In Sickness and in Wealth Read online

  According to the Internet, telling a guy in a romantic way almost always involved giving him your pregnancy test all wrapped up like a gift. Preferably after feeding him. Again, preferably a romantic steak dinner and wine. My own aside here—getting the guy happy and relaxed couldn't hurt.

  Because nothing says romance like giving a guy a stick you peed on wrapped in a bow. Especially after they've eaten. Maybe even during dessert over another glass of wine. And hoping he reads those two little pink lines correctly. Especially since the novice daddy-to-be presumably hasn't had the advantage of reading the instructions so he knows what two lines mean. As opposed to one or none or thirty-three.

  I could just imagine the confused looks he might give. What the hell is this? Are two lines good or bad? Am I supposed to be happy? Or sad and sympathetic? Because what guy pays attention to that stuff?

  Probably, if you're going to give a guy a pregnancy wand as a gift, just to be clear, you should spring for the one that says "pregnant" in the little window. Which I could always do, and simply retake the test. But why?

  Another great suggestion—getting down on one knee like you're proposing and asking him to be your baby daddy with the stick balanced on your fingertips like you're offering him an engagement ring. At that point, wasn't it a little too late? Like, he already was the daddy whether he wanted to be or not. And what if he said no? Talk about an emotional kick to the gut.

  Okay, so I was going to keep thinking. Whatever I ended up with, there wasn't going to be any question-asking on my part. No options. Just, You're going to be a dad, Super Sperm.

  Because, really, I still wondered how his sperm had gotten through. And Jus was just nerdy enough to enjoy the idea of a superpower. Though maybe not so much that it referred to his sperm.

  "What do you want to do for your birthday?" I asked him. What were the odds he'd say, Have a baby with you!

  He shrugged. "There's no need to make a fuss. Something intimate. Last year for my twenty-first I had a huge party. Went to too many bars. After the third bar, I don't remember the rest." He winked.

  "Kind of like your wedding," I said, because it was too good an opportunity to pass up. "I'm sensing a theme here." I laughed. "So not a repeat of last year?" I nudged him beneath the table with my foot. "Something you'll remember?" I gave him a hopeful look. "Maybe even forever. Got it. No problem."

  He gave me a suspicious look. "What are you planning?"

  "Nothing," I said, trying not to give anything away. Maybe I would tell him about the baby over breakfast in bed? Or do the really corny thing and put a cinnamon bun in the oven to heat up for him. And then drag him into the kitchen and point to it there in the oven. And then to my stomach. Until he got the idea.

  Jus could be naïve, but he was a quick one. It probably wouldn't take him long.

  If that failed, getting a stick I peed on while he ate homey waffles or pancakes was probably better than after a big steak dinner. Less heavy in the stomach when the shock set in. Or the delight. I'd hope for delight.

  "Your birthday is a Friday," I said as conversationally and calmly as I could. "Can you take it off?"

  He shook his head. "No, babe. Sorry—"

  "Meetings," I said before he could finish. "You will be in town?"

  "Is that a command?"

  I nodded. "It is."

  "Then yes. I'll make a point of it. I wouldn't dare travel and miss the first birthday I've ever had a girlfriend."

  "Girlfriend?" I shook my head. "And here I thought I was your wife."

  He laughed.

  "Speaking of wives, let's go away for our three months together. Just for a week or so. I'll be healed by then. The fall retail season will have barely begun. The weather will still be good." And I won't be big as a beach ball yet. "My big sample sale for the hospital will be over. It's perfect timing."

  "When's the sale again?" Jus asked with a tease.

  "September fourth." I kicked him playfully. Yes, sometimes I was violent.

  He could hardly not remember the date of the sale. I reminded him of it constantly, warning him not to go out of town for Flash's, and my, big event. It was his duty, and Riggins', to attend.

  "I'll look at my calendar."

  I smiled at him, thinking I would get him something special for three months together. Like a wedding cake topper with a bearded groom. I could have one specially made to look like him. Maybe one of those 3-D printing places.

