Read Online Unnatural Relations (Lust and Lies Series, Book 1) by Marilyn Campbell - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Marilyn Campbell
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he said, crossing his heart.
She turned her back as he stood up, but she was able to confirm that he had slept in his briefs.
Before he headed out, he gave her a brotherly hug and a kiss on the forehead. "Try to get some sleep today. You look even worse now than you did when I got here."
She did make an effort to rest, but she awoke with the dry heaves the next morning as well. She couldn't remember ever having a two-day hangover, but chalked it up to the previous week's lack of food and sleep.
Or perhaps it was something else. Something that would affect her a lot longer than a bad hangover.
With her mind totally occupied with Howard's vanishing act, she hadn't given any thought to her menstrual cycle. Her period was eleven days late, and it was never, ever late. But everyone knows stress causes all sorts of physical problems and she had definitely been under a tremendous amount of stress lately.
It was probably too soon to worry about it. Once she let the thought in, however, it wouldn't go away. What would she do if she was pregnant? An abortion? Out of the question. Regardless of how she felt about the father, she believed abortion was a form of murder. She also couldn't imagine giving away a child she'd created.
So she would have the baby and keep it. Could she do that on her own? She rejected the idea of going home to her parents. Not only were they too old for her to dump her problems in their lap, it was a matter of pride. When she'd left home, she was so sure of herself, her talent, her success. It was bad enough to admit she'd failed, but to crawl home, broke and pregnant...
No! She would do this on her own or she would die trying. Lots of women stay active throughout their pregnancy and go right back to work after they've delivered. She was young and healthy. She could do it if she had to.
But until she was certain, she decided to pray very hard that it wouldn't be necessary.
Her worry was temporarily put on hold shortly after she got home that night, when Russ reappeared with a large suitcase in his hand and a sheepish expression on his face. "I'm not drowning in a toilet bowl, but I could use a favor if you still feel you owe me one."
She opened the door wider and stood aside for him to enter, but he continued to stand in the hallway looking embarrassed. "What's the matter?"
"I got kicked off the estate. I was kind of hoping you'd let me camp out here for a few days... just until I figure out what I'm going to do."
The idea of him staying in the one-room apartment for even a few days gave her a very uncomfortable feeling, but she couldn't think of a credible excuse to turn him down under the circumstances. "Of course," she replied with a forced smile. "Come on in."
Chapter 4
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Russ set his suitcase down and let out a frustrated groan. "I doubt if it would help. But I could sure use a hug if you've got one to spare."
How could she refuse to return the same comfort he'd given her when she had needed it so badly? As he stepped into her open arms, she could actually feel the tension in his body. He slowly relaxed against her but all too quickly, she sensed a change in the way his hands were moving over her back. She was about to ease away when he made a very unmanly confession.
"I'm scared, babe. I have no idea what I'm going to do." He released her and turned away.
Her concern that he was looking for something more than sympathy from her was overridden by her natural inclination to answer a cry for help. She touched his arm to get him to face her again. "Why don't I make us some tea while you tell me what happened? It may not help, but it can't hurt."
Rather than sitting down, he stayed by her side as she filled the kettle with water and got out two cups and tea bags. She found it a bit unnerving that he was barely giving her enough space to move, but she didn't want to say anything that might make him feel worse than he already did.
"I've lived on
She turned her back as he stood up, but she was able to confirm that he had slept in his briefs.
Before he headed out, he gave her a brotherly hug and a kiss on the forehead. "Try to get some sleep today. You look even worse now than you did when I got here."
She did make an effort to rest, but she awoke with the dry heaves the next morning as well. She couldn't remember ever having a two-day hangover, but chalked it up to the previous week's lack of food and sleep.
Or perhaps it was something else. Something that would affect her a lot longer than a bad hangover.
With her mind totally occupied with Howard's vanishing act, she hadn't given any thought to her menstrual cycle. Her period was eleven days late, and it was never, ever late. But everyone knows stress causes all sorts of physical problems and she had definitely been under a tremendous amount of stress lately.
It was probably too soon to worry about it. Once she let the thought in, however, it wouldn't go away. What would she do if she was pregnant? An abortion? Out of the question. Regardless of how she felt about the father, she believed abortion was a form of murder. She also couldn't imagine giving away a child she'd created.
So she would have the baby and keep it. Could she do that on her own? She rejected the idea of going home to her parents. Not only were they too old for her to dump her problems in their lap, it was a matter of pride. When she'd left home, she was so sure of herself, her talent, her success. It was bad enough to admit she'd failed, but to crawl home, broke and pregnant...
No! She would do this on her own or she would die trying. Lots of women stay active throughout their pregnancy and go right back to work after they've delivered. She was young and healthy. She could do it if she had to.
But until she was certain, she decided to pray very hard that it wouldn't be necessary.
Her worry was temporarily put on hold shortly after she got home that night, when Russ reappeared with a large suitcase in his hand and a sheepish expression on his face. "I'm not drowning in a toilet bowl, but I could use a favor if you still feel you owe me one."
She opened the door wider and stood aside for him to enter, but he continued to stand in the hallway looking embarrassed. "What's the matter?"
"I got kicked off the estate. I was kind of hoping you'd let me camp out here for a few days... just until I figure out what I'm going to do."
The idea of him staying in the one-room apartment for even a few days gave her a very uncomfortable feeling, but she couldn't think of a credible excuse to turn him down under the circumstances. "Of course," she replied with a forced smile. "Come on in."
Chapter 4
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Russ set his suitcase down and let out a frustrated groan. "I doubt if it would help. But I could sure use a hug if you've got one to spare."
How could she refuse to return the same comfort he'd given her when she had needed it so badly? As he stepped into her open arms, she could actually feel the tension in his body. He slowly relaxed against her but all too quickly, she sensed a change in the way his hands were moving over her back. She was about to ease away when he made a very unmanly confession.
"I'm scared, babe. I have no idea what I'm going to do." He released her and turned away.
Her concern that he was looking for something more than sympathy from her was overridden by her natural inclination to answer a cry for help. She touched his arm to get him to face her again. "Why don't I make us some tea while you tell me what happened? It may not help, but it can't hurt."
Rather than sitting down, he stayed by her side as she filled the kettle with water and got out two cups and tea bags. She found it a bit unnerving that he was barely giving her enough space to move, but she didn't want to say anything that might make him feel worse than he already did.
"I've lived on
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