by Aubrey Rose
But then Kira thought of Blake telling her not to blame herself for what happened. How no matter the provocation, Terrence had no cause putting his hands on her.
Kira had chosen not to press any charges and Blake had seemed ready to hit the roof when he found out. But the last thing Kira needed was a scandal or anyone finding out about how stupid she’d been – especially when she thought of the parties involved. If people found out she’d slept with and got impregnated by Blake Carter, the only son of Bretton Carter...well, the story would be fodder for the gossip freaks which Kira didn’t want.
What she wanted was to move on and that meant putting a lot of what had happened in the past few months far behind her. Now she couldn’t wait for the rest of her life. Whether she was going to face it alone remained a mystery even to her right then.
***
“Kira, my dear it’s good to see you,” Mr. Carter said once Kira walked into the spacious living room. To her surprise, he embraced her warmly and kissed her cheeks.
“Come, sit with me,” he told her, leading her by the hand to a couch and settling beside her. “Would you like anything to drink? Something cool?”
“No thank you, Mr. Carter. And I appreciate you sending Chase down to get me.” She smiled, feeling awkward as she sat close to her boss.
“I only hoped you wouldn’t feel like I was rushing you by asking you to come here so soon after you left the hospital.”
“Oh no, not at all,” she assured him. “I’m glad to have this chance to see you.”
“Me too,” Mr. Carter said deeply, before adding without preamble, “Blake told me you fell ill with something and had to be admitted to hospital. Now why don’t you tell me what really happened?”
Kira swallowed with difficulty. On one hand she was glad that Blake had thought to keep the whole truth from his father until Kira was ready to tell him. She’d been so sure he’d have heard all about it by now and maybe even made the move to see Terrence arrested.
And yet Kira felt reluctant to simply blurt out the facts. “Why would you think what he told you wasn’t the truth?”
Mr. Carter rose to his feet and went to pour out a glass of brandy from the bar. By the time he turned to face Kira, his expression was shrewd. “I’m not an idiot, Kira. I knew Blake was hiding something from me or downright lying.”
Kira looked down at her hands, wringing them uncertainly in her lap.
“Kira,” Bretton Carter prompted and she looked up at him, her eyes wide. For a moment he reminded her of Blake with his grey eyes deepening with intensity. “You’ve worked for me long enough to know you can trust me. At least that’s what I like to think. Anything troubling you is my concern, especially if it has to do with your life. Please, talk to me.”
Kira bit hard on her bottom lip, feeling her heart ache even as she realized where Blake got that persuasive and stirring tone of voice. At last she sighed and said, “Terrence and I broke up.”
His eyebrows lifted at her. “That’s not enough to land you into the hospital, surely?” he asked gently.
Kira paused a few moments as she debated how to proceed. “Not exactly. What happened was...I told Terrence I couldn’t marry him anymore. He lost it and then that’s when he beat me up.”
“Good grief,” Bretton muttered. “That maniac.”
“I knew you never really liked him...,” Kira began quietly.
“Yes, but I’d never have expected him to be crazy enough to beat you into a near-coma. I heard how for days you barely maintained consciousness. If I’d known it was because of that little son of a...” Mr. Carter cut off, shaking his head grimly. “And all because you called off the wedding?”
“That um...wasn’t the main reason,” Kira said reluctantly. She didn’t want to rat Blake out and neither did she want to make excuses for Terrence, but her boss deserved to know.
“Terrence mostly got mad because he got wind of the uh...present Blake had sent to me.”
“Blake? Sent you a present?” Bretton’s eyebrows lifted even higher.
“Yes. And Terrence opened it and saw what it was as well as the note Blake wrote along with it. He didn’t find either content very amusing I’m afraid. The next thing I knew he was hitting me and...” She shook her head and sighed raggedly, knowing it might take a long time to remember the ordeal without shuddering.
“My goodness Kira; it all sounds like something from a soap opera,” Bretton said angrily. “Are you trying to tell me it was Blake’s fault your ex-fiancée physically assaulted you? Damn Blake! I warned him to never come near you again, especially after...”
