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They finished, and Maya made their excuses, leading him out of the kitchen and up to her bedroom, shutting the door behind her.

They both sat on the bed, Sam taking her hand and letting out a breath he felt that he’d been holding for years. “Your dad thinks you’re pregnant.”

Maya let out a snort. “Yeah, right.” When she realized he wasn’t smiling, her eyes widened. “Oh shit.”

“Yep.”

She rubbed her forehead. “That’s what all that ‘secure future’ crap was about. Oh man. I should’ve just googled that information rather than asking him. I’m as bad as those people who go on the town Facebook page to ask what time the next bus is.”

Sam laughed, feeling that it could be a shade close to hysteria and clamping his mouth shut again. “My mission to win your dad over is not going the way I’d planned.”

Maya pulled him into a hug. “It’ll be okay. We’ll work through it.”

Sam kissed the top of her head, hoping that she was right and that he wasn’t driving some sort of irreversible wedge between her and her father.

“Hey,” she said, lifting her head. “Did you speak to Arran? About your second job and taking a step back?”

“Yeah,” he said, brushing the hair out of her eyes. “You were right. It felt good, and he’s fine without the extra money now he’s got the last of his equipment. Things are taking off for the studio.”

Her face relaxed, and he sensed that she was relieved. Having a girlfriend who looked out for him and worried about him was a new experience.

She smiled. “You’re welcome to do a bit of private naked butlering, if you want. For me. My pay rates are pretty good.”

Bringing her closer so that she was practically on his lap, he smiled. “Oh yeah? What would I get for it?”

She pushed her fingers into his hair, drawing his head down into a kiss that knocked the breath out of his body and made him forget about the disapproving father and secretly pregnant sister.

When she broke off, he had to take a second to reorientate himself. “Wow. That’s pretty much the best pay packet I’ve ever gotten.”

Maya laughed.

There was a knock at the door, and the disapproving father–pregnant sister situation came home to roost in Sam’s mind.

“Come in,” Maya called.

Hana stuck her head around the door with a sheepish expression on her face.

Maya gestured her inside, and she closed the door behind her, leaning against it.

“I’m sorry, guys. I’ll fix things.” Hana addressed Sam. “Maya’s convinced me to stop being a wuss and call Rosie to sort things out. Once I’ve checked in with her that it’s okay, I’ll tell Mum and Dad.”

Sam hadn’t seen Hana for a long time prior to this, but she appeared so much more fragile than her usual forthright self.

He smiled. “Don’t worry. I’ve not been chased off the premises quite yet.”

Hana returned his smile. “Dad’ll come round. Anyway, I’ll leave you guys to it.” She gave them a wave and left, closing the door again.

Maya lay on the bed, drawing him down next to her with his head on her chest. Closing his eyes and breathing her in, he really could imagine that everything was going to be okay.

She stroked his head. “I need to ask you something.”

Nestling his face into her neck, he sighed. “I hope it’s nothing bad, because my heart can’t take any more after that dinner.”

She laughed, and he absorbed the gentle sound of it through her chest. “No, it’s not bad.” She paused. “I was thinking it’d be a good idea for you to get some counseling.”

Lifting his head, Sam shot her a bemused smile. “I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t that.” His smile slipped a little. “Do you think I’m that messed up?”

“No.” She kissed his forehead. “You don’t need to be messed up to get counseling. It just helps us all work through things better.”