The Pregnancy Proposition

by Andrea Laurence

  “Mano...” She didn’t know what to say. Her thoughts were racing as his words spun around in her brain. He loved her. Did he really, truly feel that way? She almost couldn’t let herself believe it.

  “Don’t,” he said, squeezing her hand. “I know that tone of voice. You’re about to tell me all the reasons why we can’t be together. The distance and the baby and anything else you can come up with. I don’t care about all that. You may see them as obstacles, but to me they’re just challenges that can be overcome. All I know is that I love you more than I’ve ever loved a woman in my entire life. A week was not long enough. A year isn’t long enough. I want you in my life for always. You and the baby.”

  Paige’s mouth fell open. She couldn’t believe what he was telling her. The baby had been the one issue she was certain they wouldn’t be able to get past.

  “I know that Wyatt called you the other day. He probably wants you back and he’s a fool not to. I told myself I should step back and let the two of you have another chance, but I just can’t. I love you too much, Paige.”

  He thought she and Wyatt were reconciling? She never should’ve lied to him about the call. She hadn’t wanted Mano to know she spoke to him, not because they were anywhere near a reunion, but because she was embarrassed that she answered the phone when she saw his name.

  She stepped close to him and reached up to pull off his sunglasses. She wanted to see his face—his whole face—when he said this to her. Then, and only then, could she look in his eyes and see if he was telling the truth. “Say it again,” she whispered.

  Looking down at her, Mano clutched her hand against his chest. She could feel his heart pounding in his rib cage nearly as fast as her own.

  “I love you, Paige Edwards. I love everything about you, and that means I love that baby, too. It’s a part of you, half of you, and that means it’s going to be an amazing child. And if I have anything to say about it, it’s going to be my child.”

  His child? “I don’t understand. How could it possibly be—”

  “If we are married when the baby is born and my name goes on the birth certificate, he or she will legally be mine. I’ll fight anyone who would say otherwise.”

  Paige stiffened. Any minute now she was going to wake up. This was like some extended fantasy playing out in her mind. She’d been awake too long and slept too little the night before. Any second now, she would snap out of it and realize that she’d fallen asleep in the break room over a lukewarm frozen meal.

  Mano let go of her hand and reached into his lapel pocket. There, he pulled out a small wooden box. He opened the lid and presented the ring to her for her approval. It had a glittering green stone the size of her thumbnail in the same bright color as the foliage around the Mau Loa. It was surrounded by baguette diamonds and set in either white gold or platinum, she didn’t know or care which.

  Mano removed the ring from the box and held it up to her. “This ring has been in my family for generations. The peridot was mined on the big island over a hundred years ago. My grandmother gave it to me this weekend. For you. She insisted that no other ring would do if I wanted you to be my bride. And I do, more than anything. So Paige, will you do me the honor of being my wife?”

  * * *

  The silence seemed to go on for an eternity. All Mano could do was stand there, holding the ring like a dolt, and wait for her to answer. He couldn’t see her reaction. All he knew was that she hadn’t run away this time.

  “Paige?” He palmed the ring and reached out to touch her face. Her cheeks were wet with tears. “You’re crying. Why are you crying?” he asked. “I’m sorry. Do you not like the ring? I can get you a different one. Tūtū won’t mind.”

  “Don’t apologize. And you are absolutely not getting me a different ring. That’s the most beautiful and special ring you ever could’ve chosen. It would be an insult to Tūtū and your whole family if I turned it down for some boring old diamond.”

  The panic started to subside in him. Despite her tears she sounded...happy. “So you do like it?”

  “I do.”

  “Then will you please say yes and save me from all this suspense?”

  “Mano, I want to say yes.”

  The anxiety returned. Why was it that Paige could never just go with her heart? She always had to rationalize and analyze everything. “Do you love me, pulelehua?”

  “I do. You know that I do.”

  Okay, one obstacle down, he thought with a sigh of relief. “Did you like Oahu? Would you be happy living with me in Honolulu?”

  “Oahu was amazing. I would be happy living with you there, but I don’t know that I want to raise a family in the hotel. I want my child—”

  “Our child,” he insisted.

  “Our child to have a normal life, and that means a house and dinners that are cooked, not delivered on a silver platter by room service.”

  That was a concern he could easily address. He would give her anything she wanted if she would just say yes. “Absolutely. That’s how I grew up, and you’re right, that’s how it should be. We visited the hotel a lot, but we didn’t live there. We had a home. And if that’s what you want, we’ll go house hunting the second we return. You can have whatever you want, Paige. You only have to ask it of me.”

  “Then what about my work? You know how important it is to me. I want to continue working with veterans, even if it’s only on a part-time or volunteer basis while the baby is small.”

