Jess gulps but then she straightens her narrow shoulders and looks me in the eye. It’s a quiet staredown for a few seconds as we hold each other’s gazes. I can tell she has things to say but the unspoken words hang thick in the air between us.
“Do you want to come inside?” she offers in a small but strong voice after several more moments of silence.
I don’t say anything but nod very briefly and follow her into the musty old trailer. The linoleum counters are peeling and it barely seems bigger than a boxcar. But all that matters is that I’m here, with her.
“Where’s your dad?” I ask gruffly.
She swallows and looks at me.
“I don’t know,” she says. “He hasn’t been here since I got back. Says he has a new job.”
I can’t say I’m surprised at Randy’s absence. I wonder if he knows about the baby.
I continue to glower at her and place my hands on my hips, watching her with hungry, needy eyes. She straightens again, swallowing, and I watch as her slim throat moves, tempted to strangle her and kiss her at once. Finally, I can’t take it any longer.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I demand in a harsh tone.
Jess jumps and her mouth parts slightly as she looks down at to her feet to avoid my gaze. She’s quiet and doesn’t respond at first.
“Answer the question, Jess. Why didn’t you tell me about the baby?”
Her small hands gently rub over her barely bulging stomach bump. It’s a sweet act an expectant mother does, and it causes my stomach to flutter as I watch Jess do it with our growing baby.
She takes a deep breath.
“I’m telling you now, Cameron,” she says in a quiet voice.
I take a sharp intake of breath, my fury at her still present.
“I had to find out by a fucking pregnancy test sitting in my fucking bathroom trash. I dug through that trash can like an animal,” I shout. “Why? Why did you leave me like that? Did you think I’d kick you out once you told me?”
Her eyebrows tense together briefly and Jess looks down once more.
“I didn’t know how to tell you, Cameron. I couldn’t believe it myself, to be honest. I don’t know. I just… ”
Her voice fails her, and I watch as tears come to her eyes. It’s my undoing because I can never stay angry at this beautiful girl when she cries.
“Jess,” I say slowly. “That child is mine. Did you think that I would reject my own flesh and blood?”
She wipes futilely at the tears on her cheeks, and then looks me straight in the eye.
“I don’t know. I just didn’t know what you were going to say, and I didn’t want to face a broken heart. Are you angry, Cameron? What are you thinking?”
It’s time for my mea culpa. I take one small hand in my own, marveling at the softness of her palm.
“Jessalyn, this baby is mine. You are mine. I would never reject either of you. We made a child together, and I’m not letting you go.”
She inhales sharply, her eyes going wide.
“Cameron … are you sure?” she asks in a trembling voice.
I grip her hand harder, staring deep into those chocolate eyes. I’ve never been so flustered, angry, and happy all at once before.
“Jessalyn, I’m more than sure. I love you. I know we didn’t mean to make a baby, but we did, and there’s no way I’d let you raise the child by yourself here, in these conditions. I know this is your home, but we can do better. I know you don’t love me, but maybe we can learn to love one another over time. Please, Jess, just try—”
But she cuts me off then, her bottom lip trembling with emotion.
“I do love you, Cameron,” she says in a soft voice. “I just didn’t think you loved me back.”
Disbelief rushes through my form, but then my heart beats quickly with passion.
“You love me?” I growl, squeezing her hand so tightly now that she winces slightly. Immediately, I relax a bit.
“Yes,” she says with a small smile and tears in your eyes. “I fell in love with you a while ago, Cameron. It’s just that … well, you bought me,” she sniffles slightly. “I was your possession. Just something for you to own and play with, whenever you found it convenient. And I know we never meant to get pregnant, but this baby makes everything real, and I wasn’t sure how you’d take it.”
With that, I sweep her into my arms, holding the curvy girl close while pressing my lips to her temple.
“Baby, I want this child with you. More than anything, I want to have a little girl with you who looks just like you. I want a family with you. Nothing would make me happier.”
