The Baby Contract (The Billionaire Bachelor Series) (19 page)

All Abby could give was the color of the car, but not the make or model.
A silver car…
Recognition nagged at the back of her mind but she couldn’t place the reason why. The driver must’ve been drunk, she reasoned. Or one of the angry husbands or boyfriends they had to watch out for. The headlights hadn’t been on and it seemed the car had waited for her to step into the street. Abby certainly didn’t have anyone out to get her. Jeff had moved to Washington shortly after they’d split up and he’d served his time in jail.

While Abby waited in the emergency room, Lupita appeared. She’d called her friend for a ride home.

“My God, girl, I’ve never been so scared in all my life when you called.” Lupita grasped her hand. “You sure everything’s fine?”

The steady rapid staccato of the heart monitor attached to her stomach filled the room. The doctor had assured Abby that the baby appeared healthy and unstressed. She wasn’t bleeding, and outside of feeling wiped out, Abby felt okay.

“Yes, they gave me a clean bill of health.”

“Good.” Lupita stared hard into Abby’s eyes. “Then tell me, how the hell did you get pregnant and who the hell is the father?”

Abby dropped her gaze from her best friend’s, feeling incredibly guilty she hadn’t told her the story. Doing so had felt awkward, even with her friend of five years. She looked around, not wanting prying ears to hear.

“It’s a long story,” she began, but the rest stuck in her throat.

“I’d say so, because the last I knew, you were single and not looking for a man.”

“They’ll release me here in a bit. Let’s talk at my place, okay?”

Her friend let out a frustrated snort, but had to comply.

Lupita drove her home an hour later, and as soon as Abby locked the door behind them, Lupita started firing questions.

“Who’s the daddy? Why didn’t you tell me, Abby? Do you know who the father is? Of course you do, ignore that.” Before Abby could answer any of them, Lupita grabbed her in a tight hug. “I love you. Don’t you dare scare me like this again.”

Abby hugged her back with all her might, needing the comfort. They walked to her couch.

“I’ll make some coffee, decaf,” Lupita said after Abby sat down. She walked into the kitchen, giving Abby a minute to collect herself.

Lupita was good practice on how to tell the rest of the world she was pregnant with Liam’s child. God knew it’d take a lot of convincing. Who’d believe such an outrageous tale?
Sure, Abby, Liam Whitmore III’s baby. The Takeover Tyrant and Austin’s most coveted bachelor…

Lupita rejoined her on the couch. Abby took her hand, needing the grounding contact.

“So who’s the baby daddy? Don’t tell me, let me guess. Liam?”

Abby’s mouth fell open as she ogled her friend. Lupita’s smile drifted downward, and she looked puzzled.

“How did you know?” Abby sputtered.

Lupita adopted Abby’s slack-jawed look. “I was joking. Oh my God, it’s
Liam’s
?”

Abby spilled the whole story—the contract, Aspen, and even the worst part, getting her heart involved in the whole mess. Her friend remained mute, her dark eyes full of concern.

“Oh, Abby, I’m so sorry.” She pulled her close and rubbed her back. And per Abby’s daily pregnancy ritual, she had her reason to shed tears.

The aroma of brewed coffee filled the room. Abby’s stomach lurched, and she shoved away from Lupita and staggered into the bathroom.

“I’m running to the store to get you some candied ginger,” Lupita said from the doorway. She grabbed a washcloth and dampened it beneath the faucet before handing it down to Abby who cuddled with her toilet. “I chewed a piece whenever I felt sick and it helped. I’ll also grab some lemons—slice one and smell it whenever you feel like you’re going to vomit.”

Abby nodded, grateful for her friend’s thoughtfulness.

“When I get back, we’re going to have a serious discussion over one Mr. Liam Whitmore. Like hell he’s going to hurt my friend.”

Lupita disappeared, and Abby heard her front door open then close. She closed her eyes and leaned back against the cool porcelain of her bathtub. The silver car reappeared in her thoughts, and then the memory of the strange silver car that she’d seen on her street the day Liam had asked her to the formal dinner. For some reason her mind wanted to tie the two together. Silly, of course, because surely the two were unrelated.

Chapter 21

“I believe you’re a reasonable man, Liam. Quite reasonable.”

