“Don’t close her in again.”
Everything in me froze, but I couldn’t deny her anything right there. “Okay.” Instead of going back to the staircase exit, I turned us into the tunnel to the tower room.
I didn’t want to bring her around people just yet. She seemed shaky and out of sorts.
I slid my hand down to clasp hers and she held on tight.
When I got to the tower room doorway, I flicked open the latch and it swung forward.
She frowned. “What are we doing in here?”
“I just need a second with you.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
I’d brought up a couch to flop in there with the cat before the big construction started. A pile of blankets was crumpled in the corner of the leather love seat.
“For Gizmo?”
I shrugged. “We like to watch movies at night.”
“You’re a softie, Nolan Devereaux.”
I bared my teeth at her. “Lies.”
She gave a watery laugh as we sat down, but she didn’t let go of my hand or the book. In fact, she stacked my hand on top of the book in her lap and cupped my hand with both of hers. “Harriette was sad.”
“Yeah, you mentioned that.”
“Not the usual sad. Like the kind that overwhelms and locks everyone out.”
I knew a thing or two about that. Mine was more anger, but maybe there was a lot more sadness inside me than I wanted to own up to.
“Then she told me something.”
“From the books?”
“I didn’t get it at first. I still don’t, but then again, when it comes to us, I shouldn’t be surprised. Why would anything be easy? Since the first day I met you, we have been so very chaotic.”
“I wasn’t the one who vandalized a truck, Hellcat.”
“Miscommunication.”
“If that’s what you want to call it.”
She huffed out a half laugh. “Jumping to conclusions, more like. We both do that a lot.” She squeezed my hand.
“What does that have to do with Harriette?”
“She wanted me to know something, and she wasn’t letting me out of that room until I figured it out.”
I frowned and turned my knees toward her. It seemed a lot more involved than just a sad story of a woman from over a century ago. “What is it?”
“I’m pretty sure I’m pregnant.”
The room tilted slightly and the sunlight streaming through the tower room sparkled. All sound went to an echo that seemed so very far away.
“Nolan?”
I stood and paced away from her, then I came back. “A ghost told you that you’re pregnant?”
She held the book close to her middle. “I know it sounds crazy.”
“Oh, it’s a bit more than crazy.” I raked my fingers through my hair and paced to the plastic-wrapped windows then I returned to her. “A baby.”
“I’m late. I didn’t even realize it. Things have been so busy with Shelby being sick and then all the things for this house and our usual summer business.” She set the book onto the cushion beside her and stood. “I don’t expect you—”
I whirled around. “You don’t expect me... What?”
The anger that bloomed inside my chest shocked me.
“I know we aren’t...a thing. I don’t expect you to—”
“Don’t expect me to what?”
“Look, I know we just kind of did the hook up thing. You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll figure it out and maybe we can split the cost. I know you aren’t really interested in anything emotional. You made that abundantly clear.”
“Split the...” I stalked over to her. “I’m not going anywhere.”
