After the episode during breakfast Dahlia didn't know how to act around Jared. Was she supposed to be happy now and to act like a couple? They'd spent the whole night together, but that still didn't mean that they were okay. He still didn't trust her in regard to Anthony, and she was so sick of walking into his office and finding random women in there.

He'd stopped hanging out at rep dinners with that Caitlyn woman, but she knew that she kept calling him about them. She'd had some sort of birthday celebration a couple weeks back that Jared hadn't gone to, but the next Monday she'd sauntered into the clinic and pretty much tried to kick Dahlia out of her own office. She'd been so closed to the punching the woman in the face... If only Jared hadn't stopped her.

...Some weeks back…

"Jared! How come you didn't come to my party? It was my birthday, did you forget?" She'd heard them talking through the open door of Dahlia's office and burst into the room making Dahlia frowned at the gall. Jared glanced between both women, noticing the look on Dahlia's face.

"I didn't forget. I'd told you I had things to do and wouldn't be able to make it." He scratched his head nervously. Caitlyn leaned over, nearly pushing Dahlia out of the way, to hold on to his arm.

"Nonsense. You can come over this weekend. I'm sure John will be very happy to see you." She was still clinging on to his arm, staring up at his face. Dahlia saw the moment panic seemed to cross Jared's face when she began sliding one hand up his chest. "I've missed hanging out with you. What happened? We were good friends!"

"Uh. Things changed." He said with a serious look on his face.

Something was off and Dahlia knew it in the way that Jared tensed up.

"Um, excuse me? We were busy." Dahlia said with a cold tone, watching as the older woman turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow.

"I have to talk to him." She stated simply as if that was all. She shook her hair at Dahlia, turning her attention back to Jared. “Maybe you could give us a moment.”

"Excuse me, Caitlyn. We were having a conversation before you busted into this office. Which happens to be MINE." Dahlia had had enough. Jared pulled his arm out of Caitlyn's grasp, moving to stand next to Dahlia again, placing a hand over her shoulder.

"It says supervisor."

"Yes. I know what the plaque on the door says." Dahlia replied through gritted teeth. “I can read.”

"It also has her name on the bottom of it." Jared added with a look at Caitlyn who paled a bit.

"I ... You're Dahlia Henderson?" Caitlyn straightened up. "I thought you were just another one of the nurses.”

"That doesn't give you a right to dismiss someone like that." Dahlia went around her desk to sit at her chair. Jared shook his head at Caitlyn who looked frazzled. "Please do not ever do that again. I was having a conversation with Doctor Dale. Any other supervisor wouldn't have been so... friendly."

Caitlyn nodded, flushing brightly. "I think I will be heading out." She gave Jared one last look. "Call me. We should catch up."

"I-I don't think we should catch up anymore, Caitlyn. Tell John I said hello." Caitlyn turned an even brighter shade of red before turning around and walking out of the office. Dahlia waited for Jared to say something because she was beginning to get ideas in her head which she didn’t want to think about. Especially about that woman and Jared, and how damn mushy she became over him… Hmm. She raised her eyebrows in question at Jared, who was still nervous.

“Well?”

“Well, what?”

“Do you want to explain why that woman is so clingy, or do I have to just forget about what just happened? She seems… I can tell there is something more there, but I won’t push if you don’t want me to.” Dahlia looked down at her hands, trying to pretend that it didn’t bother her at all.

“I… Yes, there was something more,” Jared took a deep breath, trying to figure out what to say to Dahlia who was looking a little put out. “A couple years back, during one holiday party at her house, we, uh, kissed. Things got a little heated, but nothing happened. I know her husband, John, from medical school.”

“Okay,” Dahlia said, even though it annoyed her to think that all this damn time he’d chosen to hang out with that woman knowing what kind of relationship she was seeking. “Did you not care about your friend, John? Considering how you knew what she is seeking from you and yet, you hang out with her an awful lot. What's wrong with you!"

“I didn’t do anything. She’s the one who keeps inviting me to all their parties and always tries to come on to me.” He frowned. “I’m not trying to do anything with her.” Dahlia stood up, going around Jared. He raised his hands in exasperation. “Dahlia, I have nothing to do with her.”

“It doesn’t sit well with me how you could possibly be hanging out with her. Maybe you don’t want anything with her, but she does. Her husband is your friend. That just doesn’t seem right.” She shook her head. “I have to go do...Do something. Anything.”

“Dahlia, love—” He started as he placed a hand by her waist. She smacked his hand away, looking towards the doorway.

