The Right Bride: Book Three: The Hunted Series

by Jennifer Ryan

  God, three days. It felt like three months since he’d seen Marti.

  He wished it had been three months since he’d seen Shelly. He rubbed at the back of his neck and turned around to face the woman who claimed she was having his baby.

  Please, don’t be pregnant.

  “Darling, you look tired. Having a bad day?”

  “I’ve got a lot on my mind. What did the doctor say?”

  “Exactly what I told you, I’m pregnant.”

  “Do you have the lab results?” He put his hand out, waiting.

  “What lab results? I peed in a cup. They tested it. It’s positive. That’s all. They didn’t give me anything. I have an appointment in a month for a checkup. She said she’d see me once a month until I get close to my due date.”

  Caroline went through the same schedule of visits. Most of them, just routine checkups, she’d gone to alone. He’d gone to the appointment for the ultrasound and many others toward the end when she’d gotten sick.

  “I told you I wanted confirmation.”

  “I just gave it to you.” She dug in her purse and pulled out a slip of paper. “See, I went. This is the parking ticket from the hospital parking lot. Other than this, I don’t have anything. Except”—she pulled out some brochures from her purse—“the doctor gave me these to review.”

  He scanned the parking ticket and array of brochures on breastfeeding and pregnancy and guessed she was telling the truth. Not exactly a lab report, but the best he’d probably get. Testing for pregnancy was so easy these days. You didn’t have to draw blood for lab results.

  “The doctor did take blood to check for any underlying health problems. Once those come back, I’ll give them to you,” she said offhand, but her anxious tone told him how much she wanted to prove to him she was pregnant.

  “I want to see the report as soon as you receive it.”

  “The lab should send the report to the doctor early next week.”

  Damn. He’d hoped for a negative result. Butterflies fluttered in his stomach, and he knew for the first time he was happy about having another baby. Already a single dad, he could do it again: two A.M. -feedings, diapers, and crying, not a problem. Emma would love to have a sibling.

  He thought about what he should tell her and decided only the truth would do.

  “So, darling, we need to make wedding arrangements. You look pleased about the baby. We’ll be married and the baby will arrive. We’ll be a family. It’ll be lovely.”

  So will all that money.

  The penthouse, making love with him every night, access to his accounts and the limo. She would never have to type another letter or answer another phone for her stupid boss. Instead of taking orders, she’d be the one giving them.

  Married. A baby. Cameron thought about his life and the lives of his children. The baby deserved a father and a mother. Did it mean he had to marry the baby’s mother?

  God, what a mess.

  He’d wished every day of his life his father had been there. His mother said it was his father’s choice to remain anonymous. She’d never told him his name. She’d made his father a promise, and when and if he was ready, he’d make himself known.

  Cameron spent a lot of his youth angry she refused to tell him, but in the end it didn’t matter. He had his mother, and knowing the name of his father wouldn’t make the man appear and want to be his dad. It took Cameron a long time to get to that realization. Still, deep down, when he unearthed the hurt and anger, he still wanted to know his father. He wanted to know why his father didn’t want him.

  George had been in his life as far back as he could remember. Friends with his mother, he took an interest in him from the beginning. He made sure Cameron went to the best schools and received a full scholarship from George’s company, Knight Enterprises.

  Deeply grateful to Knight for being there for him all these years, he had been the father he’d never had. He’d attended every ball game, birthday, and graduation.

  Even though Knight had been there for him over the years, Cameron had always wished for his father instead.

  He couldn’t do the same to his child. Deep down he had some old-fashioned ways. He’d even asked Caroline’s parents for their daughter’s hand in marriage. Caroline found his old-fashioned ideas sweet, charming even.

  It all came down to one thing: he believed his child should have two full-time parents. Emma needed a mother and he wished Caroline had been there for the last five years. This was his chance to give her a mother and the new baby a real family. Shelly was far from the ideal candidate. He only hoped becoming a mother to their baby changed her.

  No one was born with a manual, telling them how to be a parent. It was a learning process. He knew that better than anyone. He’d come home from the hospital with a baby and made his share of mistakes the first few weeks alone with her.

  All he had left was hope. Hope things worked out, hope he wasn’t making the mistake of a lifetime, and hope he didn’t ruin Emma’s life and the life of his unborn baby in the process.

  “We’ll be married in six weeks. I’ll make the arrangements. We’ll have a quiet ceremony at the penthouse. You can have your family and a few friends if you’d like, but I’d like to keep things small and intimate.”

  “But darling, I thought we’d have a big fantastic wedding and invite your business associates and friends. We’ll have a beautiful ceremony and a big reception.” They’d receive a ton of gifts, and she’d have the wedding of the century. The San Francisco society pages would be filled with pictures of their wedding and people would clamor to get an invitation. Lavish and decadent, she pictured the whole affair in her mind, excitement zipping through her system, energizing every nerve.

  “You’re pregnant, I don’t love you, you don’t love me, and a big wedding would take time to plan and set up. We’re having a baby. Not something I want to advertise and throw in people’s faces months from now when my pregnant fiancé waddles down the aisle. Six weeks, take it or leave it.

