Chapter 15
Abby was beginning to regret her decision to agree to a church wedding. She should have gone with her first instinct and grabbed her daughter and Cade and headed off to Vegas. It would have been simpler and less stress. But she would have had to live with the disappointment from her family and his.
Now she was caught up in the frenzy. The guest list had gotten away from them.
Her mother and his, not to mention his sister, her best friend and Kevin's wife Sarah-Jane, had gone completely crazy.
She had complained to a deliberately oblivious Cade that she was constantly in meetings, whether it was with the family, his and hers, or with the wedding planners, the caterers, and the florist. The media was whipped into a frenzy as well, and it was very difficult to step out of her car when she arrived at the bookstore and not be surrounded by a reporter or two.
"It's frustrating!"
"Hmm."
She sent her fiancé a glare, realizing that he had not even looked up from the manuscript he was perusing.
"Thanks for your input."
The sarcasm finally alerted him of her mood and had him looking up. They were at his place after putting Zoe to bed at hers. She had changed into her nightclothes, not that it would stay on her long, if he had his way. And he usually had his way every night.
The man was insatiable, but so was she. His ring, a stunning square cut diamond, resided on her finger and shot fire around the room from the lights of the flames from the hearth. February had blazed in with snow storms and icy cold weather. She was getting married in April. A spring wedding.
"Come here." Putting aside the riveting manuscript that had been sent to him just recently, he attempted to soothe her ruffled nerves.
"If you're thinking of sex just now, you're in for a disappointment." She huffed but walked over to settle on his lap.
"Is that all you can think of?" he chided and managed to make her laugh.
"Better?" He rubbed her tensed shoulders and made her relax.
"A little. Keep doing that and I might just forgive you for distancing yourself from all the drama surrounding our wedding. I told you that Vegas was a good plan."
"And deprive our daughter from wearing that absolutely beautiful pink and white dress she's dead set on?"
A sigh escaped her. Leaning against him, she closed her eyes. In the past month, since she had declared her love for him, time and circumstances had changed. She was now partially living with him. Andre and Jillian had gotten engaged and had opted for a June wedding.
And she was quite certain she was pregnant. Something she was waiting to tell him. He had talked that night in her office after their explosive lovemaking and said firmly that Zoe was going to be an only child.
"I could not bear you going through what you did again."
Nothing she said, not even the fact that it had happened because of the fall or the fact that he was here with her now, had gotten through to him.
He had been practical about it. "I'm not the eldest son and therefore not required to produce an heir. Besides, I just discovered my daughter and don't want her overshadowed by a sibling. I'm okay with her being the only child."
But she was not. And she was keeping it from him. He had started using protection when he made love to her and was conscientious about it. Not realizing it was too late.
They had promised to tell each other everything.
"No secrets darling." He said firmly. "No matter how difficult the situation, we tell each other the truth."
She was pregnant and had an appointment with the doctor in a few days. But she knew. She felt it in her nipples, the sensitive feel to them and the headache brewing behind her temples. She had had similar symptoms when carrying Zoe.
"Tell me what I can do."
"Nothing." Stirring herself from her thoughts, she forced a smile and tamped away the worry over his reaction. She was going to have to tell him soon.
"There must be something." Her scent wrapped around him like a warm blanket and made him settle.
Despite their very busy schedules, they made time for each other and their daughter.
The New Age Publishing house had become such a wildly successful arm of Tyrell's Media that it had taken on a life of its own.
He had discovered four books in total that had been grabbed up by Zach, to turn into movies. One was going to be a television series. Two of them were already in production.
He had turned a publishing house that had been doomed into one of success, and the press had made much of it.
He had also incorporated the business with his fiancée's, where the new authors would pop in for a reading or two.
Abigail had planned and hosted the book launch for the period love story that was about to become a movie.
She had meticulously planned the theme, going all out to read the manuscript and decorate the place accordingly.
The Victorian era had been staged to the last detail, leaving the author, a middle-aged former school teacher, overwhelmed. And sending the media crazy. Cade had expressed how proud he was of her, later that night.
