Page 40 of Knocked Up By the Silver Fox

"You're…You can't be…" My mind went to some very dark places all in a split second. Allen was right; she was a gold digger—or worse…She cheated on me and that was why she kept this from me.

"Will, let me explain…" Beth took a step toward me and I dropped the flutes and turned, walking out as quickly as I'd come in. I ran a hand through my hair and loosened my tie. I needed air—now.

27

BETH

The pain in Will's eyes gutted me. Watching him turn and run out like that felt like he'd reached into my chest, grabbed my heart, and pulled it out. I glanced around at the shocked expressions on everyone's faces and hung my head as I hurried after him. It was inevitable that tonight was the night I told him. I had already planned how I'd say it. I just figured I'd be able to tell him, but there was no hiding my body under this dress.

Yes, I could've chosen something else, but I was sick of hiding, sick of listening to gossip and rumors and cowering as if I didn't have a heart or a right to find love. When I chose this dress and put it on, Rachel scolded me. She told me it would be like announcing to the world that I was a tramp who slept with the boss to get favors. It turned into an argument where I finally put her in her place and told her how I really felt.

This dress was my announcement for sure. It was telling the world I don't care what any of you think, I am in love and I want to be happy. But now I was chasing him down. His reaction wasn't what I hoped it could be. It turned out he'd reacted theexact way I feared he would, and if I didn't catch up to him and explain it would only get worse.

"Will," I shouted, hurrying faster. Running in heels was a challenge, but he stopped and turned to face me. At least it wasn't anger on his face. It was shock and pain. Those were to be expected and I could handle that.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he blurted out, and I heard how much this was hurting him.

But I didn't stop to answer his question. My coworkers were everywhere, lingering in the hallway. They hadn't seen the shock in the ballroom, but they watched as I crashed into him, wrapping my arms around his chest.

I did what I'd been aching to do for a month now. I buried my face in his chest and breathed him in, and I didn't even care that Allen Reithman was standing in line for the men's room.

"Will, I'm so sorry. I found out and everything got crazy. And then Allen moved me away from you, and Nevil?—"

"Shh," he soothed, cutting me off. His hand gripped my face and he turned my chin up so I was looking in his eyes. "It's okay…Shh."

"Will, I love you. I don't care about anything else. Let them fire me. Let them hate me. Let them talk about me. I want you. I don't want another job or to move to London. I want us." My eyes welled up and I blinked out a few tears, and he kissed me hard.

The crushing grip he had on my head kept me from pulling away but even if I could, I wouldn't have. This was right where I wanted to be, though being surrounded by people staring wasn't ideal.

Will's lips glided over mine, caressing my mouth and swallowing my soft cries. His hands loosened and he smoothed a few stray hairs back. He kept kissing me until I had to stop and breathe and my lips were swollen and throbbing.

Will looked around us and then let his gaze drop down to my face again. "We should talk, but not here," he said abruptly, and he took my hand. Without my coat, in a sleeveless gown and open-toed shoes, he led me outside. The February air bit down on my skin and his eyes scanned the parking lot, spotting his car.

I followed him with my hand in his as we walked up to his limo, and he opened the door and got in. "Just talking," he announced to his driver, whose eyes met mine in the rearview mirror reflection before the opaque partition rose slowly.

I shut the door behind myself and went to sit on the seat next to him, but Will pulled me onto his lap. My dress rose up as I straddled him and lowered myself onto him.

"My God, Beth," he said, touching my belly. "My God…"

He sounded shocked and exasperated, but not angry. His hands didn't stop touching my baby bump even though it was small enough I thought I was doing a good job hiding it. But Will knew my body better than anyone. Of course he'd notice it.

"How far along are you?" he asked, and he looked up at me with a mixture of excitement and uncertainty.

"Eighteen weeks…" Admitting that it had been four months that I'd kept this from him made me feel very guilty. I dropped my gaze, but he pinched my chin and forced it upward.

"Do you know how much I love you?" he asked softly and I shrugged.

"I want to say yes, but I just don't see how after everything. You could lose your company…"

"But I'd still have you. And you are everything. Who needs a company without someone to share your life with?" His tone was so earnest I fully believed him. "Elizabeth, you are the best thing that's ever happened to me…until now." He smiled and I didn't understand what he meant.

"But I lied to you…"

"You were scared. Nothing more. And now I know, and my God, you've made me the happiest man alive…A baby?" he said, grinning. "With you?" His fingers curled around the back of my neck and pulled me forward.

When our lips touched it felt like the first time all over again. I kissed him gently at first, and then the hunger I had been shoving away for weeks came bubbling to the surface. I missed him and I was desperate to feel the connection we shared. I tore his tie off and hastily unbuttoned his shirt so I could feel his warm skin under my palms. Will tugged my dress higher, up over my bump, and rubbed his hands over it as he kissed me harder.

"I'm so glad you're back," he gasped between kisses. "I missed you so much."

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