  “Oh, I’ll have my lawyer draw up the prenup. Sign it, or we’ll call the whole thing off.”

  “You can’t be serious.”

  “I’m a wealthy man. I need to protect my assets and Emma’s inheritance. If this thing goes sour, you’ll be given a generous settlement.”

  “Darling, can’t you try to have a better attitude? I realize your feelings for me don’t run deep. We have our baby to think about,” she said to reiterate her point, despite her fury over the prenup. Even if she signed it, it didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy Cameron’s money while they were married. “We can’t be at odds all the time. Surely we can be civil, and hopefully more to each other. Over time, I believe we’ll be close. We’re great in bed. We just have to transfer that mutual pleasure to our everyday lives.” That’s it. She’d make him want to stay married to her.

  She said all the right things sometimes. And sometimes she didn’t.

  Cameron needed to stop being so hostile toward her. He was upset about the situation. She wanted them to get along for the child’s sake, if nothing else. He could do it. He’d start now.

  “Come with me to pick up Emma from school. We’ll give her the good news. We’ll go fishing tomorrow like we planned and it will be one more opportunity for all of us to spend time together.”

  Oh, God, fishing.

  Not her idea of fun, but time alone with Cameron might give her an opportunity to ask him about getting some money before the wedding to take care of a few things. What was one fishing trip in the scheme of things? She’d play the devoted fiancé for six weeks. Then she’d have everything she ever wanted.

  “Sounds wonderful. I bet Emma will be pleased to find out she’ll have a sister or brother soon.”

  “And a mother. I expect you to treat her like she’s your own daughter. I won’t have her upset or feeling left out. She and I are a package deal. You need to understand that going in.”

  “Of course I understand. Emma is a darling little girl. We
got off to a rocky start. I haven’t been feeling like myself. It’s probably just the hormones. I promise you, darling, we’ll be the best of friends. I’ll be patient with her.”

  Cameron wanted to groan. It all sounded sincere. He hoped it was. If Emma got hurt because of him, he’d never forgive himself.

  “Great. Let’s get going. We’ll tell her about the baby and wedding, then we’ll bring you back here for your car. I’m taking Emma to Knight’s for dinner.”

  “We aren’t going as a family?” Okay, that might have been over the top, but she wanted to go to dinner and see inside the gorgeous mansion. It was just the kind of grand house she wanted to buy after she married Cameron. If she went to dinner with Cameron tonight, she could take a look around and get some ideas.

  “Knight wants to talk to me about something important. He made it sound personal. I’d like to bring you, but it wouldn’t be appropriate. I’d like some time alone with him.”

  He didn’t want to take her. He wanted to talk to Knight, spill his guts, and get some advice. He’d help him put things into perspective. At this point, he feared he had no other options than the path he’d chosen. He hoped George could help him sort out this mess.

  There was that word again. Hope. That’s all he had left of his life. Well, he’d always have Emma. The brightest light in his life.

  His mind conjured a perfect picture of Marti. He didn’t want to analyze why he couldn’t stop thinking about her. She hadn’t been far from his mind since he’d met her and now he was engaged to another woman.

  He rubbed at the back of his neck and thought he’d never get the knots out of it.

  “Don’t forget, I want those lab results. Until I see them, I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t mention the engagement or the baby to anyone. Like you pointed out, I have business contacts and associates. I’ll make a formal announcement in some way that doesn’t shock and surprise people when everything is confirmed.”

  “Sure, darling. Whatever you think is best. I’ll have the results for you Monday or Tuesday of next week.” Time enough to take one of her old lab reports, scan it into her computer, “doctor” it, and present Cameron with a positive result.

  So long as the ceremony was completed and she was Mrs. Cameron Shaw, she didn’t care if he didn’t tell anyone. All she needed was his name and access to his friends, his lifestyle, and all his money.

  Chapter Thirteen

  * * *

  “I DON’T CARE what you say, she is not my mother. She never will be. I hate her.” Emma was not pleased to hear about his impending marriage to Shelly and made sure he knew it, at the top of her lungs.

  “I’m sitting right here. You don’t have to yell.”

  “Can’t we keep the baby? She can come and see it if she wants.” Emma crossed her arms over her chest and glared across the limo at him.

  Interesting the way his daughter had put her statement. She can come see it if she wants. If she wants.

  Even Emma didn’t believe Shelly wanted to be a mother.

  Marti told him Shelly didn’t want the baby. Was it true? Shelly appeared pleased, even excited when they told Emma after school.

  “Emma, I think it’s best if the baby has a mommy and a daddy together.”

  “Why? I don’t have a mother. I have you. I don’t need a mother. Not her. She doesn’t like me, not really,” she said sadly.

  “She does like you. We’ll spend more time together, the three of us, before the wedding. Tomorrow we’re all going fishing on the boat. It’ll be fun, don’t you think?”

  “For you and me. Shelly probably hates to fish. She just wants to be alone with you, so she can touch you and kiss you.”

