Baby I'm Yours

by Rosie Praks

  “Stop being a child. You’re sick. I’m taking you to the hospital. And don’t you dare remove that seatbelt. I’m driving here.”

  “I said I’m no longer sick. Take me back to the hotel. Now!” Fern ignored Anton’s warning and removed the seatbelt.

  “Oh, bloody hell,” Anton swore when he saw her release her seatbelt. He slammed his foot on the brake to stop the car and glared at Fern.

  “Stop demanding. I’m not your chauffeur. And I told you not to remove your seatbelt. Why did you remove it?”

  “I am not demanding. I’m only pissed at you for acting like this. Secondly, I want to go back… umm.”

  Anton suddenly found his mouth clamped to Fern’s. He didn’t know how that happened. All he could remember was thinking he had to stop her mouth from moving. It was distracting him. Those red lips. And before he knew it, he’d locked his lips to hers. And now, kissing Fern, he found it to be so breathtaking and intoxicating that it almost had him toppling over backward with desire.

  “You kissed me. You just kissed me,” Fern said breathlessly after they broke apart.

  “Yes. I think I did,” Anton said, his breath haggard.

  What have you done, you old brute? Anton growled at himself. You kissed a girl who’s a decade younger than you. You old bastard.

  “Why?” Fern asked, a shiny hope present in her eyes.

  “I think I like you,” Anton confessed through his hazy state.

  “You like me?” Fern asked, also slightly hazy.

  “Dear Lord, did I just confess to liking you?” Anton shook his head to dispel this spellbinding haze.

  “Yes, you did.” Fern nodded, a slow smile spreading across her lips.

  “Dear Lord, I think I did. Can I take it back?” Anton eyed Fern.

  “No. Please don’t. I… I have something I want to tell you too.” Fern suddenly became shy, twiddling her thumbs like a child about to make a speech.

  “What is it?” Anton asked, turning to look at Fern’s plump red lips again.

  “I like you too. A lot, actually.”

  Anton chuckled and ran his hand through his tidy hair. “Really?” he asked in disbelief.

  “Yes. Since the beginning.”

  Anton chuckled again. “Seriously?”

  “Yes.” Fern looked up at Anton’s surprised face. “Is it so surprising that I like someone like you, Anton?”

  “I don’t know,” Anton answered. He looked out the window. Where were they? Yes, they were in an isolated residential area.

  “So can I be your girlfriend, then?” Fern asked when all was silent.

  “What?” Anton was surprised, turning back to stare at her.

  Anton was a traditional man. He wasn’t used to women asking him out or to be their girlfriends. So when Fern asked him this question, the only thought that went through his mind was, Shouldn’t the man ask the girl to be his girlfriend?

  “I asked if I can be your girlfriend. You like me, right?” Fern asked again when Anton didn’t reply.

  “I… I do. But shouldn’t I be asking you this?”

  “It doesn’t matter who asked. I like you and you like me. That’s all that matters,” Fern stated.

  “I’ll… I’ll have to think about it, then,” Anton answered in a stammer.

  “Don’t think too long. I’m waiting.” She wound her arms around Anton’s neck, fully comfortable getting close to him again.

  Anton chuckled and leaned in to kiss her on the lips.

  “I won’t. Just give me some time to get used to your behavior.”

  “You don’t like the way I behave?” Fern asked, taking the subject seriously.

  “Well, I’m a very traditional man. I don’t like seeing my woman hugging and kissing men like she belongs to every single man on this planet.”

  Fern planted a kiss on Anton’s cheek. “I will not behave like this again. So what do you say? Be my boyfriend?”

  Anton only chuckled, gave Fern another kiss on the lips, and ignited the car engine. “Come on. I’ll take you to the hospital. Get you all checked out, just to make sure you’re fine.”

  “See, the benefit of being my boyfriend is you can kiss me anytime you want,” Fern pointed out, which only made Anton laugh even louder.

  God, can my life get any more convoluted than this? Anton thought. Wanting to court Clarice, thinking she’s the perfect girl for me, but ending up with a redhead who speaks in third person and is over a decade younger. What a perfect way to end my bachelorhood.

