Read Online Deliver the Moon by Rebecca J. Clark - Free Book Online Page B

nodded. “He has a penthouse downtown.”
    “A penthouse.”
    “What’s wrong with a penthouse?”
    Gabe held up his hands. “Nothing is wrong with one.”
    “You had a tone when you said it.”
    “I did not have a tone.”
    “Yes, you did.”
    “Okay,” he said, amusement coloring his voice. “What kind of tone did I have?”
    Her head cocked a bit. “One that says you disapprove.”
    “Lou, I live in an apartment myself. Why would I disapprove?”
    “I don’t know. You tell me.” She bit into a piece of crusty French bread. A few crumbs fell to the table.
    “I guess it just surprises me,” he said.
    She finished chewing her bite of bread. “Why?”
    He shrugged. “You’re not the type who would fall for a man who lives in a penthouse.”
    “I’m not the same person I was when we were married, Gabriel,” she said pointedly, staring at him.
    He narrowed his eyes at her and gave a slight nod of his head. “Fair enough. But I would imagine you’ll get into a house after you’re married?”
    “There’s no reason to move. Evan likes his place and so do I. It’s close to both our offices.”
    “You want to raise a family in a penthouse in downtown Seattle?”
    Her chin lifted a notch. “Evan’s children are grown. The youngest is in college.”
    “What about the kids you and Evan will have together?”
    Her pause was very brief, but Gabe noticed. “We don’t plan to have any,” she said quietly, but with a tone that warned him to back off.
    He ignored it. “What? You always wanted a house full of kids.” After Joey was born, she’d talked of having two or three more. He couldn’t believe she would have changed her mind about that, even with the tragedy of Joey’s death.
    “Like I just told you, I’ve changed,” she said. “Besides, Evan’s been through the whole family thing already.”
    Even though she wasn’t quite looking at him when she spoke, Gabe managed to see the spark of disappointment in her eyes.
    His teeth clenched. So that was it. Evan didn’t want more children, so—all of a sudden—neither did she. It infuriated him to no end that once again Louisa wasn’t fighting for what she wanted. He made his voice calm as he asked, “What about you, Louisa?”
    “I’ve made up my mind, and I’m fine with it.” She sounded like she was trying to convince herself of that.
    “Are you sure you’re not just—” Gabe thinned his lips. “Never mind.”
    “Am I sure I’m not just…what?”
    “No.” He gave a swift shake of his head. “It’s none of my business.”
    Louisa directed a pointed look at him. “This whole conversation has been none of your business, but it hasn’t stopped you. Now, what were you going to say?”
    He held back a sigh. “I can’t help wondering if maybe you’re scared to have more kids because of what happened to Joey. That maybe those fears are…letting you go along with Evan’s wish to have no more children.”
    “Of course I’m scared, Gabriel. Wouldn’t you be? I never want to go through that again. I can’t imagine loving something so much just to have it taken from me.” Her voice caught, and she glanced away. “But that has nothing to do with this. Evan doesn’t want to go through the whole diaper routine again. He’s going to be running for office next year, so between his political career and my career…there’s no room for kids.”
    “But you’re only twenty-seven,” he said, his tone softer. He knew an antagonistic approach would only make her dig in her heels further. She was so stubborn. “You don’t think you’ll regret this decision a few years down the road? You were such a wonderful mother.”
    She stuck out her chin in a show of defiance. “We didn’t decide this overnight. Evan and I have talked a lot about it. You and I don’t need to.” She met his gaze squarely, silently daring him to say more.
    Her hazel eyes sparkled with the battle they had just waged, and while Gabe was annoyed at the