Bulletproof

by Melissa Pearl

  “I can’t do this anymore,” Jody whimpered.

  “Yes you can, Jody.” The doctor’s voice was firm. “Only a few more to go. You’re nearly there. Let’s do it.”

  The contraction followed the doctor’s words and Jody sat forward, a scream ripping out of her as she strained to set the baby free.

  Ten minutes later a feeble cry whispered into the air, growing in fervor as a small, pink body was lifted away from Jody. Ella and I stared at each other, our lips parted in wonder as we listened to the sound.

  Jody lay back, an exhausted mess, her chest heaving.

  “Well done.” I kissed her forehead, feeling more proud of her than I ever had.

  She replied with a shaky smile, tears brimming on her lashes.

  The doctor’s voice was soft as she approached the bed. “She’s all checked out and healthy, doesn’t need the incubator and seems to be sucking fine.”

  I breathed a sigh of relief.

  The doctor placed her hand on Jody’s arm. “Do you want to hold her, or should we take her straight to the nursery?”

  Jody sucked her lower lip, her bright eyes searching mine.

  “It’s your choice.” I nodded.

  “A girl,” she whispered.

  I grinned at her awestruck whisper.

  “I need to hold her.” She hiccuped over the words, stretching out her arms as the nurse carried the bundle over. The little thing was still wailing pitifully as the nurse placed her in the crook of Jody’s elbow.

  Jody’s fingers were shaking as she gently skimmed her daughter’s face. “Oh you’re beautiful,” she breathed. “Like a little cherub.”

  The baby stopped crying as soon as she registered Jody’s voice, looking straight up at her with dark-blue eyes.

  Jody let out a laughing sob. “Hello, baby girl.”

  With that, the baby turned her head and started nuzzling, hunting for a new lifeline now that her umbilical cord was gone.

  Without missing a beat, Jody arranged her top while the nurse moved Ella out of the way so she could help the baby latch on.

  “I guess we’re keeping her then, huh?” I gently rubbed Jody’s shoulder as Ella stepped up beside me, squeezing my hand.

  “I have to.” Jody whispered. “I just feel like I’m instantly in love with her. How is that possible?”

  “It’s possible.” Ella blushed.

  “I don’t know if I’m cut out for this, you guys. I don’t know if I’ll be a very good mother or not, but I have to try.” Jody ran a knuckle down her baby’s cheek. “I made my decision the second I slept with Stefan. This little girl’s mine, and I have to choose her and live with whatever consequences that brings.”

  I swallowed the lump in my throat, squeezing her shoulder with a nod, knowing she’d be okay. She was biting the bullet and living with the fallout, something I needed to do.

  I thought of Sean waiting for me in the studio and wondered what he had to say to me.

  “So what are you going to name her?” Ella brushed the baby’s arm, looking completely enamored.

  Jody gazed down at the girl and murmured, “My little angel, what should I call you?”

  “Angelia,” Ella softly sung the Richard Marx song and giggled. “She is like an angel.”

  “I love it.” Jody grinned. In spite of her pasty skin and slick hair, she looked radiant.

  “You do?” Ella’s eyes rounded and she bit her lower lip before breaking into a wide grin.

  “Yes. Angelia Morgan Pritchett. That’s your name, little one,” she whispered, stealing the air from my lungs.

  “Jody, you don’t have to do that.”

  She glanced at me, perplexed. “Of course I do. You’re my rock, Morgan, and my daughter’s going to carry your name, because you’ll no doubt be her rock, as well.”

  I smiled and leaned my head against Jody’s. We gazed down at the little dot in her arms. For some reason she felt like mine, too, and I knew without a doubt I could love her with all my heart.

  Aunt Morgan. I shook my head with a grin.

  “I bet she’ll be a dancer,” Ella whispered.

  “And I bet she’ll be able to sing like an angel, too.”

  We softly chuckled together; The Terrible Trio had just become a foursome.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  SEAN

  It was nearly four o’clock in the morning. I had no idea how much longer I’d have to wait, but I refused to leave. Not until Morgan got back and I could say what I needed to.

