Susan Mallery - Sweet Talk

“Just about Wyatt.”

The man who was probably not going to be so happy about this, Claire thought, bubbling too much to have anything break her mood.

“He’ll come around or he won’t. Either way, I’ll deal.”

“Good for you,” Nicole told her. “He may surprise us both. And if he doesn’t, I’ll break his kneecaps. I happen to know that can be really painful.”

Claire leaned forward and hugged her. “I love you.”

“I love you, too. Even if I am a little bitter.”

Claire pulled back. “Why?”

“Because I always wanted a family, too. Don’t get me wrong. I’m grateful Drew and I never got around to the kid thing. But a baby would be nice.”

She sounded wistful as she spoke.

“So go get pregnant,” Claire told her. “It’s easy.”

Nicole laughed. “So I’ve heard. I appreciate the advice, but I think I’ll wait a bit. Things are a little complicated right now. But I’m happy for you.”

“Me, too!” Claire sighed. “I’m also terrified, but in a good way. I’m filled with possibilities and anticipation.”

“What are you going to do about your career?”

“I don’t know.” While thoughts of Wyatt being unhappy didn’t affect her mood, a sharp longing to play again seemed to shave off a couple of layers of happiness.

“I miss it,” Claire admitted. “More and more. Can I do both?”

“Why not? Aren’t you rich? Can’t you hire help if you need it.”

“Sure.”

“Honey, then I say go for it.”

Claire laughed again. “I will.”

CLAIRE CALLED AHEAD to make sure Wyatt was at his office, then drove over before he could head out to a job site. She spent the thirty-minute trip alternating between total happiness and a gnawing worry about what he was going to say.

In a perfect world he would be as excited about the baby as she was. She wasn’t going to hold her breath for that, though. She figured the best she could hope for was neutrality.

She walked into the building and was directed back to his private office. Wyatt hung up the phone as she entered, smiled and moved toward her.

“An unexpected pleasure,” he told her, pulling her close and kissing her. “The best kind.”

His mouth was warm on hers, making her tummy clench in anticipation. Blood moved faster and the instant desire made her want to throw herself at him.

She pulled back, laughing. “How do you do that? Turn me on with just a kiss?”

“I’m gifted.”

He was more than that. He was everything she’d ever wanted. Strong, yet gentle. Caring, determined, even stubborn. She loved so much about him, including how much he loved his daughter. Would he be willing to give their child the same amount of caring?

He put his hand on her waist and kissed her again. “If you’re here for something quick on my desk, I can tell you that I’m open to the possibility. In the name of making all your fantasies come true.”

She touched his face. “You’re so generous.”

“I know.”

“While I appreciate the offer, I stopped by to tell you some happy news.”

Wyatt stiffened. “Okay.”

“What?”

“Your happy may not be my happy. Are you leaving?”

She hadn’t expected him to say that. “Leaving for New York?”

“You will eventually. Your work is there. You can’t give up the piano forever.”

A fierce longing gripped her. She was less surprised by it this time-it seemed to happen more and more lately. The need to create, to be one with the music. To let it fill her up and spill out of her.

“I’m not leaving,” she told him. Not yet, a voice whispered. She ignored it and looked at Wyatt. “I’m pregnant.”

Everything about him seemed to freeze in place. Then he was moving, putting space between them.

“You’re sure?”

His words sounded so cold and distant. She held in a shiver.

“Yes. Very sure.”

He nodded once, then swore. The bubble of hope she’d barely allowed herself to admit was there burst.

“Wyatt,” she began, “This doesn’t have to be a bad thing.”

His expression turned angry. She could see him visibly trying to get control. “It is for me. I never wanted any part of this. Not a baby. I can’t believe it’s happening again.”

She knew the “it” was his sense of being trapped. Of being forced into a relationship, a marriage, a responsibility he didn’t want.

He glared at her. “I know you didn’t do this on purpose, but it sure as hell feels that way to me.”

“That’s not fair and you know it.”

“You’re right. Just like I know you’re going to expect me to marry you, then you’ll go back to your fancy life, leaving me with another kid to raise.”

Even though they weren’t a shock, his words still hurt her.

“I’m not trapping you,” she said, wishing he could have been at least a tiny bit happy, if not for himself, then for her.

“So you say.”

He didn’t believe her? “You don’t know me at all, if that’s what you think.”

“I know enough. I know you’re used to getting what you want.”

What? “Since when?”

“When have you not?”

