Read Online What If I'm Pregnant...? by Carla Cassidy - Free Book Online Page A

avoid him here, but sooner or later he was going to have a little talk with her. A renewed burst of irritation swept through him as he thought of his sister and her sudden spouting of feminism.
    Tanner had nothing against feminists. He believed in equality for both sexes, understood the need for self-fulfillment. But he knew there were women who talked about personal fulfillment and the strength of women who were secretly not feminists, but something more—male bashers and man haters.
    Was that what Colette was? Would she teach Gina to hate men? Would she foster in Gina a belief that women were better off without men in their lives? Would she encourage Gina to take her pleasure with men, but never commit to a real relationship that required give and take?
    He thought of the kiss he and Colette had shared. She certainly hadn’t kissed like a male hater. There had been a hunger in her lips, a hunger that had stirred a like response in him.
    Even now, thinking about it, a surge of desire welled up inside him. He wanted to yell at her for whatever she’d said to Gina the night before, then he wanted to kiss her until they were both dizzy with desire.
    But at the moment both things seemed out of the question. He couldn’t help but believe she was intentionally avoiding any conversation, any contact with him whatsoever. And throughout the course of the afternoon nothing occurred to change his mind.
    It wasn’t until the part-time help arrived and Colette grabbed her purse to leave that Tanner saw his opportunity to speak with her alone.
    When she left the store to walk home, he hurried after her and quickly fell into step next to her.
    â€œTanner, it really isn’t necessary for you to walk me home each day that you’re here in town,” she said, her voice radiating a touch of irritation.
    â€œWell, it’s important that I do so now, as you’ve obviously been avoiding me all day and have made it impossible for me to speak to you alone,” he replied, trying not to notice how the early-evening sunshine spun golden sparks into her hair.
    â€œDon’t be ridiculous, I haven’t been avoiding you.” The edge of vexation was more thick in her voice. “Besides, what could you possibly have to speak to me about?”
    Her attitude sent a burst of irritation through him. “I’d like to know just what in the hell you told Gina last night.”
    She stopped walking and stared at him. “What are you talking about?” She didn’t wait for his response, but rather began walking again, this time faster, as if she couldn’t wait to get to her apartment and away from him.
    He hurried to catch up with her. “I’m talking aboutthe fact that before last night Gina had always talked about getting married and having a family of her own. But suddenly after having a little late-night chat with you, she’s decided she may never get married.”
    Once again Colette stopped and faced him, hands on her hips. “Last night you were worried she’d get serious and get married too young. Now you’re worried that she’ll never get married. Why don’t you leave her alone and let her figure out what she wants in life by herself?”
    â€œBecause I’m afraid of what kind of influence you’ll be on her.”
    She stared at him in surprise, opened her mouth as if to speak, then clamped it closed and stalked away. Tanner once again hurried after her. “I mean, it’s not that I think you’re a terrible person or anything like that,” he tried to explain. “It’s just that I don’t know you well enough to know if your value system is up to the same standards I want Gina to embrace.”
    â€œMy value system?”
    She didn’t stop walking, didn’t speak another word to him until she reached her apartment building. It was then she turned back to face him. He’d always believed that brown eyes were warm