  I pulled my jacket around myself, leaning on my elbow as I tried to get comfortable on the floor and doze off for a few minutes. I was gonna die at work. Part of me wanted to call in sick, but that would never fly, especially after my last conversation with Travis.

  I scrubbed a hand over my face and cringed. There was nothing I could do about it now. The truth was out there, and I wasn’t taking back a word of it.

  The door clicked downstairs and I flinched, rising to my feet as I listened to the sound of someone trudging up the stairs.

  I stood in the doorway waiting. Morgan looked tired, still dressed in her tights and fitted tank top. Her hair was mussed, ragged waves of hair breaking free of their tie. She looked cute.

  I squashed my grin as she reached the top stair and jerked to a stop, her lips parting.

  “You stayed?”

  “I have two questions.” I shrugged. “I’m not leaving until I get to ask ’em.”

  “It’s four o’clock in the morning.”

  I gave her a sheepish smile. “I’m not leavin’.”

  My words unnerved her. She drew in a shaky breath and brushed past me, setting my heart alight.

  Heading for the stereo, she collected her wallet and put it in her bag.

  So that’s why she’d come back. Not because she thought I’d be here, but because she’d forgotten her wallet.

  Her lack of faith in me hurt, but I guessed I deserved it.

  Dumping her bag onto one of the chairs lining the wall, she rubbed her eye and then looked at me.

  “Okay, go.”

  “Is Jody okay?”

  “That’s your question?” She smirked.

  “No,” I chuckled, stepping toward her.

  Her expression softened to marshmallow, her teeth brushing her lower lip as she rubbed the back of her neck. “She’s now the proud mama of a little baby girl, Angelia. She decided to keep her.”

  Morgan blinked at tears and sniffed. One escaped, running down her cheek. I’ve never seen her cry before. My heart spasmed as I fought the urge to brush it away with my thumb. Her stance was still guarded, and I needed to play this right.

  “She’ll be a good mother.” Morgan sniffed.

  “And she has you, so that’ll help.”

  Her smile was both happy and sad. Watching the emotions scuttle over her face hurt. I needed to get rid of that sad.

  “Sean.” She looked pained, whispering my name. “Why are you here?”

  “Okay.” I raised my hands, nerves attacking me with a force I hadn’t counted on. I cleared my throat and adjusted my jacket. “Question one...” Stepping into her space, I gently took her fingers, running my thumb over her knuckles. “There’s a big charity event coming up next month.”

  Her forehead wrinkled. “Are you talking about the Saito Film and Music Festival? That’s gonna be huge, right?”

  “Yeah, and I got an invite.”

  She raised her brows, but I could see she was only partially impressed.

  “I wanted to ask you to come with me.”

  Her eyebrows remained high, but her lips dropped open...and stayed that way when I lowered myself to one knee and pulled a box from my jacket pocket.

  “And I want you to go as my wife.”

  She snatched her hand back and took a step away from me, ignoring the diamond I’d just revealed.

  “You want me to go to a massive televised event as your wife?”

  “Yeah.” I nodded, suddenly feeling stupid. Had I ta
ken it too far?

  “Won’t Rhonda have a conniption if you turn up with me?”

  I snapped the box closed and rose to my feet. “She doesn’t work for me anymore.”

  Morgan’s brown gaze nearly knocked me off my feet. “Start talking.”

  “I fired her. I decided it was time to take care of my own career.”

  “You fired your manager.” Morgan’s tone was doubtful.

  “Yeah.” I nodded. “And the same day, I told Travis McKinnon that I won’t re-sign unless he sends you an apology and starts treating his staff with a little more respect.”

  “You’re gonna try and make Travis McKinnon apologize to me?”

  “He treated you like shit; it’s the least he can do.”

  “But...” She rubbed her temple. “You didn’t sign for Season Two? I thought that was a given.”

  “I won’t.” My lips bunched tight as I shook my head. “Not until he gives me what I want, and I’ve told him I’m not afraid to go straight to his daddy if he doesn’t budge.”

