It Was Always You by Aliyah Burke Page A

wasn’t only physical. Even her soul missed him when they were apart.
    He cocked a brow. “Did you think I wouldn’t find out?”
    “Find out what?”
    “Playing dumb does nothing for you,” he said with a shake of his head. “Are we pregnant?” He shifted, a ripple of power, and she saw a man who would have no problem going in and demanding to know the results from Cora.
    “I am, yes.”
    He stepped toward her, ignoring the halt motion she made with her hand. She found herself in his strong arms. “I think it’s time we sit for a serious discussion,” he said, lips pressed against her temple.
    “No need.” He thwarted her attempt to step back.
    “Zoë.” Frustration laced his tone. “We go somewhere together or I put you in my truck now and we can talk there.”
    “I’m not avoiding you. I have to help my mother with the final prep for Cade’s thingy tomorrow.”
    “Okay then.”
    Zane put her in his truck. “I’ll drop you off at home and we can talk on the way.”
    His look silenced her protest. Not that there was much of one. She buckled her belt and watched him climb up into his truck. His presence was such, for a moment all she could do was stare. He quirked a brow at her.
    “Yes?”
    She shrugged. “Nothing.” No way she could…or would tell him, he made her lose the ability to speak.
    “The way you watch me, Zoë Duncan, makes me think we’ll be late to your mom’s.”
    No matter the situation he could always make her mind sway toward sex.
    “You realize you just left my car in the parking lot of the hospital.”
    “So.”
    Unrepentant. Stubborn, stubborn man. “What did you want to talk about?”
    He gave a harsh chuckle. “I don’t know. The weather. How you like the wax job on my truck. If you think Nate and Angela will marry or…the fact you are now carrying my baby. You know, if we could possibly discuss that.”
    “Sarcasm, Zane? Really?”
    “Either that or anger. Take your pick.”
    “Anger?” She faced him. “For what? I never once said I needed anything from you. Hell, I just found out myself. If anything I should be pissed you announced the potential for me to be pregnant in front of everyone at the fucking police station.” She faced forward with a huff.
    The following silence had her side-eyeing him. He sported a serious scowl. Her temper rose high for a moment.
    “I’m not fighting with you, Zoë. You have to face facts. We’re going to be parents.” He parked before her parents’ house. “I plan on being there for every aspect of this.”
    “You don’t even know if you’re remaining here in Springwood,” she snapped.
    She jumped out before he could come around and open her door. He snagged her around the waist, drawing her flush to him. “I don’t think so,” he growled.
    Zane dominated her mouth until she sagged into him. She forced her fingers to relax and release the death grip she had on his shirt. Side by side they entered the house.
    She noticed how at ease her parents were with Zane. Really? He got me pregnant. Not even a bit of fatherly gruff? They went to the kitchen.
    “I’m right here, Zoë. In the same room as you. There will be no escaping. We may as well continue to talk.”
    She glared in his direction as she stomped to the fridge. They were alone in the room. She opened the fridge and withdrew the pie crust her mom had made earlier, unwrapping the cellophane around it. “So talk.”
    “I seem to be the only one doing so. Don’t you have anything to say?”
    She stared at him across the kitchen. He stood at the island chopping vegetables, appearing altogether comfortable performing such a task. He’d not batted an eye when her mother gave him his job to do. After all these years of wanting him, why am I pushing him away now when he’s right there in front of me?
    Zoë rolled out the dough as she weighed her words. Her parents never returned to the room, as if they knew her and Zane needed privacy. “I don’t want to push you