Page 48 of His Fake Wife

“I’m sorry. What was I thinking?”

Just because we didn’t bicker at every turn anymore, didn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the hell out of watching her eyes spark with annoyance...and that pout. So sexy.

Her eyes narrowed at my sarcasm but she deflated before my eyes. Shoulders drooping, she groaned, “Adam, please don’t hate me for this. I’m pregnant.”

Scratching my chin, I studied her with amusement. That was the big revelation? What a relief. For a moment, I thought she wanted to tell me she was done with me. “You really thought I didn’t know?”

Her gasp was loud enough to wake the dead. “You knew? How?”

“I suspected.” Scowling, I said, “Come on Beth, give me some credit. A man doesn’t explore and get to know every dip and curve of a woman’s body and not notice even the slightest change. Not this man anyway.”

I gave her a once over. I’d perved her out enough to realize that her breasts had gotten just a little fuller and her middle slightly thicker.

She blew out a breath and covered her face. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“And risk getting kicked in the balls for commenting on your body?” I snorted, “I’ve had enough experience with women to know better.”

Peeking through her fingers, she noted, “You’re taking this extremely well.”

Before I fell head over heels for Beth, I probably would have jumped out of my penthouse window after news about a baby. Now, I was relieved. It was something more to tie her to me until I won her heart. It was safe to assume it happened the first time we had sex. It was the only other time before today that we hadn’t used protection. Fate was on my side it seemed.

I shrugged. “I’ve grown a lot over the last few months. I’ve realized that situations I once avoided aren’t so bad. Starting a family isn’t a bad thing.”

If it’s with you.

Beth’s face flushed.

“I can’t believe I spent weeks wallowing in guilt and afraid to tell you when you already knew. I feel so stupid.”

I stood up and strolled to her, taking her hands in mine. “I can’t believe you thought I’d hate you.”

Wide, tear filled eyes found mine and I almost dropped her hands and backed away. An annoyed Beth lecturing me, I could handle. Beth in tears, not so much.

“You hated me before.”

“That wasn’t hate. That was…” Unidentified attraction and sexual frustration. “I’ve never hated you, Beth.”

She sniffed. “I was worried you’d think I got pregnant deliberately to get more out of our deal or something.”

I gritted my teeth. That wretched deal. It was the first business deal I hadn’t fully thought through, and wanted out of so badly. I wanted us to be together without the damn arrangement hanging over our heads.

“You were right. I do know you. You’d never do that.”

Beth exhaled, relief evident on her face. “Thank you.”

“The only thing I’m pissed about is using condoms the entire time when we could have gone without.”

Her lower lip quivered and my horror mounted.

“Shit, that was a joke. Please, don’t start crying,” I begged.

Her laughter was a relief to hear.

“You find out we’re having a baby in the middle of an arranged marriage and you’re only worried about dealing with a weepy woman. I hate to break it to you but you’re probably in for a lot of tears when my hormones start raging.”

I couldn’t share her amusement. I was too busy staring dumbly at her, at war with myself about jumping the gun and doing what I’d been planning for days. No, I wanted it to be done properly?the grand romantic gesture. I’d bide my time until everything was perfect.

Beth’s amusement disappeared when she realized I hadn’t shared her joke. “Are you sure you’re okay with this, Adam?”

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