She's Having the Boss's Baby (11 page)

“Oh, no, you’re not obsessed much,” she muttered, and quickly put the iron and ironing board away.

*

He never should’ve said a damn word.

Knowing he’d upset Ellie was like having a drill pierce a hole through his gut. Over and over again. Her words played constantly in his head until he thought he would go crazy. He still couldn’t believe that she’d apologized for being unfair to
him
. She’d tried to comfort him, for God’s sake.

He thought he’d been doing the right thing for Ellie, but he was wrong. All he’d really wanted was for her to choose him over Blake. He’d wanted to hear her say the words. Like his own ego needed so much massaging? What the hell was wrong with him?

“Damn it,” he muttered, as he slammed the tennis ball across the net. She was so sweet, he obviously didn’t deserve her. But screw that. Even if she was too good for him, the bottom line was she was stuck with him. And let’s face it, if she was too good for Aidan, then she was way too good for Blake. And that settled it. She wasn’t going back to that worthless guy again. Not as long as Aidan had breath left in his body.

“Heads up, bro,” Logan called from the other side of the net after the tennis ball whizzed right past Aidan’s ear. “You’re completely out of it today.”

That was pretty much true, Aidan thought. The fact that he hadn’t found Ellie in his bed that morning, for the first time in weeks, had rendered him almost useless today. He was going to have to do something about it, and soon. But he wasn’t about to admit any of that to Logan.

“I can still beat you with one hand tied behind my back,” he yelled. “Serve another one.”

*

It was day seven without sex.

Aidan saw Ellie every day in the office, where she was the epitome of professionalism. She worked as hard as she ever had and was cordial and helpful at all times to Aidan and everyone else in the company.

It was driving Aidan insane. He had reached the end of his rope. Telling Ellie she was free to go back to Blake was surely the worst idea he had ever come up with.

Last night he’d actually gone into the bar to find a woman, any woman, to have no-strings-attached sex. He’d seen a few attractive women he knew would be willing to go for it, but every time he approached one of them, he changed his mind. They weren’t that appealing, after all.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

Aidan looked up and saw his brother standing in the doorway of his office. “Buzz off.”

Logan ignored that and walked over to his desk. “Your temporary secretary is threatening to quit and Sarah from the mail room is in tears. What is your problem?”

“She forgot to sort my mail,” Aidan griped.

Logan leaned closer. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think I heard you right.”

Aidan refused to repeat the idiotic complaint he’d just uttered. Instead, he grumbled, “You heard me.”

“You’re right, I did. And I’m wondering something.”

“What?” Aidan glared up at him.

“Who the hell died and made you King?” Logan shouted in his face. “Sort your own damn mail!”

That’s exactly what he was doing, but he wasn’t about to admit it to Logan. “Thanks for your advice. Now you can leave.”

“Not until you tell me what bug crawled up your ass and died.” Logan began to pace back and forth in front of his desk. “You’ve been acting like a jackass for days now and everyone in the hotel is fed up with you. So pull yourself together. Either take a damn vacation, or get a hobby, or go get laid, but do something. Work it out, for God’s sake.”

“I can’t get laid,” Aidan muttered.

Logan stopped in his tracks. “Excuse me?”

“I said, get out of my office.”

“No,” Logan said slowly. “I think you said you can’t get laid.”

“Never mind what I said. I’m busy. Get out.”

Logan grinned. “Is there a medical issue I should be concerned about?”

Aidan stood and pointed to the door. “Get. Out.”

But Logan wasn’t going anywhere and he had the nerve to laugh. “Oh, wait a minute. I know what this is about.”

“You don’t know jack, man.”

“Yeah, this is about Ellie.”

“It has nothing to do with Ellie.”

“Really?” Logan thought for a second. “But when Grace talked to her, she said… Well, you probably don’t care. Okay, I’ll be going.”

“Wait. What did Grace say? What did Ellie tell her?”

“Sorry. Gotta go.”

“You’re not going anywhere.”

Logan snorted with laughter. “Oh, this is rich. You’re in love with her.”

“Get out.”

“Okay, I’m going.” He snickered and headed for the door. When he got there, he stopped and turned. “But do us all a favor and just admit it to yourself.”

