I look at Jack and he’s gone a bit pale.
“You are not dating. Please tell me that you are not dating,” he yells.
“That’s not the announcement.” Reese answers.
“Phew. Thank God for that. So, I’m guessing a business partnership of some kind? Some law and carpentry mash up. Can’t solve your family disputes, buy a handmade weapon,” he jokes. Then he shuts up as no one else is responding.
“We’re pregnant,” Reese announces. “Brandon and I are having a baby.”
There’s a moment of complete silence and then Jack is out of his seat and he manages to get me to the floor, his fist flying into my jaw hard before his father drags him away.
“You’ve done what?” Jack yells. “You’ve taken advantage of my sister and got her pregnant? You fucking bastard. Well, you can damn well marry her now. Oh my God, I’m going to fucking KILL YOU.”
“Jack, darling, your sister just announced we’re going to be grandparents, can you calm yourself?”
“She’s shagged his mate,” Jack’s dad, Pete reminds her. “I seem to recall you not being so calm when I shagged yours.”
“Yes, well, in the end I realised she did me a favour.”
“Oh, here we go.”
“This is going well,” Reese states. We watch as Rhian drags Jack over to the corner of the room for what looks like a lecture and their parents stand bickering.
It’s time for action, although I decide it’s better that we lie. I grab Reese’s hand.
“Excuse me. Could you all come back to the table please for a moment?” Everyone hesitates. “Now,” I order. Reluctantly, everyone makes their way back and takes their seats.
“So Reese and I have been on a couple of dates after meeting up again at the wedding.” I stare at Reese and she nods enthusiastically, obviously agreeing this is a better way to play it.
“Anyway, we’ve been a little taken by surprise by current events. But we are both pleased and excited about the baby and we’ve agreed to carry on dating and getting to know each other and see where it goes. Our baby is our priority and should we decide to just remain friends, we will co-parent.” I pause for breath. “I appreciate this is a huge shock. It was for us too, but we would like it if you could join in our celebrations as you are going to be Uncle Jack, Auntie Rhian, Grandma Laura, and Grandad Pete.” I tenderly stroke Reese’s stomach and she puts her hand over mine. Fuck, I actually genuinely feel a bit emosh.
“Well, I’m a firm believer that things happen for a reason,” Laura says. She walks up to her daughter. “If you’re happy, we’re happy, darling. I can’t say it isn’t a shock. We didn’t actually think you’d ever even have a family, you seemed so career focused, but well, we know Brandon is a lovely boy.” She turns to me. “Who seems to finally be getting his lazy arse in gear. So, congratulations, though I’d like to be a Nan please, Grandma sounds so old.” She wraps her daughter in a massive hug and Reese bursts into tears.
“Congratulations,” Rhian adds. “I think it might take your brother a little longer to get used to the idea, but he will, won’t you, Jack?”
“We’ll be having words.” He levels at me. I’d be happy with words. Trouble is I think each one is going to be accompanied by some knuckle action.
Reese gets the scan photo of the baby out to show everyone and as the women and her dad get a little teary, I hand her the box with her gift in. She takes off the lid and inside finds a hand-carved photo frame, just the right size for the scan picture.
“Oh, Brandon. It’s perfect,” she says, and she takes the photo and slips it inside.
I take her father to one side and reaffirm my intention to do the best I can for Reese and the baby.
“I know you will, Brandon. I’ve known you a long time and I know you’re a good man. You lost your way a bit but now you’re on a new path. Parenthood doesn’t come with a book, my man. We’re all winging it all the way. Just do your very best. That’s all we ask. And I know she’s my daughter, but if she ends up like her mum, I’ll understand if you split up.”
“And that’s my cue to leave,” Laura says. “Congratulations once more. Happy birthday, and thank you, Rhian, for the beautiful dinner.” She kisses her son, daughter, daughter-in-law, and me, and then tells Pete she hopes he drops dead.
