by Leighton, M.
I feel my face pale to match his.
“Nash, is Marissa pregnant?”
His eyes take on a look of sad resignation, but he says nothing.
That’s when I understand what’s been going on. “Marissa is pregnant and you’ve been hiding it from me because I can’t get pregnant. Is that it?”
I feel hurt and silly and pathetic. I hate that my family kept this from me, but I hate more that they felt they needed to.
His silence is all the answer I need.
“Oh. Oh God.” I clutch my roiling stomach and turn a circle, not knowing what to do with myself. But then reason kicks in and I know exactly what to do. I take three deep, calming breaths, plaster as genuine a smile as I can on my face and muster as much happiness as I’m able. “Congratulations, Nash. I’m so happy for you both.”
I hug my brother-in-law. I feel as much as hear the breath he lets out, long and soft, like he’d been holding it for a long time. Maybe months, even.
When I pull back, his expression is still sort of miserable, but underneath the guilt is the elation I know he must feel. “Thanks, Olivia. I’m…I’m sorry we…”
I slap his shoulder playfully, blowing it off. Burying the hurt. And the inadequacy this makes me feel.
“I get it. I do, really. No apology necessary.”
We both know that, deep down, I really am happy for them, even though my heart is breaking a little bit more for my situation with Cash and the fact that I can’t give him the one thing he wants most of all. The one thing a wife should be able to give her husband. But I can still be pleased when things work out for my loved ones.
“I appreciate that. I know Marissa will be relieved. She hated hiding it from you, but she…you know. She didn’t want to hurt you.”
“I know, and it’s fine. Really. I’d like to see her, but I can come back later. When she’s feeling better.”
“It’s okay. She’s coming up on the end of it anyway. It usually runs its course by now, but she ate some eggs and I think they aren’t setting well.”
Nash pushes open the door and steps aside for me to enter. I hear the toilet flush and then the water run in the small half bath nearest the foyer. Less than two minutes later, she emerges, looking slightly pale.
“Oh, Olivia. Uh, hi,” she says when she spots me.
I walk right over to her, pulling her into my arms for a gentle hug. “I’m so happy for you two.” I can practically feel her cringe and I imagine that she’s giving Nash the stink eye over my shoulder. “Don’t be mad at him. I sort of forced him to fess up.”
I lean away and smile at her sheepish expression.
“I’m so sorry we kept it from you. We thought…we were trying…”
I shush her. “I know what you were trying to do and I appreciate it, but I’m fine. Really. At least somebody else is going to be giving birth around here.”
Marissa cringes. “Yeah, I heard about the little girl.”
I sigh and follow her to the couch to sit. “We don’t know for sure yet, but…we’re preparing for the possibility.”
Marissa reaches for my hand. “This doesn’t have to be a bad thing, Liv. Maybe it’ll take some of the pressure off you. Personally, I think that’s been the problem all along.”
I give her a mild smile. “I hope you’re right. In the meantime, though, can I ask you a few questions?”
“If it’s about paternity, I’ll warn you that it’s hardly my field, but I’ll try.”
“That’s all I’m asking.”
And so I dive right in.
CHAPTER FIVE
Cash
Sophie is waiting for me when I walk into the club. She hops down off a barstool and saunters over to my side. “So, I was thinking that today might be a good day to show me around Atlanta. I mean, so much has changed since I was here.”
I stop and turn toward her. “That’s not my job.”
“I know,” she replies, her feathers unruffled. “I just thought it would be nice for you to show your daughter around. Spend some time with her while she gets adjusted to her new home. That’s all.”
“She’s nine, Sophie. I’m pretty sure she doesn’t care which clubs have closed in the last decade.”
“No, but she’d like seeing this place through your eyes.”
“If that’s what she really wants, I’ll talk to Olivia and see when she’s free.”
Sophie hides her irritation well. “Of course. Yeah, that’d be great. Just let me know.”
