“I’m putting it together,” she says, her voice muffled by her own hand.

  “Putting what together?” Maddie asks, full of curiosity. I make myself a drink. I should have made one hours ago—or at least when I let Blossom in.

  My sister drops her hand to pat Maddie’s. “For the last five months, my brother has been in the worst mood. Every day he snaps at everyone. And then he has to issue an apology. He’s probably had to apologize more in the past five months than he has his entire life. I had no idea it was because he had met you. So, what happened? Did he just say something to make you angry and that’s why you left him?”

  I swing around from the drink cart, scotch in hand, and pin a hard stare on the mother of my child. “Yes, Maddie, why did you run out?”

  Chapter Eleven

  Madeleine

  I stand there like a deer in headlights, not sure if this is something we should talk about in front of his sister. I like her, though. She’s put me at ease and has actually made me feel a lot better with her rambling. I had been seconds away from becoming a blubbering mess when she’d arrived, so her friendly demeanor is welcoming. I can tell that she and I are going to become fast friends. She’s gotten me more answers from Oliver in the last ten minutes than I’ve managed to in the past twenty-four hours. This is the most I’ve heard him talk since he whisked me away from LA. It’s also the most time he’s spent in the same room with me.

  “It was a one-night stand.” I bite my lip, feeling bad that I slipped out on him that night. I know it was all fear that pushed me out of his hotel room. I didn't want to do the awkward goodbye in the morning. I wouldn’t have been able to bear it if he didn’t ask for my number and just shooed me on my way. So I’d done what I had thought was best to protect myself. By the way he’s been acting these past twenty-four hours, I made the right decision.

  “You didn't tell her it wasn't a one-night stand?” Blossom gives her brother a death glare.

  “Wait.” She swings her eyes back to me. “You must have known where my brother lived. Why didn't you come back when you found out he knocked you up?”

  “We met in a bar,” Oliver answers for me.

  “You don’t go to bars.” She rolls her eyes at him.

  “It was a hotel bar. I was in Hawaii for a shoot. I had to be on a flight back to LA in the morning for another booking.”

  “Which was it? Dior? That campaign was killer,” Blossom asks as her whole face lights up. “I bought that jacket you had on but I couldn't get the pants. They were sold out everywhere.” She shakes her head.

  “I can get you a pair,” I offer. It is easy enough for me to get just about anything I want when it comes to clothes and high-end fashion designers. Most of them want me to be seen out wearing their things, so they give me first dibs on their new collections. That way I can essentially advertise for them for free. It’s a win-win situation for all of us. I get free stuff and they get a walking billboard.

  “It’s going to be so kickass to have a sister now. Not to mention one that can get me Dior.”

  “I never once said it was a one-night stand,” Oliver cuts in. His eyes are fixed on me now. He almost looks a bit angry.

  “I’m sure you didn't say it wasn't one either.” She throws her hands up giving him a look like he’s crazy. “You met her in a hotel bar. Anyone would think it’s a one-night stand.” She turns back toward me. “I’m sorry, my brother doesn’t get out much or socialize so he doesn’t really know how the real world works. You’ll have to excuse him.”

  “I don’t pick women up in hotel bars.”

  “You don’t pick women up anywhere. You growl at people when they stand too close to you,” she says with a laugh. Then makes a growling sound to mimic her brother. At least I’m guessing that’s what the sound she is making is supposed to be.

  “Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Oliver runs a hand down his face. He looks tired. Even tired, he still looks as handsome as ever.

  “You said we had all night. I thought that meant…” I trail off.

  “See? He’s terrible with people.” Blossom walks over to her brother, resting her head on his shoulder.

  “What are you going to give me to not tell Mom about this?” She winks at me.

  “You can make the portfolio of houses you think we should look at and I’ll actually look at them.” She mouths a yes for only me to see. I have to fight not to laugh because I don’t want to give her away.

