Page 32 of There Are No Words

I rolled my eyes and walked to the sink, where I turned it on and started washing my hands. “Oh, yeah, it’s super useful for him to know I’m dry heaving. What’s he supposed to do about it?” I was in no mood to see him or be treated like an invalid. “Wait, I got it. Maybe he can stick his hand up my vagina and pull the sperm out. Yeah, that’s plausible.” I knew every word I’d said was dripping with sarcasm. I went to retrieve a paper towel to dry my hands and swallowed. “Sorry,” I proceeded to tell Perla. “You don’t deserve that.”

“I know it’s the hormones talking and not you,” Perla replied, a hand on her hip. “And I called Brady because it was the right thing to do. If I hadn’t done it, Maria would have.” Then she angled her head. “If Bibi was here, you know she wouldn’t have hesitated in doing it, either.”

“True.” We both laughed. “All right, well, what did he say?”

“Oh, nothing.” She shrugged. “It went to voicemail.”

“Good. Maybe he won’t get it.” I tossed the paper towel in the garbage and walked out with Perla. “Because he’s been a little intense since finding out. Like he doesn’t miss a trick.”

She giggled. “Really? I think that’s nice.”

I shook my head. “It would be if you were pregnant and Frankie—your husband—was that way, but for Brady to be acting that way, it’s weird.”

* * *

Brady

I had to go into work this morning because of an early shipment, and Jack couldn’t be there, so I didn’t know about Allegra’s sickness. Had I known, I would have insisted she take the day off. Not that she would have listened.

So here I was at theBellissimaoffice in the city, and I couldn’t get off the damn elevator fast enough. Thankfully, I’d already been in the city, meeting with a new supplier, so it saved me a boatload of time on the road. But then again, who knew, because my anger had propelled me this far.

How come I had to hear about how sick she was from Perla and not Allegra herself? Heaven forbid she admitted she wasn’t feeling well. Or possibly needed something. This woman was going to be the death of me.

Once the doors opened, I turned the corner and walked down the hall. This was my first time at theBellissimaheadquarters, so I stopped at a receptionists’ desk when I realized I hadn’t a clue where I was going. “Excuse me,” I said, strumming my hands on the desk as a way to expel all my pent-up energy. “Can you please tell me where I can find Allegra Morelli? I was told she’s on this floor.”

One woman pointed down the hallway, her glasses sliding down the bridge of her nose. “Do you have an appointment?” She peered down at her computer.

Why did my life have to be so difficult? I shook my head. “I’m her boyfriend, and it’s a surprise.” Yeah, that felt like a good way to classify this visit. I mean, the boyfriend part was completely false, but what was I supposed to say?I’m the father of her unborn child. Oh, and if that’s not enough, I’m her roommate, too.

“Third door on the right. You can’t miss it. Her name is on it.” Of course it was. “She was in a meeting, but they should be out by now.”

“Thank you,” I replied, knowing there was no way she was in any meeting unless it was with a toilet.

I continued walking—more like speed-walking—to her office. I didn’t even need to get there to find her, though, because she was walking straight toward me, Perla beside her.

Allegra didn’t see me at first, looking at her sister as she pulled her hair back in some high twist on her head. But then she did. Her eyes met mine, and her throat bobbed as she swallowed. Yeah, she hadn’t expected to see me. I didn’t know why, though. What the hell did she think I was going to do when I found out she wasn’t feeling well?

“Brady,” Allegra said, her tone breathy. Her lips looked paler than usual and her skin clean—not a bit of makeup. She’d never looked more gorgeous.

That didn’t change the fact that I was here for a reason—to take her home. I narrowed my eyes. “Allegra, get your shit. We’re going home.”

“Aw, he saidwe,” Perla gushed, earning her a stop-that-right-this-instant look from Allegra, causing Perla to divert her eyes elsewhere.

Looking at me, Allegra scrunched her nose and crossed her arms, obviously being defiant.Figures she won’t listen to me.“Try that again because clearly you have a screw loose if you think I’m going to allow you to bark orders at me.”

Perla cleared her throat. “I’m just going to let you two. . . .” She nodded her head toward me. “Brady, nice to see you again.”

I tried to keep my eyes focused on Allegra, to see what was going on in that head of hers, but looked away for a split second to respond to Perla—“You, too, and thank you for calling me.”

“Of course,” she said before ducking out.

Allegra rolled her eyes and walked right past me, heading toward her office. Hopefully to get her shit, but I had a feeling that wouldn’t be the case. Regardless, I tried—“Good, so you’re going to listen to me.”

“No,” Allegra threw back. “I’m doing no such thing. I’m going to my office because I have work to do. It’s a workday, and I’m pregnant, not dying.”

Even if she were dying, something told me she’d dig her heels in and insist on staying. I was hot on her trail, my nose inhaling her wildflower scent as we went. I grabbed her by the elbow and spun her to face me. With a deep tone, I said, “You need to take it easy, and you spending most of your day in a bathroom isn’t going to do much for this magazine. You would get more work done at home anyway. We can stop on the way and pick you up some lemonade. I heard that helps with the nausea.”

She looked down at my grip on her and tried to get out of it, but I was stronger. “Heard?” She gave me sass, her eyes burning with a fire that could level an entire campsite. “Or read about in your precious book?”

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