Authors: Aliyah Burke
nonexistent swell of your belly. Not to mention the way his eyes landed
on you and didn’t want to move off, almost like he was trying to
commit you to memory again.”
He was watching me?
“I don’t know what to do. Sharon, I said I
was on birth control, and I was but….” Alexis ran her hand over her
face.
White teeth flashed against tan skin and Sharon drove through
the green light. “Must be a very,
very
potent man you have there.”
Rolling her eyes Alexis silently agreed. “Or it is proof positive you and
he were meant to be.”
Don’t know about that, Sharon.
“Hmm.”
“Girl, if I had a man like that looking at me like he looked at
you…damn. I wouldn’t be single, that’s for sure.”
Arching an eyebrow, Alexis said. “Sharon, you
aren’t
single.
You’re married.”
Sharon turned into the parking lot. “Oh, yeah. Hmm. Well,
don’t tell the hub I forgot, okay?” she replied with a wink as they got
out of the car and walked into the hospital.
The peach dress fit Alexis beautifully. It stopped just below her
knees and formed to her body, leaving nothing to the imagination. She
had matching heels on her feet that brought her a little closer to the
height of the man with her, but not all the way. Thick, wavy hair had
been left free to fall around her shoulders.
The man was dressed in a very nice dark gray suit. It was made
to fit his broad, muscular physique and accentuated all of his fluid
motions. As they walked to the table, his hand was settled comfortably
on the small of her back. They made a striking couple.
“I’m pregnant.” Alexis blurted out after they had been left alone
by the waiter. She stared across the table at the man and waited for his
response. Nervous fingers beat out a staccato rhythm on the linen
tablecloth.
Please don’t be mad. Don’t be angry or disappointed.
“How in the hell did this happen?” he growled in a low voice,
his thick hands clenching into heavy fists.
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Swallowing hard, Alexis took a sip of her ice water. “I think you
know how it happened.”
Eyes narrowed as the man tried to visibly relax. “Not what I
meant. What I meant was—” He fell silent as the waiter brought them
their breadsticks, not saying anything until they were by themselves
once more. “Whose is it? Who the fuck is the father?!”
C h a p t e r T w e n t y - T h r e e
Well, this is going swimmingly.
“Do you really need to ask that
question?” Alexis’s eyes glared into the ones across the table.
“Yes. Jesus, Lex. I thought you were on the Pill or something!”
His hands waved around in agitation.
She slammed her hand down on the table, ignorant of the stares
that fell on them at her action. “That’s none of your damn business. I
don’t need a lecture from you!”
“What? You were expecting me to be happy? You aren’t mar-
ried!”
The accusation stung. Big tears welled up in her profound eyes.
“Yes, I expected you to be happy. At least supportive. You aren’t
married, either.”
The man immediately stood up and crossed around to the other
side of the table, gathering her into his arms. “Alexis, honey, I’m sorry.”
After a kiss to her temple, he took his seat again.
With a shaky smile, her delicate hand reached across the table to
lie upon his. “I know. It came as a shock to me also.”
That’s putting it
mildly!
The man with her placed their dinner orders before returning to
their conversation. “Okay, so where does this leave us?”
“You know I love you, don’t you?” she said as her eyes thanked
him.
“I know. And I love you too.” He grinned. “A baby. When are
we due?”
“I’m ten weeks or about that. Can you believe it, Piers? A baby.”
Her voice was full of wonder.
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A dark-haired man watched the couple eat and rise to leave. Fol-
lowing on their heels, he, too left the fine establishment and headed up
the coast to a cabin along the beach.
Bursting through the front door, he shouted, “Scott! Scott, where
the hell are you man?”
“What do you want, Reeve?” came the growling voice from be-
side the big bay window. “I’m busy.”
Reeve Leighton walked into the living room and found his older
brother sitting where he always sat, by the window looking out at the
ocean. “The hell you are. I now know what is bothering you.”
Blue eyes cut over to land on his brother. “What do you think
you know?”
Reeve walked outside onto the deck, leaned against the railing,
and allowed his response to flow back through the opened door to his
brother. “Why didn’t you just tell me that you and that doctor of yours
broke up?”
Scott jumped up and swore as he settled along the rail beside.
“What are you talking about? Who said we broke up? And for that
matter, where the hell did you see her?”
Narrowing his eyes, Reeve looked out over the water. “I saw her
tonight. And from what I overheard, it is not any big surprise that you
have been so damn pissy lately. I mean you have been moody, but not
in a long time have I seen you this jumpy.”
“What are you talking about?” It was a demand for an answer,
not a request.
“That she is with a man and they are pregnant.” Reeve turned
his head and watched his brother’s reaction. The expression of anguish
on his brother’s face shocked him. Reeve felt bad imparting this to him,
but Scott was his brother and Reeve believed he had the right to know
everything.
Scott’s body grew rigid. “Look, I know you weren’t overly
pleased meeting her, but there is no reason to lie to me like that.”
“I’m not lying to you, Scott. She and this man—I can’t remember
his name right this second—were sitting there talking about her preg-
nancy and her being about ten weeks along.” Reeve clapped his brother
on the shoulder. “I’m sorry, man.”
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“What was his name?” Scott ground out between his teeth.
When Reeve didn’t answer right away, he shook his brother. “Damn it,
Reeve! What was his name?”
“It was, it was…Pete. No, Paul, no Piers. That’s it. Piers. She
was with a man named Piers.”
“Are you sure? Reeve, think very carefully and make sure you
are positive that was the name she called him.”
