Page 53 of Broken Trust
May and Sophie exchanged glances.
Alyssa rested a hand protectively over her still-flat stomach. “The test was positive.”
Elin’s chest squeezed. “I see.”
Alyssa and Julian Chase were in a committed relationship, but they were also both in hiding, hunted by Cipher, who had made an attempt on their lives before. Alyssa hadn’t said much to Elin, but she gathered that now wasn’t the optimal time for a baby.
“The doctor’s coming today.” May carried four juice glasses to the table and set them down.
“Will the guys question what’s going on?” Elin wrapped her fingers around her warm mug to ward off the nerves the whole thing was raising in her. Not to mention nerves from what she’d done on the job just hours before.
They heard a step in the hallway, then it moved on. May glanced toward the doorway before speaking. “We’re saying it’s a routine checkup.”
“Does Julian know?” Elin asked.
Alyssa shook her head. “Not yet. I want to be sure. I want to see the doctor first, figure out how far along I am, make sure everything’s…” She trailed off, looking overwhelmed.
“We’re keeping it quiet until she’s ready.” Sophie scooped the last strips of bacon onto a dish covered in paper towel. “The guys can’t know there’s a doctor coming specifically for her. As far as they know, one of us is just having an annual health screening.”
“We’ve got your back.” Elin reached over and squeezed Alyssa’s hand, stunned by her own gesture. A week ago, she didn’t feel connected to a single human in the world. Now she had what she could only call…friends.
The sound of boots coming toward the kitchen made them all straighten. May smoothly transitioned to talking about grocery lists, and Sophie busied herself at the sink. Elin sipped her coffee and tried to look natural.
Until Liam walked in.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she battled to school her features into an unaffected expression. He shouldn’t look so damn good with damp hair and his T-shirt clinging to his chest.
Liam, Henner and Chase took over the space with their muscled bodies, all three of them sweaty from what looked like a morning workout.
His eyes found hers immediately…and held for a beat.
Then he looked away, grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, and said something to Chase that made him laugh.
That was it. No lingering glance. No secret smile. Nothing that suggested less than eight hours ago he’d been inside her, making her come apart with his name on her lips.
Professional. Casual. Unaffected,she reminded herself. She could do it too.
Henner grabbed a cup of coffee and turned to face the table. “Morning, ladies. What’s the conspiracy today?”
“Trying to figure out how to keep you animals fed,” May shot back. “You ate an entire roasted chicken yesterdayby yourself. A whole chicken, AJ. That was supposed to feed at least two people.”
“Metabolism.” His eyes gleamed as he studied the woman he loved.
Chase slid into the chair next to Alyssa and kissed her temple. “You okay? You look pale.”
“Just tired. I didn’t sleep well.”
Elin had to admire how steady her voice was.
Liam leaned against the counter, bottle of water to his lips, saying nothing. His gaze tracked over Elin, but she ignored him as if he was just another person in the room. He didn’t ask how she was, didn’t act like there was anything between them at all.
Last night meant nothing.
Which was fine. It meant nothing to her either.
That small lump in her throat screamed that she couldn’t lie to herself.
She pushed away from the table, mug in hand. “I should get to work. Dante’s probably already there.”
