Chapter 18 Lainey
LAINEY
I pushed the grocery cart down the baking aisle while Wren tossed bags of flour and sugar into it without checking prices.
She'd been suspiciously quiet since we'd left my apartment, and I knew it was only a matter of time before she started asking questions.
After the pregnancy test last week we'd barely spoken.
She called to tell me the bakery was locked up, but after a "minor mishap" she’d had to go home and shower rather than coming to my place.
I had sighed in relief at the time because my living room smelled like sex. But it only made this inevitable showdown more anxiety inducing.
"So Kade Kingston really just gave you his credit card?" she finally said, holding up the black card he'd left with the annulment papers. Her accusatory look was playful, but I knew what was coming. "And he told you to buy whatever you need?"
"He's partnering with the bakery," I explained with gritted teeth as I grabbed a bottle of vanilla extract and added it to the cart. "I told you that."
"You told Mom and Dad that." She leaned against the cart and studied me. "But I want the real story. What's actually going on between you two?"
And here it was, the moment of truth. I couldn’t hide anything from her. She knew me too well to lie.
I kept my eyes on the shelves and tried to sound casual. "He feels responsible for Brandon pulling his funding. That's why he's helping. There's nothing more to it."
"Right." Wren didn't sound convinced. She took a few bags of powdered sugar and tossed them in the cart, but she had one eyebrow raised. "Because billionaires always hand over their credit cards to random women they feel guilty about."
"Can we just focus on shopping?" I moved toward the dairy section and she followed, still watching me with that knowing look. Wren was trying to find out what I was hiding, but thankfully for now she'd forgotten about my other dilemma and my nausea had been under control today.
We loaded up on butter and eggs in silence, and I thought maybe I'd escaped the interrogation.
But then she stopped in the middle of the frozen section and turned to face me while I was looking for the frozen whipped topping.
I felt her eyes boring into my skull and chewed the inside of my cheek to force myself not to look at her.
"Did you take that pregnancy test we talked about?" she asked. "It's been over a week now."
My stomach dropped and I gripped the cart handle tighter. "I've been busy."
"That's not an answer." She moved closer and lowered her voice. "Lainey, did you take it or not?"
"Can we talk about this later?" I tried to push past her but she blocked my path.
"No, we're talking about it now." She crossed her arms and I could see the determination in her eyes. "Tell me the truth."
I looked around to make sure no one was close enough to hear us, then met her gaze. "Yes, I took it."
"And?" Wren leaned in with both eyebrows high, shooting daggers at my fragile psyche as she pursed her lips.
"And I'm pregnant." The words came out barely above a whisper, but it felt like I was shouting. Shame burned in my cheeks as I turned and pushed the cart, walking away to avoid watching her reaction. When she caught up to me it made the hair on the back of my neck prickle.
"Before you say anything, I know what you're thinking. But I can't just tell Kade. He'll think I'm trying to use it to get money out of him."
"So what?" Wren grabbed my arm. "He's the father. He deserves to know."
"I've already told him I don't want what he's doing for the bakery. If I tell him about the baby now, he'll think I was lying. He'll think I've been playing him this whole time to trap him into something." I pulled away from her and started pushing the cart again. "I can't do that to him."
"You can't do that to him?" She followed me and her voice rose in pitch as she talked in harsh whispers. "What about what you're doing to yourself? You're pregnant and alone and you're going to keep lying to everyone about it?"
"I'm not lying." I turned down the next aisle and tried to focus on the shopping list in my hand. This wasn't a good time to be scatterbrained, but I couldn't concentrate. All of this was too overwhelming. "I'm just waiting for the right time."
"And when is that? After the baby's born?"
"After the marriage is annulled." I stopped and faced her. "Once he knows I'm not trying to stay married to him or get his money, then I'll tell him. But not before."
Wren heaved out a sigh and reached up to take a package of baker's chocolate off the shelf and drop it into the cart. "You're making a mistake."
"Maybe." I started moving again and she fell into step beside me. "But it's my mistake to make. Promise me you won't say anything."
