Temptation Trails (The Haven Brothers #3)

I froze, my eyes wide, mouth slightly open. Had I heard her correctly? Had she just said—

“You’re what?”

“Pregnant. I took a test. It was very clear.”

My mind reeled. It was like waking up from a nap to find you’re not in your bed, but at the high point of a roller coaster and the car just started down the track, leaving your stomach behind.

I couldn’t seem to remember how to use words. I got up, as if moving would help, and walked a few steps, then turned around. “You’re sure?”

She nodded. The tears hadn’t fallen yet and she bit her lip like she was trying to hold them back. “I took a couple more tests just to be sure. And by a couple, I mean eight.”

I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to get my head together. Harper was pregnant. It was mine. I’d let my animal instincts have their way, taken her up against a wall, and gotten her fucking pregnant.

“Please don’t ask,” she whispered.

“Ask what?”

“If it’s yours.”

“What? No. I know it’s mine. I just wasn’t expecting this.”

“Neither was I.”

I was screwing this up. I could feel it happening as she watched me process what she’d said. She wanted me to hold her. Gather her in my arms and tell her everything was going to be okay.

But was it?

This wasn’t like me. None of it was. I didn’t take sex lightly; I never had. I didn’t sleep with a woman right away. I was careful. I wasn’t spontaneous. I was organized, responsible, accountable.

Until I wasn’t.

She stood and smoothed down her dress. “I think maybe I should leave you alone so you can get your head around this. I know it’s a lot. I’ve been freaking out for half the day.”

“Harper.”

“No, it’s okay. I don’t blame you. You didn’t want this. You didn’t want a relationship at all. I remember.”

“I didn’t mean that.”

“Yes, you did.” She walked toward the front door, but stopped and looked over her shoulder. “By the way, Owen knows. He came to the bakery after school and saw the box of tests. I told him the truth. I had to.”

It was like being hit in the gut when I was already out of breath. “Owen knows?”

“Yeah. So do Audrey and Marigold. They were with me when I took the first test. But they won’t tell anyone yet.”

I blew out a breath. “You don’t have to leave.”

“I think I should. I think you need some time.”

I did, although I didn’t want her to walk away. But I couldn’t seem to make myself do anything about it. All I had to do was walk over there and grab her. Wrap my arms around her and tell her not to go.

Instead, I stood frozen to the spot, shocked into immovability.

“Take your time.” Her voice was soft. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

And with that, she left.

CHAPTER 24