“God, Luke, that’s awful.”
She tried to hold back the fury rising in her throat. The rage. His revelation made her spine stiffen. That a woman would lie about being pregnant just to trap a man into marriage sickened her. It was a slap in the face, another reminder that she’d never be able to provide a man with children. While women like Luke’s ex flaunted their fertility and used it for their own selfish gain. If there was one thing she’d learned these last painful six months, it was that children were a gift. Not a bartering chip.
She felt pressure on her arm. Luke’s hand, big and warm. The look of concern on his face told her that her anger was written all over hers.
“You okay?”
She let out a breath. “I’m fine. I’m just…disgusted by what your ex-girlfriend did.”
The car ascended again, until they were at the very top of the wheel. The height was death defying, yet a nagging pang of curiosity distracted her from looking down. She wanted to voice her thoughts and ask Luke the question biting at her lips, but was fearful of the answer. Desperate for it at the same time.
“Luke…” She bit her lower lip. “Were you disappointed?”
His gray eyes looked almost black under the night sky. “About what?”
“Not being a father.” The question choked out of her throat.
He didn’t answer for a long time, just turned his head and looked in the distance. She admired his strong profile as her fingers tingled with the urge to touch him. Five o’clock shadow dotted his jaw, making him appear rugged and very, very masculine. For the first time all evening, she smelled his aftershave, the spicy scent tickling her nose, adding to the attraction building inside her.
He was so different from any of her high school boyfriends. From Scott and his boyish good looks and childish attitude. Luke was all man. Six feet and one hundred and seventy pounds of pure, unadulterated male.
She shivered. They were sitting so close right now that all she had to do was turn her head, lean forward an inch and she would feel his lips on hers. Yet her question hung in the air, overpowering her desire, and her chest felt tight, as if her entire life depended on his answer.
“Yeah,” he finally said, meeting her eyes again. “I guess I was a little disappointed.”
A long breath seeped from her lungs, tinged with regret. Well, of course he would want children. As strong and powerful as he was, he was also tender. Gentle. Luke would be a good father, she’d never deny that. But she couldn’t control the pain she felt at his reply. Knowing she would never be the woman who gave him a child. Wondering why that was even important.
She suddenly had the urge to confide in him about her own situation, but the reality of her future sunk in and she knew sharing her sorrow with him wasn’t an option. What would be the point? To see the pity in his eyes when she told him she was barren? The sympathy when she revealed her days of ballet were over? No, thank you. She didn’t want or need anyone’s goddamn sympathy or pity. Not even Luke’s.
“It would be nice, I guess,” he continued, oblivious to her turmoil. “A few of the people I’ve protected had kids, and I always enjoyed being around them.” He shrugged. “But my own? Sure, I’d like it, just not now. And certainly not with a woman who’d lie and scheme to get me to settle down.”
A silence fell as the car started its descent. Ellie couldn’t understand what she was feeling or why her chest ached this way. She didn’t speak as the attendant pulled open the safety bar, or when Luke held her arm and helped her off the platform. They walked past the line of people waiting to get onto the ride, silent, until Luke finally spoke.
“It’s getting late. Let me take you home.”
Standing under the glowing yellow porch light of Ellie’s bungalow, Luke realized he didn’t want the night to end. He watched as she rummaged around in her purse for her keys, wondering if she’d invite him in. Three hours ago he would’ve been surprised not to receive an invitation, but the moment they finished their stint on the Ferris wheel, Ellie had done a complete one-eighty.
No more flirting. No more sexy grins. No more sinful innuendos. She’d simply clammed up, became distant and made no further mention of the ultimatum she’d given him earlier.
Had she changed her mind about sleeping with him? Funny, how his plan had been all about getting her to back down, but now that she had, he was strangely disappointed.
“Jeez, it’s amazing how difficult it is to find anything in this purse,” she mumbled, rolling her eyes as she pulled out her key chain. “And all I’ve got in here is a wallet and some gum.”