Chapter 52
Jennifer
The sound of keys jingled just outside the door. Immediately the click of the dead bolt followed. Jennifer’s heart hammered as she ran barefoot down the staircase, her long satin bathrobe streaming behind her.
Andre tossed his keys into the bowl on the table by the door, his lips drawn into a tight seam.
“Yes,” Jennifer giggled, her arms outstretched as she bounced toward him.
“What the hell is going on? Jenn?” His gaze slowly roamed over her, his eyes flickering with desire as he cleared his throat. “I don’t care how fucking sexy you look in this getup, your behavior isn’t remotely normal.”
“You like,” Jennifer preened before him, her breasts nearly spilling out of the push-up bodice of the revealing negligee acting as if she’d not heard the question. “I wanted to give you a sneak peek at what our honeymoon would be like.”
“You know I do. You’re distracting enough as it is when you’re fully dressed, never mind when you’re half naked in a getup like that.” Andre sighed. “Please. We need to talk.” His eyes averted downward, he reached out and captured her upper arm. “Let’s sit down. We have to talk about what happened. And I actually have something that you need to know about.”
Jennifer’s stomach dropped. I just told him I’d marry him and he completely ignored me. “Okay,” she said softly, trying to push back her insecurities as she allowed him to guide her toward the couch. Out of nowhere, a wave a nausea rippled through her, her legs buckling beneath her.
All color drained from Andre’s face. His arms tightened around her, snaking around her waist as he lifted her into his arms. Her fingernails sank into his shoulders. Her little bundle of joy was certainly wreaking havoc upon her body. She sucked in a deep breath, praying silently that dizziness wouldn’t cause her to pass out. Andre lowered her onto the cushion, his expression overwrought with concern. “Forgot to take your vitamins?”
Jennifer shook her head slowly. “No,” she said, placing her hand over his. “I’ve been taking them ever since the day I found out I was pregnant.”
Chapter 53
Andre
“I’m sorry. I must have misheard you?” Andre said. “I could have sworn you just told me you were pregnant.”
“Um no, you heard right.” Jennifer placed her hand over her slight baby bump. “This isn’t how I planned to tell you.
Andre scratched his chin, allowing his gaze to roam subtly over her body. Her boobs, those gorgeous, amazing tits—they’re rounder. Her hips—I thought they seemed a bit wider, and the slight swell to her belly—it too seemed a bit fuller.
Consumed with his own thoughts, Andre had barely registered what she was saying. Something about the fancy dinner. His eyes widened. The dinner! She’d made him a dinner that put any five-star restaurant to shame completely out of the blue only a few weeks ago.
“I wanted to make it special,” she gasped for air, the words rushing from her lips. “But then you told me about the lawsuit and—”
The vitamins? If she were pregnant, she’d be given vitamins. She’d told him Javier had prescribed them and all the while he’d stupidly thought she’d made it up to deter him. “You’re having my baby!” Andre exclaimed, laughing heartly. “Thank God, you’re okay.” He cupped her face, looking into those gorgeous eyes that radiated back at him with love. “You’re not sick.” Andre’s smile widened, so much so that his cheeks hurt with a welcome soreness. “You have no idea how beside myself with worry I’ve been over your health.” Andre gasped, allowing the air to fill his lungs, he’d literally been so excited that he’d forgotten to breathe. “How long have you known? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want to burden you.” Tears fell down her cheeks, her words coming out shaky as she continued to ramble, “You don’t need another headache. We’re still working everything out. We only recently got back together. I know it’s selfish of me, I just—I-I don’t want to ruin us. I didn’t think you’d want another baby and then when you told me about the lawsuit. I didn’t want you to hate me for making you decide between Michael or me and the baby. It wouldn’t be fair. And Rosalyn would use my being pregnant against us.”
“Blue Eyes.” Andre swallowed back the lump in his throat, overwhelmed by Jennifer’s confession. “Don’t you know that I already made my choice years ago? When will you ever get it through that thick skull of yours,” he said, tapping his fist gently atop her forehead for emphasis, “that you, Jennifer Jordan, own my heart?”
