Page 26 of Baby Daddy Protector

“That was amazing,” I said, my tone sleepy and my eyes heavy. “You should think about hiring yourself out as a stress-reliever after our contract is up.”

“Hmm.” His deep chuckles resonated through my back as his chest pressed up against me. “Maybe I will, princess, maybe I will.”

Much as I wanted to stay awake and continue this playful banter, my eyes soon closed and I drifted off into a deep, dreamless sleep, the feel of Z’s arms slipping beneath me to carry me up to our bed.

EIGHTEEN

Ihad always considered Thanksgiving a time to kick back and relax, enjoy some turkey and all the fixings and watch sports on TV. I’d never considered the media firestorm currently whirling around the townhouse as something even in the realm of possibilities.

“How did they find out?” Es asked, her gaze locked on the TV screen in front of us. “We haven’t told anyone. No one knew except my father and the physician. Even the people who knew we’d be trying, like my dad’s staff, didn’t know about the positive test.”

“I don’t know,” I shook my head and raked a hand through my hair. “The paparazzi must’ve been following us around and put two and two together.”

That was the only rational explanation I could come up with for the fact that Es and I had our pictures plastered all over every network tabloid show across the country. The headlines read everything from “An Early Christmas Present for the Princess” to “The Poor Boy and the Princess Make a Baby.” If that wasn’t bad enough, the phones had been ringing off the hook with news outlets calling for a statement from the expecting mom and dad. I might be comfortable behind a weapon, but I sure as hell had no desire to get in front of the camera.

Es’s PR team was buzzing around the place, reconfirming my worst fears—there was no way to get out in front of this situation now. The best we could hope for was to ride the wave to a positive conclusion.

For her part, Es adjusted to the situation quickly. Then again, she’d been born to life in the public eye. I hadn’t. She chuckled and placed her hand on my arm. “Don’t look so grim. This is actually perfect timing. We can announce our engagement before the holidays and get it out of the way. We’ll say it was a whirlwind romance.”

I wasn’t so sure. “I don’t know. I’m not really ready for all this yet.”

Es shook her head at me. “What did you expect would happen when you agreed to marry a royal? This is nothing compared to how hyped up things will get for our wedding. Don’t be so naïve.”

“I’m not naïve,” I said, feeling oddly defensive. “I guess I just thought I’d be able to stay in the background and let you and the baby take the spotlight. I’m not really cut out to be a public figure. I’ve got too many skeletons in my closet.”

“Hmm,” one of the PR guys said, giving a derisive snort. “Well, if your past is anything like your wardrobe, we’re all in trouble, honey.”

“Hey,” I scowled down at my casual black T-shirt and jeans. I wasn’t expecting to be seen in public today. “What’s wrong with my outfit? It’s clean and it’s comfortable.”

“It’s also boring and hardly befitting for the future husband of a princess.” The guy walked around me, assessing me from all sides. “Body’s not bad. Hair’s a bit scruffy. Face is good if we can get you to stop glowering at everyone. It’ll be a challenge, but I can work with it. What time’s the interview again?”

A woman behind the guy called, “Seven o’clock tonight.”

“Interview?” I took a step back. “I never agreed to any interview.”

“Good thing, too. We can’t have you mucking it all up even worse than it already is, now can we?” the guy said, his thumbs flying across his phone screen as he typed. “I need to get on this if I’m going to get you ready in time.”

“Get me ready? You’re here for Es, not me.” My frown darkened. “And I won’t muck anything up.”

“This team is here for the royal family, of which you will soon be a part, big boy. Best get used to it now.” The guy clicked off his phone and walked away before I could respond.

Grumbling under my breath, I moved in closer to Es’s side where she sat in a stylist’s chair while she was primped to within an inch of her life. She looked paler than before, and I didn’t like it one little bit. I leaned closer to whisper, “Are you okay?”

Es flashed a wan smile. “Yeah, just a tad nauseous again.”

I walked over to the credenza and pulled out a fresh baggie of saltines from my store of snacks I kept stashed around the townhouse then carried them back to Es. “When was the last time you ate?”

“I don’t know. Breakfast, I suppose.”

“That was over five hours ago.” I checked my watch. “The doctor said you should eat every two hours. What about your pills?”

“I’m fine,” she said, nibbling on a saltine. “And I don’t need a pill. I don’t like taking them during the day. They make me sleepy. Quit fussing.”

“It’s my job to fuss,” I muttered. “By the way, I told these people I don’t want to be the spokesperson tonight.”

“Fine.” Es took a sip from the cup of tea her assistant handed to her, then nodded, a bit of color returning to her cheeks. “You can stand by my side and play the strong, silent type. You’ll be okay, don’t worry.”

“What if this all goes to hell?”

---