  Chapter Eight

  Justin

  Friday at work I was alone in my office, head down working, when I got a text from a restricted number. My heart stopped. How sweet. A selfie of the girl I married. The ID-thieving bitch. In my hotel room. Sitting next to me, her head turned, while I was passed out on the bed, a marriage license next to me. She was smart. Still smart enough, at least, not to send me a picture of her face. But she'd made a mistake. This picture was from a different angle than the other two Dex and I had.

  Let's talk, the text read.

  Not yet, I thought. Not until I have you where I want you.

  Adrenaline kicked in. My heart thumped back into action. My pulse raced. The phone shook in my hand. I blew out a breath, trying to control my excitement. Was that what I thought it was?

  I enlarged the photo. Yes, identifying marks. A couple of small scars. And the shape of her left eye. People's faces aren't ever symmetrical. One eye is always larger or smaller than the other. Deeper set. Droopier. The same with the mouth and nose. Each half is slightly different. Having the measurements of both sides makes getting a match much more likely. Now we could extrapolate the distance between her eyes, a key measurement we needed. Get a more accurate measurement of the length of her nose. All the data we needed to find her.

  I'd just won the spying lottery. Eager and excited. Thrill of the hunt. Could she use this picture to destroy me? I'd bet my lunch money running it through an error-level analyzer would prove it was authentic and unaltered. Too bad for her it didn't prove anything except we'd been in a hotel room together. If she'd acted on this earlier when I'd been unsure of Kay and the existence of surveillance tape, then yeah. But now, as long as Kay swore she was the girl at my wedding, I was safe. Dex and I were already implementing a plan that would render the Kay imposter powerless. I just needed a little more time.

  Ophie knocked on my office door. I jumped.

  "Sorry to startle you, Jus." She'd started calling me Jus after realizing that was what Kayla called me. And putting a flirty flip in her voice at every opportunity.

  I should have corrected her. Told her to call me Justin. But after all this time working together, I refused to turn into alpha asshole boss on her now. She'd been with me since the beginning. I gave her more leeway than anyone else. Even Riggins was more formal with me than Ophie. She was treading close to the edge of her line. I hoped I didn't have to rein her in.

  "Riggins needs to see you immediately."

  Her perfume wafted over to me. Was she wearing Kay's signature scent? It smelled slightly different on her. Not as enticing. What the shit was Ophie up to?

  "He asked me to ask you to bring the Smithson presentation and the drawings for the Reno warehouse expansion. He's in his office."

  I couldn't criticize her work. She was as efficient, dedicated, and loyal as she had always been. She practically begged to work late hours with me, even when I tried to send her home. Since I'd married Kayla, Ophie had gradually started fixing up more. Wearing more makeup. Dressing in skirts. Getting fashion advice from the merch buyers on the floor. Trying to look a little too similar to Kay. And failing to match her allure.

  I preferred the old way Ophie looked. It was funky, nerdy, and cute. I didn't dare tell her that. She took any compliment from me the wrong way—as encouragement. And any criticism of appearance as devastation.

  If her familiarity and flirting with me continued, Riggins would have to talk to her. Anything coming from me was a landmine.

  The hunger and betrayal in her eyes when she t
hought I wasn't looking sent a chill down my spine. But there was no way any boss could bring up a look in a woman's eyes as grounds for speaking to an employee. Not without getting his ass sued.

  I nodded. "Tell him I'll be right there."

  I set my phone down and dug through the paperwork to find the plans Riggins wanted. I grabbed then and my laptop, and headed to find Riggins. I was halfway to his office when I realized I'd left my phone on my desk. I turned around to go back and get it.

  Ophie was walking down the hall behind me, holding my phone out to me. "Jus! Hold up. You forgot this!"

  Her smile was almost smug. As I took it from her, I couldn't shake the feeling she was spying on me. Damn. My phone was password protected. There was no way she could have read that text from Dex.

  * * *

  Kayla

  I was going to throw Jus a small party. Just a few close friends and family. My parents would want to spend Justin's first birthday as their son-in-law with him. I'd invite my aunt and uncle; Dex's parents, too. Riggins, Lazer, Dex. Britt and a few of the girls to round out the party.

