by Katie Dowe
"Then why don't you find a woman to have a baby with instead of having my sister go through this?"
Matt couldn't look at that unblinking gaze, somewhat challenging him. This was supposed to be a time of excitement, that he was on the way to becoming a father. But Arlie's accusing look was making him feel anything but.
"I want a child, not a wife." He said slowly, looking down at his hands on his knees. "It's too much hassle to have a baby the proper way and chances are the woman would use the child against me. This way I'm bypassing all of that."
There was silence. The tension grew thicker. Matt risked a glance up at Arlie, who was staring at him, stark anger in her expression. That really threw him. While he was expecting opposition from this woman, he wasn't expression pure anger.
"You really have a shit opinion of women, don't you?" Arlie said finally.
"Sorry?"
"Not all women want your money. Surely you'd be able to tell when a woman truly wants to be with you instead of making up their minds for them."
Matt bristled. This woman was from the other side of the tracks. She had never experienced the issues he had to deal with because she didn't have billions to entice men in.
If he didn't have the money, women wouldn't look twice at him and he knew that.
"All the women I've dated wanted my money, not me." He said gruffly. "I even got engaged to one before I discovered the truth. I'm not putting a child through the drama I would be having with the mother."
"And what happens when the child grows up and asks why he hasn't got a mommy?" Arlie pointed out. "Are you going to give him an honest answer about where he came from?"
"Yes." Matt snapped. "I don't lie to people."
His integrity meant a lot to him. But from Arlie's disgusted expression it didn't mean a lot to her.
"You're unbelievable, do you know that? A lot of women would love to simply have a baby, money be damned." She stood, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "Just be thankful that Michelle's fertile. Others aren't so lucky."
She strode out the room, banging the door behind her. Matt watched her go, knowing that he had touched a nerve.
If only he knew what that nerve was.
*****
The next six weeks passed by far too slowly for Matt's liking. He didn't like waiting and this was killing him. The doctor had said they would know if the procedure had been successful once Michelle reached her monthly cycle. When she had said she was due the next week the doctor had suggested waiting until the one after that before she did a pregnancy test.
Matt hadn't wanted to wait that long. But he knew Michelle's body needed to have time to either accept or reject the fertilized eggs.
He hoped it was successful. Everything had looked good before Michelle had gone into the operating theater. And it was looking good now as Michelle was cheerful and happy whenever they met every other day to check on her progress. Sometimes Arlie joined her but other times she stayed in their apartment.
Matt had barely spoken to her since their talk in the waiting room. Arlie kept away from him when they were in each other's presence and they were becoming far and few between. While it was a relief not to feel like a bug under a microscope, Matt was beginning to miss Arlie. She drew him like a moth to a flame and it was a complete mystery to Matt why she could grab his attention.
If Michelle noticed his increasing questions on Arlie she didn't say anything. They were getting on well, almost like brother and sister. Matt wondered if he would be able to stay in contact with Michelle afterwards. She was a good person and would be a great friend.
And that meant he could hear about Arlie more often.
Now sitting on Michelle's couch in her small two-bedroom apartment, Matt was very much aware of Arlie in the kitchen. She was leaning against the counter sipping at her coffee, her eyes on the bathroom door, which had been closed for the past ten minutes since Michelle had gone in there with the pregnancy test. When she had called to say she was late on her period, Matt had gone straight to the drugstore and bought the test.
The wait was intense and Matt fought the urge to fidget.
Finally the door opened and Michelle appeared. She was looking tired but none the worse for wear. She went over to Matt and held up the stick.
"It was successful. I'm pregnant."
Matt wasn't sure he would ever hear those words. His hand shaking, he took the stick and saw the cross in the window. He had read the instructions himself before Michelle had taken it out of his hands and knew that was the sign she was pregnant.
He swallowed.
"Good."
"Don't get over-excited." Michelle said wryly.
"That's an understatement." Arlie muttered.
Matt shook himself and stood.
"Sorry, it's just taking a while to sink in."
Impulsively he hugged Michelle, who was hesitant but then hugged him back. He was going to be a father. Finally.
He drew back and glanced between the two women.
"Both of you get packed. You'll be moved into my house tonight."
"Ja, Mein Fuhrer." Arlie sneered.
Matt ignored her. It was part of the agreement and he didn't care if he sounded dictatorial. Michelle was pregnant with his child and that was of paramount importance to him.
"Arlie, enough." Michelle scolded. She turned to Matt. "We'll need transport. Neither of us drive."
"I'll have my driver pick you up in four hours." Matt was already moving towards the door, sidestepping Arlie as she moved into the lounge. There arms brushed and Matt tried to ignore the static going up his arm. "That enough time for you?"
"Ample time." Michelle called after him.
But Matt was already gone. He had a lot of things to do to get the two women settled.
*****
The rest of the day passed in a blur for Arlie. As soon as Prentice had left, she and Michelle had found as many suitcases and boxes they could find and packed everything they could. There was no way they were going to leave anything of value behind; not in their neighborhood.
