Legally Bound (22 page)

Chapter Thirty Four

Y
esterday went much better than Bobby expected. It was today that had his throat closing with the thought of it. He had a mind to call it all off and give Paige the space and time she was asking him for. He just couldn’t, he couldn’t give up on them or his plan. If she needed another day he could still pull this off. He would just wait for her to let him know she was ready.

Bobby cracked the bedroom door and peeked in. Paige wasn’t in sight so he pushed the door open and walked in closing the door silently behind him. He moved quietly to the dresser to get something to change into. He had spent the night in the room he started the vacation in to give her the space she wanted.

“Babe,” Paige called from behind him as she stepped out of the bathroom.

Bobby silently cursed himself and turned holding the polo shirt he’d just retrieved. “Hey, I didn’t want to disturb you. I just needed to get a few things,” he explained.

Paige face fell and she looked at the floor. “Oh, um, oh okay,” she murmured.

“Paige,” Bobby said placing the shirt on the top of the dresser. “Are you ready to talk?”

“I thought you were coming back last night. I waited up as long as I could,” she said softly.

“Oh baby, I’m so sorry. Damn, I can’t seem to do anything right,” Bobby groaned and pushed a hand through his hair. “I thought you wanted more time. I slept in one of the other rooms.”

Paige walked over to him and tugged gently at the hem of his shirt. “I missed you,” she said coyly looking up at him through her lashes.

“I missed you, too.” Bobby wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her into him. “Paige, I know what it looked like the other night but it wasn’t that. She…”

Paige cut his words off with her lips as she lifted up on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck. Bobby felt all the tension release from his body. He took over the kiss getting drunk in the taste of her lips and her warm minty fresh mouth. He groaned into her mouth when her fingers tightened in his hair.

“You don’t have to explain,” Paige breathed as she pulled away. “Marie and Nathan told me enough and honestly I’m exhausted from talking about it. I should have trusted you from the beginning. I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Bobby replied as he pressed his forehead to hers. “I’m just glad we can move pass this.”

“Well I guess I need to start trusting you a lot more, since we are going to have a very long partnership ahead of us,” Paige beamed up at him.

Bobby pulled back as his brows knitted. He searched Paige’s face to see if someone had told her something. He was ten times more nervous now, thinking she was on to him.

“Relax,” Paige giggled. “I’m talking about becoming a partner at the firm. I decided that now is not the best time for me to branch off on my own.

“It is a great accomplishment to be offered Equity partner at a firm like Mairettie & Mairettie at thirty two and I’d be silly to leave. I wasn’t trying to make you propose. I can wait for you to be ready.”

“Wait, what?” Bobby said as his brows drew in tighter. “I thought I was waiting on you.”

“Nope, with all the drama I realized something. I know exactly what I want and I, Mr. Mairettie, want you. I don’t think I could live without you. So my mind is made up. You are no longer waiting on me, I Sir, am waiting on you,” Paige chirped.

Bobby pushed his fingers in her hair and drew her face to his. He kissed her deeply consuming her mouth and pouring all his love and admiration for her out into that kiss. His hands slid down her neck, over her shoulders, down her side and to her backside, where he splayed his hands lifting her off of her feet as he squeezed her tightly to him kissing her passionately. When he released her from the kiss Paige was breathless.

“I need to shower and change then I have something to take care of. Will you meet me by the deck later? I’ll text you to give you a time.” Bobby breathed against her cheek.

“Yes,” Paige nodded.

Bobby turned to collect his things from the drawers and turned to leave the room. Paige reached for his arm to stop him. She smiled up at him.

“You don’t have to leave. I’ve finished in the bathroom it’s all yours.”

Bobby nodded and bent to give her a chaste kiss on the lips. “I love you.” He whispered against her lips. Paige watched him as he strolled into the bathroom looking like her strong confident man once again.

Chapter Thirty Five

P
aige stood out on the deck waiting for Bobby. So many things were running through her mind. For one, she was trying to figure out how to tell him about the baby.

Now that so many others knew and she hadn’t told him she felt wrong, like she was betraying him. They’d become so close in such a short time and trust was important to both of them. Paige was suddenly really nervous.

She began to twist her fingers in the silky fabric of the babydoll dress she was wearing. Although her stomach was still flat she couldn’t keep herself from thinking that others could tell that she was pregnant. She’d worn the dress to hide her silly notion under. It was pretty and fell to her mid-thigh. Paige ran a hand over her hair to make sure it was in place. She left it down and put some curls in it so it would fall in loose waves.

Paige looked around the beach surrounding the deck for the millionth time wondering which way Bobby would be coming from. He’d told her to just stand here and wait. Paige’s eyebrows drew to the center of her forehead as she started to wonder where he had gone. He said he had something to take care of, just like yesterday.

Camille was lounging in the sunroom with a book and she had been with her yesterday, so Paige wasn’t too sure if his errands were work related. It wasn’t like him to be so vague about his whereabouts and actions. Paige sighed,
we have a lot to workout,
she thought solemnly. Placing a hand on her belly and smoothing it over her dress she gave a weak smile.