  I called caterers and ordered the colorblind correction glasses for Justin in a style of frame I hoped would accentuate the shape and structure of his face. Make him look bookishly nerdy and hot. I ordered a cake from the bakery up the street from Flash.

  And then I got a flash of inspiration—ha ha—on how to tell him about the baby. But I needed Britt's help. So between planning like crazy for the benefit sample sale, and stopping by the children's hospital for my weekly visit, I had to take Britt into my confidence.

  I took her out to lunch in Bellevue on a Saturday afternoon, far away from Flash so no one we knew would overhear. The media had stopped lurking behind every bush now that the novelty of our marriage had worn off. I wanted to tell her my news in person without a chance of Jus overhearing.

  "You are sworn to absolute secrecy." I pointed a finger at her. "On penalty of…of—"

  "Of what? Taking back the shoes I borrowed?" Britt laughed. "You're never getting those adorable Jimmy Choos back anyway, and you know it. You can afford a new pair."

  She'd lost her awe of me being a billionaire's wife surprisingly quickly. And was right back to being the old Britt who flipped me crap when she wanted. And wasn't good at returning things.

  "I'm going to have a baby!" It felt so good to blurt it out to someone I actually knew.

  She squealed and hugged me and got a happy tear in her eye. "You took my advice and got pregnant ASAP! Smart girl! Justin is now yours for life. Child support, baby! Child support as insurance should anything go wrong!"

  I shook my head. "I knew you'd say that, Britt. You're evil. It's not like that at all."

  I was unconsciously playing with my napkin, nervously wringing it. "This wasn't planned. It was an accident." I bit my lip. "I'm worried about how Jus is going to take it."

  "He's crazy for you. Walks around with a big grin at the office all the time. Thinks he's a stud now that he's caught you. He's going to be the proudest dad ever. And if he isn't? So what! It's indisputably his, right?"

  "You have to ask?" I tried not to sound as indignant as I felt. "Of course it is!"

  "Well," she said with a look of the world on her face. "You seemed to have a thing for Lazer going on for a while there."

  I waved off her insinuation. "Like I would cheat on Jus!"

  Which, of course, I might have in the early days. But that felt like ancient history already.

  Britt shrugged. "Jus is yours now. And so is the baby. He's going to have to deal with it."

  She sighed deeply and happily. Smugly. "I hope it's a girl, Lala. A pretty blond little girl who looks like you! Justin will adore her. And we'll have so much fun dressing her. She can call me Aunty Britt. I mean, she doesn't have any real aunts, does she?"

  I shook my head. "Not yet. Not until Justin's brothers marry."

  "I'll be long established as her favorite aunt long before that." Her smile was radiant.

  Just then Ophie came around the corner from the direction of the ladies' room. Had she been hiding behind a potted palm and eavesdropping or what? My heart stopped as she approached our table and gave us a big, fake smile.

  "Kayla! Britt! Funny running into you here." She seemed both nervous and excited.

  I smiled cautiously back at her. "Ophie. What brings you to our part of town?"

  "Shopping. For my mom's birthday."

  Something about the way she said "birthday" gave me a chill. Ophie lived across the lake in Seattle. Where there was plenty of shopping. Yes, we had the Bravern in Bellevue, with Neiman Marcus and other high-end shops. But it wasn't as if she couldn't have found something in Seattle. We made uncomfortable, stilted small talk for a few minutes before she excused herself.

  "I was just on my way out," she said. "Say hi to Jus for me." She gave a little, awkward wave and walked away.

  I watched her disappear out the door into the sunshine and suppressed a shudder. "Why do I feel like someone's walked on my grave every time I see her? How is she at work? Still panting after Jus?"

  Britt was my spy.

  She shrugged. "She thought he was hers. So, yeah. She follows him around like a puppy dog."

  I frowned. "I wish I could insist Jus fire her. But he has no grounds and he's fond of her." I grimaced. "And loyal to those who've been loyal to him. Why do I get the feeling she's spying on me? That this 'accidental' meeting was anything but. I wouldn't put it past her to have been skulking around the corner with a cup to her ear. Do you think she overheard anything about the baby?"

