Anyway, you won’t need to be alone for long. As soon as you’re ready to dip your toe back into the dating pool, I’m willing to bet there’ll be men lined up for miles hoping for a chance.” Without forethought he brushed a loose wisp of hair from her face, letting his fingertips linger a moment on the curve of her cheek but resisting an impulse to let his thumb trace the soft, full contours of her lips.
“Would you be in that line?” Paige asked tentatively—then winced. “Sorry, there I go again saying more than I should. I’ve put you on the spot.”
“No.” Ryan shifted his body to face her. “Paige, I think you’re beautiful, and so sweet, and to be perfectly honest I’m actually dying to kiss you right now. But you know I’m moving across the country pretty soon.”
A slow, beguiling smile curved her mouth. “I know. But you’re here now.”
Catching him by surprise, she rose to brush her lips against his. Her mouth was supple and warm, and it tasted of sweet coffee.
Any restraint Ryan had imposed on himself dissolved rapidly, and he pressed his hand to her back to urge her closer. What began as a gentle, tender kiss deepened as Paige looped her arms over his shoulders, fitting the soft curves of her body against his chest. She parted her lips, inviting his tongue to glide over hers. A low moan eased from her throat, sending a warm ripple down his spine that stoked the fire flaring in his belly.
She surprised him again by abruptly pulling away, bowing her head to hide her face. “I’m sorry. I don’t feel very well.”
Ryan blew out a breath to steady his throbbing nerves. “I thought you were better.”
“I felt fine all day. I’m just suddenly nauseous.”
“I’ll try not to take that personally,” he said, attempting a joke that fell flat.
“It’s not you.” When Paige looked up, the tears glimmering in her eyes sobered him at once. “I think it might not be a virus after all. There’s a remote possibility I could be pregnant.”
Ryan felt all the blood in his body pulse toward his right side, warming every point of contact between them. He sat very still, trying not to show either his surprise or the effect her touch had on him. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. You’ll be settled soon, and everything will fall back into place.”
“I don’t know, Ryan. I’m starting to wonder if I did the right thing leaving Matt. I’m not used to being alone.” She titled her face up to him, her gaze open and direct as it fixed onto his. Ryan’s heart lurched hard against his breastbone. The vulnerability in her hazel eyes stirred a swell of compassion in him—as the nearness of her enticing mouth stirred something more primal.
“It’s not so bad being single,” he said. “Anyway, you won’t need to be alone for long. As soon as you’re ready to dip your toe back into the dating pool, I’m willing to bet there’ll be men lined up for miles hoping for a chance.” Without forethought he brushed a loose wisp of hair from her face, letting his fingertips linger a moment on the curve of her cheek but resisting an impulse to let his thumb trace the soft, full contours of her lips.
“Would you be in that line?” Paige asked tentatively—then winced. “Sorry, there I go again saying more than I should. I’ve put you on the spot.”
“No.” Ryan shifted his body to face her. “Paige, I think you’re beautiful, and so sweet, and to be perfectly honest I’m actually dying to kiss you right now. But you know I’m moving across the country pretty soon.”
A slow, beguiling smile curved her mouth. “I know. But you’re here now.”
Catching him by surprise, she rose to brush her lips against his. Her mouth was supple and warm, and it tasted of sweet coffee.
Any restraint Ryan had imposed on himself dissolved rapidly, and he pressed his hand to her back to urge her closer. What began as a gentle, tender kiss deepened as Paige looped her arms over his shoulders, fitting the soft curves of her body against his chest. She parted her lips, inviting his tongue to glide over hers. A low moan eased from her throat, sending a warm ripple down his spine that stoked the fire flaring in his belly.
She surprised him again by abruptly pulling away, bowing her head to hide her face. “I’m sorry. I don’t feel very well.”
Ryan blew out a breath to steady his throbbing nerves. “I thought you were better.”
“I felt fine all day. I’m just suddenly nauseous.”
“I’ll try not to take that personally,” he said, attempting a joke that fell flat.
“It’s not you.” When Paige looked up, the tears glimmering in her eyes sobered him at once. “I think it might not be a virus after all. There’s a remote possibility I could be pregnant.”