“If he doesn’t wants us we’ll still be okay,” she murmured to her unborn child.

Just then she started to hear a familiar sound coming in her direction. She looked in the direction of the sound and the corners of her mouth started to twitch. Paige’s mouth fell open as she realized what she was truly looking at. She threw her head back and laughed. This man would never cease to amaze her.

Bobby really meant it when he said he paid attention to everything about her. In her office she had a picture of herself mounted on the back of a horse with her arms wrapped around its neck, with a big smile on her face. Her dad had a friend with a ranch and he used to let her and her sister ride the horses all the time.

Paige remembered Bobby had asked her about the picture once and if she still rode. She gotten all starry eyed about the black stallion in the picture and told him she wished she still did. Charcoal, the horse in the picture was like a best friend to her.

In this moment, Bobby was riding toward her on a black stallion that look so much like Charcoal it brought tears to her eyes. Paige stood in awe as her man straddled the large animal looking every bit as controlled and confident as he was in a court room. His tall muscular body emitted such power, focus and determination, but it was the look in his eyes that made Paige’s cheeks warm. His heated gaze made her knees weak as he pulled the horse to a halt and dismounted before where she stood on the deck.

He was dressing in all white, white linen pants and a white short sleeve linen shirt. Paige took notice that his feet were bare. She quickly stepped out of her heeled sandals and rushed forward to take his outstretched hand. Bobby’s large hand engulfed her small one as he tugged her up against his chest.

“You look stunning,” he breathed against her lips before kissing her gently.

“Are you supposed to be my white knight,” Paige chuckled and wrinkled her nose at him.

“A man can hope and try,” Bobby said with a sheepish smile.

“Nice try, he’s beautiful,” Paige mused as she reached out and brushed a hand down the horse’s neck.

“Will you take a ride with me,” Bobby smiled broadly but Paige thought she could see just a bit of nerves in his eyes.

Had thing really gotten so bad that he would think she wouldn’t want to spend time with him? Paige bit her lip wondering if getting on the horse was such a good idea in her condition. When she didn’t answer right away and Bobby’s face began to fall and look panicked.

She shrugged off her worries and nodded. She knew she was only a few weeks along it should still be pretty safe as long as they didn’t ride too hard. Bobby smiled again looking relieved and reached for her waist to help her mount the waiting horse.

Once Paige was safely mounted on the horse Bobby swung up behind her. He placed one hand on the reins and splayed the other over her belly. Paige sucked in a sharp breath at the warm touch of his hand against her stomach. She felt like he was cradling their baby protectively without knowing there was even a baby to protect.

Paige pressed her back into his chest as he made a clicking sound and gentle nudge the horse to move forward. They started off in a slow trot and Paige marveled in the control she felt coming from Bobby as his muscles flexed around her. He brushed her hair away from her neck with his face and nuzzled the sweet spot behind her ear.

“I love the way you smell,” he planted a soft open mouth kiss against her sensitive skin and sent a shiver running through her.

Paige sank into his chest a little more. The sun was setting in the horizon casting a beautiful glow. The crystal clear water and white sand made the screen surreal and perfect. Bobby kissed her shoulder and she smiled.

Paige turned her face to look over her shoulder. Bobby pecked her lips and smiled. “This is so beautiful. Thanks you,” Paige smiled.

“Don’t thank me yet,” his words were so intense as he searched her face, for what Paige wasn’t sure, but she could see the wheels turn in his head.

Paige kissed his cheek and turned back to watch the sun setting. She wanted to commit this moment to memory. It may just be the last perfect moment they had together once he knows the truth. She felt the tears sting the backs of her eyes as she thought of losing him. As if reading her mind he tightened his hold on her.

“I love you,” he said in her ear.

Paige snuggled in his embrace. Closing her eyes she took in the feeling of the moment as horse picked up the pace beneath her. The wind blew her hair around them and the sound of the water slashing serenaded them.

Her heart swelled to know this man loved her. He’d gone through the trouble of getting a horse just to take her for a ride. Not just any horse either, but one that looked just like her favorite horse that he’d only seen in a photo.

Paige was so lost in the feel of the moment she felt when something changed in Bobby. His body went ridge and it seem that his confidence faltered. Paige hurriedly opened her eyes to see if they were in danger. Her eyes searched quickly but she found no immediate danger.

Scanning the beach once again, something just up ahead caught her eye. There were tiki torches lit a few yards ahead of them. There were other items in the sand that she couldn’t quite make out from the distance. When they were right up on the first of the torches Bobby slowed the horse down once again.

Paige took in the torches and the objects she couldn’t make out in the distance. They were roses, vase after vase of enormous bouquets of red and white roses. Paige focused more closely to see that there was something written in the sand and the roses were punctuating each word.

Will. You. Marry. Me.

Paige gasped as they rode past the final word. She felt herself shaking as the tears welled up and spilled over. Bobby wished he could see her face.

