Polar Opposites (In Aeternum Book 4) (37 page)

She left his office and walked outside into the early June New York weather. The car she’d arrived in waited. She slipped into the passenger seat and shared a look with the driver. He immediately left, taking her back to the airport.

Bailey dozed on the plane ride and when she landed, she drove fast to make it in time for the ceremony. She stepped into the auditorium and listened to the names of graduating students being called. Working her way up, she stood along the back wall with some of the other overflow attendees. Ten students after she arrived was Ross.

She put her fingers in her mouth and whistled, cheering him on. He lifted his head and saw her. His smile was blinding and she knew if she could find his father in the gathered crowd, his smile would mirror Ross’.

The principal stepped up to the microphone before dismissing the class and said, “We have a very special award to give to one of our graduates. All of you know, our physics teacher, Mr Wheeler, got sick earlier this year and his replacement, Dr Vinokourov, will be presenting this award.”

Bailey crossed her arms and watched as Ivan strode up to the podium. He looked dashing and sexy even wearing the robe as he did. She knew what lay beneath it.

“It has been my honor and pleasure to teach physics at this school. I spent my time here surrounded by wonderful people and a tight-knit community. I wasn’t a stranger for long. The physics department held some tests throughout the year that were utilized to identify those with an extreme aptitude for the subject. We found one. Ross Collins, please come up here.”

The place exploded in cheers and they stood as Ross walked back up to the stage.

Ivan smiled at him. “Don’t look so worried, you’re not in trouble.” Laughter moved through the room next. “It is with great honor that I am able to extend this to you. I’ve known how you struggled to figure out what school to attend and that you’ve sent out some applications. In my hand I have here not only your acceptance but your full-ride scholarship to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.” He held it out. “Congratulations, Mr Collins.”

If the cheer had been loud when Ross had been called back up, now it deafened. The amount of support and love poured through the room as they whistled and called his name.

Ross shook Ivan’s hand and waved before departing the stage to another standing ovation. Bailey waited in the wings as the ceremony concluded and all the hats were tossed in the air. The party spilled outside as the new graduates hugged, took pictures and cried with friends.

She found Ivan off to the side and she slipped her arms around his waist. “Hey,” she whispered.

“You did make it. I was afraid you wouldn’t be back in time.” He turned and kissed her.

“I wouldn’t miss this. Look at you, beaming like your own children were up there.”

Their eyes locked and she saw the desire in his.

“They are mine, in a way. I’m very proud of them.” He placed his hands on her hips bringing her in close. “I wouldn’t mind having some of my own.”

“I think you would be a hit. The man who gave birth.”

“With you, woman. With you. How’d your talk go with McNeal?”

“I’m still under him but he’s going to steer clear of me for a while. He also said Lynn was his daughter, so I guess I now have a cousin.”

“Are you okay with that?”

“Not anything I have a say in. It’s how it is.”

“I have to admit, for a while I thought he was your father.”

“I’d wondered that too, but when I realized he was my uncle it made sense.”

He grumbled in Russian and she tugged on his robe to get his attention.

“What?”

“How soon can we leave?”

“Hot and bothered by looking at me in this robe?”

She laughed. “Yes.”

Someone called for him to get a picture and he stepped back. “Soon, I’m sure.”

“Good,” she replied. “I was thinking we could practice making children.” With a wave, she left him there, standing staring at her.

* * * *

Santiago, Chile

Seventeen months later

Bailey stood on the balcony of the apartment. Ivan was supposed to be home soon and he would see what she’d been doing all day. She’d arrived back from a mission two weeks ago and was recouping.

She watched him park his bike then stride to the door. She remained where she was, waiting for him to enter.

“Hey, babe, I’m… What is going on here? Bailey?” He appeared at her side. “Why have you packed the place up? Would you look at me?”

She did. The sun glinted off his blond hair and made his tanned skin appear golden.

“We’re moving.”

He blinked and stared at her. “We’re moving? You love this apartment. Why are we moving?”

She captured his hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it. “I’m pregnant.”

His eyes grew wide then a grin followed. “Are you sure? How far along? Why didn’t you tell me? When did you find out?”

He dropped to his knees and pressed a kiss to her stomach.

“Stop,” she said. “I’ve known since I got back. I didn’t tell you because you’ve been stressed about your work. The one night I had planned to tell you”—she shrugged—“you fell asleep before dinner was even done cooking.”

“I’m so sorry,” he said, staring up at her. He pushed to his feet with a frown. “You’re not going out again.”

She didn’t mind his demand. “I’ve told McNeal, he knows. Until the child is born, I’m not active anymore. I picked a place still close to where your lab is but it’s got more room.”

“I don’t know what to say, Bailey.”

“Just tell me you’re happy.”

“More than you can ever know.” He kissed her, long and drawn out until she sagged into him. “One more thing.”

“Uh-huh.” If he kissed her like that again, she’d agree to damn near anything.

“We’re marrying before this child arrives.”

“Whatever you want.”

“I want you,” he muttered before he slanted his mouth over hers again.

She succumbed to the need and the love she had for him. Wrapping her arms around him, she smiled when he lifted her. He stopped once she lay on the bed and stared into her eyes.

“I love you, Ivan.”

“I love you, too, Bailey.”

As he slowly undressed her, she wasn’t sure what their future would bring but she was all in. He was the one who made her life worth living, despite their differences. As he slid inside her, she held him as tight as she could. He was hers. From now until eternity. What more could she ask for?

Also available from Totally Bound Publishing:

What’s her Secret?: Preconception

Aliyah Burke

Excerpt

Chapter One

“I need your help, Carolyn!”