It wasn’t a fair question. She thought of all the things in her life she hadn’t wanted. But he wasn’t in the mood to listen. “I thought…”

“That I would be happy?” he asked, interrupting. “Why? I should have used protection. I shouldn’t have assumed. Not that I was thinking that day. Look, it’s fine. We’ll deal. Somehow.”

He sounded resigned, as well as angry. He was being magnanimous enough not to blame her totally, but he still expected to get screwed.

It hurt, she thought sadly. It hurt to have him so disconnected from the joy. They’d made a baby. Didn’t that matter to him at all? They’d created life. They should be celebrating. But he didn’t see it that way and she wouldn’t see it any other.

“You don’t have to be any part of this,” she said, trying to keep her voice from shaking. “I thought you might want to be a father to our child, but if you don’t, that’s perfectly fine. I can be a single mother.”

He didn’t look convinced. “You mean you’ll hire staff. Isn’t that what you said you’d do? Hire a nanny?”

She’d known there was a chance he wouldn’t be excited. More than a chance. But she’d never thought he would be deliberately mean. She squared her shoulders and raised her chin.

“I can see this is a bad time for us to discuss anything,” she said, determined to keep her voice calm. She didn’t want him to know how deeply he’d cut her. “We’ll talk later. For the record, I don’t want anything from you. I also don’t expect you to believe that. I’m sorry you’re not happy but I can’t ever be sorry there’s a baby.”

She turned then, and left without saying anything else. She had to hurry to get to her car before she started to cry.

CLAIRE BIT DOWN on the Kidd Valley onion ring and waited for the yummy flavor to brighten her mood.

“You want to talk about what’s wrong or do you just want to eat and sulk?” Jesse asked from across the table.

Claire smiled. “I’m not sulking. Not seriously, anyway. I’m just…” She sighed. “I’m pregnant.”

Jesse dropped her hamburger back on the paper. “You’re what? Are you sure?”

“I’m triple sure.”

“Who’s the guy? Some musician back in New York? A married conductor?”

“You’re the one who seems to favor married men,” Claire said.

Jesse took a bite of her hamburger. “Sure,” she mumbled. “That’s what you all think.”

Claire waited until her sister had swallowed, then said, “Wyatt.”

Jesse’s eyes widened. “Are you serious? You slept with Wyatt? Does Nicole know?”

“Yes to both. She knows about him and she knows about the baby. She’s not the problem. He is.”

Claire gave a brief rundown of her last conversation with him. “He’s so distant and cold. I would almost wish he was angry because then I would know he was feeling something. He thinks I’m trapping him, which I’m not. I’m so happy about the baby, but he doesn’t see it that way.”

Jesse put down her burger and wiped her hands. “Nicole isn’t mad? She doesn’t care that you slept with Wyatt? I can’t believe it.”

Claire couldn’t, either. “That’s all you got from what I said?”

“What? No. I mean, yeah, it’s too bad about Wyatt.”

“Talk about too little too late,” Claire grumbled, feeling a little of Nicole’s annoyance with their baby sister.

“Hey, I’ve got my own troubles.”

“Maybe you have them because you only think of yourself.”

Jesse pulled back. “I don’t need this from you.”

“An opinion on your behavior? I can see why you wouldn’t want one.”

“Look, don’t get all pissy with me because your life is messed up.”

“Is that what you think this is? I couldn’t possibly have a valid insight? You’re wrong about that. I know exactly what’s going on with you. You take the easy way out. I wonder if you always have. Jesse, you’re getting too old for this game. It’s time to take responsibility. Do the right thing.”

Claire thought Jesse might get angry and stalk off, but instead she stayed in her seat.

“I’ve tried,” Jesse grumbled. “I apologized to Nicole but she’s still mad at me. She won’t listen. What if I didn’t do it? What if nothing happened?”

Claire held in a sigh. “Were you in bed with Drew?”

“Yes.”

“Naked?”

“I had my panties on.”

For how long? So what if there hadn’t been actual intercourse? They’d been on the verge. That was enough. “He was touching your breast.”

Jesse tossed her burger on the tray. “Okay, I get it. I’m the big bad?”

Even now, Jesse wasn’t taking it seriously, Claire thought in annoyance. “Guess what?” Claire snapped. “You’re the one who screwed up. She gets to be mad as long as she wants. Just because you’re sorry doesn’t mean the pain goes away. You need to keep showing up until she knows that you’re serious. Right now she thinks you’re just saying what she wants to hear and I kind of agree with her.”