“Do you need a lift home?” Reese asks me.
“No. I drove, but thanks.”
Once we’ve said goodbye to everyone, I help Reese carry the remaining cupcakes that she apparently had instead of a birthday cake to her car.
I stand at the side of her driver’s door and I hand her another small box.
“Another gift?” She says surprised.
Removing the lid, inside she finds a key attached to a wooden keyring. The keyring says Baby Mama on it.
She looks up at me.
“It’s a spare key to my house. If you need to stay for any reason. Need someone to hold the sick bucket etc. You just let yourself in. My casa is your casa.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.” She yawns. “Anyway, it’s been a bit of a heavy day, so I’m going to head home to bed. My birthday present to myself is sleep!”
“Okay. Well you know where I am,” I tell her.
I watch as she drives away and then feeling eyes on me I look at the window of Jack’s house where Jack does the ‘my eyes are watching you’ gesture obviously having learned it from Aiden before Rhian drags him away from the window mouthing ‘sorry’.
10
Reese
March
Four days after my birthday and one of my clients decides against turning up for her appointment. I take it as a sign to take my exhausted body home for a change instead of working myself until I’m almost asleep at my desk like every other night.
I get strange looks as I pass everyone else’s office. I don’t think I’ve ever left this early, which is saying something because it’s coming up for six o’clock already. Most normal people are probably already at home making dinner and planning what they’re going to watch on TV.
Ignoring their stares, I make my way home—via the deli of course. What I really want is pizza, but I already had a takeaway over the weekend. I might be pregnant, but I can’t just keep eating, keep using it as an excuse to pig out. I’ll be the one who has to deal with the baby weight once I’ve given birth.
Given birth. The thought sends a shiver down my spine. I don’t have the first clue about what to expect during labour, what the pain relief options are, what the best position is for the baby. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I order myself a book that I hope will give me all the answers.
I’ve placed my shopping down on the counter, then made it to the bedroom and have my blouse undone when a weird noise sounds out. It’s not weird per se, but it’s not a sound I hear every night of the week, or ever really.
Thinking the only reason someone could be ringing my buzzer is because there’s an emergency, I forego pulling on another top and head for the door.
Pressing down the button, the little screen comes to life and I find someone I really wasn’t expecting standing in front of the camera.
“Reese?” he asks, leaning in a little.
“Holy shit, have you got a black eye?”
“How about you let me in, and I’ll explain. I have pizza.” He holds up a box and my stomach rumbles right on cue. How did he know?
“Of course, come on in.”
He chuckles but doesn’t say anything about me clearly wanting to invite the pizza in more than I did him.
I’ve got the door open and I’m waiting for him. I smell him before I see him—well, the pizza—thankfully Brandon is still the clean and scrubbed up version of himself that got me into this mess in the first place.
“Gimme gimmie.” My fingers reach out for the box, but he holds it slightly out of reach.
“Uh, Reese, did you forget something?”
His eyes drop from my face in favour of my breasts and I’m reminded of my half-dressed s
tate and my practically see-through lace bra that’s almost on full display.
“Fuck. I’m sorry.”
“You don’t ever need to apologise for flashing me your tits.”
“You’re a pig.”
“Maybe, but I’m a pig with pizza.”
“Set it up over there. I’ll be right back.” I point towards the breakfast bar and race towards the bedroom to cover up. I’ve no idea what he thinks about this place. He probably hates it, with everything in its rightful place, but I don’t give a shit. This is my home, not his.
I quickly change into a silk pair of pyjamas and throw my cashmere shawl over my shoulders. Double checking myself in the mirror, I head out to devour the pizza he brought over.
“I bought it for us to share you know?” Brandon complains when I pick up the last slice without checking to see if he wants it.
“But it’s for the baby.” I shrug. A smile pulls at his lips and the simple move has something fluttering inside me.
You’re just horny. It’s the hormones, a little voice says in my head but I’m not so sure I believe her.