  As the car took them to the hospital, Fern hadn’t the heart to tell Anton her true condition. Seeing Anton in such a high spirit like this sent her heart soaring too. It would be a shame to ruin the atmosphere, but when the car arrived at the hospital, Fern had to confess.

  “I… I was lying before. I’m really is fine now,” she said.

  Anton, though, didn’t seem to hear because his eyes and mind were preoccupied elsewhere.

  “Am I seeing things, Fern?” Anton asked, thinking what he’d seen was just a mirage.

  “What do you mean?” Fern asked, turning in the direction Anton was looking.

  “I just saw Hunter and Clarice holding hands, walking into the hospital.”

  “Seriously?” Fern snapped out of her mushy, sweet love mode and into her sassy mode again. “Let’s get out and investigate.”

  Inching closer to the couple holding hands, Anton took Fern’s hand and hid themselves behind a pillar, like ninjas, trying to get a good look at the couple just to appease their curiosity.

  “Is it them?” Fern asked, peeking from behind Anton’s shoulder.

  “I’m not sure,” Anton replied.

  Because Anton couldn’t hide his curiosity anymore, he yelled out to the couple as he got closer to them. “Hunter? Clarice?”

  The couple near the elevator turned to look at Anton, and upon seeing him, recognition flared in the male occupant’s eyes. He only said two words.

  “Oh shit.”

  Chapter 13

  “Hello again.”

  Dr. Flint’s friendly smile irked Hunter immediately. Clarice, on the other hand, was smiling in blooms. In fact, she was paying more attention to that colorful doctor than him sitting beside her.

  “You are doing great for a pregnant woman.” Dr. Flint commented on Clarice’s healthy complexion. “You haven’t been feeling down or anything? No cravings or morning sickness?”

  “Morning sickness, yes. In the beginning,” Clarice commented, “but now, no.”

  “But there’s cravings, doctor. There’ve been lots of cravings,” Hunter had to add just so he wouldn’t feel left out of the conversation.

  “Cravings? What sort of cravings?” Dr. Flint turned his attention to him.

  Hunter only smirked as he stared at Clarice, his eyes lighting up.

  “Oh, you know… chocolate… and… se—owww!” He recoiled in pain as Clarice jabbed her elbow into his stomach to stop him just before he burst out saying that forbidden word.

  “Don’t you dare say that word out loud,” Clarice hissed.

  “Okay, okay, I won’t say it.” He nodded nimbly. “But she has been acting a little violent as of late. Is that normal, Dr—owww!”

  Another elbow in his stomach.

  “See what I mean?” he stated. “She’s gone all feisty.”

  “Hormones can play a huge part.” Dr. Flint nodded, his eyes twinkling at the loving couple. “Apart from that, you’re all in good health. Make sure you, Mr. Mason, look after her.”

  “Oh, don’t worry. I can look after her. It’s Clarice you should worry about. She doesn’t want me to look after her.”

  “Would you stop talking, Hunter?” Clarice warned.

  Dr. Flint only chuckled and stood up. “Well, that’s all for today, then. I’ll see you next month. Here’s a list of midwives you can choose from. And here’s my business card. Any concerns at all, just contact me.”

  Dr. Flint handed the information to Clarice, but it was Hunte
r who took them and shoved them in his pocket.

  “If that’s all, then thanks for today, doctor. We’ll get going, then. Clarice, baby, I’ll help you out of the chair.”

  “I’m not disabled, Hunter. I can get out of the chair by myself.” Clarice gritted her teeth in embarrassment.

  “I’m practicing now so when you do swell up like a balloon, I’ll know how to handle you.”

  “Hunter, do you want another jab in your stomach?” Clarice hissed again.

  “You two look like you’re so in love. I’m sure the little one will be so happy to have such loving parents.” Dr. Flint laughed.

  “Oh, I love my wife a lot.” Hunter nodded, taunting Clarice even further.

  “Adios, then.” Dr. Flint smiled before letting them out the door.

  Once they were outside, Clarice boxed Hunter’s ears.

  “How can you say that? Exposing all my weaknesses.”

  “Well, he did ask whether you’ve had cravings. I was only telling him the truth. Binging on chocolate and all that.”

  “The chocolate was fine, but why did you need to mention the…?”

