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She hugged her midriff with her arms. “I wanted to be sure. I only went to the doctor yesterday.”
“How did this happen?” he asked bluntly.
She raised her eyebrows. “I think you know.”
“Right.” Mind-blowing sex.
“My contraceptive ring accidentally fell out, and I didn’t notice. I didn’t give it much thought when I realized what happened.” She shrugged. “I’ve always wanted kids. I guess it’s happening sooner than I anticipated.”
A very real sense of relief washed over him at her words. She wanted this baby, but birth control failure had led to very real consequences for the both of them. “You’re going to announce we’re still together.”
She blinked. “Why?”
“Why? Because I don’t want to look like a first-class jerk in front of the world, that’s why.”
“That your reason?” She appeared bewildered and a flash of hurt crossed her face.
“Aren’t you the one who has been all about public image until now?” he tossed back. “Maybe this pregnancy is another PR stunt.”
She dropped her arms, her expression turning shocked and offended. “What?”
“Are you saying Odele didn’t plant the story in Gossipmonger?”
“I didn’t know anything about it!”
He let another wave of satisfaction wash over him before he turned all-business. “Anyway, it doesn’t matter. We’re going to start acting and pretending like we never have before—the happy couple expecting a bundle of joy.”
She lifted her chin. “I don’t need your help.”
He knew Chiara had the resources, but that was beside the point. “Sweetheart,” he drawled, making the endearment sound ironic, “whether you want it or not, you’ve got it.”
“Or?”
“Odele will be needing medication to deal with the ugly media firestorm.”
“And will a wedding in Vegas follow?” she asked sarcastically. “I’ll need to put Odele on retainer again.”
“Whatever works.”
She threw up her hands. “It’s ridiculous. How long do you plan for this to go on?”
Until he figured out his next steps. He was buying himself time. “Until I don’t look like a loser who abandoned his girlfriend the minute she turned up pregnant.”
* * *
Rick paced in the nearly empty library of his multimillion-dollar new home. Raking his fingers through his hair, he stared out the French doors at the blazing sunshine bathing his new property in light. He’d just met with a landscaper and walked over the grounds. This morning, his appointment had been uppermost in his mind...until he’d checked the news.
Still, what was it all for? He’d bought and renovated this house as a keen investor...but now it felt insignificant. Because what really mattered in his life was half a city away. Pregnant. With his baby.
His gaze settled on the two upholstered armchairs. He’d brokered a cease-fire and even a rapprochement between Chiara and her father, but he couldn’t figure out how to dig himself out of a hole—except by muscling in on Chiara earlier and ordering her to get back together until he figured things out. But then what?
His cell phone buzzed, and he fished it out of his pocket.
“Rick.” Camilla Serenghetti’s voice sounded loud and clear.
Rick hadn’t even bothered to look at who was calling. He hadn’t had a chance to figure out what to say to his family, but it was showtime.
“I read I’m going to be a grandma, but I know it can’t be true. My son would have told me such happy news.”
