Catch 'n' Kiss (Are You Game?) (24 page)

“Dan.”

“Mmm.”

Jody couldn’t work out how to tell him in a way that wouldn’t blindside him. Then again, she doubted that was even possible. “Um, remember the other weekend?”

He turned his gaze her way and muted the television. “Which weekend? We’ve spent the last few together.”

“The one in the Hunter.” Her mouth went dry and her tongue stuck to her teeth as she spoke. “When we…you know.”

“Had sex?” He waggled his eyebrows.

She smiled. “Yeah, well, I was sick a couple of weeks before that, remember?”

“Didn’t you and the girls all have tonsillitis or something?” Dan skimmed his fingers over her waist, sending tingles through her, and she struggled to stay focused.

“Yes. We were on antibiotics.”

“Okay. Any reason we’re taking this medical history trip?”

“Medicine can make contraceptive pills ineffective.” There. She’d said it.

“Meaning?”

Oh God. She was going to have to spell it out—say the words out loud. She’d avoided it until now. The words might have sounded in her head, but they hadn’t once passed her lips. Scrunching her eyes closed, she buried her face against his chest and let the words out. “I think I’m pregnant.”

“Okay.”

Her eyes popped open as she jerked her head backwards. “What? Okay? That’s all you have to say?” She tried to get off his lap, but he held her down by wrapping both arms around her waist.

“I have to confess I saw the kit in your handbag earlier.”

“You looked in my bag?”

“I didn’t mean to snoop, but it fell out when I dropped your bag on the counter and well, I added that to the frequent trips to toss your cookies and figured you had something to tell me.”

Jody stumbled over what to say next. Until Dan opened his mouth again.

“As soon as we’re sure, we’ll get married, but we can move you and the girls into my place this weekend.”

“Wow. Wait a second.” This time she did scramble off his lap. She got to her feet and stood, legs apart, hands on hips. “Who said anything about getting married or moving in together? I’m not uprooting the girls again. They’ve had enough uncertainty in their short lives.”

“Then I’ll move in here, but I thought it made sense to move into my place because it’s bigger. And the girls will still be in the same area so they won’t have to change schools or lose friends.”

“No.”

“Jody, be reasonable. If we’re having a baby we need to combine our lives to give our child the security and stability of a family.”

“I did that already and look where it got me. I’m not getting married or moving in with you just because we made a baby together. Jesus, we haven’t even slept together since it happened.” Couldn’t Dan see how stupid it was to get married or move in together at this point?

“Is that what happened? You got pregnant with Leigh and married the guy? And now you’re comparing me with him? I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear you say that.”

Jody opened her mouth to speak when the front door flew open and Amy came rushing in talking a mile a minute. Their conversation was officially over and it hadn’t gone anything like she’d expected.

Chapter Eighteen

Two and a half days. Dan hadn’t spoken to Jody in over forty-eight hours, and he was starting to go stir crazy. He’d left her house not long after the girls had arrived home on Tuesday night thinking he’d see her Wednesday, only she hadn’t come into work. Cassie had come into his office to tell him Jody had called to say one of the girls was sick, except he was pretty sure it was Jody who was sick. He hoped she’d used the day to visit the doctor and confirm her pregnancy. The sooner she did that the sooner they could move forward.

And then she hadn’t shown up on Thursday or today. He’d dialled her number numerous times but only allowed the call to go through a few of them. He didn’t want to pester her if she was resting, except now that she hadn’t returned any of the five messages he had left in the last three days, he was beginning to worry. Tonight he was turning up on her doorstep whether she wanted him there or not and he’d see for himself she was okay even if he had to peer in through the damn window.

“Hey.”

Dan looked up to see Cassie leaning on the doorjamb. “What’s up?”

She came into the room and closed the door. “Mind if I sit down?”

“Um, no.” He arched one eyebrow. “Is there a problem?”

“No.” She chewed her lip as she slid into the seat across from him. “More that I just want to have a chat. Friend to friend.”

“Jody. Luc asked you to talk to me about Jody didn’t he?”

Cassie laughed. “Actually, no. He told me to stay out of it.” She grinned. “As you can see, I’m taking his advice.”

“Oh?”

“Look, I don’t know what’s going on and I don’t want details, but I think you need some advice from a woman who might understand the working mind of another woman better than you.”

Dan wasn’t sure if he followed that correctly or not, but at this point he’d take any and all advice under consideration. “Go on.”

“Jody is ready to move on from her disastrous marriage, so don’t think she doesn’t have feelings for you. Quite the opposite. If she didn’t she wouldn’t have let you close. Her problem is she’s been hurt by someone she trusted before. Badly. You know that, so I don’t need to go into details. Unfortunately for you, she’s going to tar you with the same brush.”

She already had. When she’d insinuated marrying him or moving in with him for the baby’s sake would end up the same way her relationship with her ex had, Dan was pretty sure he’d been tarred by that arsehole’s brush. He nodded for Cassie to continue.

“Straight out, no lies, Dan. Are you serious about Jody?”

“Yes.”

“Okay.” She stood. “That’s good then.”

Dan watched puzzled as Cassie got up to leave. Where was the advice in any of what she’d just said? “Is that it?”

She glanced over her shoulder. “Oh, no. See you Monday.”

“What? I didn’t think you had a job off site today.”

“I don’t. But you’re heading home early. Oh, and I gave your Saturday party to Kerry.”

“What?” He pushed his chair back and got to his feet.

“I’m giving you the rest of the day and the weekend off. Go fix whatever the hell needs fixing with Jody.”

With that, Cassie disappeared into the hallway, leaving Dan wondering if he’d been dropped into the twilight zone. Cassie’s head popped around the door. “The girls are at school and Jody’s home resting, but you didn’t hear that from me.”

