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Tate’s blood ran cold and he was seized by paralyzing fear But he had to keep cal and drive her away for good

"I knoe have a lot to work out, but I’ to try Are you?"

She bit into her bottom lip nervously, her eyes cloudy with uncertainty "I don’t know," she ad has thrown ht decision is I just know I can’t continue on like it was before Our child deserves better I deserve better"

"Yes, you do deserve better than I’ve given you," Tate said, not even bothering to hide the truth in her state you better One hundred and ten percent of me from now on But I can’t do that if we’re apart I need you here Where I can take care of you and our baby You aren’t happy I’?"

"I can’t make that decision in a split second," she murmured "I need time, Tate I need time to think To process this all I only just found out about ure out what’s best for our child or for me Much less us"

And yet she’d come to him at her first opportunity She hadn’t tried to hide the fact that she was pregnant That gave hih to confide in hi wasn’t in her nature It was one of the things he lovedher emotions, her moods He knew them all

He wanted her back before he knew about their child, but did she realize that? Surely she did He’d certainly not made it a secret in his relentless pursuit of her over the last weeks But he had no way of knowing hohat she was thinking It was new and frustrating for him He’d always been able to count on her predictability A quality so just where he stood with Chessy and knowing she always stood with hireat coreatest downfall because he’d grown too complacent, too confident in the fact that she ith hiranted again, but he had to find a way to convince her of that Words were just words and they no longer held any poith her

"I’ll give you time," he conceded "But please don’t shut o to the doctor with you I won’t pressure you and I won’t deivewith the announcement of my partnership tomorrow I’d like us to start over Whatever I have to do to regain your trust I’ll do"

"You want to date?" she asked skeptically

"I want us to see each other," he corrected "I’d rather not live apart while we’re doing it, but if you need tiive it to you But I want to see you, whichhere so I can cook dinner for you like tonight I’d like to go to your first obstetrician appointment and be included in your prenatal care I want to talk about baby na"

Her expression softened and his pulse sped up She was caving He could see it But it was a hollow victory at best because he still didn’t have what he most wanted Her back in his life, his house, his bed But he had to believe that in tis would co about

"I’ll consider everything you’ve said," Chessy finally said "I should be going now Kylie and Jensen are going to be worried They didn’t want me to come alone"

Tate’s expression darkened "Do they think I’ to abuse you?"

"No," Chessy said softly "But they’re afraid you’ll hurt ht now As I said before the whole reason I went to the doctor was to ask for medication for anxiety and depression Instead I found out I’nant I’m scared More scared than I’ve ever been in my life This isn’t easy formy every decision, but I’ve continued to make bad ones I can’t afford to do that now that I have a child to consider"

Tate closed his eyes, the ache in his heart o I’d like you to stay so we can talk About the baby Our future"

"It hasn’t been decided yet if we have a future," she pointed out "I’ you On my terms, not yours But ultimately the decision resides with ainst the urge to argue To try and wear her down Only her coue halted hi she needed wasto require patience, a trait he was very unfa in his life When he’d met Chessy, he’d immediately known she was the one, and he’d pursued her and won her in short order

And now he’d lost her

"When can I see you then?" he asked bluntly

"I’ll call you," she said

He made a sound of impatience If he waited for her to call he may ait forever