Redwood Bend (Virgin River #18)(68)

“You must’ve been a lot easier back then…” Dylan teased.

“He made me laugh,” she said, amused. “Then he made me love him. Conner had a fit because I was ready to run away with Charlie after a week. I agreed to wait a few months and Charlie won over Conner.”

“Just out of curiosity, how’d he do that?”

“Well, he didn’t break his nose, for one thing. It did take a while, but Charlie worked hard at courting me. He flew from Texas to Sacramento every chance he got, not easy to do on a soldier’s salary. Conner thought he’d lose interest, find a more convenient girlfriend, but Charlie kept coming back. He just wouldn’t give up. He told Conner he’d never quit because he loved me.”

Dylan reached for her, smoothing back her hair on one side. “I came back,” he reminded her.

“I didn’t expect that,” she said. “But that doesn’t mean I trust you.”

“I know you don’t. I’ll be honest with you—I didn’t know I’d come back, either. And here’s a flash for you, Katie Malone—I’m not giving up, either.”

She sighed and lay down on the blanket, on her back. “I think you might, Dylan. I’m pretty sure I’m not going to fit into your plans.”

“I’m flexible, when you get down to it,” he said, leaning over her, hoping he could wrap up this conversation with some meaningful kissing.

“Not about everything,” she said. She touched the tender black-and-blue cheek under his eye. “Listen, I didn’t plan this, but I guess since you’re here asking for another chance, you should have the facts. There’s a reason why Conner went a little crazy on you. It’s not just because you left and I was sad. It’s because just minutes before he ran into you at Jack’s, I had told him…” She lost her nerve and bit her lower lip.

“What, Katie?”

“Well, the one thing you had long ago made up your mind never to do—have a family,” she said.

“I’ve given that some thought,” he said. “If the girl I want comes with a couple of kids, I’ll have to rethink that.” He shrugged. “I guess the real danger to you probably lies in my screwed up DNA. I’d really like to overcome that. I just don’t know if I can.”

“Right,” she said. She turned on her side and balanced her head on her hand, her elbow braced on the ground. “As it turns out, we’re going to find out just how screwed up your DNA is. Take a deep breath. I’m pregnant.”

He didn’t move. He couldn’t breathe. His eyes got a little wide as he looked at her.

“You aren’t going to throw up, are you?” she asked him.

He still didn’t move. He leaned away from her and she sat up. “I’m very careful,” he said. “That shouldn’t have happened.”

“Yeah, I’m careful, too. We had some bad luck, I guess. Failed protection? I think we got a little too…ahem…close before the protection got involved.”

“My fault,” he muttered. “I lost my mind. I lost control. I couldn’t think and I—I’m sorry…”

“You’re probably right about how it happened. I can promise you I didn’t stick pins in condoms—I wasn’t interested in having this kind of surprise. I already have plenty on my plate.”

“Were you going to tell me?” he asked, and his voice sounded very hoarse.

“Absolutely, but when I was ready and not because I need anything from you. You’ve been very clear how you feel about this sort of thing, like you don’t realize I’ll have some DNA in this child, as well… And mine is excellent, by the way. So once I realized what had happened, I decided I could handle this just fine. But I’m an honest person and you deserve to know. How you respond is up to you.”

He looked out at the ocean. He circled his raised knees with his arms and put his forehead down on his knees. He groaned. He took a moment, then he straightened, looked at her and said, “And how are you going to respond?” he asked.

She actually laughed. “Well, funny you should ask. I’m going to be a little nauseated in the mornings, be very tired in the afternoons and early evenings, grow enormous and then deliver. Then I am rather committed full-time for about twenty years.”

“Do I have this right—you told your brother already, but not me?” he asked.

She took a breath. “First of all, you weren’t here and he was. I had a phone number but this wasn’t the kind of thing I wanted to tell you on the phone, at least until I was sure that was the only option. I would’ve gotten in touch eventually, you can be sure of that. But for the time being all I was sure of was that you were partying in Hollywood, kissing blond necks and stuff.”

“I told you,” he said. “A good friend, a hug. That was not a real kiss.”

“So, I had to ask for my brother’s emotional support. I’ll get a job, pay my own freight, take care of my children and—”

“Is there any discussion about whether—?”

Her expression became fierce as she stopped him by holding up a hand. “Don’t even go there. You don’t have to like it, but it is what it is.”

“Go where?” he asked, confused.