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“You should never have been in that position in the first place,” he says. “That was my fault.”
“No, it’s not your fault,” I say. “You didn’t purposefully expose me to anything. You thought that guy was in prison, right? And it wasn’t my place to force you to tell me anything.”
“I endangered your life.”
“Stop.” I put up a hand. “I don’t want to hear this from you. You or anyone else. What happened, happened. We can’t go back now.”
“What I said was a lie.” Carter stares at me like I’m the only person in the world. “I said that so I could take him by surprise.”
“I don’t care,” I say. “I have—other things I’m concerned about right now.” I want to hug him so bad. I’m aching for him. But he doesn’t step in closer, and it scares me. How is he going to react about the pregnancy?
I have to tell him. Right now. I can’t wait a second longer.
I open my mouth to say the words.
“Princess,” he says, “I care so much about you it hurts. You’re going to leave town, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it, but I have to— Shit. I came here to tell you that I didn’t want you to go, but the truth is, I can’t imagine my life without you in it. Hannah, I want you to stay, but I’m going to let you go. I won’t be the man who stands in your way.”
“You want me to stay?” I ask.
“Yeah,” he says.
“Why?”
Savage’s throat works.
“Wait,” I say. “Don’t tell me.” I let out a breath. “There’s something I need to tell you first.” And then I take a step back to admit him into the house.
Forty-Four
SAVAGE
I follow Hannah into the house then up the stairs to the guest room. Memories of us together here twine through my mind.
Hannah takes my hand, and I have the distinct urge to put my arms around her, to kiss her and claim her as mine. She doesn’t flinch away from me after what she saw me do. She seems completely comfortable, and I am so relieved, I can’t fucking speak.
“Sit.” She guides me to the edge of the bed and sits me down on the white comforter.
Hannah stands in front of me, wearing a cute flowery dress that hugs her curves, cups her breasts, and exposes her tan cleavage. Pink roses on white cotton. Her hair falls around her shoulders, and she’s wearing no makeup, her eyes fixed on mine.
“Carter,” she says. “I am going to stay in Heatstroke for a while.”
I want to punch the fucking air and scream for joy.
“Not only do I have stuff to do at the library,” she says, and swallows, “but there’s… uh, there’s other stuff I have to deal with.” She bites the corner of her lip.
“What’s wrong?”
“Carter, there’s something you need to know,” she says. “And before I say anything, I want you to hear me clearly. I don’t need you to be involved, if you don’t want to be. I don’t expect you to be my boyfriend or husband or whatever else. So just… Just bear that in mind.”
“Princess.”
She puts up that palm again. “Please. Let me just—” She puffs out her cheeks and exhales. “I’m pregnant.”
My jaw drops, and my vision tunnels on her then returns to normal.
Pregnant?
Pregnant.
