The Family Way by Jayne Ann Krentz Page B

you, Pru. It’s me they blame for the situation. We won’t stay long, I promise. I just want to make sure they know who you are and that you’re my wife. After all, when the baby comes, they’ll have to know about it.“
    „The baby?“ she whispered. „Do we have to tell them about the baby right away? Couldn’t we wait?“
    „Why do you want to wait?“ McCord asked, his eyes narrowing.
    Pru groped for reasons she couldn’t put into words. „If s too soon. I’m still adjusting to the fact that I’m pregnant. Give me a little time, McCord.“
    „Nothing’s going to change with time,“ he pointed out gently. „You’ll just be more and more pregnant.“
    „It’s not funny,“ she retorted, seeing the flare of amusement in his eyes.
    „I know. I shouldn’t tease you. I realize you’ve been through a lot during the past few weeks. Now I’m asking you to face a pack of in-laws I’m not especially fond of myself. I won’t add to the strain by announcing that not only did we get married yesterday, but you’re already pregnant.“
    „Thank you, McCord,“ she said politely.
    „You’re embarrassed, aren’t you?“ he demanded with unexpected masculine insight. „That’s the real reason you don’t want me to mention that you’re pregnant. You don’t want everyone thinking you had to get married.“
    Pru bit her lip. She wasn’t sure of her own reasons. She just knew she felt pressured and stressed and all sorts of other emotions that were probably common to mothers-to-be. „I’d just as soon not say anything yet,“ she murmured stubbornly.
    „If you think it’s going to be awkward having people think you had to get married because you were pregnant, how the hell did you plan to handle being an unwed mother?“
    „That was different.“
    „How was it different?“
    „I can’t explain, and I’m sick of trying. Let’s just drop the subject. I will announce my pregnancy in my own good time,“ she flared. It was all wrapped up in knowing she hadn’t been married for the right reasons, all bound up with the knowledge that McCord had only married her because he was the kind of man who shouldered his responsibilities. She had been married for all the wrong reasons. She needed time to accept that.
    McCord shook his head, half impatient and half sympathetic. „Women,“ he growled.
    „Men,“ Pru growled back.

SIX
    Pru had regained a grip on her volatile emotions by the time McCord had the Ferrari packed. She told herself repeatedly she had absolutely no cause for complaint about her situation. She should be downright grateful, in fact, just as Aunt Wilhelmina had advised. Pru knew only too well that many women in similar circumstances would have found themselves on their own. She was lucky enough to be married to the baby
    ’s father. She had no grounds for carping about her fate.
    But she was feeling perverse.
    McCord installed Pru in the passenger seat of the Ferrari and then climbed into the driver’s side. He shot Pru a quick, questioning glance as he turned the key in the ignition.
    „Are you all right?“
    „I’m fine.“
    „You have an odd look on your face. What are you thinking about?“
    Pru deliberately grimaced, making her expression even odder. „I was just giving myself a pep talk.“
    „About what?“ he demanded, guiding the car out of the inn parking lot.
    „About not complaining when there is nothing to really complain about,“ she snapped, feeling goaded.
    „You’ve decided to start feeling grateful instead?“
    She didn’t like the tone of his voice. „I don’t intend to go overboard with it, but, yes, I guess I should be feeling rather grateful.“
    „I’ve told you I don’t want your gratitude,“ he said.
    „You’d rather have me throwing tantrums and railing against my fate?“ she countered.
    „As J.P. would say, some folks would complain if they got hung with a new rope.“
    „That sounds suspiciously like an Aunt Wilhelmina saying. And I am not