Chapter 5

      Lizzie smoothed the purse on her lap, a motion that was going to wear a hole in the leather if she didn’t stop. She’d thought to spend the day in her room in an attempt to give Ethan space as he tried to come to grips with the impending change she’d thrust upon his life. So it was more than a little surprising to wake up to a home-cooked breakfast, a hot cup of herbal tea and the announcement they were going to investigate her house.

      “We really don’t need to do this.”

      They’d nearly traversed the length of Blackthorn County, and she could see the familiar landmarks that made up the last two miles to her home.

      “That’s the fourth time you’ve said that.”

      “Have not.”

      “Yes, you have. First you asked me if I had better things to do today. Then you suggested I might want to turn around and stay home to keep an eye on Dream. And about ten miles back you told me your house was a mess and you’re embarrassed to bring anyone into it.”

      Okay, maybe she’d exaggerated about the house, Lizzie thought as she pictured the cleaning she’d done before she left. But she hadn’t got to the kitchen floors and that was an embarrassment. “I don’t want to put you out.”

      “I get that. What I don’t understand is why you don’t want me to see your place.”

      “You have seen my place.”

      Flashes of the night they’d shared sprang to the forefront of her thoughts, vivid memories full of passion and heat. She’d invited him home after the rodeo, and Ethan had followed behind in his truck. She’d spent the entire drive convinced he’d take the gentlemanly way out and tell her he couldn’t come in after thinking it over. Yet she’d worried for nothing when they’d practically fallen out of their cars, barely making it across her small front yard to the door, their hands full of each other.

      “Why don’t you want me to see your place today?”

      The question pulled her from the haze of memories, and Lizzie swallowed hard around her suddenly dry throat. “It’s not that I don’t want you to see my place. You’re always welcome in my home.”

      She fought the traitorous voice that whispered through her mind, taunting her with the truth. She did want Ethan to see her place. Often.

      Forever.

      Shaking it off, Lizzie ignored the temptation to hope and instead acknowledged the inevitable: he wasn’t turning the car around. She forced optimism into her tone and pasted on a small, determined smile. “I’m just sorry I’ve dragged you into this.”

      Ethan’s gaze remained fixed on the road ahead, but it was impossible to miss the hard flex of his jaw or the sparks that lit up his gaze. “You have nothing to be sorry about. Someone’s been intent on scaring you. Worse, they’ve taken advantage of a terribly vulnerable time in your life. I’m here to help.”

      “I know. And I thank you more than I can ever say.”

      His jaw remained stiff, and Lizzie wasn’t sure if her gratitude irritated or frustrated. She felt both emotions and a host of others she hadn’t even figured out yet.

      Although she hadn’t wanted to keep the baby a total secret from him, she knew Ethan’s feelings on children. After the initial shock of discovering her pregnancy, she’d consoled herself with the idea that she’d tell him after she’d adjusted to motherhood. She and the baby would get into a routine. Make a life together. And then she’d figure out a way to tell him.

      Instead, some creepy jerk had forced her hand and put a very dark mark on that future.

      She directed Ethan to the turn for her small subdivision, a townhome community that sat about a mile off Main Street. When he only nodded his head and murmured a husky “I remember,” she turned her gaze to the window, another one of those nameless emotions bubbling to the surface.

      The February weather had been colder than usual, so the trees that lined the entry to her development were still bare. Even without the pretty shades of green that had canopied the neighborhood on his last visit, Ethan took each turn like a pro.

      He did remember.

      Which did nothing to help her internal argument to stay cool, calm and distant toward Ethan Colton.

      An unbearable heaviness threatened to pull her under at the realization, and she rubbed a slow, soothing hand over her belly. The baby was in one of its quiet periods and had settled down during the drive. Over the past few months, every time she’d begun to feel any anxiety, Lizzie had focused on the life she carried. Staying calm for the baby was essential to its well-being, and she was determined to avoid as much stress as possible.

      Or at least the self-induced kind, Lizzie admitted with a quick eye roll that reflected back at her from the window of Ethan’s truck.

      Oblivious to her thoughts, Ethan turned in to her driveway and cut the engine. His gaze roamed over the brick facing before he turned toward her with a smile. “What a great place. I thought so before, and it’s only more true in the light of day.”

      “I love it. I’ve loved this place from the first moment I saw it.” The baby gave a sharp kick as if to punctuate the point, and Lizzie laid a firm hand over her stomach.

      “You okay?”

      “Field-goal practice has begun once more.”

      “Do you need to sit for a moment?”

      “No. Walking will help move her a bit.” She was already reaching for the door handle when long, strong fingers came down over her hand.

      “Wait. I’ll come around.” The strength that lined his features softened as his gaze drifted to her stomach. “So the baby’s a girl today?”

      “I told you. I like to trade off each day.”

      “So you did.” His hand lifted from hers to settle over the large mound of her belly. “But she’s still kicking field goals?”

      Her voice came out on a husky croak, her throat desert dry. “Like a champ.”

      “Which means you definitely need a bit of pampering. I’ll come around to get you.”

      The tender moment of connection ended, the crackle of electricity that seemed to flow between them effortlessly fizzling in the cool air that blew in through his open door. Lizzie kept her hand on the door handle but followed Ethan’s command to stay put.

      It was nice to have the help and the extra bit of attention. Even if she put aside the feelings for Ethan that never seemed to fully go away, it was just nice to have someone to talk to about the baby. Her coworkers had been excited for her, and she’d made a few friends since she’d started at the bank, but they weren’t with her in her more private moments. Decorating the baby’s room or picking out some items at the store had been all her own doing.

      “Why