  “You played the Mr. Bank Account card? He must be livid.”

  I grinned. “Yeah, he’s pretty pissed.”

  “What exactly did you say to him?”

  “That no one treats my woman that way and if he wants me to work for him, then he needs to make right what he did wrong.”

  “I’m surprised he didn’t fire you on the spot.”

  I hissed in a breath. “Harley’s pretty popular. I think I’m worth more to Polychrome than he’d like to admit.”

  “So, you’re jobless? Or...”

  “I’m not sure yet.” I shrugged. “He said he’d think about it.”

  Morgan shook her head again, disbelief making her forehead wrinkle. “I can’t...”

  I gripped the box in my hand, slipping it back into my jacket pocket as I closed the gap between us.

  “I can’t believe you did that,” she whispered. “Your career is everything to you.”

  “Not everything. I love acting, but that’s not what makes me truly happy.” I brushed my thumb across her cheek. “I don’t care what I do, Morgan. I just know I want to come home to you at the end of my day, and I’ll fight to make that happen.”

  Gently wrapping my arm around her waist, I pulled her against me and started singing “Fight for You”, like Harley had the day before. Except this time, I was holding the right girl and actually meaning every word.

  I slid my hand up her body, my thumb brushing the side of her breast as she gripped my jacket. She wanted to kiss me; I could feel it.

  The restless agitation within me settled, replaced with a new anticipation which had been lying dormant for the last three months.

  I leaned toward her, whispering softly. “So, do you have any answers for me?”

  After a painful pause, she grinned. “Two.”

  “Okay. Go.” I smiled back, my stomach exploding with nerves I didn’t even know I had.

  “Yes, to the first.” She swallowed. “And as much as I want to say yes to the second, I’m not ready. I will be one day, but not yet.” Her lashes skimmed her cheeks as she closed her eyes and drew in a breath. “I don’t think either of us are.”

  “Hey, I’m not going anywhere.”

  “I don’t doubt your love, but you are a Hollywood Superstar.”

  I watched her pink lips say the words and immediately shook my head. “So cynical.”

  She smirked. “Realistic.”

  “Beautiful.”

  She pulled a face and a rush whipped through me, speeding down my body as I kissed her nose.

  “Gorgeous.”

  Her neck.

  “Exquisite.”

  Her chin.

  I stopped to gaze into her soft brown eyes.

  “Mine.”

  I captured her smile against my mouth, her fingers gripping my jacket and pulling me against her until our bodies were melded together.

  I closed my eyes, losing myself in the feeling of something so familiar and sweet. Something so incredibly right.

  I had no idea what the future held for us, and I’d be a liar if I didn’t admit that I was a little scared, but I had Morgan now and that meant more than anything.

  That meant I could face it all and still come away a happy man.

  EPILOGUE

  MORGAN

  Ella fluffed with my hair, pinning a few stray curls into place before stepping back and pursing her lips to the side. She then attacked me with a can of hairspray.

  I coughed, waving my arms in front of me and poking out my tongue. “Enough.”

  “Well, I want it to hold for the whole evening.”

  She jittered around me, checking my makeup and adjusting the necklace around my throat.

  “My gosh, you’re more nervous than I am.”

  Laughter tinkled out of her mouth. “I’m sorry. I’m excited. I’m going to get to see my best friend on TV. This is huge.”

  “Yeah, let’s just hope the fashion police don’t have a field day.”

  I stood up and smoothed down the tight dress. Thank God there was a split in the side or I wouldn’t be able to move.

  “No offense, but even though you look super-hot and you’re going with Sean Jaxon, no one’s gonna be interested in you.”

  I smirked and gave Ella a quick wink. “Suits me fine.”

  “Perfect,” she chirped, holding out a pair of heels for me.

  We’d measured them, and I would be a little taller than Sean if I wore these. I really hoped he didn’t mind, but they matched the dress perfectly.

  “I saw a limo pull up.” Jody burst through the door, Angelia wrapped to her front.

