“Well, thank God she’s willing to put up with you. I’ll get you both the house special,” Lily said to Dylan and walked away to give their order to the kitchen.
“So that’s Brian’s wife,” Michaela said, almost as an aside.
“Yep. This is the only thing from their marriage that’s all hers. I made sure of that when he left the first time. Good thing I did, too. I’ve had to get the lawyers to ensure Brian can’t do any more harm to the company. Means it’s up to me again, but I’ll sort it out. Always have, probably always will.”
Michaela stopped thinking about Lily and focused on Dylan. He was a good man—a family man, even if he didn’t want a wife and children. “Do you hate the work that much?”
“No, I don’t hate it,” he said. He paused, looking off somewhere in the distance. “There are parts of the finance industry I love. It’s been my life for so many years.” Dylan’s focus came back to her. “I just know I’ve been missing out on a lot by working all the time. And, well, now that I’ve had a taste of something different, it’s harder to be back. I’ll get used to it again. Someone has to keep the business going and make sure everyone’s okay.”
“Maybe you should just sell the company.”
He gave her a sharp look. “Have you been talking to someone?”
She started. “No. Who would I talk to? What do you mean?”
“Sorry, it’s just…” His face tightened, and he leaned in closer. “There have been a few companies sniffing around since I got back. Bloody vultures. I’ve blown them off—I didn’t think Mom would approve. They just want to break up the company, dismantle everything we’ve built.”
Michaela nodded, but she couldn’t deny her disappointment. If Dylan wouldn’t sell the company now, when there were offers on the table, would he ever walk away? Would he ever be able to let go of work enough to concentrate on building something with her?
Despite the nervous twist the thought made in her stomach, they managed to keep up a lively banter throughout dinner, and Michaela began looking forward to spending time with Dylan at her hotel, away from the ever-present eyes of his sister-in-law.
When they walked up the hall to her room, Michaela steeled herself to make the first move. “Will you come in?” she asked, aware already of the response his proximity generated in her body.
Dylan simply nodded and followed her into the suite. They sat on the edge of the bed. “Do you think you’ve gotten used to me yet?”
“After only two dates?” she asked, trying to sound light and teasing when she felt emotionally naked, trembling with the fear that she was only fooling herself, and none of this would turn out to be real.
“Is it only two dates?” He stroked her neck, sending ripples of pleasure through her. Her heart soared as he leaned in to kiss her. All her fears were just nerves. Something that wasn’t going to work out couldn’t feel this good, this right. This was the beginning of the rest of their lives together.
But just as their lips touched, his cell buzzed, vibrating against her chest through his jacket pocket.
Even then, she hoped he would ignore it. He would draw it from his pocket and turn it off, apologizing for allowing work to intrude on their private time together. He would put her first.
Dylan drew the phone out and looked at the number. “I’m so sorry,” he said, rising to his feet, “but I really have to get this. Until tomorrow?”
Michaela gave him what she hoped was a casual smile and watched him walk out of her room. Again.
For the second night in a row, she fell back on the bed, her resurgent desire unquenched. As she fell, her bag, which she’d tossed near the foot of the mattress, tipped over, and its contents spilled across the floor. The three slim white packages among the clutter of coins, keys, and notebooks drew her gaze.
The pregnancy tests.
She’d made herself push the remote possibility of a pregnancy out of her head.
Hadn’t she?
As she bent to pick up the packages, she considered the question. She’d had a fresh salad for lunch every day for a week. She’d been choosing herbal tea over coffee, refused wine at dinner except for a few sips. These were the actions of a woman looking after a pregnant body.
But I’m not. I just can’t be. The odds are, like, super low, and I’ve hardly had any symptoms since the doctor’s visit.
With the smell of Dylan still on her skin, she fingered the plastic wrapping of the tests. Could it really be a possibility? And did she want it to be?
She sat up properly and laid the tests out on the bed. I’ll just have a look to prove that I’m not. Her fingers shaking, she pulled one thin plastic stick out of its wrapping. It seemed too innocent sitting in her palm. How could such a small thing possibly create so much change?
“I’ll feel much better when I’ve proved I’m not pregnant.”
Decided, Michaela picked up the test and headed for the bathroom. A few minutes later, she rushed back to the bed and grabbed another test, and then the third. The lines showed the same result on all three.
Positive.
“Oh, no.”
All it took was one moment to change everything. Everything.
And she’d known it. Michaela hadn’t wanted to admit it, not to the doctor, not even to herself, but as soon as the doctor had mentioned the possibility, something had clicked. She had known. Felt the changes, as impossible as it seemed.
She had been lying to herself. Silly, frightened woman—as if pretending not to believe it would make it go away. As if pretending not to know—pretending not to love—had ever gotten anybody what they wanted.
“So now what?” Anxious energy bubbled inside her as if she’d drunk ten glasses of champagne.
Now she was going to have a baby.
Did she want everything to change? She always assumed she’d have a family, but as the years had gone by and her career had taken more and more of her focus, the timing had never seemed right. “What if I’m not ready?”
Michaela shook her head. If she wasn’t ready now, it was unlikely she’d ever be ready. The real question was whether she wanted to be a mother.
It took less than a minute for her to admit what she’d denied for a long time. “Yes.” Yes, without a doubt.
And suddenly, there was no fear. Only excitement remained. All this time, she’d told herself her career was the most important thing. “And all along, it was you I’d been waiting for.” Putting her hand to her stomach, Michaela gazed in wonder at the place where even now, a baby was growing.