Daisy's Choice (A Tale of Three Hearts) (45 page)

“
What time is it?” She managed to catch his hand from going further, not quite ready for another round.

Pete looked up at her. “What does it matter, baby?” he said in a husky voice, his eyes heavy-lidded with want and his thick cock rubbing up against her thigh as he tried once again to roll on top. Nina blocked by pressing her palms to his chest and locking her thighs shut. Thankfully, the message was clear. His blue eyes trained on hers. “How do you feel? Need something? I got breakfast.”

Pete fell on his back. With his arm behind his head, she had a clear view to his morning surprise. The table was set for an intimate breakfast for two. He had ordered the entire breakfast menu. Three domed dishes helped to hide a large carafe of orange juice, a stack of toasts, a basket of biscuits, a platter of sliced fruit and a fresh pot of coffee. “Pete?”

“
Don’t move. I’ll bring it to you. I’ll feed you and my son.” He winked and snatched back the covers from the bed.

“
Son?” Nina sat up, the sheet slipping from her breasts. She watched him, amused. Pete shuffled the dome covers, piling more food on her plate than her churning stomach would allow. As soon as the smell of eggs drifted to her, it was over. She was on her feet and running for the bathroom. She could hear him running behind her.

Nina dropped down hard on her knees, then retched, gripping the porcelain bowl. Her stomach muscles clenched painfully tight and her eyes watered. Pete stooped, hovering in close as his hand gently caressed her back. His face was nearly in the bowl with her.

"What should I do?”

She pushed back. The last thing she needed was to be crowded. She just wanted to breathe. She felt like she was on one of those tilt-n-whirl rides at the Hollow Creek Fair. Everything was spinning.

“
Salt. I need salt,” she burped, weakly pushing at his chest once more. He was gone in a flash. Nina flushed, got to the sink and managed to rinse her mouth. Pete was back. “Here, babe. What’cha gon’ do with it.”

She took the saltshaker and shook some over her hand and began to lick it while seated on the lowered toilet seat. Her eyes lifted to Pete who looked on curiously. She knew it was weird. “It helps,” is all she could say. Then the phone rang. Somewhere in the room, his or her cell phone rang. Pete looked back but didn’t move. He was still naked with a semi-erect member. She nearly laughed at the sight of him.

“
Go. I’m fine.” She waved him off and dropped her head back with a soft sigh.

****

Daisy pressed the cold rag to her face. She did have a fever. Tomorrow was the party, Janette was leaving and Magdalena was still MIA. Now she was sick. Today of all days. She considered delaying this test. She couldn’t. Wouldn’t. Then he finally answered.

“
Pete?”

“
Yeah. What is it?"

“
Test. I need you.” She hacked a coughing fit that had her bringing up phlegm and spitting in the toilet.

“
Daisy?”

“
Yeah, the test is today at the Mango Grove Children’s Hospital off of Pine Drive. In an hour. Okay? Ask for Dr. Macey.”

“
An hour, but—”

“
Just be there.” She hung up.

Daisy closed her eyes once more and again tried to swallow. Dropping the phone, she opened the cabinets digging for something. A half empty box of Alka-Seltzer cold tablets was the best she could find. She plucked a fresh rinse cup from the dispenser and filled it with water from the tap. Picking up the phone, she dialed again. The only way to get the test done and completed now was at the Children’s Hospital. You’d think a pediatrician would have a DNA test kit somewhere in his office.

Daisy dropped the tablets in the water watching the fizz and foam bubble up to the surface. God help her this day. It would be hard.

****

Aiden folded his paper. He sipped his coffee, his attention turning to the hovering executives. Morning had come at 4 am. A meeting with his staff who’d flown in to discuss the business he’d left unattended for over a week had just wrapped. Donovan chatted up a few, eyes constantly going to him.

He missed her
. How could he not? Last night he got the closest he has ever been to happiness. And now, in the midst of the things that had sustained him once, all he could think of was her awaking without him at her side. Aiden's visions of her sleep ruffled hair, caramel smooth skin, dark chocolate eyes and a nightgown so thin he could easily slide it from her body, followed him in and out of every meeting. He needed to see her, smell her and kiss her.

Aiden shook it off and tried to focus. He picked up the folder before him and read the lines on the spreadsheet. Maybe he should take them to breakfast. No, he would take them all to breakfast. Yes, he could call and offer.

The phone in his coat pocket vibrated. He smiled to find her number flashing on the display screen. “Ah…there she is.” He opened it, and pressed it to his ear. “Morning, Beautiful.”

“
Morning,” Daisy coughed.

Aiden’s brows drew together. He sat forward in his chair. “Daisy?”

“
Need you to meet me at Mango Grove Children’s Hospital off Pine Street in one hour. Ask for… ask for… ask—” she sneezed and sniffed. “Dr. Macey… the test… it’s time.”

“
Are you okay? You sound weird.”

“
No, I’m not.”

“
Then let’s not—”

“
Aiden, we have to. It’s time. Just go there. Okay?”

“
But—”

“
And Aiden, Pete will be there, so take the test but don’t start anything. I can’t take it today, seriously. Let’s just get this over with. We can have dinner tonight.”

“
I wouldn’t do anything.”

“
Right, of-course you wouldn’t.” He could hear the smile in her voice. “Just go. I’ll see you there.” She hung up.

