CEO'S Secret Baby: A Standalone Surprise Pregnancy Romance - Iona Rose (which ebook reader .txt) 📗

You are strong, faithful and loving, and you seem to believe in me more than I ever have in myself. This baby is no longer just the result of a fling, but the gift I received from the man I have come to love. So, no matter what happens between us from now on, I have accepted this child as fully mine and yours, because you deserve to be the father of my child.” She lowered her gaze from mine, and began once again to wring her hands.

I placed my hand on hers and said simply, “You’re going to pay for what happened in Minnesota.”

Her gaze shot up to mine with a mix of confusion and amusement. “What? H-how?”

“For the next month, you’re going to be completely under my thumb. Whatever I want, and desire, you will make happen.”

Her lips quivered in amusement, but I was dead serious.

“For starters, have you eaten?” I asked.

“Uh, I had some eggs earlier on.”

“That’s not enough. I’ll get you some proper food.”

“Ok,” she answered sheepishly. “Thank you.”

“Secondly, as soon as you’re better you will come with me and we will pick out a bigger apartment for the both of us and our baby.”

Her lips parted, but she didn’t say a word.

“Thirdly, you will listen to every fuss I make on your behalf. When I tell you to take it easy, that is exactly what you will do. And when I tell you to kiss me, even when we’re in a ridiculously long line at the store with an impatient audience, you will do exactly as I say, without complaints.”

“Oh, God,” she muttered.

“All of this and many more requests, you must endure for a month.”

“A month?” Her hand covered her mouth to hide her smile. “A month is pretty long, Carter.”

“You’re already failing. You don’t accept my condition?” Without waiting for her to respond, I rose to my feet and turned around to leave.

With a panic, she reached out to me, and threw her arms around my waist.

I stilled, and savored the magic of her touch. My heart burned with such love and excitement and contentment I could barely breathe.

“I accept,” she said. “With all of my heart. Whatever you want this month, I will do. I am so sorry for running and doubting you.”

“I have one more demand for today.”

“Anything,” she said.

“Will you marry me?” I asked.

A deadly silence came over the room.

I went on, “You will have the choice to pick whatever wedding date that you desire, whether it be before the baby arrives or after, but my intentions will not change. You don’t have the choice to reject this, so I’ll take your silence as a yes. You can reverse any agreements made, within reason, after my month is up.” I started to move away, but her arms around me tightened. I felt the weight of her forehead as it leaned against my back.

“It wasn’t a demand,” she said. “You asked it as a question.”

My stomach tightened with anxiety, but I refused to give it any attention. “It’s rhetorical,” I replied. “Everything I ask of you this month will be rhetorical, since your answer can only be yes.”

I felt her smile against my back, and almost couldn’t help the one that spread across my lips. Thankfully, she couldn’t see it.

“Yes, Carter,” she said and removed her arms from around me.

I was too nervous to face her. “I’ll get you the ring tomorrow.”

“Please also ensure that you get a receipt,” she said. “So that it can be returned.”

I spun around in alarm.

Her lips quivered with amusement.

“Keep playing around,” I warned her. “I’m going to make this month hell for you.”

“It’s the least I can ask for,” she said. “I love you Carter, with all of my heart.”

I love you too, I muttered in my heart, but was still too begrudged to say it to her face.

Later that night however, I whispered it into her ears as she fell asleep in my arms.

Epilogue

Leah

On Sean’s first birthday, Anne refused to let him out of her arms, which was especially problematic since she also didn’t want to let go of the ever filled glass of Moscato she held in the other.

“Anne hand him over.” Tracy went over to her. “I need to get him dressed before his guests start arriving.”

“Just a little while longer,” she said, her gaze on the television as my little baby boy slept in her arms.

Tracy turned to me with a scowl on her face.

I turned away, choosing to stay out of it. It seemed like it was a constant custody battle of who spent more time with the baby whenever they were around. Myself and Carter had long learned to stay out of it. As long as neither of them dropped our child, they could bicker all they wanted.

“Leah!” Tracy tried to get my attention.

I shrugged and turned to place the ice cream cake that had just been delivered into the freezer.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang and my heart jumped in my chest.

Tracy stormed off to get it while I washed my hands, knowing exactly who it was unless a guest had decided to come earlier than was stipulated for the celebration.

I heard Tracy laugh.

Then he walked into the room. He had been away in Chicago for a few days but had promised to do all he could to make it to Sean’s first birthday, and he had kept his word.

His gaze instantly found mine from across the room and held it, refusing to look away even when Tracy tried to get his attention concerning Anne and her custody. “Tracy, I’ll hand Sean over to you when I come back,” he promised, and moved away from her to head towards me.

I waited for him, my back against the refrigerator in anticipation. The moment his hand slid around my waist, every other thing beyond our joining ceased to exist.

My legs left the floor as he kissed me, and soon they were wrapped around his waist. I didn’t know when he