Authors: Ella Celestine
Chapter One
Seven months later
This had to be the longest party in the history of parties. At least that’s what it felt like to Ruby, who stood on the rooftop of some swanky hotel, or was it a restaurant, in heels much too high for a woman in her state. The blood red pashmina draped over her did nothing against the chilly breeze off the bay, making her regret the strapless empire waist cocktail dress she wore. She felt pretty, but she also felt cold.
“Smile Ruby, this is all for you. You’re the first bestseller on this new publisher, and they are grateful. Incredibly so,” Monica, her agent, reminded her.
Ruby didn’t need to be reminded though. This night was the result of the past eighteen months of her life and the culmination of a dream. She was now a successful photographer who could take any job she wanted, and she had secured a three-book deal with Naturific Publishing. Everything was just about right. “I know, and I’m happy about all of it. I’m just tired. And cold. “
Monica looked at her with concern and guided her to a chair. “You should be sitting anyway. Stay here; I have someone you have to meet.”
“Sure,” she absently answered as she looked at the beautiful bridge in the distance. She hated these kinds of parties, but they were part of the job now. And now that she was near one of the portable heaters, she could simply enjoy the view.
“Ruby, this is Jackson Silver. He owns Naturific Publishing.”
No. It couldn’t be.
Damn but the man cleaned up well. “Jack,” she said on an exhale.
“Ruby,” he responded in that same breathless tone.
A smile came, unbidden. “How are you?”
Slowly the corners of his mouth turned up, leaving a dazzling smile that still made her core tighten. But his brown eyes were dazed, confused and wary. “I’m great, and you’re…,” he didn’t finish the sentence, but she knew what he was asking.
“Yep,” she said and sank her teeth nervously into her red bottom lip.
He nodded absently and kept staring at her. “And it’s…,”
“Yep,” she answered again, this time looking him straight on so he could see the sincerity in her green gaze.
Jack released a long breath and ran a hand through his wavy golden locks. His gaze darted from Monica to Ruby and then he spoke. “Enjoy the party ladies. Meet me after the party so we can talk,” he barked and stalked off.
Ah, so that was how it would be. Awesome. “Let’s go find some of those little bacon wrapped dates; they were so good.”
Monica reached out and grabbed her arm. “Hold it. Explain.”
Ruby rolled her eyes at her agent. “Nothing to explain. We met a while ago, while I shot Sequoia. I knew him as Jack.”
Monica blue eyes widened and then narrowed suspiciously. “No last name?”
“Nope. It was just a few hours during a rainstorm.” Actually, it had been nearly twenty-four hours in a one room cabin and only each other for warmth. They’d nearly burned the place down, she thought with a smile.
“I don’t believe that’s anywhere near the whole story, but I’ll let it go for now. Just tell me one thing, is this going to affect your book deal?”
Ruby frowned. “Why would it? He couldn’t have possibly known that R.S. Werner was me since he had no idea what my last name was.”
“And this,” she pointed in the general direction of Ruby, “has something to do with him?” She nodded. “Let’s go find those dates. There’s goat cheese inside too,” she grabbed Ruby’s arm and guided her to the buffet tables.
“Oh thank goodness. I’m starved.”
Monica laughed. “You just ate.”
Ruby gave her
the
look, and they both shared a laugh. She could admit that the party hadn’t turned out so bad, but that was only because Monica had become a close friend after taking her on six months ago. Monica had been there for her when her life had been irrevocably changed. Hours later she was dead on her feet, and she still had one more talk to come.
“Alright, I’m going up to my room. Meet me in the lobby at eleven tomorrow and call me if you need me.” Monica gave her a look to let Ruby know she had support.
“I’ll be fine, Mon. Promise.” With a quick kiss on her agent’s cheek, she went in search of Mr. Tall, Dark and Sexy.
~
Jackson waited in his suite for three hours. If Ruby didn’t show her pretty little face in his room in the next five minutes, he’d--, “Come in,” he’d barked when his security detail gave the special knock, so he knew it was them. The door opened and in came Ruby looking gorgeous and glowing in her sexy white dress. Her breasts were like melted chocolate spilling up and over the strapless confection. “Ruby, finally you’re here.”
