Private Affair (The Private Series) (29 page)

Oh my God. Oh my God.

Ben knocks on the door and I drop the test into the sink. “You all right in there? You’ve been in there a while.”

“Uh, yeah I am fine.” I stutter.

I hear the knob jiggle as he tries to come in, “Tess, let me in.”

I pick up the test and hold it behind my back, I unlock the door and Ben is standing in the doorway with one arm bent slightly above his head as he leans in. He has a smirk on his face and looks happy. Man, if he only knew what was about to hit the fan.

“What do you have behind your back?” He playfully asks.

“Nothing.” I grip it tighter.

He glances past me and his face drops. I turn to see what he is looking at and I feel like a moron, I left the test box on the counter. He strides past me and picks up the box. “Tess?”

“Yeah?”

Observing the box he looks to me, “did you take a pregnancy test?” Well, I guess I am not the only one who took her smart pills this morning.

I nod and pull my fisted hand, which had a death grip around the test to my chest. He has a stone glare at the plastic in my hand. He steps in closer and I finally release the pressure in my hands to reveal the result to him.

His eyes go wide and hands go for his hair. Shit, this is his stressed out move. He then drops to his knees and looks up at me, “This is for real?”

I nod my head and I start to feel the pang of fear in my throat.
Please don’t leave me. Please don’t leave me
, I keep repeating to myself, hoping to will him into my power. His hands press to my outer hips as he looks at my flat stomach.

He looks back up at me and he has tears streaming down his chiseled face, along with a big shaky smile. My heart skips a beat and swells a thousand times in size.

“A baby? We are going to have a baby?” He stands up and swoops me up into his arms and kisses me.

“You’re okay with this?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” He seems so shocked by my very practical question.

“Because we never really discussed children or when we would have them.”

He carries me to our bed and sets me on his lap. “It was never a question if, but when for me. I knew I always wanted to have children with you. I just figured we would wait a few more years, after we were married.”

“Sorry.”

He holds my face in his strong hands and looks me dead in the eye, “Never be sorry for anything, especially this. I love you more that life itself and now I, I mean we get to share it with the worlds more brilliant child.”

I sigh and he takes my lips between his and kisses me softly, lovingly. I finally allow my body and mind to go at ease, as I melt into him. The worry and stress slip away and we make love slowly. Taking one another in, savoring. This is how I want to spend the rest of my days and nights, in the arms of this incredibly strong man, who has been through more in his short twenty-six years. Someone who went from fighting, getting in constant trouble, loving and hating. Meaningless sex. To
my
man.

“One more thing though Punky…” He takes a little step back, winces and tells me, “No more coffee.”

I throw my head back and toss my hands to my sides and laugh, “I didn’t even think about that! Oh, well it’s more than worth it.”

“That it is my love, that it is.”

It’s been a couple days from the Vegas show for Tony and Ben and I have yet to discuss the arraignments.

“So, what’s the game plane for Saturdays show?” I ask him as I am nibbling on a pumpernickel bagel, which I was very excited about by the way.

“I don’t know if I like the idea of you near a crowed of crazy fans right now. What if someone or something hits you?” His brow furrows at the mere thought of me or the baby bean getting hurt.

I wrap my arms up around his muscular torso and trail my fingers up and down his back, “I will be fine. How about I stay stage side?” I try to ease him and at the same time I feel his concerns, I don’t want anything to happen either.

He kisses the top of my head, “As long as I get to go with you.”

I smile from ear to ear, “Of course!”

We are on our flight to Las Vegas so I can photograph my tooshy off. This will be the main focus of the spread in the magazine and I need to be on my A game. I am nervous and excited to see Tony again. Same with Jennifer, even though she did a real shitty thing.

Ben leans over, “How are you feeling?” He looks down at my stomach.

I smile, “A little queasy, but I am good. No morning sickness yet.”

“Is that normal?” He asks, his grip tightening slightly.

I laugh, “Yes, it is. Not every woman gets it. My mom told me a long time ago that she didn’t get sick with me, so I must have inherited that from her, thankfully.”

His gaze shifts when he watches me giggle, “One thing I am definitely enjoying is how your breasts have grown slightly. Even you nipples are pinker. It’s very sexy knowing that I did that.”

I shush him, because I don’t want anyone to hear what he is saying and I laugh again, “Hey, are you saying you don’t like my little boobs?” I pretend to be offended.

“Nope. They are the perfect handful. Anything more is a waste.”

