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I cup his face, and in that moment I want to just tell him, but his birthday is so soon, and I want this to be good for him. I want Debbie gone and she will be in a week. We’re going to make sure of it. “The doctor said this could linger for a while. I had bloodwork done. We know what this is.”
“Olives did this?”
“I’m pretty sure olives didn’t do this,” I say, almost laughing at the idea that olives got me pregnant because I’m a little giddy right now. “Let’s go to bed.”
He stands and pulls me to my feet and then scoops me up and carries me to the bed because Reese really is my hero. I didn’t think I needed a hero, but he proved me wrong. He pulls the blanket over me. “Where are your pills?”
“Kitchen. That’s why I didn’t take them.”
“I’ll get them.”
“No. You need to sleep.”
He ignores that plea and takes off. A few minutes later, he’s kneeling in front of me and hands me a pill. I lean up and he opens a bottle of water for me. “Thank you,” I say downing the water and pill. Reese kisses my nose, and then stands up. He climbs into bed, pulls me close, my back to his front. “Next time, you wake me up. I’ll wake up anyway. I know when you’re gone.”
I shut my eyes and smile. He knows when I’m gone. That’s a pretty great thing to say and I drift easily into sleep.
The next thing I remember, I’m waking up and Reese is gone. I sit up and look at the clock, freaking out at the time. I should have been up half an hour ago. I race to the bathroom and Reese is already downstairs. He let me sleep, he knew when I wasn’t in bed, yet I didn’t know when he left. That feels horrible.
I hurry to take a shower, and I’m dressed and done with my routine in half my normal time, thanks to waiting on my coffee until after I’m dressed. I’m about to exit the bathroom and I look down at my belly in the navy blue dress and my belly looks distinctly rounder. I consider it a moment and decide I’m the only one who will notice. Well, me and Reese. I’m not sure I’m going to make it until his birthday without telling him. He’ll know I’m not eating, I’m sick, my stomach is rounder. Maybe he’ll think it’s the illness. Thankfully I’m fine right now, probably because Reese made me take my medicine. With my purse and briefcase in tow, I head down the stairs with a deep need to see my husband that nags at me. I don’t want to lose him and I don’t even know why I have that thought right now. It’s hormones. I’m not going to lose Reese.
I reach the lower level and stop at the bottom of the stairs when I hear male voices I recognize from the kitchen. “One week,” Royce says. “That’s fast.”
“Cat wants this over,” Reese says. “I want this over for her.”
“The DNA test will have to be on me,” Reid says, “but fuck, man, this woman does not deserve your million dollars. Let me tell her a low figure up front and the rest after the DNA test. We know the DNA test won’t come back as yours. That cuts your losses. If you and Cat are willing to let it go public, let me try to save you money.”
“My brother, Blake,” Royce says, “is one of the best hackers in the world, literally. That’s why he gets paid the big bucks. He’s been out of the country on a job with the military and I couldn’t get to him. He’s back tonight. If anyone can get dirt on Debbie or her partner in crime to shut this down, he can.”
“Then Reid,” Reese says, “don’t lowball Debbie to the point that she goes public before Blake can work his magic for us.”
“The way to drag this out is to have you agree to a meeting, but tell her you can’t do it until next Saturday because of the trial,” Reid says.
“I’m not meeting Debbie,” Reese replies immediately. “My wife is not going to have to go through that.”
“I’ll show up in your place,” Reid offers. “I get it. I don’t want Cat to have to go through that either.”
“If you’re meeting her, do your thing,” Reese says. “I promised Cat we’d end it this week and I have a trial. I need to just give you both that perimeter and have you make it happen. And this is a solid deadline. Cat’s sick and I’m not positive stress isn’t part of it. I need to make this happen.”
“Cat’s sick?” Reid asks. “How sick?”
“Asleep in the bathroom floor last night sick,” he says. “I need to end this for her and us.”
I’m sure Royce is cringing right now and that, along with the deep worry in Reese’s voice has me hurrying down the hall and stepping into the doorway of the kitchen.
“I heard everything you just said,” I say. “I’m not a delicate flower. I’m sick, yes, and sure this upsets me, but I think the longer we drag this out the more empowered Debbie becomes and the more agitated thus likely to go public. So yes, a week is our goal, but if it takes a few more days, I’m fine.” I glance at my watch. “I have to get to court. I’m watching a trial today and the defending counsel is standing in my kitchen when he should be on his way there, too.”
Royce clears his throat. “I’ll be in touch.” He walks my direction and gives me a tiny nod before walking on by.
Reid does the same but he stops. “Tough cookie, my sister, but that’s no surprise to me. We’ll get it done.” He steps past me and leaves.
Reese stays at the island, waiting on me, and I battle this feeling of betraying him by not telling him I’m pregnant. He thinks I’m sick. I can’t tell him now before court but I need to think long and hard today about my birthday present. I cross to stand in front of him, my hands settling on his chest. “Let’s go win the day.”
He cups my head and kisses me. “You are a tough cookie.”
“Tough enough to kick your ass if you don’t get focused.”
His cellphone buzzes with a text, he grabs it and glances at it. “Dana sent me a text she copied from the boyfriend’s phone this morning and this just got interesting.” He grabs his briefcase. “Come on. I’ll tell you about it on the way to court.”