“So tell me about the black eye,” I demand, trying to distract myself from the way his t-shirt pulls across his chest.
“Ah, courtesy of your brother.”
“Jack hit you… again?”
“Yeah, he really hasn’t got over the idea that I shagged his sister yet. I thought a couple of days would have been enough for him to cool off. Apparently not.” I raise an eyebrow for him to explain. “I went around with beer before last night’s game, but I didn’t even make it until half-time. I think you should probably talk to him. At least he can’t hit you.”
I knew Jack wouldn’t be all that happy with how things had developed between Brandon and I but the last thing I expected him to do was lash out and punch his best friend… twice.
“I will. I’ll call him tomorrow. Rhian said he was still pissed but I didn’t know it was to that extent,” I say nodding towards his eye. “Does it hurt?”
“Why, are you going to nurse me back to health? You know, I really could use a gentle touch right now.”
I blow out an exasperated sigh. “If this,” I say waving my hand over the now empty pizza box, “was all just a way to try to get me back into bed then you really needn’t have bothered.”
His eyes light up like I’m about to make that exact suggestion.
“No, you should have stayed at home. I’m not making that mistake twice. This might turn into twins.”
“I’m not sure it works that way, Reese.” The amusement on his face pisses me off.
“No? Well, I’m not sure using condoms is meant to work quite like this either.”
“Touché.”
Brandon leaves not long after our little spat. He tries to find out if I’m going to be home early any other night. Something inside me longs to tell him that I’ll be here every night, but I know it’s the wrong thing to say. Instead, I agree to meet him for coffee in a few days’ time and bid him goodnight.
When I fall into bed my belly is full of gorgeous pizza, but I can’t get the man who provided it out of my head. Reaching for my bedside table, I take matters into my own hands. Who needs a man anyway?
“Good afternoon,” Chantelle, Clive’s assistant, sings as I walk towards her desk. Today’s D-day as far as who’s being made partner. We were meant to find out weeks ago, but Clive had a heart scare and ended up in hospital, so everything ground to a halt. I still haven’t decided if that was a good thing or not. I might not be spending half my days in the toilets now but because my fate is yet to be sealed as far as my job goes, I’ve kept my pregnancy secret, or at least I hope I have.
I should have told them by now, but I didn’t want my situation affecting their decision. Just because I’m having a baby it doesn’t mean I won’t be able to do my job. I deserve this promotion; I’ve worked my arse off for it.
“Reese, come and have a seat. Would you like a coffee?” Clive asks.
“Actually, a glass of water would be great, thank you.”
Chantelle goes running off to get our drinks and I take a seat in front of his desk.
Clive pushes some paper around, refusing to meet my eyes and my stomach twists. He doesn’t get nervous. He’s one of the best lawyers I know, so his hesitation right now has panic zipping around in my stomach.
He doesn’t look up at me until Chantelle has been and gone with our drinks. Then he takes a large breath and drags his eyes from the wooden desk.
“Reese, you are a fantastic lawyer. I knew the moment you walked into my office that you were going to be an asset to the company.”
I wait for the ‘but’.
“But—”
There it is. Oh fuck.
“As you know, we’ve had to re-evaluate things after my little stay in hospital. I was forced to make some decisions that I didn’t think I ever would.” The look on his face isn’t one that leads me to believe he’s about to give me a promotion. “I’m so sorry, Reese, but we’re going to have to let you go.”
My world tilts on its axis as blood rushes past my ears, meaning I don’t hear another word that Clive says.
We’re letting you go. We’re letting you go. Those four little words repeat in my mind over and over as the room I’m in spins and I struggle to catch my breath.
“Reese? Reese? Fuck, she’s totally out of it.”
The concerned voice confuses the fuck out of me. Where am I?
My eyes flutter open and I take in the dark red carpet beneath me and the shiny black shoes that are next to my head.
Looking up, I find the concerned faces of my boss and his assistant.