I smack his shoulder and shake my head, needing to change the topic before I need to change my panties, “So, what’s the plan?”

“What plan?”

“You know, when are we going to tell our families? When can I tell Erin?” I am nervous and excited as all hell to tell at least one person. “I think my mom should know. Oh! And Caroline, because she is making my dress…Then again if we are still on for next month for the wedding, I shouldn’t be too big then.”

He smiles the sweetest smile and tells me, “Do you realize how cute you are when you get a little frantic?”

“Oh, shut up,” I giggle.

“Well, how about when we get home from this show? Get you to the doctor first to confirm and make sure all is well then we can get everyone together and make one big announcement.”

I never thought about making sure everything is okay. My heart sinks a little. Ben uses his fingers to lift my gaze to his, “Hey, everything is fine. Don’t worry and don’t over work it this weekend either.”

“Okay and I know, just never really crossed my mind that something could be off or go wrong. I didn’t expect this all to happen and now that it has, I want to protect it with everything inside of me.” I feel a tear trickle down my cheek and Ben kisses it away.

“Everything is going to be great. You’ll see.”

We arrive in Vegas and get checked in to our hotel. It’s not even noon yet and the show is tonight. I am putting my stuff away and unpacking my suitcase, I don’t want all of my clothes to wrinkle or get that suitcase smell. I put my shampoo and washes in the bathroom and I go to toss my hair up into a ponytail, its hot as hell in here. I walk out of the bathroom fanning myself, “Little warm in here don’t you think?” I ask him.

He looks at me with a confused look, “What do you mean? The air is on.”

I step over to him and press my hand to the back of his neck, “It’s hot in here!”

He twists and grins at me, “No, you’re pregnant. From what I have heard your natural body temp can rise and make you feel uncomfortable.” He gusts of a laugh and his hands find my hips, “You are so beautiful.”

I roll my eyes, “You say that now and just wait until I can’t see my feet and you have to put my shoes on for me or when I get stretch marks.”

He lifts the hem of my t-shirt and kisses my lower belly softly. Looking up at me he whisper, “Never. You will always be the most beautiful, amazing and talented woman that I am ever so lucky to have as my wife…”

“Soon to be.” I run my fingers through his black as night hair and tug.

Ben moans, “So this is how you want to play huh?” His thumbs circle my hip bones.

I bite down on my lip as I feel a rush of heat reach my sex. Ever since getting pregnant I am always so horny, okay hornier. I can’t help the fact that I am always ready for Ben.

His phone is ringing and we just ignore it, but then it rings again and then again. “Just answer it!” I throw my head back as I am laying on the bed as he is taking my shoes off.

“It’s not important.” He shrugs it off.

“Like hell it isn’t! Whoever it is must think so, because they keep calling.” I put my foot up on his shoulder and push his back to the foot of the bed, “Answer it.”

With an annoyed groan he finally listens, picking up his phone he doesn’t look at the contact and answers it, “Yeah?” snaps aggravated. I can’t help but giggle at his frustration, because now he knows what I am going through. He peaks back at me and gives me sexy smile and then sticks his tongue out at me. I shake my head and laugh at him. Then his gaze shifts and he turns away from me. This makes me very nervous, the last time he got a call that made him act this way, was when he got the call about Caroline.

I step off the bed and make my way over to Ben and I hear him say, “Okay I’ll be there as soon as I can. Thanks.”

“Who was that? Where do you have to go?” I rest my head on the bicep of his arm and I take his hand into mine. His scent has become even more alluring than ever before, I lean in and lightly inhale.

“Apparently the health board inspector has stopped in at Chatz and they found some bogus violations, which is ridiculous because I am always keeping up on that stuff. So I need to go back quickly and sign some papers or they will shut me down for a while, which I can’t let happen.”

“Now?” I ask.

“If I go now I can get it all done and hop back on a plan and be back tonight.”

I nod my head and let him gather up his things. Within a minute he is at the door, “Will you be alright here alone?” He asks me, but looks at my torso.

“I will take it easy and not push. I am good. Besides, Jennifer is here in the hotel I will have her come be with me and get ready together.” I tell him.

He pats his pockets to make sure he has his wallet and phone, “As long as you are okay with her after all that shit that went down.”

“Yeah, I am going to talk to her. She was misled, it wasn’t just her fault…”

“Yeah. Just be careful.” He kisses me on the mouth, sweet and I just savor it. “I love you and I will be back as soon as I can. If I am not back by the show, come right back here after.”