Until You Loved Me (Silver Springs #3)(57)

“No. Thank God. I wouldn’t relish that conversation.”

“I’m relieved about that, too. I’d hate to feel there’s someone in your circle who’d hate me on sight.”

“No one will have any reason to feel that kind of jealousy.”

“Well, if you start seeing someone who has a problem with me living in your house, we can make other arrangements. Communication is key. We’ll have to talk, keep current with what’s going on in each other’s lives.”

He raised his eyebrows. “You’re saying we’ll be free to see other people, even during the pregnancy?”

“I have seventeen weeks. That might not sound like a long time, but it is. We’d be much smarter to approach the situation practically.”

“But...who will you date?” he asked. “You don’t know anyone in Silver Springs, and that’s where I’m staying during the off-season.”

She shrugged. “I might meet someone.”

“While you’re carrying my baby?”

“I admit the pregnancy will interfere with my love life more than yours.” That had to be the understatement of the year, but if she expected their arrangement to be successful, she felt he had to be free to do whatever he wanted, and that meant she should have the same right, even if she didn’t exercise it. “I doubt I’ll get a lot of offers, especially as I go into my...um...bigger months.” She laughed but he didn’t. He seemed more concerned with what she might say next. “We’re just establishing some ground rules, and this is one of them. You can see whomever and so can I.”

Surprisingly, he didn’t agree as readily as she’d thought he would, even though that was the one thing she’d assumed he’d demand above all else. “If that’s what you want,” he said.

“That’s what I want. So...what’s left?”

He shifted on the couch. “Where we stand with each other. What type of relationship we’ll have.”

“You mean the financial arrangements? I hate taking any money from you. I’d rather avoid the accusation that I did this on purpose, but—”

“I won’t accuse you of that again,” he interrupted. “I promise.”

She fixed the lapel on her robe. “It’s fine. I can see why you’d jump to that conclusion. And I’m sure there’ll be others who think I’m after your money. But if I quit my job, I will need you to pay me what I was making. Otherwise I won’t be able to cover my bills. And if I’m giving up my life here in Miami, I think that’s only fair.”

“I agree. I made the offer, and I’m prepared to stand behind it. I’ll even give you a little extra.”

“No. What you suggested is fine. That’s enough. In return, I’ll cook, clean and grocery shop—do whatever I can to contribute.”

“I don’t expect you to clean the house. I—”

“I’ll do what I can,” she repeated. “I’ll feel better if I make myself useful.” She took another sip of her tea. “Now, we should probably talk about timelines.”

“I’m all ears.”

“Most people get three months of maternity leave, but I plan to nurse the baby for at least six, and even though the baby will probably eat some other food by then, it’ll be hard to be away. I’m hoping you’re amenable to extending our arrangement until our child reaches half a year. At that time, I’ll get a job in LA, if I can find something in my field of expertise, so you can remain close to the baby. If I can’t find the right kind of work, we may have to talk about me moving elsewhere. In any case, we’ll have a plan for the next eleven months to a year, which will allow you to be part of the pregnancy and the baby’s early months.”

He rested his arm along the back of the couch. “I’ll pay you the $5,000 a month as long as you stay. You won’t be cut off.”

She breathed a sigh of relief to have that settled so easily. “Thank you. I’ll just...focus on being a good mother until I can look for work in California.” She stood up to signify the end of their talk, but he didn’t budge.

“There’s one more thing,” he said.

“What’s that?”

He leaned forward, clasping his hands loosely between his knees. “How do you see us?”

Hadn’t she already answered that? She rephrased what she’d stated, trying to make it clearer. “I see us becoming good friends.” She smiled. “I hope we’ll always be kind and supportive of each other. I’ll do my best to be your biggest cheerleader—come to your wedding when you have one, embrace your wife, your other children. That way our son can be part of it all, too. I hope you’ll do the same for me.”

“Of course. But...that’s farther down the road. I’m talking about how things will be until we get to that point.”

She sat back down. “I’m not sure what you’re driving at.”

He met her gaze. “What about sex?”

She swallowed hard. “Between us—or with other people?”

“We’ve covered other people.”

“Between us.” She hadn’t been well enough to feel the kind of awareness he’d evoked in September. But now that she was getting back to her old self, she could tell desire would be something she’d have to contend with, maybe on a daily basis.