Page 43 of Wicked Ambition

“That night with you was the first time I ever did anything that crazy. My sister? She’s the one who does the crazy things. Although I don’t know about her sex life. We don’t talk about that.” Ayla realized she was rambling and returned to the topic she’d started. “I’m the cautious twin, the twin with the five-year plan. The twin who dots all her i’s and crosses all her t’s.”

Oz nodded. “We talked for a while before we went to my room. I know you’re normally sensible. I also know something was going on with you that night.”

Ayla grimaced. He hadn’t asked that as a question, but that’s what it was. “Last Halloween? It was my twenty-ninthbirthday.Ourtwenty-ninth birthday. My parents had gotten stuck somewhere in the Alps, and Io? Who knows where she was. When we met in June, it was the third time the birthday celebration was postponed. My parents got a deal on a cruise in Asia, and Io used the opportunity to go to Ireland.”

“You were feeling abandoned.”

“I was feeling sorry for myself,” she countered.

Oz shook his head. “No, you’re not the type who wallows in self-pity. You wanted to feel as if you were important enough to your family that they’d put aside their travel plans to celebrate with you.”

“Sitting at that table in the bar—” Ayla stopped. Shrugged. “You listened to me when I talked as if what I said mattered to you.”

“It did matter.Youmatter.”

The tears returned and Ayla blinked until she had control. She changed the subject. “How much longer?”

He checked his phone. “A couple more minutes.”

“That long?”

“Sorry, Pollita.”

Ayla took a deep breath and then another. “Why’d we decide to take this chance that night? I’m as cautious as they come, and since I arrived in Trujillo, everything I’ve seen from you suggests you’re not a big risk-taker either. Did we lose our minds?”

“There’s that possibility.” His lips curved. “It was early in the morning, maybe four or so, and we were both pretty worked up before I realized I didn’t have any more condoms stashed somewhere. Arousal and fatigue can lead to poor judgment.”

“I don’t think I’m pregnant.” But what if she was wrong?

“We’ll find out one way or the other shortly.”

“Oz?”

“What?”

“I’m scared.”

“I know, Ayla. I promise to not run out on you. If you’re pregnant, we’re in this together. I’ll say it a million times if that’s what it takes for you to believe me.”

“I do believe you.” She didn’t remind him about his work being in Puerto Jardin. Her hand shook as she pushed her hair out of her face. “My parents—they love to travel. They dragged me and Io everywhere with them when we were kids. We missed too much school growing up, but they thought we learned more by visiting different countries.”

“And it didn’t matter that you’re afraid of flying. They selfishly wanted to travel, and you had to go along for the ride.”

Oz understood what she was saying without her spelling things out. They’d connected like that from the start. “I wouldn’t use the word selfish,” Ayla said.

“I would. What they want to do is more important to them than your feelings. That’s selfish. Did they ever manage to get together with you for your delayed birthday dinner?”

She shook her head.

He frowned, but the timer buzzed before he could comment. Turning it off, Oz said, “That’s it.”

“Yes.” Ayla didn’t move. She couldn’t move.

Oz stood, came around the table to her, and held out his hand. “Come on, Pollita. Not knowing doesn’t change anything.”

Since he was right, Ayla put her hand in his and let him pull her to her feet. She held on tightly until they reached the door, and she was forced to release him to enter the bathroom. Taking a couple of steps inside, she looked over her shoulder, making sure Oz was with her.

He was.

---