Page 122 of To Tango, with Desire

“I did.”

“And?”

“You can see if you like.”

“I’d rather hear it from you.”

I caught his eye. “I’m pregnant.”

“Amira . . .” He stroked my cheek and I burst into tears.

Zane lifted me in his arms, carrying me to the armchair in our bedroom. Sitting down, he propped me on his lap, stroking back my hair.

“Aren’t you going to say something?” I whispered, throat raw.

“I think I’m in shock.”

I looked at him and realized he wasn’t angry. I sighed, feeling the knot in my stomach begin to unravel.

“What are you going to do?” he eventually asked.

“I don’t know.”

He nodded, staring off into the distance.

After some time, he spoke. “Do you want this baby?”

“I . . . No. I don’t think I do.”

“Okay then.”

“Do you? Now that we’re here and it’s real, do you want me to keep this child?”

“I want you to do what you want to do. This is your body, and because of my mistake, you’re now facing this. I won’t pressure you to carry a child. I’ve told you I don’t want kids, but if you turned around and said you wanted to keep the baby, to raise a child, then . . .”

“What? Then what?”

“Then I would start building a nursery.”

My heart, one that had been filled with terror moments ago, almost burst in adoration.

I flung my arms around him as fresh sobs tore from my chest. And I knew. I knew at that moment that I was falling in love with this man.

I was falling so damn hard and it felt so damn fast.

Zane didn’t force his views on me, didn’t demand that I listen to him. He offered acceptance and support. And while he may not love me, I knew that he cared. I truly understood and believed it. And not for the first time, I felt hope. That maybe our loveless marriage was going to be okay.

Once the year was up, once our contract was over, maybe we could start afresh.

He rubbed my back, soothing, sweeping strokes until I could breathe again.

“Thank you,” I murmured, pulling back to face him.

“So what happens now?”

“I’m not sure. I guess I’ll need to book in at a clinic or something.”

“Maybe hold off doing the procedure until I get back? I’ll be gone for two weeks and I don’t want you facing this alone.”