  Mano had anticipated this one. “There is an amazing VA hospital in Honolulu. I’m certain they would be lucky to have you there for an hour or forty hours a week.”

  He waited for Paige’s next argument, but there was a long silence instead. Was it possible that he’d actually gotten through all of their excuses not to be happy?

  “Mano,” she said at last, this time in her smallest voice. “Are you sure this is what you want? You’ve gone your whole life dedicated to being a no-strings-attached bachelor. If I say yes, and I accept your ring and move to Oahu, I can’t have you changing your mind.”

  “You keep trying to talk me out of what I’ve already decided. Why do you keep giving me an out from this, Paige?”

  “Because usually the person takes it.” The emotion in her voice made his heart ache in his chest. He wanted to go back in time through her life and punch all the people who had made her feel like she didn’t deserve this.

  “I love you, Mano. I do. But my heart can’t take it if you offer me this fantasy and then snatch it away. You really, truly want me as I am, with this baby as your own? Wyatt has vanished, so I’m doing this by myself.”

  “No, you’re not. You’re not doing anything alone again. I’m going to be at your side until you’re sick of me. And once the rest of my family finds out about you and this baby...you’ll wish for peace and quiet. I’m not going to change my mind, Paige. I wouldn’t dream of doing that to you, to me, or to our child. We’re going to be a family. Or we will be, if you would just say you’re going to marry me.”

  “Okay.” Paige moved closer to him, pressing her body against his. “I will marry you.” Her hand caressed his cheek, and then her lips met his.

  He felt a rush of happiness and relief wash over him as she kissed him, her acceptance of his proposal still ringing in his ears. She was going to marry him. He hadn’t ruined this.

  Then an odd sound captured his attention. Mano reluctantly pulled away from Paige, turning his ear toward what sounded like...applause. “What is that?” he asked.

  Paige giggled softly in his arms. “Those are my patients and the rest of the nursing staff,” she said. “Apparently, your dashing proposal has drawn a crowd of them from their rooms.”

  Mano laughed. He hadn’t expected that. “Well, then let’s put this ring on your finger and make it official.”

  He held out the ring and slid it up Paige’s finger until it nestled tightly. This was met with another round of cheers and an enthusiastic bark from Hōkū.

  He hugged her t
ight against him. “So, can we get out of here?” he asked. He didn’t want to wait any longer than he had to to bed his new fiancée.

  “I have two hours left on my shift.”

  Mano frowned. It was just like his Paige to be so responsible. She’d probably insist on giving two weeks’ notice, as well. Any fantasies about sweeping her into his arms and flying her on a private jet back to Hawaii within the hour were likely just that.

  “Did you really just say that?” a woman asked.

  Paige shifted in his arms. “Brandy, I can’t just walk out and leave you guys.”

  The woman snorted. “You’re too nice a person, Paige. If a hunk proposed to me and wanted to kidnap me and take me to Hawaii, I wouldn’t even say goodbye. I’ll explain to the supervisor what happened, although she’ll hardly believe me. Now go on, get out of here.”

  Brandy was joined by the shouts of what sounded like a dozen soldiers surrounding them and encouraging Paige to run off with him. Mano was glad to have backup on this.

  “Come on, Paige,” he said. “What do you say we play hooky today? You work too much and you need to get out more.”

  “My own words coming back to haunt me,” Paige said.

  “You and I are going to play hooky together for the next fifty years. We’re going to teach our daughter to paddleboard and deep-sea fish. We’re going to—”

  “Wait,” Paige interrupted. “What makes you think this is a girl?”

  “I had a dream about her the night you left, like my grandparents did about me.”

  “And what did you see?”

  “I saw you running down the beach chasing after a little girl with long brown hair. She was tan from the sun and leaping through the waves like she was born to be there.”

  “So we’re having a girl?”

  “Yes, ’Eleu. It means energetic and agile.”

  Paige giggled, the melodic laughter reminding him of the first day they met. The day that changed his life forever. “It sounds like I’m going to have my hands full.”

  Mano smiled and gave her a kiss. “I can’t wait.”

  * * * * *

  If you loved this story of pregnancy and passion from Andrea Laurence, don’t miss the sequel THE BABY PROPOSAL available December 2016!

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  His Secret Baby Bombshell

  by Jules Bennett

  One

  Déjà vu swept over Eve Winchester. Not again. This cannot be happening again.

  The two pink lines mocked her denial.

  Eve clutched the pregnancy test, gripping the side of her white pedestal sink with her other hand.

  Sheets rustled in the bedroom. Through the crack in the bathroom door, Eve could see Graham Newport lying in her bed.

  Now that she knew her predicament, she had no idea what step to take next. For someone who prided herself on plans, on spreadsheets and following through on details in a timely fashion, she was completely lost.

