by Sandi Lynn
“Thanks, darling. It was a blast.”
“Very nice,” I spoke. “You have a real talent for this.”
“Thanks, Grant.”
As we were looking around the apartment, Bella stopped for a moment and placed her hand over her mouth.
“What’s wrong?” My brows furrowed.
“Nothing.” She let out a breath.
Less than a second later, she ran into the master bath and shut the door.
“What the hell?” I looked at Cody.
“Is she vomiting?” he asked.
“Fuck. It sounds like it. Bella, are you okay?” I shouted through the door.
“I need a napkin or something!”
“Here, I have one.” Cody handed it to me.
Opening the door, I saw her kneeling in front of the toilet with her hand holding her hair back. Walking over to her, I grabbed her hair and held it for her until she was finished.
“Are you done?” I asked as I handed her the napkin.
“I think so. Shit. I can’t believe this.”
“Bella, you need to go home. Is Samuel waiting for you?”
“I’m fine, Grant. Let’s just go look at Penthouse B,” she said as she walked out of the bathroom.
“Are you okay, boo?” Cody asked.
“I’m fine.”
“Obviously you’re not!” I spoke in a stern tone as I followed her down the hallway. “You need to go home, Bella. I will not risk you getting everyone who attends this open house sick!”
“I’m not sick, Grant!” she shouted, and Cody glanced over at me.
“Bullshit! You just threw up in the apartment we’re about to show!”
“I’m pregnant!” she exclaimed as she brought her hand to her head.
“Oh boy,” Cody said.
“You’re what?” I asked in shock.
“I’m pregnant.”
“Wait a minute.” I shook my finger at her. “No. No. No. You can’t be. It’s impossible.”
“Don’t worry. It’s not yours. It’s Ian’s.”
“Congratulations, darling.” Cody hugged her. “But I think I should go back down to the lobby and let the two of you discuss things before people start showing up.”
“I don’t want to talk about this now. This isn’t the place. Let’s just go up and look at the penthouse and we can talk later,” she said as we stepped into the elevator.
I was in shock, and I didn’t know what to say to her.
“How long have you known?” I asked as we rode up to Penthouse B.
“A week. I went to the doctor today to have it confirmed.”
“Were you ever going to tell me?”
“Yes. Of course.” Her brows furrowed as we stepped into the penthouse. “I just didn’t want to tell you tonight, and certainly not like this.”
“I’ll come to your place after, and we can talk.”
“There’s nothing to talk about, Grant.”
“Are you keeping it?”
“Of course. I could never get an abortion. Would you want me to?”
“It’s your body. You have the choice to do whatever you want.”
She shook her head at me and that was my queue to shut the hell up.
“Are you going to get sick again?” I asked with caution.
“How the hell do I know! I’ve never had this before!”
“Well, we better go downstairs and grab a bunch of napkins. If you’re going to be sick again, please try to use one of the other apartments and not the ones we’re showing.”
“I’ll do my best,” she spoke with an attitude as she shot me a dirty look and headed down to the lobby without me.
I tucked my hands in my pants pockets and paced around the penthouse. The last thing I needed was her being pregnant.
“Damn it,” I said out loud.
After trying to get over the shock, I went back down to the lobby to let everyone in so we could start showing the building.
Bella
This was not how I planned on telling him. Fuck. Walking up to Cody, I hooked my arm around him.
“Hi, Mama.” He grinned.
“Shh. You can’t tell anyone,” I whispered. “Please, Cody.”
“I swear on snow white’s life I won’t say a word.”
“I don’t want anyone to know yet. Not for a couple of months at least.”
“I understand, darling. You have my word.”
“Thank you. By the way, you did so awesome with the penthouse and the two-bedroom apartment. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. If there’s anything you need or want me to do regarding your condition, just let me know. And I’m here to listen if you need to talk.”
“Thanks, Cody.”
Grant unlocked the door to the building and a swarm of people started piling inside the lobby. I put on my happy face and greeted as many agents and brokers as I could. As the showings went on, I was okay. I still felt nauseous, but I didn’t vomit. Thank God. I did the best job I could considering the circumstances, and when the open house was over and the last of the agents/brokers left, I plopped myself down on the couch in the lobby.
“Are you okay?” Grant asked as he sat down next to me.
“Yeah. I’m okay.”
“Did you get any buyers?”
“I sold six of the apartments tonight and some of the other brokers are going to call me tomorrow.”
“Excellent. I sold six as well.”
“Including the penthouse?” My brow arched.
“No. Not that one. I told Cody to tell Samuel to go home. Mateo is going to drive us back to your place so we can talk.”
“I’m too tired to talk, Grant.”
“Well, I’m taking you home anyway.” His lips gave way to a small smile.
Chapter 26
Bella
The moment we stepped inside my apartment, Duchess came running over and started rubbing her head against Grant.
“Hi, Duchess. Let’s not do that,” he said as he bent down and lightly pushed her away.
