Just as he pulled in front of Painted Pansies, Pepper turned her open sign off. She met his gaze through the large front window and stilled. Nolan knew she’d put up a fight, but this time, where she was concerned, he was holding his ground. He could do this and not lose himself in her. This was about making up for the past, not reigniting an old flame.
No more running...for either of them.
Those protective instincts had kicked in the moment he’d seen she was expecting and alone. Now with the fire and the custody case looming over her, Nolan had every intention of slaying every one of her dragons.
Remorse drove his thoughts, his actions. He refused to delve into all the reasons why he couldn’t let her do this on her own.
As soon as he entered her shop, he flicked the lock on the door. Pepper stood behind the counter as if she wanted some barrier between them. Nonetheless, that wouldn’t stop him from doing what he’d come to do.
And if he didn’t broach this now, he’d talk himself out of it because this crazy idea embodied every fear, every doubt he’d ever had when it came to Pepper. Their crackling attraction aside, this was a risk he’d never thought he’d take again.
“I’m surprised you opened today,” he told her.
She glanced down to her register and pulled out receipts. “I have to make money. The fire didn’t do damage down here and I was able to salvage a couple of outfits that happened to be in my clothes dryer and were unscathed from the smoke and water.”
He made a mental note to get her more clothes. Another thing she’d most likely balk at, but too bad. He wouldn’t ask. If he had them purchased and delivered, she’d have no choice. Right?
“Did you have a productive day?”
Pepper blew out a sigh and finally stared up at him. “Did you stop by for small talk?”
Those piercing gray eyes were no less affective than they’d been a decade ago. She managed to touch him with just a look. And how she still had that power over him was beyond his comprehension.
Adjusting his hat, Nolan crossed the room and rested his arm on the top of the counter. “Not at all, Pepper, but I figured it was best to play nice because what I have to say may not put you in the best mood.”
“I’m not in a good mood anyway, so why don’t you just spit it out.”
His eyes raked over the scoop neckline in her simple tank, his gaze heating at the sight of the thin cotton molding perfectly to her full breasts. She had on those bangle bracelets again and some long earrings in a variety of colorful stones. Her silky dark hair was still down from when she’d showered at his house, and all he could think of was how to get her back there again.
The image of her wet, naked, soapy in his oversize shower with the rain-head spray cascading down her gorgeous curves had him getting extremely hot and uncomfortable. Damn it, he still wanted her. There was no reason to even try to deny such a fact.
He had no right to her, but that wouldn’t stop him. Pepper would be his again...at least temporarily. The ache he had for her had nothing to do with the past and everything to do with an all-consuming, burning need he hadn’t expected upon seeing her again.
“You aren’t seriously going to look at me like that,” she stated, crossing her arms over her chest. “I can’t be fooled by your charm.”
“You’re still just as beautiful,” he drawled. “Makes a man want to admire the view.”
Pepper shook her head and focused back on her receipts. “I’m immune to you now, so just say what you have to say and go.”
Adorable that she thought things were that neat and tidy between them. They’d never been so structured. Back in the day, they’d been wild and young and free. Then life had thrown hurdles in their path and they hadn’t survived the fallout. Now they were back to square one and nothing about this situation was simple.
“You never answered my text,” she said tersely as she sorted the slips of paper. “If you don’t want to help, that’s fine. But if you could pass along the name of a good attorney, I’d appreciate it. The Wrights’ lawyer called me and I had no idea what to say—”
Nolan was around the counter and taking her shaky hands in his as she rambled on. “Breathe,” he commanded. “Just calm down and tell me exactly what their lawyer said.”
Pepper removed her hands from his and flattened them over the papers. She dropped her head between her shoulders. “Just give me the name. I don’t want you involved.”
Too late for that, he thought ruefully. If she didn’t want him interfering now, she’d be really ticked when he dropped the ultimate bomb. He’d gone further than just reaching out to his law firm.
“I already spoke with my attorney earlier—he’s on it. I was at the ranch helping Colt, so I didn’t get to text you back, but I have this all under control.”
With her hair curtained around her face, Nolan couldn’t make out her expression, but he knew she was exhausted. Most likely she also felt defeated and/or cornered.
“Pepper, I’m only looking out for you and you’re going to have to let me. I’m not trying to make this more difficult.”
“Can you look at this from my perspective?” she asked as she slowly turned toward him. “Can you imagine finally having your entire life planned out only to have it crash down all around you, then have to come face-to-face with your past and pretend nothing happened?”
Nolan grabbed her shoulders, hauling her against his chest. Pepper’s head tipped back as she stared up at him with wide, tormented eyes.
“You think this is easy? Seeing you again, knowing you’re carrying another man’s child?”
Nolan hated that he wasn’t more in control, but there was no way he could lie to her, to himself. The fact she was pregnant again gutted him and reminded him exactly what he’d given up.
“I’m going to help you through this and you’re damn well going to put the past aside and let me.”
“Put the past aside?” she jerked out of his hold and took a step back. “It’s not that simple, Nolan.”
He rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. “I didn’t mean it like that,” he corrected. “I know we have unresolved issues and there is so much that needs to be put to rest, but for now, we need to work on your current situation. I need you to hear me out.”
Pepper rested one hand on the counter and propped the other on her hip. “Fine. What’s your miraculous plan?”
They’d reached the part of the conversation he’d rehearsed over and over again, but he had a feeling no matter how he delivered this, she would refuse. He expected, and deserved, no less.
“My contractor said your apartment would be ready in two weeks.” There—laying some groundwork for his defense was probably best. “You can stay with me until then.”
When she opened her mouth to argue, because she would without a doubt have a snappy comeback, Nolan held up a hand. “You have nowhere else to go and my house is plenty big enough. Besides, I’m on call and at the hospital so much you won’t even see me most of the time.”
That seemed to pacify her as she shut her mouth and nodded.
“What about the attorney? Does he think he can help? Because I can’t lose this baby, too.”
Too. That simple word said so much, yet left even more hurtful, accusing words hovering in the air between them. They would have to face that dark time in their lives eventually. Yes, they were two totally different people now,