"Is that all you can think of?" he chided and managed to make her laugh.
"Better?" He rubbed her tensed shoulders and made her relax.
"A little. Keep doing that and I might just forgive you for distancing yourself from all the drama surrounding our wedding. I told you that Vegas was a good plan."
"And deprive our daughter from wearing that absolutely beautiful pink and white dress she's dead set on?"
A sigh escaped her. Leaning against him, she closed her eyes. In the past month, since she had declared her love for him, time and circumstances had changed. She was now partially living with him. Andre and Jillian had gotten engaged and had opted for a June wedding.
And she was quite certain she was pregnant. Something she was waiting to tell him. He had talked that night in her office after their explosive lovemaking and said firmly that Zoe was going to be an only child.
"I could not bear you going through what you did again."
Nothing she said, not even the fact that it had happened because of the fall or the fact that he was here with her now, had gotten through to him.
He had been practical about it. "I'm not the eldest son and therefore not required to produce an heir. Besides, I justdiscovered my daughter and don't want her overshadowed by a sibling. I'm okay with her being the only child."
But she was not. And she was keeping it from him. He had started using protection when he made love to her and was conscientious about it. Not realizing it was too late.
They had promised to tell each other everything.
"No secrets darling." He said firmly. "No matter how difficult the situation, we tell each other the truth."
She was pregnant and had an appointment with the doctor in a few days. But she knew. She felt it in her nipples, the sensitive feel to them and the headache brewing behind her temples. She had had similar symptoms when carrying Zoe.
"Tell me what I can do."
"Nothing." Stirring herself from her thoughts, she forced a smile and tamped away the worry over his reaction. She was going to have to tell him soon.
"There must be something." Her scent wrapped around him like a warm blanket and made him settle. Despite their very busyschedules, they made time for each other and their daughter. The New Age Publishing house had become such a wildly successful arm of Tyrell's Media that it had taken on a life of its own.
He had discovered four books in total that had been grabbed up by Zach, to turn into movies. One was going to be a television series. Two of them were already in production.
He had turned a publishing house that had been doomed into one of success, and the press had made much of it. He had also incorporated the business with his fiancée's, where the new authors would pop in for a reading or two. Abigail had planned and hosted the book launch for the period love story that was about to become a movie. She had meticulously planned the theme, going all out to read the manuscript and decorate the place accordingly.
The Victorian era had been staged to the last detail, leaving the author, a middle-aged former school teacher, overwhelmed. And sending the media crazy. Cade had expressed how proud he was of her, later that night.
"I suppose it's all under control. It's just that, I feel everyone has a part in planning my wedding, except me."
He turned her to face him, studying her stunning face. Her hair was wrapped and secured by some silk thing tied around the edge to keep it in place, and her face was wiped clean of makeup. She continued to be the most beautiful woman he had ever known.
"Want me to tell my mother and the others to back off?"
She laughed at his sober expression and knew he would do just that. It helped that he was always on her side.
"No." She shook her head and placed a hand on his jaw. "I love you." She saw the emotions storming instantly and marveled that it could take only that to bring them to the fore. He loved her.
She had found it very difficult to believe at first, but now she did.
"All I want is to be your wife."
And the mother of your baby. The thought came unbidden. Yes, she realized. She wanted the experience that she had been cheated of when he left. And that was the argument she would use to diffuse his anger when she told him.
Leaning forward, she fused her mouth to his and dove into the kiss. With a murmur and passion fired up, he took her to bed.
*****
The excitement was tinged with worry. The doctor had examined her thoroughly. The only concern was that her passage was narrow.
