Page 20 of Taming a Heartbreaker

The last thing she needed was for Leslie to remind her how many times she’d thrown up already today. Following the doctor’s instructions, she was to eat smaller amounts of food and get as much liquid into her system as she could to stay hydrated. She had been sleeping a lot today, which helped curb the nausea.

“You never did say what you told Sloan about being gone a few days.”

Leslie glanced over at her as she adjusted the covers on her bed. “I told him your sister and her family were out of the country, and you weren’t feeling well, and that I needed to come check on you. I gave him the impression you caught a virus or something. Thank God we have Nadine.”

Nadine Boykins was Sloan and Leslie’s live-in nanny. The fifty-something-year-old woman had been with them since Cassidy had been six months old, and Leslie had returned to work.

“I’m glad you have Nadine, too.”

“Well, I’ll let you get some rest now. I’ll be downstairs in the living room watching a movie if you need anything,” Leslie said, placing Carmen’s cell phone within easy reach. “Just code me.” They had established a special code on their phones if Carmen was in distress.

“Okay and thanks, Leslie, for being here.”

“No need to thank me for anything, Carmen. That’s what best friends are for. You would do the same for me.”

Yes, she would have, but Leslie’s pregnancy had been easy. She hadn’t had a single day of morning sickness and had only gained baby weight. Not a pound more. She’d looked beautiful and radiant while carrying Cassidy.

Carmen switched her glance from Leslie to the view out the window. Night had settled, and she hoped the heat was departing. From what the weatherman had said, today had been one of those DC scorchers. She loved her townhouse. Especially, the side of the house where her bedroom was located. Since her bedroom window didn’t face her neighbor’s house, there were nights when she slept with the blinds open without worrying about anyone seeing inside.

Those were the nights she would stare up into the sky and see the stars. Now, whenever she looked at them, she was reminded of that night Redford had told her to make a wish upon a star. Nothing she had wished for had come true.

Feeling a thickness in her throat, she fought back a sob. It no longer mattered to her if she ever gained the love of her baby’s father. She would have his baby. She gently caressed her stomach, amazed that a little human being was growing inside of her. A little boy or girl she would love and protect. Not being a part of his baby’s life would be Redford’s loss.

Another sob she couldn’t hold back escaped. Suddenly, Leslie was there. Giving her the hug she needed. “Don’t cry, Carmen. Everything will be alright.”

Carmen wiped her eyes. “I didn’t know you were still in the room. I thought you had left to go downstairs to watch a movie.”

“No, I hadn’t left yet. I’m not used to you being sad. You’re usually the upbeat, happy-go-lucky, optimistic one. If you recall, it was your optimism that helped me get through some rough times when I broke up with Sloan. I want that Carmen back.”

Carmen shrugged. “That Carmen doesn’t exist anymore. She got knocked up by a man who doesn’t want her or their baby.”

“You don’t know that, Carmen.”

“Yes, I do. I know how he feels about a serious involvement with a woman, and I got it from his own mouth that he didn’t want kids. So, there’s no reason to think he’ll want this one.”

Pulling back, Carmen swiped what she was determined to be the last of her tears regarding Redford. “I’m fine now. Go on and watch your movie. I just needed to get the last of my crying out. Now I’m feeling sleepy. Before leaving, could you close the curtains for me?”

She no longer wanted to look out the window and see the stars.

Leslie heard a knock on the door. Using the remote to pause the movie, she quickly stood, not wanting the sound to wake Carmen. It was close to ten at night. Who would be visiting at this hour?

Carmen had told her about Abigail Peters, her new neighbor who worked as a foreign service diplomat for the State Department. Carmen had said the woman would be traveling out of the country for the entire summer. Had those plans changed, and Abigail was letting Carmen know about it?

She moved to the door, leaned against it and asked, “Who is it?”

“It’s me, baby. Sloan.”

Sloan? What on earth was he doing here? He was to fly to LA today to take care of business with his film and production company. Had he gotten concerned about Carmen and come to check on her, too? If he stayed around for any length of time, there was no way he wouldn’t figure out Carmen’s condition. Maybe she could convince him to go hang out with his brother, Senator Jess Outlaw, who only lived a few miles away.

“Leslie?”

Sloan had to be wondering why she hadn’t opened the door. “Just a minute.”

After taking a deep breath, she undid the lock to open the door. She frowned. Not only was her husband standing there, but of all people, so was Redford St. James.

Chapter Ten

Redford saw how the look of surprise on Leslie’s face quickly turned to a frown. “What are you guys doing here?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest and not moving from the doorway.

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