  The day before Jody and the baby came home, Grandma Deb and I worked our way through town spending up a ridiculous amount on all things baby. Jody’s room now housed a crib, a fully-loaded change table, and enough pink clothing to cover the floor space of the entire house.

  But the one thing, used more than any other, was the baby sling wrapped around Jody’s middle and over her shoulder. Angelia basically lived in it and was probably the most contented five-week-old the world had ever known.

  I breathed out my jitters and wriggled my toes, making sure the shoes fit comfortably. Wrapping Ella in a quick cuddle, I turned to kiss Jody and sneak a peek inside the sling.

  “Good night, Angel. Sleep well for Mommy tonight, okay?”

  She was dead to the world, her rosebud lips hanging open, blissfully unaware of the life going on around her.

  Jody kissed my cheek as the doorbell rang. “Have fun.” In spite of the tired bags under her eyes, her cheesy smile was back.

  “Thanks, Jo-Jo.” I gave her one more kiss and then headed downstairs.

  Dad had opened the door for Sean, and as soon as my man caught sight of me, he sucked in a breath and gave me that appreciative smile of his. The one that turned my legs to Jell-O.

  A spike shot through my core, and I was already looking forward to spending the night at his place.

  “I’ll see you guys tomorrow.” I waved to everyone before slipping my hand into Sean’s and trotting down the stairs.

  The driver closed the door behind us, and as soon as the door clicked, Sean grabbed me into his arms, pressing his lips into my neck and moaning pleasantly.

  “You smell so good,” he breathed. “Let’s skip tonight and go back to mine.” His hand snaked up my thigh, curving over my butt before settling on my hip.

  I snickered. “As much as I want to do that, you need to go to this thing.”

  He sat back with a groan. “I know.”

  “At least you don’t have to work tomorrow.”

  His grin was delicious as he squeezed my knee. “Baby, I don’t got to work for another five weeks, if I don’t want to.”

  “I still can’t believe Travis gave in.” I leaned my head against his shoulder, chuckling as I relived the arrogant man’s terse phone call.

  Sean snorted. “I still can’t believe you accepted his lame-ass apology.”
/>
  “It was enough.” I shrugged, smoothing down his lapel. “You look really handsome.”

  He grinned at me, puffing out his chest and putting on a face.

  I laughed and lightly slapped him.

  “I got nothin’ on you, baby.” He found the split in my dress, his eyebrows wiggling as he snaked his fingers under the fabric.

  His hands felt divine on my skin, and I was tempted to see if he wanted to swing by the dance studio on the way. We were turning making love on the dance floor into an art form.

  I pressed my lips together, quelling the urge. With Sean not working and the dance studio still just taking off, we were seeing more of each other than I thought we would.

  I knew that would change the second Season Two of Superstar started filming, so I was taking all I could get.

  “Hey, before we get there...” Sean turned to me, his expression sweet and earnest. He ran his thumb over my lips and gently kissed them. “I know you’re not ready to wear the engagement ring I bought you, but I was wondering if you’d put this one back on.” Rummaging in his pocket, he pulled out the sapphire ring he’d given me in January.

  Tears popped into my eyes before I could stop them and with a quivery smile, I nodded a yes. He slipped it on just as the limo turned toward the Los Angeles Music Center.

  I squeezed his hand, nerves powering through me so hard and fast, I felt lightheaded.

  “You ready for this?” His blue eyes caught me, holding me steady.

  “I’m ready for anything.”

  His smile was broad, his teeth pearly-white. I kissed his lips quickly before the driver opened the door. Sean stepped out first, a loud crescendo of cheers and screams rising from the crowd. He raised his hand in greeting before reaching back into the limo for me.

  No one knew who I was, but the crowd didn’t seem to care, too enamored by the Superstar celebrity to even notice me.

  I held Sean’s hand like a lifeline as we slowly made our way down the red carpet. He paused to sign a few autographs and shake hands. I hung back, letting him do his thing. To say it was overwhelming was an understatement. I felt like a minnow in a river of piranhas.

  I drew my body tall and raised my chin.