She looks up at me, her brown eyes shimmering with tears.
“Really?”
I nod, my heart in my throat.
“These last few months with you have been crazy, honey, but also unbelievably gratifying. I honestly didn’t expect any of this, and I certainly didn’t expect to fall in love with you. But I did, and now, I can’t ever see myself stopping. I want you in all ways, more than just in bed, and now that you’re pregnant with my child… It’s the best news you could have ever told me. I’m sorry you left before I got the chance to tell you this, but you understand why, right? Jessalyn, I need you to say that you’re with me now because you want to be. Not because of your dad, or because of the rent, or because of any other bullshit reason.”
More tears swell in Jess’ eyes as she hears my words. But then she nods, and my heart fills with passion.
“I love you, Cameron. I’m yours, always. Me and the baby.”
I tilt her chin to mine with one finger, and claim her lips with my own.
“You are mine,” I growl possessively. “Always.”
We kiss again, but then Jess pulls back for a moment, to look into my eyes.
“How did you know it was me when I called today?” she asks.
I smile.
“There’s no one else it could be, sweetheart. Even from an unidentified number, I knew.”
She bites her lip and nods.
“But how did you know where I was?” she continues.
I take a deep breath.
“Sweetheart, there aren’t that many places you could be. But after you left, I had to make sure. I had my people come out to make sure you were okay. I put Randy in that job so that he’d be out of your hair forever –”
Jess cuts me off.
“Wait, you’re the one who hired my dad? I thought he was working at Mirabelle Resorts.
I nod.
“And guess who owns Mirabelle?”
Her eyes grow wide.
“Oh my god, Cameron.”
I nod again.
“Sweetheart, it was the best solution. Randy needs a job, and I employ thousands of people. He’s not a great employee, but we’ll find a way to make it work. Besides, I want him out of your life, and this was the best way to do it, short of other, more drastic measures. Mirabelle is in Arizona, and with Randy gone, we can start our lives over again.”
Jessalyn smiles at me even as her arms snake around my neck again.
“Who knew you’d be my savior, Cameron Purcell?” she whispers. “I thought you bought me, but in the end, you’ve been my knight in shining armor.”
With that, I growl and dip my head to capture her mouth once more. She sighs blissfully, melting in my arms. After all, this is the woman who was sold to me, but I plan on keeping Jessalyn by my side forever now.
Epilogue
Jessalyn
* * *
A year later.
The park near our house turns out to be Ella’s favorite place to go. Our daughter, for some reason, prefers to venture into the park instead of our own gardens behind the house. But Cameron and I don’t mind. The park typically results in a good night’s sleep for her --and us-- which is hard to come by when you have a child under the age of one, which is crucial.
Have I ever mentioned how much I love this life with Cameron?
I love watching as Cameron holds Ella against his c
hest as they slide down the slide together. I love how Cameron dotes on his daughter, feeding her bits of fruit and baby food. I love how he stares fondly at her as she sleeps, sometimes stroking her downy head.
Even the weather seems to cooperate. It’s a beautiful day in Fortitude, Nevada, and the sun is shining magnificently. The trees provide just the right amount of shade, and I enjoy our walks in this park. We take them almost daily, and I breathe deeply of the clean, fresh air.
After all, I’m a full-time mother now. My days now are spent in the house taking care of Ella. Of course, Cameron has hired help for us in the form of a nanny, but sometimes, I like doing things myself. She’s my daughter after all, and I’d feel silly leaving her to others to be raised.
Plus, our baby girl has her daddy wrapped around her finger. When Ella cries, Cameron jumps up to see what’s wrong. He’s a modern dad who doesn’t balk at changing dirty diapers, and more than once, I find them giggling together as he gives her a bath.
Sadly, my relationship with my dad isn’t going so well. Sure enough, Randy was fired from Mirabelle after a matter of weeks and showed up at Sunrise Trailer Park again. He wanted to move in with us at the mansion, but I drew the line at that. He needed to stay in his trailer and find a new job.