"I suppose it's all under control. It's just that, I feel everyone has a part in planning my wedding, except me."
He turned her to face him, studying her stunning face. Her hair was wrapped and secured by some silk thing tied around the edge to keep it in place, and her face was wiped clean of makeup. She continued to be the most beautiful woman he had ever known.
"Want me to tell my mother and the others to back off?"
She laughed at his sober expression and knew he would do just that. It helped that he was always on her side.
"No." She shook her head and placed a hand on his jaw. "I love you." She saw the emotions storming instantly and marveled that it could take only that to bring them to the fore. He loved her.
She had found it very difficult to believe at first, but now she did.
"All I want is to be your wife."
And the mother of your baby. The thought came unbidden. Yes, she realized. She wanted the experience that she had been cheated of when he left. And that was the argument she would use to diffuse his anger when she told him.
Leaning forward, she fused her mouth to his and dove into the kiss. With a murmur and passion fired up, he took her to bed.
*****
The excitement was tinged with worry. The doctor had examined her thoroughly. The only concern was that her passage was narrow.
"Will it pose a problem?"
"Not much of one." Dr. Ruth Manning gave her a reassuring smile and wondered privately why her gorgeous fiancé wasn't with her. "If it comes to it, we might have to do a C-section. But we'll cross that bridge when and if we come to it."
"What about stress?" Abby persisted. "I have a very demanding career and am in the middle of a wedding that seems to grow in proportion every damn day."
That made the woman laugh. "You should have eloped."
"I told Cade that, and he reminded me we have an obligation to our respective families."
"I'm assuming you have adequate help where that is concerned?"
"More than." She admitted with a sigh. "I just don't want anything to jeopardize this little one." She patted her flat stomach.
"I'll prescribe some vitamins and supplements. Make sure you start eating right and stay off the caffeine."
"That's going to be hard."
Driving back to the bookstore, she planned several scenarios inside her head. She could plan a romantic dinner with candles and flowers and tell him. Or she could come right out with it. Slap him with the news and assure him that she would be careful, that the doctor assured her it would be fine.
Parking in her slot, she shut the engine off. She was getting married in a month. The honeymoon was going to be in the UK. She had been there before, when she was in college, but wanted to explore the highlands of Scotland and take in several of the stunning sights in England.
Zoe was still trying to get them to take her. And had pouted when her mother had tried to explain that a honeymoon was supposed to be for a husband and wife.
She had continued to pout until her dad had sat her down and given his own explanation. Something simple. Like telling her in his deep firm voice that she would not be allowed to come this time.
"It's where your mother and I will be spending time together as husband and wife."
And just like that, she had hugged him and said it was okay. He was very good with her, and she adored him. She showed him off each time he picked her up from school.
She would have to tell him tonight. He noticed everything about her and would wonder why she wasn't drinking wine with her meals. She had stopped doing so right after she suspected she might be with child.
She was pushing the door open when her phone rang.
Grabbing the device, she punched the button, her eyes gleaming. "Hey. Perfect timing, I just drove into the parking lot."
"I'm right near the palm tree to your left."
When she turned her head, he waved. He was leaning against the hood of his black BMW, hands tucked casually in the pockets of his ash gray dress pants.
His long cashmere jacket was open all the way down and flapping in the breeze.
It always gave her a jolt to see how gorgeous he was and to realize that he was all hers.
He walked to meet her, laser blue eyes studying her face.
"Hi."
"Hi yourself. What are you doing here?"
"Let's go for a ride."
"I just got here. I have to--"
"Then you can tell me why you're keeping secrets."
Her heart hammered against her ribs as she stared at him wordlessly for a beat.
"Mama told you."
"That you have a doctor's appointment? Yes." He opened the passenger door and nudged her inside, after taking the key fob from her.
When he got in, she had secured her belt with nervous fingers.
"Cade--"
"Not yet." Backing out, he drove out of the lot and turned left.