“Stop it. I have to go.” She left him there…

….

Dahlia was loading the dryer when Jared popped into the laundry room. He was on the phone...wait a minute...correction, he was on her phone. She straightened up, drying her hands on her shorts, giving him a questioning look.

“Yeah, yeah. You liar. You just don’t like me anymore. Uh huh, uh huh. Sure.” He rolled his eyes and looked at Dahlia. “Sure, sure. Hold on.” He put the phone on speaker. “Okay, you can ask her.”

"Who is it?"

“Dahlia?”

“Oh! Karinne! How are you? What’s wrong?” Dahlia asked as she listened to Jared’s sister’s voice on the speaker.

“I was going to ask you the same thing. Did you forget we were going to meet up at my house for lunch today?”

“Oh my god! I totally forgot! I’m so sorry!” Dahlia grabbed the phone from Jared’s hand. “I thought it was like Sunday or something. I’m been so busy that it went over my head!” She saw the eyebrow raise that Jared gave her as he mouthed back ‘busy’.

“Are we still on? I mean, I have nowhere else to go. The kids are with Nathan’s parents for the day, so they won’t be back until later.”

“Of course. Let me just change and I can be over in about an hour?”

“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Jared chimed in as he listened to their conversation.

“What?” they asked in unison and he scowled.

“Kar, what about your brother?”

“Oh! Haha. Sorry Jared, I forgot that you were there. Yeah, you can come with if you want. It’s just lunch.” Dahlia looked up at Jared, to the surprised scowl on his face.

“Ouch, woman.”

“Well, you’re never there. I figured you’d gone to a friend’s house or something.”

“No. Still here. Why would I leave Dahlia alone?”

“I…don’t know? Anyways, get your butt over then. I’ll be waiting. Bye.” She said quickly and hung up.

"I guess you're coming with me then." Dahlia stated simply, then turned to the counter.

Jared stared at Dahlia who was leaning over trying to find something in a basket of clothes she’d pulled from the dryer. Those short would be the death of him… She glanced at him over her shoulder, making a face when she found him staring blatantly at her bottom.

“Really?”

“I’m sorry. It was just there!” He tried to explain as she shook her head.

“Anyways. Do you want me to pull some clothes for you from the pile?”

“Sure. Jeans and whatever shirt you find.”

She handed him a pair of dark jeans and a dark grey long-sleeve Henley. Grabbing some leggings (because her jeans didn’t fit her) and a baggy kitted sweater for herself, she turned back to him. “I’ll just go grab some shoes. I should be ready soon. Are we taking the same car?”

He frowned. “Why would we be driving separately?”

“I… don’t know. Okay. Never mind. I’ll go get ready.”

“I’ll wash up.”

They both went upstairs together, but into their separate rooms, Jared a little frustrated that she was still being weird about themselves even after they spent the night together. He thought it would change something, but she was still uncomfortable about it.

“Dahlia, would you like some wine?”

“Uh, no thanks. I’ll pass.”

“She’s been a little weird lately, but I’ll take some.” Jared added as his sister poured him some. Dahlia rolled her eyes at him as Karinne studied her quietly.

“Yeah, I noticed that, too.” Karinne added and watched the other woman pale slightly. Karinne eyed her suspiciously, but didn’t say anything else.

“So, what are you guys going to do about the house in Washington?” Jared asked, oblivious to Dahlia’s concern and Karinne’s suspicions.

“Probably rent it out until we decide if we want to sell, or move up there.” Nathan said and before long, both men were absorbed in conversation.

“Hey, want to help me in the kitchen?” Karinne asked Dahlia who nodded and followed her to the kitchen across the hall.

Dahlia was reaching above her head for some dishes when Karinne spoke.

“So, how far along are you?” She gasped, turning to look at Karinne, a worried look on her face. “I know you’re pregnant, Dahlia. I’m a woman, too, remember? Considering the look on your face, I’m going to say that my idiot brother doesn’t know.”

Dahlia couldn’t help it and burst into tears, throwing her hands over her face. Karinne gave her hug, letting the poor woman cry. She remembered quite well that he brother had told her it was a business marriage, nothing would come out of it. It seems he had been far more interested in the younger woman, considering he’d gotten her pregnant. Very interested.

“It’s okay, breathe.” She gave her some napkins. “Now, tell me what’s wrong? Are you trying to figure out how to tell him?”

