LITMIR.BIZ

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hungry,” he answered, smiling at her in return and she laughed.

      She turned to Mike. “I thought you had some chores this morning and were going to be gone.”

      “I’ve already been out. Scotty was still asleep. I’m going back to join them again after breakfast if you meant what you said about watching Scotty.”

      “Sure I did if that’s all right with Scotty.”

      “Scotty?” Mike prompted. “You’ll stay with Miss Savannah, won’t you?”

      “Yes, sir,” Scotty said and smiled at Savannah again.

      “That’s nice, Scotty. Did you see the snow this morning?”

      “Yes, ma’am,” he answered politely. “This afternoon Daddy will help me make a snowman if I eat my breakfast.”

      “A little bribe,” Mike said, grinning. “And it’ll be after I get some more chores done,” he added to Scotty who nodded. Mike turned to Savannah. “What can I fix you? We have bacon, eggs, orange and/or tomato juice, coffee, hot biscuits, dry cereal, blueberries, oranges, dried apricots—”

      “Stop,” she said, laughing. “You’re naming way too many things. I just want cereal and a glass of milk. I can get my breakfast. You stay with Scotty.”

      Mike reached the cabinets when she did and he retrieved a glass, turning to get the milk and pour it for her. “Tell me when.”

      “When,” she said. “Not too much. Thanks.” She was so aware of Mike beside her, of his dark eyes intently on her. The sight of him made her remember last night, standing in his arms while they kissed.

      In minutes she had cereal and a glass of milk as she sat beside Scotty and across from Mike.

      “Please go on with your regular routine today and don’t let me change it,” she said.

      “Will you help us build a snowman later?” Scotty asked.

      “Sure, I will,” she said. “A snowman sounds like fun.”

      Mike had a covered bowl on the table and when he raised the lid, she saw scrambled eggs.

      “If those aren’t still hot, tell me. I’ll scramble some more,” he said.

      She shook her head. “No, thank you. What I have is plenty.” She sipped her milk. “Do you know if it kept snowing into the night?”

      “Oh, yes,” Mike replied. “The boys keep up with it and Ray said we had a record-setting eight inches.”

      “Oh, Mike. I’m sorry—I’m sort of the houseguest who came for a night and stayed for a week. Eight inches—I won’t be able to get my car out of that and I doubt if the state road will be cleared.”

      “You’re right on all counts. We’re glad to have you, so just relax, Savannah. This is a break in routine winter days.”

      “Thanks,” she said, drinking some milk and eating cereal. After a few bites, her stomach lurched and worry gripped her. She didn’t want to be sick in front of Mike. She turned to talk to Scotty.

      “I have a scarf you can use to put around your snowman’s neck,” she said, trying to ignore her queasy stomach.

      “Savannah, are you all right?” Mike asked, studying her.

      Feeling worse by the second, she shook her head. “Where’s the nearest bathroom?”

      He stood and came around the table swiftly, taking her arm as she stood. “We’ll be right back, Scotty,” Mike said, leading Savannah away from the table. Mike headed to the hall and opened a bathroom door.

      “Thanks.” As soon as the door closed, she lost the small breakfast she had eaten. She washed her face and hands with cold water and waited while her stomach settled slightly. When she opened the door, Mike leaned against the wall with his arms folded. Studying her, he straightened.

      “Better now?”

      “Yes, I am.”

      “Do you need a doctor?”

      “No, I’ve been to one. Don’t worry, this isn’t contagious.”

      “I didn’t think it was,” he said quietly.

      “You better get back to Scotty. He’s in a high chair.”

      “He gets himself into that chair a dozen times a day and he gets himself down. Scotty is a climber so there’s no worry. He’s an easy kid to have around, and he’s an only child and that makes it easier. C’mon. You probably want to sit.”

      “Yes, I do.”

      They went to the family area where Scotty sat on the floor playing a game on a laptop.

      “Mike, are you sure Scotty isn’t a bit older than you told me? He’s on a computer.”

      “He has some games he likes and I’ve taught him how to pull them up. He catches on fast.” He studied her again. “Can I get you anything?”

      “No, thanks. I’m feeling better now. I’ll get my dishes in a while.”

      “Forget them. When’s your baby due or would you rather not talk about it?”

      Startled, she focused on him. “I didn’t think my pregnancy showed yet.”

      “It doesn’t. Elise had morning sickness. I recognize the symptoms.”

      “I’m surprised you were able to tell by just one morning with me. I’m glad I found you yesterday—you were a lifesaver, but being saved by a mind reader is a little disconcerting.”

      “I’m no mind reader, just observant. I assume your pregnancy is the reason you wanted to get out of Little Rock and go to California.”

      “You’re right. You might not be a mind reader, but you’re definitely astute,” she said. His calm acceptance of discovering his guest was pregnant put her more at ease. If he had been shocked, worried about a pregnant woman on his hands or worse—acted disgusted the way her ex-fiancé had, she would have been embarrassed and upset. Also, his enthusiasm over his son helped put her at ease because it was obvious he liked kids and was filled with love for his son. She still hurt when she thought of the last conversation with Kirk and how he had stared at her, his gaze raking sharply over her after she had announced her pregnancy.

      Get rid of it, Kirk had said. His first words to her had stabbed as if he had plunged a knife into her heart. His words had hurt, but the blunt dismissal had made her protective of her baby from that moment on. She brought her attention back to Mike.

      “Your ex-fiancé didn’t want babies—what did you tell me—for another fifteen years? Or he really doesn’t ever want children?”

      “He said he doesn’t want children for at least another fifteen years. I’m twenty-six and I don’t want to have my first child when I’m fifteen to twenty years older. I really don’t think he ever wants kids, but he wouldn’t say that. He didn’t want this baby at all. He didn’t care what I did as long as I didn’t keep the child.”

      “That’s a hell of a thing,” Mike said, a note of steel in his voice that made her feel better. “Scotty is my whole world. I love him with every ounce of my being,” he said, looking at his son and a tender note coming into his voice that gave a twist to her heart.

      “That’s wonderful for both of you. And the way I’d hoped it would be.”

      “Sorry, but it’s good you found out now before you said vows. He gave up his baby and let you walk away—that’s the mistake of his life.”

      “He didn’t view it that way. When he found out I was pregnant, I think he wanted to be rid of me. He signed over all parental rights, too. He wouldn’t have given any financial support anyway, but I didn’t want any from him.”

      “I’d

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