Go Big

by Joanna Blake

  I wasn't worried about Cami today. That helped me stay in the angry but focused mindset I was in. I'd hired a security company to look after her at the house. Keep an eye on her.

  Spy on her actually.

  That's why I was not amused by the text messages I got after the game. I stood in the locker room, staring at my phone with a dumbfounded look on my face. The security firm was scrambling to figure out what had gone wrong. How they'd fucked up. And they had. Royally.

  Cami was gone.

  Again.

  I cursed, tossing my phone in my bag. The damn woman needed a leash!

  I swore when I found her I would put her ass on lockdown! No matter how sweetly she begged, I was keeping her heinie glued to my side! Thankfully, that wouldn't be too much of a hardship.

  I liked that hot little ass of hers.

  I took a shower, trying to clear my head while I figured out what to do. The security team had recommended a PI to look for her. I'd give them the go ahead. I would take their advice and hire the investigator. I would find her.

  It would be fine.

  How far could she go, really? I mean, the damn woman was expecting! She wasn't going skydiving or something!

  I started to panic again while I got dressed. She was a world traveler with unlimited cash. She could be anywhere. I was ready to pull my hair out, I was so worried about my crazy woman. I couldn't stop wondering what the hell she was up to.

  I had to find Mr. Rivers- I had to-

  Chuck slapped my back, giving me a wide grin. K-Roll stepped up beside him and gave me a nod. I was distracted as fuck but even I was still a bit surprised to see the guy standing there with a friendly look on his face.

  "Good game, Dupree."

  "Nicely done, man."

  "Thanks. You too, Chuck. K-Roll."

  Chuck and I exchanged a glance. Apparently, hell had frozen over at last. In the past week K-Roll had grudgingly told me 'good game' a few times. He even asked me out to drinks with some of the guys. I would take him up on it, just not now.

  I had shit to do.

  Chuck laughed, rubbing his hands together.

  "Next week it's back to Florida for some away game honeys!"

  "Yeah, sounds great."

  Except I would not be going. Not if my woman was still in the wind. And I didn't need any more honeys. I had my own damn honeybee!

  I rubbed my face, wishing it was buried between her thighs right now. I was hungry and tired and I wanted to curl up with my woman and screw! As it was, I was barely sleeping and Thor was definitely not happy about being deprived.

  Mr. Rivers came to almost every home game so I knew I could find him in the locker room or the executive lounge after. He was in there, having a drink and talking to the Mayor and some other big wigs. I nodded, shaking hands all around. I was a practiced showman after all. I knew the drill.

  But inside I was a seething mass of anger and fear.

  As soon as I could I pulled him aside.

  "Everything alright, son?"

  "Well, yes and no."

  His eyebrows lifted as he waited for me to answer.

  "I asked your daughter for her hand in marriage. She said yes."

  His face split into a wide grin and he slapped my back.

  "That's wonderful news Cade! I was hoping… what's the bad news then son?"

  "She's gone again."

  "Gone? She's back in New York."

  I cursed and he laughed.

  "I guess you didn't know that."

  "I told her to stay put."

  He just laughed and ordered me a drink.

  "Good luck telling a woman to do anything. Especially my daughter. She's the most headstrong person I've known in my life, and I've met three dictators!"

  He handed me a drink but I shook my head. I didn't want to drink. I wanted to chain my woman to the bed and screw her until she was too damn tired to run! Mr. Rivers held my drink up again.

  "Come on Cade. I'll give you a ride uptown. Have a drink with me first. I want to toast to my future son-in-law."

  I accepted congratulations, shaking even more hands. Everyone in the damn room wanted to congratulate me. They would have laughed if they knew that my woman had run out on me.

  Twice in less than a month.

  I'd been out of my mind worrying and meanwhile she was here, living the high life. I didn't know what to think. I didn't think she was running around on me exactly, but I definitely knew she wasn't being an obedient bride-to-be.

  Fuck! The woman was as willful as a damn cat! I stared out the window the entire ride to the city, making small talk with her father. He told me a few stories about Cami as a child.

  Apparently, she'd always been a pain in the ass.

  A brilliant, beautiful pain in the ass.

  My pain in the ass, dammit.

  And tonight, she was going to learn that once and for all.

  Camille

  The soft tapping on my bedroom door woke me up. I'd been dozing again. I seemed to do a lot of that lately.

  And puking. Lots and lots of puking.

  Apparently I was one of the lucky women who got morning sickness early and often.

  Yay for me.

  I glanced at my phone. It was still early. And I had missed several calls from Cade.

  I sat up, realizing it was only a matter of time until I had to face him.

  "Miss? There is someone here to see you."

  "Come in Sadie."

  Sadie had been with me for a few years. She was no nonsense and on the ball. A true New Yorker. I liked that about her.

  The door opened and Sadie's pretty face appeared. Her hair was pulled back severly and her uniform was starched and prim. I wondered for a moment if she ever let her hair down.

  I sort of doubted it.

  "There's a man here…"

  "Cade."

  I said the name with resignation. I was not going to let him bowl me over with his sex appeal this time. I was stronger than that.

