Page 38 of The Hermit on the Hill

He stared me down, his own arms crossed over his broad chest. "Let's get one thing straight, Jenna. I offer to buy something or pay for something, it's because I want to do it. It's my way of contributing to our baby's care. You don't have much money right now and I have plenty. I'll buy what you need and I won't expect a damn thing in return. I'll never hold the money I've spent over your head or expect even a thank you. Understand?"

I stared back at him, trying to come up with a reasonable argument, but could think of none. For some weird reason, tears sprang to my eyes. I turned away from his searching gaze. "Thank you."

"Like I said. I don't need a thank you. Consider everything I give you or feed you or buy for you my thank you to you for growing our child and for letting me be a part of both your lives."

I looked back, surprised by the tenderness in his voice, but he'd already turned away. "I'm going to get dressed. Meet you back down here in ten minutes."

"Okay."

I grabbed my purse and his grandmother's journal and went to his office to sit on his comfy couch and read. I was in the middle of a story about a little boy who was being haunted by a cat when the front door swung open.

I let out the tiniest shriek.

"Hi, honey, I'm home," Brittany sang out. The front door shut and the sound of footsteps pounding down the stairs filled the echoing house.

Brittany appeared in the doorway to the office, grinning. "Hi Jenna."

"What happened?" Sam joined his sister in the doorway, jeans on, but unbuttoned, his t-shirt in his hand, his expression wild and worried. He looked at me, sitting calmly on the couch, and his shoulders dropped, the tension leaving his face.

"Jeez, worry-wart," Brittany said. "It was just me. Next time I'll knock."

"No," I said. "It was my fault. The sound of the door opening startled me." I might have been staring at the line of hair disappearing over Sam's flat pelvis and into his jeans. Was he wearing boxers? Sam didn't seem to notice. He was glaring at his sister.

"Knock next time. Nana is scary enough without you banging around and scaring the mother of my baby."

Brittany laughed. "The scary, rumbly voice doesn't work on me. I know you're nothing but marshmallow under all that growling." She turned to me. "But I will try to be more respectful of you here with us in your delicate condition, Jenna. I really didn't mean to startle you."

"Seriously," I said, with more amusement than annoyance. "Women do hard, manual labor right up until their due date. I'm perfectly fine."

"Then I'll be quieter so the tough guy doesn't worry himself into an early grave." Brittany slapped her brother on one bare shoulder. "What are we doing today?"

"You're not invited," Sam said.

I, however, was grateful for a buffer. If I spent much more time around a shirtless Sam, I couldn't be held accountable for my actions and they would definitely make this whole situation way more awkward. "We're going clothes shopping, out to lunch, and then for an ultrasound to see the baby. Want to come?"

Sam scowled, but didn't argue when Brittany bounced in place and spelled out yes in an improvised cheer.

CHAPTER TEN

Sam

Jenna stepped out of the dressing room in a sundress that fell to her ankles. It was swishy and striped in a rainbow of colors. The smile on her face made it clear she was in love with that dress.

"You should get it," I said.

"I will, but I'm paying for this one."

I grunted, and she went back into the dressing room like she'd gotten her way.

"Grab that dress," I said to Brittany, who was sitting next to me on the couch outside the changing room in the maternity shop.

Jenna had wanted to go to a boutique clothing store in town and just get larger sizes, but I'd taken them to the closest maternity shop two towns over. It would mean we'd have to do a fast lunch, but it would be worth it for Jenna to get what she needed.

I knew nothing about women's clothes, and less about maternity clothes, but I didn't think a couple sizes bigger would work when it was only her belly growing and it was likely to grow about six times larger than it currently was.

"Take it to Lenore."

Lenore was the sales associate helping me out. I'd already given her my credit card, and she was adding Jenna's clothes to it.

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