When the driver Evans had arrived to pick them up in a limousine, he hadn't even blinked when he saw the boxes and suitcases, merely helped Arlie put them into the back. Then he had helped them lock up and check everything was secure. Arlie felt a sense of sadness as they left the apartment, Michelle's pride and joy. While the move was only temporary, she wished they could stay where they were.
But Prentice was right; their neighborhood was just too dangerous. And Arlie didn't like the idea of staying in the apartment alone while Michelle was being looked after in the big house. She didn't want to chance Jason finding out where she was staying. At least at Prentice's house she could have better security systems blocking the bastard's path.
As they drove through the city to the Hamptons where Prentice had his home, Arlie's thoughts inadvertently turned back to the billionaire benefactor. In her opinion, he was a selfish man. He thought money answered everything and everything had to be under his control. There were so many things about him that were similar to Jason that Arlie had expected to be repulsed.
But she hadn't. Instead her eyes zeroed in on him whenever he was in the room. The damn man had to have GQ looks. It was Murphy's Law; the arrogant prick just had to be gorgeous. Tall, slim and rugged, the billionaire was jam-packed with muscle and oozed charisma. Whether he wore a suit or a shirt and jeans he looked like a model.
Weren't there any ugly men with money anymore? It would make Arlie feel better about herself. She had just got away from a man with money. Now she was becoming attracted to another.
An attraction that was apparently not one-sided. From the way Prentice had looked at her and reacted whenever they touched, he felt something as well. Arlie hoped it was because he couldn't stand the sight of her but knew that wasn't true. Her body felt like jelly whenever he looked at her and when they touched, albeit accidentally, her pussy would throb and demand that she grab him and strip his clothes off.
&nbs
p; She was going to have to be very careful around him. While she had been lucky to keep out of his way in the last six weeks after that callous remark about all women being gold-diggers and he didn't want the hassle of a wife, being in his house for the next eight months was going to be harder.
When they arrived at Prentice's house, Arlie had been barely able to contain her amazement as she and Michelle stared at the huge white house with its sweeping driveway. It looked like something out of a fairy tale. It simply sparkled in the sun.
Arlie guessed he probably had a swimming pool, a couple of tennis courts, and a huge garden that was barely used but kept in immaculate condition.
The joys of being rich.
Prentice also had a security team. Their chief, a man in his late thirties who simply introduced himself as Bates, had come out to greet them. He was huge, his mahogany skin shiny in the afternoon sun. Muscles seemed to bulge everywhere while the sun bounced off his bald head. Arlie had noticed Michelle blushing and deduced that Michelle found the older man attractive. If Arlie was in the mood to look at another man in appreciation, she would probably have thought the same thing.
But she was off men for now. Or so she kept telling herself.
Between Bates, Evan, Michelle and herself, they got their things inside and to the two rooms Michelle and Arlie would be using. They were on the east side of the house and spacious, both with their own en-suite bathrooms. Arlie's room was as big as her whole apartment in the Bronx. Just standing in the middle of it all made her nervous.
Not wanting to intrude on anyone, she busied herself with putting her things away before soaking in a hot bath, a luxury she hadn't had for a while since Michelle only had a shower. When she finally emerged from the bathroom and dressed again, it was getting dark. Her stomach growled, reminding her she had barely eaten that day.
A quick tour of the house, which was eerily quiet, Arlie found the kitchen. She raided the fridge, finding some cheese and a packet of biscuits, pouring herself a glass of orange juice. Then she went exploring, her meal in her hands.
It wasn't long before Arlie discovered the library. A lover of books, she was floored by the bookcases crammed with books. She could spend a year in that room alone and never get through all the books. From the look of the layout, half was a library and the other half was a mini cinema. A large leather sofa was planted in front of a huge plasma TV that was held onto the wall. Rows of DVDs were stacked around it.
Another one of Arlie's paradises. Film heaven.
Deciding that it wouldn't do any harm, she put her plate and glass on the coffee table and selected 'Silence of the Lambs'. She wanted a bit of Anthony Hopkins. Quickly figuring out the DVD player, she put the disc in and set it going.
Arlie turned away and jumped with a gasp when she saw someone move in the doorway. It took a moment for her to realize that it was Prentice; there was no mistaking that build for Bates or even Evans. She sagged, her hand against her chest as her heart thumped wildly.
"It's you." She glanced at the film blaring out behind her and winced. "Sorry, I should've asked first if I could watch it."
"There's no need." Matt appeared out of the shadows. He was wearing jeans and had changed into a black t-shirt that hugged his torso. "You are essentially living here for now."
His pectorals flexed under Arlie's gaze and she looked away, blushing furiously.
"I'll ask next time." She mumbled.
"Don't worry about it." Prentice nodded at the TV. "This is one of my favorites. Mind if I join you?"
Arlie's heart felt like it was pounding all the blood around her head. She gulped.
"Erm, sure."
She couldn't exactly say no; this was his house, after all. Prentice went over to the couch and sat at one end, settling back with his legs stretched out. Arlie curled into the other corner, sipping at her juice. This was going to be uncomfortable, to say the least.
But she found, as they watched the film, that it was actually quite nice. Prentice didn't talk, unlike Michelle who couldn't shut up when a movie was going, and the quiet was refreshing. Arlie felt herself relaxing. While he might have been a rich bastard, Matt Prentice had some good qualities.
