“Look,” he rubs his forehead again and looks at me warily.  “I’m sorry that you found out about her that way.  It was shitty.  But it was nothing.  She is nothing to me, and has been for a very long time.  I helped her out because I felt responsible for her, and I slept with her because she was convenient.  I don’t feel about her the way I feel about you.  I never did.”

I watch his face, his eyes, and my stomach starts to settle.  He’s telling the truth.  Thank God.

“You guys can come out of hiding,” I call out and Luke and Natalie emerge from the hallway, hand in hand.  I smirk at them.

“Hey, I had to make sure you didn’t need me to kick his ass,” Luke says with a grin.

Nate laughs, “You could try.”

“You okay?” Natalie asks quietly and I nod.

“So, the shower is tomorrow afternoon at my place.” I stand and walk over to Nate, kiss his cheek and run my fingers down across his jaw, reassuring myself that everything is right again.

“Do you need help setting up?” Natalie asks.

“No, I’m having it done professionally.  I hired a party planner.”

“For a shower?” Natalie asks, her eyebrows raised to her hairline.

“I have a demanding job, Nat.  And it has to be perfect, so yes, I hired it out.”  I grin at her and do a little happy dance.  “I’m so excited!”

“I think I might have some work to do.”  Luke’s eyes are wide and he runs his hand through his hair.

“Oh no, you’re coming.”  I point my finger and glare at him.

“This is really a chick thing,” Nate says.

“Whose side are you on?” I ask.

“Luke’s,” he states matter-of-factly.  “It’s a chick party.”

“He’s the daddy.”  I plant my hands on my hips and glare at both of these stubborn men while Natalie laughs.  “He has to go.  Besides, my brothers and parents will be there, along with his family too, so it’s a co-ed party.”

“Will there be pink?” Nate asks.

“The baby is a girl; of course there will be pink.”  I look at him like he’s being ridiculous.

“Chick party.” Nate sneers.

“A chick party that you’re now going to,” Luke interrupts.

Oh, no.  My panicked eyes meet Natalie’s and she offers me a small smile.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea…” I look around the room and over to Nate and he’s frowning at me.

“Why?”

“I don’t know if I’m ready to introduce you to my family,” I whisper.

“Why?” he asks again.

I shrug.  “It’s kind of soon.”

“You just called me your boyfriend ten minutes ago.”

“I just didn’t know what else to call you.”  I shrug and turn away and then find myself pinned to him, his hand twisted in my hair and the other at the small of my back, pressing me to him, and his mouth – oh, that mouth – is on mine, kissing me urgently.  Then, just as fast as he started, he releases me and backs away.

“Oh, my,” Natalie mutters.

“Be there at two,” Luke tells him with a smug smile on his face.

Chapter Twelve

I’ve been quiet all through dinner. Nate and I ordered in pizza after returning to my house from Nat and Luke’s. We threw in an action movie and settled on the couch in the loft with our cheesy, delicious pizza and a couple of beers.

But I can’t stop thinking about the scene is his office earlier today. If he didn’t tell me about an ex-wife, what else is he hiding?

While Nate watches the movie, I clear our plates and tuck the left-overs in the fridge.

“I’m going to take a shower,” I murmur as I walk past him on my way to my bedroom.

“What’s wrong, Julianne?” He catches my wrist and pulls me down next to him.

I shrug and shake my head. “I’m not sure I know.”

“Bullshit. You’re still pissed about today.” He frowns as I pull my hand out of his and scoot away from him, needing to distance myself just a bit.

“I’m not exactly pissed, as much as still a little confused and disappointed. Why didn’t you tell me you have an ex-wife?” I eye him speculatively and he pushes his fingers through that glorious black hair, swearing under his breath.

“Honestly, I didn’t think about it.”

“Look, I get that she was a long time ago, I believe that you haven’t slept with her since you met me, and I’m not accusing you of anything like that, Nate. But it was not a good feeling to walk into that office and see a beautiful woman with her hands all over you, not after everything we’ve shared over the past week. So, yeah, I’m still on edge about it.”

“I apologized and explained.”

“Yes, you did. What else are you going to have to apologize and explain about, Nate? What other dirty little secrets are you hiding?” I get up off the couch, needing to get into the shower and away from him for a few minutes, but he snags my hand again.

“Don’t fucking run out on me again. I don’t have any secrets from you. She is not a secret, she’s just part of my past.”

I look down into his silver-gray eyes and soften just a bit. His face is tight with worry.