  I could resist him.

  I had to resist him.

  Even if I had to stretch the truth to do it.

  "Thank you Sadie. I'll be right down."

  She nodded.

  "Do you want me to do your hair?"

  I shook my head.

  "No time. But yes, I would love if you did it tomorrow."

  She left and I stood up, walking over to the mirror. I looked like I'd just woken up, which was no surprise. I had just woken up.

  I sighed and sprayed some toner on my face, and swabbed on some lip gloss. I was wearing a casual dark green maxi dress with a grey cashmere cardigan. I slipped into some flats and went downstairs to face Cade.

  I walked into the study and froze.

  Cade was standing at the window, his face drawn. He turned to me and I could see the pain in his eyes. The worry. The love.

  From the moment I saw him, all my carefully laid plans flew out the window. He looked so indescribably handsome, it almost hurt. The fact that he lit up when he saw me didn't help matters either.

  Then he noticed my hand.

  My left hand.

  Without his ring.

  His jaw clenched and all the warmth fled from his face. His eyes locked into mine, icy cold blue. He was angrier than I'd ever seen him before.

  And I'd seem him pretty darn angry.

  I exhaled and almost jumped when my father stood up. I hadn't even noticed him there.

  "I'll leave you two to talk."

  I mumbled goodnight as he left, my feet stuck to the spot. I couldn't move. Could barely think straight.

  I may have made a serious miscalculation by leaving the ring off.

  In fact, it wasn't even here. It was out East at the beach house. I swallowed, finally taking a step back.

  I was tempted to run. But I didn't. I wasn't a coward. I would face Cade and deal with the fall out.

  I didn't have much of a choice.

  "Camille."

  I lifted my chin, staring him
in the face.

  "Where the hell is your ring?"

  "You didn't seem to want to be with me. So I didn't think I should wear it."

  He took a step forward.

  "You didn't think I wanted to be with you? After I chase you all over the God damn motherfucking Eastern Seaboard?"

  Oh dear. He wasn't just angry. He was livid.

  My voice was tiny as I tried to reason with him. To explain.

  "You left me."

  He ran his hand through his hair.

  "My God, woman. I don't know what the hell to do with you!"

  He lifted his eyes to mine. They were blazing.

  "I ask you to marry me and you say yes. Then you take off the ring a half an hour later. What the hell, Cami?"

  I chewed my lip, unsure how to answer.

  "Tell me the truth, Cami. Do you want to be with me?"

  "I-"

  I fought back tears as I answered him. I knew it was a lie even as I said it.

  "I don't know."

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Cade

  I felt like I'd been impaled with a sharp spear. Right in the gut. I felt hollow. Broken. Cami's words had literally torn a hole through me.

  One I had no idea how to fix.

  I rubbed my bat, wishing Cami was here with me. That we were a happily engaged couple that couldn't bear to be apart. I frowned. Maybe pregnant women shouldn't travel though. I had no idea.

  But I was going to find out.

  And I was going to fix this dammit.

  I waited my turn, trying to calm my thoughts but I was a million miles away. Or however far away New York City was.

  We were out of town, on the last game of a three game series.

  It was going well so far. We were on a winning streak. It might only be the first week of the season, but the press was already attributing the streak to me.

  K-Roll was not too happy about that. Though he had continued to be friendly, for the most part. I'd started a trash talking competition with him that was quickly escalating.

  That was the only real bright side to my week so far.

  Some of the other guys had spent the trip balls deep in some baseball groupies. I had spent it nursing bourbon alone in my hotel room. I was miserable.

  Oh yeah, I was pretty much starring in my very own country music song. One about the woman that done me wrong. Except I was starting to wonder if I was just being a horse's ass.

  She'd said yes. I thought that maybe, for some crazy reason, she loved me. Maybe not as much as I loved her, but that might come in time.

  I could show her what a good man I could be.

  So far though, I'd really screwed things up.

  I shouldn't have left like that. I should've stayed. And I should have told her I loved her.

  That was it! She didn't know I loved her! We'd be back in New York early tomorrow morning. I would go to her, I would tell her.

  Then I would find out once and for all how she felt about me.

  And if she didn't love me, well than I'd make her love me! I wouldn't give up. The girl was mine dammit. And she had my future progeny inside her. Cade Dupree Junior. Or Camille Dupree Junior.

  Either way, it was mine.

  Just like she was.

  I stood up and held my bat in the air. It was time to take a swing. And damn if this wasn't the most important swing of my life.

  Wouldn't you know it?

  I hit another homer.

  Camille

  "Alright, everything looks good so far Ms. Rivers. If you are ready we can do the ultrasound now."

  I nodded, barely looking at the doctor. It was my first check up with the baby. And I was feeling very emotional about it.

  It seemed… incomplete without Cade here. He should be here to get the first look at our child. I sighed, wondering how I'd made such a tangled knot out of everything.

  I should have just told him I loved him.

  Maybe then the big galoot would have stopped stomping around and shouting about things.

  "This will be a bit chilly."

