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Boston tipped his beer back slow and deliberate, barely controlling the urge to break things Soft twilight bathed the swanky hotel roolow but he made no move to turn on a lamp He’d chosen to return to the hotel rather than stay at the resort with Julianna He didn’t trust hi on her door and screas like a spoiled child or worse, a deranged stalker Everything had deteriorated to shit in the space of heartbeats What rong with hi her to forgive him instead of the other way around Of course, she’d been pissed His Julianna wasn’t a delicate flower easily crushed under his boot It’s what he found so incredibly sexy about her She’s not yours She doesn’t want you Souished threatened to incinerate his heart and he didn’t kno to handle the pain

How did they coood He’d been on top of the world He wouldn’t bla miracle He was desperate to know more about his child When is the due date? How soon can a person find out the gender? He didn’t have a preference — just a healthy child Ten fingers, ten toes And whatever else babies are supposed to have What if it was a daughter? A little girl to spoil and lavish every red cent he owned; a son to pass on his legacy Tears sprung to his eyes and he didn’t know if he was about to bawl because he was pissed drunk or because he was terrified of losing the one thing he’d been warned he’d never have Or maybe because he was near crazy with fear that Julianna would never come back to him unless he twisted her arm so far behind her back that it broke from the strain And then she’d really hate him

She signed the contract, a voice reminded him, make her stand by her word

How? AndJulianna was acoerced Even if it worked in the short ter on her brother’s therapy If she cares so e

Holy shit Was he going insane? Was there a devil crouched on his shoulder, whispering terrible schemes in his ear? What the hell? Had someone slipped absinthe into his beer? He was definitely drunk off his ass and starting to hallucinate voices that weren’t being helpful at all

Did he love Julianna? Love…a concept he’d rejected after his experience with Gigi Nobody truly loved another hu It was a che, he had to accept that in order to gain the upper hand in this negotiation, he had to stop being a pussy and ht hate hih shit She created this store

He was Boston Kincaid No one pushed him around Not even the mother of his child

Julianna rose early, eyes gritty frorab a bottled water and so on Boston’s unexpected appearance She hugged herself, still able to feel his fingers on her skin Why couldn’t he just be a noruy for once and drop the emotionally constipated Alpha Badass routine? Julianna shuddered in spite of herself She couldn’t deny that when he took control, literally bending her to his touch, there was absolutely no stopping the pleasure that rippled down her spine, pooling in her belly and spreading like a hungry flame He had a ith her body that defied explanation When pressed together, tongues tangling and hands grasping, they created an orgasnore

But forget all that! Because whether or not he could ainst the stark reality that Boston Kincaid was a raging asshole

And he’d knocked her up

Ugh Julianna downed her water and grabbed her towel She was going to take a et that she was stuck in a really bad situation with no end in sight

Miles had just finished histhe peace that only ca ti for the beach She dropped her towel and he sucked a wild breath at her sweet, soft curves that he could drea so tantalizing about Julianna that beckoned, causing hi that he take a step back Clearly, she was on the rebound Rebound girls were toxic He didn’t want anything to do with a wos for soht of Julianna, he melted just a little

And that was bad

So when he nearly drowned at the sight of her bikini body, he knew that was even worse And what did he do? Not the s — which would be to paddle his ass the opposite direction No, he had to do the stupid thing — and start stroking straight for her

Julianna broke the surface, gasping a little, and he s She pushed her hair back and away froether, but it wasn’t hard to see her eyes were red-rimmed and puffy His smile faded and couldn’t help the concern in his voice as he asked, “Are you okay?”

“You know the worst thing you can ask a woman is if she’s okay,” Julianna answered with a small sad smile “Because if we say, we’re fine-“

“Then you’re absolutely lying,” Miles cut in with a knowing grin “You forget, I speak womanese It’s a perquisite in med school”

A bigger smile warmed herher laugh He’d also like to pound into the ground whoever washer cry “Why are you so aweso about you so I don’t romanticize you too much”

“Hmm…well, I have been known to s

teal the covers at night,” he shared with open chagrin “A past girlfriend said one time I spun around so many times, I’d wrapped myself in the blankets like a burrito and she froze her ass off”

“That’s a terrible habit,” Julianna agreed with er offense”

“Well, it isas the frown lines eased in her forehead as she relaxed but he knew he’d have to broach as ood for the baby”

“Why do you think I’m stressed?”

“I’uess that this is an ‘ex’ probleet ht”

“Not much”

“You need your rest The first tri he was co off as simply her doctor but he couldn’t help himself “I know it’s not my place but…want to talk about it?”

“Not really” She dunked under water and resurfaced, swi closer to the shore where she could touch Once her feet could reach the soft shifting sand, she slowly rabbed her towel and wrapped herself in it Miles followed, grabbing his oel and wrapping it around his torso She sighed and said, “I’m sorry I’m terrible company, aren’t I? Weepy, hor? Because I’d hoped that Boston had changed and that things were going to be different But nothing was different He’s still the same old Boston and I’m still his property”

Miles frowned “Property? You’re no one’s property”

She bit her lip as if she realized she’d shared too much and he tried to reassure her that he would be there for her “Listen, I don’t know this guy but he’s an idiot if he doesn’t do whatever he can to hold onto a girl like you Of course, I have a unique perspective but if this guy makes you cry more than he makes you smile — ditch hied with his and he fought the urge to pull her close He had to releht stand, he wanted her for keeps so he wasn’t going to jeopardize anything by ht smile and said, “Besides, you’re in paradise Don’t you know the rules?” At the small shake of her head, he replied with total authority, “Well, letallowed in paradise All that’s perood times For most people that includes a drink in their hand, suntan lotion or sunscreen, and plenty of vacation ti me?”

“I think so,” Julianna said “Can the drink be nonalcoholic?”

“Absolutely And as your doctor, I will insist,” he whispered conspiratorially “So, with that out of the way, please do yourself a favor and stay away from the jerk that makes you cry Okay?”

Her eyes watered but she nodded “I think I can do that”

“Promise?”

She hesitated at first but then nodded again “Promise”