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“I wouldn’t advise it. You’re going to show more than you are pretty soon, and people will figure it out. They are going to make awful assumptions about you and run with them. It might hurt your career and your foundation. Everyone loves a playgirl, not so many love an unwed single mom who can’t name the baby’s father.” He had a point.
“When would I have to move in?” Maybe I’d be given some time to regroup and come up with a better plan.
“Tonight.” I can’t believe he said that with a straight face.
“I can’t. Not tonight …it’s too soon.” I was in full panic mode.
“After dinner, we will go to your apartment, and I’ll sit in your living room and make small talk with your delightful roommates while you pack a bag for the week, then you and I are going back to my place. I already have your little nook furnished and decorated. You will read and sign the contracts at my place. We’ll get some ice cream … I might be kidding about that and get you in bed because a pregnant woman needs her rest.” He was Lord of New York again, and it kinda made me hot … as much as I didn’t want to admit it.
“What’s in the box other than contracts?” I hated surprises, and my guess was, whatever he had in the box would be a doozy.
“You will have to open it when our guests arrive.” His smile was positively devilish.
“What guests … Alec? Please … I’m not ready for this.” I had already cried enough. I didn’t want to become a blathering idiot, but I was terrified of what he might spring on me. “I don’t know how to make this all go away. I just want to have a baby and live my life.”
He was sort of a mastermind of surprise. His grand gestures were starting to give me post-traumatic stress disorder.
“Trust me, Kylie, that’s what I want for you too. I hope … I’ll be included in my child’s life, but this assures he or she has one that they’ll be proud of. I wouldn’t be doing this if you hadn’t lied about who you were. I have a strong feeling I know why you did, and I want to dig you out of the hole you created for yourself.”
Heat rose on my neck.
“There’s nothing wrong with being a sexually liberated woman?” I started to fume.
“Absolutely not, those are usually the kinds of women I prefer to date, but there is a little bit more of an issue with a sexually reluctant woman pretending to date gay men and men who are unattainable to seem as if they’ve reached the peak of sexual liberation. There’s nothing wrong with being who you are, Kylie. You’re out there helping kids like you. What’s wrong is not owning your story.” He had a point, though I hated to admit it.
“So, you get to be a hero, and I’m the damsel in distress?” That sucked.
“Or … I get to be the hero, and you get to be the mother of a child, the CEO of a foundation that helps kids overcome trauma and a staunch businesswoman who doesn’t take shit from anyone. Which is more of who you are.”
“How is this less fake?” I nailed him with that question.
“It’s not; it’s just a better fake for all of us.” Well, now we knew what page we were on.
“Do you have any other questions? It’s almost time for dinner.” His face was sweet and patient as I bombarded him with worries and thoughts.
For the next ten minutes, I made stupid excuses for which he had smart solutions. I voiced my concerns about not having a place to put my clothes. What if I wanted to jam out in the living room, and where would I see my friends? It all ended up boiling down to “We’ll figure it out when we get there.” I had exhausted all my options and ran out of wiggle room; I was going to have to live with Alec unless I could figure something else out during dinner.
“Okay are we settled then?” He became all smoldering and hot again. “I have a roommate?” The way he said roommate made my insides melt.
“I guess.” I gave in.
“Great, and just in time, our guests are here.” He turned to the front door, and I saw about fifty or more kids from our center all dressed up and ready for a fancy meal. “We bought them clothes and invited them tonight. Maralis was the one to pick who got to come. The criteria were grades, participation in center services, and desire to have an elegant dinner with you and me for our special announcement.” His eyes narrowed, and he got that devilish look in his eye.
