Hang Em' Up: A Bad Boy Sports Pregnancy Romance

by Ashley Stewart

  “What's that?” I reached out took it from her.

  Before I could read it, she answered. “A plane ticket to the Bahamas!”

  One ticket, round trip.

  “Oh, and this goes with them.” She handed me a pamphlet about a fancy resort on one of the islands. “Before you ask-- no, I didn't buy these. I won some contest or something but I already have massive plans this spring break and they'll expire by the time I have another chance, so... I naturally thought of you!”

  “Thank you!” I said, flabbergasted. I opened the pamphlet and a voucher fell out onto my lap-- seven days' free stay at the resort. Holy shit.

  “Are you sure?” I asked, wide-eyed. Then again, Marisol’s parents were generous. Her vacation plans might have been equally extravagant. They probably were, if she didn't consider dropping them for an all-expenses-paid trip to the Bahamas, for goodness' sake.

  “Absolutely. You need it more than I do. Besides, I don't tan, I burn-- remember that one year?”

  I remembered.

  “I don't know how I can thank you enough,” I started, but she held up a finger.

  “Ah ah ah! Don't worry about a thing. That's how you can thank me: enjoy it to the fullest.”

  “Oh, I will,” I said, not thinking of anything but sand and sun.

  Chapter Two

  “Hello?”

  “Hello, I'm looking for a Mr. Adrian Ardic?”

  “Speaking,” I said. I was in my office, leaning back in my antique leather chair while I checked on my active negotiations. This must be a new client.

  “My name is Janice. I'm calling on behalf of Frank Eberhart, CEO of Sync Systems Incorporated, a subsidiary branch of Sync International. I hope you are well?”

  “Very well, yes. Nice to meet you, Janice. Now, what can I do for Mr. Eberhart?”

  “This is in regards to the new shipment of solar panels listed on your web site.”

  “Ah yes, the brand new X3000? I just put those in the database this morning.”

  “Yes, well, we would like to purchase a... substantial number of them. We're redesigning our default building schema to include fifty percent of power derived from solar panels, and that means we need enough for the roof of every one of our buildings in America.”

  I sat up. This could be big. Not only had I already found a demand for the investment I made in these new solar panels, but Sync Systems also approached me for the first time in my career. They were far from the biggest corporation I had done business with, but they were large enough that an ongoing relationship with them would mean a meaningful increase in my profits. Maybe I could spring for that vacation after all.

  Better not to count my chickens before they hatch, though. “I see! What sort of numbers are we looking at here?”

  As the negotiation continued, I got a favorable impression of the company, and my chances of continuing business with them after this first sale. I made sure to mention that I had exclusive rights on importing these particular panels, which caused more reaction than I expected.

  “Are you sure you're the only importer who can get these for us?” Janice said.

  “Yes indeed. I have the inventor's permission in writing.” I pulled it out of the neatly-organized filing system next to my desk to go over the details again. “I know the man, Andris Ozolinsh, quite well, and I doubt he would double-deal on me. We go way back.”

  “Ah. I see.” She remained silent for a moment.

  I prompted a continuation-- time is money, after all, and I wanted to know what this line of questioning was all about. “Why do you ask?”

  “Well, earlier this morning, I spoke with a vendor who said he had an exclusive contract with the inventor. Now I'm not sure what to think.”

  “Ahh, quite perplexing. If you'd like, I could arrange a video conference with Mr. Ozolinsh so he can assure you that I'm telling the truth. Actually-- and I realize this may be impossible, corporate secrecy and all-- could you tell me the name of this other vendor?”

  “Er... Since we haven't yet entered into a formal agreement with either of you, I believe I can. His name was Victor Vaskov.”

  “Victor! I should have known.”

  I'd known Victor for many years and disliked him for most of them. He'd cut many shady deals with clients who otherwise would have gone through me for their import needs. This one, though, was going to backfire on him.

