“Yes,” he told her after he finally made himself let go of her hand, “it’s very good.” He slid the plate away from her and broke off a piece. “Your turn now.”

She flushed, but didn’t hesitate to open her mouth. At first he thought she was only going to take the food, but at the very last second her tongue came out to curl over his fingertip.

He barely bit back a groan. Why the hell had he made that stupid promise not to touch her?

* * *

Sophie felt happier than she had in a very, very long time. Just being with Jake, slowly walking hand in hand through downtown San Francisco, was better than any of the fancy evenings out she’d had with the men she’d dated before him.

Not, she supposed, that they were technically dating. No, they’d skipped right past that part, hadn’t they? From one kiss to twins-on-the-way so quickly it made her head spin.

She was glad he’d insisted on this day together, on wanting to prove to her that they were compatible outside of the bedroom. She flushed as she realized they’d had sex in far more places than the bedroom.

Still, she couldn’t shake the sense that the tenuous connection she and Jake had been forging with one another had broken slightly when they’d been at the bakery in Chinatown. Something kept coming between them and she wished she knew what it was, wished that he would open up and tell her.

But she’d known Jake long enough to understand what would happen if she pushed too hard too fast. He’d shut down completely...and it would break her heart to lose him just when it looked like they might have a chance of making things work.

Her newly overactive bladder had her stopping in front of a Starbucks. “Nature’s calling. I’ll be right back,” she told him, leaving him standing out on the sidewalk while she went to go wait in the surprisingly long line inside.

Jake was holding a fairly large plastic bag when she came back out. The only store anywhere near the coffee shop was one that sold cheap little tourist trinkets. Just the kind she absolutely adored, as a matter of fact.

But what could Jake possibly have bought?

Before she could ask, he grabbed her hand and said, “If we run, we can probably catch that cable car before it heads back down the hill.”

Hand in hand, they dodged people and dogs and garbage cans. Laughter and pure, unfettered joy bubbled up inside her at a side of Jake she hadn’t known existed until now.

The cable car slowed down just long enough for Jake to lift her up before getting on behind her. The conductor seemed happy enough when Jake flashed their tickets at him and she figured he must recognize the McCann’s owner like everyone else had so far.

“Where are you taking me?”

Instead of answering, he pulled her against him, her back to his front, breaking his promise again, thank God. She slid her hands along his forearms and leaned her head against his shoulder as the sights of San Francisco passed by them one after another. She closed her eyes and wished they could stay like this forever.

“Here’s our stop.”

Sophie felt groggy as she felt his breath warm against her ear, and realized she must have dozed off into a light sleep on the cable car, probably from the combination of the movement, her pregnancy...and finally being right where she’d always wanted to be.

Safe and warm in Jake’s arms.

The wind had picked up, but the afternoon sun was still shining brightly. He’d taken her to a large strip of grass at Chrissy Field on the bay. To their right was Alcatraz, to their left the Golden Gate Bridge. In the middle of a workday there weren’t many people out, just a few people flying kites.

“Do you remember coming out here when we were kids?”

Of course she did. “Lori and I had new kites, but mine ripped when she stepped on it before I could even use it.” She paused. “You told me kites were for babies, but you made Lori share with me.”

“I hated it when you cried.” He stroked a hand down her cheek. “I still do.” He pulled something long and colorful out of the big bag. “I wish I could have given this to you fifteen years ago.”

“Oh, Jake.” She could hardly believe it. He’d found a kite in the shape of a rainbow, so similar to the one she’d had as a child. “I can’t believe you got this for me.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

“I don’t just like it. I love it.” And you, she thought. I love you so much.

He helped her tear open the package and soon the wind took the kite way up high in the sky. She had to run to keep up with it, and when she finally caught hold of it enough to look back at Jake, he was staring at her with that same wonder she’d seen on his face when they’d been making love and his hands had been on her belly.

This time she knew it couldn’t have anything to do with the fact that she was pregnant with his children. But just because he’d stopped hiding his attraction to her, and the fact that he enjoyed spending time with her...did that necessarily mean he would ever fall in love with her the way she’d always been in love with him?

Chapter Eighteen

Jake saw Sophie shiver as the sun disappeared behind Alcatraz. He knew he should take her home, but he wasn’t ready for their day together to end yet. He’d thought he was doing this for her, but the truth was, he couldn’t remember a better day than this one.

Her stomach growled again and she laughed. “I swear, it doesn’t normally sound like there’s a crowd in there.”

“I should have fed you—and them—” He looked down at her stomach. “—before now. Good news, I know of a pretty good place in one of the converted Fort Mason buildings just around the corner.”

He loved the way she automatically reached for his hand for their walk across the grass into the parking lot where the old military base had been turned into galleries, shops, and restaurants.

But when they got close to the restaurant, she abruptly stopped walking. “You can’t be serious. We can’t go into the fanciest restaurant in the city wearing this. And I’m sweaty from running around on the grass.”

“I like you sweaty,” he said in a low voice, but despite the answering desire that flared in her eyes at his reminder of how good it was to get sweaty together, he could see she didn’t really feel better about where he was taking her. “You always look beautiful, Sophie. And we need to eat.” He put his hand on her lower back and led her through the elegant entrance.

The maître d’ recognized him immediately. “Mr. McCann, welcome. Please follow me.”