by Krista Lakes
She smiled the smile that made his heart melt. Sparkling diamonds had nothing on her smile’s brilliance. “I love you, too. And don’t worry about me.”
The last thing in the world he could do was not worry about her. She was in his every thought.
He kissed her and put on his jacket. His security team had run home and picked him up one so that he wouldn’t be photographed in jeans and a t-shirt. It was his lucky suit. The one that he wore to all the big meetings because he knew it made him look good and he felt confident in it.
With a deep breath, he stepped out of Kat’s room. He knew that his publicist was going to shoot him for doing this, but he didn’t want to plan out what he was going to say. He wanted to it to come from the heart. He tended to make better speeches when he didn’t have it rehearsed, so that was what he was leaning on now.
It was time to meet the press.
30
Kat
The room was silent after AJ left. He’d only been gone a few minutes, but she missed him. The past few hours sitting in the ER with him had been wonderful. The ER part, not so much, but getting to be with him without worrying about people seeing them was awesome. She wished she could see him all the time.
She sighed and fluffed her pillow, trying to find a comfortable position on the uncomfortable gurney. If she couldn’t go home, she at least couldn’t wait to be upstairs and in a real bed. Her butt was sore from sitting and really she just wanted to relax. And, for the first time since the pregnancy test, she felt like she could.
AJ knew about the pregnancy. He knew, and he was staying with her. He promised to take care of her and the baby. All of her worst fears were disappearing. He loved her. He loved the baby. And while it wasn’t ideal for either of them, he wa7sn’t backing down. He was stepping up and being the man that she knew he was.
He was going to make a great father. She could already tell that he was going to go above and beyond. She could just imagine him cuddling a little boy or girl, reading them bedtime stories, and giving them the world. If anything, she was going to have to watch out that he didn’t spoil their kid rotten.
She smiled, imagining the future. It looked incredibly bright. Her child would have a father. That was the most important thing to her. Her own job and what the next few weeks would be like didn’t seem like that big a deal if her child was taken care of. She could figure out the rest.
Kat glanced at her watch. She wondered if AJ was done making his speech yet. She wondered just what he was going to say. She knew that he would probably have to deny their relationship. It hurt, but she understood. It was for his company. He had to. Coming out with the fact he was dating an employee in the midst of his partner’s sex scandal was the last thing his company’s image needed.
She turned on the TV, just looking for something to keep her mind busy. She didn’t want to think about what he was going to say. She didn’t want to think about what the papers were going to write about her because right now, she was happy. Thinking about that would only make her unhappy.
Unfortunately, the universe wanted her to be unhappy, as the very first thing on the TV was a live feed of AJ making his statement.
“Must be a slow news day,” Kat commented. She nearly changed the channel, but she didn’t want to stop looking at AJ. He looked so damn handsome in his dark blue suit. It accented the strength of his shoulders and the lean trim of his body while making his eyes pop. She hoped their child got his eyes.
“There are rumors that you’re sleeping with the employee you brought to the hospital,” a reporter asked, sticking his microphone directly in AJ’s face. “Would you care to address them?”
Kat held her breath. She had no idea how AJ was going to answer a question like this. Would he lie and say that they were just co-workers?
“You’re going to ask me about rumors?” AJ frowned at the reporter, disgust filling his blue eyes. “I’m here making sure that an employee of mine is receiving the best medical care possible, and you’re asking me to verify rumors.”
AJ shook his head. Kat watched as he managed to shift the question away from their relationship with the skill benefiting a politician.
“This experience has shown me that my employees need the best medical coverage possible. That they deserve the best medical coverage possible,” AJ continued. “And as such, I will be increasing employee coverage for all employees. Shoesy is determined to show our employees that this company is the best place to work.”
Kat watched as cameras flashed furiously. More questions came streaming in from other reporters, this time focusing on the healthcare plans and how Shoesy was treating their employees rather than focusing on his relationship.
She wanted to keep watching, but her phone rang. Renee’s picture popped up on her screen. Kat sighed, but she knew if she didn’t answer it, Renee would just keep calling.
“Hello,” she said, picking up the phone.
“Are you watching this?” Renee asked. “You spend time with him. Do you think he’s sleeping with an employee?”
Kat nearly dropped the phone. Kat had no idea that the employee was her.
“I, uh...” She didn’t want to lie to her friend, but she had no idea what to tell her.
“I think he is, but he’s just trying to be classy. He seemed so classy at my wedding,” Renee continued. “If I had known he was dating employees, I would have thrown myself at him. I think I deserve a billionaire.”
“What about Bob?” Kat asked, shaking her head.
“He’d survive just fine without me,” Renee assured her. “Maybe you should try getting with him. You do know him better than I do, since you guys always have meetings together.”
Kat had to bite her tongue. “Sure, Renee. I’ll work on seducing my billionaire boss.”
“Anyway, I just wanted to see if you were feeling better,” Renee said. “I saw that Mr. Jacobson was taking an employee to the hospital and I remembered that you’ve been sick all week. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“I’m fine,” Kat told her with a smile. Despite all her flaws, Renee did try to be a friend occasionally. “I think I’m actually on the mend.”
