Chapter 38
Despite my intentions to take things slowly with Cole, I am falling hard and fast for my charming, charismatic, and frankly fit as fuck baby daddy. Being with him feels so… right. Which is why I’ve slept in his bed every night for the past seven nights, swinging by my own apartment only to collect clean clothes, and hanging around long enough for my brothers and sisters-in-law to visit.
This evening, it’s Rian and Rebekka’s turn to check in on me. ‘How are you feeling?’ Rebekka asks, as Magda, my housekeeper, places a tray of steaming tea and an assortment of homemade cakes and cookies on the kitchen island between us.
‘Tired, but good.’ I flash her my most convincing smile, neglecting to mention that my fatigue has nothing to do with the child I’m growing in my stomach, and everything to do with his father keeping me up all night, every night, since he so randomly re-entered my life. We’re certainly making up for lost time. And the more time I spend with Cole Hartmann, the more time I crave with him.
My boyfriend is something else. By day, he’s the ruthless billionaire my brothers can’t stand the mere mention of.
By night, he’s the most affectionate, attentive man I’ve ever met.
While Cole is ridiculously busy micromanaging his new project and running the rest of his empire across the sea, he insists we dine together every evening, even if that sometimes isn’t until nine or ten o’clock, by which time I’ve usually consumed my body weight in peanut butter.
Rebekka reaches for the teapot, then hesitates, turning to Magda. ‘Is this decaffeinated tea p>
‘Yes, sorry. I got rid of all the regular tea because I kept getting the teabags mixed up.’ Magda shoots Rebekka an apologetic look.
She and Rian exchange tiny smiles. ‘No, it’s fine,’ she says breezily.
Magda leaves us to chat, busying herself cleaning elsewhere. If she’s noticed my bed hasn’t been slept in, she hasn’t mentioned it. Let’s hope Killian doesn’t find any reason to ask her though, because while all our staff sign airtight non-disclosure agreements, he has been known to be persuasive when it comes to gathering information.
My phone vibrates on the island. The Yank flashes up on my screen. Incoming call. Shit. I snatch it up guiltily and cancel the call.
Rian’s eyebrows furrow. ‘Who’s the Yank p>
I suppose it could have been worse—I could have saved his actual name, or baby daddy.
‘He’s someone I’m consulting for.’ It’s not entirely a lie.
Oh, god. I’m going to have to come clean.
I hate sneaking around.
The phone buzzes again, and I cancel the call instantly.
‘Persistent, isn’t he?’ Rian’s forehead creases into a frown.
‘Oh, you have no idea p>
‘So, when is your big scan?’ Rebekka thankfully changes the subject, then reaches for the teapot. Rian beats her to it, pouring tea into her cup, then into mine, gazing at his fiancée with sheer adoration.
‘Next week.’ I accept the cup Rian places in my hands.
‘Will you find out the sex?’ he asks.
‘Yes, though I’m pretty sure I know already.’ I blow on my tea. ‘I’m convinced it’s a boy p>
‘Are you sure you’re okay with doing this alone?’ Rian’s big brown eyes bore into mine, sympathy flickering in his irises.
A fresh wave of guilt stabs my stomach. I have to tell him—tell all of them—but I’m nowhere near ready. I’m enjoying the little bubble Cole and I have created too much to have someone burst it yet, because when it does burst, it’ll burst with one hell of a bang. ‘I’m not doing it alone,’ I force my brightest smile.
‘Of course you’re not.’ Rebekka pats my hand. ‘You have all of us p>
Yep—for now. Until they find out the truth.
‘Did you guys set a date for the wedding yet?’ I glance at the diamond glittering on Rebekka’s left hand.
‘God no,’ Rian laughs. ‘Can you imagine? Avery would string me up by the balls if we did anything to take the attention away from her big day! God knows it took her long enough to set her own date. We won’t risk doing anything to steal her limelight—we all know how much she loves it p>
I snigger. It’s true; my future-sister-in-law thrives on being in the limelight. Although now that she has Killian’s undivided attention, she doesn’t look anywhere else for attention these days.
I reach for a peanut butter cookie, Magda baked them especially for me. ‘I’ll need to cut back on the cookies or my bridesmaid dress won’t fit p>
‘You’ll be gorgeous, don’t give it a second thought,’ Rebekka says kindly. ‘Call us after the scan, I’m dying to know if we’re getting a niece or a nephew.’ She rubs her palms together excitedly.
‘Unless you want us to come with you?’ Rian adds as an afterthought.
‘Oh, God no.’ I swat my hand in front of my face. ‘I’ll be fine. Tate will be with me. And Felstead,’ I glance towards the front door with a scowl. He’s probably pacing the place. He just can’t relax, even when in the apartment block, unlike Tate, who’s probably taking the opportunity to work out in my home gym. ‘Nico will probably come with me too,’ I lie. ‘And maybe Livvie.’ Another lie.
It’s easier than telling them the truth.
‘As long as you’re okay.’ Rian’s voice is thick with concern.
‘I’m more than okay, please stop worrying about me. I’m sick of telling you all—I’m a big girl; I can take care of myself p>
‘I wish you didn’t have to,’ Rebekka blurts. ‘Are you sure you don’t want the boys to track down your mystery man p>
‘There’s no need.’ I can’t meet her eye. ‘How’s work?’ I deliberately change the subject.