“Really, Grant? You’re not going anywhere else when you leave here, and I know you’ll be taking that suit to the cleaners anyway.”
“It’s the fur, Bella.”
I rolled my eyes and went into the bedroom to change out of my dress. Grant followed me and leaned up against the doorframe.
“You need to take a bath. In fact, I’m going to start it for you.”
“I really don’t feel—”
“No arguments.” He held his finger up. “Trust me. You’ll feel better.”
I sighed as I sat on the edge of the bed while he went and started the water in the bathtub. Taking off my clothes, I grabbed my robe and slipped it on before walking into the bathroom.
“Your bubble bath awaits, madame.”
A small smile forced its way to my lips.
“Thank you. What are you doing?” I asked as he sat himself down on the toilet.
“Waiting for you to get in.”
“Oh. Well, I’m not taking off this robe until you leave.”
A chuckle emerged from the back of his throat.
“Bella, I’ve seen you naked. Both when you were sixteen and most recently, twice. Your body is not a stranger to me. You know that.”
“Grant, I—”
“Just get in the tub, Bella.”
Untying my robe, I let it fall to the ground and climbed into the bathtub, sinking down until the water was covering my chest. Grant got up, hung my robe on the hook next to the tub and then grabbed the loofah sponge.
“Sit up.”
“Why?”
“You’ll see.” He smiled as he held up the loofah.
I sat up and wrapped my arms around my legs that were now at my chest. He poured some of my lavender scented body wash onto the loofah and placed it on my back, gently moving it around in circles.
“Are you going to tell Ian about the baby?” he asked.
“No. I’ve given that a lot of thought all week and he
’s gone. I’m not going to burden him with the news.”
“I understand that, but he does have the right to know.”
“I know that. Trust me, I’ve worked out every scenario I could. He’s gone, Grant, and he won’t be back for two and a half to three years. Plus, his career is in California and mine is in New York. He’s doing what he always wanted to do, and you heard what he said. There’s nothing and no one stopping him from doing what he’s always dreamed of. I’m not about to take that away from him. I’ve done enough damage.”
“And what are you going to tell the child when he or she is older and asks about his or her father?”
“Can we please just take this one step at a time?”
“It’s reality, Bella.”
“I know. Please don’t tell anyone about this. Not even your dad. Promise me, Grant.”
“I won’t. It’s not my place. When you’re ready to let people know, you’ll tell them.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He kissed the side of my head.
Grant
The next morning, I met Lamar and we went running together.
“What’s going on?” he asked. “Is everything okay. Your text message sounded off.”
“If I tell you something, you have to promise me, give me your word you won’t tell a single soul. Not even Ami.”
“Yeah. You have my word, bro. What’s going on?”
“Bella’s pregnant.”
“What?!” He stopped.
“It’s not mine. It’s Ian’s. Her ex.”
“Oh damn. So now this guy is going to be involved in her life?”
“No. She’s not telling him. He just left for Doctors Without Borders, and he’ll be gone two to three years. Plus, he lives in Cali. She said it’s best he doesn’t know about the baby.”
“I guess I can see where she’s coming from. But if I had a kid, I’d want to know.”
“Yeah. Well, we all have our secrets.”
“Dating someone with a kid is hard,” Lamar said as we ran.
“We aren’t dating.”
“My point is you want to date her. But now you’ll be dating her kid too. Things will be a lot different, my friend.”
I let out a sigh.
“I’ve already thought about that, and I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
“If you’re still in love with her you’ll accept all of her.”
“I know.”
“I have to head back and get ready for work. By the way, I think I’m going to make things official with Ami tonight.”
“Really?” I grinned.
“Yeah. I know it’s too soon, but I’m falling in love with her.”
“There’s no such thing as too soon.” I patted his shoulder.
Chapter 27
Two Weeks Later
Myles
“Where on earth did you learn—”
“A woman never reveals her secrets.” Her tone was seductive and turned me on even more.
We’d been spending a lot of time together. More time than I’d ever spent with a woman since Olivia. I had to go on a business trip to Chicago to look at a building I was interested in purchasing to convert into a hotel, and I wanted her to come with me.
“Have you ever been to Chicago?” I asked as she lay in my arms.
“No. I haven’t. I never had any real desire to go.” Her finger softly stroked my chest.
“I have to go there to look at a building and I want you to come with me. I was thinking after my business was finished, we could spend a few extra days there and we could explore. Chicago is a fun city and I think you’ll like it.”
“I’d love to go with you. When are you going?”
“In a couple days. I know it’s short notice, but the building just went up for sale and the faster I get out there to look at it, the faster I can put my plans into motion.”
“I haven’t been away from the bakery for more than a day since I opened it. But I’m confident the girls can handle it, and I could use the break.”
“Excellent. I was hoping you’d say yes.” I kissed the top of her head. “We both need to get up and get ready for work.”
“I know, but I don’t want to move,” she whined.
“Me either.” I softly stroked her hair. “We both have businesses to run.” I rolled her on her back. “But I think we have time for another round if you’re up to it.”