Reeve nodded, glimpsing the panic and relief fighting within the
blond man. “Yes, I’m sure. She called him Piers. They were very com-
fortable together and the affection was obvious.” Brown eyes watched
nervously as his brother took the news.
“Ten weeks,” Scott began to pace. “Ten weeks would be about
the time…the time along the cliff in San Diego area.” His eyes flickered
back and forth. “She would tell me, wouldn’t she?”
“What are you talking about, Scott?” Reeve asked as he watched
his brother warily. On one hand Scott was more animated than he had
been in a long time; but on the other, he was mumbling and acting
strange.
“I have to go!” Scott yelled to his brother as he ran back into the
house to grab the keys to his Corvette.
“Where are you going?” Reeve hollered back.
“Piers is her brother and that baby…that baby is mine!” He was
gone, leaving Reeve staring after him like he was an idiot.
In his car, Scott placed a call. Nodding as he hung up the phone,
his jaw set in a grim line. “I can’t believe she didn’t tell me I was going
to be a father!” Clenching his jaw, he shifted gears and sped off down
the interstate.
As he pulled into the lot of her apartment, he slid his car into a
spot and turned off the engine. He saw her vehicle there and, as he got
ready to get out of his car, Scott noticed Piers leaving the building. Still,
he waited.
The people who saw the muscular man get out of his car fell si-
lent as he passed. One look at him and there wasn’t a single person who
wanted to confront him.
His face, chiseled and handsome, was set in a determined line.
Eyes were trained on something that only he knew. The fabric of his
clothing, from the dark green shirt to the black BDUs he wore, molded
to his body, outlining the muscles that were so obvious even in the
partial light from the lampposts surrounding the parking lot.
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Each and every inch of him screamed
warrior
. His strides were
sure and dogged as he approached the main door. Men stepped out of
the way and women found their breath caught in their throats. It was an
amazing sight to see his raw power and unwavering focus.
Single-minded purpose took him up the stairs to the third floor,
immediately striding to the door that said 3B on it.
Opening the door in answer to the fierce pounding, Alexis
found herself looking at the man who never seemed to be far from her
thoughts. “Yes?” she queried, trying to ignore the erratic beating his
presence caused in her heart.
Scott just stared at her, making Alexis feel self-conscious. Her
hair was piled high on her head; she wore a cut-off sweatshirt and a
pair of black shorts. He took a deep breath and his eyes dragged closed.
“What do you want?” she asked further. The sooner he stated
his business, the sooner he could leave.
Not that I want him to, but it
hurts to see him like this and not touch him.
“Marry me,” he blurted out.
Shocked, her eyes grew wide. “Excuse me?”
“Marry me.” His eyes stared straight into hers.
If only you knew how much I want to.
“What are you doing here?”
Alexis asked, ignoring what he said.
Bracing his hand on the doorframe, he leaned in closer to her.
“Invite me in,” he purred.
What if he finds out about the baby?
“You can only stay for a short
time. I’m exhausted and need to get some sleep. I have a very long day
tomorrow,” Alexis announced as she swung the door open wider to
allow him into her sanctuary.
“Why did you ignore me in Norfolk?” He waited while she shut
the door before he took a seat.
Sinking down onto her couch, Alexis tucked her legs under her.
“I gave you the proper respect, Commander. What do you want?”
“Marry me,” he said again.
“Haven’t we already discussed this?” Her voice was tired.
Scott didn’t answer her. Instead, with one swift and smooth
movement, he rose from his chair and plucked Alexis off the couch
before striding down the hall to her room.
“What are you doing?” she asked as her body instinctively
molded to his.
“Shut up, Lex. Just shut up.”
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Aliyah Burke
Opening the door to her room, he held her with one arm as his
other jerked back her satin sheets before he laid her upon them.
“Get some sleep, my healer. I will be here in the morning and
we will talk then.” he said, brushing a hand over her face.
“There is nothing to talk about,” she slurred as her body sank
gratefully into the mattress.
“Yes, there is.” He was unable to stop touching her.
“No, there’s not. I’m not getting married. That hasn’t changed.”
He brushed a tender hand over her forehead. “Sleep now.”
The next morning, Alexis opened her eyes slowly. She had
learned that if she did anything quickly in the morning it would send
her straight into an ocean of nausea. Her eyes moved around her room
and she realized she was alone.
Funny, she could have sworn Scott had been here last night. Sit-
ting up she swung her feet over to reach the floor.
Oh, well, it was just a
dream.
So thinking, she went to take a shower and start her day.
Twenty minutes later, she stumbled out of her bathroom, still damp
from her shower, wearing nothing but a silk bathrobe.
“When were you planning on telling me?” the voice reached her.
Why am I not surprised to find you really
are
here?
“Telling you
what?” Alexis opened her closet and pulled out a loose-fitting summer
dress.
“You can’t be serious?” Scott demanded as he plunked himself
down on her bed as if he belonged in it with her.
Alexis met his gaze before turning and walking to her chest of
drawers where she pulled out a matching set of undergarments. “Look,
why don’t you just tell me what you are doing here? I’m sure your
blonde woman is missing you.”
Since her back was turned, she missed the predatory and arro-
gant grin that crossed his face. “She doesn’t mean a damn thing to me,”
he purred.
Alexis jumped because his voice was now right in her ear.
“Whatever.” She tried to sound nonchalant.
Strong arms placed themselves on either side of her, effectively
trapping her against the dresser. “We will deal with that later. When
were you going to tell me we were having a baby?”
Her head dropped against the smooth wood. Alexis knew it was
pointless to try and deny it. There was pooch of her belly now. “How
did you find out?”