  Cameron stifled a chuckle. He was beginning to think his daughter didn’t want to share him. Not liking Shelly might not be the case. Maybe she didn’t want any woman in Cameron’s life. Two seconds later, she proved him wrong.

  “Why can’t you marry Marti? She’s nice—she’s like the other kid’s moms.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “She hugs me real tight like it matters. The other kid’s moms drop them off at school and hug them goodbye. That’s how Marti hugs. She tells me stories and jokes and tickles me. She tells me I’m smart, and she lets me talk to her. She listens to me. She likes being with me. I can tell she does. Shelly isn’t any of those things.” Emma crossed her arms over her chest, stared at a point across the car, and pouted.

  Cameron rubbed at the back of his neck. He tried to be both mom and dad to Emma, but realized he wasn’t enough for her. She might say she doesn’t want a mother, but she’s jealous of those kids at school who have moms who hug them like they mean it. Shelly didn’t even come close to her description, and Cameron feared she never would. Emma wasn’t her daughter, and he didn’t think Shelly would ever see her as one.

  He hoped she would. Man, that word was overused in his mind. How many people entered into a marriage with hope being the predominant feeling? Where were the love and devotion and the holding each other like you mean it? They wouldn’t have anything of the sort at his wedding to Shelly. Maybe she was right, and they would grow into more.

  “Shelly wants to be those things to you. We want to make a real family for you and the baby.” He didn’t know if he was trying to reassure his daughter or himself. Probably both.

  Emma yelled, “I don’t want Shelly to be my mother,” and jumped out of the car and ran up the steps of Knight’s house. She went straight through the front door like she owned the place.

  Cameron stepped out, only to be met by Jimmy, his driver, friend, and Emma’s after-school companion.

  “She’s right, you know. Shelly is never going to be the mother Emma deserves. No mother is better than Shelly as a mother. I know you don’t want to hear this, especially from me, but you’re making a huge mistake. You’re an admirable man, and I know you want to make things right for the baby Shelly might be carrying. Marrying Shelly isn’t the right thing. Not in this case.”

  “Why is everyone ganging up on me not to marry Shelly? She’s pregnant with my baby. In most cases, people would demand I marry her.”

  “Maybe because we all see what you don’t. She’s using you. What’s worse is she’s using the baby to get to you.”

  Cameron rubbed at the back of his neck and contemplated the pile of shit building at his feet, reaching his knees. His daughter was angry with him, he was marrying a woman he didn’t love, and he was going to be a father again.

  He walked into the house without another word. He hoped he’d get to see Marti tonight and get her out of his head. Shelly made things worse today. He knew without question, Marti would make everything better. A sad realization, considering the situation he found himself in.

  Chapter Fourteen

  * * *

  “HI, KNIGHT. IT’S good to see you.” Cameron made his way into the large living room. Emma sat on the sofa with her arms crossed over her chest and a tear running down her face.

  “What did you do to my princess to make her so unhappy?”

  “I’m getting married. Shelly is pregnant.” Best to just spit it out.

  “Are you sure?”

  “About getting married? It’s the right thing to do.”

  “I mean, Shelly is pregnant.”

  “She went to the doctor today and had it confirmed.”

  “Did she bring you documentation?”

  “There really isn’t any. They did the pregnancy test and it came back positive. It’s a relatively simple process.”

  “So you took her word for it?” George shook his head in disapproval.

  “I believe her, if that’s what you mean.” At least, he thought he believed her. “She had a blood test to check for any underlying health problems. The report is due back early next week, which should also confirm the pregnancy.” Maybe there’d been a mistake. One could only hope.

  No, he needed to face reality and his future with Shelly.

  “I guess congratulations ar
e in order. We’ll have champagne tonight.”

  “Marti isn’t here.” Emma’s small voice came out so filled with misery the words didn’t quite come out.

  “What, sweetheart?” He took the seat next to her and put his hand on her leg, hoping to comfort her.

  “Marti isn’t here. She had a meeting in the city and won’t be back until after dinner, or maybe later.” Emma sniffled, a single tear slid down her cheek.

  “She had a few things to take care of, Princess, she’ll be home later.”

  “Home?” Cameron asked, completely taken by surprise.

  “She moved in two days ago.”

  Interesting development. How did this happen? “How exactly do you know Marti? You never really said the other night.”

  “She’s the granddaughter of a very old business associate. Her grandfather and I were business rivals. Her grandmother passed last year and her uncle received the house as part of the estate settlement. Marti just got back from a trip and had no place to go. She was staying at a hotel. For reasons you and I will talk about later, I asked her to stay here for a while. I had all her things moved in upstairs.

  “Don’t worry, Princess, she said she wouldn’t miss seeing you for the world. She promised she’d be here. She’ll be a little late. That’s all.”

  “So what do you want to talk to me about?” George’s fatigue showed in every line of his face and the droop in his shoulders. Each time he saw George lately he looked a little more worn.

  “We’ll talk about it later,” he said and indicated Emma with a quick glance in her direction. “Let’s go in to dinner. The sooner we eat, the sooner Marti will be here.”