“I’m more than up to it. Are you?”
I pressed my hard cock against her body.
“What do you think?” I smirked as I brushed my lips against hers.
“Are you at the office?”
“I will be soon. I just left a showing.”
“When you get there, come straight to my office.”
“Sure thing, Dad.”
“Mitch, drop me off at the closest Starbucks for a coffee.”
“There’s one right around the corner, Myles.”
When he pulled over, I climbed out and ran across the street to the Starbucks that sat on the corner. I stepped inside and sighed at the long line in front of me.
“Myles?” I heard a voice from behind.
“Bella.” I smiled.
“I thought that was you I saw running across the street.”
“Are you in desperate need of a coffee too?” I asked her.
“I just stopped to get a tea. I’m on my way to a showing.”
“Where at?”
“Next block over. This apartment will be the fifteenth apartment I’m showing this couple.”
“What?” My brows furrowed.
“Don’t ask.” She shook her head.
It was finally my turn. I ordered myself a coffee and Bella her tea. When she pulled out her wallet, I placed my hand on her arm.
“I got it. Put that away.”
“You don’t have to pay for my tea.”
“I want to pay for your tea. Now put that away.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you mind if I come with you to your showing?”
“No. Not at all. Is there a reason though?”
“Not really. I’d just like to see you in action.” The corners of my mouth curved upward.
“Suit yourself.” Her lips gave way to a smile.
When we entered the building, Bella saw her clients waiting in the lobby.
“Brad. Tara. I’d like you to meet Roman Myles, owner of The Roman Group.”
“It’s nice to meet you both.” I shook their hands.
“This apartment has everything you both want,” Bella said as she slid the key into the lock.
I stood back and listened while Bella showed them around.
“It’s a beautiful apartment,” Tara said. “But I think it’s too noisy here.”
I looked at Bella and watched her take in a deep breath.
“Yeah. I agree. It is a bit noisy for our liking.” Brad agreed with his wife.
“THIS IS NEW YORK! OF COURSE, IT’S NOISY!” Bella voice loudly and my brows raised.
“Excuse me?” Brad said.
“Fifteen apartments. Fifteen! And every single one of them had something you didn’t like. I get it. I really do. But this place has everything you want. Everything the two of you told me after looking at the last fourteen apartments. Plus, it’s a quieter neighborhood, and we’re on the sixteenth floor!”
Brad and Tara stood there wide-eyed as they stared at Bella.
“If you don’t mind, we’re going outside on the terrace to discuss this,” Brad said.
“Go right ahead.” Bella gestured.
When they stepped onto the terrace and slide the door closed, I looked at Bella.
“You okay?”
“They’re getting on my last nerve, and I’m not wasting any more time with them after this. I’m far too busy with other clients.”
“They’re not from New York, are they?”
“No. Brad’s job is moving here from North Carolina.”
The sliding do
or opened, and they stepped back inside the apartment.
“We’ve talked it over and we’d like to put in an offer,” Brad spoke. “$4.6 million. But we need closing within thirty days.”
Bella pulled out her phone and typed away. Within seconds, she had a response.
“Congratulations, and welcome to your new home. Finally.”
Suddenly, my phone rang, and Grant was calling. Stepping away, I answered it.
“Hello.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m heading to the office now. I’ll be there soon.”
I ended the call and placed my phone back in my pocket.
“I have to get back to the office. Congratulations to you both on your new home. It’s beautiful and I know you’ll be happy here.”
I stopped by Grant’s office and shut the door.
“Where were you?” he asked.
“I ran into Bella at Starbucks, and I decided to go on a showing with her. She went off on the clients, Grant. Like, she really went off on them.”
“What?” He let out a laugh.
“Apparently, that was the fifteenth apartment she’d shown them and when they said they thought it was too noisy, she lost it.”
“Oh boy. I know which client you’re talking about. She’s been complaining about them.”
“Nonetheless, they put in an offer and the seller accepted.”
“Thank God.”
“Anyway, I’m heading to Chicago in a couple days to check out a building I’m interested in.”
“For a hotel?” he asked.
“Yes. I’m taking Cassandra with me and spending a few extra days there.”
His eye narrowed at me as he leaned back in his chair.
“Are you two serious?”
“I like her and we’re having fun.”
“I like her too. She’s a great woman, and I don’t want to see her get hurt.”
“You worry about your relationships, and I’ll worry about mine,” I said as I got up from my chair. “I’ll talk to you later.”
Chapter 28
Bella
I hadn’t been feeling well all day and Brad and Tara sent me over the edge. I was having a little bit of cramping and some spotting, so I gave my doctor a call while I was on my way back to the office. I had talked to Ami first and she said it was probably nothing to worry about, but I should call just in case. The doctor told me to make sure I was staying hydrated and to go home and put my feet up for the rest of the day. Under any other circumstances, I wouldn’t. I was far too busy. But I was worried something was wrong with the baby.