1 Target of Death

by Madison Johns

  “Hopefully, not too soon. Motherhood scares me. I have never even babysat before. What if I do something wrong, like drop it on its head?”

  He laughed. “Don’t worry. From my understanding, it’s instinct. You’ll figure out what to do when the baby comes. Look how you care for Weenie. You protect and nurture him.”

  She bit her fingernail. “I know, but a baby is way different from a dog.”

  There was a knock at the door and the maid brought in a silver tray layered with fruit, cheese, and crackers with a bottle of bubbly.

  “I can’t drink, Jeremy.”

  “Don’t worry, it’s sparkling grape juice.”

  Two glasses were retrieved, and with a nod, the maid left the room, closing the door softly behind her. Jeremy popped the cork and poured the bubbly into the glasses, offering Kimberly one of them. “To us.”

  Kimberly smiled as she took a sip, then laughed when the bubbles tickled her nostrils. “To forever.”

  “I like the sound of that.” Jeremy took a drink and rested back in the chair. “And you wanted to ask me some questions about my past.”

  “Yes, and I’m sure you’d like to know more about me as well.”

  “I know the father of your baby died in a hunting accident in the Upper Peninsula. What about your childhood?”

  Kimberly took another sip. “You, first.” Truth was, how could she explain her odd childhood? It was so far removed from who she was today.

  “Well, I spent my childhood in San Diego, California, but we often summered at Lake Tahoe.”

  “What was it like there?”

  “Busy and congested in San Diego, but it was a great place to grow up. Back then I liked going to parties and my friends and I had fun getting into mischief at our parents’ expense. We knocked down our fair share of ice sculptures. Unfortunately, there was also a large amount of booze around. I hate to admit it, but I drank too much as a teen. When I hit a parked car at sixteen, I headed off to court, and it was there that I was first inspired to become a lawyer. My parents hired a great lawyer who convinced the judge to go easy on me, but I had to go to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for a while. No way was I that messed up, but I did my time and haven’t had a drink since.”

  “That’s great, Jeremy. Were your parents mad at you?”

  “My adoptive parents, Frances and Martin Preston, were tolerant of my behavior, but they were insistent that I go through the AA classes. They were thrilled that I wanted to pursue a degree in law. I went to San Diego University’s’ School of Law, and graduated with honors.”

  “I see.” So Jeremy did have flaws of his own. “It’s great that you rose above your early mistakes. What did you do after graduation?”

  “I moved to Los Angeles and became an entertainment lawyer. That’s how I met Clive Baxter.”

  Kimberly had to wonder how a man with such a background ended up moving to Michigan. “What was being a entertainment lawyer like?”

  “I handled contracts and occasionally had to go to court.” He frowned. “Then there were the actresses who were arrested for DUI. I didn’t mind in the beginning. After all, I’d been in trouble for the same thing when I was younger, but they kept doing it over and over again.” He expelled a breath.

  “You got fed up.”

  “Exactly. I had so much pressure put on me by agents and family members, not to mention whiny clients, that I finally said ‘enough.’”

  “Is that when you moved to Michigan?”

  “Yes. I figured Michigan was far enough away from California, but that was before Clive showed up in town.”

  “I’m confused. Why did you pick Redwater?”

  “I had a cousin who lived here. He told me how the thumb of Michigan was so nice and pristine, and that the people were friendly. You have to admit, Redwater is a small town and that’s what I needed. To be out of the hustle and bustle of the big city.”

  “Were you dating any actresses or models?”

  “I’ve dated my fair share, but most of them just didn’t hold my attention.”

  “Come on. You were a player. Admit it.”

  “Guilty as charged, but I’m trying to change my ways.”

  Kimberly rubbed her brow. “With me?”

  “I fell in love with you the first moment I interviewed you for the job, but I was too stubborn to admit it.”

  “Yeah, until I was six months pregnant and offered a modeling gig for the Pretty and Pregnant lotion line.”

  He popped a grape into his mouth. “I explained to you about how I loved you already. I just didn’t want to risk Clive moving you to California. I had to make a move.”

  “Of course. I just wish you had made your move earlier, like before I got pregnant.”