  “You can’t fire me for a year either.” She puts her hand out, waiting for her brother to shake it.

  “I didn't know I could actually fire you.” He looks at his watch. “Consider yourself fired a year from now.” He grasps her hand and that seals the deal between them. “Make sure that portfolio’s on my desk by tomorrow morning.” I see him crack a small smile in his sister’s direction. She simply smacks his arm.

  “That was after the handshake so it doesn’t count. It could take me until next year to do it and there’s nothing you can do about it.” She turns and winks at me, letting me know that she’s joking. “But since I love my new sister and niece or nephew that she’s going to give me, I’m going to work extra hard to have something to you within the next few days.”

  “I’ll be expecting it tomorrow morning. As a matter of fact, why don’t you give it to Maddie since it will ultimately be her decision where we live?”

  “In that case, I might be able to have something ready by the morning.” She pokes her finger into Oliver’s side.

  “You can leave now. I’d like to spend some time with Maddie, alone, before we have to go to the doctor.” A warm feeling fills my stomach and in between my legs at the mention of him wanting to spend time with me. I thought he was trying to avoid me.

  “Did I mention he was rude?” Blossom comes over to me, pulling me into a hug. I hug her back because I really like her. “Give him some time,” she whispers in my ear before walking over to her brother and kissing him on the cheek and leaving us alone.

  I’m not so sure that time is on our side, I think as I absently rub my belly.

  Chapter Twelve

  Oliver

  Blossom can be an efficient shit when she wants to. The portfolio is ready the next morning. Blossom delivers it along with a half dozen donuts and a huge box of coffee. She coos over sleepy Maddie, goes through the seven properties, maps out an itinerary, and drinks half the box before I get her out of the door. Once she’s gone, I dump the coffee down the drain.

  “You okay?” I ask Maddie, who is clinging to her cup of chamomile tea like it’s a lifesaver.

  I learned this morning that the smell of coffee makes her nauseous, which was one of her pregnancy regrets. She used to love it. I grab the thermos of hot coffee, the remaining two donuts, and the portfolio, and lead Maddie down to the garage where the car is warmed and ready.

  She settles into the passenger seat with a relieved sigh. I make a mental note to check into pregnancy massage therapists. She looks like she could use a good rub down. I’d like to be the one to give it to her, but since I can’t touch her that’s not an option. Sharing a bed with her last night almost killed me.

  “What has been the hardest thing about your pregnancy?” I ask as I maneuver us out of the garage and onto the roadway. “The coffee thing? The throwing up?”

  I’ve read that some women hate being pregnant and others love it. Maddie rubs her belly again. I curl my fingers around the steering wheel as my inner self howls at the unfairness of not being able to do the same. I want to know what that feels like.

  “It’s not been hard, actually. I did love a cafe mocha in the morning but I don’t miss it. I can still have chocolate, which is the best part of the drink anyway. I suppose I miss being able to fit into all my nice clothes but the tradeoff is worth it, you know.” She pats herself.

  Is she just rubbing it in now? At a red light, I cast her a suspicious glance. Does she know that I can’t touch her and is tormenting me? She looks particularly edible this morning. Her long hair is piled on top of her head in a sloppy bun. Small tendrils curl around her forehead, lending an almost innocent charm. She has on a pair of tight yoga pants that mold to her thighs. Her coat isn’t big enough for her to zip up so it hangs open to reveal a pink oversized tunic with black edging. She looks like a cupcake and I want to eat her up. I force my eyes back onto the road.

  Last night, as I lay beside her, listening to her soft, even breathing, I made a plan. I know how to make Maddie’s body happy, but I don’t know how to make her mind and spirit happy. I know how to get her to moan and scream, but I don’t know what makes her laugh and sing. We need to get to know each other. The property hunt will serve a dual purpose. Satisfied, I was finally able to get some shut eye. Now I have to put this plan in action instead of lusting over her ripe body.

