His Heir, Her Honor by Catherine Mann Read Free Book Online

an aloof man. Sympathy for him stirred against her will. What a shocker this day must have been for him on a number of levels, which didn’t excuse the way he’d betrayed their friendship over the past few weeks with his aloof behavior. But still, the hurt and disappointment eased at having him backtrack. Now, finally, they could make plans for their baby.
    She chewed her lip, tasting toothpaste from her earlier attempt to brush away the persistent memory of his kiss. “I realize this must be a big surprise for you—”
    â€œMy feelings are irrelevant,” he charged over her, his face set again in a mask she’d seen him don during especially taxing surgeries. “I spoke with a GYN colleague and we can have a chorionic villus sampling done in your twelfth to fourteenth week of pregnancy to determine paternity.”
    An early paternity test? He still doubted her? So much for sympathetic leanings on her part.
    Anger starched up her spine again vertebrae by vertebrae. “Fine. You’ve said what you came here for—”
    â€œActually, I haven’t finished.”
    â€œWell, good for you. However, I’ve had more than enough of your company for one day.”
    â€œThat’s my point. Today hasn’t gone well for either of us. And regardless of how that test comes out, we’re going to be tied to each other, whether through the pregnancy or through work. I’m assuming you have no intention of changing jobs and neither do I.”
    â€œThat hasn’t stopped you from being a jerk since December.” She jabbed him in the chest with her pointer. “Other people—” like Nancy “—may be willing to put up with your moodiness because you were a hospitallegend even before you turned out to be some kind of royalty, but I happen to think that excuses nothing.”
    â€œYou’re absolutely correct on all counts.” His angular face creased with the first smile she’d seen from him in so long, longer than she could remember. The power of it was so much stronger than it should be.
    Her arm fell to her side. “Pardon me?”
    â€œYou heard me.” He stroked back a lock of her hair then withdrew his hand before she could object. “You’re right. I’ve been a—what did you say earlier?—a jackass.”
    She sank onto her sleek red sofa, trying to process this latest surprise turn from him, tough to do when he scattered her thoughts with a simple touch or heated look. “What brought you around to my way of thinking?”
    Settling onto the gray-and-white striped chair beside her, he leaned forward, elbows on his knees—closer to her. “Actually, seeing you and Nancy in the office together. I should have given our impetuous night together some closure before moving on.”
    Stunned anew, she bit her tongue, afraid if she spoke, his surprising chattiness would dry up as quickly as it started.
    â€œI still stand by what I said the morning after we were together.” He stared at her intently, his linked hands so close to her legs if she even twitched, they would make contact. “I shouldn’t have let things go that far between us, but I also shouldn’t have assumed things could return to normal either.”
    She refrained from mentioning the past months had brought anything but a return to normal. He’d become even more of a workaholic than normal, leaving not even a free half hour for a simple shared coffee as they’ddone in the past. Although apparently he’d found time for dates with Nancy Wolcott.
    Damn, that green-eyed monster was a tenacious beast. “What is your point?”
    â€œWe have about a week’s window before the paternity test to find even ground. I propose that we make the most of it.”
    Suspicion prickled. Could he be making a move on her because of that kiss? While she might have caved to the temptation of that passionate clench a few weeks