But she feared her memory wasn’t faulty.
August, September, and October had been a whirlwind of craziness—Cutter’s hostage standoff, Daddy’s relapse and second surgery, Pierce’s capture and recovery, keeping the church going, her business flowing… She vaguely remembered thinking earlier this month that she’d missed a period, but she hadn’t been shocked, given all the stress she’d been under.
She hadn’t really believed that in one night Pierce had gotten her pregnant.
But it was possible. She was tired all the time. Her breasts were tender. She was weepy. She craved sex. The signs were there; she simply hadn’t put them together.
Brea sagged back to her bed, staring at the ceiling, and gaped. If she was pregnant…what was she going to do? If Daddy had been disappointed last night, he would be crushed by this news. And what would she tell Pierce? He’d asked her to be his live-in girlfriend, not have his children.
And what kind of father would he, a man who took lives, make?
Don’t get ahead of yourself. One thing at a time.
First, she had to find out what she was dealing with.
Thanking goodness Daddy was already at the church, she brushed her teeth and called in sick to work. The receptionist, bless her, promised to contact all her clients and reschedule. Then Brea dragged on some sweatpants and a hoodie, mustered up her courage, shoved down more nausea, and drove to the drugstore.
As she sat in the parking lot at the little pharmacy around the corner, Mrs. Simmons, her first-grade teacher, walked out of the sliding double doors and waved her way. She watched Mr. Laiusta, one of her dad’s parishioners, hop out of his car two spots down. Two guys she’d gone to high school with emerged, sodas and chips in hand, and eyed her through her windshield.
She couldn’t possibly walk into that store and buy a pregnancy test. Someone would see her. And everyone in town would know her secret by the end of the day.
Swallowing down another wave of sickness, she backed out and drove to Lafayette. She was familiar with the drugstore near the hospital; she’d had some of Daddy’s medicines filled there after he’d been discharged. No one at that location would know her. No one would care.
Even so, when she arrived, she braided her long hair, wound it on top of her head, then plucked of one Daddy’s discarded ball caps from her backseat and pulled it low over her eyes.
It took her less than five minutes to purchase a pregnancy test. The bored forty-something woman behind the register didn’t blink, just counted out her change and looked to the next customer in line.
Bag in hand, Brea froze in indecision near the door. Drive the twenty minutes home to take the test? What if Daddy’s first day back at the church had proven overwhelming and he cut his day short to come home? Or what if she messed this test up and needed another one?
She couldn’t risk it. Besides, she didn’t want to wait any longer than necessary to learn the truth.
Head down, she slinked to the back of the store and found the ladies’ room. Thankfully, it was a restroom for one. She shut and locked the door, then tore into the box and scanned the instructions.
As she washed her hands, they shook. Then she sat on the toilet with the test strip.
A wave of nausea swamped her again—a combination of her nerves and the sharp scent of the antiseptic cleanser. She swallowed back another urge to vomit as she finished administering the test. Then she set the strip on her plastic bag strewn across the counter and bent to wash her hands again.
She had to wait three minutes. It would be the longest one hundred eighty seconds of her life.
But as soon as she rinsed the soap and dried her hands, she glanced at the test strip.
Less than a minute had passed, and the result window was already displaying two solid pink lines.
Pregnant.
On a gut level, Brea had expected it, but she still found herself stunned. She looked at herself in the drugstore’s grimy, water-splotched mirror. “What am I going to do?”
Her reflection had no reply.
She broke down and sobbed.
Everything in her life was about to change.
Why hadn’t she insisted on a condom? Why hadn’t he ever used one?
Maybe he just hadn’t cared. After all, he wasn’t the one pregnant now… He didn’t have to pick up the pieces or face his community or raise his child alone.
The handle jiggled, then a light tap sounded at the door. “Someone in there?”
“Just a minute,” she answered automatically, then gathered up the bag, box, and test before throwing them all in the garbage. Then she swiped away her tears, tried to plaster on a fake smile, and opened the door.
As she walked out, a woman with a baby on her shoulder and a diaper bag in hand gave her a little smile. “Thanks.”
Then the door closed. Brea was alone, with the rest of her life stretching out, endless and terrifying, in front of her.
What was she going to do?
She slid her hand over her still-flat belly and exhaled. Apparently, she was going to have a baby.
But without hurting her father, jeopardizing her career, and tearing apart her community, how? And how would Pierce feel about this?
Mechanically, Brea eased into her car and headed back to Sunset. Traffic was light. She didn’t remember the drive.