“Where is Isabella, by the way?”
“She’s in the back watching cartoons.”
“You’re home schooling her, right? Shouldn’t you be, oh I don’t know, schooling?”
“God, Cash, give the kid a break! She’s just been moved halfway across the continent. And it’s still technically the holidays.”
I frown. That’s true. “And what does she take medicine for? She mentioned something about her sleep.”
Sophie waves me off. “Oh, it’s nothing. Just a little hyperactivity. Nothing to be concerned about.”
“Has she seen a doctor?”
“Of course. How do you think she got the medicine?”
“What’s the medicine called?”
“Jesus, why the fifth degree? I can take care of my child.”
“I’m just trying to help our child,” I bite back, aggravated that she seems so blasé about giving a little girl drugs.
“I’ve managed to keep her alive for the last nine years without your help.”
“Yeah, you have. Without my help and without my knowledge.”
I clench my fists, angered by the reminder and the confusion that Sophie would keep this from me. My rising fury seems to diffuse her own.
“Look, I’m sorry. I guess I’ve just been in this alone for so long, I get defensive. I’m glad you’re concerned about Izzy. Isabella,” she corrects when she sees my look. Olivia’s right. She’s not an “Izzy.” Her lips curve back into a smile and she takes my hand, walking backward as she pulls me forward. “Come say good morning to her. She’d love that.”
I’m just about to pull my hand from her grasp when the sound of one of the heavy front doors unlocking pulls my attention away. I see Olivia walk in and stop, staring at us, open-mouthed.
I twist my fingers out of Sophie’s and make my way toward my wife. I wrap my arms around her tiny waist and pick her up to press my lips to hers. They’re a little stiff, but I kiss her anyway.
When I lean back, her eyes are shadowed. “You look beautiful today. Why so dressed up?”
She’s wearing a top she knows I love. It’s red and has a deep neckline, which shows more cleavage than she usually allows. It always makes me want to take off her panties and slide her down over my cock so I can watch her world-class tits bounce while she rides me.
Damn.
“I’ve, uh, I’ve been running some errands.” She pushes at my chest like she wants me to let her go, but I’m hesitant. I don’t want her thinking about Sophie. At all, if she can help it. And considering that Sophie was holding my hand when she came in…
I see her sneak a sidelong look over at Sophie. “Hey,” I whisper, bringing her eyes back to mine. “Have I ever told you that you’re the only woman for me?”
I see the tears well in her eyes and it knots my heart up to think how much she must’ve needed to hear that.
She nods.
“Can I have thirty minutes of your time? Right now. No questions asked.”
She frowns, but she doesn’t question me. “Sure.”
I finally set her on her feet and take her hand in mine, erasing the feel of Sophie’s as if she weren’t even in the room. Only she is.
I glance over at her as I pull Olivia with me toward the stairs.
“We’ll come find you and Isabella in a little while. There’s something I need to show Olivia.”
I climb the steps and don’t look back. When I reach the top and push open the door, Olivia’s eyes have already lightened up.<
br />
“How long has it been since you’ve gotten the VIP treatment?”
Her pupils dilate. “What is this, Cash and Olivia’s greatest hits?”
I smile. “Only if you are as sure as I am that the best is yet to come.”
I feel her relax. I feel it in the way her fingers soften in mine. I feel it in the way the air whooshes from between her delectable lips and puffs against my cheek, like she’s sighing in relief. And I feel it in the way the tension between us has given way to the crackle of sexual chemistry.
I back through the doorway, dragging my willing wife behind me. She’s grinning when I push the door shut behind us. “Are you trying to get me pregnant, Mr. Davenport?”
“No. I’m just trying to perfect the technique.”
“Oh, I think you’ve got it down pat,” she says, melting into me when I pull her close.
“What can I say? I’m an overachiever.”