  I inhaled as the doctor squirted some gel onto my belly. It was chilly. He turned the machine on and lowered the paddle to my mostly flat stomach. I smiled every time I noticed my tiny little pooch had grown a bit, but at this point you still had to squint to see it.

  Someone was shouting in the hallway. It was odd to hear an argument at the Ob/Gyn. The doctor lifted the paddle and turned the machine off.

  "What on Earth is that? Nurse, please find out what is happening out there."

  The nurse left. That's when I realized what was happening. Things were about to get very interesting in here.

  The voices got even louder in the hallway outside the room. One of them had a familiar Southern twang to it. I hid a smile.

  Speak of the devil.

  Cade.

  The nurse returned, giving me an embarrassed look.

  "Pardon me, Doctor. Ms. Rivers. There's a gentleman outside who claims he is the father of the child. He wants to come in."

  The doctor looked slightly scandalized but I just smiled.

  "It's alright doctor. You can let him in."

  Cade looked like a fish out of water as he came in, practically eating up the whole room with his size. He was riled up, his eyes taking in everything in one glance. He squeezed into the corner as I introduced him to the doctor.

  The poor doctor was star struck, shaking Cade's hand over and over again. Just like that, Cade had won another heart. He was gracious as usual. He had a way with people that still surprised me.

  The doctor was a baseball fan, clearly.

  I smiled shyly at Cade and he came to stand by the table.

  "I should be mad at you for acting like a lunatic."

  He scowled at me. I patted his hand.

  "But I'm not."

  He looked confused, suspicious and hopeful all at the same time.

  "You're not?"

  I held my palm up and he took my hand. I squeezed his giant paw. It was reassuring to have him there, even if he'd made quite a commotion.

  "No, I'm not."

  He grinned at me stupidly and I laughed, lying back down on the table. The doctor asked if we were ready and I glanced at Cade. He nodded. I looked at the doctor and smiled.

  "Yes, we are."

  Cade held my hand as the doctor started to take a look. He said things like 'looking good' and 'everything looks normal' and then he started to get specific.

  Cade squeezed my hand as the doctor pointed out a foot, then a hand. Finally, the doctor showed us the heartbeat. I squeezed Cade's hand this time.

  Then he hesitated.

  "Did you want to know the sex?"

  I glanced at Cade. He told me it was up to me. I nodded.

  "Yes, please."

  "Well, it's early on but he has quite a large sex organ. He's going to be a big boy."

  I laughed and looked at Cade. His chest was puffed out like a rooster's. He looked thrilled.

  Or as he would say, 'happier than a squirrel with a big stash of nuts.'

  I looked at the doctor, trying not to roll my eyes too obviously.

  "No comment."

  Cade winked at me and listened attentively as the doctor told us how far along we were, when the next check-up should be, and how many prenatal vitamins I should take. Apparently after the first trimester I didn't need one a day. Every other day was fine. Unless I wanted an enormous baby.

  I told the doctor I understood and he left with the nurse.

  Cade stayed behind. I looked at him uncertainly. Now that we were alone, I felt shy suddenly.

  "I have to get dressed."

  He nodded.

  "Go ahead. I won't look."

  I sighed. I guess it was silly to be shy after all the things we'd done together in bed. And out of bed. Oh, to hell with it.

  I pulled up my panties and slipped out of the paper gown. I turned and caught Cade staring at my ass. He was incorrigible!

  "
Cade!"

  He grinned and shrugged. Then he grabbed me from behind, planting a kiss on the sensitive part of my neck. I squealed and pulled away, but not before I felt his erection pressed against me.

  Unbelievable!

  "Only you could think of sex in a doctor's office."

  "Well it is a gynecology office…"

  He reached for me again.

  "Just a kiss then."

  "I think we should talk first Cade. Don't you?"

  He stared at me, saying nothing. Just like that, the mood had shifted. I could see the muscle in his jaw twitching. Then he nodded once.

  Cade followed me out of the doctor's office to where my driver was waiting. I climbed in and he followed me, but not before he gave the driver an address downtown.

  I looked at him, the question written all over my face.

  "I thought you might want to see my new place."

  "Oh. Alright."

  He grinned at me like he'd just won a major battle. I didn't see what the big deal was. It was probably better to talk away from my father anyway.

  Especially if Cade started shouting again.

  "Well then, let's go."

  He tapped on the window and we took off. I spent most of the ride downtown wondering what I was going to say to him. And what he might want to say to me.

  I should have been wondering what he was up to instead.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Cade

  "What do you think?"

  Camille was right where I wanted her. In my apartment. Unsuspecting. Trusting. Ready and soon-to-be willing.

  Very, very willing.

  All I needed to do was drop the love bomb on her ass.

  Literally.

  "It's great Cade. Really beautiful. Very modern."

  I grinned, feeling proud that she liked my apartment. Even though the broker had set everything up for me. It was a wide-open living room with an open concept floor plan that flowed into the dining area and kitchen. There were floor to ceiling windows along two walls with city and river views. At night you could see two different bridges, both with twinkling lights. The building had a gym, swimming pool and movie theater.

  Supposedly, it had a bowling alley too.