She sighed, but a smile quirked up one side of her lush mouth. “I couldn’t very well leave too early, could I?”
Jackson guided her to a plush white sofa and sat next to her, soaking her in. God, she was a welcome sight. “Our first bestselling author deserves to party. Although I doubt you did much in the way of partying.”
She smiled and rubbed a hand across her midsection. “Well I did knock back about a dozen of those bacon wrapped dates; that was pretty wild.” Her beaming smile knocked the wind from his lungs.
He tried to stifle a laugh at her irreverence but failed. “It’s a good thing you’re not driving,” he offered, and she gifted him with another laugh, this one low and sexy.
“True, I’d be asleep before I hit the street. Doesn’t take much these days,” she said wistfully.
“So,” he said and let the word hang in the silence between, low and heavy. “You’re pregnant.”
Rubbing her rounded belly, Ruby closed her eyes and smiled. “I am. Seven months.”
It didn’t take a genius to do the math and figure out the baby in her belly was put there the day the world washed away around them. In that cabin inside a national park where they’d spent hours exploring each other’s bodies, finding new and creative ways to please one another. All without a thought to birth control. His gaze slipped to hers again and then back to her belly, a thousand different thoughts battled for prime real estate in his mind.
She held up a hand to stop the words he hadn’t quite gathered yet. “Look I know what you’re about to say, and you’re right. I should have told you, but see the thing is I didn’t know your last name until a few hours ago, Jack. And I tried, but you’d be surprised how many hot blondes there are in this world called Jack.”
A sardonic laugh escaped him. “That actually wasn’t what I was thinking at all. Of course, you couldn’t find me, just as I couldn’t find you. Believe me, I tried.”
“Why?”
“I like you. Plus that was a fantastic day. Gave me a new fondness for rainstorms.” He liked the shy smile that told him he’d made her blush. “And red tulips.” There had been a small patch of them at the back of the cabin, and she’d gasped and knelt, snapping photos. His eyes widened. “The cover, that’s from that day?” She nodded and Jackson felt an odd pang in his chest.
“Then you’re as sorry as I am we didn’t get full names.” Ruby’s deep red nails hypnotized him as she rubbed gentle circles over her rounded belly. “Now you know.”
“Is everything alright? Do you need anything?” Jackson waited for her to give him a list of demands. Money, a home, commitment.
“Everything is great. Actually,” she searched her purse, pulling out a small tablet, swiped a few times and handed it to him. “Heartbeat is normal, strong. He’s on the big side, because you know,” her hands gestured up and down his large frame. “I don’t need anything, but thank you for asking.”
Her smile was sincere. It was fucking beautiful like the rest of her. “Don’t thank me; this is my child! Are you certain? I’ll have my assistant make an appointment with Wasserman; she’s the best in L.A.” He picked up his phone. “Yeah, get me an appointment with Cam Wasserman as soon as you can.”
“I don’t need a doctor; I’ve just been a few weeks ago. That’s how I got that picture of him,” she pointed to the 3-D ultrasound image on the tablet. “I am fine, Jack. I’m sorry you’ve missed so much of this, but I am handling it, just as I have been.”
“Not while I’m around dammit.” He stood and paced, stopping to look at her again. “Ruby I am going to take care of you.”
“Now that I know who you are, you can give me your number, and I’ll call you if I need anything.”
He smiled. “Oh, you won’t need to, Ruby because you’re going to move in with me.”
She laughed. And laughed. Until tears streamed down her eyes, she laughed. At him. “That’s not happening, Jack. I appreciate the sentiment, but it’s not necessary. I have no plans to keep you from our son if you want to see him.”
Blonde brows furrowed.
Son.
“It’s a boy? You can tell already?”
“Well he’s pretty much a fully formed human at this point, just needs a bit of detail work.” She waved him over and grabbed the tablet. “See, it’s a boy.”
Jack grinned. “A boy.”