When she reached home, she parked and ran into the house. She tore off her clothes and slid back into her pajamas. The house was so quiet. She felt utterly alone—shocked and scared. Eventually, she’d have to get up and face her problems like an adult, and she knew her tears were pointless. But right now she needed to shed them, just like she needed reassurance that somehow, someway, everything would be all right.
She needed Cutter.
He was in Dallas, working. Normally, she would never call while he was on the job. But he alone would hear and understand her like no one else.
Brea grabbed her phone from the purse she’d discarded at the foot of her bed and dialed her best friend. Before he even answered, more tears sprang to her eyes.
“Hey, Bre-bee.”
“C-Cutter, hi. I hate to call you…but I could use an ear.”
“What’s wrong?”
“This is probably a bad time, and I’m sorry. Really. But I don’t know where else to turn.”
“Slow down. It’s okay. Tell me what’s going on.”
“I woke up this morning and I felt horrible. I didn’t know what was wrong and then I… Ugh. I’m talking too much. But I’m afraid to just blurt everything. You’re going to be mad. Everyone will be shocked. Daddy will be disappointed. I just”—her breaths came so quick and shallow that she feared hyperventilating—“don’t know how to say this but…I think I’m pregnant.”
“What?” he growled. “Have you seen a doctor?”
“No. I bought a test at a drugstore in Lafayette and took it in their bathroom. I’m still in shock. B-but I’m shaking and I can’t stop crying. I don’t know what to do.”
“Make an appointment today. Find out for sure. If you’re right, this isn’t going to go away.”
“I can’t see Dr. Rawson. The first thing he’ll do is tell my dad. I know he’s not supposed to but…” She shook her head and tried to think of solutions instead of continuing to dump problems on him. “What about that clinic near your apartment?”
“Fine. Call there. But you need to see a doctor before you make any decisions. I’ll go with you if you want. I’m home in a week. I promise not to confront Walker until then. But if you’re right—”
“You can’t say or do anything to him.”
“The hell I can’t.”
“He doesn’t know yet. He left on a mission last night, and I don’t know when he’ll be back. He’s gone after the guy who held him captive in Mexico, so I don’t even know if he’ll return in one piece. I’m worried.” She clutched the phone. “You have to promise me—”
“That when he shows his ugly face I won’t kill him? I can’t pro
mise that.”
“Cutter, you aren’t helping.”
“All right.” His voice took a gentle turn. “I promise we’ll figure this out. I’ll take care of you. I always have. I always will. And I hate to do this to you now, but I have to go.”
“Are you in a situation?”
“Client meeting.”
She winced. “I’m sorry.”
“No, I’m glad you called me. As soon as I’m free, we’ll talk, okay?”
“Thanks.”
The sudden silence in her ear told her that Cutter had ended the call. The sound was lonely and terrifying. And when she darkened her own device and tossed it on the bed, she lowered her head in her hands and started to cry again.
Wicked & Devoted World
Welcome to the new Wicked & Devoted world! So thrilled you’ve joined me on this adventure. There’s lots more to come!
So far, you’ve read a little about a lot of characters. Some of them still haven’t had their stories. Others have. Below is a guide in case you’d like to read more about those you may have missed in other books:
WICKED LOVERS
Wicked Ties
Jack Cole (and Morgan O’Malley)
She didn’t know what she wanted…until he made her beg for it.
Surrender to Me
Hunter Edgington (and Katalina Muñoz)
A secret fantasy. An uncontrollable obsession. A forever love?
Belong to Me
Logan Edgington (and Tara Jacobs)
He’s got everything under control until he falls for his first love…again.
Wicked All the Way
Caleb Edgington (and Carlotta Muñoz Buckley)
Could their second chance be their first real love?
His to Take
Joaquin Muñoz (and Bailey Benson)
Giving in to her dark stranger might be the most delicious danger of all…
Falling in Deeper
Stone Sutter (and Lily Taylor)
Will her terrifying past threaten their passionate future?
DEVOTED LOVERS
Devoted to Pleasure
Cutter Bryant (and Shealyn West)
A bodyguard should never fall for his client…but she’s too tempting to refuse.
Devoted to Wicked
Cage Bryant (and Karis Quinn)
Will the one-night stand she tried to forget seduce her into a second chance?
Devoted to Love
Josiah Grant (and Magnolia West)
He was sent to guard her body…but he’s determined to steal her heart.
