“The fountains are one of my favorite things in the city too,” Rex agreed as he rubbed his hand over my back. One thing that he’d grown comfortable with over our time together was touching me. It had started with the foot rubs. Now I felt bereft when he went more than a few minutes without brushing his fingers over my cheek, or his hand over my back. Did he even realize what he did to me when he touched me that way?
“Can I start you with anything to drink?” the server asked as she approached our table. A single red rose was in front of me, so as not to ruin the view. She was a bubbly blonde with a wide smile, but I didn’t miss the way her gaze hungrily roamed Rex. He did cut a fine form in his suit.
He, however, barely glanced at her. “I’ll have a club soda,” he started.
I balked. “You can’t come to the Eiffel Tower and not get a drink. That’s against the law or something.”
He chuckled. “You’re not drinking.”
I rested my hand on my stomach. “That doesn’t mean you should be punished too.”
“I’m fine. I like club soda.” He was firm.
I stared at him, hard, for another two seconds, then let it go. “I’ll have a sparkling water,” I replied.
“No problem.” The server bobbed her head. “Would you like to start with an appetizer?”
My first inclination was to say no. When Rex nodded, however, I was thrown.
“We’ll have the grand seafood platter for two,” he said. “I can’t remember if there’s anything raw on it. We want it all cooked, though.” He gestured toward my stomach. “She cannot eat raw seafood.”
“Got it.” The server smiled before taking off.
“That’s quite the appetizer,” I noted. Nothing at the Eiffel Tower was cheap. The appetizer he’d picked was a hundred and forty bucks per person. “I guess you’re serious about this.”
“Did you think I wasn’t?” Rex was surprisingly relaxed.
“I don’t know.” He was open to conversation. I figured it was time to put all my fears out on the table, because Olivia was right. Maybe—just maybe—if we were open and honest with one another, everything would work out. “I guess I’m just afraid.”
“I know.” He rubbed his hand over my back again. “I’m afraid too.”
“What are you afraid of?” I honestly wanted to know.
“I already love our baby, Ruby. I know you were uncertain how I would be when you first told me—I was such a disappointment—but I was always going to love our baby.” His eyes were clear when they locked with mine. “I want to give Rexanne the best life I can possibly give her.”
I scowled. “Why won’t you let that name go?”
His lips quirked as he continued. “For a long time, I was afraid I would screw things up if I followed my feelings. I didn’t want to do that. The thing is, I believe we’re adult enough to do the right thing for our kid even if this doesn’t work out between us.”
“I believe that too.” I meant it.
“I’m sick of denying what I feel for you, though,” he continued. “I want a chance to win the big prize.”
“You mean a family,” I guessed.
He shook his head. “Well, yes,” he amended. “A family is a big prize. I was talking about you, though. I want a chance to be able to have you forever.”
I thought my heart was going to beat right out of my chest. “If we’re going to do this, we have to try to do it right. I know we’ve already slept together…” I gestured toward my belly. “But maybe we shouldn’t jump right into bed this time.”
I expected him to argue. He was already nodding before I finished, however. “I was thinking that too. Let’s take our time and do this right.”
“What will that even look like?”
He grinned. “Well, for tonight that’s going to look like the tenderloin filet for you and the New York strip for me. I’m thinking, even if you’re not still hungry, we’ll get some macarons to take home and maybe some of that hazelnut cake. Then I’ll take you back to your suite like a gentleman.”
“But … what happens tomorrow?”
“Well, we can’t do everything like a normal couple,” he acknowledged. “We’re having a baby. There are things that need to be done, including doctors’ appointments. That doesn’t mean we can’t do whatever feels natural. I figured we would just play it by ear.”
