Read Online Maybe This Time (The Educators Book 3) by Kathryn Shay - Free Book Online

Sometimes life just happens.” Bending down he opened the door and before she got in, she looked up at him with those dark eyes. Stephanie’s room was in the back and they were in the driveway, so he tugged Delaney closer. They stared at each other in the intimate cover of night.
    Then she stepped back. “Damn it.”
    “Yeah, damn it.”
    She slid inside the car. Before he closed the door, he said, “Drive carefully.”
    Watching her take off, he thought about her words—his life had been different years ago. But he liked what he had now better, didn’t he?
    Damn, the woman confused him and aroused the hell out of him. He’d wanted to climb right into that bed with her tonight. But he had responsibilities that precluded a relationship with Delaney Dawson. And there didn’t seem to be anything that could change that. Depressed, he went inside his condo.
    o0o
    After the third morning that Delaney woke up and wretched violently—then felt fine all day except for a spate or two of dizziness--she had to admit some truths to herself.
    So two hours before school, she sat in her car outside the all night drugstore and thought about the night she’d spent with Gage. He’d had two condoms in his wallet and she’d kept one in her overnight bag. They’d made love using them three times, but they’d had one encounter—in the shower, where he’d taken her against the wall as the water beat down on them. She remembered the sensation of the hot spray prickling her skin as he drove into her. Emptied himself into her. With no protection. Ergo: she could be pregnant. And she could find out right now because that wonderful night in Atlanta had happened three weeks ago. Her period wasn’t due for another week, so it hadn’t been a dangerous time.
    Tell that to Catholic mothers around the world.
    She took in a deep breath. Forced herself to go inside the store. Bought the kit and drove straight home. Once there, she strode to the bathroom and peed on a stick. A few minutes later the results came in.
    And as elated as she was to have gotten the one dream, other than to be a teacher, that she’d had all her life, the feeling was tainted by how this would affect Stephanie and her relationship with Delaney and her dad.
    o0o
    Late Thursday, Jill Jorgenson entered Gage’s office. Usually, the tall, striking associate was meticulous with her clothes and makeup, but she seemed fragile and pale today. “Hey, Jill. You all right? You look a little peaked.”
    Her smile was thousand-watt. “With good reason.” She put her hand on her stomach. “Got a baby coming.”
    The thrill on her face made Gage smile. “Congratulations. I’m assuming you’re happy.”
    “We’ve been trying to conceive for years. I should be more circumspect around here, but I know everything will work out. This little one is my priority.”
    He remembered feeling the same way about Steph when Andrea told him she was pregnant. What followed had been a rough patch because she had to go off her medicine, but the initial discovery had been exhilarating.
    Jill took a chair at the conference table where he already sat. “Just so you know, though, I may have to run out of here quick. I’ve been barfing at the drop of a hat.” She laughed. “Or I fall asleep at the worst possible times.”
    The world froze.
    Gage saw Delaney pale and wan in his bed.
    He heard Steph say her teacher had thrown up twice at school and she was dizzy that night at his house.
    Oh my God!
    The day dragged and he left work as soon as Steph called to say they were home, at his condo. Though he knew he couldn’t confront Delaney right away, he simply had to see her.
    Her Mazda wasn’t in the driveway. Could they have gone somewhere? No, when he got inside, he heard noise upstairs in Stephanie’s room. Trying to calm his racing heart, he climbed the steps, walked down the hall and found…Jesus Christ! Stephanie and Andrea were sitting on the bed. When she pivoted around, his ex-wife