Jake stood outside the bathroom door, breathing hard, willing his heart rate to come down, his fists to unclench. He could hear Sophie’s muffled crying through the closed door. He could picture her burying her face in a towel so he wouldn’t hear. The sound physically hurt him—but the icy blade of betrayal slicing into his heart hurt worse.

She’d cheated on him and the baby wasn’t his.

The pain was terrible. He’d rather be shot or tortured than feel this way; he was shocked at how quickly he’d been able to create a fictional family life with Sophie, how attached he’d become to his imagined child, just from knowing she had that pregnancy test in her pack.

He was supposed to see this some other way—supposed to be mature about it. Understand that they hadn’t been exclusive when she slept with Alika. But jealousy and possessiveness and betrayal churned in his gut, anyway. She knew he had a thing about cheaters and liars because of his dad being such an asshole…

The dogs ambled out of the bedroom. Tank pressed his forehead against Jake’s thigh in a comforting gesture, and Jake fondled the dog’s ears instinctively. Gradually the warmth of the animals pressing against his legs calmed him. He walked to the sliding glass door, and out onto the deck.

His sister Patty’s voice echoed in his mind: “How you handle this could be the way you lose her.”

But maybe he didn’t want to be with Sophie after all.

She didn’t love him like he did her. And to take on another man’s baby? But maybe it was his. He’d have to find out.

Patty was right. He should have run from this relationship when he had the chance.

Jake turned at the sound of the bathroom door opening. He hurried back as Sophie emerged, her face puffy and tear-stained.

“I’m pregnant.” She held up a plastic wand. A thin blue line showed on it.

Their gazes locked. Jake couldn’t think of what to say, and it appeared, neither could she. Suddenly Sophie’s eyes rolled back, and she crumpled, so quickly he almost didn’t catch her in time. Jake lowered her limp body gently to the carpet. He patted her cheek. “Sophie? Soph! Wake up.”

She was unresponsive, her skin sallow and sweaty. He grabbed her wrist, felt for a pulse. Her heart rate was rapid and weak. “Sophie. Wake up.” Was fainting part of pregnancy? Or was this situation just too stressful? Seeing her like this gutted him.

The dogs crowded around, whining and trying to lick Sophie’s face and arms.

Jake yelled at them. “Go!” He pointed to the bedroom and the two obeyed, whimpering in protest. He jumped up and tore open one of the brand-new rolls of paper towels, dampening a handful at the sink, and ran back. He knelt and lifted Sophie into his arms, swiping at her face. “Wake up, Sophie, damn it.”

Her eyelids fluttered and he set the paper towels aside. She turned into him with an inarticulate moan, clutching his shirt. “Jake…”

Relief that she was okay felt heady. He closed his eyes, savoring the feel of her in his arms, crushing her close. For a second it felt like they were together again, and nothing had changed.

Maybe it hadn’t. Maybe the test was wrong. Maybe he hadn’t heard her tell him she’d slept with Alika.

And then suddenly, Sophie stiffened, obviously remembering. She wrenched out of his arms and crab-walked backward away from him. She cupped her cheeks with her hands, her eyes huge. “Oh, no. I’m pregnant!”

“Yes, you are.” Jake gazed at her, feeling dead inside. “We need to find out who the father is.”

Sophie’s full mouth tightened. Her amber-brown eyes heated. “So, you didn’t mean it when you said you’d be there for me no matter what.”

“I don’t know.” The words rolled out of his mouth to drop to the floor between them like stones. “I think some space to consider all options would be a good thing.”

“If you’re hinting that I would get rid of this baby because it’s inconvenient—that is not an ‘option’ I would consider.” Sophie’s eyes blazed.

“That’s not what I’m saying. It’s your body and all that.” Jake stood. He had to get away, consider his choices, and try not to make the situation any worse while he did so. “We should find out who the father is and go from there. I really do need some space right now.” He snapped his fingers. “Tank! C’mon. We have our own place to go to.”

Tank just stared at Jake from beside Ginger in the bedroom doorway. Jake walked over and grabbed the big pit bull’s collar, hauling him toward the door. “You let me know how you want to go about the paternity test—I’m the first to admit I have no idea what to do next. I’ll see you at work in the morning.”

Jake dragged his reluctant dog out of the apartment and shut the door on the sight of Sophie’s stricken face.