Pregnancy Plan by Tina Gayle Read Free Book Online Page A

want to visit
every store.”
    Grimacing, he drove into the turn lane for
the shopping center.
    “ Not a quick trip?”
    “ No, I don’t get to shopping much at
home, so I want to see everything there is to see here.”
    Derek groaned. The idea of spending hours
surrounded by strangers didn’t appeal to him, but if that’s what
she wanted... He drove the truck into a parking slot and cut the
engine, then turned to hug her close. Her luscious lips tempted
him. “I’m never going to make it.”
    His body was already demanding release from
having her sit next to him. How could he survive a whole afternoon
of shopping?
    The steamy mist in her eyes kicked his blood
pressure into overdrive. He covered her lips, taking the kiss
swiftly into dangerous water. Her wild, wet tongue avoided his
capture and fired wicked sensations of delirium into his blood.
    She tugged free and gasped, “Derek, we have
to stop.”
    Unwilling to break the connection, he grazed
his lips along her neck. Wetting her ear with his tongue, he
nibbled on her earlobe. Could he let her go?
    After a moment, he raised his head. “You’re
right, I promised I’d take you shopping, and shopping is where
we’re going.” He waited while she grabbed her purse, and scrambled
out of the truck. Together, they walked toward the entrance to the
mall. At the door, he drew her close to whisper. “I may need a fix
every so often.”
    Jillian gazed at him in confusion. He
demonstrated by leaning down and stealing a kiss from her surprised
mouth.
    “ Oh, I could use one of those every so
often myself.” She captured his hand and stepped
forward.
    ****
    The mall, busy with the weekend crowd, had
people strolling slowly along its pathways, peering at display
cases and talking. No one in a hurry, children darted between their
parents’ footsteps.
    Jillian’s feet hurt. They’d been shopping
for hours. She’d enjoyed the time with Derek—he didn’t complain,
and he entered any shop she wanted to go into—but now, she wanted
to go back to his place.
    She glanced at the roughened angle of his
jaw. When they had dated almost a year ago, she thought him sexy,
with his linebacker body and rippling muscles. He’d set her on fire
with his kisses, but his attitude of “no strings, no attachments”
had turned her off.. When she’d refused his offer of sex, he’d
left. No more calls. No communication. And until yesterday, she
hadn’t seen him.
    Now, being near him made her want things she
couldn’t have. Sliding her arms around his waist, she snuggled
closer. “Thanks for coming shopping with me, Derek. The Dockers and
shirts were the main things I wanted.” She brushed her hair back
over her shoulder. “So now that I have them, we can go if you
want.”
    For a moment, he held her to his side, and
then his pace increased. “Wonderful, let’s get out of here!”
    His broad palm and long fingers engulfed her
hand when he gripped it. He kept her close as they wove in and out
of the crowd.
    “ Do you think the outfits that I
bought for work will project the image I want to present?” Jillian
asked once the aisle cleared and they could walk side by
side.
    His arm slid around her waist. “From what
you told me, your customers haven’t adjusted to your being in
charge. I think it’s a great idea for you to show everyone you’ve
transitioned from clerk and bottle washer to shop owner.”
    “ Then it’s not a waste of money? After
all, my father wore jeans and T-shirts to work for years. No one
ever doubted his position as owner.”
    “ Yes, but he didn’t have to follow in
someone’s footsteps.” Derek kissed the top of her head. “You need
to do things in your own way, and not as he did them.”
    “ I guess you’re right.”
    He drew her to a stop and picked up a large
teddy bear off a display table. “We have one more purchase to
make.” He handed her the bear.
    “ Why are you buying this?”
    “ It’s for the baby.” He grinned and
strolled to