Stepbrother's Gift (34 page)

More cameras flashed and I leaned into James as if offering him support.

“Last question,” Audrey announced. “You, in the gray skirt.”

“What do you want people to know about this? About you two?”

It was such a softball question, I knew that they had pre-selected these questions. That was James though, controlling everything so he came out on top.

“Thank you for that question,” he started. I tried not to roll my eyes. He'd make a great politician if he ever decided to change careers. “I want people to know that we're no different than any other young couple in love. We're nervous to tell our parents, we're excited for the future, and we have dreams for what will happen next in our lives. Our parents' late-in-life marriage has nothing to do with us. Feel free to report that billionaire James Coleman is off the market, but that's really the only news story here.”

The camera flashes were blinding. It was like being caught in a strobe light convention. I just held onto James and smiled, hoping that I didn't look too much like a deer in the headlights.

“Thank you all for coming,” Audrey called out. “That's it for tonight. If you have any other questions, you can direct them to Mr. Coleman's press secretary. Thank you.”

James turned and pulled me away from the flashing lights, away from the mess of reporters. I followed him, doing my best not to trip on my own two feet out of a big heavy door with two big guards on either side into an empty hallway.

With the doors firmly closed behind us, James pulled me into a kiss. It reminded me of the passion of our first kiss, our lips meeting so strongly that I was sure they would come out bruised. I pressed my entire body against him, wanting more.

He pulled back, breathless. “Well, there's one good thing that came out of all this.”

“And what's that?”

He grinned, pressing me into the wall and taking another hungry kiss from my lips. “Now I can kiss you whenever I want.”

And kiss me he did.

“H
ere comes another contraction,” I whined, closing my eyes as the pain in my middle started again. Bands of muscle contracted around my waist as my body attempted to start labor.

“That one was fifty seconds,” Anne announced as I sucked in a breath once the pain stopped.

I had no idea this was going to hurt this much. If I had known the level of pain involved, I might not have been so eager to get pregnant. And this was just the beginning. I knew it was only going to get worse as time went on.

“How far apart are they?” I asked, putting a hand on my stomach. Nine months. Forty weeks. 284 days. My due date was four days ago and I couldn't wait any longer. I wanted my body back and my baby in my arms.

“Five minutes apart on the nose,” Anne said, checking her phone. “You can go to the hospital now if you want.”

I thought of how the searing pain was going to come back as my body squeezed down again in about three more minutes. I had intended on having a drug-free labor, but now that it was actually happening, I was debating how much I wanted drugs. An epidural suddenly didn't sound near as scary as it had.

“Crap- here comes another one.” The pain stole my breath and it took everything I had to breathe through it.

“That one was a whole minute and only three minutes apart, Allie. I think it's time.” Anne looked me up and down. “I can tell you that right now, I am really really glad I'm into girls and don't have to worry about getting knocked up by accident.”

I glared at her. “We have to get James first. I'm not going to the hospital without him.”

She sighed and checked her watch. “He's in a meeting. That's why we're sitting here in the coffee shop waiting for him.”

I pointed to my stomach. “I don't think he knows Daddy's busy right now. Just drive me to his office and I'll go get him.”

Anne opened her mouth to object, but I crumpled as another wave of contracting pain stole every breath and coherent thought from me. It was supposed to get worse than this? I wasn't sure how people survived this.

“Get in the car.” Anne said as she paled a little. “You just keep getting stronger and more close together. At this rate, I'm scared your going to just pop right here in the middle of the shop.”

I took her hand and she walked me out to her car. Luckily, she was parked directly in front of the shop.

I was glad she had agreed to escort me around. Since three days ago, James had been paying Anne to be with me when he couldn't. He also made sure that there was always a car of some sort available within a few feet of wherever I was. At first I had thought it was overkill, but now, I was incredibly grateful.

Anne gunned the engine. “You sure you don't want to just go to the hospital? James can meet us there.”