Kira’s head shot up once more, but her boss didn’t look her way. With a sinking heart she suddenly knew what was coming next; it was what she’d feared the whole time.
“I found out about what happened with you and Blake the night of the party,” he went on quietly, facing the window and looking out into the gardens. “Purely by chance and mostly due to both your carelessness. The next morning I confronted Blake and he confirmed my suspicions.”
Kira gasped, her face hot with shame. Bretton swiveled to face her and regarded her dismayed expression. “If you’re bothered about what I think, don’t be. I was shocked at first, I’ll admit. I never saw you that way; only as a nice, career-driven girl. I soon understood that you’re a woman, with needs and choices to make. And besides, I know how Blake can turn on the charm when he chooses and he knows exactly how to get what he wants,” Bretton added stiffly.
“I’ll understand if you decide to fire me,” she said with difficulty, looking down at the carpet, eyes swimming with unshed tears.
“If I’d wanted to do that, I’d have done it ages ago. But that’s the last thing I’d consider. I needed to keep you around, make sure you were okay even though my instincts told me I needed to put you completely out of harm’s way by relieving you of your position. However, it also occurred to me that since you both acted so unpredictable and without forethought, other mistakes may have resulted. For all I knew, you may have gotten pregnant by him.”
Bretton Carter sent Kira a sharp look as she jumped unavoidably. “You are, aren’t you?” he asked slowly yet with firmness in his gaze and tone.
Kira shivered, arms closing around herself as she rocked slightly back and forth. All she could do was nod mutely, and she heard Mr. Carter sigh deeply.
Her shame couldn’t be any more complete. She wished the ground would swallow her up that minute. Her old self-hatred sprang up and the bleakness of it almost choked her.
“Does my son know about this?” Mr. Carter asked quietly.
Encouraged by his calm tone, she made herself reply as coherently as she could. “No. I haven’t told him. I wasn’t sure I...” She stopped, took a deep breath and tried again. “He asked me to marry him. He says he loves me. I don’t believe him.”
Shocked that she had spoken so plainly to her boss, Kira’s mouth clamped shut again. She was boiling to talk to someone and she’d always considered Mr. Carter like a father and maybe that was why she was opening up so much more than she’d intended to.
“And you, Kira? Do you love him?”
Kira wasn’t sure how well she could lie to her boss as she gulped and said. “I don’t know! My head’s all over the place. It all happened so fast and then went downhill. But now I’m carrying a baby – his baby. I’ve thought a lot about things and I realized it wasn’t about me anymore. I broke up with Terrence because I’m pregnant by another man and didn’t want to cheat on Terrence any more than I already have. And now I wouldn’t wish to cheat my unborn child out of a father. I’m going to marry Blake,” she finished, lifting her head to look at her boss as finally, she made the ultimate decision. She waited to see disgust or anger on his face, but instead saw a deep relief.
“Under normal circumstances, believe me I would’ve been thrilled to hear you say that,” Mr. Carter shocked her by saying. “I mean, you and Blake getting married; nothing could have seemed more right. But when I think
of the reasons. An unplanned pregnancy is not exactly the most romantic prelude for a happily-ever-after, but then...”
He smiled somewhat ruefully and Kira almost wanted to tear up seeing how sad he seemed. She still felt like she’d let him down and she refused to shake off the belief.
Springing to her feet, she said with shaky-voiced resolve, “One more thing, sir. I’d like to resign as your secretary. I can’t...It’ll be impossible for me to keep...”
“Now, Kira...”
“Please, sir,” she said, the tears fairly spurting from her eyes now. And for once, she heard her boss swear out loud, right before he held out his arms.
“Oh, come here,” he said with gentle gruffness. With a sob, Kira dashed into his embrace, which closed tightly around her.
“You’re a good girl, Kira. Better than my son deserves,” he said into her hair. “And I’m truly glad you’re going to marry him. Then I’ll have even more reason to think of you as my daughter.”