  “Would it have mattered?”

  “Perhaps; not that I’m unhappy about how things turned out, though. I’m happy that I’m pregnant, but I wonder how things will play out with the advertising deal. I’ll have to learn how to deal with Clare. I know she’s just trying to rile me, but this is going to be hard. I hate the thought of you and Clare together. What if she tries to interfere?”

  “She’ll be wasting her breath. I only have eyes for you.” He stood and closed the distance between them. “I love you, my silly worry wart.” He kissed the top of Kimberly’s head.

  If only Kimberly could believe that. Sure, she knew that Jeremy loved her, but it wouldn’t matter to Clare. No doubt Claire would do her best to mess things up if she could.

  Kimberly tilted her head up so Jeremy’s lips could capture hers, exploring her lips and mouth with a plunge of his tongue. She moaned beneath the heat of the kiss and sighed when it stopped, searching his dark face, which promised of so much more, and felt his body hot beneath her searching hands.

  “I want this night to be special, Kimberly.”

  He helped her stand and he led her to the bed, where he slowly unzipped Kimberly’s wedding dress and helped her remove it, tossing it onto a chair. She pressed herself against the soft sheets and held a hand over her abdomen when the baby gave her a vicious kick. “Oh, my.”

  “You’re beautiful,” he said, breathing into her open and waiting mouth.

  Kimberly batted her eyelashes, her cheeks hot to the touch. “Hold me,” she requested. “I think we should wait until the baby is born before we make love. If it’s okay with you, I just want to get to know you more before I’m ready to take the plunge.”

  Jeremy nodded. “Whatever feels right for you. Just know that I’m here whenever you’re ready.” He removed his tux and joined Kimberly on the bed, laying down in the buff!

  Kimberly swallowed hard. Had she made a mistake? Jeremy was rippled muscle from head to toe! His tight abs contracted with each movement, whereas she felt like a bloated whale. She rubbed her stomach and Jeremy’s hands joined hers, his eyes widening when a thump from within moved both their hands.

  “He’s strong.”

  “Hey, I don’t know for sure what the baby is yet.”

  “It’s a boy from the way he kicks. I think he’s going to be football player.”

  Kimberly smiled sweetly. “You’re such a man. I don’t care what it is as long as it’s healthy.”

  “Of course, but it wouldn’t hurt to decorate the nursery in blue, just in case.”

  “How about green or yellow?”

  He wrinkled his nose. “Not. Let’s just keep it white until the baby comes. So, when is your due date?”

  Kimberly rubbed her head. “Oh, I don’t know for certain. I think I have three months left.”

  He pulled away. “Why don’t you know for sure? When was the last time you went for a doctor’s appointment?”

  Kimberly hated to tell him. “About two months, give or take.”

  “You’re making an appointment tomorrow, Mrs. Preston,” he said in disapproval. “I’m not having my son or daughter arriving early.”

  He said it like this baby was his, but Kimberly would roll with it. “I’m horrible with appointmen
ts. I can barely keep Weenie’s appointments straight.”

  “That’s a dog, not a baby, dear. I’ll come with you, if you like. I’d love to hear the baby’s heartbeat.”

  “What kind of man are you?”

  “One that loves you. You need to be in tip top condition or this ad campaign isn’t happening.”

  Kimberly balanced her body with a raised arm. “You’re my husband for just a few hours and you’re already ordering me around.”

  He lifted her hand. “As long as you wear this wedding ring, I’m in charge.”

  Kimberly gasped. “Oh, no, you’re not. So just get that out of your head this minute, mister. I’ll go along and schedule an appointment, but don’t think for a minute I’m under your thumb.”

  “Fine, you win. I forgot I was married to a willful woman.”

  She winked at him. “You got that right, big boy.” She yawned, right on cue. “Let’s get some sleep. The wedding took more out of me than I thought.”

  Jeremy pulled up the covers and snuggled up to his wife. Wow, Kimberly liked the thought of that. She was Jeremy’s wife now and she’d never let anyone forget it. Then she closed her eyes and was lulled off to sleep by Jeremy’s deep breathing.