The Billionaire’s Risky Pregnancy

“That works,” Tasha said. “Do you want a drink?”

“I want to talk to you,” he said. “Tell me what the hell happened?” This was not going to go away with one word, and the thought of a long conversation caused her to cringe.

“I need a drink,” she said as she walked to the fridge and poured out a glass of wine. He begged off when she offered to get him a glass, and she leaned against the sink as she sipped and avoided his eyes.

“Wasn’t it a good day?” Smith asked as he played with the dishtowel slung over her stove. “You got your wish. The drug store will go up on the other side of town.”

“I know,” she said. “And I can’t thank you enough for that.” Tasha’s smile was weak and watery as she met his stare. How did one man sprout such a thick set of stubble in the space of a single day? Raising her hand to meet his prickly cheek, she nearly touched him but then drew back to top off her glass.

“What the hell, Tasha?” he said. “I’d almost get it if you…if we were celebrating. But you look like you want me gone.” When she stayed silent, he snorted and looked around her tiny kitchen. He kicked at one of the chairs that no one ever sat in, and a small part of her almost wished that he would go so that she could get back to the business of weeping into her wine when he whirled back and grabbed her hands.

“Talk to me,” he continued. “Tell me what I did wrong?”

“I—” The tears started to slide down her cheeks, and she felt him wince as he moved to hold her. Accepting his embrace, she settled her head just under her shoulder and felt the buzz from the wine working its way around her brain when he pushed back and pressed his brow to hers.

“Don’t do that,” he whispered. “You’re supposed to smile now.”

“I want to,” she said. “Doing what you did…I can’t thank you enough.”

“So how about you show me, Tasha.” Lifting her head, she brought her lips to his and sank into his kiss.

Smith pulled away from the cushions with a look to kill in his eyes. Had she said the wrong thing? Wanting to take the words back, Tasha paused and let him slip to the other end of the couch. The sight of his head falling into his hands contrasted with his lean limbs and the supple slope of his back. Tasha held back and waited for him to reveal his face to her again. The green in his eyes suddenly seemed like a forest floor trying to fight off the first frost, and he crawled on top of her as she arched her back and searched his lips for another kiss.

“I… maybe I shouldn’t have said anything,” he said. “Everything was going so well.”

“I walked funny all day.” Tasha waited for his reaction to her words, and he swapped out the silence for a series of swift kisses that intensified as pulled away. Reaching into his fallen pocket, Smith revealed a picture of a young woman with dark hair and tanned skin. So the man had a type. So what?

“Who is that?” Tasha asked.

“Her name was Liza,” he started. “We… I met her when I took a summer off to Costa Rica.”

“And what was that about?” she asked. “Trying to get a tan or—”

“It was a base for missionary work,” he said.

“You?” she challenged. “You gave up the comforts of home to spread the faith.” And she had to laugh, thinking that she would never stop when he gripped her shoulders and pushed her back to the couch.

“It’s not funny,” he insisted. “I loved her. I would have married her. And I—” He couldn’t finish the thought, and Tasha watched him bring his knees close to his chin. She started to touch him when Smith moved away from her fingers.

And he started to sob. The sound hit her heart, and she moved to touch him when he left her and fell to the floor as he spoke into his hands.”

“She wanted a baby,” he said. “I… I didn’t give much thought to it until she…” Tasha held her breath and waited for his words as he whispered he truth.

“Until it went wrong,” he said. “Like you’d think in this day and age a healthy woman could just go into the hospital and come out the other side.” His trembling went on, and Tasha spooned him from behind as he reached for her hand.

“I can’t go through that again,” he said. “I already lost two lives. You can’t… I won’t let you be one more.” Smith turned to face her, and she cradled his face as she kissed his eyes.

“It’s okay,” she promised him. “I’m not going anywhere.”