Jenna Mindel - Falling for the Mom-to-Be

He handed it back to her. “What does this mean?”

Annie looked up like a scared rabbit, ready to dart for cover. “Look, Matthew—”

“Are you going to have a baby?”

Her eyes filled with tears, and she shrugged.

“Don’t you know for sure?” His voice sounded much too shrill.

Annie looked fierce. “Yes, I’m sure.”

Matthew sat back, stunned. “Wow.”

“Yeah, wow. Please don’t tell anyone about the baby.”

His gaze narrowed. “Why?”

Her eyes clouded over. “Please?”

He knew how badly Jack had wanted kids. He’d put on a good front with his wife and often acted as if it didn’t matter. But Matthew knew how deep Jack’s disappointment ran. And now, the guy would never see his own kid.

He sighed. “I won’t say anything.”

“Thank you.”

“But I’ll help.”

Annie’s eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?

Matthew stood up and paced the kitchen. He’d blurted out that offer without thinking, but it felt right. “Starting with the roof—”

“Matthew, please. Don’t do this because you feel guilty over a silly kiss. We were both vulnerable that night.”

Irritation ripped through him. Hearing her words made him feel cheap. And there was nothing silly about that kiss. Cliché, maybe, but it had shaken his world pretty good. “Will you let me finish?”

She fluttered her fingers. “Fine, go ahead.”

“Are those shingles for the roof still in the garage?”

She looked confused. “I don’t know. I guess.”

“I’d like to take care of the roof while I’m off for the next few weeks.”

“No.” She shook her head. “Don’t worry about it. I can call someone.”

Of course she was going to be difficult. “I want to do it.”

She stood, too, and went to the sink. “Just let it go.”

Matthew wanted to, but couldn’t just let it go . “Annie...”

She faced him. “I mean it. I’m not your responsibility. I can take care of myself.”

“I never said you couldn’t. I promised Jack I’d help him with the roof and I want to honor that promise.”

She stared him down.

He stared back.

This was about his promise to Jack. Not her. It couldn’t be about her. But deep inside, he knew it was all about her. He couldn’t help it. He cared. He’d always cared. And now, with a baby on the way, she’d need someone to lean on. That someone might as well be him.

“I need to do it. Don’t you get that?”

Her eyes softened. “I just—” She went pale again and pursed her lips. Her forehead broke out into a sweat.

He went to her. “Come on—you should probably lie down. We can talk about this later.”

“I’m fine.”

Obviously, she wasn’t. Stubborn woman. “I’ll carry you if I have to.”

She gave him one challenging look and then grabbed her mug and headed for the living room. She moved pretty fast for someone who needed morning sickness tea.

Round one with Annie.

He smiled as he followed her.

At least he’d won.

* * *

Annie sank onto the couch. She wasn’t about to lie down in front of Matthew, so she pulled her feet up under her and leaned against the arm. She took another sip of tea and waited for the nausea to pass. It always passed.

“Do you want me to get your pillow?” Matthew asked.

“No.” She wanted to wipe that caring look off his handsome face. And stop the jitters in her stomach when he looked at her like that.

His skin was already tanned from the sun. Lines cut across his forehead and around his eyes, but not from age. His skin looked weathered from being out on deck where the spring winds chafed. Rugged.

But he was still young, thirty-one, maybe thirty-two by now. He grabbed the afghan from the chair by the fireplace and draped it over her with strong hands that could be so gentle.

“Thanks.” Any minute now, she’d tell him to leave.

Why was he being so nice? But then, Matthew had always been nice. Jack had once told her how Matthew had nursed an injured seagull back to health. A seagull! Jack had called them rats with wings. She had a lot more than a broken wing. She didn’t want to take advantage of that kindness.

“Just take it easy.” He tucked the blanket’s edge behind her shoulder, coming much too close for comfort.

She glanced up and the sharp retort poised on her tongue died the moment she spied confusion wash across his face.

His eyes darted to her mouth.

She held her breath, powerless. The air hummed with this new awareness of each other. This awkward attraction snatched their words and they ended up staring. Remembering, maybe even reliving, that kiss they’d shared.

He abruptly stood and backed away. “I’m going to check the garage for those shingles and then go. Call me if you need anything, okay?”

“Okay.” She wasn’t going to call.

At the door he paused. “Annie?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m going to help with the baby. Jack would want me to.”

“Matthew—”

But he’d already closed the door.

Annie let loose a sigh. A nugget of hope blossomed and grew. Matthew was right. Jack would want him to help her out because it would help Matthew heal, too. He was the brother Jack never had and probably the only man Jack trusted implicitly.

But Annie didn’t want to depend on Matthew. He couldn’t fill the void that Jack left behind, and needing someone hurt all the more when they were gone.

Chapter Two

The next day, Annie was in the kitchen when she heard the quick knock on her front door. She gulped the rest of her tea and headed for the living room. She was grateful for Ginger’s choice. The calming blend eased her morning sickness, but she wished that Matthew hadn’t found out. She didn’t want anyone to know about the baby until it was safe. Not until she reached that halfway mark. Not until she’d received a good report from the ultrasound.

Another rat-a-tat, and then the door opened. “Annie?”

Matthew.

“Morning.” She smiled. She’d decided to support his repair-the-roof effort. It’d help him repay what he thought he owed Jack.

Matthew didn’t smile in return. He looked stormy despite the bright sunshine outside. “Don’t you keep your door locked?”

She blinked at his sharp tone. Who’d he think he was talking to her like that? This was Maple Springs, not her town house in Grand Rapids. “Sometimes. And if you must know, I was already up and out this morning.”

She’d gone to her doctor for her second appointment. She’d been labeled high-risk due to her age and history of fertility problems. Not welcome news.

Matthew stepped into the living room, followed by a younger version of him. “This is my brother Luke. We’re going to take a look at the roof.”

“Nice to meet you, Luke.” Annie stepped forward and offered the young man her hand. He was also tall, broad-shouldered and had light brown hair and bright blue eyes.

“You, too.” When he smiled, he resembled Matthew even more.

“Luke’s a roofer with our uncle over the summer months when he’s not in college. With his help, we’ll crank this out in no time.”

She didn’t like the idea of either one spending their downtime working on her house. “Let me know how much a job like this costs, so I can pay you the going rate.”

“Nope. It’s just the materials,” Matthew answered before his brother had a chance. “I’ll give you a list.”

She planted her hands on her hips. “Wait just a minute. You can’t expect your brother to work for free.”

Matthew grinned. “He’s not. We’ve got our own deal.”

Annie glanced at Luke.

“I’m going to move in with him. Matty and Cam are putting me up for the summer at no rent.” Luke winked at her. “Your roof’s not that big so this should be a snap.”