“Thank you, sir,” Kira said with a tearful smile as she drew back to look into his kind face.
And that was how Blake found them when he strode in moments later. His brows climbed. “Dad...Kira?”
***
His father turned in Blake’s direction, keeping an arm around Kira’s shoulders and holding the other hand out to Blake. “There you are, son,” he said brightly. “Well, don’t just stand there. Come over and join the celebrations because I’ve just lost a damn good secretary – and you’ve got yourself a bride. Congratulations.”
Blake faced Kira, and saw her eyes fall beneath his penetrating gaze. “Is that true?” he asked in a restrained tone.
“Yes,” she affirmed, lifting her eyes again. “I’ve decided to accept your proposal.”
“Funny how you should be the last one to know,” his father growled, suddenly frowning again. “I’m glad you’re finally doing right by this young woman though. She deserves someone who loves her and will treat her well. And if you don’t, you’ll have me to answer to.” After giving Blake one last stern look, he walked out of the room, shutting the doors behind him.
Blake turned to Kira once more and she began to fidget beneath his gaze. “Don’t look at me like that.” Her tone was snappish. “I said I’ll marry you. You should be happy. I thought that’s what you wanted.”
“Only if you say it’s because you care for me, as well,” he said deeply, coming up to her and cupping her face. Kira felt almost burned by the blazing energy in those fiery grey eyes. The more her body melted for him, the harder her heart became.
“There’s something you need to know,” she blurted out, “I’m pregnant.”
He stared at her in shock before breaking out in a big smile. “It’s mine? It’s our baby?”
She nodded, unable to look at him.
He ran a hand through his hair. “Wow! This is a big surprise. I’ll be honest, I’m thrilled.” He took both of her hands in his. “Thank you for keeping our baby, Kira. I know that must’ve been a big decision for you. I wish you would’ve told me about it sooner but I understand, considering the way you feel about me. I promise you if you’ll only give me the chance I will always be there for you and our child. Always.”
She pulled her hands out of his grasp and stepped away. “Look, I don’t need your pity, Blake. And don’t think this is going to be some fairy tale ending because it isn’t. The only reason I’m marrying you is because of the baby. I may be Cinderella but you’re no Prince Charming, Blake Carter. I’ve seen how dirty you can play when you sent that cute little box with the panties.”
“I’m sorry about that, okay? Christ. I think I’ve apologized a hundred times for that stunt in the past two weeks. It was unworthy of you and I understand now how you feel about that night when we had sex.” His tone and gaze softened and he put his hands on her waist to pull her stiff body closer. His touch was as engulfing as ever and Kira had to fight down a shudder of pleasure as she felt his body hard against hers after so long.
“It was too soon and you weren’t ready – or at least that’s what your mind told you,” Blake murmured, lifting a hand to trace over her lips, his eyes following his fingers as they moved lower to the dip in her neckline. Kira’s breath stilled, momentarily mesmerized. “You’ve convinced yourself over and over that you should never have given in to the feeling of my lips against yours. Or the way I crushed you beneath me as I imprinted every inch of my hardness deep inside your wet softness. You hated that I made you feel like a woman.”
“No. I hated that you made me feel like a dirty slut,” Kira bit out, fighting against his magnetism with all her might. It was inhuman the way she wanted him sometimes and it scared her senseless. She still wasn’t ready, Kira thought, remembering his earlier words. She definitely wasn’t ready to fall...
Blake flinched at her words but he didn’t release her. “Yes, Kira; it was dirty, and fast, and hot as hell. And bad. But guess what? Given the chance I’d do it all again. In a heartbeat. Because you were real with me that night. You weren’t hiding behind this need to constantly berate yourself over one single act of sexual abandon. I never thought of you as a slut and I don’t appreciate you using that term on yourself so don’t, not ever again,” he said with a clenched jaw. “You’re going to be the mother of a precious child so you shouldn’t think of yourself that way.”
