it was fantastic. I can’t wait until breakfast. Night, Ashley,” he said.
“Good night, Ryan,” she replied, while her heart raced. To her surprise, he turned and strolled toward his car. She was amazed he hadn’t given her even a light kiss, and she tried to ignore the ripple of disappointment she felt.
She waved to him and went inside, locking up and switching off lights. She was getting more involved with him instead of less, she knew, and wondered how much that was going to complicate her life.
It wasn’t until she showered for work the next morning that she realized she had made a big mistake.
Worrying, she blew her hair dry, her thoughts on Ryan. She had promised to eat breakfast with him, forgetting completely that all too often she suffered morning sickness.
She knew she could never get him to cancel coming to fetch her. She didn’t have a car, since she’d left it at work to go to dinner with him. Mulling over what to do, she dressed in a navy skirt and white blouse, then looped and pinned her hair on her head.
Promptly at half-past eight, Ryan arrived and rang her doorbell. When she opened it, she lost her breath at the sight of him.
Dressed in a charcoal suit and red tie, he looked incredibly handsome. “My, you look great,” she couldn’t resist saying, reminded again that her baby would have the most handsome father possible.
“That’s my line,” he said, his warm gaze traveling slowly over her. He inhaled and his chest expanded. When his eyes met hers again, she drew a long breath, because she could see desire in the depths of green.
“Let me get my purse,” she said, realizing her voice was breathless and wondering if he noticed.
As she returned, he watched her. She felt self-conscious, tingly, but couldn’t resist hoping she enticed him.
“You’re gorgeous,” he said quietly.
“Thanks, even though it’s a bit of an exaggeration. White blouse, navy skirt, ordinary office clothes,” she said, waving her hand toward herself.
“Not to me. And I’m seeing you without them. I still have a memory.”
Her pulse skipped. “Forget it, Ryan,” she said. “You go out and I’ll set my alarm,” she added.
“You’ve already triggered mine,” he drawled, with a sexy innuendo that made her breath catch.
As he drove, she tried to keep the conversation light, maintaining a stream of topics so they wouldn’t get into anything personal.
The sun was bright, the air clear and the sky a deep blue. The beautiful spring day lifted her spirits, and she wondered how much of her bubbling enthusiasm was because of the glorious day and how much was due to the charmer seated beside her.
He took her to an expensive restaurant where she had never eaten. The glassed-in dining area held an abundance of hanging green plants and pots of tropical flowers, all giving an open-air feeling and adding to the springtime ambience.
His eyebrows arched when she ordered only milk and an English muffin.
“I’m not particularly hungry,” she explained, already too aware of smells of coffee and bacon wafting in the air. She wished she had never accepted the invitation to breakfast with him, but she was into it now, and she tried to avoid thinking about food or looking at any that went by, carried by waiters.
When her muffin and milk were placed in front of her, she didn’t really want them.
Worse, Ryan was served a platter holding an omelet and slices of bacon, patties of sausage and fat, golden biscuits. He had steaming coffee and a chilled glass of orange juice.
Her queasy stomach churned, and she excused herself, rushing to the ladies’ room because of nausea. To her relief, it was an elegant restaurant and the ladies’ room had a sofa. Stretching out, she laid folded paper towels soaked in cold water on her forehead, thankful Ryan couldn’t see her.
A few minutes later, a waitress came in and spotted her. She asked if Ashley was okay.
“Yes, thanks,” she replied, smiling. “I just felt faint.” To her relief, the waitress nodded and left.
Ashley stayed until she felt she could join Ryan again. With her stomach still churning, she returned. Coming to his feet as she approached the table, he reached out to take her arm. “Let’s go. I’ve already taken care of the check,” he said, holding her arm.
“You’re having to leave your breakfast behind,” she said, wanting to get to the sanctuary of her office, and barely thinking about what she was saying.
“That’s no problem. Ashley, I’m taking you to my doctor.”
“No, you’re not!” she declared emphatically. “I’m fine.”
When he lapsed into an uncustomary silence, she wondered if she had been too abrupt. She slid into his car and shut her eyes, resting her head against the seat. She straightened when she heard him opening his door, and glanced up to find him studying her intently.
Her heart thudded. “It’s just a minor upset, Ryan. Really it is. Don’t worry, and take me to my office.”
She knew she should force some kind of cheerful banter and get his mind off the incident, but she was wrung out. The motion of the car wasn’t helping, and she was desperate to escape.
At her office, he came around the car to take her arm again. “I’m fine. I promise,” she repeated.
“I’ll go inside with you,” he insisted.
She didn’t feel like arguing, and he would soon be gone. She walked in silence with him and was relieved they didn’t encounter Jenna or Carlotta.
In her office she turned to thank Ryan, while he closed the door and turned to face her, standing only a few feet away with his hands on his hips.
Her heart began to drum, because he wasn’t leaving as she expected him to.
“Now tell me what’s really wrong with you!” he demanded quietly.
Three
Taking her time to answer him, she fiddled with her watch, while his curiosity grew.
He could remember that fabulous weekend with her and the sizable breakfasts they’d had each morning, without any unpleasant upsets on her part. He thought about her easy, slow walk that indicated time wasn’t a ruling factor in her character—something so removed from his driven life that he had been intrigued. Usually smiling, relaxed, taking time to savor life, people and her surroundings, she’d interested him from the first moment he’d met her. Now, as she fidgeted and remained silent, his questions increased.
She had been sick in the restaurant. He’d had a waitress check on her and was told that Ashley said she was fine, but was lying on the sofa with wet towels on her forehead.
He could also recall how she’d had wine with her dinners their first weekend. Now she was drinking ice water. Everything added up to a change.
“Ashley, what is it?” he prompted.
“I’m all right,” she said without looking at him. Circling her desk, she sat and bent down to open a drawer.
Right now, she was deathly pale, and he was afraid she would pass out in front of him. He liked her, wanted to know her better, and the weekend they’d spent together had been the most fabulous, passionate time of his life. He hadn’t been able to forget her or get her out of his thoughts, and he was concerned now.
Grabbing a chair, he circled the desk and sat close beside her. “Tell me the truth, Ashley. You know what’s wrong. You’re a lousy liar.”
She looked at her fingers laced together in her lap. “Leave me be, Ryan. I mean it,” she said forcefully, and raised her head.
Surprised,