Free Marine Ever After (Always a Marine) by Heather Long Page B

didn’t have to. He was prepared. He was prepared to avoid pregnancy. I’m pregnant. Thank you for our one-night fling, by the way, we’re having a baby.”
    “So? He’s still the father. If anything, he can help you out. Financially. Emotionally. Something. You don’t have to go through this on your own. If he won’t step up, trust me, Luke can do….”
    “Becs, please? Let it go. I haven’t decided whether or not I’ll tell him. I know I have to at some point. But, right now, he’s overseas on a duty assignment. He can be redeployed at the whim of the Marine Corps. You forget, I grew up in this life. His life isn’t his own. Telling him simply means he learns about a baby he can’t see. I’m not going to move to be there or change my life for him. He shouldn’t have to change his life for me.” It sounded so rational and utterly cold. Their conversation halted while the waitress delivered their sandwiches and fries.
    “Yeah, no one should have to do anything, but maybe he’ll want to. Besides, you didn’t make a baby by yourself.”
    “But I’m okay with it. I want this baby.” Opening the ketchup bottle, she squeezed out a helping onto the plate. “I really do. I wasn’t, I never thought about being ready or making plans or even dating a guy for longer than fifteen minutes. But now that I am pregnant? I want the baby. I want the fun and the two a.m. feedings and the lack of sleep and the for-the-love-of-God conversations…I want it all.”
    “Okay, playing devil’s advocate here. What if he wants the same things? What then?”
    “I don’t know. But it’s not a conversation to have from thousands of miles apart. You know, we’re also assuming he even remembers my name.”
    “Oh, he remembers it.” Rebecca glanced at her plate, a flush staining her cheeks.
    “How do you know? You didn’t even know who he was.” Lillianna narrowed her eyes, studying her. “What do you know?”
    “I know one of Luke’s buddies asked for your phone number. Wouldn’t say why so I wouldn’t give it. Luke said he met you at the wedding and I was going to mention it and then completely forgot about it because of the expansion. So….” Guilt colored her tone. “He did want to get in touch with you. But I think maybe I got in the way.”
    “Oh.” Her stomach did another flip-flop. That changed everything. Didn’t it?
    “I’m sorry. Right up until this moment I’d forgotten about it and I shouldn’t have.”
    “It’s okay.”
    “No, it’s not.” Rebecca shook her head and took a bite of her sandwich. They ate in contemplative silence for several minutes. “Do you want his number?”
    Did she? She should. Theoretical rejection seemed easier to deal with than the real thing and nowhere near as terrifying as the possibility that he might want more. Lust kindled heat in her blood, and she squashed the lascivious thoughts. It wasn’t about his body or hers, it was about a baby.
    A baby they made.
    “Yeah, I do. And Becs? If anyone tells him, it has to be me. Don’t tell Luke or let Luke tell him.”
    “I won’t lie to Luke, but this is your news to tell the father. Luke will understand that. And if he doesn’t…well, I’ll deal with it.”
    “Thank you.”
    “I love you, Lillianna. You were there for me and I’ll be there for you. In fact, I think I’m going to throw you the biggest, swankiest baby shower in the world.” And she would. Rebecca planned events for a living. “Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl yet?”

Chapter Seven
     
     
    Paul leaned back in the chair and studied the thrumming crowd in The Wall. Tuesday was the most popular night at the BDSM club—the equivalent of a Friday night in the states. But the weekend didn’t lack for creative culture or couples and singles getting their kink on. A public scene played out on the main stage and held some of the audience captive, but many made the rounds of the dance floor, headed upstairs for a quieter, private suite or