  Britt shook her head. "How could she? No. It's too noisy in here. She was in the bathroom."

  "Supposedly." I stirred my coffee.

  "No. We played it cool. There's no way she heard anything. And even if she did, she wouldn't be cheeky enough to spill the news to Justin. What would she have to gain by that?"

  But I was thinking about Lazer, too. And what damage she could do with that.

  Chapter Nine

  Kayla

  In mid-August in Seattle, the days are suddenly noticeably shorter. The shadows are longer. And the marine air, better known as clouds or fog to everyone else, comes in in the mornings, giving a preview of fall and keeping the days cooler.

  Justin's birthday, however, dawned clear and blue. With the promise of heat. I took the clear sunshine and blue skies as a good omen. I was telling him about the baby today. Enough of secrets. Things had to be out in the open if we had any chance of making it as a "married" couple. And this secret wasn't going away.

  My doctor had proclaimed I had a healthy pregnancy. All signs pointed to it continuing. Even my fall and bruised ribs hadn't hurt my developing baby. My growing fetus was one tough cookie. Which pleased me in an odd way.

  I was going to be showing soon. Already my waist was growing thicker. I'd been able to pass it off as coming from inactivity while I healed. But my bruises were almost gone now. Faint hints of yellow and green. And Jus was getting worried that I was still so tired and didn't seem to have much appetite.

  Fortunately, I'd only actually hurled on a few inconvenient times. I'd been able to hide my nausea and cravings pretty thoroughly.

  So, with ten million dollars on the line, and most importantly my heart and future happiness, I was going to tell my "husband," whom I'd grown to love beyond reason, that he was going to be a father. In the most adorable way I could think of. And, okay, I gave up. It did involve giving him a peed-on wand with two pink bars he'd likely think were gray. If not for my other gift to him. As a last resort, really.

  I'd given Magda the morning off. Which she only grudgingly took when I let her put a breakfast feast for Jus in the fridge the night before. With cooking instructions for me to stick in the oven.

  I got up early, before Jus, and set the table, complete with presents. And put the breakfast casserole and monkey bread Magda had left for us in the ovens.

  I was just putting the finishing touches on the tab
le when Jus strolled in from the bedroom in his boxers, rubbing his eyes. Half naked, he looked hot. I don't know. Love makes a person more attractive, not less. So maybe Jus still was a little nerdy. But that didn't dim his hotness and appeal. Not in my eyes.

  My pulse was leaping with nerves. My stomach in a knot. I hoped this would turn into another "inconvenient rush to the toilet" situation.

  "Happy birthday!" I ran to him and threw myself into his arms.

  He caught me in a hug and kissed me. "Best birthday ever already! You must be feeling better. You don't wince anymore when I hug you."

  "That's just because I love you and think you're totally hot, golden birthday boy," I teased.

  "And before I was just a geek," he said with a grin. His dick was hard as he pressed against me.

  "An adorable geek who just needed a simple makeover to bring out his real animal magnetism." I kissed him again quickly and tried to pull away.

  "Where are you going? Don't tease me. It's customary for the birthday guy to get a birthday boink." His eyes were dark and aroused.

  "Absolutely! But there's disagreement among authorities on the subject exactly when during the day is optimum. Mine say after breakfast." I pulled away from him as the oven timer went off, thinking he might refuse that boink after he got the news.

  "Hard woman." He saw the table then. "Wow! A birthday table! Is all that for me?" He inhaled deeply. "It smells good in here. Is that monkey bread?" He rubbed his hands together.

  I grabbed the oven mitts, put the casserole on the table, and dumped the monkey bread onto a plate. "It is indeed. Your mom said monkey bread has been your favorite since you were little. And it's tradition to make it for you on your birthday."

  He was beaming as he took a seat at the table. "Look at these presents."

  Yeah. Look at them. I hoped he was still as excited about them once he opened them. I'd pulled out all the stops for this birthday and daddy-to-be reveal. No matter how it went, it was all I could do. I'd done my absolute best.