When I take her mouth in a kiss that’s meant to incinerate, we both nearly burst into flames. Luckily, I have a lot of Jack Daniels on hand to put them out.
CHAPTER SIX
Olivia
When Cash and I finally make our way back downstairs, my legs are mush. Not that I really need them to be solid. Cash’s big hands and strong arms are there to steady me each time I stumble. I’m so happy I hardly even notice the phone ringing when we reach the office. Cash reaches to answer it and then gives me the one minute finger gesture as he takes a seat in his black leather desk chair.
I lean up against the wall to wait on him when I notice that the door to the apartment is cracked open. I can see Sophie brushing Isabella’s hair and talking to her, her beautiful face animated. For the millionth time, I wish Sophie was ugly. All this would be so much easier. At least I think it would. But then again, maybe not. Anyone Cash had feelings for, ugly or pretty, would probably make me uncomfortable. Especially one with a mean flirtatious streak who shows up with a little girl she claims to be his.
As if sensing my eyes on hers, Sophie looks up. She smiles. I smile. Neither of us means it.
She deftly braids Isabella’s long, golden hair and then gestures for me to come inside as she ties off the thick woven tail. I glance at Cash. Seeing that he appears to be no closer to getting off the phone, I push away from the wall and make my way toward my nemesis.
“Are you going to be able to come with us?” Sophie asks, handing Isabella a lightweight jacket.
“Come with you where?”
“Cash is taking Izzy and me on a little tour of the city. I’d love for you to come.”
My blood runs cold. When I walked in, it looked as if Sophie was holding Cash’s hand, dragging him back this way. I thought I was surely mistaken. Surely. But even if I wasn’t, I’m sure there’s a good explanation. Knowing this woman, she was trying to pull him into her den and sink her claws into him. Whatever it was, I’m sure it had everything to do with Sophie’s despicable machinations and nothing to do with Cash giving her the time of day.
“He did tell you, right?” she asks, her face innocently covering the nasty smirk I can picture hovering just beneath the surface.
She’s just trying to get to you, I remind myself. Don’t let her. Don’t let her come between you and Cash. Don’t do it!
I turn on my brightest smile. “Of course. And I’d love to! While we’re out, we can swing by and get that paternity test. I called this morning and they’re open today until three.”
Score! I think gleefully.
Sophie’s good. I’ll give her that. Her expression is nearly unchanged.
Nearly.
But I can still see the discomfort. She can’t hide it completely.
“Oh, they’re open already? I thought the message said they’re still closed for the holidays.”
“I guess you were mistaken.” God, I feel so smug and awesome. I can almost hear Ginger saying something like, “That’ll teach you to toy with me, you bitch!”
Sophie’s expression hardens almost imperceptibly, but again, I can see it. Or maybe it’s that I can feel it, like a chill in the air.
“Well, it works out for the best anyway. I know Cash would’ve wanted to come along with his daughter to get the testing done anyway. Like a family.”
Her words hit their mark and I try not to flinch. I want to lash out. I want to call her names and pull every strand of that shiny blonde hair out, but I force my emotions back under my control. I have to keep a cool head. Otherwise I risk everything.
“So tell me, Sophie, why is it that Cash is my family instead of yours? What happened between you two?”
I’m going to get every piece of information I can from this wanton whore. The more I have on her, the better chance I have of destroying her from within.
“He asked me to marry him. I said no. I wasn’t ready for that kind of commitment. I realize my mistake now, though. I wouldn’t make it a second time.”
Holy mother of God, my heart!
Cash asked this woman to marry him? And she said no?
She said she’d hurt him. He never denied it. He never gave me details either. Maybe this is why. Sophie is the one who got away. And how she’s back. With his baby.
I swallow hard, staving off panic. “You needn’t worry about a second time. Cash is happily married. Very happily married.”
