Chapter 59
Reese carries me up the stairs and lays me down on our bed, his big body coming down on top of mine. “I love you, woman.”
“I know you do,” I promise. “You have nothing to prove to me. I told you. My reactions are about this surprise.”
He leans up on his elbows. “Tell me what it is.”
My hand goes to his face, tenderness overcoming me when I think of what I have to share, but I haven’t even gone to the doctor yet. I’m not telling him now. “You have to wait until your birthday. I promise. It’s worth the wait.”
“You’re killing me, Cat. I can normally take your teasing, but now—”
“You can take it,” I tease. “You’re ‘Mr. Hotness’ and by the way, the blogs about you have already started again.”
“Fuck,” he growls. “Not more of the Mr. Hotness craziness.”
“I like it more now,” I say.
“And why is that?”
I scrape my teeth over my lip and then kiss him. “I’m the girl who got Mr. Hotness.”
“You do have me, Cat. All of me. You have from the moment you called me an asshole.”
I laugh and it feels good, all the emotions I’ve been feeling seem to be fading in a wave of calmer hormones that might not last but I’ll take it while I can get it. My hands slide under his shirt. “You weren’t the asshole I thought you were.”
“Glad to hear that since you married me,” he says, lips brushing mine. “I’m going to fuck you now. I have to. You know that, right?”
“Have to,” I agree, as his hand slides under my shirt and over my breast, his fingers tugging down my bra to tease my nipple. “Definitely.” He drags my shirt up and over my head or he tries.
The doorbell rings and I catch it at my neck. “Oh God. I called my brothers. Why did I call my brothers? If you pay her off they don’t even need to know about Debbie.”
He rolls us to our sides, facing each other. “Relax, sweetheart.” He cups my face. “I know your relationship with your brothers is tense, especially Reid, but the very fact that they rushed over here says they care. And Reid’s a beast. If anyone is going to represent us legally on this, unless you’re against it, he’s a good choice in my book.”
“Let’s not tell them. Let’s say it’s something else.”
“Cat—”
“I don’t want to tell them.”
“You’re embarrassed,” he says, sitting up as the bell rings again. “Fuck. Of course, you are.”
“No.” I scoot to the edge of the mattress beside him. “I’m not. I’m not—I don’t want anyone to assume we’re broken.”
He glances over at me. “No one, your brothers included, who I work with frequently, who knows me, and us, believes we’re broken or that I cheated. Reid is a good choice, Cat.”
I swallow hard. “You’re right. It’s just so awkward with him.”
“I say him being here shows he’s trying to change that.”
“If he’s here. It might be just Gabe. He’s the one on the approved list at security.”
“I put Reid on a long time ago.”
“You did?”
“Yes. I hoped you two would mend your relationship.” He kisses me. “Let’s go find out.”
Mend. That’s a hard thing when Reid disapproves of my career and pretty much all of my decisions, but I nod. Reese stands and takes me with him, and when he would turn away, I grab his arm. “I’m sorry.”
His eyes narrow on me. “For what, Cat?”
“Me being emotional and embarrassed isn’t me showing you how much I believe in us, but I do. I swear, I do.”
He pulls me to him and kisses me. “I know you do. Don’t apologize for anything. You’ve handled this far better than I might have.” His cellphone rings and he snakes it from his pocket. “Reid,” he says, glancing at his caller ID. He releases me and motions to the door as he answers the call. “Yes, Reid. We’re on our way to the door right now.” He motions me through the doorway and when I would pass, he catches me and kisses me. “Reid will help. This is a good thing.”
“I know,” I say. “He’s a bastard. You want the resident bastard in your corner and for once, maybe he’s my bastard.” I walk down the stairs but I don’t even think about getting the door and Reese knows I won’t. He knows me. I head away from the door and he catches my hand. “I’ll feel them out before letting them get to you.”
I nod and rush toward the kitchen where I brew a cup of coffee, not even sure how that works with pregnancy. Can I drink coffee? I google it. I get “moderation” as my answer, and that’s good enough for me. I need something warm to burn away the chill Reid always delivers. My cup is full and piping hot when Reid, in all his arrogant good looking asshole glory, walks into the kitchen alone. “Where’s Gabe?” I ask.
“Talking about a case he’s on with your husband.”
“I see.” I hug myself.
“Stop acting like I bite, Cat.” He steps to the opposite side of the counter. “I’ll bite for you, but not you.”
“You’ve done plenty of biting where I’m concerned.”
“I’m proud of you, Cat.”
I blanch. “What?”
“I am proud of you. I am.”
I should revel in this. Instead, I feel angry. “Says the man who shut me out because I didn’t join the family firm.”
“I had reasons for what I did and felt.”
“Yeah—dad. He made you think there was no other life but the one he chose for us.”
“That’s not true,” he says.
“I can’t do this now. I have—I have way too much on me now.” My stomach rolls and I swallow hard. “Not now.”
“Cat—”
“Everything okay?” Reese asks from the door.
My gaze jerks to the archway to find him and Gabe standing there, and both look concerned. Gabe and I have had our issues, along the same lines as those I’ve had with Reid, but they were never as bad as with Reid, and Gabe and I have come a long way, while Reid and I are nowhere close to that in my book. He’s just hurt me too much.
“It’s fine,” I say tightly, and Reese is quick to join me on this side of the island, while Gabe steps directly across from him. I’m still directly in front of Reid.
Reese’s hand settles on my back and he looks down at me. “What do you want to do, sweetheart?”
“You tell them,” I say. “Please.”
“You’re sure?” Reese asks.
“Holy hell,” Gabe says. “Tell me now. Is someone sick?” He looks at me. “Cat?”
“No,” I say. “No, that’s not it.”
“What is it then?” Gabe says.
“First,” Reese says, “I’m innocent and need legal help.”
“What does that mean?” Reid interjects tightly.
“I had a stalker before I met Cat,” Reese explains. “It was pretty crazy. I slept with her twice, and she became obsessed. She showed up everywhere I went and then she was just gone.”
“She’s back?” Gabe assumes. “Is she after Cat?”
“She’s back,” Reese confirms. “Pregnant and claiming it’s mine. I haven’t seen this woman in years and she confronted Cat to deliver this news.”
Reid looks at me, his blue eyes fierce before they shift to Reese. The two men stare each other down, and I hate Reid in this moment. I hate the accusation in him that would call my husband a cheater. I hate that this is how my brother finally decides to protect me. It’s wrong. He’s wrong. “This was a mistake,” I say, turning to Reese. “This was a mistake.” I turn to my brothers. “Please leave. No, not please. Just leave.”