ANDRE RUBBED HIS CHIN atop Jennifer’s hair, enjoying the way the silky locks felt against his skin. He’d lost track of exactly how long they’d been sitting there with her head resting on his shoulder. It was finally going to happen—everything that he’d ever dreamed about. She was the mother of his unborn child and would be the best damn stepmom to Michael in the entire world.
“Jenn, this is our moment. You’ve no idea how happy I am to know you’re healthy, my baby is growing inside you, and we’re going to get married. What you don’t know is that I found something out today that ensured Rosalyn will revoke the custody suit.”
“What?” Jennifer jerked upright.
“Sit here.” Andre patted his lap. “I want to look at you when I tell you about what took place. Trust me, after what I learned today, Rosalyn isn’t going to bother us anymore.” He cocked an eyebrow. “Sit,” he repeated, his palms slapping over his thighs.
Obediently, Jennifer hiked up her nightgown and straddled each of her thighs on each side of Andre to face him. His cock twitched as she adjusted her torso onto his lap, her breasts teasing him as they bounced before him. Instinctively, his palm swept over the length of her leg, enjoying the smooth softness of her skin, while his other hand cupped her ass, holding her in place.
“Tell me?” Jennifer demanded, her auburn hair cascading in soft waves over her shoulders. “How come Rosalyn’s going to drop the suit? I mean it would be wonderful, but how?”
“So it’s like this. Michael hadn’t finished eating his breakfast when I arrived to pick him up this morning.”
Jennifer snorted, adding sarcastically, “Isn’t that convenient? So you had no choice. You had to go inside the house.”
“Hold up.” Andre put his palm out to quiet her. “Wait a minute. You’ve not heard what she did.” Andre shoved his hand into his pants pocket, his other hand still anchoring Jennifer securely onto his lap. “Rosalyn totally shot herself in the foot.”
“Andre, what are you doing? Can’t whatever it is you’re looking for wait?” She waved her hand in the air. “Would you just tell me what happened!”
“This,” Andre stated, holding out a yellow and red capsule between them.
“A pill?” Jennifer shot him an incredulous glare. “Big deal. What the hell does a pill have to do with anything?”
“Everything,” Andre answered.
“Daddy,” Michael cried out, running to the door to greet him.
“Finish your breakfast, young man,” Rosalyn snapped. “He isn’t going anywhere until he has had a decent meal. No telling what you and that skank—”
“Shut. Up,” Andre gritted out between clenched teeth, quiet enough to be certain Michael didn’t overhear. “I won’t let you speak ill of Jennifer. Especially in my son’s presence.”
Rosalyn tsked, sulking and mumbling something incoherent as she stomped away from him and disappeared upstairs.
“What’s for breakfast, Michael?” Andre asked, finding his way to the kitchen. He nodded toward the gray-haired woman who stood at the sink. “Good morning, Daisy.”
“Andre.” She smiled and nodded in response. “As usual, my grandson has requested scrambled eggs for breakfast. You know how he loves his eggs.” She laughed, stepping to the table to rub Michael’s shoulder. “There’s extra. Would you like some?”
“Scrambled eggs are my favorite,” Michael said, shoving a huge forkful into his mouth.
“No thank you. I ate before I cam
e.” Andre braced his hands onto the wooden rungs of the empty chair beside Michael. “Yummy, huh?”
Michael nodded, a ring of milk staining his cute little face.
“Andre, please sit.” Arnold peered over his newspaper. “As far as I’m concerned, and I know I’ve told you this repeatedly, I consider you family even if you and my daughter are not romantically together. You’re a good man and a wonderful father and I’d appreciate it if you’d just relax around Daisy and me,” he said, glancing over at his wife. “We’ve been trying to talk sense into Rosalyn and that stupid—”
Andre held his palm up, stopping Rosalyn’s father, and shook his head. “I appreciate that, sir. I just don’t really think now’s the time to discuss it.” He lifted his hand up from the rung of the chair and discretely pointed his index finger toward Michael.
“You’re absolutely right.” Michael’s grandfather folded the newspaper and got up, his coffee mug in hand. “Can I get you some coffee?”