“I am a reasonable man but not a gullible one,” Liam replied. Richard Bona was the last person he wanted to deal with. “There is a difference, Richard.”

Richard’s laughter on the other end of the phone had Liam’s blood pressure rising. Liam took several deep breaths, refusing to let the obnoxious man get under his skin.

“All I’m askin’ is for you to come by and talk things over. Face to face. Now I’d come over there, but seeing as how I broke my leg last week, I think the civil thing to do is for you to come to me.”

Richard was trying yet again to make a bargain for Whitmore. This time,
this time
, come hell or high water, he’d make it clear Whitmore wasn’t for sale. “I’ll be over this afternoon.”

Liam ended the call and leaned back in his chair, spinning around to stare out at the Austin view. A month had gone by and he hadn’t heard from Abigail. A whole month of him stewing over every word that’d passed between them the last time they’d spoken. He’d buried himself in work—long, long days of work that stretched into the early morning hours.

Exhaustion clouded his mind, his emotions still raw when he remembered Abigail’s hurt face as she’d confronted him about the purchase of the Double H. It’d been the greatest test of his resolve to stay away from her and respect her wishes.

His dreams were filled with her supple and eager body, and his waking moments her sweet voice and expressive eyes. Every second of every day was tainted with Abigail, like a hot madness that’d seeped into every pore.

He’d sent her paperwork to sign, placing the Double H in Abigail’s custody until the child turned twenty-one. She’d sent him copies and that’d been the extent of their association. His mother gave him updates on Abigail’s welfare. She was doing well, though she looked tired. Tidbits Liam feasted on and replayed for days on end until he received another update.

Liam closed his eyes, shutting out the clear blue sky through the windows which only reminded him of Abigail’s gaze. He hadn’t truly appreciated the term
heartache
until he’d experienced it firsthand. When he opened his eyes he looked at the clock on the wall and decided to get his meeting with Richard over with.

Traffic was heavy and the drive took him longer than he’d anticipated, only worsening his mood. Once he arrived, he was shown into Richard’s office by a polite receptionist.

“Mr. Bona will be with you in a few minutes. Please, make yourself comfortable. Can I get you something to drink? Coffee or scotch?”

“No thank you,” Liam answered sharply. He then gave the receptionist an apologetic grin.

The woman nodded and he was left alone. Liam eyed the room. A huge mahogany desk dominated the space, while leather chairs and a matching couch made up the rest of the furniture. A Tiffany lamp sat on a table against the wall, casting the room in a warm glow. Ostentatious. Liam scowled. A man’s personal area shouldn’t throw his wealth in another’s face. That had been his father’s belief, and Liam shared it. It was a waste.

A thread of gold glittered against the deep brown leather of the couch cushion. Curious, Liam walked over to investigate. Sticking out from between the cushions was the end of a necklace. He pulled it out and let it dangle in the air. Liam sucked in a hard breath as disbelief shot through him like ice water. A tiny heart charm suspended from the delicate gold chain, and when he studied it closer he could see the clasp needed to be repaired. He knew this necklace.
Abigail’s necklace.

Why the hell was it in Richard’s office? Liam ground his teeth until his jaw ached while possible scenarios played out in his mind. Richard had spoken with her at the dinner. What had he said to convince her to come to his office? Suspicion and jealousy clouded in on Liam, leaving a sour taste in his mouth. She wouldn’t see him, but she’d make time to visit his company’s biggest rival?

He heard Richard’s booming voice outside and he stuffed the necklace into an inside pocket on his jacket. Richard hobbled in, balanced on crutches, his receptionist close by.

“Liam, my man, how are you?” He shoved his hand forward and Liam accepted it in a firm grip.

“I’m pretty damn tired of wasting my time, Rick.”

Richard hobbled over to his desk and sat on its edge, setting his crutches to the side. He smiled broadly. “I’m a patient man. A very patient man, and one who believes that someday you’ll see reason in the matter.”

Liam shoved his hands inside his pants pockets to hide his clenched fists. He wanted to know why Abigail had been in his office, but kept his tongue. A sick feeling had settled deep in his gut after finding the necklace, and he needed to examine it alone and without distraction.

“This is the last time, Rick. I’m done with this. I don’t want to hear from you again.” Liam turned on his heel, ready to leave, needing out of the suffocating office.