“Yes,” she stood. “Well, now you know, and I really need to get to bed. That bacon is hitting me hard,” she covered up a yawn.
“Where do you live? When are you leaving?”
“I live in Santa Monica, and I’m headed back that way tomorrow morning.”
He smiled. He didn’t use it often, but he did have a home just up the road from her in Malibu. “Let me take you. I have my jet so your agent can hitch a ride as well.”
She shook her head. “We’ve rented a car. Too late to be flying with this guy,” she pointed at her belly. “If you want, we can get together the next time you’re in Los Angeles.”
She was so placating it grated on his nerves. “You’re moving in with me.”
“Not happening.” Arms folded across her ample chest, she looked up at him, defiance burning in her green eyes.
Jack smiled, deciding to go a different route. “I just want to take care of you.”
She shrugged and gave him a small smile. “I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time Jack.”
His gaze sharpened and his jaw clenched. “Well, now you don’t need to do it all on your own.”
“Yes. I do.” Her jade eyes were sad when they looked back at him, and he knew there were miles of secrets behind that gorgeous gaze. “I’m really tired Jack. Let’s talk more…later.”
Jackson watched her walk to the door and called out to her. When she turned, he blurted the first thing that came to mind. “Move in with me. Let me look after you. Please.”
This time her smile came more relaxed, more genuine. “That’s sweet Jack, but really unnecessary. Besides, apparently I’m nesting.”
Whatever the hell
that
meant. “It is necessary.” He closed the gap between them and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Get some sleep. We’ll talk again soon.” Pressing a kiss to her mouth, he walked out with her. “Where’s your room?”
“Jack I can find my own way.”
“I know you can, but dammit you don’t have to.” She was more stubborn than any woman he’d ever met.
With a resigned sigh, she acquiesced. “Fine. I’m on the sixth floor.”
Jackson smiled.
Chapter Two
Two days after running into Jack and letting him know about their baby, Ruby sat in the waiting room of her ob-gyn staring at the couples surrounding her. She couldn’t help the longing that ripped through her body, for the first time in her life wishing she was one-half of the happy, doting couples like the one directly in front of her. She might even settle for the exhausted and harried couple next to her. Anything other than she had now, which was nothing. But Ruby knew having nothing was easier, and she berated herself for feeling any kind of disappointment that Jack had done exactly as she expected.
It would do her no good to wish for things she couldn’t have. Had never had. She did well on her own, as she’d always been. The danger was allowing herself to need someone else, to depend on them and get used to having them around. In Ruby’s experience, everyone left eventually. And a sexy, bossy alpha like Jack would make her depend on him, love him and then he would leave. No. She had to stay strong and remember that she was relieved he hadn’t tried to contact her.
It was better this way. “Ruby,” called out a pink-clad nurse with a friendly smile.
She stood and endured being weighed and had her vitals taken before she was lead to a stark, sterile exam room. A few minutes later the doctor entered with a pinched smile. “Ruby my dear, your blood pressure is much too high.”
“Good to see you too, Doc.” Rubbing her belly, Ruby released a long sigh. “How high is too high?”
Dr. Kemp sat on the stool beside the exam table. “It’s high enough that you need someone to keep an eye on you for the next few weeks, change your diet and make sure you take it easy.”
Sadly, there was no one. “I’ll be fine on my own. Just tell me what I need to do.”
She shook her straight red bob. “Sorry Ruby, that’s not going to work this time. Either you have someone, or we check you into the hospital.”
“Dammit. There is no one; you know that.” She’d told her the whole story as a way to get the doctor to be totally honest with her. About everything.
“I’m sorry, but you’re both at risk.” There was a knock and Dr. Kemp called them in.
Jack. “What are you doing here? How did you even know how to find me?”
He smiled, making even the staid Dr. Kemp blush. “Monica told me.” He turned to the doctor and began asking a series of questions, which she answered as though Ruby was no longer in the room.
Ruby was furious and growing angrier by the second. “I don’t recall inviting you,” she said to Jack, “or giving you permission to speak to anyone about my medical care.” Ice dripped from her tongue with every syllable.
