by Judy Duarte
Becky turned to Stephanie. “How’re you holding up? I know it hasn’t been easy.”
A wisp of sadness crossed the vet assistant’s face. “Okay, I guess. I miss baby Linus.”
“Baby Linus?” Ellie asked.
“He’s the baby Stephanie fostered,” Becky said. “During the grand opening of the pediatric center, a woman named Laurel went into premature labor. She was stabilized, and Dr. Green sent her to the hospital in San Antonio to deliver, because they have a NICU. Then, not even a month later, Laurel left Linus on the doorstep of the pediatric center with a note that mentioned keeping her child safe and something about finding his rightful home at Fortune’s Foundling Hospital.”
Ellie furrowed her brow. “But the foundling home isn’t there anymore. You’d think everyone would know that. In fact, Steven purchased an old scrapbook at Mariana’s Market that has a newspaper article in it about the hospital and its closing.”
“Apparently Laurel wasn’t thinking clearly,” Becky said.
Stephanie rubbed her tummy, much the way Ellie found herself doing these days and, in a wistful voice, said, “I loved that baby.”
“I know you did.” Becky placed a gentle hand on Stephanie’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry you had to let him go.”
Stephanie’s eyes filled with tears. “It’s weird, though. Laurel had implied that Eric, the father, wouldn’t be pleased about the baby, but he was actually thrilled. I wasn’t prepared for that. And it broke my heart to let him go.”
“You’ll never forget that sweet baby,” Becky said, “but at least you and Acton will have one of your own soon.”
Stephanie sniffled, blinked back her tears and offered a wistful smile. “That’s true.”
“Whatever happened to Laurel?” Ellie asked.
Stephanie shrugged. “We may never know. The authorities haven’t been able to find her. And I hate to say it, but I don’t have a good feeling about her disappearance.”
Ellie cringed at the thought of a baby being abandoned and of something happening to the young mother, even if things seemed to have turned out okay in the long run.
“How’s Linus doing?” Becky asked. “Have you talked to Eric?”
“Yes, I have. And to be honest, I’m a little worried.”
“Why?” Becky asked.
“Eric thinks Linus isn’t growing fast enough.”
“That could be due to his prematurity,” Becky said.
Stephanie sighed. “Maybe so. I sure hope that’s all it is.”
So did Ellie. Compared to what Baby Linus had been through, and whatever his birth mother had gone through or might still be going through Ellie’s worries about her own situation paled. And it seemed to put things back into perspective. Ellie had her health. She also had a loving family and loyal friends. And she would soon have a baby to hold and to love. She and Steven may have entered a fake marriage, but Baby George was real.
For the first time since learning she was pregnant, she decided not to worry about what people might think or what the press might print. Nor did she care if the community learned that she’d entered a fake marriage with a man who only wanted to be friends.
She stole a glance across the lawn and spotted Steven near the bar, holding a long-neck bottle of beer. As he talked to the bartender, an attractive blonde in her late twenties or early thirties he laughed at something she said, and a twinge of jealousy gripped Ellie.
On the outside, he might look like a happy groom. But he was rich, handsome and still single at heart.
She should be thankful for his friendship, as well as his efforts to help her face her parents and the community. And she was. But she’d fallen head over heart for a man who didn’t love her. Not the way a real husband should.
This was supposed to be a happy day, and dammit, Ellie would force herself to look on the bright side—and there was one.
After all, she told herself, it’s not about me. Nor is it about Steven.
Right now, the only thing that mattered was the very real little boy she’d be bringing into the world in four and a half months. And she could certainly be happy about that.
Chapter Thirteen
For a fake wedding that had been pulled together in record time, the ceremony, as well as the entire afternoon and evening, had turned out a lot nicer than Ellie had expected it to. And even more surprising, the Fortunes not only had welcomed her into the fold, they’d accepted her parents as well.
The two families, one ultra wealthy from Fort Lauderdale and the other blue collar from Rambling Rose, had very little in common, yet they seemed to hit it off.
If they hadn’t, and the laughter and friendly conversations had only been for show, then they were better actors than the bride and groom.
The triplets had put on an amazing wedding dinner that included lobster and filet mignon. Nicole, the self-taught sous chef, was every bit as talented as Steven had said she was. And Ellie had no doubt that Provisions, their restaurant, would be popular and jam-packed once it opened in May.
In fact, the wedding had gone so well that Ellie could almost believe their marriage would last. That was, if Steven were to fall in love with her. If he didn’t, then the divorce they’d planned to get in the future was the only option.
By the time the evening festivities wrapped up, Ellie had been ready to retreat to the guest room and call it a day. But before she could start down the hall, Steven had tossed her a dazzling, sexy smile, and her energy level rose.
“Your bed or mine?” he’d asked.
She hesitated, but only for a moment. “Yours.”
He took her hand and led her to his room, where he stopped near the bed. He cupped her face with both hands and kissed her softly. Then he reached up and unpinned her once elegant twist, letting her hair tumble down, over her shoulders.