  “I'll tell you what. I need to call Andris to let him know someone's selling his invention illegally. I'll make it a conference call so I can prove to you I'm the only one you want in one fell swoop.”

  She paused. Perhaps I was moving too fast for her – I was excited to get one over on Victor.

  “If you need time to decide, I can call Mr. Ozolinsh myself and explain the situation. After that, you can call him personally to verify for yourself.”

  “I think that would be best. I'm... I don't want to overstep my authority, so I should check with Mr. Eberhart before I do anything further.”

  “Of course. I'll look forward to speaking with you again later today, once all this confusion is behind us.”

  “Yes, me too,” She said reflexively. “Goodbye for now, Mr. Ardic.”

  “Goodbye.”

  I made the most of the time before she calls back. I immediately called Andris back. He needed to know right away so he could take appropriate actions against Vaskov. I would normally hold off until a more mutually agreeable time, but this was urgent. It was only about 10 P.M. there then, if I was right.

  Andris picked up after two rings. We had a short conversation in French, his preferred of the few languages we shared. When I told him of Victor's duplicity, though, he was so outraged that he slipped into his native Latvian for a moment. He promised that Victor's name would be mud among all the exporters he knew in a few days. I told him I was glad to help him with this little problem, and he thanked me profusely before we exchanged our goodbyes.

  I smiled to myself. This day was turning out better than I expected.

  When Janice called back, she was happy. She talked to her boss and they verified with Andris that yes, I was the only one he allowed to import his products into America. This, of course, sealed the deal, since these were the most efficient solar panels in the world.

  After figuring the new contract into my budget, I decided that yes, I was going to treat myself to a vacation. The only question was where.

  Chapter Three

  The Bahamas! I'd never been anywhere like it. The hotel was massive, something like forty floors, but I barely spent any time indoors. On the first day, I couldn't decide what to do and ended up tiring myself out trying everything. I tried to surf and failed, but enjoyed every moment of the guy I asked to teach me dragging me back to shore, swimming with one arm around me as the board trailed behind us both. I got drunk, drunk enough that when I tried to go flirt with people in the swimming pool, I wasn't even allowed in. The next day I discovered that hangovers were still a thing in the Bahamas.

  I didn't let that stop me. I got some pineapple juice in me and went out on the town. You might not think of an island nation as a prime shopping location, but you would be wrong. I spent a quarter of spring term's budget on clothes, jewellery, crafts and anything else that caught my eye. I returned half of it a few hours later so I could pay for a flight in a private jet.

  Yeah, life was good. I reminded myself to thank Marisol profusely when I got back. She was right: I needed this, but I couldn't think of going back already-- it was only day two! Night two, rather-- I'd gotten here halfway through Friday, so it didn't count as a whole day. I've enjoyed myself immensely so far but... something was missing. Maybe it had something to do with the beautiful tanned bodies in various stages of nudity constantly surrounding me.

  I thought of Raphe for a moment, but if he wanted more than just occasional benefits, he should have said something when I told him where I was going for spring break. He hadn't seemed to like the idea of me alone in a tropical paradise, surrounded
by men, but I sure did.

  I hit the bars. I started in the hotel, but there was some kind of senior event happening. All I could see were old people from wall to wall. I found a nice place a short walk away from the hotel and immediately fell into a conversation with the most gorgeous guy there. He had these big brown eyes, kept buying me drinks and soon I couldn't focus on anything but his lips as he talked. I wanted those lips to be occupied in a different way. I told him as much, and we ended up in my room a few minutes later, really starting my vacation off right.

  The next day, I remembered that the lounge near the lobby wasn’t the only place that served drinks--there was a bar by the pool as well. I figured I'd take any excuse to show off how damn good I looked in my new swimsuit. Apparently I wasn't the only one who thought so, either. I could almost hear heads turning to watch me as I sauntered up and ordered a drink. There was a hot tub nearby. I caught one guy's eye and he all but sprinted over to sit next to me. It occurred to me that I could probably have any man I wanted, and I had to stop myself from wanting them all.

