Twisted Pursuits (15 page)

His tender words seemed to burst a dam inside her and silent tears ran down her cheeks. “Nana died”, she said as if the reality had just hit her, “I watched as she took her last breath...”

He was shell shocked. He knew Nana was old but she seemed tough as nails, “I’m sorry”, he did not adding that his only sorrow was that she mourned the woman’s passing. He drew closer to her in a bid to offer comfort, his anger forgotten.

She leaned into him. “I think... I still loved her”, she whispered brokenly, “despite everything that she’s done and I think she loved me too”.

Jordan snorted disapprovingly at that but she continued, “In her own little way”.

Lauren burrowed her face into his solid chest, almost sighing with pleasure at the comfort of his strong arms. How could she live without this, without him? Heat pooled between her thigh at the close contact and she wished he would strip away every stitch of her clothing and make sweet, passionate love to her, right there on the sofa. Would he realize the subtle changes to her body?

The idea doused the fire in her veins and she pulled away from him abruptly and stood. She caught sight of his face and her heart melted. The shuttered mask that she had become
accustomed to of late was replaced by tenderness so profound it took her breath away. How could she deny her children the sheer joy of having this wonderful man as a father, to experience his love?

She was a retched woman and if she had any honesty within her she would tell him that she was pregnant right this minute. And have him take them away from her or demand that she marry him to appease his parents, a malicious voice inside her head jeered. That decided her. As if he could read her thoughts, his expression closed up, the cold stranger returning.

“I... I... should go to bed...” she stammered idiotically, glancing away from his chiseled features. She ran from the room, her steps never faltering until she got to her bedroom. Once there she collapsed on her bed and cried her heart out.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

JORDAN WATCHED SILENTLY
as Lauren’s chest rose and fell with her breathing as she slept. He really should not be invading her space like this but he could not help being worried about her. The past few weeks had been taxing on her already strained health with Nana’s funeral arrangements to attend to. He shook his head sadly. He would never understand how she could mourn the death of someone who had been so cruel to her.

She sighed in her sleep and brought her hand up to caress her abdomen before it fell back to her side. The movement seemed oddly familiar but Jordan could not place it. Dismissing the notion as nonsensical he wondered when she would leave as it had been over two months since she had been there and she seemed much better. He had to admit that coupled with her odd dressing there was something different about her but he could not figure out what.

He was about to leave when she shifted and her nightshirt rode up to expose shapely legs. He began envisioning those long legs curled around his waist when something much more puzzling caught his eye. Her nightshirt had tightened around her stomach to reveal a definite bulge. He inched closer, his brain refusing to acknowledge what his eyes were beholding. Halting at the edge of the bed, he flattened his palm unto her stomach and to his astonishment it was firm. Shock held him transfixed until a slight movement below his hand almost caused him to jump out of his skin.

She sighed again and he held his breath certain that she would open her eyes, but she simply settled deeper into the bedding, a smile on her lips. He staggered from the room, the magnitude of his discovery proving too overwhelming for him. She was pregnant, had been for some time now, right under his very nose and he knew nothing about it.

Upon reaching his own room, he sank into a chair out of fear that his legs would fail him. Why would she hide something like this from him? How far along was she? More importantly, was it his baby? Was she planning on having another abortion?

He gave himself a mental shake in an effort to control his thoughts. He would deal with the matter in the morning but at the moment he needed a stiff drink.

“COME IN”, LAUREN CALLED
in answer to a knock at the door.

“Mrs. Stewart’s kindly face appeared as the door opened, “Mr. Myles is asking for you to join    him”, she said.

“Okay…” Lauren responded hesitantly, panic assailing her, “tell him I’ll be down in a moment”.

“He is having breakfast in the morning room”, Mrs. Stewart added before she departed.

Jordan knew, she thought as she rushed down the stairs, but how could he? Had Doctor Hedley told him? Don’t be silly, she chided herself; Doctor Hedley had given her his word and he could hardly know by looking at her as her usual guise of sweatpants and roomy sweaters did well to hide the subtle changes in her body that were becoming more apparent in recent days. Even knowing this did not stop her from fretting as she neared her destination.

He was seated around the table when she entered, his head buried in the morning paper.

She cleared her throat but he made no indication that he heard her, “you wanted to see me”, she said, her heart in her throat. Surely if he knew he would have said something already.

“Have a seat”, he said casually, maintaining his earlier stance.

She trudged hesitantly over to the chair farthest away from him and settled on the edge. She wished he would just get on to whatever this was about. Mornings were her worst time of the day and the aromatic sent coming from the table was causing her stomach to churn.

She almost sagged in relief when he finally folded the paper and placed it on the edge of the table. She searched his expression for a hint of his reason for requesting her presence but his shuttered expression gave nothing away. Her relief was short-lived as he scooped forkfuls of beacon and scrambled eggs into his mouth as if she was not there.

“Hmm”, he said between mouthfuls, “tastes great, you should try some”, he added indicating to a heavily laden tray in the center of the table.

She shook her head, struggling to calm her stomach and hoping that her unease was not evident on her features. What had brought about such a drastic change in him, she wondered, almost certain now that her secret was safe as she was sure that had he known he would not be so calm.