At least Dr. Kemp looked chagrined. “I apologize, Ruby. I’ll give you two a moment and then I’ll be back.”
Ruby stopped her. “There’s no need for that. We’re done here, right?”
Arms crossed, the doctor stared her down. “Help or hospital, Ruby.”
She thought about it. With the advance she’d received from her publisher, she could afford to hire help. Okay, she could handle this too. “I’ll need a half hour, and I’ll have help.”
“You have help right now.” Jack’s deep voice thundered into the relative silence of the exam room.
She sighed, frustration emanating from her in waves. “Don’t be ridiculous; I have it under control.” She wouldn’t let him worm his way into her life. Wouldn’t let him become essential to her. “You have a company to run, maybe even a few, I don’t know. What I do know is that I’m perfectly capable of handling this myself.”
He glared at her, deep chocolate eyes searing her everywhere his gaze landed. “Yeah well, we’ll see about that won’t we?”
Only when Jack stomped out of the exam room was she able to relax. And make arrangements for help.
~
The woman was so damn stubborn it was enough to make a man go Neanderthal just to do what was right. He’d left the doctor’s office to let her organize whatever professional she found on Google, while he made plans of his own. By the time Ruby made it home two hours later, he was there, sitting on her glider waiting. The home aide she’d hired had shown up, and he’d paid her double to leave. A lesser man may have felt guilty, Jackson did not.
He watched carefully as she pulled into the cracked driveway of her small bungalow just a few blocks from the beach. Her movements were restricted thanks to his son, he thought with a smile. Ruby stepped out of her small car and rounded it to the trunk, pulling out several bags and he groaned. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Startled she looked towards the house and frowned. “Grabbing bags from my trunk, what does it look like I’m doing?”
“It looks to me like you’re trying to get yourself put on bed rest. Should I call the doctor and let her know?” He was playing dirty, but sometimes it was how things got done.
Her smug smile was adorable. Hell, it was downright sexy. “You can do as you like. Help is on the way.”
Jackson unfolded his long body and stood, descending the stairs in slow, deliberate steps. “Afraid not sweetheart. She already came, and I sent her away.” He bumped her out of the way and grabbed all the bags, turning to go back towards the house. He stopped and looked at her. “Door.”
They were locked in a stare down, her mossy green eyes trapped in his deep dark ones. Finally, she relented and rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Come on.”
With a determined smile, Jackson followed her inside. The first thing he noticed, when he was able to take his eyes off those long legs, was the colorful throw pillows on the sofa, the exotic tapestry hanging on a wall and plants. There were plants everywhere. “Nice place,” he said and followed her into the kitchen.
“It’s home.”
Jackson wasn’t sure how to handle things with her. His first instinct was always to take control and make shit happen. But so far it hadn’t worked very well with Ruby. “Do you need to look for something bigger?” She gave him a strange look. “I’m just asking, Ruby. Talk to me.”
“You mean like you did when you sent my helper away?”
He smiled, not at all ashamed of his behavior. “I want to help, and I am in a position to do so. Why would you pay someone to do what I’ll happily do for free?”
She crossed her arms and glared. “But it’s not really free, is it Jack? You want something, what?” Her nails tapped against the laminate counter island. “You want me to move to your place or buy me a bigger, better house. You want to force me to do what you want me to do. Right?”
His voice softened. “I don’t want to force you to do anything Ruby. I want you to let me be involved. Since you’re not inclined to do that, I have to exert a bit of pressure. Don’t I?”
“Why do you want to be involved? Surely this wasn’t part of your life plan, to knock up some black woman without power, status or her own millions. And if you wanted a baby you’d have one already, what are you, in your forties?”
“I am thirty-eight, thanks.” Jackson bit back a smile at her assumption.
“Close enough,” she said dismissively, trying to shove vegetables into the crisper.