  “So you’ve met Blossom. My brother is out of the country right now. He works for the government--in what capacity, none of us are absolutely sure. Do you have siblings?”

  “Yeah. An older sister Cora. She’s a librarian in Orange County, which she loves and hates. She loves the books and helping people but she hates all the politics.”

  “There are politics in libraries?”

  “Yup, over what books go into circulation, where the money is spent, who sits on the board. She has to fundraise a lot, which she really hates.”

  “I can take care of that for her.”

  “What do you mean—oh—” She breaks off as the realization sets in of how much money I have.

  “You tell me what her annual quota is and I’ll write out the check.” And if I have to spend every last dime of mine to get Maddie to stay with me, it’ll be money well spent. Sister is a librarian. Needs money. Easy enough. I check family off my mental list and move down to the next topic: friend.

  “How’d you and Danielle meet?”

  “Danielle’s a photographer. I met her on my second, or was it third shoot? Anyway, I was a newbie and I didn’t know what was going on. One of the assistants asked me to get a prop from the prop room. I opened the wrong door and walked in on two pretty famous people, um, screwing around. Danielle saved me from getting fired and blackballed by saying that I was basically legally blind without my glasses and couldn’t make out more than two blobs moving around. She led me by the hand all day long, pretending I needed help. Since I never spoke about the incident and no gossip about the two made it onto blogs and stuff, I was saved.”

  Long-time friends bound by secrets. That’s a tougher nut. “Does Danielle have a favorite charity?”

  “Um, are you trying to buy my friends and family into liking you?”

  “Of course not,” I say with a hearty, fake laugh. “So houses? What do you like about the properties that Blossom showed you?” I ask, desperate to change the subject. Thankfully, Maddie plays along and starts to talk about the gardens and the sunrooms and the big kitchens with the marble and granite. But after touring three properties, her excitement wanes. I feed her some lunch at a cute café in hopes of reviving her spirits, but by the time we finish out Blossom’s itinerary, she’s exhausted.

  “Anything you liked?” I ask as we drive back to the city.

  “They’re all nice.”

  Nice is a word like fine. “Which place would your sister like the most?”

  “I don’t know. She’s kind of a beach person. She spent a fortune to live in this tiny shack in Venice Beach and can’t even see the water, but, on a good night with a breeze, you can smell the ocean. And she can walk there. It’s not too far.”

  There’s a longing in her voice that I haven’t heard before. She misses LA. Perhaps that’s why none of the places that we’ve looked at today no matter how high the price tag, no matter how big the house, no matter how many tennis courts, swimming pools, horse trails and stables were attached, nothing excited her. Maybe it’s not the property, but the location. She can’t see the water from here. Her family is so far away.

  “I’m getting sick of the cold,” I say, feeling her out. “What’s it like in LA during the winter?”

  “Cold. I wear a jacket, but there’s no snow. Snow is really pretty. I think I’d like to have a white Christmas for once instead of the usual gray ones in LA. What do you do for Christmas?”

  “We eat ham on Christmas Day and exchange presents, but only small ones. No more than fifty bucks.”

  “Only fifty?” She’s shocked. “For your family?”

  “Christmas isn't supposed to be about the presents, right? It’s the thought that counts.” Mom started this tradition a long time ago, to make us learn about the value of the dollar.

  “What’d you get Blossom last year?”

  “A karaoke microphone. I had to buy it in the toy section because the real ones were too expensive. She uses it in the office.”

  Maddie bursts out laughing. It’s a real laugh, too, not one of those fake ones that people try out at dinner parties. Her whole face lights up and her shoulders shake and she looks happier now than ever. I’d do anything to see that smile again, including moving to LA.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Madeleine

  I lie in bed alone, thinking about how yesterday turned out better than I expected. It was the most that Oliver and I have talked since I’ve been here. I tried to act as though everything was okay as he guided me around to see all the homes in the portfolio, but my heart hadn’t been in it. It is hard to imagine living in a home with someone when you don’t know what their feelings are. Most of the homes were breathtaking, but I want more than just a home. I want the whole package, including Oliver. There’s not a glimpse of the man that I met in the bar. He’s put up some wall and I don’t see it coming down anytime soon. I fear he resents me for not having told him about the baby earlier. I should have gone looking as soon as I found out but fear had me stalling.

