Page 2 of Mending Hearts

Now, I was trapped. But I understood where the exit was.

I focused on the clothes whizzing past while I flicked through them.Anything you can help me with?Oh, you know. Just a small thing. No big deal, really.Sweat pooled on my lower back. This coat was too thick for the warm store.

Maybe I didn’t need to tell him. Sarah had insisted he never needed to know. I’d be keeping the secret from everyone else—why not him? This was the first decision I could remember making in isolation. Not informing him was wrong. Wasn’t it?

The bells on the door rang again, and I glanced up. The woman was gone, but I couldn’t make myself look at him. This conversation would be easier if I pretended to be who everyone thought I was, the popstar who breezed through life without a care. When you’re Mia Malone, all the world’s a stage, and I was the most important player. Being here, talking to him, was just another role.

Pretend. Pretend. Pretend this conversation doesn’t matter.

I relaxed my shoulders and strolled over to the counter. He glanced up from whatever note he was making by the register. His brown eyes reminded me of cognac. That night they looked almost golden when they caught the light in the dressing room. Smooth voice, cognac eyes—everything about him screamed addiction.

His look was puzzled, and he grabbed a lollipop out of an open container on the desk. While he sized me up, clearly trying to place my face, he twirled the lollipop round and round. “Can I help you?”

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could?

“No.” A small smile danced at the edges of my lips. “I doubt it.” It was apparent he hadn’t managed to place my face. I was still wearing my sunglasses, and maybe that was the problem. Or maybe he slept with a lot of random women. We hadn’t discussed our sexual conquests that night. Once he’d come to my hotel room, there’d been little talking. A few shots of alcohol. Quick and hot had been what I’d been after. I’d ended up with a lot more.

“Okay,” he said, drawing out the word.

I pushed the sunglasses onto the top of my head, my long dark hair swirling around my shoulders. When it was loose, my hair was a shield, part of my armor. The hair and makeup crew always pulled it off my face so people could see my eyes. Fans liked my vibrant blue-green eyes, the windows to the soul. The only protection I was allowed was whatever I could build inside. When my gaze met his, recognition dawned on his face like the rising sun.

“Mia Malone.” He grinned, but it didn’t unfurl properly. There was no joy or happiness in his expression. “Didn’t expect to see you.”

The wordsever againhung between them unsaid. My stomach rocked as though I was at sea.

A garbage can. Where was a garbage can?

It had become second nature to look for a place to throw up when the rocking sensation hit. But I could weather this. Take a deep breath. Let my stomach evenout, stabilize.

“What are you doing here?” He tore the wrapper off the lollipop, scrunched it up, and tossed it toward a can beside the desk. It hit the edge and tipped in.

At least I knew where to run now when the rocking sensation became more violent. Sighing, I tugged the sunglasses off my head and dangled them from my fingers. My insides were rioting, but I knew from watching myself on TV countless times what was happening inside wouldn’t show on my face. I was an excellent poker player.

“Have you been watching the news?” I asked.

“Uh, not really? Are you—is this about you?” He frowned and rubbed his brow.

“Yeah. And you, unfortunately.”

His furrow deepened.

“Class action suit against a condom manufacturer. ‘Cocksure Condoms Cocked Up.’ Ring any bells?”

“Do you have shares in that company? Are some of the people from the class action suit here in Little Falls?” With a shrug, he chuckled.

I gave him a bored look, so unimpressed I’d have to spell out the problem for him. In the back of my mind, I had a glimmer of hope he might make the leap without having to be pushed off the cliff. He was about to get a massive shove.

Right now, I wished I knew his first name, wished that had been the one detail stuck in my brain. I would have hinted at the gravity to come.Oh, well.

“I’m pregnant.”

And then another wave hit my stomach so hard, I wasn’t sure my sea legs would take me to the garbage can fast enough. By some miracle, Istared down at the lollipop wrapper as I lost the little bit of lunch I’d managed to eat.

Chapter Two

Tyler

Her glossy dark hair fell around her like a curtain over the tin I used for garbage next to my desk. I was fairly certain my brain was five steps behind where it needed to be in this moment.Mia was pregnant?

---