Page 10 of Doctor Do-Over

We sit down and talk. I don’t ask the important questions because I have a feeling I know who the father is, and it angers me.

“I’m pregnant too. I’m only ten weeks along.”

“And the father?” She nods toward Shakespeare, and I can’t stop the belly laugh that overtakes me.

“No. He’s not the father. He’s my bodyguard. The baby’s father isn’t in the picture.” I pause and take a deep breath. Everytime I think of Tanner, my heart hurts a little bit. “He was a one-night stand. I don’t even know his last name.”

“Why do you have a bodyguard?” Lorelei sits up in her chair and glances around.

“Oh, it’s nothing. Some fan crossed the line.”

“Ms. Westerbrook, they threatened your life and destroyed property,” Shakespeare says from the table behind us.

“If you’re going to eavesdrop, Shakespeare, come have a seat.” I push out the chair beside me, and he moves to join us.

I watch as he holds out a hand to Lorelei. “You can call me Shakespeare. I work for Andreason and Black Securities.”

“Wow, that’s more than he says to me.” I chuckle.

We spend the next hour chatting and catching up. Shakespeare even joins in on the conversation.

“I hate to do this, but we need to get back to our hotel, and I need to figure out where I’m going to stay next,” I say as I pull the check off the corner of the table.

“I have a three-bedroom place I’m staying in. It’s my grandparents’ place.” She fidgets with the maternity dress she’s wearing. “You’re welcome to stay with me. I mean, if you want to.”

I can’t stop myself. This isn’t the Lorelei I grew up with. I grab her hand and squeeze it. “We’d love to.” I hear a groan come from Shakespeare, but I don’t care. Lorelei needs us. She needs someone with her. She’s completely alone.

“I’ll have Browser and Rogue check it out. Whose name is it under?” Shakespeare asks.

Lorelei gives him all the information he needs before we head back to our car. We return to the hotel to gather our luggage and await the all-clear from the security team. Once everything checks out, we make our way to the condo where Lorelei is staying.

Two weeks after we moved in, Colby was born. I’m glad we were with her. Lorelei was heartbroken afterward and is still in a bit of a funk. She misses her family and the baby’s father, who really did a number on her.

I look at my screen as I click “publish” on the self-published novel I’ve written under a new pen name. Just like that, Elary Tanner is born and has released her first book. I didn’t consult my agent before I did it, but I made sure I could do it without breaching my contract with the publishing company. The story comes from my heart and captures my memories of that night with Tanner. It’s an erotic romance with some BDSM elements, just like we explored together. But in my story, I gave them a happy ending, something I don’t see for myself and Tanner.

Now I switch gears and work on the book for the publishing company that I promised to complete next. With Eminem playing through my headphones, I concentrate on the screen in front of me. My character is fighting a rapist in the fictional metropolis I’ve created. I can’t help but think of my attacker and what I would do to him if I had her superpowers. I can fight—my brother and father made sure of that—but it’s going to become too hard for me soon. My character isn’t pregnant, but she wants vengeance because a friend of hers was raped by this man.

I’m twenty-three weeks into my pregnancy, and it’s obvious. I look like I’m carrying a perfect basketball under my shirt. I’ve found a local doctor, but I still work with Dr. Harker via video chat. She’s returned to the States and settled in my hometown of Eastport, where her brother moved. She wants me to come back too. There is concern that as I get further along, my body might start having issues. I wear the belly band she recommended, andso far, my heart has been good. I haven’t fainted since I was attacked, and I’m almost off all the medications I was on before the pregnancy.

I have tickets to fly home next week, and Shakespeare is coming with me. Before I leave, I plan to video chat with my family to tell my brother and father about my pregnancy. It’s time. Plus, it will take the pressure off of my mom. She has almost slipped numerous times and told them. She’s excited about being a grandma and that I’m having a little girl for her to spoil. I’m planning to rent an apartment for a bit until I find the perfect house for us. I’m also meeting with Andreason and Black Securities to discuss searching for Tanner. He should know he has a child. I don’t need money from him, but if he wants to be a part of our daughter’s life, he has that right.

I still don’t know how I’ll tell him. I’m so lost in my head, thinking of Tanner and what our baby will look like and miss out on without him in her life, that my hands hover over the keys. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Eddie stand up, and I turn around to find Shakespeare standing behind me.

Slipping off my headphones, I stand from the small desk and stretch my back. I’m wearing the pullover shirt I stole from Tanner and a pair of pajama pants, the waistband resting comfortably under my belly. I need to go shopping for more maternity clothes. Lorelei could use a day out too. Shakespeare and I get her out of the house daily for walks, but she needs to start thinking about the future.

“You shouldn’t stay seated for so long,” Shakespeare says in his gruff voice.

“I know. I just hit publish and then started working on my next project.” I’m excited for this new venture.

I know that since I’m new to self-publishing, my book might not take off, but I’ve learned a lot from working with Cortney on my other books. I plan to have my primary pen name do areview of this new story to help with promotions. I’ve also hired a PR company and included an acknowledgement to my main pen name for designing the cover. It should help give my book a good boost.

“Cool. I think we need to contact the office and talk to them about the baby daddy.” He nods toward my stomach. I rub my palm across it, and she kicks my hand.

“I’ve set up an appointment to meet with the owners when we get home. Dr. Harker wants to see me first thing, and then I have the paramedic family barbecue that J.D. wants me to go to.”

He runs a hand through his hair, messing up the curls and making them stand on end. “I understand those are all important, but we have a connection in New York. Is there any way we can stay a couple of days and try to find him? Browser can start searching now.” He looks at me, determination etched on his face.

I shake my head at him, not wanting to have this argument again. I wish we could go back to the days when he barely spoke to me. Now he’s inserted himself into my life as if he’s a big brother—or something more. I notice the way he looks at me, but I’ve made it clear that I’m not interested in a relationship. I still have feelings for the man who got me pregnant.

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