Imperfect Justice by Olivia Jaymes Page A

lifted one hand from her eyes and glared at her best friend. The same friend who had encouraged her to let loose a little. Now look what had happened.
    “You’re not helping, Rayne.”
    “I’m sorry, you’re right. Listen, people do get pregnant even when using a condom. They’re not a hundred percent.”
    Misty slapped her hands down on the mattress, feeling helpless and not liking it in the least. “They ought to tell people that then. Oh God, how am I going to tell him?”
    Rolling over, she buried her head in the comforter. She had no idea how she was going to tell Jared. What would he say? Would he want the baby? Did she?
    Yes. Yes, she did.
    Already she was feeling protective of the life deep inside of her. If Jared didn’t want it, she would love it enough for both of them.
    “And whom might you be telling about this pregnancy?” Rayne queried.
    Misty levered up to her elbows and sighed. “You want to know who the father is, don’t you?”
    “That would be a helpful tidbit of information. Are you going to tell me?”
    Rayne fell silent leaving the decision in Misty’s lap. She’d already kept so much from Rayne so couldn’t keep this from her any longer.
    Burying her face again, Misty braced herself for Rayne’s reaction. “Jared Monroe is the father.”
    Rayne’s mouth gaped open, her brows almost to her hairline in astonishment. “Sheriff Jared Monroe? The town hunk? Christ on a unicycle, you don’t do anything halfway, do you? Holy shit.”
    Misty nodded miserably. She had no idea what she was supposed to do now.
    “And you’re going to tell him, right?” Rayne prompted. “He deserves to know.”
    “I’ll tell him. I’m just not sure how or when,” Misty admitted, still reeling from the news herself. She needed time to get used to it before talking to Jared. “After that one time we said we would just be friends.”
    “About that one time…I need details, girl. I can’t believe you kept this a secret. There’s no way I could have kept something like this under wraps.”
    Misty leaned back against the pillows, grabbing one to hug to her middle. “I’ll give you details but I’m kind of in the middle of a crisis here, you know? Rayne, I’m pregnant.”
    Just saying the words shook her to the core. She was going to be a mother. The only thing she knew at this moment was that she wanted to be the very best mother she possibly could.
    Rayne threw her arm around Misty and pulled her into a fierce hug. “It will all be okay. I’m your friend and I’m here for you. Always. If Sheriff Gorgeous doesn’t want this baby, I’ll be right by your side. I promise.”
    Sniffling, Misty wiped a few stray tears of gratitude that had trickled down her cheeks. She might not have had friends growing up but she’d hit the jackpot with Rayne.
    “I think I’m going to need all the help I can get. I don’t know a thing about babies.”
    “We’ll learn together. I’ll steal some of my sister’s pregnancy books.” Rayne pressed her forehead to Misty’s. “You’ll be okay. You’re going to be a great mom.”
    Misty could only hope and pray that was true.

Chapter Nine

    J ared tipped his hat to the lady behind the counter of the Springwood diner when she told him to take any table he liked. Driving here today, he’d been intrigued by the call from Misty. She wanted to talk to him, which was good in and of itself. He hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind since that night weeks ago. Maybe she’d changed her mind about leaving Fielding.
    Of course her request to meet out of town had caught him by surprise, although it shouldn’t have. Misty had some scars from the gossips in town, and somehow they’d both escaped being grist for that mill after the night he’d spent at her apartment.
    Settling into a booth back in a corner, he ordered a coffee for him and a hot chocolate for her. For some reason he was nervous, which was unusual. He couldn’t remember the last time a woman had