Of course, Randy wasn’t happy about that. He blew up my phone constantly with angry text messages, calls, and voicemails. He wanted Cameron to give him another chance, but that’s a ridiculous proposition. Randy can’t keep a job no matter what, and he needs to find his own way in life. Fortunately, Cameron has waived rent on the trailer forever, and soon, Daddy will be able to collect Social Security. It won’t be much, but hopefully it’s enough so that he has a steady, if small, income.
Back in the park, the three of us stop by the pond. Ella has finally dozed off in her stroller, and the sound of small, lapping waves is like a tinkling melody. Cameron parks the stroller and then turns to look at me. There’s something flaring in his bright blue eyes, and before I realize what’s happening, he drops to one knee.
“What are you doing?” I gasp, my hands flying to cover my mouth.
Cameron pulls out a blue velvet box from his pocket, and opening it, a large, beautiful diamond flashes in the sunlight. The rock is huge but it’s not the size that matters. It’s the sentiment.
“Marry me, Jess,” Cameron growls, not breaking eye contact. “Please, sweetheart. Make me the happiest man in the world.”
Tears swell my eyes as I gaze at the ring, and then the handsome man holding it. Slowly, I lean down to kiss him, and then straighten as he slides the ring onto my finger. It fits perfectly.
“Yes,” I whisper breathlessly. “Yes!”
Once the ring is securely on my finger, I admire it for a moment. It flashes in the light, burning with a beautiful fire within, and then Cameron picks me up in his arms and spins me around before putting me back on my feet. We smile breathlessly at one another before kissing, and then I break away. After all, I have news of my own to share with him.
“Now it’s my turn to surprise you,” I tell him.
“What is it?” he asks. “Sweetheart, I love you, and all surprises from you are good.”
I smile again, and nestle in his arms. I wasn’t expecting to share this news with him today, but I can’t think of a better time to tell him than right now.
“I’m pregnant,” I say. “You’re going to be a daddy again.”
It’s Cameron’s turn to gasp. His arms pull me tighter into his hold, and he turns my chin towards him.
“Are you really?” he asks in disbelief, happy tears swelling in his eyes.
I smile and nod.
“I was planning on applying to college to get an online degree, but this is so much more important, so I’m going to put school on hold for now. I want to enjoy this baby just like I did with Ella. And you’ve made that possible for us, Cameron.”
He reaches down, one hand gently cupping my burgeoning belly.
“A second child,” he says with wonder. “Another baby with you… how did I get so lucky?”
I’m pretty sure I’m the lucky one out of the two of us but I don’t get the chance to tell him this before his lips claim mine in another kiss. The ring box in Cameron’s hand drops to the ground as his arms wrap around my waist. He pulls me closer as I slink my hands around his neck, deepening the kiss.
“What do you think it is?” he asks as he breaks the kiss.
“This time I’m hoping it’s a boy,” I smile. “A boy who looks just like you, with your black hair and blue eyes.”
“No, I hope he looks like his mommy,” my fiancé murmurs in my ear. “You’re so beautiful, Jessalyn, and I’ll never have enough.”
My smile merely deepens as my eyes fill with tears.
“I love you, Cameron,” I whisper again.
His answering kiss tells me he feels the same way, and together, our hearts melt into one.
* * *
THE END
* * *
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Sneak Peek: My Sister’s Boyfriend
Catherine
Catherine’s got a huge crush on Mesa College’s handsome quarterback. The problem? Hunter is her sister’s boyfriend.
* * *
I don’t have to be a fly on the wall to know exactly what’s going on in my sister’s room. The grunts and moans as the mattress springs protest tell me all I need to know. It’s kind of irritating because I could have gone to live in the dorms at Mesa College, but was swindled into moving in with Angela instead.
