Read Claimed: The Pregnant Heiress Online
Authors: Day Leclaire
Claimed: The Pregnant Heiress (18 page)
He closed his eyes. This was going to be far worse than he thought. “Emmaâ”
“Listen to me, Chase. Look at me.” She waited until he did. “The doctors you overheard discussing a miscarriage? I don't know who they were talking about, but it wasn't me. Since this is the prenatal section of the hospital, it could have been any number of women.”
He locked his jaw in place as he struggled to accept her words. “Youâ¦you didn't lose the baby?”
“I didn't lose the baby,” she repeated and smiled. Her smile was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. “She's fine. But they want to observe me for the next twenty-four hours to make sure it stays that way.”
Chase opened his mouth to ask another question, but something Emma said finally registered. “She?”
“Well, it's still a bit early to be certain, but the sonologist sounded fairly confident. Something about parallel lines being a girl and a dome being a boy. We have lines. Lots of lines.” She rested her head on his shoulder and wrapped her good arm around his waist, snuggling against him. “So do you want to discuss names first or should we talk about wedding dates?”
“Uhâ”
“Names it is. I'm thinking Penelope after your mother. We could call her Nell for short.”
Chase shook his head, dazed. “Nell?”
“Excellent suggestion.”
“Emma?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“How do you feel about getting married in a hospital gown?”
“I don't care what I'm wearing or where we marry.” She stole another kiss. “So long as it's to you.”
“I love you, Emma. And I swear to you we'll make sure that our future will have nothing to do with what we experienced in the past. We'll change it for the better. You'll see.”
“Of course we will. Because you're not your father and I'm not my mother. We'll make better choices.”
She'd given him the perfect answer. For the first time that day he allowed himself to fully relax. To embrace the sense of peace and joy and calm certainty that filled him. Finally, finally, finally he had everything he wanted in his life. Emma, the woman he loved, held safe and secure within his arms. Their precious daughter, still nestled safe within her mother's womb. And in a matter of days, a home. A real home.
A home in which to live out their dreams for a better tomorrow.
Special thanks and acknowledgment to Day Leclaire for her contribution to The Takeover miniseries.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-7933-3
CLAIMED: THE PREGNANT HEIRESS
Copyright © 2011 by Harlequin Books S.A.
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