All Good Things Exposed (30 page)

Jace sat down in the seat beside me, and the engine roared to life. "So," I tried to nudge the conversation, but Jace only looked at me like I had two heads, so I continued. "What 'us' things do you have planned, Mr. Rush?"

"Well, I was thinking we would go pick a cake."

"A cake?"

His eyes narrowed. "For our wedding - that is happening in two months."

I laughed. "Do we even have a venue?"

"Of course." He frowned. "My mothers house." He shifted and looked at me through weary eyes. "Are you all right with that?"

"Yes," I smiled, feeling the heavy lump in my throat again. My goodness gracious! My emotions really were wild! "I am so much more than all right with that."

He looked relieved. "Good."

"How many people do you think will be there?" I asked.

"How many do you want?" He asked seriously.

"I want a small wedding." My voice was small and cautious. What did he want?

"Me too." I looked up immediately to find his eyes on mine, and my stomach jumped, my throat feeling tight with emotion one again.

"Let's go taste cakes." I grinned. Suddenly, I was excited.

***

I'd tasted a Swiss Chocolate, Caramel, Raspberry Lemon and Lemon. My favorite was the lemon, but I could clearly see Jace liked the chocolate. He was boring like that.

"You like the chocolate one, don't you?" I asked with an accusing tone. Jace grinned. The shit-grin.

"You like the lemon." He threw back at me with a wink.

"You know me so well." I teased playfully. "But which will it be? Lemon or chocolate?"

"Hmm, I don't know." He looked to Roger, the man accompanying us in our cake tasting. "Should we try a few more?"

"Of course you should!" He started fluttering around. He didn't want to lose Jace's business. It was cute. "Here! This one is fabulous! The Cinnamon Swirl." He carried a sample to where we sat. "It's a divine cake for a fall wedding."

Jace waggled his brows. "Sounds delicious." I didn't know about this one. I typically liked cinnamon, but the thought of it made my stomach roll. I'd been feeling fine a moment before, so I shook my head and pushed the nausea down. I was determined to ignore it. This was a happy day! There was no time for the flu! Absolutely no time!

I watched Jace inhale the aroma of the cake and I smiled. "Smell good?"

"Oh," he nodded. "It does." He handed me the plate. "Try it."

I picked up my fork, determined to get through this tasting. I sliced a piece of the cake and brought it to my lips. The scent wafted to my nose and that was it. My stomach rolled. I dropped the fork and ran for the only garbage I'd seen before I hurled the contents of my stomach into the bin. Sweat broke out over my forehead as Jace rushed to my side, quickly gathering my hair in his hands. He rubbed my back and I shrugged him off. His hand on my back was too much. He was too warm. The sensation brought another burst of nausea over me and again, I emptied more of my stomach into the garbage. By the time I was finished, my legs were weak and I was humiliated beyond belief.

I reached for a napkin to wipe my mouth. My hands were shaky and I felt the onslaught of tears. "I'm so sorry." I apologized to the man who looked at his Cinnamon Swirl cake with large eyes. "I'm not felling well, obviously."

"We're going to the doctor." Jace said factually as he led me to the door. "You can bill my credit card. We'll take the Lemon cake."

"Absolutely." Roger nodded. Happy to still be in business despite recent events.

Jace led met to the Bugatti. "I don't need to go see a doctor, Jace. I'm fine. I probably just caught a bug."

"Exactly. And you should be treated correctly." He opened the door, pushing me gently into the seat before closing the door. As he walked around the car, I prepared my argument. But he didn't get in. Instead, I watched as he pulled his phone from his pants pocket and leaned against the door. I wished I could hear him talk and I had half a mind to open my door and listen, but I didn't.

Jace shoved his phone into his pants before lowering himself into the car beside me. I began. "Jace, I need sleep. I'm just stressed and tired. It's taking a toll on me."

"I know." His tone was clipped as he steered the car into traffic.

"So, we're going home?"

"Yes."

"Thank you," I breathed a sigh of relief as I rested my head against the headrest and closed my eyes.

