Free A Weekend Temptation by Krista Caley Page A

time. Alexander was always on time for her. Of course being the perfect man, Alexander understood her tardiness. As if being late was a female trait he expected to endure.
    Ava slipped into the shower, her head still swimming. She yawned and decided she definitely needed more sleep.
    She also needed a more supportive bra. Her breasts were tender as the shower pelted them. She hoped that meant she was about to begin her period. It was already a week late, but she tried not to get too excited. It had been late before, especially in times of stress.
    But…
    But…she’d never had a reason to think she could be pregnant before.
    No. Not possible.
    How many people got pregnant from one week of love making? And he’d worn a condom each time, he’d protected her. Okay, condoms weren’t one hundred percent, but she’d never met anyone who’d told her their condom failed. Or had she? Her mind was fuzzy today. Didn’t it take months to get pregnant?
    Not always , her troubled mind whispered.
    She shook her head, sending light brown strands of hair into her eyes. She pushed them back and told herself it was okay. She just ate some bad food last night. That’s all.
    Everything would be fine. She stepped from the shower and dried off. As she rubbed her towel over her body, she had to admit her stomach wouldn’t settle.
    A nervous stomach. A marriage proposal. Of course, it made sense. Her stomach rebelled because she’d said yes to Alexander, and she’d ingested some bad food. That’s all. Bad food and change. Change was hard on everyone, even good change. Her body was reacting to the happy stress. Once she got used to it, her stomach would return to normal.
    And her period was late. Like it had been late three months ago.
    But what if she was…?
    Ava dropped the towel on her toes and focused on her bare navel. A new life growing inside her? A life with Joel’s sharp, black eyes. With his dark hair and chiseled cheekbones. She trembled. The pregnancy test sat on the counter, where she’d left it last night, taunting her to find some courage to take it.
    She inhaled a deep breath, grabbed the test, and unwrapped it. Before she could change her mind, she took it. Then she set a timer and watched each lethargic second tick by for twenty, long, agonizing seconds.
    Her stomach flipped and flopped. She stared at the test until her vision blurred.
    Pregnant? Her? The girl who planned everything, having an unplanned pregnancy? Impossible.
    What would it be like to grow a baby inside her? To watch her body transform?
    God, time inched by. Waiting for an answer that could change her entire life was excruciating. Her heart jumped against her ribs and started to pound.
    What was she doing watching a stupid egg timer anyway? She was late to meet Alexander, her fiancé. They were having lunch with his parents to tell them of the engagement.
    She should be getting ready. For once, she’d like to surprise him by being on time.
    Only this test, this answer couldn’t wait.
    A moment later, she opened her walk-in closet and stepped into a pair of black, pinstriped pants. As she pulled her favorite, peach silk blouse off the hanger the timer dinged. Her fingers convulsed, she dropped her shirt and galloped back to the bathroom.
    Was that a… plus ?
    She froze. Her mouth dropped open.
    No. No. It couldn’t be.
    She blinked hard.
    She had to have misread something. She had to be reading the control line, because there is no way she could be…
    She swallowed, trying to free the rock lodged in her throat. She placed a shaking hand against her flat stomach.
    Oh God.
    Her best laid plans had just imploded.
    She was pregnant with Joel Stanfield’s baby! And she’d thought the world tilted before, now she was captive on a tilt-a-whirl. What the hell was she going to do now?
    Ava needed time to process this major life change. Her skin iced over, and her heart pounded. No way was she ready to tell Alexander. Nor could she face an engagement lunch