He stared at the space his boss’s head had just occupied for ages before he shook himself out of his daze and glanced at his watch. It wasn’t even eleven o’clock. If he headed to Jody’s now, they’d have a few hours of alone time to get things sorted out. With a plan in place, he scooped his keys off the edge of his desk and headed out.

Perhaps he should pick up some lunch? Although he wasn’t sure what she’d be able to eat with her tummy upset the way it had been the last time he’d seen her. He’d done some research and he knew morning sickness often lasted months. He hoped she didn’t suffer that long or get it as severe as some of the information suggested was possible. Dan hit the outer warehouse door just as West was coming in.

“Hey, man, leaving early? I didn’t forget a job, did I?” West asked.

“What? No. I’ve got some personal stuff to deal with so I’m cutting out early.”

“Lucky you. I’ve got at least another twelve hours before I can call it a day.” West held the door for Dan to pass through.

“But busy means you’re making money, right?”

“According to my accountant, I’m making too much money and should hire a manager. Hey, you’re not looking for a job are you?” West asked.

“You trying to poach me from Cassie?” Dan arched one eyebrow. “Brave. If I take you up on the offer she’ll be serving testicles at the next function.”

West laughed as he covered his groin and glanced around. “It’ll be our secret. But I’m serious. If you ever want out of Are You Game? come knock on my door. Whether I’m looking or not I’d hire you on the spot.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Hell no. I’m complimenting Cassie. She’s got your arse so shipshape you’d be a fantastic addition to my team.” West slapped him on the back. “Anyway, you go enjoy your time off while I go slave over a hot stove.”

“Yeah, right, you love your job. Meanwhile, there’s not much enjoyment in what I have to do.” Dan hoped there would be, but he had to be realistic. Jody was avoiding him and their last words had been spoken in mild anger.

“Ah, woman troubles.” West nodded.

“That obvious?” Dan asked.

“Only because I’ve seen that look in the mirror a time or two lately.”

“Oh? Anyone I know?”

West mimed zipping his lips and throwing away the key.

“So that means I do know her.” Dan grinned. “Which means it has to be someone who works for you…”

“You want me to start speculating on what you did to fuck things up with Jody?” West asked.

“Who said anything about Jody?”

“C’mon, you’d have to be deaf, blind and stupid to miss the fireworks shooting between you two.”

Dan frowned. He hadn’t realised they’d been obvious in their attraction.

“Relax. Nobody’s talking if that’s what you’re worried about.”

He wasn’t, but Dan was relieved to know it anyway. Except the lack of workplace talk would change once Jody’s pregnancy became public knowledge. Everyone would be talking then. “Look, I gotta go.”

“Sure thing. Catch you later. Oh, and that job offer stands.” West grinned as he ducked inside, the door closing behind him.

Dan wondered what was going on with his friend. He’d been so wrapped up in his own life that he hadn’t spent much time with West in recent months. Not that he should be worrying about someone else’s problems when he had his own to sort out. Shaking his head, he opened the door on his Jeep and climbed in. In the next hour he’d know if he had any hope of fixing the situation between him and Jody.

Jody dragged herself off the couch and crawled towards the door. She hadn’t kept any food down since Monday and her muscles just weren’t up to walking. Holding onto the wall, she barely made it into the hallway when the banging started. God, it sounded like someone had snuck into her skull and was hammering away at her brain with an axe.

“I’m coming.” Her voice was hoarse and scarcely more than a whisper. Her throat and mouth were so dry her tongue stuck to her teeth, and her lips stung in places where she knew they had to be cracked.

The thumping on the door continued and Jody grabbed her head, cupping her ears to try and lessen the noise. She collapsed against the wall and slid the rest of the way to the floor. Her arms and legs were like lead weights that an Olympic lifter would struggle to get off the ground. Curling in a ball, Jody cried, except she was so dehydrated that no tears formed and her eyelids grated against her eyes as she lowered them and prayed whoever was at the door would stop bashing on it soon.

“Jody?” She had no idea how much time had passed before Dan kneeled on the floor beside her. He shook her shoulder and she moaned.

“Jody? Can you hear me?”

“Yes,” she whispered over dry lips.

“C’mon, baby, let’s get you off the floor.” He scooped her up and stood, sending her head spinning and her stomach flipping.

“Oh God, gonna be sick.” She slammed a hand over her mouth as he dashed her towards the bathroom where she dry heaved for what felt like an eternity.

He pressed a damp cloth to her forehead when the wave of nausea had gone. “Can you hold that there?”

Jody couldn’t manage a shake of her head never mind move her arm. The only thing she could do was groan as Dan picked her up once more. She closed her eyes and fought against the bile rising in her throat as he moved out of the bathroom and into her bedroom. He laid her on the bed and she could hear him moving around but she had no strength to even open her eyes.

The bed dipped and Dan’s warmth brushed her side. “C’mon, try a sip of this.” He held her head up and pressed a cool glass against her mouth.

She parted her lips on a breath and let him tip a little water inside. He waited for her to swallow before repeating the process.

“How long since you ate anything? Drank anything?”

Jody’s head swam, her mind spinning as she tried to remember what day it was. “No.”

“No, you don’t want to tell me or you don’t know? C’mon, Jody, help me out here. Have you kept anything down since Tuesday?”

She knew that answer. “No.”

“Damn, Jody, have you been to the doctor?” He wiped the cloth over her face and her eyes fluttered open.

When her eyes focused, she saw his face twisted in deep concern. Tears stung, and her throat constricted, making it difficult to swallow even with the water he’d recently fed her. “Couldn’t.” She licked her lips. “Get in.”

“Where’s the number? If they won’t see you now I’m taking you to emergency.”