My sister: a drop-dead gorgeous girl that every guy wants and every girl wishes they could be. Including me, if I’m being honest. Angela is thin and the epitome of a socialite. Everyone on campus knows her or knows of her. But what I don’t get is why she wanted to share an apartment with me. Sure, she thinks the dorms are beneath her, but as a senior, she would have qualified for a single, and our residence halls aren’t that bad. They were recently remodeled, and I kind of like the terracotta decor and blonde wood furniture. So why would Angela want to live with me, her dorky younger sister?
My eyes shift to the locked bedroom door. A deep moan filters through the wood, along with some panting sounds. I clap my hands to my ears trying to muffle the noises but then the headboard begins pounding against the wall, making them impossible to block out. Ka-thunk! Ka-thunk!
I grimace. I can’t help but wonder what our neighbors think of us. They probably think we have entire football teams over every night, judging from the noises that come from our side of the wall. They wouldn’t be totally wrong.
Hunter Brody, my sister’s boyfriend, is the star quarterback of Mesa College, and he’s gorgeous. Graphic images of his muscular body slick with sweat fill my head, and the tiniest bit of jealousy seeps into me. Why does Angela always have all the luck?
“Please,” I hear her voice plead breathily. At least that’s what I think she says as I slam the front door in the hopes of alerting them to my presence. Then, I jingle my keys loudly, and drop them on the floor on purpose. Hopefully, they can hear me above their ecstatic groans, but experience has shown that it doesn’t always work.
“Angie,” I call in a loud voice. “I’m home!” There’s no hiding my irritation. The last time I ‘interrupted,’ Angela reamed me a new one. But how am I going to study with all that clamor going on in the bedroom?
Unfortunately, all I hear are more moans.
“Yes… God please, more.” It’s my sister’s typical response to Hunter. Blushing, I look down. Hunter. His name describes him to a tee. His piercing blue eyes remind me of a glacier in the frozen Alaskan waters. I can envision him in a loincloth, that massive body on display with rippling abs, developed pecs, and thick tree-trunk thighs. He’s ungodly go
rgeous, and everyone on campus recognizes him.
Deep grunts and heavy moans seep through the crack under the door, causing me to catch my breath. My sister is so lucky to be with Hunter. What would it feel like to have his hands there? Or his mouth here? I shake my head, trying to push out all thoughts of Hunter and Angela out of my mind. But my mouth waters when I close my eyes, once again imagining his rippled physique and carved musculature.
Then I snap back to reality. I shouldn’t be thinking about Hunter in this way because he’s my sister’s boyfriend. And who am I, compared to the beautiful and popular Angela Lauder?
“Deeper, now.” The throaty desperation in Angela’s voice makes me cringe as I move to the refrigerator and yank open the freezer door. A blast of cold air swirls around me as I stick my head into the small compartment. Arizona only has two temperatures: oven hot and nuclear. Today is borderline nuclear as I hunt inside for my favorite chocolate chip ice cream.
The banging of the headboard against the wall becomes louder and more insistent, and I can’t help but wonder who’s banging whom. Was Hunter ramming his hard cock deep into my sister, or was she riding him for all he was worth? I can only imagine the feeling of having someone so drop dead delicious inside me.
Swallowing hard, I try to moisten my dry throat. There’s no way I’ll be able to get anything done tonight. Not with that kind of racket going on. All I can do is snag a pint of ice cream from the freezer, steal a spoon from off the dish rack, and make a beeline for my room. The apartment isn’t anywhere big enough to drown out the sounds coming from Angela’s room, even with the television blaring.
Sighing heavily, I steal one more glance at my sister’s closed bedroom door. Heat floods me as if I’ve just stepped into a sauna. Every fiber in my body wants to be with Hunter. I’ve only ever exchanged a few words with the handsome quarterback, but still, I cling to the memories. Then, I make a face, disgusted with myself. Why would Hunter ever be interested in me?
The Billionaire’s Pet: A Forbidden Romance Page 7