"As soon as we meet with my doctor." Jace added.

My eyes popped open. "What?"

"We have an appointment with my doctor."

Okay, now I was angry. Why couldn't he ever listen to
me
? "I'm not seeing a doctor. I get sick like every human being on the fucking planet, Jace. And I never run to the doctor."

"You aren't every other human being on the planet, Olivia. You're my human being who needs to learn to watch her fucking language!" He roared. "I take care of what's mine!"

Oh, holy hell! I was so damned angry I was vibrating! I wanted to knock some sense into this ridiculously irritating man beside me, but I could do nothing more than grit my teeth and dig my nails into his insanely expensive leather seat. It was time for a new approach. "Jace, I am so exhausted. My legs feel weak, my head is pounding and I am becoming increasingly cranky with every minute that passes. This day has been the best and shittiest day of my life and I am so tired." I felt my voice croak. "I just want to go home."

His brows furrowed and I could see I'd gotten to him. Oh, thank God. The last thing I wanted to do was sit in the clinic, smelling the sterile scent it held. Gross. The thought made me want to toss my cookies. Never mind the real thing.

"If your legs are weak, I'll carry you. But we're going to see the doctor." He glanced at me with stern eyes. They were set in their decision. "He's expecting us."

I didn't say anything else. I was livid and I didn't trust my words. I thought it was best if I said nothing at all. I stared out the window as Jace made this turn and that turn, weaving the car through parts of New York I'd never seen before. This city was massive. There was so much to see, but I was barely paying much attention. If someone took me back to the start line and told me to get where I was, I wouldn't even know which direction to travel. My mind was on one thing. And that was my sudden animosity toward Jace. I was just so infuriated with him for never ever listening to me. And he expected me to listen to him constantly! It drove me nuts! Seriously, I was sitting on the ledge of insanity and I'd agreed to marry this man! Oh my…I was in for one hell of a ride.

"What are you thinking?" Jace asked.

I wanted to tell him to screw himself, but I didn't. "I'm not thinking about anything, Jace."

"You're angry."

"You think?"

He sighed. "I care about you. It's not normal for people to throw-up like that. Maybe you're allergic to something in the cake and if you reacted like that I think you should see a doctor."

"I know
you
think I should see a doctor." I was bitchy and my tone made sure he knew it.

"Olivia, enough." Jace reprimanded me. As thought I was a child.

"Oh, shut up." I hissed.

He placed his hand on my thigh and squeezed. Hard. "Ouch!" I slapped his hand. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Enough with your tone." He growled. "You're seeing a doctor so get over it." He pulled off the street into a parking lot. "We're here."

I folded my arms over my chest. "So, get out and go see the doctor."

"Olivia," his tone was low. I could hear the warning in it, but I chose to ignore it. "I will carry you over my shoulder. Don't test me."

I threw him a glare that would have stopped traffic. Even New York traffic! But he didn't even waver. With a heavy sigh, I opened the door and stomped to the clinic doors. Jace was beside me in an instant.

He opened the door and I walked through. "We're here to see Dr. David Bower."

My mouth dropped and my eyes widened. "Seriously! You called the doctor from the hospital?"

Jace nodded. "He's the only doctor I trust. This is his clinic."

I rolled my eyes and turned around to face Dr. Bower himself. "Hello again, Olivia." His eyes fell to the ring. "I see congratulations are an order."

I forced a smile. "Thank you."

Jace moved to my side, slipping his arm around my waist. "Lucky you, she's been spitting fire at me ever since I told her we were coming to see a doctor."

David smiled. "You must have forgotten to mention I was the doctor."

Jace scowled and I laughed. "He most certainly did." I decided to poke the wound a little harder. "I might not have put up such a fuss."

David laughed as Jace tucked me into his side tighter. He pointed his finger at Jace. "I told you from the beginning you were going to have trouble with this one."

Jace nodded with a grunt. "You did."

I nodded too. I was really quite proud of myself for finding a way to annoy Jace considering he'd annoyed me steadily for the last hour.