  “Oh yes, the sex.” Hunter finished Clarice’s sentence. “So did you really crave such things, or is it a general thing that all women go through when they’re pregnant.”

  “I was not craving sex.” Clarice denied the truth, her face going red. “I was craving noodles.”

  “Noodles? But you were eating chocolate,” Hunter mused, laughing at Clarice’s expense.

  “Whatever.” Clarice turned away and started walking back to the car. Her mood right now could only be described with one word. Irritation.

  “Wait, wait, wait.” Hunter halted Clarice by clasping her hand to prevent her from walking any farther.

  “What now?” Clarice turned and gave Hunter her sour face.

  “Have coffee with me.” Hunter perked up, trying to make Clarice smile. “Talking about these cravings of yours makes me crave coffee. Come on. Let’s go next door.”

  “But I don’t want to drink coffee.”

  “Then you can have hot chocolate. They make good chocolate there.” Looking at Clarice’s hesitant expression, he said again, “Come on. At least let me apologize for making you mad.”

  Clarice still eyed him, assessing whether she should go.

  “Come on,” he persuaded. “Their hot chocolate is very good, you know. You are craving chocolate, right? Have a chocolate drink with me? Hmmm? Say you’ll come?”

  Clarice couldn’t resist Hunter begging her like this. He just looked too adorable.

  Adorable? What am I thinking? Being thrown off guard by her thoughts, she straightened and answered with a curt, “Fine,” and with a shake of her head, she stalked off right ahead of Hunter to hide her red flaming face.

  The health center was right next door to the main hospital building, where the little café resided, so with only a short walk, they were there.

  “Why do you need to hold my hand?” Clarice asked, getting further embarrassed and annoyed. “I’m not a child, you know. I won’t get lost.”

  “I know, but I want to be the loving partner.” Hunter grinned. Then, as if thinking Clarice would be pleased with his behavior today, he asked, “And can you guess how I spent my day today?”

  “Kicking the wind,” Clarice automatically answered.

  Hunter only made a scolding face.

  “No,” he whined, a little upset that Clarice would accuse him of such behavior. Before, yes, he would spend all his time kicking the wind, out playing and having fun, but now, no. “I will have you know that I’m a very responsible man now, Clarice,” he said, thrusting out his chest proudly. And then he whispered into her ear, as if sharing a secret, “I work now. Just like Anton.”

  Clarice’s ears pricked up and a smile formed at the corners of her lips.

  “You’re working now?” She gave him a sideways glance.

  “Yes, I am,” Hunter replied gleefully.

  “Where?” Clarice asked, intrigued.

  “At the hotel. Dad offered me a job.” Hunter was literally bouncing on his feet now.

  “That’s great.” Clarice smiled.

  It was only that one smile, but by golly, he’d been waiting to see one for ages. All of his bad mood from earlier today, which included that phone call from Caroline, had completely vanished, only to be replaced by this warm feeling inside.

  “I know, right?” He agreed proudly.

  “Did you enjoy it?” Clarice asked.

  “It was boring. But I’m going to try my best so that can see I’m a good man. So are you proud of me?” he asked, the ultimate question.

  Hunter’s heart leapt in anticipation, waiting for Clarice to respond.

  “Oh, Hunter.” Clarice giggled. “Of course I’m proud of you, but you don’t need to do it for my sake. I’m sure when our baby’s born, you’ll be sick of me by then.”

  “No,” he burst out, his hands immediately latching onto Clarice’s. “The reason I’m doing this is because I want to prove to you that I’m a good man. I want to show you I’m able to look after you.”

  “Okay.” Clarice laughed again, her irritation dispersed. Seeing Hunter looking all emotionally lost and stressed out like this made her smile. “You look stressed out. Let’s just go for coffee, then.”

  “I’m serious about you, Clarice,” Hunter whined again, tugging at her arm, just like a child would when asking for his favorite toy.

  “Okay, okay. Let’s go get you that coffee. Surely little Hunter is hungry for caffeine. That’s why he’s behaving like this,” Clarice added playfully.

  “I’m not little, you know,” Hunter stated, threatening Clarice with his tall stature, his body straightening to his full height, towering over Clarice’s little frame.