  I woke up on Monday feeling like the queen of the world, and I dared anyone to prove me wrong.

  ***

  “Mr. Ardic? We're about to touch down in Nassau.”

  I looked up from my book, smiled and nodded. I was aware. I'd commissioned the plane, after all. I knew exactly how fast it flew. I wouldn't have accepted anything less than the best, and this was the best. All in all, it had been a routine flight for me. A little longer than some, but I've had worse and still come out at the top of my game. This flight, being a pleasure trip, hadn't worn me out at all.

  I stepped out into the bright light of the Bahamian sun. What to do first? Once I checked into the hotel, I decided to go lounge in the pool for a while to really start to decompress. I'd been working on at least three contracts at once for weeks now. It would be good to work on something else this week: my tan.

  The resort was nice. A bit tall, maybe, but I appreciated its attempt at grandeur. I stayed around the pool people-watching for most of the afternoon. I was contemplating going inside and taking advantage of the spa, when I saw someone I couldn't take my eyes off.

  She was radiant-- tall, with smooth, dark skin that glowed in the sunset. She was wearing a bikini that might as well not be there. She was perfect and she looked like she knew it. I was instantly intrigued. She walked like she owned the hotel-- no, like she owned the entire island. Her face was beaming with subtle confidence, the kind I tried to display when I really wanted to impress a client. For her, it seemed effortless.

  She sat down at the poolside bar and I finally shook my gaze off her. I decided to swim a few laps before I headed inside. Later, when I was getting out of the pool, I couldn't help but notice her again. She was leaving with a young man who, it must be said, was just as attractive as she was. I was amazed at how she captured my attention so completely.

  I decided that I would try to capture hers tomorrow night.

  Chapter Four

  I regretted not getting either of my conquests' names. They were probably staying in the hotel. Maybe I'd run into them again, but maybe not. The hotel had thirty-eight floors, after all. It was silly, but I didn't want another one-night stand. I knew intellectually that anything more would likely just end when I flew home, and was a four-day relationship that different than one night of passion? It hardly seemed worth it.

  Maybe I'd just forget about sex and have other kinds of fun, I thought. I was interested in many things when I looked into what the island had to offer, and I hadn't done a fifth of them. I could go hang gliding! Or scuba diving! Or lay in the sun all day with a book on my stomach, asleep. Yep. Fuck. I'd just meant to have a catnap and then Monday was almost gone. To be fair, I'd been... busy the last few nights.

  After a day in the sun, I thought I needed to use one of my swimsuits for its intended purpose. I considered just jumping into the sparkling strip of blue in front of me, but I didn't have anywhere to put my book. Plus, the swimsuit I wore that day, while great for sitting around doing nothing, would probably have a hard time staying on in a Jacuzzi, much less the ocean. I sighed and headed back to the hotel.

  I was waiting for the elevator in my suit and sandals. I had a good view of the lounge, so I could sit and watch the limbo game in progress. There was a long line of people laughing and having a good time. I could only see a few people who had declined to join so far. The number was dwindling. People at tables kept convincing each other to join the line.

  I noticed an older man in a yellow polo and cargo shorts. He'd been talking with a few men at a table near the edge of the room, but it looked like they were trying to coerce him into the game with everyone else. He shrugged easily, got up and the four of them headed for the back of the line. Their path took them around the front, where the one in yellow stopped briefly to watch a larger woman in a Hawaiian shirt--in the Bahamas? Really?--as she tried to get under the limbo bar.

  She got most of the way past it, but then, seeing that her head was past the bar, raised her arms and straightened in triumph. This ripped the bar out of the hands of one person holding it and shot straight for the other holder's face.

  The man watching caught the bar an inch away from what would have been a broken nose. I didn't even see him move. He played it off like it was no big deal, but the guy whose face he'd saved put the bar down and shook his hand, thanking him profusely. The older man gave him a good-natured pat on the shoulder and turned to the one who let the bar go.