She turned her back to him and, using her right hand, she swept the loose tresses to one side, giving him access to the buttons. “I’m going to need some help.”
“That would be a pleasure.” He slowly and deliberately undid each tiny pearl button. When the fabric gapped, he pressed a kiss on her shoulder, his breath warm against her skin. Then he helped her remove the gown.
Wearing only a pair of white lace panties and a matching bra, she turned to face him again. Their eyes fixed on each other as they removed the last of their clothing, one piece at a time.
When they were both naked, Ellie couldn’t help scanning her husband’s handsome face, his broad shoulders and taut abs. Steven Fortune was a hottie on any given day of the week. But standing naked, just steps from his bed, he was an arousing sight to behold.
When he opened his arms, she stepped into his embrace—skin to skin, her breasts pressed against his chest.
He kissed her deeply, thoroughly, as if this was a real wedding night, as if she was his real bride and he was her groom. His tongue swept into her mouth, meeting her own, twisting, dipping, tasting with a hunger that couldn’t be sated with a kiss.
As if sensing her need, her desire, Steven lifted her in his arms and laid her on top of his bed. He joined her, and they took up where they’d left off—tongues mating, breaths mingling, hearts racing, hands seeking and caressing.
A thrill of excitement shivered through her, and an empty ache settled deep in her core.
“I want you,” she said. She needed him, too. And even though the events leading up to today had been based on a lie, her words were true, her hunger undeniable.
As he hovered over her, ready to give her what she asked for, yet not all that she wanted, she opened for him. He entered her, filling her, pleasing her with each thrust, each stroke.
Yet at the same time, she held back, afraid to put her heart and soul into their lovemaking.
How could she give him her all, when their wedding night wasn’t real, and their marriage wouldn’t last?
He drove into her, and she arched up, again and again until they both reached a peak. She let go, and they came together in a glorious, star-bursting climax that nearly knocked the earth off its axis.
Ellie didn’t dare speak, didn’t dare move, as they lay amid tangled sheets, the scent of their lovemaking in each breath they took. Even as her world seemed to right itself, she lay cradled in his arms, her head resting on his chest, his hand on her hip.
Making love had been good, but the something she’d held back had been missing.
If Steven sensed anything was off, he didn’t say. He might have assumed that she was exhausted from a long, stressful week. And that was certainly true because she fell asleep and didn’t wake up until morning.
Ellie hadn’t set an alarm, but she hadn’t needed to. The sunlight peeking through the shutter slats woke her at eight. After a stretch and a yawn, she climbed out of bed and padded to the bathroom, where she showered and got ready for the day. She dressed in her favorite business suit, although this was the last day she’d be wearing it for a while. Her belly felt as if it had doubled in size in the last week.
She wasn’t sure when Steven left. He’d said he had an early meeting at the Paz job site. Dillon was concerned the building might not pass the electrical inspection, so they’d called in the foreman and one of the contractors to discuss the problem.
Before leaving the privacy and comfort of Steven’s living quarters, she fixed a healthy breakfast of yogurt, granola and fruit. Then she headed to the foyer to let herself out.
“Ellie?” Steven’s mother called out from the main part of the house. “Is that you?”
Her steps slowed just short of the front door. “Yes, Marci. It’s me.”
The sweet, middle-aged woman approached with a coffee cup in hand. “I was hoping I’d get to see you before you left for work.”
Ellie’s radar went on high alert. Things had been almost too perfect over the last twenty-four hours, so she waited for the other shoe to drop.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
“No, not at all. I just wanted to let you know how nice it is to see my son so happy. And so much in love.”
Marci reached out, took Ellie’s hand in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. A warm smile brightened her face. “We wouldn’t have missed your special day for the world, honey. I’m just sorry we have to return to Florida this afternoon. I’d love to get to know you better. But don’t worry. I’m sure we’ll be back soon. I can’t wait to get to know the twins better. Aren’t they precious?”
“They sure are.”
“And I suspect Stephanie and Acton will be getting married soon.” Marci burst into a rosy-cheeked, bright-eyed smile. “Can you believe it? They’ll be having a baby, too. I can’t wait to go home to my friends and boast about my grandchildren.”
Accepting Stephanie’s child was a given. But would Marci accept Ellie’s son as easily and unconditionally as she had Becky’s daughters? That was, if her marriage to Steven lasted more than a few months.
Ellie liked to think that Marci would. Taking care not to bump the cup in the older woman’s hand, she gave Steven’s mother a hug and thanked her again. “Have a safe flight home, Marci.”
“Thank you, honey. Have a good day.”
Ellie let herself out of the house and headed to her car. Twenty minutes later, she arrived at city hall and parked in her reserved space. She’d no more than entered the building when a short, heavyset reporter rushed to her.
“Mayor Hernandez,” the reporter asked, “rumor has it you and Steven Fortune got married over the weekend. Any truth to that?”
Ellie answered without slowing her pace. “Yes, that’s true. We had a small wedding yesterday. Just family and a few close friends were there.”