David shook his head, "Come with me." He looked to his receptionist who was watching the exchange with a funny expression. "I have her information on file already." He explained. We followed David through a long hall and passed countless doors before we made it to the one he planned to see us in. He opened the door and Jace guided me through. I'd never liked doctors. I didn't like anything about being in this room. I almost felt claustrophobic.

"Are you all right, Olivia?" David asked. I immediately felt Jace's eyes on my face, scanning. "You're pale."

"I'm fine thank you." I looked to Jace. "We're here because Jace thinks I have the flu and need to be looked at. When in reality, all I need is a hot bath, soup and bed."

"You might be right," David said. "But I'd like you to take a test. With your symptoms I think it's a good idea."

"What symptoms?" I asked. "I haven't told you anything."

"Jace told me enough." He smiled. "It's a precautionary test." He assured. "Nothing more."

"All right," I sighed. "I'm not good with needles so bear with me."

David smiled. "No needles for this one."

"Thank God." I made a show of wiping my brow in relief. David leaned back on his stool to open a drawer. He produced a long white stick. My heart stopped. There was no way that was what I thought it was.

"I'd like you to take a,"

I cut him off. "Pregnancy test?"

He nodded. "Yes. You're sexually active,"

Again, I cut him off. "I'm on the pill."

"Have you missed any?"

"No!" I shook my head. "I take them faithfully, I promise." Both men looked apprehensive. "I have them in my purse!"

"I believe you, Olivia." David said seriously and I felt my heart rate slow. Jeez, I didn't want babies. "But I'd like to rule it out."

I felt my eyes find Jace's and my heart leapt. His thumb went to work circling the knots out of my back. "Please take the test." He was asking nicely, but I wasn't fooled. If I said no, he would force me. I wouldn't put it past him to tickle me until I peed myself. "For me?" He set those blue eyes on me and I rolled my eyes. Those eyes could get any woman to submit to his will. I was not exempt from that fact.

I held my hand out. "You're both ridiculous. Give me the test."

He handed me the stick and pointed to a door. "The bathroom is through there."

I didn't say anything as I moved to the bathroom. It's been a little over a week since Jace and I had sex and before that it had been seven weeks. I've had my period in those seven weeks. And I was due for it in another two. There was no way I was pregnant. It was too soon. They were idiots and I would show them just how silly they were being when the test proved negative.

I sat down on the toilet and placed the stick between my legs. Flipping dummies! I was angry and embarrassed. I finished peeing and placed the cap back on the stick before setting it on the counter. I washed my hands and walked back into the room.

"I'm not pregnant." I said matter of fact. "There's nothing on the stick."

Jace frowned, but I ignored it as Dr. Bower took the stick. "We have to wait, Olivia. Haven't you ever taken a test before? Most women have this scare."

"No she hasn't." Jace's tone was gruff. "She's only been with me."

I blushed fire-engine red as David's eyes grew wide. Thankfully, he didn't comment. He set the stick on the counter and clasped his hands. "When's the wedding?"

"November twenty-third." Jace replied, his hand resting on my knees.

I couldn't take this. "When will that thing tell us? I'm tired and I want to go home."

David smiled gently as he reached for the stick. His brows raised and he looked back at us with a large smile. "Congratulations," he held the stick out to me. "You're pregnant."

About The Author

This is the second novel in the All Good Things trilogy. And I loved writing every little bit of it! Usually, there is a lag for me when I write, a week or so where no thoughts come and I have to just let it sit. But not with this novel! All Good Things Exposed was written in a short nineteen days! But I have to admit - my blog may have suffered at the expense as I was too wrapped up in writing this novel to blog much about anything. As a young author bent of fulfilling my dream of becoming a career storyteller - I sincerely thank everyone for reading this novel and I hope you are all just as in love with Jace and Olivia as I am!

Other Books By Alannah Carbonneau

The Curse of Bound Blood

Blood Red Roses

The Gateway Sin

All Good Things

You can find me at my blog at or even on Tumblr and Pinterest for more books, babbling, quotes and new releases!