"Lainey—"
"Promise me, Wren." I stopped and looked at her directly. "This has to be my decision. When I tell him and how I tell him. Not yours."
The look on her face told me she wasn't happy about this, but she nodded and scowled. "Fine. I promise, but I think you're wrong."
We finished shopping in silence and loaded everything into my car.
The drive back to the bakery felt tense and uncomfortable, and I could feel Wren's disapproval radiating from the passenger seat as she chewed her fingernails.
There was more to what she was thinking, but she graciously kept it to herself.
When we pulled into the parking lot, I saw a familiar car already there.
Kade's Lamborghini sat in front of my bakery, and my heart jumped into my throat.
"Is that him?" Wren asked, peering through the windshield. "Oh my god that car is worth like a million bucks." Her eyes bugged out as she craned her neck to look out the window as we drove past.
"Yeah." I parked next to his car and turned off the engine. "What's he doing here?"
"Maybe you should ask him." Wren gave me a pointed look. "And while you're at it, maybe tell him the truth."
"Wren—"
"I know, I know. I promised," she said, rolling her eyes and holding both hands up in surrender. She climbed out of the car and grabbed one of the grocery bags. "But I still think you're making a mistake."
She walked past Kade where he stood by the bakery door and leaned close to whisper harshly in my ear as she passed. "Tell him."
I watched her disappear inside and then turned to face Kade.
He was smiling and looked relaxed in jeans and a dark shirt, and I felt my resolve waver.
How was I supposed to keep this secret when he looked at me that way?
But how would I tell him and wreck his whole world?
Men like him didn't want a baby. They wanted freedom and the ability to do whatever they wanted.
"What was that about?" he asked, chuckling as he gestured toward where Wren had gone.
"Just sister stuff." I popped the trunk and started pulling out grocery bags. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to pick up the paperwork." He moved to help me and grabbed several bags at once. "But I can help you carry these in first."
I handed him the annulment papers from my purse and he tucked them under his arm while balancing the groceries. We walked into the bakery together and I directed him to set everything on the counter in the back kitchen.
"Do you need help with anything else?" he asked, looking around at the industrial mixers and ovens. "I've got some time."
"I wasn't planning on baking today." I started unpacking the groceries and putting things away. "Just stocking up."
"Can I get a tour then?" He leaned against the counter and watched me work. "I'm investing in this place. I should probably know what I'm investing in."
I smiled despite my nervousness and gestured for him to follow me.
I showed him the front of the shop where customers placed orders, then the display cases I filled with baked goods every morning.
Then we headed back to the kitchen and I explained my workflow and the different stations I'd set up for different types of baking.
I was starting to relax a little around him, though the edge never quite left.
Wren let herself out and I heard her car take off, so that helped.
And when we stopped by the big fridge and I had nothing left to show him we fell into an awkward silence, which I broke by clearing my throat.
"Want to try something?" I opened one of the refrigerated cases and pulled out a tray of cupcakes I'd made yesterday. They were chilled enough to put into the freezer now; I just hadn't gotten to it yet. "These are for the fundraiser, but you can try one."
He picked up a chocolate one and took a bite, and I watched his face as he tasted it. His eyes closed for a moment and he made a sound that sent heat straight through me. It was the same sound he made when he licked his fingers after making me come.
"That's incredible," he said after swallowing. "What's in it?"
"Trade secret." I grabbed a vanilla one and bit into it, and crumbs dusted my cheek. I reached up to wipe them away but Kade caught my hand.
"Hold still." He brushed his thumb across my cheek and collected the crumbs, then brought it to his mouth and licked his finger clean. His eyes never left mine and I felt my breath catch.
"Do you like them?" I asked, and my voice cracked. His eyes glazed over as he licked his finger, making my belly flutter a little.
"I do,” he purred.
"The taste I mean... do they taste alright?" Nerves swirled in my chest because Kade wasn't looking at the cupcake, or licking his lips. He was staring at me and his eyes dropped to my mouth.
He set down the cupcake and moved closer. "I'd like to taste something else."
"What?" I squeaked.
"This," he said, and then he was kissing me.