Baby, Be Mine by Vivian Arend Read Free Book Online Page A

lower jaw were part of it—the only thing familiar on Gage at first had been his eyes. Even they seemed slightly different, though, as she’d never seen him stare back at her with quite that expression before.
    The one that said he was a split second away from swooping in to protect her. Which she might have liked the idea of in principle, but right now, no way.
    After two months of having people walk on eggshells around her, she did not need another babysitter. Especially not Gage. Her own big brothers were more than enough of a pain in the patootie. Having the guy who turned her insides to sexual jelly acting all sympathetic and concerned—
    Nope. She wanted him looking at her with a grown-up expression, not as if she were delicate china. Even if currently she was concentrating very hard to stay vertical and not dash back to the bathroom.
    Stupid stomach flu.
    Another wave of dizziness struck. “Gage—this is fun and all, but I need to call it a night. You’ve got people at your place, and I want to crash.”
    Gage blinked before straightening, the entire solid package of male shifting awkwardly toward the door. Like he was hesitating between reaching for her or following her request.
    He made a noise. A deep and grumbly complaint kind of like a possessive bear, and if she’d felt a smidgen better, it would have made her toes curl with delight.
    She slipped past him and caught the doorknob, swinging the door open so she could use the solid frame as an anchor to keep herself vertical.
    “Okay. I’ll go.” He paused. “You need anything?”
    Katy clutched the door harder. “Twenty-four hours’ shuteye, but thanks for asking.”
    Gage paced forward reluctantly. “I hope you’re feeling better soon.”
    “Thanks. And have fun at your party.”
    She lasted until he was in his truck before she locked the door and raced for the bathroom. Classy. Elegant. Way to impress the guy. She couldn’t muster the strength to feel embarrassed. Crawling into bed after she’d rinsed her mouth was the only thing on her mind.
    Although the feverish dreams she had that night of Gage Jenick doing dirty things to her were a lovely distraction.
    Two mornings later the flu was still hanging on, though the nausea was no longer a 24/7 thing. With the fresh taste of toothpaste lingering on her tongue, Katy strolled into her living room.
    Janey had taken up residence on the couch, feet propped on the coffee table. “Sick again?” she asked.
    “Duh.” Katy lowered herself gingerly into a chair. “You’re the master of the obvious today. Stupid flu bug will not let go of me.”
    A pale pink box flew across the room, and Katy caught it instinctively.
    “If I’m the Queen of Obvious, then you’re my lady in waiting. Flu, shmuu .”
    Katy twisted the box toward her, reading out loud. “ First Hint. The early pregnancy detection— Hokey spit, Janey.”
    “If the morning sickness fits…”
    Protests at this point were futile, but there were other more important issues. “Please tell me you didn’t buy this at the local Safeway.”
    “You think I’m stupid?” Janey folded her arms across her chest. “I was in Red Deer yesterday. No one we know anywhere around, and yes, I looked. Now go pee on the stick so I can tell you I told you so .”
    The whole idea was stupid. Impossible.
    But…
    The twinge of doubt at the back of her brain was enough to tip Katy into caving. “Stay here,” she ordered. “I don’t need supervision.”
    Janey ignored her, leaping off the couch and following her down the hall. “I went through the directions a couple times. I’ll help.”
    “I have to pee on something,” Katy drawled. “It’s not rocket science.”
    Her friend had already opened the box and pulled out what looked like a small stir stick. She held it forward. “Have a ball.”
    Janey retreated enough to give Katy a moment’s privacy, but Katy had to admit it was kind of nice to have her there as they stared at the stick lying on