"Shh." He kissed her again to shut her up. "Call her, you can grill her to your heart's content."
*****
"He moved in."
"Is that a problem?" Matthew still had a stubble on his face from the two month stint he had done undercover. Two months since she had seen him or been in touch.
She missed him and as soon as he called, she had dropped everything and come running. Her brother was still cold and aloof, and it tore at her heart.
"I'm happy for you." She wanted to hug him, but his stance was still guarded.
"Are you?"
"Yes, dammit Matt. How long are you going to be angry with me?"
"Yet to be decided." He stared at her with a frown. "You've put on weight."
"Why, thank you for noticing." Walking over to the mantle, she held her hands out to the electronic blaze. "I get that you were undercover, but the least you could do was to reach out and let me know you're okay." She huffed, jolting when he clamped hands on her shoulders and turned her around.
"It's not just weight--" His eyes widened. "Jesus! You're pregnant?"
She angled her head, expression cool and haughty. "You don't get to hear any good news from me."
"Stop jerking around." He shook her slightly, expression dazed. "My little sister is going to be a mom."
"Not so little."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"When?" She asked frostily.
He shook her again and she relented. "I'm going to be a mama." She went into his arms and closed her eyes when he clamped his hands around her.
"I'm going to be a kickass uncle." He said hoarsely.
"Damn straight."
He eased her back and searched her face. "Are you happy?"
"So much that it scares the living daylights out of me. I love my life. I have a gorgeous husband who loves me and is so damned overprotective, I want to strangle him."
His hands cupped her face. "I bet the 'Rents' are salivating."
"They're over the moon."
"And the parents?"
She shrugged. "Dad is psyched about becoming a granddad and Iona, well, it's all about her as usual. She's too young, yada, yada. And if I'm not afraid of getting 'fatter'. I hung up the phone.
We haven't spoken since."
He kissed her forehead gently. "And I added to the drama. I'm sorry honey. At this point in your life, you don't need the stress."
"I'll be all right." She hugged him again, "Now tell me about your living arrangement."
*****
Carly thought she was over him. She had really tried. Over the last two months, she had accepted a part in a series that was shot in England and Scotland.