“Good. Bob made this amazing soup for dinner tonight, so I’ll bring you some tomorrow,” Renee promised. “I’m going to go see if anyone has any idea who this mystery employee might be. See you tomorrow.”
Kat stared at her phone. If Renee had no idea it was Kat in the hospital, then that meant that the hospital was doing an amazing job of keeping her identity secret. Perhaps there was a reason for those annoying medical privacy laws after all.
Kat looked back up at the TV just in time to catch the last little bit of AJ’s press conference.
“Thank you all for your concern for my employee. I hope that the rest of my employees can feel as safe with their health in the future. Thank you and goodnight.” AJ smiled for the camera and then stepped away.
Kat shook her head at the TV. AJ had somehow managed to make this whole thing about healthcare instead of her. She was grateful. While Renee would have loved to be in that limelight, she did not. She knew she would eventually have to get used to it, but she was glad that day wasn’t today.
31
Kat
The hospital didn’t have an executive suite. Instead, Kat was placed in the best room on the Women’s Care unit. It was far enough away from the labor and delivery rooms that she couldn’t hear anything, and as far from the elevators as possible so that the staff could catch any reporters trying to sneak up on her.
Kat looked around the room, trying to memorize it for later. There was the traditional hospital bed with white blanket, a water color painting of a mother with her child on the wall, and a pale blue plastic couch and matching chair. In about eight months or so, she would be back here in a room just like this one having a baby. Eight months seemed a long way away and yet terribly close at the same time.
“The nurse is going to bring me some more pillows,” AJ said, pulling
the visitor couch out into a bed. He had his suit jacket tossed over on the chair and the sleeves of his white dress shirt rolled up.
“You really don’t have to stay the night with me,” Kat told him, eyeing the unforgiving plastic material. “That couch looks incredibly uncomfortable.”
“I’m not leaving you.” AJ turned and faced her, crossing his arms and darkening his gaze. “So stop asking.”
“I’m glad you’re staying,” she replied with a smile. “I just don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
AJ motioned to the plastic couch. “I think I’ll be just fine. The nurse promised me at least three pillows and I found the blanket warmer. I think I might purchase one of those blanket warmers for the house.”
“Then I’llprobably come live with you in winter because those things are amazing,” Kat told him. She blushed a deep red as soon as the words were out. They hadn’t had a chance to talk about the future yet, but here she was telling him she was going to move in with him.
“Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that,” AJ said, shifting his feet.
“I didn’t really mean that I was going to move in with you,” Kat said quickly. “I mean, I would never assume that I could because it’s your house and I have my apartment and now I’m rambling.”
AJ laughed, filling the room with an easy comfort. He smiled at her. “I was going to tell you that I think you should move in with me.”
“What?” Kat couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“I have more space for the baby, and more importantly, I have twenty-four hour security. You’ve already seen what they can do.” AJ smiled at her, taking any hurt from his words. “I’d feel safer having you somewhere where medical professionals are a heartbeat away.”
“I don’t know what to say...”
“I haven’t finished my sales pitch,” AJ told her, coming to stand by the bed. “I also have a swimming pool, which I’m told you will want to use toward the end of your pregnancy. I also have a personal chef, so those pregnancy cravings won’t be a problem.”
“I don’t know, AJ...”
“But wait, there’s more!” AJ grinned at her and continued his sales pitch like a late night commercial. “If you say yes now, for the low low price of just $9.99 for nine installments, I will double your order.”
“How are you going to double a swimming pool and a personal chef?” Kat asked, crossing her arms.
“You have a good point,” he conceded. He leaned forward and kissed her lips. It was short, but tantalizing. “But I’m sure I can come up with something. I am a billionaire after all.”
If Kat wasn’t in a hospital bed, she would have locked the door and done more than just kiss him. But, the door had no lock, and nurses kept coming in and out to check on them. This wasn’t the time or the place, but the fact that she was thinking it could be meant the anti-nausea medication was helping.
“Hmm, I’m going to have to think about it,” Kat replied. “You know what they say, if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
“I’ve heard that too,” AJ agreed. “But then I met you.”
Kat grinned at him. “Maybe it’s just these medications, but you seem extra charming.”
AJ shrugged, but he grinned back at her. “Maybe I’m just that charming all the time.”
“Maybe you are,” Kat said. She frowned after a moment. “But what about the press? Won’t me moving in with you raise a lot of suspicion?”
AJ bit the inside of his cheek and flushed slightly. For the first time since she’d woken up, he looked nervous and slightly uncomfortable. As if he had a big secret that he needed to share with her, but wasn’t quite ready to.
“What’s wrong, AJ?” Kat asked. The joking mood disappeared and some of the panic from earlier returned. What else could possibly go wrong today?
“This isn’t quite how I planned it. I had flowers, and better clothing, and much better mood lighting in mind, but...” He looked around before focusing on her and smiling. “But, it feels right to do it now.”
Kat frowned, not understanding what he could mean. Do what now?