“I’m trying to hide it from him actually.” Dahlia sniffed, her nose red. “Our marriage was not meant to go further than us living together. It was my fault that I got pregnant. I… slipped into his bed one day and…”

“Well, honey, it takes two to tango, and if he didn’t want it, he would’ve pushed you away. As far as I know, Jared doesn’t and hasn’t ever been one to sleep around. But why do you want to hide it from him, I’m sure he’d be happy.”

“Karinne, we’re so messed up. We’re always arguing about thing or another. Up until recently he was hanging out with those…friends of his more than me. He’s been so worried about his house and the will, the thing with your grandfather. Now that he’s gone, Jared has his house. He doesn’t need me anymore. We just haven’t gotten around to talking about…breaking it off.” Dahlia felt her heart clench when she thought about the word ‘divorce’. “He’s going to be transferring to Nevada.”

“Oh, that’s nice! Why don’t you go with him? It could be a way to start over new.”

“I can’t, I might be going to Sacramento because the supervisor from the clinic there had a stroke.”

“Oh. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t tell him. He cares for you.”

“He only likes me because apparently we ‘make a good team’ and I’m ‘not afraid of him’. If he were to stay it would be because of the baby, and I’m not going to force him to do that. This marriage wasn’t based off on love.” Dahlia concluded as Karinne shook her head sadly.

“Oh, Dahlia. My brother does care for you…But if you don’t want to stay, I guess he can’t force you.”

“I refuse to be married to someone who doesn’t love me. This is not the kind of marriage I wanted.”

“But I’m sure he’ll figure it out soon.”

Dahlia laughed, shaking her head. “Believe me, that man can be a little dense sometimes.”

“Yeah, but even I could tell your face is fuller, your stomach is a bit rounder. I noticed it when your sweater lifted. How could he not notice that?”

Dahlia blushed. “Like I said, your brother is dense.”

Karinne was intrigued. “I mean, I guess if he doesn’t see you without a shirt.”

“Nope. Still dense.” Karinne narrowed her eyes at Dahlia.

“When was the last time he saw you naked? When you made this baby?”

“Uh, no.” Dahlia coughed into her hand, feeling her face heat up. “Last night actually.”

“Ah!” Karinne started giggling. “Oh lord! No wonder you forgot about lunch today! Are you serious? My brother is an idiot!” She started laughing until tears came out. Dahlia didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but she felt slightly better that Karinne had figured it out. The weight of her secret had started to make her sick. Karinne wiped her eyes with her apron, smiling widely as she hugged Dahlia again. “Well, Dahlia, I won’t tell him what’s going on. That’s your decision and something that you both have to deal with. It’s my duty to that fool to tell you he does care for you. He’s just too dense to figure it out himself. Please think it through. Also, if you ever need any help whatsoever, don’t hesitate to let me know, okay? Now, come on, let’s get this food out there. Those men are probably starving.”

Dahlia nodded, wondering whether Karinne was right and if Jared actually cared for her.

......

Karinne had seen her brother in many situations, but she had never seen him how he was now— obviously in love with his young wife, who if she was also correct about her assumption, was in love with her idiot brother…

She observed them during the meal as he teased her, making her blush. She could tell that there still was a lot of tension between them, but nothing that couldn’t be remedied. Jared was not very discreet when it came to Dahlia, and whenever she wasn’t looking, his eyes would be on her, following her every move. Whenever she’d laugh, he would look at her face like if she was the best thing that had ever happened to him. He was interested in her emotionally and definitely physically—she’d seen the way his eyes had darken when she’d dropped a fork earlier as she headed to the kitchen and leaned down to pick it up—but they were both too stubborn to say anything.

She had known from the beginning that Dahlia was the one for Jared. She was kind, she was smart, she understood her brother and to top it all off, she was also very beautiful. One thing that Karinne did know about Jared was that he was not easily impressed by beauty, so it must’ve been her brains that had initially attracted him. She also knew her brother could be kind of a jerk, so Dahlia also knew how to deal with that. She was perfect for him, even if she still couldn’t believe it for herself.

She watched Dahlia as she kept shooting him small side glances, watching him speak. Eyes wide, she’d hide behind her hair whenever he’d turn to look at her with a grin. She obviously found him attractive because Karinne had also caught her admiring Jared when she thought they weren’t paying attention. If it wasn’t obvious to Jared in that sense, it should at least have been obvious when the girl had decided to sleep with him.

She wanted to punch her brother in the face. He could be so blind.

Praying to God that everything would turn out alright between them.