“Why did you run off without waking me that morning?” he continued.
“I don’t have a good answer.”
She wasn’t about to tell him that she’d dreaded facing an awkward morning-after good-bye.
He reached out and dragged a chair over, settling into it without releasing her from the fierce grip of his gaze. “How about you give me a mediocre answer then.”
She raised her right hand and fluttered it as if waving away his question. “What happened between us...” Her cheeks burned. “I was embarrassed.”
“Because we slept together?”
“I don’t make a habit of going home with men I’ve just met.
“We weren’t exactly strangers.” A speculative light sparked in his blue eyes. “You said we’d worked together once.”
“You didn’t remember me.”
“I don’t remember much about those days,” he admitted. “So that explains why you left the next morning. Why did you stay the night?”
She bit down on her tongue to stop herself from admitting that she’d once had a huge crush on him. Nor did she want to explain that she hadn’t wanted to go home and deal with her mother.
“I thought you were into me, and I was definitely into you.”
“I was.” He shifted backward in his chair, unmoved by her conciliatory half smile. “It wasn’t a line when I said I found you fascinating.”
Sammi considered him for a long moment before venturing, “But now I’m pregnant.”
“You are.” His neutral expression made her shiver.
“And that is a complication you’d probably rather avoid.”
“Don’t assume anything about me.”
“I’m sorry.” The apology leaped to her lips automatically. She stared out the window, avoiding his stern gaze. “Between the pregnancy hormones and everything that’s been happening, I’m feeling overwhelmed.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
Her lips quivered as she tried for a brave smile. “I think the last time we were together I might’ve mentioned I was looking at a career change. Well, that’s going to happen a lot faster now that I’m pregnant.”
“What are planning to do?”
“I know I have to move out of my apartment.” She dabbed at fresh tears as she recalled her mother’s dismay. “I can’t really afford it if I’m not working.”
“Do you have somewhere to go?”
“Not at the moment. I need to give notice, so I have thirty days to figure it out.”
“Do you have someone who can help you? What about your parents?”
“There’s only my mom. She’s my manager and doesn’t want me to stop modeling. We had a huge fight about it before I came looking for you.”
“What about your dad?”
“I have no idea who he is.” She blamed her concussion for that revelation. “My mom was pregnant with me when she emigrated from the Philippines and never talks about him.” Weariness rolled over her. “Dammit.” Fresh tears formed and rolled down her cheeks. “I’m not usually like this.”
“You’ve been through a lot today.” He offered her a box of tissues. “What can I do to help?”
As much as she wanted Oliver to be someone she could count on, Sammi knew that wasn’t realistic. Once upon a time his drug habit had landed him in rehab, or so went the gossip after he’d quit modeling. And although rumors indicated that he’d been sober ever since, it was a well-known fact that, between his exacting demands and short fuse, he was a difficult photographer to work with. She doubted the man was any easier to know.
“Nothing,” she said, recognizing that she had to do this on her own. “I appreciate your offer, but I’ll be okay.”
“I don’t doubt that.” He paused while she blew her nose, interrupting him. “But at the moment you’re in the hospital under observation.”
“It’s nothing serious,” she said, her thoughts focusing on the tiny life beating inside her. “The doctor just wants to observe me for a few hours. I’ll be out of here in no time. You really don’t have to stick around.”
“Stop trying to get rid of me.”
Her resolve weakened as he lowered his hand over hers and squeezed. At the gentle contact, her body lit up like a Broadway marquee. Longing surged through her, forcing Sammi to fight the impulse to grab his shirt and draw him close. Her pounding headache and sore muscles faded from her awareness. She could only stare at his soft lips and remember how she’d been swept away by his demanding kisses. A new ache began inside her that had nothing to do with the spill she’d taken. She wanted this man so badly it stole her breath.
“You don’t need to worry about me,” she insisted weakly, shifting her hand away before she said or did something to betray herself.
“I’m afraid it’s a little too late for that.”
Four
The sky brightened outside the hospital room window from indigo to lavender as Oliver sat beside Sammi and watched over her dozing form. Although the only obvious damage caused by her fall was her wrapped wrist, her skin’s ashen tone worried him. In the six weeks since he’d last seen her, Sammi had gone from vibrant to fragile. He’d photographed numerous pregnant celebrities and they’d all glowed with good health and joy. In contrast, Sammi looked as if she’d been stretched to the point of breaking by exhaustion and stress. Her pale listlessness alarmed him. Regardless of whether she was carrying his child, he found his concern for her on the rise. From the first moment he’d set eyes on her, she engaged his interest. Nothing had happened since to change that.
But with his father’s reappearance and the turmoil his trial and likely conviction would cause over the next several months, was this really a good time for Oliver to allow himself to be distracted by someone whose life was equally messed up? He didn’t even know if the baby was his. The situation could get ugly if he inserted himself into her life and then the ex-boyfriend reentered the picture.
On the other hand, if he was the father, with his family history Oliver was certain
