Page 27 of Suddenly Pregnant

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“Hey, man. How are you holding up?” asked Chase, one of Poppy’s twin brothers.

Jack had met him in passing a day earlier, and now, as the family got together at home after the funeral, he had checked on him a couple of times. He had to be less than thirty-years-old, and looked like he was a former American football player. “Good, thanks.”

“I’m glad you came. We all love Billie,” he said, pointing his head in the direction of the group of people milling about, with Billie in the middle talking to Aunt Peggy, who had insisted Jack also called her that way.

“Same here,” he said, then lifted his glass of beer.

Same? What the hell did that mean? He meant like he loved her personality, her intelligence, her friendly ways. That was all. But Chase didn’t understand him that way, because he touched his chest as in relieved, then patted Jack on the back. “Great to hear that. Growing up, the girls always had their little club, but I always watched them. Billie is a special girl, you know? We are all here talking about Uncle Bill, but truth is, he wasn’t the best dad.”

“That’s what I hear.”

“Yeah. So how long are you in town for?”

Good question.“Not sure yet, to be honest,” he said casually.

It’d become increasingly hard to fool people in Australia, and he knew he couldn’t stay for several more days without raising suspicions. Billie had to pack her father’s stuff, take care of legal matters, and hire a realtor to put the house on the market. He’d been trying to help as much as possible, but that didn’t make for a shorter stay for her.

Going home without her, though, felt wrong. A small part of him feared that in a near future she’d second guess living in Australia, after spending days with the warmth of her family members. Anxiety clawed at his chest with the thought of her not returning with him. Or at all.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he fished it out. His father’s face showed on his screen.

He’d been texting back and forth, and successfully avoiding his calls for the past four days. But to ignore them would only raise the red flags. So he lifted up a finger and mouthed, “I have to get this,” then scurried up the stairs to the room he’d been staying with Billie.

After he closed the door, he swiped to accept the call.

“Yeah?” he said casually, hoping his father wouldn’t notice the note of apprehension in his voice.

“How’s Texas?” his father asked, his tone impatient.

Fuck.He already knew it. “It’s a bit muggy, but otherwise pleasant,” he said, trying to buy time until he told him the truth. He wouldn’t give a shit for what his dad thought of his personal life, especially since his father hadn’t been loyal to his mother or his family. But he didn’t want to fail as the CEO, after guaranteeing his father and the shareholders no more scandals.

“Get fucking serious, Jack. Son, I don’t give a shit about you banging your assistant. I’ve done that, too many times to remember. But to abandon your duties to follow her across the globe?”

“I’m not just banging my assistant,” Jack said, anger lacing his voice. Though he adjusted his attitude as a thought flashed in his mind. Then what were they doing? He’d be a good father for his kid he hoped, but what would he be to her? What was he being right now, besides fucking selfish? An uneasiness settled in his chest, and he sighed into the phone. “How did you find out where I was?”

“I was checking in the airfield and the concierge mentioned you chartered a jet. I didn’t understand why you didn’t use the company one. Then I connected the dots—and gave her a generous tip so she wouldn’t mention that you went to Texas on vacation with your assistant to anyone.”

A current of embarrassment coursed through him. Last thing he needed was his father to cover his tracks. “I’m not here on vacation. Billie’s dad died.”

“That’s unfortunate, but you need to get your ass back before the media finds out. Or the shareholders,” his father said, frustration lacing his voice.

The muscle on his jaw twitched. His father was right, unfortunately. He’d already been gone for a few days, and if Billie returned to Australia in three days as she had asked when she requested the emergency leave of absence at work—it’d be strange to return to work the same day as she. A dead giveaway. He should leave sooner. “I’m not on a leash. She’s not married, and neither am I.”

“Yes, but she’s your assistant. How do you think that’s going to look?”

With his free hand, Jack ran his fingers down his face. “Listen, you don’t have to worry about it.”

“Are you serious? You’re my only hope for this company to stay in the family. Amy isn’t interested, and if you keep fucking it up, that won’t happen.”

“Don’t overreact,” he said, still unwilling to give his father too many details. The pregnancy was out of the question. She’d show more after the six-month mark, he hoped, or at least after that mark, in four months, he didn’t care who she told about the pregnancy. He’d have shown the shareholders he could keep making the company successful and profitable—money talked louder than reputation.

Although if he married her, a voice inside him whispered, the media would eat that shit up. He’d be the reformed bad boy, and they’d back off him for a while. Only until he fucked up again. Would he? He’d never cheat on Billie, that much he knew. Would he break her heart? His heart skipped a beat. She didn’t deserve this nonsense. She deserved better.

He couldn’t marry her just as a PR op. Wouldn’t be fair to her or to their baby.

He’d have to marry her because he loved her… but that meant exposing himself in a worse way he had to the world. To her. To himself.

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