Read If the Ring Fits for Free Online Page B

Perhaps— “I’m pregnant.”
    The breath froze in Travis’s throat. “Beg pardon,” he returned, keeping his expression perfectly still.
    “I’m pregnant.” Her fingers twisted in her lap. She lifted her gaze to his and he saw the truth in the tears shimmering in her eyes.
    When Travis had been ten his brother had hit him in the chest with a two-by-four, forcing all the air from his lungs. To this day he remembered that awful, panicky feeling. He felt the same way now.
    After a long moment, he cleared his throat. “Are you sure?”
    “I did a home test. It came back positive.” She chewed on her lower lip. “I have all the symptoms.”
    He had to be in an alternate universe. There could be no other explanation. “You’re on the pill.”
    Then he recalled why her brother called her Fertile Myrtle. Both times she’d gotten pregnant before, she’d been on oral contraceptives.
    “I should have used a condom.” A sick feeling took up residence in the pit of his stomach. “We’d always used one before.”
    “Yeah, well…” Her voice trailed off and he saw the despair in her eyes.
    “Are you planning on having the baby?” He tried to keep his tone casual. Although this was his child she was carrying, he was well aware that this was ultimately her choice.
    “Are you asking me to have an abortion?” Her voice rose then broke.
    “Nononono.” He reached for her hand. “How could you possibly think that?”
    Mary Karen jerked her hand away and crossed her arms. “You don’t like children. You told me that yourself less than five minutes ago.”
    “Of course I like children. I’m an obstetrician. I bring children into the world on a daily basis.” As he spoke, Travis tried to remember his earlier words. “I merely said I didn’t want to raise them.”
    Tears spilled from her lids and slid down her cheeks.
    Damn. He was an intelligent man, but that didn’t seem to stop him from putting his foot in his mouth.
    “Ah, M.K.” He pulled her against him despite her protests. “It’ll be okay. Don’t cry.”
    “I’m not crying,” she said between sobs. “Crying is s-stupid.”
    “No, it’s not,” he said in a soothing tone. As he stroked her hair, he realized this wasn’t just about him. He’d put his best friend in an untenable position.
    “I’m getting your shirt wet.” She tried to pull away, but he tightened his hold.
    “I don’t care about the shirt.” He leaned his forehead against her hair. “I care about you.”
    It was the truth yet something he’d never said to her before. Though they’d been as intimate as two people could be, they’d always been careful to avoid talking about feelings.
    “Caring doesn’t matter.” Mary Karen pulled a tissue from her purse and blotted her eyes. “Steven cared about me. Look how that turned out.”
    Steven was also an arrogant, self-centered jerk. From the moment he’d set foot in Jackson Hole, Travis hadn’t liked the guy. And he certainly hadn’t appreciated the way he’d treated Mary Karen.
    “This is such a big mess.” She sniffed then blew her nose.
    Big mess seemed a bit mild, considering the impact, but Travis agreed with the assessment.
    They’d stay married. What other choice was there? Mary Karen was his friend. She was carrying his baby.
    Travis blew out a harsh breath. It looked like he was about to become a family man…whether he wanted to or not.

Chapter Four
    M ary Karen pushed back from Travis’s arms. It wouldn’t do to get too comfortable. She’d told him about the baby. She’d accomplished her goal for the evening.
    “The lease on my apartment will be up next month,” he said, thinking outloud. “Since your place is bigger, I’ll move in with you. After the baby is born, we can talk to Joel about building a house for us.”
    The resignation in his eyes made her heart clench. It mirrored what she’d seen in her ex-husband’s eyes when she’d told him she was pregnant.
    “No,” she said softly, then