  But her unknowns stemmed from the fear of what Graham would do. How would he react? How would their families, whose rivalry was legendary in Chicago, deal with this shocking news? The Newports and the Winchesters had enough drama on their hands lately. The Newport brothers’ paternity had been thrown into question earlier this year. Graham and his brother Brooks were still up in the air after their paternity tests came back negative, but their other brother, Carson, had discovered who his real father was—Sutton Winchester, who happened to be Eve’s, too.

  Yeah, they were all in a state of upheaval right now and this unexpected pregnancy would just toss a stick of dynamite into the fire.

  With shaky hands, Eve quickly put the test back in the box and shoved it beneath some trash in the can under the sink. Finally, risking another glance over her shoulder, she peered through the slight opening in the door and noted that Graham was still asleep. He had one toned leg thrown over white sheets, one arm stretched out to the side. Eve closed her eyes and pulled in a deep breath. After the paternity test had proven Graham wasn’t related to her in any way, they’d finally given in to the feelings they’d fought so hard against. They’d been so careful to keep this heated affair a secret. But when their instant attraction had become evident, they’d both gotten backlash from their siblings. Fine, they could sneak around and leave the siblings out of it, right?

  Yeah, that had worked for the past six weeks. So much for keeping their families out of their private lives.

  Now she was having a baby. A second pregnancy...this one much scarier than the last. This time she knew the ugly horrors that could happen. She’d lived through them, still bore the internal scars, and now she’d have to find a way to push through again. Could fate be that cruel?

  Eve slid her hand over her silk chemise. Her flat stomach had once been round, once held another life taken all too soon. As much as she wanted to take her father’s company global and focus on being in charge, she refused to let an innocent baby feel anything but loved and secure. And above all, this child would not be a victim in the war between the families.

  That is, if she made it to full-term.

  Fear coursed through her. The fear of telling Graham weighed heavily on her, but the fear of losing another child was absolutely crippling. Going through such grief again might very well destroy her. Added to that, her father was terminal. How much pain could one woman endure and still keep going?

  The sheets rustled again and Eve knew she couldn’t hide in the bathroom forever. Graham had come over late last night and they’d quickly tumbled into bed, as was their habit. No sweet-talking, no romantic walks for them. Eve had a passion for Graham and the family feud between the Winchesters and the Newports had no place in their affair.

  Unfortunately, their worlds were about to collide in ways they never dreamed.

  Stepping back into her bedroom, Eve pulled in a deep breath. Even though her entire world was completely turned upside down, she still had obligations, and Elite Industries needed their new president to be in top form at all times. The man in her bed would have to go because she had a meeting shortly and she needed to prepare. Plus, she needed some time alone to process her situation.

  The second Eve crossed the room, Graham’s intense aqua eyes were on her. That heavy-lidded gaze did amazing things to her body. Just one stare, one simple touch, and the man had her under his spell. The potency he projected was unlike anything she’d ever known.

  With a cockeyed grin, he jerked back the sheet in a silent invitation for her to join him. He never had to say a word to get her right where he wanted her. There had been an unspoken agreement that this was se
x only. Clearly they didn’t want more because they were both married to their jobs and the intensity of their passion was off the charts. A committed relationship couldn’t be this hot this fast. But they were about to enter a committed relationship of a totally different nature.

  Eve shook her head. “As much as I’d love to take you up on your offer, I need to get some work done.”

  He raised one dark blond brow. “On Sunday morning? I can make you forget all about work.”

  Graham Newport could charm the crown from a queen...which was why he was one of Chicago’s finest lawyers. Despite his young age of thirty-two, Graham had made full law partner at Mayer, Mayer and Newport. And it wasn’t just the charm that catapulted him into his prestigious position. That reserved, quiet, yet lethal strength had him soaring to the top.

  “Maybe so,” she agreed, trying to sound casual, though the hidden pregnancy test mocked her. “But I have an online meeting later with a group from Australia because it will be their Monday morning.”

  Graham sat up, the sheet pooling around his bare, sculpted waist. Raking a hand through his disheveled hair, he sighed. “I hate when you want to be responsible.”

  Eve nearly cringed. If he thought she was responsible now, wait until he discovered the pregnancy. But that would have to wait. She needed to cope with this shock first, needed to make sure everything was all right. Granted, everything had appeared to be fine with her last pregnancy...then suddenly it wasn’t.

  Even though she and Graham had a physical relationship only, he had every right to know. But until she saw a doctor, she was keeping this news to herself. The last thing she’d ever want anyone to feel was the empty void and crushing ache of losing a child.

  “You okay?”

  Eve blinked, pulling herself back to the moment. Graham’s aqua eyes held hers. Pasting on a smile, she nodded. “How could I not be after last night?”