Kira huffed. “You asked me to marry you out of some mistaken sense of duty and we both know it. But who am I to refuse? I’m pregnant with your baby. So I have to get used to the idea that I’m stuck with you and you’re stuck with me, but don’t expect me to like it.”
“Oh you’ll more than like it,” Blake said, eyes narrowing as he tugged her hard against him and crushed his lips over hers.
Their first kiss after so long and it almost ripped her apart. Switched her inside out and turned her brain into a ticking time bomb. The taste of his tongue lashing against hers sent a laser shot straight between her legs and Kira felt like she’d been celibate a year, not just a few months.
Blake drew back and her knees were trembling. She opened her eyes slowly to find that same look of fire and ice in his eyes that told her he wasn’t backing down and would keep up the pressure until she imploded in surrender.
“One day Kira; I’ll make you stop denying your heart what it’s wanted all along,” Blake vowed, smudging his thumb into her now swollen bottom lip. Still flipped out by the kiss, Kira couldn’t reply as Blake smiled darkly and then led her out to join his father on the patio where lunch was to be served.
Chapter Fourteen
Brittany Manson was sure she was seeing things as she read the headlines in the society section of one of the major newspapers.
“Bretton Carter’s son Blake weds Kira Taylor.”
She hadn’t wanted to believe it. Even when she’d seen the obvious signs; Blake totally cooling off from her right from the start and his strange fixation for his father’s secretary. Brittany would never have imagined he had any serious interest in that mousy nobody.
She kept staring at the newspaper as the lines blurred into each other.
“Small wedding attended by close family and friends. Couple now off to London, England for the honeymoon.”
Brittany virtually wanted to gag as she flung the offending paper away. It was utterly galling to realize she’d been beaten by a mere secretary! What on earth Blake could see in Kira was beyond Brittany’s comprehension. Yes, the girl might be pretty and have an appealing air of innocence about her that some men might find intriguing. But she was a nobody, Brittany repeated to herself as she sneered at the photograph of the smiling couple at the top of the page. She’d never seen Blake look so happy, gazing down at Kira’s shyly downcast gaze in the wedding photo. Brittany vengefully ripped the paper to shreds, over and over and then flung the pieces in the direction of the trashcan.
She slumped back in her chair heaving fuming breaths. How could Blake choose that tart over me? Looked like there was no accounting for tas
te, she thought with another of her sneers. And then she groaned when she realized all her friends would be laughing their heads off at her now; especially after the way Brittany had been boasting to everyone who cared to listen about her conquest of Blake Carter.
She’d been so sure about him. He’d never actually encouraged her attentions but she’d simply assumed he was a passive type who enjoyed it when the woman made all the moves. And there was no move she didn’t try to make on him but he just never seemed ready to bite.
And now she knew why. Somehow, that slut had managed to not only get Blake to fall in love with her but she was also going to have his baby. How long had their twisted little affair been going on without Brittany suspecting?
She’d schemed her way into getting closer to the Carter family; convincing her parents to invite Blake and his father over for many dinners; even going back and forth between Bretton and her father under pretext of work but mainly to see more of Blake. Was she wrong in thinking that because he’d followed her around elementary school like a puppy dog, there might be a chance with him?
Not that any of it mattered now. Blake was well and truly married and on his way to being a father. Her perfect master plan was all in shambles around her.
Well, those two weren’t going to get away with making a fool of her this way, Brittany vowed, her blue eyes narrowing, scheming. She could have any man she wanted; she’d always had a long line of worthy admirers vying for her favors. But she’d wanted Blake. He’d been so different from the slobbering men she was used to. He’d been a real man, someone who could make her succumb to him in the best – and worst – way.
But he had made his choice and it wasn’t me, thought Brittany angrily. And now she was going to see to it that he regretted it.
***
Kira stood at the hotel window, gazing across the beautiful view of Kensington Park in London. Everything seemed so different here, thought Kira with a deep sigh of delight; the age-old buildings and the diverse people moving through the streets. Even the pigeons in the square looked different from those back home.
