Page 16 of Always Mine

“My stomach’s been queasy.”

His whole body went on alert. “Could you be pregnant?” When she didn’t answer he added, “For the record, I’d be delighted.”

“I’m not. I had a physical last week. No baby on the way.”

“Then let’s get married and make one. We’re not getting any younger. It’ll set you straight.”

Oh, the irony. She’d been in bed with Diego when he asked her to marry him. Granted she and Seth were already engaged but hadn’t set a date. Still, this flirted with déjà vu.

“Not yet. I…just not yet.”

He tipped her chin. “Are you…Annie, are you having second thoughts?”

She sat up and moved against the headboard. “I don’t know. I’m confused I guess.”

He came up on his elbow, crooked it and put his head on his hand. “About us? After all this time? What did I do wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“I know that guy from high school and college did a number on you. Are you just scared of commitment? Because if you are, I’d never hurt you like he did.”

She’d told him about Diego without identifying him when they were talking about past loves. “Maybe that’s it.”

He laid back onto the pillow. “Is there anything I can do about that?”

“Maybe just give me some time apart to think about things.”

“I don’t understand how that will help.”

Of course he didn’t. She was keeping the whole story from him.

She sighed, heavily.

“But all right. Stay tonight. Then you can have your break starting tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Seth. I appreciate it.”

“I’d do anything for you, honey. Now lay down and close your eyes.”

Annie was unworthy of him. Plain and simple.

* * *

Mary Martin, the nurse who came to help Diego with wound care and bathing was no nonsense, but pleasant. She’d just come out of the bathroom from washing her hands and set the bowl of water on the night table. She put on synthetic gloves. “I’m going to take the dressing off and clean the wound. You ready?”

“Yeah, it doesn’t hurt as much as before.” Though she just used water, cleaning it had stung like hell. He hissed a couple of times. “That’s it.”

“Hmm.”

“I’m going to put a smaller dressing on it, too.”

“Oh, that’s great.”

“It’ll be easier to give you a sponge bath.”

He moaned. She laughed. “You feel better after them.”

“Yeah, I know. But somehow, they’re mortifying.”

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