As the WICKED & DEVOTED world continues to collide and explode, you’ll see more titles with other characters you’ve met here and (hopefully) love. So stay tuned for books about:
Zyron (Chase Garrett)
Trees (Forest Scott)
And more!
I have so much in store for you on this wild, wicked ride. Happy reading!
Shayla
LET’S GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER!
Shayla Black is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nearly eighty novels. For twenty years, she’s written contemporary, erotic, paranormal, and historical romances via traditional, independent, foreign, and audio publishers. Her books have sold millions of copies and been published in a dozen languages.
Raised an only child, Shayla occupied herself with lots of daydreaming, much to the chagrin of her teachers. In college, she found her love for reading and realized that she could have a career publishing the stories spinning in her imagination. Though she graduated with a degree in Marketing/Advertising and embarked on a stint in corporate America to pay the bills, her heart has always been with her characters. She’s thrilled that she’s been living her dream as a full-time author for the past eleven years.
Shayla currently lives in North Texas with her wonderfully supportive husband and daughter, as well as two spoiled tabbies. In her “free” time, she enjoys reality TV, reading, and listening to an eclectic blend of music.
TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOU.
Connect with me via the links below. The VIP Readers newsletter has exclusive news and excerpts. You can also become one of my Facebook Book Beauties and enjoy live, interactive #WineWednesday video chats full of fun, book chatter, and more! See you soon!
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If you enjoyed this book, please review it and recommend it to others. It means the world!
OTHER BOOKS BY SHAYLA BLACK
Click to purchase
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
MORE THAN WORDS
More Than Want You
More Than Need You
More Than Love You
More Than Crave You
More Than Tempt You
More Than Pleasure You (novella)
Coming Soon:
More Than Dare You (June 2, 2020)
More Than Protect You (novella) (October 6, 2020)
WICKED & DEVOTED
Wicked As Sin
Coming Soon:
Wicked Ever After (April 7, 2020)
THE WICKED LOVERS (Complete Series)
Wicked Ties
Decadent
Delicious
Surrender to Me
Belong to Me
Wicked to Love (novella)
Mine to Hold
Wicked All the Way (novella)
Ours to Love
Wicked All Night (novella)
Forever Wicked (novella)
Theirs to Cherish
His to Take
Pure Wicked (novella)
Wicked for You
Falling in Deeper
Dirty Wicked (novella)
A Very Wicked Christmas” (short)
Holding on Tighter
THE DEVOTED LOVERS (Complete Series)
Devoted to Pleasure
Devoted to Wicked (novella)
Devoted to Love
THE PERFECT GENTLEMEN (Complete Series)
(by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake)
Scandal Never Sleeps
Seduction in Session
Big Easy Temptation
Smoke and Sin
At the Pleasure of the President
MASTERS OF MÉNAGE
(by Shayla Black and Lexi Blake)
Their Virgin Captive
Their Virgin’s Secret
Their Virgin Concubine
Their Virgin Princess
Their Virgin Hostage
Their Virgin Secretary
Their Virgin Mistress
Coming Soon:
Their Virgin Bride (TBD)
DOMS OF HER LIFE
(by Shayla Black, Jenna Jacob, and Isabella LaPearl)
Raine Falling Collection (Complete)
One Dom To Love
The Young And The Submissive
The Bold and The Dominant
The Edge of Dominance
Heavenly Rising Collection
The Choice
The Chase
Coming Soon:
The Commitment (Late 2020/Early 2021)
FORBIDDEN CONFESSIONS (Sexy Shorts)
Seducing the Innocent
Seducing the Bride
STANDALONE TITLES
Naughty Little Secret
Watch Me
Dangerous Boys And Their Toy
Her Fantasy Men (novella)
A Perfect Match
THE MISADVENTURES SERIES
Misadventures of a Backup Bride
Misadventures with My Ex
SEXY CAPERS (Complete Series)
Bound And Determined
Strip Search
Arresting Desire (novella)
HISTORICAL ROMANCE
(as Shelley Bradley)
The Lady And Th
e Dragon
One Wicked Night
Strictly Seduction
Strictly Forbidden
BROTHERS IN ARMS (Complete Medieval Trilogy)
His Lady Bride
His Stolen Bride
His Rebel Bride
PARANORMAL ROMANCE
THE DOOMSDAY BRETHREN
Tempt Me With Darkness
Fated (e-novella)
Seduce Me In Shadow
Possess Me At Midnight
Mated (novella)
Entice Me At Twilight
Embrace Me At Dawn
Wicked as Sin Page 22