Page 131 of The Contract Marriage

“Yeah, you are. Told me to lower the volume, like you can hear anything from the restaurant.”

“They’re fucking birds.” I grind my teeth. “Angelo—”

The door opens and Max climbs in. “You should’ve come in,” she says, looking straight at me.

“Told you.” Angelo smirks.

“No,” I say. “How’s she doing?”

“How do you think? She’s pregnant, hormones surging like a tide with five moons, and she’s alone, no husband to hold her and rub her back.”

“If she isn’t showing yet, her back’s probably fine,” Angelo says.

“Really?” If Max’s eyes were rocket launchers, he’d be dead. “Have a lot of personal experience being pregnant, do we?”

Angelo suddenly seems unsure of himself. “Uh… No.”

“Right. So snap it shut and keep it shut.” She makes a zipping motion across her lips, then turns to me. “She looked really wistful and sad when I told her what Rhys does for me.”

Guilt burns in my chest, but there’s an element of relief as well. Olivia is still pregnant with my baby. I should be there for her, but… “Does she want it?” I manage through a tight throat.

“Want what?”

“The baby. Does she still want it? Hugh’s screwed already, you know.”

“What?!” Max screeches. “What the hell kind of talk is that, Liam?”

“She just wanted the baby to fuck her dad over. But that’s done, so…” I shove my fingers into my hair. I don’t even know what I’m thinking anymore. My thoughts are too jumbled, and I haven’t slept in too long.

“Don’t be a moron! Of course she wants the baby! She—” Max stops and inhales. Closes her eyes, and seems to be counting. Finally, she regards me again. “She needs you.” Her voice softens. “And you love her.”

I look away. Max wasn’t there when Olivia couldn’t even admit that she has any sort of feelings for me.

“And,” Max says, “I’m sure Olivia won’t be so cruel as to deny you access to the baby if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“Every woman wants a trustworthy babysitter,” Angelo says, nodding sagely.

“Angelo, just drive.” Max turns back to me. “You’re Liam Fucking Kingswood. You’re the father of her baby. So don’t let her get away without a fight. If she doesn’t love you the way you deserve, make her.”

Chapter Fifty-Six

Olivia

The following Sunday, I get a table at Himeko and wait. To be honest, I don’t know how it’s going to go. The fact that I know the winner of the auction date with Liam makes it both easier and harder. It’ll depend completely on how she feels about me now. It’s been twenty years since we last hung out.

The appointment is at eleven, and I’m ten minutes early. But London isn’t known for her punctuality—

“Oh my God, it’s really you! I was absolutely stunned when you contacted me,” comes a bright voice. “Thank goodness I had to cut my vacation in Greece short. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to see you.”

Or maybe things have changed.

I smile at London Bickham, one of the girls I’d known since kindergarten. She and I lost touch after Mom’s death. Deena thought it was snotty for me to go to a private school and switched me to a public school so I’d “know what the real world is like.” Of course, she put Brielle in my old school, claiming her little angel needed to expand her horizons.

London is still single. Now she’s a trust fund baby who’s determined to enjoy her life to the fullest and travels all around the world. Her golden hair is all natural; the perpetually wide eyes that make her look almost doll-like are from her mother, who used to be a beauty pageant queen. Although London has a rep for being a little dim and vapid, she’s doing better than most. At least she has loving parents, and has never lacked for affection.

She spreads her arms, and we hug.

“I thought you were busy kicking out your icky father and stepmother and cutting them off. Heard it through the grapevine.” She hums the tune as we sit down.