“Tempting,” Andre said. “I love coffee like Michael loves eggs, but we’re short on time. If you have some aspirin, I’ll take some. My allergies are wreaking havoc and I’ve got this dull headache.” Andre rubbed his temples.
“Mommy does,” Michael said, hopping down from the kitchen table. “Come with me.”
As Michael ran from the room, Daisy screwed up her lips, making a silly face, and began to laugh. “I wish I had some of his energy.”
“You and me both.” Andre chuckled. “I’d better go find out what he’s up to. See if I can get a move on. We’re already running late.” With long-legged strides, Andre exited the kitchen then jogged up the staircase. “Michael?” he called out, stopping outside the open door to Rosalyn’s bedroom.
“Here, Daddy,” Michael said, pulling bottles from the bedside table.
“What is all that?” Andre said suspiciously as he entered the bedroom. A slew of bottles littered the bed where Michael had tossed them. He studied them, reading the labels of the bottles Oxycodone and Vicodin among several other addictive prescription drugs.
“Michael!” Rosalyn shrieked, racing out of the bathroom. “What are you doing? How many times have I told you not to go into that drawer? You are such a bad boy!”
Michael’s lip quivered, his head dropping. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice trembling.
“Michael,” Andre said as calmly as he could, his body trembling with rage. The thought of his son being blamed for his mother’s addiction made him want to strangle her. How dare she leave drugs within the reach of a little boy! Andre’s entire body shook with a mixture of fear for his son’s safety and loathing of his mother. “You didn’t do anything wrong. You’re a very good boy for showing Daddy where he could get some medicine to help his headache. Now, go downstairs and wait for me. I need to speak with your mother.”
“I don’t have anything to say to you,” Rosalyn said, lashing out as soon as Andre had slammed the bedroom door.
“Well, I sure as hell do.” Andre gripped her roughly by the arm, dragging her over to the bed, and then pushed her down. “Do you realize what you’ve done?”
Rosalyn smirked, bracing back onto her elbows. “Of course.” She tossed her head back and laughed. “I just have always been amazed that you’d never realized that the ‘headache medicine’ I gave you the day Michael was conceived was actually a street-grade drug. I’d just gotten that stash a few days before you showed up at the house with your concussion. It’s one of my favorites.”
Andre ripped the drawer out of the bedside table, tipping it upside down. He watched as several more bottles rained down onto the bedspread. Jaw locked, he began to open each bottle, until finally he saw one just like the red and yellow capsule Rosalyn had given him. He rolled it between his fingers, rage erupting within him.
Flashbacks shot through his mind. My life has been made a living hell by a fucking druggy. “You bitch!” Andre leered at her, his fists clenching open and closed.
At that very moment, Arnold burst through the door, a disgusted grimace curling his lips. “You’ve really done it now, Rosalyn Spears. I’m ashamed of you. After all your mother and I have done for you and this is how you repay us?” He picked up a bottle, throwing it against the wall. He turned to look at Andre. “I’ve paid so much money for her to go to drug rehab. I’ve called in favors with the city to keep her addiction swept under the rug. But no more. Andre, I’m going to make damn sure that the custody suit is dropped. All I ask is that you please”—his voice cracked before he could continue—“allow my wife and I to see our grandson.”
Chapter 54
Jennifer
“I have something for you.” Jennifer held a large coffee mug in her hand as she padded barefoot toward the bed the following morning.
Andre rubbed the back of his hand over his eyes. After a series of huge yawns, he propped his arms, bracing his weight onto his elbows. His biceps flexed as he maneuvered the pillow behind his lower back and then reclined into a seated position.
Her tongue darted out, wetting her lips as Jennifer indulged in a journey from Andre’s handsome face to the gold cross that shimmered around his thick neck. She blew out a whistle. “You look smokin’ hot,” she said, her eyes moving lower to roam along his pecs, over his rippled stomach, and then lower to follow the slight trail of hair beneath the sheet.
A cocky grin broke out across Andre’s face. “I’m not dressed.”
“I know.” Jennifer fluttered her eyelashes, jutting her breasts forward as she struck a model’s pose. “I’m the lucky one who got you that way.”