“I fell down the stairs at my vacation home, if you can believe that,” Richard said with a chuckle. “Did a real number on my leg, broke it in two places. Luckily, I had a nice little nurse to take care of me. Got her for a good price too.”

Liam’s blood rushed in his head as anger tested the restraints of his temper. He squeezed his eyes shut, taking several deep breaths. God knew he didn’t need an assault charge.

“I hear you’re expecting. I want to extend my congratulations to you, Liam,” Richard continued on, seeming oblivious to Liam’s barely contained fury. “A fine young lady indeed, and quite the looker. I enjoyed meeting her the night of the dinner. I think we hit it off. Now I’m not one to pry, but a pretty young thing like that...I’d be sure to keep her close. A lot of eyes were on her that night. Quite a few.”

Liam felt his knuckles crack as he clenched them into tighter fists, still hidden in his pockets. He didn’t turn to face Richard, or acknowledge the statement; he didn’t trust himself to do so. He stormed out.

The drive back to the office was hell as he ran through his mind why Abigail’s necklace had been in Richard’s office. Suspicion twisted tighter and tighter until he couldn’t breathe with it. Once inside his apartment his anger exploded. He swung his fist, driving a hole into the wall with his knuckles. The pain faintly registered in the back of his mind as he stormed the length of the living room and back again.
Got her for a good price too.
What the hell was Richard insinuating? He was a wealthy man, and had a lot in common with his old man, including extramarital affairs.

No, he wouldn’t believe that of Abigail. He couldn’t, because God, it hurt in ways he couldn’t describe. It hurt down to the marrow of his bones. He stopped his pacing at the window and stared out over the city landscape. The day had drifted into early evening. His knuckles began to throb, and when he looked down, he was surprised to see them bloodied.

“Damn it.”

He went to the bathroom and cleaned them up before he went back to examine the hole he’d left in the wall. Liam felt ashamed. He was no longer in control of his emotions. The hardened interior he’d worked on for most of his life had softened. Everything would suffer—his personal life, Whitmore Incorporated, his business deals.

Yet as he returned to his window and stared out to the world beyond, he realized how difficult it would be to find the old control he’d once had. A perfect structure he’d carefully built over the years, but now the whole thing was gone. Within him he only held onto the remnants. His anger was spent and in its place was the gaping hole in his life he couldn’t ignore. Not any longer. Liam knew if he focused on it, he’d waste away in misery, and it terrified him.

What could he do about it? He rubbed his hands over his face knowing only one thing would fix the problem. Only one beautiful woman could make him whole again, but he had hurt her. She deserved more than he could ever give. And so did the child he’d left her with, because what did he know about fatherhood? If he stepped into the role what were the chances he’d fall into the habits of his own father?

Liam stared out over Austin, left alone in a city of almost a million people.

Chapter 22

Abby had to work hard to keep her emotions under control while she made her nursing rounds. When she pulled up to Caroline’s drive, she cut the engine and stared at the familiar and unassuming home. She cursed Liam for the millionth time, especially now. She dreaded seeing Caroline, her favorite patient. One of the nicest people she knew, and she hated the idea of climbing out of her car, walking to her door, and being greeted by a pair of kind eyes that were so much like her son’s.

Today she was going to tell Caroline about the baby. Whether or not Liam had any plans of doing so, Abby didn’t care. She wanted Caroline to know, and Abby wanted her child to know its grandmother. Its only grandmother. It was fair for both Caroline and the baby.

Abby hadn’t yet told her own family, having decided it’d have to be done face to face. She’d make the drive up to the ranch the coming weekend and let them know the news. The idea alone left her trembling with nervousness. Liam’s mother was definitely easier to approach than her father. Especially since Liam had stuck his nose into ranch business.

“Oh God.” Cold sweat broke out on Abby’s brow. Nausea welled up. The wretched morning sickness had worsened over the last few days, mixing with her anger, making life more miserable. Abby reminded herself the sick feeling would subside, and in a few months she’d have an infant in her arms, making the misery worthwhile. A small price to pay to have something so precious and beautiful. She couldn’t help but grin as warmth filled her heart. Liam’s betrayal had hurt, but at least the life growing within her womb acted as a balm to her heartbreak.