Page 51 of Wicked Attraction

I nodded, happy to hear that everything was normal as far as pregnancies went. “And the baby is okay?”

He nodded. “Growing exactly as expected. Your baby’s development is where it should be. On your next visit, we might find out the gender if the little one cooperates.” He pointed to the screen where the little ball was facing away from us.

“Sounds good.” It hardly seemed soon enough to know if I was having a boy or a girl. How was the pregnancy moving along so fast?

“I take it that means you’ve decided to continue the pregnancy?”

I nodded. “Yeah.”

“You don’t sound sure.”

“I am sure. Absolutely.” I always wanted a child but thought I’d find a decent man first, one who wanted me, who thought I was great enough to marry, not just fuck.

“Plans never work out how you think, Doctor. I’m surprised and scrambling to catch up, but I’m sure.”

“That’s good news. I’m happy for you, Maureen.”

“Thanks.” I was happy for me, too, and it didn’t matter if Jasper believed me or if he was happy about it. I could support a child on my own and raise it on my own. It wasn’t how I pictured it, but few things in life were.

After leaving the doctor’s office, I texted Jasper to let him know I wouldn’t be coming in today. I needed to take some time for myself and tend to my health and well-being. I needed some me-time and some distance from Jasper, so I didn’t call Hulu to let him know my schedule for the day.

I ran errands and let my thoughts race, my mind wandering while I did mundane tasks that no one was immune from.Might as well get used to it,I told myself as I filled a shopping cart with groceries.

After I paid at the check-out counter–memo to self, save your overtime for feeding your baby–I refilled my prenatal prescription at the pharmacy and picked up something the doctor promised would help with the nausea.

Suddenly, I felt like those soccer moms I saw in the burbs of Vegas and all around Glitz, looking fabulous and running errands.

Yes! I can do this!

If I wasn’t dead on my feet, I might have stopped at the new boutique that had just opened up for another little black dress because, let’s face it, a girl could never have too many LBD’s, even if I wouldn’t be able to wear it for a while. But that would have to wait, at least until after I had a nap.

I grew more tired with every step, and the Emerald Isle entrance seemed farther away, my condo on the top floor almost out of reach. Maybe it was the small act of carrying groceries, something I rarely did because every store in town delivered. Maybe it was the weight of this pregnancy and my future, or maybe the lack of sleep, but the slog to get home seemed like a climb to the top of Mt. Everest.

“Hey! Yo!”

I was definitely exhausted because I never turned when men hollered vaguely at me. It was asking for trouble.

Still, too tired to resist, I turned without thinking and was greeted with a big meaty fist flying at my face at one hundred miles per hour. All at once, the groceries fell to the ground, and my knees buckled at the force of the hit.

“Son of a bitch!” My cheek stung, and I was pretty sure the skin had split open.

“You work at Midnight Mass, bitch?”

I nodded and looked up to see what piece of shit dared to attack me in broad daylight, but my left eye was already starting to swell, and blood was spilling down my cheek.

“I wait tables there most nights.” Was this one of those freaks I’d rejected recently?

“You’re their little fuck toy, ain’t you? The one all those Ashby motherfuckers use as a come dumpster?”

He let out a disgusted laugh, and I looked up again, trying to ID the big man who hit women. Pregnant women.

“I heard all three brothers fuck you at once. That true?”

He laughed like this was a fucking movie and he was the misunderstood villain, but I knew better. He was a piece of shit. He was also lucky that all I could think about was my baby.

“I’m just a waitress.”

“Bullshit,” he growled and kicked my chest with enough force to send me crashing to the concrete.

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