Gently pushing her aside, he grabbed the items from her hands and put them away. “I’m right here, and still you refuse my help. What the hell?” He could wring her neck she was so frustrating! Stomping around the kitchen, Jackson silently put away all of her groceries and left all miscellaneous items on the counter until he was finished. God, but the woman was infuriating. So independent and determined to make sure everybody knew it. Pouring a tall glass of juice, he slammed it on the table and grabbed the other items, shoving them into cabinets inside the ultra-feminine bathroom. Dark blonde brows dipped with his scowl. “You didn’t drink your juice.”
She crossed her arms. “I’m not thirsty.”
“Well, maybe
he
is,” he stabbed the air to point at her belly. He stared at her, and she stared back, her stunning gaze turning suspiciously moist. “Oh, no Ruby, don’t cry. I’m sorry, I’ll drink the juice.”
“You don’t want it,” she accused. Then promptly burst into tears.
Jackson took a fortifying breath. And then another. Then went to Ruby and wrapped her in his arms, murmuring soothing words in her ear. Hell, he’d buy an island if she’d stop crying. No wonder his friends always caved to their wives. A woman you care about crying was enough to rip a man’s heart out. “It’s fine Ruby; I’ll drink the juice. Only if you promise to drink a glass of water.”
She looked up at him and sniffled, completely unaware that her wild curls were even wilder thanks to his soothing strokes. “Are you being nice because I’m crying?”
He smiled at her. “I’m always nice.” That brought a smile to her pretty face. “Seriously though, Kemp said high blood pressure means you need to drink more water.”
She nodded and accepted the glass. “Thanks. These hormones are a bitch. I cried yesterday because an old lady said she liked my hair.” Her watery laugh was proof the crying jag had passed.
“It is a pretty great hair. Like a wine colored lion’s mane.”
Her green eyes widened, and her hands flew to her hair. “I’m a mess aren’t I?”
“Hell no. You look beautiful. When you’re not crying,” he added quickly to stop any new tears. “If you’d let me help you, I’d probably have a hard on already.”
She frowned. “You’re kidding, right? I’m as big as all of Los Angeles that you’re as likely to get a hard on as I am.”
Jackson’s smile grew brighter. “Care to wager on that?”
“It depends; do you have a weird fetish for pregnant women?”
He tossed his head back and laughed. Long and hard. It felt good to laugh so freely. “No, but I’m finding one pregnant woman pretty delectable these days.”
Ruby took a step back and found herself backed against the fridge. “You do have a pregnant lady fetish! Back up, Jack.”
That only made him laugh more. The darkening of her hypnotic eyes stopped his laughter quickly and darkened his own gaze. Damn she was a beauty. Hands on her hips, Jackson slowly dragged his hands up her waist and stopping at her breast. His large hands covered her breasts, cupped them and then ghosted up to her neck. “Tell me Ruby, what will we wager?”
She was breathless, mind gone to lust. “What do you want?”
Not so certain now
, he thought and gave her his sexiest smile. “That’s easy; I want to be around for you and our child. In my home.”
Her breath hitched. “You’re not serious,” her head fell back against the fridge as his finger traced the line of her jaw.
“Oh but I am, Ruby.” His chest swelled with male pride when she shuddered at his voice. “So what is it you want?”
“I-I-I want you to stop trying to run my life.”
“I’ll try. Is that all?” Jackson leaned forward, brushing a kiss to that spot just behind her ear. He couldn’t forget the way she gasped the first time his mouth touched her there.
Her palms were flat against his chest. “Stop. Backup. I can’t think when you do that.” She pushed, feeling a pang of regret when his mouth left her body. “You want to help? I’ll need help with everything for the nursery, putting it all together.”
“You got it. Anything else?”
Ruby shook her head. “You know damn well I can’t think of anything now,” she crossed her arms, glaring up at him.
Jackson smiled and grabbed her wrist, bringing her hands to his mouth and kissing each knuckle. He loved the way she gasped whenever his mouth touched her. With her hand now flat on his chest, he gently pulled her arm down until it rested on the bulge in his jeans. She gasped again. “See what you do to me when you’re not frustrating the hell out of me.”
Ruby groaned and hit her head against the fridge.
Jackson laughed.