  “And that I can tell.” Clarice agreed, staring up at Hunter.

  They both walked into the foyer of the hospital, hand in hand. They were now standing at the elevator, and while Clarice was musing over whether to take the elevator or walk the stairs, Hunter heard their names called from behind.

  “Hunter? Clarice?”

  Hunter whipped his head around in the direction of that voice. At that moment, he could only suck in his breath, his eyes flaring open, because staring right back at him were Anton and Fern, his cousin and best friend.

  “Oh shit!” he swore, immediately swallowing a gulp of panic.

  Before Clarice could turn around, he grabbed her hand and made a run for it.

  “Hunter, why are we running? Stop dragging me. I thought we were going to the café.”

  “I have people chasing after me,” he said as he ran up the stairs.

  “Who?” Clarice asked, panting after Hunter. “What did you do wrong? Why are they chasing you?”

  “Debt collectors, baby. I have debt collectors after me.” He said the first thing that came to his mind.

  “You’re rich, Hunter. You have a hotel in every city. Why do you have debt collectors after you?”

  “Because I’m the heir and everyone wants a piece of me.”

  Okay, that reasoning just doesn’t even make sense right now, Hunter thought. But who cares? Anton was after them. He had to escape. He didn’t want Anton knowing about Clarice’s pregnancy. Worse yet, he had a strange suspicion that Anton liked Clarice and that thought alone was already unsettling. There was no way he was going to hand his woman over to Anton. Cousin or not, for this one, he didn’t care.

  “Hurry, baby, hurry!” Hunter dragged Clarice farther.

  “Hunter! I’m pregnant here.” Clarice managed to yank her hand out of his grip. She went to rest against the wall and closed her eyes. After regaining her breath, she turned to stare at Hunter. “I’m not supposed to be running like this, you know.”

  Crap. He almost forgot Clarice was pregnant. Through his panic attack, he’d literally dragged her up these stairs. But if they couldn’t run, then they would have to hide. Where were they supposed to hide, though, in this wide
-open staircase? Then an idea came to him like a lightning bolt into his brain.

  Hunter advanced toward Clarice and trapped her with both his arms against the wall. Clarice’s eyes grew wide with the sudden intrusion.

  “What are you doing, Hunter?” Her voice rose in panic as his face loomed closer.

  “Do me a favor, baby,” he spoke. “Kiss me. Please kiss me, baby.”

  “What?” Clarice screeched. Why, of all places, would Hunter ask her to do such a thing here? Public affection was not her forte. No way was she doing it. And what was his motive anyway? “Why?” she asked, her eyes scattering to look at the passing public, to see if they were looking in her direction. Thankfully, they were not.

  “Because when someone doesn’t know where to escape or hide, they kiss each other and the bad guys walk off. Like those soap operas on television.”

  “Where did you get such an idea?” Clarice asked. Hunter isn’t one to sit in front of the TV and watch soap operas.

  “Fern told me about it,” he answered.

  “Well, my answer is no. This is a public place. Don’t you go messing around with me.”

  Clarice eyed the many people now climbing the stairs. Yes, no way am I letting Hunter kiss me in a place like this. And who is Hunter running away from? And by golly, she didn’t believe a word that came out of his mouth about debt collectors.

  “But I asked your permission already. Shouldn’t you agree and let me kiss you?” Hunter said in a hurry, his eyes alert, flicking back towards the stairs just in case Anton or Fern came running after him.

  “Just because you keep on stealing kisses from me and now you ask my permission, do you think I will say yes?” Clarice hissed. “No, Hunter, my answer is still no. This is a public place.”

  “So what you’re saying is I should just kiss you without asking for your permission.” Hunter clarified. He flicked his eyes back to the stairs again. They weren’t here yet, but they would be soon if he didn’t do anything quick. God, he was starting to get impatient.

  “That’s not the point, Hunter,” Clarice said, shaking her head. “And stop looking at the stairs. Look at me when I’m talking to you.”

  Hunter was forced to turn his attention back to Clarice, but then he couldn’t keep his heart from panicking at the sudden thought that Anton would appear any minute. He diverted his eyes back to the stairs. Just one last time, he thought.