“Really...” John said with a nod. As he spoke, he walked closer to her. He noted with a bit of internal cheer that she did not walk away this time. “Please give our child the chance to have a father, a true family. Please forgive me and let’s try to make this work.”
She shook her head and said, “I don’t know if I can trust you, John. You really hurt me. I mean, how do I know you won’t get tired of us, the baby and I, and just leave? Are you really going to be okay being with me because of the baby? Won’t you be miserable?”
John stopped in front of her and placed a hand on her cheek. He stroked it as he lied through his teeth, “I have no plans of ever hurting you again, Emma. Never again, you have my word. I am in this all the way.”
“You promise?” she asked softly as she leaned into his hand that was caressing her cheek.
“I promise. I care for you and I won’t hurt you or our baby.” He leaned in and kissed her forehead.
“Our baby,” she sighed, “I like it when you say that.”
“Our baby,” he whispered. She kept staring at him starry-eyed and he knew that his bait had caught its intended fish.
He turned and headed to the basket. “I brought this for you both. I read that you have to eat lots of fruits when you’re pregnant.”
She chuckled as she tried to carry the basket from him. “You have been reading about pregnancy? That’s sweet, John.”
“I also read that you aren’t supposed to carry heavy things,” he said as he sidestepped her and crossed the floor to the kitchen area.
“Hey, that was not heavy,” she protested.
“Was too,” he said as he pulled her into his arms. He held her close and whispered, “We are going to get through this, okay? For our baby. We are going to be the greatest parents ever.”
She nodded against his chest and John let a victorious smile cross his lips.
He stayed with her for the rest of the morning before heading on home. He arrived to an eager Brad. Brad practically jumped on him immediately he stepped through the doors.
“So, what took you so long? Did you sleep with her again?”
John laughed as he settled onto the sofa, “Not yet, but soon, I'm sure. I read it’s not bad for the pregnancy, so I am allowed to have my fill. Heh.”
Brad rolled his eyes and settled down across his friend, “So, tell me how it all went down.”
For the next five minutes, John filled his friend in on all that transpired between him and Emma that morning. When he was done, Brad looked at him thoughtfully and he said, “She seems to really love you man. She did not get together with you just for the child.”
“Exactly. I know that and I am going to take great advantage of her feelings. She won’t know what hit her. You see, my friend, I am letting her pine for me by letting her know I do not love her. Now by letting her know I love the baby, I am making her do anything to get me to love her and always be there for the baby. It is a perfect and foolproof plan. And of course, I told her there is a chance of the care I feel evolving to love so she will be so desperate.”
“And you are going to still have sex with her throughout this charade?”
‘I might as well have my fun along the way, right? She will willingly give herself to me just to make me love her, I’m sure. Having sex with her is not going to be a problem. She is gorgeous. I mean, there is no way I would have slept with her in the first place if she wasn’t. And then, she is not half-bad in bed. So, I could live with it, who knows how long I will have to put on the act of loving partner? It might run into years even. And if I get tired or simply want variety, there is a lot more booty out there, man.”
Brad eyed him for a moment and then, he said, “Are you sure you are not the one that is going to end up falling for this girl, John?”
John threw his head back and laughed. When he finally settled down, he said, “Oh please, man, I can sleep with a girl a thousand times and catch no feelings. Now women on the otherhand, they are a different species. A couple of rolls in the hay and they are already planning a future with you. This is what I am going to use against our dear heiress. She is already so in love with me, a few more times in bed, my continuous doting and boom, she will be completely enamored by me. I’ll have her in the palm of my hand and absolute control will be mine.”
“You seem so sure of yourself,” Brad said quietly.
John winked. “I am more than sure. Soon, I will be living in the laps of luxury and maybe a couple of years into our marriage, I'll take it all and disappear.”
“Confidence has always brought about a man’s downfall,” Brad said in a warning tone as he stood up. He patted his friend’s shoulder and he said, “Better be careful, man. Tread slowly and don’t be in too much of a hurry so she won’t suspect you.”
“I’ve told you already, man, she is stupid, and she won’t doubt me. I've got this all under control. Plus she not bad in bed, so I could live with it.”
“I hear you,” Brad said as he left.
The grinning John sat back in his chair, praising himself and his mind for his ingenuity.
*