He noticed that her body was shaking but he wasn’t sure if that was a good sign. He turned the horse around to pace past his proposal in the sand once more. When Paige still made no sound or response, he turned the horse to make another pass. When Paige shook her head and her hands came up to meet her face, Bobby pulled the stallion to a stop.

“Baby,” he said anxiously.

Paige wouldn’t turn to face him so he dropped down from the horse and move to see her face. She lifted her head and he could see the tears and confusion on her face. She reached out for him to help her dismount.

Bobby helped her down from the horse placing her firmly on her feet. He then dropped to one knee, pulling the ring from his pocket. He looked up at her face search anxiously trying to understand what she was thinking.

“Paige, I love you so much. I’ve wanted to make you mine from the first time you made your way into the firm with your bright eyes and determination. I watched you go after everything you wanted and I secretly cheered you on.

“I never thought I would fall in love with anyone the way I love you. I can’t say that I’m surprised that it is you that I have fallen for. I want to give you the world, I want to love you, and I want so desperately to make you my wife.

“Paige, please, will you marry me?”

Paige wouldn’t even look at the ring. She kept her eyes on the man kneeling before her. She wasn’t expecting this.

She knew she told him she was ready to marry him but she thought she had time to tell him the truth and to sort things out. She should have known. This was Bobby after all.

He waited for nothing and went after what he wanted. As the tears slipped down her cheeks it hit Paige. She realized just how much she was really about to lose.

“I can’t,” she sobbed.

“What?” Bobby felt like the wind was being knocked out of him. Sure, he was nervous but he didn’t think she was really going to say no. Just this morning she said she was waiting on him. Was she second guessing their relationship?

“Bobby, I can’t. I love you and I would love to marry you but I haven’t been honest with you. I think you should know the truth before you make a decision like this. I have something I need to tell you,” Paige forced out through her tears.

Bobby dropped to both knees and rocked back on his heels. She couldn’t be about to tell him that she slept with Nate. That would be the only thing she could say that would keep him from going through with this proposal. Even then he wasn’t sure if he could walk away that easily.

Nathan wouldn’t do that to him. He would never cross that line. Nathan wouldn’t take her from him. He looked into Paige’s eyes pleading with her not say the words that would rip his heart out. He would lose two of the people he loved most if she said the words he feared she would say.

Paige watched as all the blood drained from his face. Bobby looked like he was going to be sick. She figured she might as well rip the band aid off quickly. She cupped his face in her hands and looked into his pleading grey eyes.

“I’m so sorry, Bobby. I don’t know how it happened,” Paige sniffled. Bobby winced at her words feeling like he was going to be sick. “I’m…I’m pregnant.”

Bobby looked at her not expecting those words to come out of her mouth. He let them sink in and thought about his father suspicions. He had been right.

She was carrying his child; his baby was growing inside her. His eyes fell to her flat belly and reached for her waist drawing her to him. He buried his face in her stomach and laughed.

Why on earth would she think he wouldn’t want to marry her after telling him this? He loved her so much and he planned to love their baby too. She had to say yes. He was going to be a father and she was the mother of his child.

“Say it again,” He rasped and looked up at her with tears in his eyes.

“I’m sorry. I …I wasn’t sure at first and then I tried to ignore it was happening. Then everything got out of control. If you don’t want to marry me…if you don’t want kids,” Paige trailed off.

“Baby, say it again,” Bobby repeated.

“I’m pregnant,” Paige said gloomily.

Bobby stood to his feet and pushed his fingers in her hair while still hold the ring box in his hand. He tipped her head back and kissed her deeply. “I know,” he laughed against her lips.

Paige gasped and pulled away looking up into his eyes. She couldn’t find the words to say. Was he proposing because he knew she was pregnant and he just want to do the honorable thing? Paige dropped her eyes to his chest.

“Is that why you are proposing?”

“Paige… no,” he said dubiously, “how could you even think that? I’m proposing because I’ve wanted to make you mine in every way I can. I…well dad figure out that you were pregnant when you fell ill last week. I suspected it once he pointed it out. I just wanted to give you time to realize it. I didn’t want you running from me.”

Paige snickered. “I didn’t know if you wanted kids. I thought you would be the one running.”

“No Baby, I’m right here. I want you and our baby and all the other babies we’re going to make together. I love you Paige Kemble. Will you please marry me? I can’t live without you or this little baby you’re carrying,” Bobby opened the ring box again then splayed his hand against her belly.

“Yes,” she squealed and flung her arms around his neck. Bobby lifted her off her feet and spun her in the air. Paige’s breath hatched. “Oh Babe, please put me down.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Bobby put her down and steady her. He beamed as it all came crushing down in a bliss filled haze. “We’re having a baby and you’re going to be Mrs. Mairettie. You don’t know how happy you’ve just made me.”

“Why don’t you put that ring on my finger and we can go back to the house and you can show me just how happy you are,” Paige teased with a seductive purr.

Bobby pulled the ring from the box and slipped it on her finger. It was the first real look Paige got of the ring and she staggered back a little at the sight. It was gorgeous. An asscher cut with baguettes on either side and smaller diamond surrounding the band and the center diamond.