“
HIS OFFICE!
” I yelled.

“Yes, ma'am,” Anne replied. “Note to self, never argue with a woman giving birth.”

She floored it and arrived at the entrance to James' office in record time. I suspected she was afraid I would give birth right there in the car if she didn't hurry.

I unbuckled my seat-belt and opened my door.

“How about I just go get him?” she offered. I shot a death glance at her. “Okay, never mind. I'll wait here.” She put her hands up on the steering wheel and looked straight ahead.

I waddled into the front lobby of James' office building, feeling like I'd never even fit through the doorway.

Audrey was sitting at the main desk, her eyes going wide as soon as she saw me. It was the same desk Lauren used to work at, but Audrey now ruled it like a queen. I remembered seeing Lauren's picture in the paper when she was indicted. Not only had she violated her non-disclosure agreement and sold the pictures of James and I for a mere hundred grand, she had also stolen fifty thousand dollars of advertising money from the company. She was in big, big trouble.

I like Audrey at that desk much better.

“Where is he?” I growled, holding my belly and hoping I didn't dissolve into another contraction in the middle of the lobby.

“In the meeting room.” Audrey pointed across the lobby.

I nodded, already halfway there. I needed James to be there when I had this baby. If it hurt this bad already, there was no way I was going to be able to do this without his encouragement.

I nearly kicked open the door to his meeting room. At first, he turned and glared at the intruder until he saw it was me. Of course, that was when another contraction hit. I crumpled forward, trying to visualize a flower opening or some other nonsense that was supposed to help with the pain.

“Is it time?” he asked, ignoring his meeting and rushing to my side. I hissed with pain and glared at him.

“Nah, I'm just practicing for a play,” I said when I could finally speak again.

His normally calm face blanched slightly and he took my arm. “Meeting's over,” he called back behind him as we left the conference room.

Anne was bouncing in the driver's seat as James practically carried me to the car. It was almost humorous how much more nervous Anne and James were than I was. This was the part that couldn't be stopped. There was nothing left for me to do now but survive the pain and push, though from the nervous flutterings of Anne and James, it seemed a lot more important.

I didn't pay attention to the drive to the hospital. I didn't pay attention to the nurse as I changed into a hospital gown. I focused on breathing and pushing. Somewhere along the line, that flower visualization suddenly was the most important thing I could think of.

James held my hand the whole time. He never left me, not even for a bathroom break. He kept giving me sips of water and making sure my hair was pulled back and out of my eyes. I was in too much pain to focus on much else, but he kept his voice low and soothing. I couldn't have done it without James.

Finally, finally I heard the cry as my son took his first breath. His tiny shriek at being exposed to the world filled the room and my heart. I'd never heard anything so beautiful.

“He's here,” James whispered. He took the scissors from the doctor and cut the umbilical cord. The nurse wrapped our son in a blanket and handed him back to James. “He's so beautiful.”

The catch in James' voice made my chest ache with joy. There was so much love in his gaze, so much heartfelt wonder at the life we had created together. I loved the smile of absolute parental pride as the man I loved gazed at our son.

“Come meet your mommy, Frankie,” James said softly, bringing him to the head of the bed. I held out my arms, tears of joy streaming down my face. James had insisted on naming him after my father, the man that had supported his business endeavors and taught him the value of a deal. The gesture had almost made Dad forgive him for knocking up his daughter.

Still, there was no denying how special this little boy was. My son. James' son. Our beautiful baby boy.

“Hi, Frank,” I whispered, cuddling him close. “Welcome to the world. It's a hard place to live, but it'll be okay. Your mommy and daddy love you more than anything.”

I held him close, marveling at his tiny little fingers and big, beautiful eyes.

James kissed my forehead and held his family close.

My billionaire stepbrother was a father. Together, we couldn't be happier.

