Page 38 of A Baby to Make Her His Bride

“Eventually here. Initially, in Santiago.”

“Wait. What?”

“Are you sure about this, Vi?” Hunter leaned in the doorway of the guest bedroom that she used when she visited him here in Vancouver. “Fealty to my wife demands I believe Jasper is as solid a person as was ever built, but you just got out of a rough marriage. You spent a couple of days with him a month ago and you’re prepared to follow him to Santiago? How well do you know him?”

“That’s kind of the point.” She smiled blithely, refusing to show any of her misgivings.

They had come back for dinner last night and announced that Vienna would be accompany Jasper to Santiago; there had been no mention of the baby. Hunter and Amelia were surprised, but Amelia had recovered quickly, saying how thrilled she was that they were getting together.

“We might have got to know each other better in Tofino if we’d had the chance,” Vienna told Hunter. “Since Jasper has to be in Santiago for a time, and I have flexibility, it makes sense for me to go with him. I’m looking forward to getting away from the attention here and checking out the art scene there. If things aren’t working out, I’ll come home.”

Please let it work out. She folded her top and smoothed it down her front, wondering what “work out” would look like. Love. That’s what. She couldn’t settle for anything less. Not again, but she couldn’t shake her nagging fear that she wasn’t the sort of person anyone loved.

“Why was he so upset last night when you two left?” Hunter asked.

“I told you.” She hated lying to him, but this was at least a partial truth. Jasperhadbeen concerned when she had told him about her conversation in Germany. “When I was at the wedding, I mentioned to Micah and Remy that something fishy was going on with REM-Ex. I thought it was simple good manners to warn them if they happened to be invested there. Jasper pointed out that it doesn’t look good on him if I started a whisper campaign while he was acquiring shares.”

“Remy would never reveal his source.”

“I don’t think Micah will, either. Neither of them had shares anyway. Micah sold his ages ago.”

“How was the wedding?” Hunter asked with mild interest.

“Beautiful.” She couldn’t help smiling as she remembered it. “Quinn and Micah seem very happy.”

“And Eden?” A shadow of concern flickered across Hunter’s expression.

“Also very happy.” She set her blouse into the suitcase. “I’ll apologize one last time for setting you up with her and promisenotto pursue a career in matchmaking.”

“Good thing. I’m pretty sure you’d starve,” he teased. “Do you want me to carry that down?” He nodded at her suitcase as she closed it.

“Thanks. Are you really worried about my going to Chile with Jasper?” She chewed the corner of her lip.

“Not worried exactly.” He hefted the case. “Disappointed. I prefer having you close by. I’ll miss you if you’re so far away.”

“Toronto is ‘close’?”

“Five hours is better than sixteen. At least I go to Toronto every few months.”

“I like this sentimental softie you’re turning into.” She lightly poked his chest.

He responded by giving her hair a tug. “I want you to be happy, Vi. You’re sure that this will do that for you?”

She wasn’t, but... “There’s only one way to find out.”

He cocked his head in acceptance of her logic and took her case down to Jasper’s car.

CHAPTER TEN

JASPERHADPLANNEDto fly commercial, but with Vienna coming along, he chartered a private jet and hired a maternity nurse to travel with them, one who would stay to provide prenatal care until Vienna found a doctor in Santiago.

The charter allowed them to fly earlier, which meant they would have a few days to get settled before he went into the office every day. He wanted to ensure Vienna was comfortable.

He was still trying to wrap his head around becoming a father. He’d always been of two minds on the idea. Growing up, he had assumed he would create a life like the one he had known—a stable, loving family with a wife and children.

Then he’d lost his mother, which had given him a front-row seat on his father’s grief, and had been judged not worthy of being a husband and father. That had messed with his ability to see himself in the role. That was why he’d been so careful in the ensuing years, refusing to put himself in the position of a surprise pregnancy again.

Despite that, he wasn’t the least bit conflicted on whether he wantedthisbaby. A persistent ache of impatience sat behind his sternum. He wanted to hold their babynow. Vienna’s concerns were sobering, making him all the more protective and urgent to get through the pregnancy so he could be hands-on with looking after their baby. At that point, it really would be a team effort on ensuring their child thrived.

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