“There’s not a damn thing I need to admit to anyone.”

Logan held up his hands in surrender. “Fine, be miserable. Just stop taking it out on the staff.”

Logan closed the door. Aidan sagged back in his chair and wondered what horrible sin he’d committed in a previous lifetime that had cursed him to be born a twin.

*

The following night, Aidan prepared to work later than usual on the contracts for another new restaurant in Tierra del Alleria, the island’s only town. Tierra, as the locals called it, was a Victorian-era port town that overlooked a picturesque harbor that had grown in the last five years from a lazy fishing village to a hub for wealthy yacht owners, sports fishermen and the occasional small cruise ship. People came to experience the stunning views, laid-back charm, fabulous weather and world-class restaurants that lined the beach and pier.

The new restaurant owners planned to take advantage of the growing trend in gourmet artisanal vegetarian fare. Aidan figured the menu items would appeal especially to visiting celebrities and the wealthy wives of all those cigar-smoking yacht owners.

Thinking about the town reminded him of the dinner he’d shared there a few weeks ago with Ellie. They had snuck away from the hotel for the evening to wander and shop along the quaint waterfront. It was the most normal evening he’d spent in years, he thought. They had stopped for dinner at one of Aidan’s favorite restaurants, a French bistro with phenomenal food and an excellent wine list. They were seated at the most prized table with a stunning view overlooking the scenic harbor and the sea of blue water that stretched on forever.

Ellie had ordered a rich cassoulet and Aidan the steak frites. The meat was tender and rare, the French fries deep fried to perfection. There was béarnaise sauce that Ellie had practically swooned over and each time she dipped a fry in the sauce and bit into it, Aidan felt himself grow more taut. They had rushed back home and made love for hours.

Damn it, where had that thought come from?

Aidan dragged himself back to the work before him, forcing himself to read through the various contracts for the new restaurant until he realized that one of the subcontractors’ agreements was missing. He flipped through the file, but it wasn’t there. Without much thought he buzzed Ellie, knowing she would be able to track it down for him.

A few minutes later, she walked into his office and his eyes drank in the sight of her. She wore a fire-engine-red dress with a short matching jacket and he wondered what the hell she was doing getting all dressed up like that.

As she approached the desk, he caught the scent of something irresistible. Was she wearing a new perfume? For some reason, that thought irritated him almost as much as the alluring blend of vanilla and citrus blossoms did.

He meant to thank her for bringing the contract by, but somehow the words came out differently. “What the hell did you say to Grace?”

She stopped and stared at him. “I beg your pardon?”

“You heard me,” he said as he stood up and rounded the desk. “I don’t want you talking to Grace without clearing it with me first.”

“Really?” she said, tilting her head at him. “Is that some kind of new partnership rule? I’m not allowed to have a conversation with my girlfriends?”

That wasn’t what he meant, was it? He scowled. “Not if it’s about… Never mind. I just don’t want you to—”

Her eyes narrowed and she stepped closer. “You don’t want me to what?”

“Look, Ellie,” he said, trying to sound reasonable. “It’s none of my business if you and Blake…”

“What about me and Blake?” she said, her tone challenging.

He gritted his teeth and changed the subject. “Never mind. Just give me the file and go home.”

“I’ll give you the damn file.” She slammed it down on his desk.

“Temper,” he chided.

She pursed her lips and got right up in his face. “But who says I’m going home?”

A red haze of fury filled his vision at the thought of her going off to Blake’s house.

“You’re not going anywhere,” he said, his voice low and threatening.

“Oh? And who’s going to stop me?”

“Me.” He grabbed her by her jacket lapels and yanked her against him and his mouth covered hers in an act of overt possession. She returned the favor with equal passion, her hips writhing against his already rock-hard erection as her lips searched his in a needy quest for more.

It was wonderful, Ellie thought, her mind drifting in a fog of sensual pleasure. Aidan was wild. Dangerous. Better than ever before. Or maybe it only seemed that way because it had been a lifetime since he’d kissed her.

Not that it meant anything. It was just sex. Wild, hot, fabulous sex, but still. It didn’t mean anything more than that to Aidan. Or to her, she reminded herself. So even if he thought he could make demands on her, he still had no intention of ever settling down with one woman.