Slowly, AJ knelt next to the gurney, going to one knee and looking up at her with blue eyes full of love. He took a small, black velvet box from his pocket.
“I bought this before I knew about the baby,” he explained. “I saw it and just knew that it was meant for you. That we were meant for one another.”
The heart rate monitor started beeping faster. AJ opened the box, revealing a stunning ring. A beautiful sparkling diamond glittered in an antique setting. The stone was large, but not overly so. It was wearable and possibly the most beautiful thing Kat had ever seen.
“I love you, Kat Ryder. Will you marry me?”
Shock swept through her. Shock and joy.
“Yes!” Kat whispered, positive that she was the happiest woman in the entire world. “Yes! I love you, AJ!”
AJ rose to kiss her, his face bright and all the stress of the past few months wiped away. “I love you, Kat.”
32
About 7 months later....
“I hope you have your bags packed.” Dr. Misti-Cooper wheeled her chair away from Kat’s open legs. “Because your water has broken.”
“Hallelujah!” Kat announced while AJ paled. “That means we can just go over to the labor and delivery unit, right? No going home? No more waiting?”
“Yes to all of those,” Dr. Misti-Cooper said with a smile. “You’re going to have a baby.”
“Thank you, Doctor!” Tears of relief streamed down Kat’s face. The pregnancy had been rough. The morning sickness had lasted her entire pregnancy. Everyone kept telling her it would go away when she hit the second trimester, but it never did. The nausea and vomiting had lasted all the way up to the end.
But today was her last day of puking, because she was going to have this baby.
“Would you like a wheelchair? Or do you want to walk over?” asked Dr. Misti-Cooper.
“I’ll walk,” Kat told her. “It’ll help progress labor, right?”
The doctor nodded and helped her sit up on the exam table. “How are you feeling?”
“Nervous. Excited. Happy. Relieved.” Kat listed off just some of the emotions going through her. A contraction hit, stronger than the ones before. “Oooo- and ouchie.”
The doctor waited patiently, timing her contraction. “Looks good. How about you, Dad?”
AJ grinned. “Excited and nervous.”
“What? No ouchie on your end?” Kat teased him. “I thought we were in this together.”
AJ laughed and took her hand. “Squeeze as hard as you need to. I’m with you all the way.”
The walk over to the labor and delivery floor was short and easy.
“Name?” asked the nurse at the front desk. “And are you pre-registered?”
“Yes, and the name is Kat Ryder.” Kat had to pause for a moment as another contraction hit.
“Okay.” The nurse typed something into the computer. “We have a room all ready for you. Are you the father?”
AJ nodded.
“We need you to sign into the visitor’s log,” the nurse told him, pushing a clipboard across the counter.
AJ only let go of Kat’s hand long enough to scribble his name on the paper.
“Excellent, Mr. Jacobson,” the nurse said, handing him a badge. “If you’ll follow me, we’ll take you to your private suite.”
“Private suite?” Kat asked as the nurse came around the desk and motioned them to follow her down the hall.
“I might have called ahead and had something special set up,” AJ replied nonchalantly.
Kat was about to reply when another contraction hit and she had to stop in her tracks and focus on breathing.
Long breath out, she thought to herself. Imagine a flower bud opening up. This is your body opening and preparing. You can do this.
The contraction didn’t stop. It was her longest and strongest one yet, but Kat was able to to
lerate it.
You know, if this is as bad as it gets, I can totally do this without meds. I am woman, hear me roar!
The room was the same as the one she had been in before, but AJ had definitely called ahead. In addition to the regular hospital bed, there were candles, soft music, and the plastic couch had been replaced with one that actually looked comfortable enough to sleep on.
“Wow,” Kat said, walking into the room. It smelled like lavender with just a hint of roses. She grinned at AJ. “You didn’t want to sleep on that fantastic couch again?”
“Maybe next time,” AJ replied.
Kat went over to look at one of the candles and found they were actually fake. A little light bulb was inside flickering instead of a flame. She was actually glad. The last thing she wanted to worry about today was knocking over a candle and setting the hospital on fire.
“A nurse will be in shortly to start your IV. Can I bring you anything?” the nurse asked.
“We’re good for now,” Kat replied. If she needed anything, it looked like AJ had already provided it.
“Okay. Congratulations,” the nurse said with a smile before closing the door on her way out.
Another contraction hit and Kat gripped the side of the bed and tried to think of the flower bud opening up to allow her child into the world. It wasn’t working quite as well as it had been earlier.
The contraction finished just as a new nurse came into the room with the IV supplies. She quickly started the IV and kept the conversation light as she asked all the hospital questions and recorded Kat’s information.
“And AJ, I assume that you are the father?” the nurse asked, checking with AJ. AJ nodded. “And just for the records, are you two married?”
“Just engaged,” Kat told her.
“She wanted to wait until after the baby was born,” AJ said to the nurse. “She wants to look beautiful in the pictures, but I told her that she looked stunning now.”
Kat rolled her eyes. It had been a conversation they’d had numerous times. AJ wanted to get married before the baby, but Kat wanted to wait. She’d always dreamed of the perfect white dress and having champagne at the reception.