Page 24 of Prequel: The Scottish Billionaire

Things between us weren’t moving beyond today. I didn’t need to overthink about any of this anymore.

I came into the room and waited for her to close the door before speaking. “Do you want to get something to eat while we talk? We can go to–”

“I’m pregnant.”

Everything stopped.

My ears began to ring, and my chest felt tight. Then I realized that I wasn’t breathing. I sucked in air, and the world started again.

“Did I hear you correctly?”

“If you heard me say I was pregnant, then yes, you heard me correctly.” Her voice was flat.

“We…we used protection.” I’d never felt more like a fumbling teenager than I did at this moment.

“Not in the shower.”

I frowned, not following what she was saying.

“Don’t you remember?” She sighed. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that you don’t.”

I opened my mouth to apologize, but she shook her head.

“After my showcase, you took me back to your place. We had sex on the couch, and then in the shower. You didn’t have a condom when we were in the shower.”

The memory came back, all of it. “I didn’t…finish…inside you.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, that’s not exactly one hundred percent effective, Alec. Clearly.”

For a moment, I remembered the conversation I’d had with Austin about women seeing money when they looked at us. Keli had never asked me to buy her anything, but there was such a thing as a long con, and a good one would be to get pregnant.

She’d never encouraged me to not use protection, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t made a plan. A hole in a condom. A less-than-reliable method of birth control.

Or she could have just had sex with someone else, and it wasn’t my baby.

Or she was mistaken or lying.

So many possibilities.

“The test is over there, if you don’t believe me.” She pointed to a box on what I assumed was her desk. “And if you want a paternity test, I’ll think you’re an asshole, but I’ll do it.”

“Does that mean you’ve decided to keep the baby? Or, at least have it?” The questions sounded awkward and stiff, but I didn’t know any other way to say what I needed to say.

“Why? Are you saying you think I shouldn’t?” She glared at me.

I shook my head and held up a hand. “No, not at all. I’m…processing.”

“I’m a feminist,” she said, crossing her arms. “Choice all the way…but I can’t…I’ll do this, with or without you.”

I may have been a coward when it came to confrontation, but for this? I had no hesitation at all.

“Ya willna do it without me.” My voice was low but firm. “We dinnae need to answer everything now, but we will figure it out. Together.”

My plan to end things, to say goodbye and never see her again, was no longer a plausible solution. Keli was going to have my child, and I’d be damned if I subjected my son or daughter to any of the pain I’d gone through, not having a parent.

Everything in my life had centered around my family, and that hadn’t changed with Keli’s pronouncement, but my definition offamilyhad suddenly expanded.

Straightening my shoulders and taking in a deep breath, I came to a single conclusion. I’d make things work with Keli. I had plenty to make up for, but to give my child –ourchild – a family, I would do whatever it took. We would be a happy family. Parents and child. MIRI’s legacy would have a new generation.

This might not have been how I’d envisioned the next steps of my life, but it was what it was. When things happened that couldn’t be undone, I adapted and persevered. It’s what I’d done my entire life, and I would do it again.

I might not ever be able to fully love the mother, but I would love the child.

With all of my being.

I’d do anything for that baby. Whoever it was, he or she just become my whole world.

Alec’s story continues in Off Limits.