He made a good viewing companion.
The film was halfway through when he suddenly spoke.
"Listen, I'm sorry about my attitude back in the clinic." He sighed. "It was uncalled for."
"It certainly was." Arlie quipped.
"I'm trying to apologize here. At least hear me out."
"Sorry."
Matt rested his head back and stared at the ceiling. It was then that Arlie saw the lines around his eyes. He looked exhausted. She resisted the urge to reach out and rub the lines away.
"I've had many women offer to give me children over the years." Matt said quietly. "But they could never see beyond the money that is attached to my name. And I know the signs. Subtly asking for money at the beginning before getting the confidence to ask for bigger sums is the big one. Once the child was born they would use that child to make sure they could rake out all they could from me." He closed his eyes, looking pained. "It happened once. No kid deserves to go through that."
Arlie was beginning to see. A past experience had scared Prentice into believing all women were the same. Whoever this woman was had damaged Prentice more than he cared to admit.
"Do you see your child?" She asked.
"Every week." Matt swallowed and wiped at his eyes. "The mother doesn't argue anymore. But I don't want to go through that again."
"Why can't you have custody? It would be easier, wouldn't it?"
Matt opened his eyes and gave her a sad smile.
"Not that easy. Trust me on that."
Arlie knew there was something she wasn't grasping with his words. But she was too tired to wonder about it. She turned to face him, curling her legs up underneath her and drawing her cardigan closer to her neck. Suddenly she realized it was getting cooler.
"Your reasons are well-meaning, I'm sure, now you've explained it to me." She locked gazes with him, trying to ignore the shivers when she began to feel sucked in to those chocolate-colored eyes. "But Michelle doesn't deserve to be treated like that. She may be doing this for money but she's not a materialistic woman. She'd rather teach kids than have them. There aren't many teaching posts in New York right now so that money will help her move to another part of the country and have a nest egg while she looks for work. She hates not working."
Prentice smiled and Arlie forgot how to breathe. This smile didn't have any charm behind it at all. It was an unguarded smile. And it was beautiful.
"She's an inspiration." Prentice said softly. Then he peered at her. "How come you're not a health visitor anymore? Michelle said you left your job six months ago."
Arlie was so lost in Prentice's previous smile that she nearly forgot what he asked. When she realized what he had asked she began to panic. What did she say? Did she lie? Or did she tell him what had really happened?
"I'm on extended compassionate leave." She answered. She swallowed and instinctively put a hand over her belly. "I was hurt badly and required hospital treatment. I'm still mending."
That was as close to the truth as she was going to get. Matt Prentice might be her sister's employer for now but he was still a stranger. Arlie didn't trust him enough with the truth.
Her response seemed to satisfy Prentice. He sat up.
"Wouldn't you want to be paid for looking after your sister?"
But Arlie was shaking her head before he had finished.
"I'm not here for the money, Mr Prentice."
"Matt, please."
Arlie didn't want to call him that. It sounded too intimate. She focused on her answer.
"I'm here for Michelle. I know about children, she doesn't. And I've dealt with pregnant women before." She tilted her chin at him. "I don't need to be paid."
She had enough money saved to keep her going after this. And she wasn't about to ask for money from this man. Not af
ter the problems with Jason.
"It would make me feel better if you had something coming in for yourself."
He was insistent. Very insistent. Arlie momentarily wondered what he would be like in bed. Would he be insistent then? She mentally swiped the images away.
"Michelle and I grew up with a mother who worked two jobs. Our father deserted us when Michelle was two. Ma taught us how to make our money stretch and use it wisely. We don't take anything for granted." She gulped down the rest of her juice. "I'll be fine."
For a couple of months. But then she would have to get back to work. And since Jason knew where she worked that was asking for trouble. She needed to find alternative work.
Prentice was looking at her strangely now. Arlie guessed he didn't often have women turn down his money. She turned away and settled back against the leather, nodding at the TV.
"Let's not ruin the film by talking, eh? Let's finish watching this."
Prentice didn't respond. He merely settled back, lacing his fingers across his flat stomach. Arlie kept her eyes glued to the screen. She didn't want to look over at him. He might catch her looking and get the wrong idea. It wasn't something she wanted to entertain.
Once bitten, twice shy.
Pretty soon Arlie had forgotten about Prentice. Sleep had taken over and she was fast asleep by the time the end credits rolled.
Chapter 3
Michelle cut off a piece of pancake with her fork and scooped it into her mouth. Her eyes closed and she moaned in bliss.
"God, this is delicious, Nell." Opening her eyes, she grinned at Nell Matthews. "What do you put in it?"
"Cottage cheese and blueberries." The resident cook returned the grin as she placed a plate piled high with pancakes on the table. "Mr Prentice loves it as well."
Arlie was sure he did. The pancakes smelled delicious and she was partial to blueberries. But it was far too early for her to even think of having food in any shape or form; her stomach was still waking up.
Michelle began to tuck in to the pancakes, stuffing nearly half of one in her mouth. The pregnancy was already turning her into a foodie. The amount of food she put away was a sight to behold.