S
tepbrother Hero: A Forbidden Military Romance

It took me about two rumbles of thunder to reach the spot I had in mind. I snapped a couple of shots, checking the lighting and trees. It was going to be perfect. There were so many options on how to position the family with great backdrops, yet the trees were sparse enough that the light was actually pretty good, even with the thunderstorm moving in.

I took a couple more pictures, imagining the happy family smiling and laughing as I took their picture. A mom, a dad, and a month old baby boy with blond hair like his father's. The perfect family. And these would be spectacular pictures.

A cold breeze made me shiver. The storm was a lot closer than I had anticipated and I had lost track of time taking pictures and imagining the family. The family I envied and wanted. The smell of rain hit me and I knew I needed to get back to my car before they rain hit or I'd risk my camera.

The leaves whispered warnings of the storm as I hurried down the path as the wind whipped through them. This was going to be a wicked storm if the wind was any indication. It was past time for me to have left.

The football field was empty. Ian and all his kids and equipment were long gone. I wondered just how long I had sat in that grove taking happy pictures of the imaginary family in my head that looked suspiciously like Ian and me. Too long.

Rain started to sprinkle at about the half way point of the field and I started running to the car. I didn't want my camera to get wet, let alone the SD card with all the football practice pictures. A peal of thunder rang out, loud and strong as I sprinted to my car and got inside just in time to escape the deluge of rain.

***

B
ig, fat raindrops the size of quarters hit the windshield as the storm hit. But I was safe inside my little car. I let out a relieved sigh and checked my camera. Not even damp. That got another relieved sigh as I put it back in it's bag and tucked it safely under the front seat with the rest of my equipment. Luckily, I hadn't taken anything else out since the weather had been cooperating up to this point.

Lightning lit up the sky and the thunder was loud enough to shake the windows. The storm was here in full force.

“Time for me to go,” I said, putting the key in the ignition and trying to start the car.

Nothing happened.

“Come on, baby,” I coaxed, trying the engine again. “I promise to get you to the mechanic as soon as I have a little bit more money...”

The engine turned over and started working as if nothing had ever been wrong in the first place. I gave the car a stern look and hit the gas. I really needed to get this car fixed. Maybe I could ask Ian...

I could barely see through the rain and I drove at a snail's pace. But, since it was a country road that no one ever used unless they were going to the park, I wasn't worried about blocking anyone's path or running into anyone. I had the road to myself.

I went slow until I wasn't going anymore.

I revved the engine, feeling my little car shake with the effort, but not go anywhere. In the rear-view mirror, I could see mud spraying up behind me and I groaned. The dirt road had turned to mud and my car with the horsepower of a miniature pony was stuck.

“Perfect.” I slouched in my chair and watched as yet more rain fell from the sky. It was peaceful, in a gray, rainy kind of way. It would have almost been pleasant if my car hadn't been stuck in the mud.

I didn't dare go out and look at it until the rain stopped. There was no reason. I couldn't push the car out by myself, and in the rain it would be stupid to try. Once the rain stopped, I could put some sticks down for traction and get myself out. It would just take a while for the storm to clear.

I turned off my engine, leaving my headlights on in case a car did come. Thunder shook the windows again, the lightning closer. At least I was safe in my car.

I turned on the radio just in time to hear the ending of an emergency broadcast. Tornado watch with possible flooding and strong rains. Thunder rattled the car again and I wished I would have gotten the warning just a little bit earlier. The sky was growing darker and the wind stronger. I wished I had another way out of here. The wind howled through the trees and rocked the car.

Yup. Totally wish I was anywhere else but here right now.

Rain was coming down in sheets so thick it was impossible to see more than a few feet in front of my car. I hadn't seen a storm like this in years, but Dad had kept telling me that they were getting stronger every year. He claimed it was global warming.

I squinted as two lights came into view. Headlights.
Who the hell was crazy enough to out driving in this?
I thought. Well, other than me. But at least I was headed out of the park. Whoever this was had to be insane to be heading in.