Why am I on the floor?
We’re letting you go.
Sitting bolt upright, my eyes widen to the point I worry they might pop out of my head as I try to gather my thoughts.
“That was a dream, right? You’re not really getting rid of me… are you?”
I go to stand and Chantelle races to reach out and help me up.
“I’m really sorry, Reese. The decision is out of my hands.”
“How? Why me? What about Rich? Hey, did he tell you I’m pregnant? He saw my hamper, didn’t he?”
I see the truth on Clive’s face. He knew all right. His mouth opens before he snaps it shut again.
“You should sit down. Here, drink this.” Chantelle thrusts my glass into my hand. “Are you feeling okay?”
I’ve never passed out before in my life but that isn’t my biggest concern right this second.
“Clive?” All the blood has drained from his face as he stares at me.
“I’m so sorry, Reese. Here are the details of your redundancy.” With that said, he marches from the room, leaving me with a glass of water in my trembling hand and Chantelle looking like she wants to be anywhere but here.
I focus on my breathing for fear of passing out again.
“Right... well…” Standing, I place the glass on the edge of Clive’s desk, pick up the brown envelope, and march out of his office with my head held high.
Walking through to my desk, I focus on my breathing so I can manage to calmly ask my assistant to cancel all my appointments today. I tell her I have a migraine and that I’m going home. I don’t hang around my office long enough for her to ask any questions.
I feel sick and don’t know if it’s pregnancy related or stress related. Although the women’s bathroom is closer, I pop into Rich’s empty office and let the contents of my stomach empty into his waste bin. Then with my bag over my shoulder, I walk out of our offices. My legs seem to have a mind of their own as they walk in the opposite direction to the car park and I just keep going.
My mind is numb as I walk down streets I’ve never seen before. Eventually, the sun begins to set and the temperature drops. When I recognise a shiver running down my spine, I figure I should try to work out where the hell I am and how to get home.
Home. Why do I suddenly not want to be there?
Flag
ging down a taxi, I rattle off an address I wasn’t expecting to fall from my lips when he asks for my destination. Up until now I’d yet to have a reason to use the key Brandon gave me. To be honest, I couldn’t really think of a time I ever would. I’ve been fine by myself since I left home, other than calling Sarah for advice every now and then. I’m not a person who relies on others, because experience has shown me that they let you down. But then again, I also didn’t think I’d be losing my job. A successful career is the only thing I’ve ever truly wanted in my life and I thought I had it. Now my new reality is that in a few months’ time I’m going to be a single mum and unemployed.
Why didn’t I save more money when I had the chance? I wonder, thinking about my wardrobes full of Jimmy Choos and Prada handbags. My baby isn’t going to impressed with any of that. It’s just going to want food and somewhere to live. What the fuck is going to happen now?
I pass the driver some money when he pulls up outside Brandon’s house and I get out before I have a chance to second guess myself.
I need someone right now and for some weird reason, it’s him.
I knock on his front door and wait.
Nothing happens but there are lights on. Maybe he’s just working in the garage?
Digging in the bottom of my bag, I pull out the gorgeous handcrafted keyring he gave me. Then I push the key into the lock and let myself in. It feels weird but this is what he gave it to me for. I call out his name but there’s no response, so placing my bag down in the unit in the hallway, I walk towards the kitchen. It’s empty. The place is in silence, so I wonder if he isn’t here after all.
A few more seconds pass but then I hear a noise. Heading towards where it came from, I round the corner into the living room and immediately freeze when my eyes land on two figures on the sofa.
“Oh fuck.” Tears fill my eyes and my heart races to the point it actually hurts.
Brandon lifts his head from the woman’s neck. She’s wrapped around him like a fucking snake, her skirt pushed up around her waist. Other than that, it seems they’re both fully clothed, but only just.
The Daddy Dilemma: A Brother's Best Friend Enemies To Lovers Romance (Hot Daddy Book 3) Page 7
