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.He held her so tightly she couldn't breathe, but it felt good to have him there."Why didn't you call me?" be demanded.She swallowed, not certain how to respond to the raw hurt she could see in the depths of his green eyes.Not willing to admit that it had been her first instinct to do so.She'd ignored the impulse to turn to him for comfort and support.She'd been relying on him too much.She prided herself on her independence, her ability to be strong and self-sufficient.She was afraid of losing that to Shaun.She was more afraid that she'd relinquish it willingly."I went by your building.Your apartment—" He couldn't complete the thought "God, Arden.I thought you might have been in there and—"She laid her palm against his cheek, reassuring him with the comfort of her touch."I wasn't.I'm fine." Her lips twisted into a wry smile."Homeless, but fine.""Of course you're not homeless," Nikki interrupted."You can stay here as long as you need to."Arden dropped her hand from Shaun's cheek and turned to her cousin, embarrassed to realize she'd forgotten, however briefly, that she was there."I can't stay here," she protested."You've just started redoing the spare room for the baby."Nikki waved a hand dismissively."We have plenty of time for that.And I'm not going to have you living at some motel when we have more than enough room for you here.""It used to be your room, anyway," Colin reminded her."I appreciate the offer," Arden said, meaning it."But—""I have more room at my place," Shaun said, surprising all of them with the statement.Arden especially.She gaped at him."I'm not moving in with you," she said."No matter how temporarily.""Why not?""B-because." She was sure there was a reason.Probably half a dozen good reasons.But she couldn't think of a single one when he was looking at her like that."Maybe we should let them talk about this privately," Colin suggested, nudging his wife toward the doorway."There's nothing to talk about," Arden said."Because I'm not staying at Shaun's."But Nikki and Colin had already disappeared, leaving her to face off against Shaun alone."Why not?" he asked again."It's not a good idea," she said, even though she wanted to take him up on the offer."It's the best idea," he argued."You don't want to impose on Nikki and Colin, but you know Nikki will worry about you if you're on your own.""I've been living on my own for a while now," she said dryly."She'll still worry," he reminded her."Besides, you've been sleeping at my house most nights, anyway."It was true, but having a toothbrush in his bathroom wasn't the same as having her clothes in his dresser.She knew his offer was dictated by circumstances, but moving in with Shaun seemed like such a leap, and she wasn't sure if she was ready."Why don't we at least try it for a few days?" Shaun suggested."If you're not comfortable with the arrangement, I'll help you find someplace else to stay.""What if you're not comfortable with the arrangement?""Then I'll let you know."She was skeptical."Promise?""Yes, I promise." He slipped his arms around her waist and drew her closer."To be honest, I'm kind of looking forward to having you under my roof for a while.These aren't exactly the circumstances under which I would have hoped for this to happen, but I'm learning to take what I can get.""You're sure you're okay with this?""I offered, didn't I?""Okay," she agreed finally."Have you guys come to any kind of agreement?" Colin asked, poking his head into the kitchen."Yeah.Arden's going to come home with me," Shaun said."Good," Nikki said.Arden raised an eyebrow."Come on," Nikki said."I'll let you raid my closet until you can replace your own things.""I'd appreciate that," Arden said, following her cousin up the stairs."The only clothes I have are those on my back." She sniffed, inhaled the acrid scent of smoke that had permeated her attire."And they don't smell very good.""Help yourself." Nikki gestured to her closet."Nothing fits me right now, anyway."Arden glanced at her cousin's slightly protruding belly and smiled."You look great," she said honestly, enviously.What would it be like, she wondered, to carry the child of the man you loved?"I feel great," Nikki admitted."We're all so thrilled about the baby.Carly can't wait for her baby sister.No matter how many times we tell her it might be a boy, she keeps insisting otherwise
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