  The elevator doors opened next to me, and I was shaken from a trance. As the man in yellow showed the young man proper bar-holding technique, I left the scene behind and headed up to my room.

  When I got back down, I found myself scanning the crowd for the man in the polo. I didn't know why, but something about him made me want to talk to him. He was either lost in the limbo line or had gone back to his room, because I didn't see him anywhere in the lounge.

  Oh well. What had I just been telling myself ? Who cared about boys? I just wanted to have a good time. But... he wasn't a boy. He was a man with a strong, angular face and deceptively good reflexes.

  I didn't think I had a type, but he intrigued me. Somehow, all the other men's faces, even the two I took to my room, blurred together when I thought back to the past couple of days. This man's face stood out. I spent the evening in the pool, half-heartedly talking with various guys. I didn't pay any particular attention to them and was scanning the area and hoping to see him. No luck.

  Who was he? Why did I care? I had no idea why, but I did. I wanted to find out more about him. There was just this... air about him. He seemed to be a couple steps ahead of everyone else, like he was always in the right place at the right time. He was cultured, I guessed that was the word for it.

  I hoped I'd see him tomorrow.

  Chapter Five

  Due in no small part to limbo, I'd let yesterday evening slip away from me. I'd been meaning to go look for that young woman again, but by the time I extricated myself from the line, it was getting dark. I might still have gone out to try my luck, but two of the men I'd been talking with insisted they be allowed to treat me to dinner as thanks for averting disaster.

  One of them was the owner of the hotel as it turned out. He'd been there to gauge guests’ general mood and got a bit carried away with limbo. I couldn't blame him for that, since I’d done the same thing. At the same time, I couldn't tell them that I wanted to go look for a woman I didn't know by the pool. So, dinner it was. It was a fabulous dinner – I only accept the best – but Bahamian rock lobster and fine wine only go so far. I went to bed determined, this time, to approach her if I saw her again. I might not get another chance, after all.

  I saw her around midday. I almost didn't recognize her. She was wearing a backless top and a sarong, but the sun hat and sunglasses nearly threw me off. She was sitting in the outdoor part of the lounge, watching a crew as they set up for some event later in the day.

  Well, this wa
s it. Time to turn on the charm.

  ***

  I was taking it easy today, though not quite as easy as yesterday. I was on the terrace, idly stirring something too sweet while I watched the hotel staff buzzing around inside like the queen bee was coming. Eh... Metaphors ... I'm an engineer, not a poet. I was considering what to do today. Didn't the hotel have a spa? Might be perfect, since I was feeling lazy and luxurious.

  That feeling was shattered when the man I had been so oddly interested in yesterday sat down across the table. He was smiling warmly, as if he already knew me. I felt light-headed. Calm down, Danisha, I told myself. Play it cool.

  He leaned one arm on the table and looked at the people working inside the hotel for a moment.

  “Hello, I'm Adrian. Adrian Ardic.”

  “Oh,” I said. It came out flat, like I was bored with him already. I wasn't, but I also wasn't sure what I was. Fortunately, he didn't seem the least bit discouraged by my response.

  “Beautiful day, isn't it? Pardon me for saying so, but I couldn’t help but notice that it’s not as beautiful as you.” His voice was smooth and calm. Confidence drifted off him like expensive cologne-- though there was definitely a bit of that, too. I wasn't sure I liked him.

  “I can't imagine a day here that isn't beautiful,” I said vacantly. I was still trying to connect my brain with my mouth. It didn't help that I'd been tripping over metaphors all morning, trying to imagine what I'd tell Marisol when I got back.

  “You'd be surprised,” he said darkly. I was taken aback a bit. I tipped my sunglasses down and looked at him over the top of them. He settled into his chair a little and continued.

  “Yes, it may seem like a tropical paradise, but the tropics aren't without their dangers. Last time I was here, I narrowly missed meeting up with Hanna.”

  “Um. Hanna?”

  “The deadliest hurricane in the Atlantic that year. It blew right through here two days after I left.”