Carolyn Trufant nearly dropped the crystal vase she was filling in the sink. “What’s wrong, Jasmine?”

Cars honked. People yelled. The sounds of a busy metropolis’s downtown reverberated through the phone line.
Where is she?

“Help me, please!”

She set the vase down, struggling to hear and decipher the rest of what Jasmine was saying. “I can’t hear you.”

“…meet me, please.”

“Jasmine?” Her voice rose a few notches. “Where do you want me to meet you?”

“Come down to Atlanta,
please.
Meet me where I told you I first visited when I got here. At ten p.m. please, tomorrow. I’m…really scared.” The call went dead.

Shit
. Carolyn’s hands shook like leaves in a stiff breeze. She hung her head and tried to control her racing, out of control emotions.

What could she do? What
should
she do would be a better question.

I have to help her. There’s no way I am going to lose her after just finding her.

Caro stroked a finger along the silken petals of the flowers she’d received moments before her sister had called. She loved the variety in the mixture of flowers.
Of course I have to go.

Allowing herself one more inhalation of the fragrant floral blooms, she swept her gaze around the room, ensuring all items resided in their proper place. Then she went to her office and booked herself a flight to Atlanta.

That evening, once supper had been eaten and cleaned up after, she curled up on one end of her sofa, tucked her feet beneath her and stared through the window of her Madison, Wisconsin, apartment.

She closed her eyes and her thoughts drifted to Jasmine. Her sister. More than that. Her twin. A woman she’d met a month and a half ago. Separated at birth and adopted by other families who didn’t know about each other. In fact, even the paperwork stated she had no other known siblings.

To say it had been a shock when Jasmine had first contacted her would be the understatement of the year. Caro had been suspicious, hard not to be when she’d received such a call. She’d asked her parents before about siblings and they’d given her the paperwork, which had denied such things. Still, regardless of her doubts, she’d gone and met her in Saint Louis.

There had been no denying it the moment she’d laid eyes on Jasmine. They’d spent the weekend catching up and learning about one another. Since then they’d exchanged some calls and had discussed having another ‘sister’ weekend soon. But never a call for help.

She walked to the large window and stared over the twinkling lights of her city. “Never a call with someone sounding so scared either.” Caro rested her head against the glass and sighed.

Concerned, she made her way and packed her carry-on. She didn’t expect to stay all that long but could take a bit of time off if needed since she had plenty of accumulated days. Lifting the receiver to her landline, she sat on the edge of her bed. She sucked on her lip as she dialed a memorized number. Yes, it was programmed but she did it this way to give herself a bit more time. Not much, true, but anything would be accepted.

“Hello?”

The gentle voice on the other end had her smiling. “Hi, Mama.”

“Caro. How are you doing, baby?”

“Fine, Mama. I just wanted to let you and Daddy know I’m taking a short trip.” She cleared her throat. “Out of town.”

“Hmm. Where to?”

“Down south.” She winced, hating the lie she was about to tell. “I have a two week vacation I’m spending in a timeshare.”

“Really? You didn’t say anything earlier.”

Because I didn’t know the twin—my twin sister you know nothing about—was going to call me asking for help.
“Came up out of the blue. You remember my roommate, Jen? She was going to go but couldn’t.” She scrunched her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Just got off the phone with her. I have the time so I figured… Why not?”

More noncommittal noises. “Where down south?”

“Atlanta. I don’t have the info yet since she hasn’t texted it to me.”

“You’re leaving when?”

She could see her mother standing there with her head cocked to the side. “Early tomorrow.” Late tonight technically but what was one more lie in the grand scheme of things? She was already going to hell.

Her mom, silent for a moment, then made a delicate throat clearing sound. “Have fun and be safe.”

“Thanks, Mama.” The flush of deceit spread across her neck and face. She despised lying to her parents. “Tell Daddy I say hi. Love to both.”

Caro hung up and whimpered.

I feel terrible about this.

Her parents were an amazing couple who’d adopted her and raised her alongside the youngest of their naturally born children. A well-respected couple, they had raised her to understand hard work. When she’d come to Madison for college she hadn’t left, and now she worked for the same institution that had supplied her degree. Her boss had been on her case constantly about taking some time off, so she placed a call and left a message on his phone.

Her final call was to her friend who also rented in the same building, Terri Mosse.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Terri. I need a favor.”

“Sure thing, babe. What can I do for you?” The blaring music softened. “Everything okay?”

“I’m heading to Atlanta tonight for no more than a couple of weeks.”

She whistled low. “Jasmine?”

“Yes.” Why did she feel horrible that Terri knew but not her parents?

“You are stressed. What happened?”

“I don’t know. She’s frightened out of her mind. Asked me to help her.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “I can’t ignore her. She’s my twin.”

“I’m not judging, babe. You need to go
,
go. I will take care of your place. When should I expect you back?”

She pursed her lips. “Not sure. I’m giving myself two weeks if she needs help getting back on her feet. No more than that I wouldn’t imagine.”

“Your plans change, you let me know.”

“I will.”

“Caro?”

“Yes, Terri?” She carried her bag to the door.

“Be careful, yeah?”

“I will.” They hung up and she pocketed her phone.

She left her apartment, alarm set and door locked, before making her way to the front where she waved for a taxi.

Guilt nagged her as she settled against the leather seat. Her parents—adoptive some may call them, she called them her parents—deserved better than this. They loved her as much as their other children. She’d never felt like she didn’t belong in the family. This lying to them was ripping at her gut.