Ellie had been trying for seven long days to resist him, but she couldn’t do it anymore. She knew she’d been obsessing over him, but she couldn’t help herself. The good news was that she had finally recognized what her mom must have been going through all those years ago. It wasn’t easy, but in her heart, Ellie had finally forgiven her. That was a big step.

And as for Ellie, she simply didn’t want to deny her true self anymore. She resolved here and now to just enjoy what she and Aidan had for as long as she could. She was tired of obsessing about obsession. If fun was all Aidan was offering, then fun is what she wanted to have.

He grabbed her hair and pulled gently, wrenching their lips apart. “I mean it, Ellie. You’re not going to see Blake.”

She smiled. “Of course I’m not.”

“Ever again,” he warned.

“I already told him a week ago.”

“Good. Come here,” he muttered and kissed her again.

*

Two weeks later, the Duke cousins arrived on the island for the wedding of Tom Sutherland and Sally Duke.

Aidan and Logan greeted everyone as they climbed out of the limousine.

He gave Sally a hug. She stared up at him and pressed her hands to his cheeks. “Oh Aidan, I’m so happy you’re my family.”

The words struck him like a punch to the solar plexus.

“I’m happy, too,” he managed, before Sally turned to Logan. Surreptitiously he blinked back a few drops of moisture that sprang to his eyes. Where the hell had that come from?

“Oh, look who’s here,” Sally cried, and rushed across the porte cochere.

Aidan turned in time to see her greet Ellie with a big hug and kisses on both cheeks. He frowned. How did those two know each other?

Logan elbowed him just then and chuckled. “Check it out. You are so dead.”

Aidan was suddenly reminded of Sally’s reputation as a matchmaker and was instantly suspicious. “How do they know each other?”

Logan shrugged. “They must’ve met on Sally’s last trip here. Don’t worry about it. I’m sure it’s all friendly and harmless.”

“Dude,” Aidan said quietly. “On her last trip here, you accused her of being a witch.”

“A
good
witch,” Logan reminded him under his breath.

“Right, but still.”

The last time Sally had visited Alleria, she’d spent a long time talking to Grace. Their cousin Brandon Duke had caught up with Aidan and advised him to warn his brother Logan that Sally liked to play matchmaker—and she played for keeps. She had uncanny luck in that area and the three Duke brothers were living proof. All three confirmed bachelors were now happily married with babies and the whole deal.

“You thought I was crazy for being concerned,” Aidan said. “Remember?”

“Yeah, and I was right,” Logan said. “You were crazy.”

“I was just looking out for your best interests. And what good did it do? Look at you now. Happily married.” His tone it was tinged with pity.

“True,” Logan said cheerfully. “And now it looks like Sally and Ellie are new best friends. Hmm. Coincidence? I think not.”

“Damn,” Aidan muttered as he watched the two women chattering up a storm. “I’m gonna have to watch their every move now.”

“Why bother?” Logan said, chuckling. “Just give in to the inevitable.”

Aidan scowled. “You’re doing it again.”

“Doing what?”

“Wanting everyone else to get married just because you were dumb enough to get shackled.”

“Yeah, that’s me.” Logan scratched his head. “What was I thinking? I like Ellie. Why would I want her to be stuck with you?”

“Very funny,” Aidan said derisively.

“Dude, you just refuse to accept the fact that you’re in love with Ellie.”

“Oh, great,” Aidan said. “One more delusional statement from the newly married man.”

Logan slapped his back. “I’m gonna love watching you fall, bro.”

*

Tom Sutherland and Sally Duke were married two days later surrounded by their closest friends and family. The setting was a secluded lagoon and waterfall nestled in the foothills of the rain forest with Alleria Bay as a backdrop.

Ellie was honored to be invited and was thrilled for Sally and Tom, who seemed so happy to have found each other after many years of living on their own. It was amazing to Ellie that Sally, a widow who had spent so many years trying to track down her late husband’s missing brother, Tom, had finally found him.

With a soft sigh, Ellie thought that nobody deserved her very own “happy ever after” more than Sally Duke.

“Everything is so beautiful,” Grace whispered. “Thanks for helping with the decorations.”