Sick? She was sick? Aiden dropped the phone inside his coat pocket pushing the chair back. She wanted him to meet her in an hour. Maybe he should go to her house first and make sure she was okay. Either way, he agreed it was time to get this blasted test out of the way because it stood between him and the new life he desired.

“
A moment,” Donovan said, balancing on his cane as he wobbled forward to block Aiden's escape. “We need to speak.”

“
Not now.”

“
Now.”

Aiden paused. He looked back to Donovan. Years of friendship had given him liberties that no one else had. He tried to tolerate the old-man’s constant needling in the past weeks and he tried to understand that it came from a place of understanding that even Daisy didn’t have. But now his fuse was short, and he was beginning to see less of a need to have to try. “What’s on your mind, Donovan?”

“
We aren’t done. There are other matters.”

“
We’re done when I say we’re done,” he said, with his voice tight with restraint.

“
It’s about your new investment, Clara Andrews. Remember her?”

“
Clara who?”

“
Daisy Johnson’s old business partner. You paid her a small fortune to help destroy your girlfriend’s business.”

“
That’s not what I did.”

“
Close enough, according to Clara. She was the reason for its success.”

“
Bullshit. What’s the point?” he snapped.

Donovan smirked. Aiden hated that smug look in his eyes. He warned him against it, and Daisy hadn’t necessarily forgotten it all. Then there was Pete’s broad. He hadn’t quite worked out how he would handle it when Daisy discovered she was in town, thanks to him. Lately, he juggled more damage control issues with this relationship than he did with keeping the IRS off his books.

“
She’s looking to collect, Aiden. Very ambitious, that one is. Daisy wants to sell Jahi and Clara is holding tight to her remaining shares."

"What? I have her shares," Aiden snapped.

"She didn't sell all of them. She's also gone around me and submitted a new proposal to your board. It discloses details on the R.O.I, for
Serenity
. It’s actually pretty good.”

“
Wait. Back up to the part where she's trying to shake Daisy down."

"She knows your girlfriend is in a legal bind. She's an opportunist, like us Aiden."

"How is it she held on to shares and you didn't advise me of this?"

Donovan hesitated.

"She gets nothing, Donovan. Not a fucking dime."

"She's entitled—"

"To shit!" Aiden snapped. "That's Daisy’s company. Have her sign up documents that make it clear. And don't pay her anything else. The bitch has gotten all she is going to get out of the deal."

"Aiden, she went to the board. They like her. I like her. You need to meet with her and see what potential she has."

"I own the fucking board!" he shouted. The others gathered, all cast their eyes their way. Aiden didn't care. "Fix it, Donovan, and don't bother me with Clara Andrews again. Make her disappear.”

“
Aiden.”

“
Fire the bitch. I want the money back and her out on her ass.”

Donovan narrowed his eyes. “Why?”

“
Because she betrayed Daisy, and that bitch won’t work for my company in any capacity. Nullify the deal.”

“
She delivered on what you asked. She’s been paid. Think of the legal ramifications.”

“
You heard me!” Aiden lowered his voice. “Things are going good with Daisy; I want it to stay that way.
You want it to stay that way
. I've changed," he said, making his threat clear.

“
You've what?” Donovan asked.

“
Changed.”

Donovan smiled. “You have to be joking.”

“
I won’t have Ms. Andrews around my company upsetting Daisy. Daisy will run the Arizona deal. So get rid of her. Don’t act like you don’t know how.” He walked around Donovan who gripped his sleeve.

“
You can’t just throw people away, Aiden. That’s part of the problem and the reason you hired a man like me.”

Aiden lowered his gaze to the place of contact and Donovan released him.

“
Fine, I’ll take care of it. Care to tell me where you're headed now, in case I need to reach you?”

“
Mango Grove Children’s Hospital. It’s where the DNA test will be today.”

“
It's time to find out if ‘change’ is really needed,” Donovan said.

“
What does that mean?” Aiden asked.

“
There’s a chance she isn't yours.”

“
No chance, friend. This one is a sure thing. Amy’s mine. Daisy confirmed it last night.”

“
I see.” The skepticism in Donovan’s voice was the final straw. Aiden stepped in close, his face only inches away when he spoke. “Things are going to
change
. For instance, being the new man I am, I don’t think I will need your services as much.”

Donovan frowned. He stepped back on his cane, visibly shocked. Aiden smirked. “I think you might want to consider early retirement. Yeah, let’s have that talk when I return. Shall we?”

Aiden walked out, keys in hand. He felt taller than life.
Change was good, especially with the woman you loved
.

****

“
Mama. Mama?”

Daisy wiped at her nose. She’d chosen a large round pair of designer sunglasses to cover her red-rimmed eyes. Janette kept fussing with her, touching her forehead and offering her tissues. And Amy, from the moment they entered the hospital doors, had been clinging and cranky.

She couldn’t fault her child though. This was the same place where she had her shots just a month ago. Her memory was like a steel trap. She wanted to leave. For all the fussing and nagging the two of them pummeled her with, it was her cold that was most debilitating. Daisy felt trapped between feeling hot, then chilled, and an increasing need for air and space. She was so weary that her vision blurred several times, causing her to blink rapidly to remain upright.