Deep and sensual, Andre’s chuckled filled the room. “Anytime you want to have a repeat performance of last night, I’m game. But first, coffee.” He reached out for the cup, a playful scowl crossing his wide lips as Jennifer pulled it slightly out of his reach.
“I want my reward first. It’s the least you could do after such a memorable night.”
“You can have anything you want, Blue Eyes, so long as you give me that coffee.”
“A kiss.” Jennifer eased down onto the mattress and then scooted, carefully as not to spill the coffee, up to the top of the bed to be near him.
“That’s all you want?” Andre waggled his brows. “Just a kiss?”
“What else could I possibly have in mind?” A jolt of electricity sizzled through her as Andre’s fingers graced hers, removing the coffee cup from her hand. “A kiss will have to suffice—for now. It’s Sunday morning and you know what that means.”
“Uh-huh. I do.” Andre brought the coffee cup up to his mouth, his plump lips closing over the thick rim and then took two huge gulps before adding, “It would be rather naughty of us to be late for church.”
“Definitely. Some might even say sinful,” Jennifer answered, worrying her bottom lip. “Besides, we’d probably be setting a bad example for Michael. I mean your mother was nice enough to pick him up on her way to church this morning. It would be rather irresponsible of us if we arrived after the sermon had begun.”
“You’re probably right.” Andre shifted, leaning over to place his coffee mug onto the table. Broad, bronze, and beautiful, Andre’s muscles begged to be touched. Her fingertip grazed over the bare flesh, a small smile crossing her lips as his well-defined shoulder muscles twitched in response.
“It wouldn’t be good to piss your mother off,” Jennifer said seriously, her palm flattening against his bare back.
“She’ll probably be more understanding when we explain how my son, being the innocent, sweet boy that he is, thought he was helping his father ease a headache by taking me upstairs to his mother’s bedside table where she kept her pain medicine. In fact, I know my mother will be as furious as I was to find out that Rosalyn not only had a stash of prescription sleeping pills right within easy reach of my unsuspecting child, but also several bottles of street-bought illegal drugs.” His muscles tensed, his spine growing ridged as he continued, “And words don’t even describe how livid my mother would be if she were to ev
er find out the pills Rosalyn falsely passed off to me as ‘headache medicine’ when I had my concussion, were actually bought on the street. God knows what the hell she gave me.”
“Karma exists, Andre,” Jennifer said. “As spiteful a bitch as she is, I still can’t believe she’d be willing to give up her own child to continue feeding her drug habit. To think she’d managed to hide it from us all this time.”
“She isn’t half the woman you are, Jenn. Instead of seeking help like you did for your drinking, she just agreed to drop the lawsuit when her parents threatened to kick her out if she didn’t.” His shoulders slumped forward, his chin drooping, as Jennifer, her palm now flattened, rubbed and kneaded his tense shoulders. “I don’t know if I’ll ever forgive myself for allowing my son to live in harm’s way. She’s lucky that you convinced me to allow her supervised visits.”
“I wish that we could revoke any rights that Rosalyn has to Michael,” Jennifer admitted. “She’ll always be his mother and nothing will ever change that. So, for Michael’s sake, I think allowing her supervised visitation with her parents present is the right thing to do. It would be cruel otherwise. If Michael ever thought he was unloved, I’d never forgive myself for being the cause of his mother not visiting.”
Andre released a long, drawn-out sigh and turned back around to face her. He cupped her face with his palms, his deep dark eyes full of love. “You’re simply amazing,” he said, his breath warming her as his mouth lowered to inches from hers. “I truly love you with every ounce of my being.” His mouth swept down over hers, his velvet lips soft and gentle.
Andre
JENNIFER MOANED, HER desire igniting his passion. The husky, lustful sounds she made turning him on. Andre’s cock throbbed, hard and erect. Anchoring his arm beneath her for support, he started to guide Jennifer’s back down onto the mattress. Suddenly, her hands splayed over his pecs pushing against him. “What’s wrong?” Andre asked, shocked as Jennifer wiggled free of his embrace.
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