was trying to prove that she hadn’t been hurt.
He turned, almost stumbling, and started out of the room. “Sorry,” he muttered over his shoulder.
“Hey! Wait! Did you figure out who the father is?”
“I think so. Sorry I bothered you.”
Jim got in his car and sat in the parking lot, trying to gather his thoughts.
Could it be?
He hadn’t thought—
But she’d avoided him after he’d told her he wouldn’t be seeing her anymore. That was for sure. Which meant he’d hurt her.
He hadn’t intended to. Drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, Jim thought about his reasons. As a teenager, he’d been embarrassed, humiliated by a girl who thought he was going to give her his senior ring. They had doubled with his brother and his girlfriend because his brother had asked him to. His senior year had been ruined because the girl had vilified him to everyone.
He’d vowed never to be caught in the same situation again.
Then Pete had come back home, met Tommie and the other two triplets. Somehow Jim had ended up dating Teresa. And he’d panicked as his mother kept talking about him marrying Teresa.
He’d felt he had to disassociate himself before any free choice was taken from him. He’d arranged to take Teresa to dinner one Friday night. Unfortunately, before he’d gotten up his nerve to tell her, she had acted out of character.
She’d seduced him.
Jim rubbed his face with his hands. That night had been wonderful…and horrible. He hadn’t been strong enough to resist her, probably because he’d secretly wanted her all along. But after they’d made love, he’d still told her he wouldn’t date her again.
Stupid of him.
There was no justification for what he’d done, except that he’d panicked. After having the most memorable sexual experience of his life, he’d rejected her.
But the most important question here was whether or not he was the father of her baby.
And that question had to be answered today!
Chapter Two
It only took one look from Teresa to change Jim’s plans. He wasn’t going to demand anything. Because he’d seen fear in her eyes.
“Jim! What are you doing here?” she’d asked.
What had he done to make her fear him? And if he demanded the truth now, when she already feared him, she’d never admit his role in her pregnancy.
“I wanted to come by and see you. Mind if I come in?”
“But why are you off work? It’s too early for you—”
“I worked a lot of overtime last week. I thought I’d take off early today. And I wanted to offer my services to you.”
“Your services? I don’t need any accounting help.”
He smiled, gently moving into her house as she backed away from him. “I know that. But I thought there might be some things I could do for you…like a brother.”
“A brother?” Her voice wavered and Jim didn’t know if she was going to laugh or cry.
“You know, lift things, move things. I’ll pretend to be your brother while you’re pregnant. You can call on me for anything.”
They were still standing in the entryway. Jim didn’t think he was going to get any farther into her home.
“Well, that’s very thoughtful, Jim, but—”
Suddenly, a strange look came over her face and she felt her slightly protruding stomach.
“What is it? What’s wrong? Come on, let’s sit you down. This way,” he said as he moved her into the living room toward the sofa.
“No, it’s—I’m fine. I think I just felt the baby move—for the first time!” She beamed at him.
Jim wrapped his arms around her. “You scared me to death! That’s good, isn’t it? To feel the baby move?”
She eased herself out of his hold. “Yes, I’m sure it is. I’ll ask the doctor Wednesday.”
“What time is your appointment?”
“Two o’clock.”
“What did it feel like?” Jim asked as he urged her to sit down.
She gave him a confused look. “What?”
“What did the movement feel like?”
“Oh. Kind of like a butterfly. Just a fluttering.”
“Is that normal?”
“I think so. I haven’t known anyone who’s been pregnant. I can ask the doctor Wednesday.” She frowned at him. “It was nice of you to stop by, Jim, but really, I’m fine.”
“Good.” He looked around the cozy room, one he remembered so well from his visits here last summer. “I like your living room. It’s so comfortable. Hey!” he exclaimed. “Where’s your television?”
“My television? I have a portable I keep in my bedroom.”
“Is that the only one you have? What if you have someone over to watch television?”
“I don’t.”
“But the World Series starts this week. Aren’t you going to watch it?”
“I don’t know. Probably.”
Jim got an idea. He knew just what he could do for Teresa, and he wanted to get onto it right away. “Well, if you don’t need me, then…” He walked toward the door. “I’ll see you Wednesday.”
Teresa followed Jim to the door just in time to wave goodbye as he hurried to his car. What a strange visit. He wanted to be her brother? How would that work, when he was the father of her baby? Not that he knew that. Nor would he. She certainly wasn’t going to tell him.
As she turned from the door, she couldn’t help but think of the last time Jim Schofield was in her house. That summer night was forever emblazoned on her memory. It had certainly been different from today. Then Jim wasn’t looking to be her brother. Nor had she looked for fraternal affection from him. She’d tried her best that night to seduce him…and she’d succeeded. He’d given her the best night of her life.
Until he’d told her he didn’t want to see her again.
Her memory jogged, and she suddenly remembered his most recent remark. He’d see her Wednesday. What did he mean by that?
Had