‘Business is booming.’ Rian straightens his tie. ‘What about you? Are you working on the hotel project p>
I almost choke on my tea. ‘Which hotel?’ My voice comes out strangled as the blood drains from my face.
‘The Cromwell Hotels, wasn’t it? London and Edinburgh p>
Relief courses through me. ‘Yes, I’m overseeing the project, but Marlene is taking lead because I’m prioritising the Cannes project, among a couple of other things p>
‘Great to see you’re delegating. You’ve always been so hellbent on doing everything yourself p>
My hand falls to my bump. ‘I don’t exactly have a lot of choice for the next few months p>
Thankfully, they soon drink their tea and make their excuses, leaving my apartment hand in hand like a couple of star-crossed lovers liable to be pulled apart at any second. The second the door closes behind them, I pull up Cole’s contact details and hit redial. He answers on the first ring.
‘Thank fuck. I was about to swing by your place to check you’re okay. Tate isn’t answering either.’ Naturally, Cole insisted on saving Tate’s contact details—control freak. Though maybe it takes one to know one.
‘Don’t ever do that,’ I beg. ‘My family will kill you—and me.’ I waddle through to the spacious living area, tastefully decorated in blush pink and rose gold. The ivory mantle boasts a trendy bioethanol fireplace. It doesn’t compare to a real fire, not like the one in Cole’s house in Skerries, but it’s one of my favourite features. I collapse onto the couch, wriggling into the plump soft cushions, and palm my stomach.
‘I’d like to see them try,’ Cole retorts darkly.
I sigh. ‘I wish you guys hadn’t rubbed each other up the wrong way p>
‘The only person I rubbed any way—was you,’ he says lowly. ‘They did everything in their power to prevent Hartmann Dublin’s progress p>
‘And wouldn’t you do the same if Caelon tried to build a Beckett’s Bliss in Vegas—directly opposite your hotel p>
‘Are you taking sides?’ he bites.
‘No, I’m just trying to get you to see it from their point of view. Them trying to prevent your progress in our home city is actually a compliment—they knew it would take business from theirs p>
‘It’s one hell of a fucked up compliment. Besides, it’s my home city too,’ he reminds me.
‘Barely, you’ve only just arrived p>
‘I never told you the full story about my heritage, did I?’ He muses, and I imagine him raking his fingers through his blonde cropped hair, the way I’ve watched him do a hundred times.
‘Probably because the majority of the time we’re together, your tongue is preoccupied with other pastimes.’ My stomach clenches at the memories.
‘I’m half Irish. My father grew up in Ballbriggan. It was his dream to bring Hartmann Hotels home to Dublin. He died before he could see it come to fruition. I won’t,’ he states, matter-of-factly.
‘Ahh.’ No wonder he’s so passionate about this project—and so pissed at my brothers trying to block its progress. It’s his way of commemorating his father. Especially with the way he struggled with how his mother chose to grieve. Or not grieve, as the case may be. The memory of Cole’s hurt on holiday is as fresh today as it was all those months ago. ‘What was your father called p>
‘Tiernan.’ His voice softens. ‘He would have loved you like a daughter p>
‘How do you know?’ I whisper.
‘Well, for a start, you’re Irish. And you’re a success, strong-willed, and stunning. What’s not to love p>
I wish I could say my family would love him. Truthfully, if they hadn’t both sabotaged each other’s business plans, there might have been some hope. But now? There’s not even a modicum of it.
My parents don’t have anything against Cole though. Even if my brothers would cheerfully have him killed. My mother insists Dad is kept out of the loop of all business dealings now. Maybe I should start by approaching them. Though I don’t want to give him another heart attack.
‘There’s still so much we have to learn about each other,’ he sighs.
‘I’m looking forward to it.’ I tell him truthfully.
‘Me too, sweetheart. Me too.’ He pauses for a second. ‘Will you come to Skerries later p>
Felstead won’t be happy. But fuck him. He’s not my keeper.
‘Yes.’ The words are out of my mouth before I can stop myself. Falling asleep with Cole’s huge hands holding my bump is almost as therapeutic as the multiple orgasms he delivers. ‘I’m going to have to start leaving a toothbrush at this rate,’ I joke.
‘I sent Belle out to get you one today.’ He chuckles long and low. ‘Great minds think alike, right? Want me to send Gabriel over to collect you p>
Gabriel is Cole’s head of security. I’d rather he was with him at all times in case Killian finds out the truth about us—because he will do at some point. It’s inevitable. In fact, I’m pretty sure if he weren’t still obsessively searching for Jack O’Connor, he’d have made it his number one priority to find out who knocked up his sister. ‘No, thanks, Tate will drive me. I’ll leave in an hour p>
‘Where is Tate?’ Cole asks.
‘In the gym p>
‘Ah, I suppose being a bionic bodyguard takes maintenance.’ A hint of dry humour hangs on his words, but there’s nothing funny about what he says next. ‘I think you should introduce me to your family p>
‘What?’ My voice hitches. ‘Do you have a death wish p>
‘Far from it. But I’m sick of sneaking around p>
I bolt upwards on the couch. ‘It’s been a week p>
‘Exactly.’ His tone is laced with determination. ‘I want to issue an official statement to the press announcing our relationship and your pregnancy before some cheap tabloid gets hold of the story p>
‘You can’t be serious p>
‘I’ve never been more serious in my life, sweetheart p>