When You Make It Home Read Free

the truth. “Stop looking at me,” I said, making my way to the light switch.
    Although he’d draped his tan, muscular arm across his forehead, I sensed his eyes tracking me. I pictured my belly growing with each step, the truth transparent. I switched off the lights. The sun was on the other side of the house, and fading afternoon light glowed in the room. I went back around the bed and paused, not sure I really wanted to get in with this hostile-looking guy who had spent recent years surrounded by sand and weapons.
    Theo glared sideways at me. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’m not about to make a move on some pregnant chick. Either get in or get out—I don’t care.”
    My mouth fell open. “Oh… you think I think…” My voice quivered, so I stopped and tried another tactic. “I don’t…” More quivers. I forced out the only response I could manage. “Whatever.” I snatched my heels off the floor, ready to go home.
    “Wait. What are you doing?” Theo scrubbed his hand over his face. “Don’t go.” His tone softened. “I shouldn’t be alone right now.” He was giving me those big, puppy-dog eyes, but I could see his smirk.
    “What? Now you want me to stay?” No more quivering. The words flowed when the focus was on him. “What’s with you?” I itched to make a run for it, but even so, he intrigued me.
    “Cut a guy some slack, will you? My social graces are rusty.”
    “Oh, please! I’ve been warned not to give you anything that might resemble sympathy.”
    “I don’t want your pity.” A spark flared in his eyes. “Are you always this sassy, or is your condition playing with your hormones?” He had a full-on grin, his white teeth gleaming.
    His audacity got the best of me. “Shut up, or I’m going to take your crutches when I leave.”
    My threat only made Theo roar with laughter, infuriating me more.
    “You’re a bad girl, teasing a hurt man. Just get in bed—you look tired. I’ll leave, if you really want me to.”
    I gave in because he was right: I was worn out. “No, don’t go.” I dropped my shoes, went to the bed, pulled back the covers, and climbed in, staying as far away from him as I comfortably could. “Let’s call a truce. I’ll stay over here, you stay over there.” I settled the plush bedding around me and rolled over to face his direction. The visible side of his body was flawless.
    “Fine, but you better not snore or I’m going to flatten a pillow over your head.”
    I stifled a giggle. “You’re not at all what I expected.”
    He jerked his head toward me, eyeing me suspiciously. “What did you expect?”
    “I just thought a war hero would be nice.” I yawned.
    “I’m not nice enough for you?” His voice, low and smooth, did nothing to hide his amusement.
    I relaxed, sinking in the mattress. “No, you’re a total asshole.”
    The bed shook with his laughter. “Well, at least you’re honest, but don’t call me a hero.”
    I heard the smile in his tone, but my eyes were closed. I really should have just stayed in bed today , I thought, drifting off to sleep.
    My eyes were open before I realized I was awake. Theo, bathed in moonlight, lay stretched out on top of the covers next to me.
    “You don’t have a ring on.” He searched my eyes.
    “I gave it back when I cancelled the wedding. Bradley wanted me to keep it…” I looked at my bare hand in the dim room. My ring finger felt naked without the karat-and-a-half, princess-cut diamond. Sometimes I still caught myself rubbing the area, searching for the phantom ring. “But I couldn’t.”
    “So what, you didn’t want a shotgun wedding?”
    “Wait. Bradley’s not the father.” I cringed as soon as the words left my mouth.
    His eyes twinkled in the moonlight, and he grinned again.
    “So you are a bad girl.”
    Chapter Two
    I n the days following Theo’s welcome home gathering, I constantly replayed the strange moments we’d spent together. After he’d called me a bad girl for the second