Sophie takes a single step toward me, her lush lips curving into a smile that any cobra would be proud of. “You sure about that?”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Olivia
I take a single step forward, putting me dangerously close to the woman I’m about to physically strangle. Like, wrap my fingers around her scrawny throat and squeeze until she drops dead at my feet. The fact that her daughter is sitting less than two feet away watching cartoons is the only thing that reins me in.
For Isabella’s sake, I plaster a soft smile on my face and modulate my voice to something in the neighborhood of “Southern belle offering sweet tea on the front porch.” But still I whisper, hoping that Isabella won’t hear my words.
“Now you listen to me, Sophie,” I begin, practically spitting her name in her smug face. “You don’t know me so I wouldn’t expect you to understand that Cash means everything to me. That our family means everything to me. And when someone…anyone threatens what I love…what’s mine, I can throw more bitch from my little finger than you’ve ever seen in your whole miserable life. If you mess with me, you’re liable to find that I’ve made my own happy little family with my husband and his daughter. Back off, Leann Rimes! I won’t say it again.”
With that, I retreat one slow step, holding her eyes and maintaining my smile. “Isabella, I’ll be right back,” I say, speaking to her in my most cheerful voice. “I can’t wait to get to know you better.”
I don’t stop looking at Sophie until I close the door between us.
φφφφφφφφ
I never would’ve imagined that a day spent in the company of Sophie could be anything less than pure hell, yet today was actually fun. I credit Cash and Isabella with that. Sophie only gets credit for keeping her mouth shut and being smart enough not to push me one bit further.
Today was all about them—them getting to know each other better, them spending time together outside the club and for more than a few stolen minutes—and it was a joy to behold. Isabella is a bright and beautiful little girl. She’s cute and full of life, polite and sweet. It’s a shocker really, considering who her mother is and how she’s raised her. But, against all odds, Isabella seems to be turning out well.
And then there’s Cash. I always suspected that he would be a good father, but watching him in action…and with a child he isn’t even certain is his…it makes my ovaries cry out to give him our own baby to dote on and play with, to laugh with and cuddle. When I think back on it, it’s bittersweet—but at the time, it just felt sweet.
Isabella did great when the young lady collected her sample for the paternity test. She’s such a little trooper. I thought Sophie looked a lit
tle green, though. And not because of sympathy for her daughter and what she must be going through with this whole ordeal. No, I think Sophie knows something that we don’t. Or maybe that we suspected.
Part of me will be shocked if Isabella is Cash’s. That same part might be disappointed on some level, too. He’s working so hard to forge a bond with her. What he doesn’t realize is that it’s practically effortless. They are clicking as though they’ve known each other for the last nine years. Not so long ago, the thought of Cash having a child that I didn’t give him hurt me. It hurt me bad. But now, after seeing him with Isabella, I know that I have nothing to fear. Cash has plenty of love for our children, too. I should never have doubted him. And I should never have let my own insecurities and failures as a woman influence my feelings toward this little girl.
Not that I was ever really resentful or wished bad things for her. It’s not Isabella’s fault that her mother is a devious witch. I guess her presence just exasperated things I was already feeling.
Sophie confounded us all before we left the DCSS (the Division of Child Support Services) for the testing. She’d managed to latch onto the only young male within sight and throw her every charm in his direction. It was embarrassing as hell. I’m not sure what she was trying to prove, or to whom she was trying to prove it. All she proved to me is that she’s as trashy and classless as I suspected.
Afterward, we had an early dinner at Chuck E. Cheese, where Cash showed Isabella just how much of his inner child he’d managed to retain over the years. Quite a bit, as it turns out. I think he had more fun than she did. And she had a lot.
Following that, we made our way outside where Cash announced that it was time to get back to Dual. Isabella was visibly disappointed.
“Will you come and see me later tonight?” Isabella asked shyly when Cash opened the car door for her.
He squatted down in front of her, taking a long blonde strand of hair between his fingers and gently tugging on it. “Nothing in the world could stop me,” he assured her with a sweet smile.