He frowned, “why not. If my memory serves me right, it was one of your favorite meals”.

Her heart warmed at the knowledge that he remembered such an inconsequential thing. She smiled and relaxed for the first time since he had summoned her; maybe he just wanted to talk. He had been somewhat supportive throughout the arrangements for Nana’s funeral. Though he had not made any physical appearances he had inquired of the arrangements on several occasions and had offered monetary assistance which she had declined. Now she knew where all that money from Grandpa Mack and Lauren’s own small earning over the years had gone as they had found a chest stashed away in a secret corner of Nana’s closet with a substantial amount of money, coupled with what she had in a her bank account. Aunt Dorothy had offered to share it but Lauren had declined.

“Thanks you”, she murmured, “but I’ll just have some dried toast”, maybe it would settle her stomach somewhat, she decided. Something shifted in his hazel eyes but it was gone before Lauren could decipher what it was.

She had barely said the words before Mrs. Stewart appeared, toast and orange juice in hand, “I thought you might want your usual”, she said.

Lauren accepted the meal and thanked her before she began to nibble at a crunchy slice.

“So what are your plans for the near future”, Jordan asked out of the blue.

She was taken aback by the question. “I don’t know”, she stuttered, “Finish college. Prolong my music career”, she lied. What was she supposed to tell him that she was going to run off and raise their children by herself?

He made no response. He just stared at her with fathomless light brown eyes that seemed to strip her to her very soul. Panic stricken she pushed aside her unfinished meal and steeled herself for what was to come. She felt as if she was going to be sick.

She was utterly shocked when he merely glanced away from her face to her clothes and muttered, “Why the grubby, loose fitting attire? Am I to assume that you’ve lost your recently discovered appreciation for fashionable clothing already?”

She made no comment. She was too busy trying to make sense of the situation. Why was he stringing her along? Why not just say what he had to and get it over with? Besides she needed to leave before she lost the battle with her stomach.

“Tight budget constraints”, he jeered, a dark expression crossing his features, “pity, you threw away your stick before you crossed the waters as my grandmother would say”.

She colored bright pink at his insinuation, “did you call me here to insult me or did you have another reason”, she asked through clenched teeth. His lips merely curled with sadistic satisfaction. “I’m sorry I got carried away for a moment there”, he murmured, “I merely wanted to inquire after your health”

“I’m fine”, she quickly assured him.

He frowned, “Are you sure. I mean even now you look a little pale to me”, he said, stroking his chin leisurely, “You know I was speaking to one of my friends who is a doctor the other day and he found your situation quite puzzling. He even suggested that I take you to see him…”

“You spoke to someone about me without my consent”, she interrupted, her rage as a result of fear rather than actual anger. She refused to even consider what else the doctor might have told him.

“Don’t you want to get better” –

“I am fine and that is beside the point”, she interrupted, feeling cornered, she resorted to rage in an urgent bid to save herself. Perhaps if she pretended to be angry he would become convinced that whatever notion he had was untrue.

“I merely…” he tried to defend himself before she blasted on.

“Save it. My health is my responsibility, not yours”, she shouted and pushed back her chair and stood, “this conversation is over”.

She prayed that he bought her little act and would not follow her as she marched from the room and rushed upstairs where she was violently sick.

JORDAN WATCHED HER RETREATING
back and swore under his breath. He had hoped to goad the truth from her but his plan had failed miserably, if anything, it had only made her suspicious of him. He had used the better part of the night before, after he had left her room to do a little research and as such he was positive that she was pregnant and had been for some time now. But why would she hide such a thing from him? He had to consider the possibility that it was not his child; after all they had been separated for about a month.

Shrugging aside his sordid thoughts he retrieved his cell phone from his jacket pocket and proceeded to call Daniel, his driver slash
bodyguard slash Private Investigator whenever the need arose. Plan A had failed hence it was time to move on to plan B.

“Good Morning Mr. Myles”, he answered promptly after the first ring.

“Good Morning Daniel” Jordan responded, “Meet me at the house in five minutes”.

“Ok. I’ll be there”.

Always the reliable, he was at Jordan’s door in exactly five minutes.

“I have an assignment for you”, Jordan began as soon as they were seated in his office at home,
“Although not as tedious as ones past, it is very important and no less technical”.

“Ok Sir”, Daniel replied, a puzzled expression crossing his usually expressionless features, “have I not always been efficient?”

“Yes, of course”, Jordan muttered, “I want  Surveillance Cameras placed in all the main rooms of the house as well as the areas outside that were not covered before.”, he added matter  of  factly, “also the phones, bug them and I want you to keep an eye on  Lauren. If she so much as opens the front door I want to know about it”.

They went over the intricate details of what it was that was expected of Daniel to ensure that there were no glitches in Jordan’s plans. If Lauren would not give him answers he would simply have to get them himself by any means necessary.

“Is that all boss”, Daniel inquired without batting an eyebrow at the odd request.

“Yes;
for now at least. I’ll inform you if I have any further requests. Remember to keep me posted, regularly”, the entire situation left a sour taste in his mouth.

Daniel nodded and silently left the room.