  This morning looks to be the same as the day before. Me and the baby alone in this bed. He is still insisting that we sleep together. The bed is giant. You could fit a few more people in it if you wanted to. Oliver makes use of the space by sleeping as far away from me as he can get.

  I reach my hand out to rub my belly because that always makes me happy. A smile comes to my face knowing that today’s the day that I’ll see the little nugget that’s been growing inside of me and find out if I’m having a boy or a girl. It doesn’t matter to me which one, as long as the baby is healthy.

  A slight knock breaks me from my thoughts as Oliver starts to push open the cracked bedroom door.

  “Maddie?” Oliver’s deep voice rolls over me, causing me to get excited. These pregnancy hormones are really doing a number on me. Or maybe it’s Oliver that’s doing it. He has an effect on me like no one else ever has. Hence why I gave him my virginity the day I met him in that bar and after only knowing him an hour.

  I should probably cover up. I throw the blanket away so I can see my stomach. My nightie has ridden up and my panties are exposed but I decide I’m going to stay exactly as I am, hoping to spark something in Oliver. Praying that he has some sort of reaction to me.

  “It’s me.” The door opens and I watch as he takes me in. His eyes fill with lust as I continue nonchalantly rubbing my bump. He quickly averts his eyes, turning away from me, but not before I see the erection he’s sporting.

  “Did you think you’d find someone else in your bed?” I half tease. Jealousy runs through me. Why did he have to say my name? Who else would be in his bed? I tamp down my anger, knowing again that it's the hormones. It also might be a mix of not understanding where we stand. His hot and cold mood swings are driving me insane.

  “I don’t invite people to my house. Except family and I don’t even invite them. They just show up, so no, I wasn’t expecting someone else.” His voice is rough, as though he’s trying to keep himself under control. I should tell him that I need help getting dressed or some other reason that he needs to touch me but knowing that he’s still attracted to me is a small win for me this morning so I don’t push him. Plus my stomach isn’t that big yet. I can still manage to do things on my own. “We need to leave in an hour.”

  “I’ll get ready.” I sigh, sitting all the way up in bed.

  “You think you can eat?”

  “You cooking?”

  He gives me a sheepish look. “I order in but I can try and learn.” He rubs his hand through his short hair and I can tell my comment unsettled something within him.

  “You don’t need to know how to cook.” I let out a small laugh, giving him a smile. “I love to cook.”

  “I should know how to cook for you and the baby.”

  “Then I’ll teach you sometime,” I offer.

  “That sounds nice.” Finally I get a smile from him. It’s only half of one but I’ll take it. He’s handsome to begin with but when he smiles, he takes my breath away.

  “I’ll be ready in a few.” I stand from the bed. His eyes roam over me. That small smile drops from his mouth before he’s turning and stomping from the room. What the hell? I’m the one who’s supposed to be hormonal and pregnant.

  It doesn't take long to get ready since I decide on going with yoga pants again and pulling my hair up into a bun on top of my head. I don’t bother with makeup. I’ve spent so many hours in makeup chairs that if I can get away without having to put any on, I will. I stand in the giant walk-in closet debating what shirt I should wear. I need to get more clothes but going out in public hadn't been an option in LA. Now that I am in New York and no one knows it yet, I should be able to go out and grab a few things. Oliver’s little helicopter incident played in my favor in more ways than one.

  I reach for one of his button-up shirts, putting it on as I slip on my shoes and head for the kitchen. When I get there, Oliver is pulling the lids off the dishes to reveal a table full of food.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8