Undaunted, the reporter lifted his iPhone, no doubt wanting a picture, and dogged her through the spacious lobby. “Is it true that you’re expecting a baby? And that you’re already five months along?”
The question struck a low blow, and while Ellie wanted to breeze right past the guy and enter the privacy of her office, the time had come to face facts and the community at large.
She stopped abruptly, turned and faced him, just as the camera flashed. “Steven and I are looking forward to the birth of our son in mid-August.”
The camera flashed again, but she ignored it and strode to the reception desk, where Iris sat, taking in the scene. “Do I have any messages?”
“Yes, three of them.” The receptionist reached for several pink slips that sat next to the While You Were Out pad. “Gosh, Ellie—I mean, Mayor Hernandez—I had no idea you were dating Mr. Fortune until just recently. Things sure happened fast between you. I’m surprised you were able to keep your relationship a secret.”
Ellie stiffened. “My personal life is none of your business, Iris. And if you’d like to keep your job, you’d better remember that.”
The nosy receptionist let out a little gasp. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to overstep.”
Yeah. Right. Ellie snatched her messages and continued to her office. Unfortunately, Iris wasn’t the only one who’d be making assumptions and doing the math. But it was too damned late to worry about that now.
* * *
As the days passed, there’d been mixed reactions to Ellie’s announcement about her marriage and the upcoming birth of her son. Her Q ratings had never been higher. And from what she’d heard, most of her constituents considered her and Steven to be local celebrities and an attractive couple. Those were the friends, colleagues and townspeople who embraced the news and considered the wedding and the upcoming birth of her son to be blessed events. But there was still a vocal minority who believed that she’d sold out.
At times, Ellie had to agree with them. Not that she’d compromised her principles when it came to her position as the Rambling Rose mayor. In that respect, she never wavered and continued to look out for the city’s best interests. But when it came to her personal life, it was a completely different story.
Against her better judgment, she’d married a man who didn’t love her, a decision that betrayed every marital value she espoused.
On the outside, things seemed to be working out okay. She and Steven were more than compatible in bed. On top of that, he was kind, considerate and fun to talk to. She had to admit he was the best fake husband ever, and with each passing day, she grew to love him more. But he hadn’t given her any reason to believe that his feelings for her had changed at all, and Ellie couldn’t continue in a relationship like that. It was time to confront him and ask how long he intended to keep up the charade, the pretext. Did he expect them to remain friends and lovers indefinitely? Or had something changed between them?
If he couldn’t give her the right answers, the ones she hoped to hear, then she would just have to make it easy on them both.
That morning, while Steven brewed a pot of coffee before leaving for one of the job sites, Ellie appeared in the small kitchen. “I’m glad you haven’t left yet.”
“Hey, you’re up early.” He turned and blessed her with a bright-eyed grin. “It’s only five o’clock, and the sun isn’t even up yet.”
“I need to talk to you, and I didn’t want to wait until this evening.”
“All right. What do you want to talk about?”
“About us. Our marriage.” They’d spent nights making love and falling asleep in each other’s arms. Surely she wasn’t the only one who felt it, who cherished it.
“There’s not much to talk about,” he said, as he removed a disposable heat-resistant cup from the pantry and filled it with coffee. “I’m happy.”
She folded her arms across her chest. “What does that mean?”
He placed the lid on top of his to-go cup and snapped it in place. “It means I like having you here. I’m comfortable with the situation and I’m not in a hurry to do any
thing differently.”
“You’re comfortable?” she asked.
He set the cup back on the counter and turned to face her. “You’re not?”
Ellie didn’t like words that translated to mediocre, words like nice and comfortable. She’d always been an overachiever and never settled for just so-so.
“No,” she said, “I’m having a problem with it.”
“Wow. I didn’t see that coming. You aren’t happy?”
“It’s not that. It’s just that I don’t like facing an uncertain future. I need to know what to expect and how to plan for it. And I don’t have any idea how long this relationship will last.”
“You’re thinking too hard,” he said.
“That’s what I do, Steven. I think. I plan. I make lists and follow them to a T. I don’t like open-ended solutions.”
“If you’re worried that I’ll back out on our agreement, don’t be. I have no intention of breaking it.” He reached for her hand, lifted it to his lips and kissed her fingers. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Maybe not yet. But how long would he stick around?
When she didn’t respond, he released her hand and furrowed his brow. “Now I’m getting worried. Do you want out? Are you ready to end things?”
Not if he loved her. But the unspoken words twisted her heart into a knot, and she opted to provide him with a half-truth. “No, I’m not ready for it to end.”
“Good.” He swept her into his arms and gave her a quick kiss.
She kissed him back, although as far as she was concerned, it felt a little cool. A little stiff.
Apparently he hadn’t noticed, because he released her, turned back to the counter and picked up his cup as if nothing had happened, as if nothing was wrong.
She’d try to do the same thing by pretending that they were back on an even keel, which wasn’t easy to do when the small boat she seemed to be riding on was being tossed to and fro, making her seasick.
“What do you have planned today?” Steven asked.