The Heir Affair
The Heir Affair
Cat Schield
Bound by the BabySinger Melody Caldwell has given guarded entrepreneur Kyle Tailor months to take their relationship from casual to serious – and run smack into the wall around his heart. But fate has intervened – because Melody's pregnant.Jealousy. Fear. Amazement. Kyle doesn't know how to feel about Melody's news. He's been holding back to protect himself. But when a mysterious someone takes too great an interest in Kyle's woman and unborn child, it forces Kyle's hand. If the millionaire hopes to keep what's his, he has to stake his claim now…with all his heart and soul.The Heir Affair is part of the Las Vegas Nights series.
Bound by the Baby
Singer Melody Caldwell has given guarded entrepreneur Kyle Tailor months to take their relationship from casual to serious—and run smack into the wall around his heart. But fate has intervened—because Melody’s pregnant.
Jealousy. Fear. Amazement. Kyle doesn’t know how to feel about Melody’s news. He’s been holding back to protect himself. But when a mysterious someone takes too great an interest in Kyle’s woman and unborn child, it forces Kyle’s hand. If the millionaire hopes to keep what’s his, he has to stake his claim now...with all his heart and soul.
The Heir Affair is part of the Las Vegas Nights series.
“My feelings for you haven’t changed.”
“You can’t seriously believe that’s true,” Melody said.
“I want you in my life. I want to be there for our baby. How do you see your future?”
“Honestly, I sort of go back and forth—wanting us to be a happy family but thinking it might be better if I raise this baby on my own.”
“Because...” If he asked her whether she was in love with someone else and she told him yes, Kyle wasn’t sure what he’d do.
“Because it hurts too much when I think how much I love you and wonder if you’ll ever feel the same about me.”
* * *
The Heir Affair is part of the Las Vegas Nights series: An exclusive club for men who have it all and want more.
The Heir Affair
Cat Schield
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
CAT SCHIELD has been reading and writing romance since high school. Although she graduated from college with a BA in business, her idea of a perfect career was writing books for Mills & Boon. And now, after winning the Romance Writers of America 2010 Golden Heart® Award for Best Contemporary Series Romance, that dream has come true. Cat lives in Minnesota with her daughter, Emily, and their Burmese cat. When she’s not writing sexy, romantic stories for Mills & Boon, she can be found sailing with friends on the St. Croix River, or in more exotic locales, like the Caribbean and Europe. She loves to hear from readers. Find her at www.catschield.net (http://www.catschield.net) and follow her on Twitter, @catschield (https://twitter.com/catschield).
To Patty and Fred
Contents
Cover (#uba755cff-2897-5e2a-92bd-0fcce16319e8)
Back Cover Text (#ua935ad11-439d-5f7b-811e-d2f404d833ba)
Introduction (#u0531dafc-326d-55d6-b4ae-eb565e15678c)
Title Page (#udb207d73-f3b3-5c45-9939-455782894b27)
About the Author (#ufd0b51d7-644e-5d95-aa4b-573b0fb22fae)
Dedication (#udf3f6124-3365-514b-b817-d0118471a6f0)
One (#u515b66b8-38f3-5f2b-ad96-23e134d1a8e9)
Two (#u225867f5-a2a7-58db-8006-f6979ae0a946)
Three (#u074c4460-9932-50bd-9a69-e03ceb0942c8)
Four (#u8ef9e9d1-9520-5932-af60-cc2c6415ca5b)
Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
One (#ufa132254-addc-50a3-a031-0396b4b245c9)
Kyle Tailor sat on the couch beside his business partner and best friend from high school, Trent Caldwell. It was Thanksgiving. On the great room’s sixty-inch television, an interdivisional grudge match was happening between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings. Kyle wasn’t following the action. His gaze was locked on Trent’s sister.
Until she came along, solitude had never bothered him. In most ways it was simpler to live on his own without someone else’s physical or emotional clutter. To find himself needing Melody had been a shock to his system.
Now, he didn’t sleep well without her beside him. Since she’d been gone, he slogged through business meetings and routine activities in a foggy daze, unable to concentrate or care. He missed her hugs. Her way of teasing him. He’d lost weight, had stopped working out and lost an unacceptable amount of money in the casinos in the month since he’d come to Las Vegas to temporarily take over the management of Club T’s.
Trent elbowed him in his ribs.
Kyle ripped his gaze from Melody and arched an eyebrow at his business partner. “What?”
“Go talk to her.”
“I tried earlier.” When he’d first arrived, they’d exchanged a stilted “Happy Thanksgiving” and an awkward half hug. “She’s avoiding me.”
“Did you perfect your world-famous curveball on your first attempt?” Trent countered. “Try again.”
“She’s on the phone.”
Trent grunted and returned his attention to the television. His infant son sat on his lap. His matching blue eyes were on the screen and every time the Lions scored and Trent cheered, Dylan would respond to his father’s enthusiasm with clapping. From the love seat, the child’s mother watched the pair with such fondness Kyle’s gut twisted.
Laughter rose from the kitchen. Nate Tucker, the third partner in their Las Vegas nightclub, was in the process of putting away the leftovers from dinner, helped by Mia Navarro, a fellow songwriter he’d been dating for several months.
Thanksgiving was a day for families. A chance to celebrate what they had. Nate had Mia. Trent had Savannah and Dylan.
Frustration ate at him. Kyle should have had Melody except five months ago the paparazzi had captured her and famous DJ/music producer Hunter Graves coming out of a New York City nightclub hand-in-hand. The way Melody and her former flame had been smiling at each other had eaten at Kyle day and night until he’d accused her of cheating on him. Although she’d denied it, Kyle couldn’t find a way to believe her.
After all, hadn’t it been Hunter with whom she’d been so deeply in love that she was prepared to do almost anything to get him to love her back? Even engage in a crazy scheme to make Hunter realize he was taking her for granted. But playing like she was in love with Kyle to make Hunter jealous had become real awfully fast. That was probably why the plan had worked so well.
Seeing that he had real competition for Melody, Hunter had realized the error of his ways. But there was another outcome that neither Melody nor Kyle had seen coming. They’d actually fallen for each other. Kyle remembered back to the moment when all three of them had stood in her apartment, with Melody between the two men who loved her. The seconds were burned in his mind. Her choice could have gone either way. He’d experienced a heart-stopping range of emotions while he waited for her decision.
And in the months since, Kyle would be lying if he claimed he’d never wondered if she was happy with choosing him over Hunter.
His heart gave a sickening lurch as he regarded Melody. She was in great spirits at the moment. Her blue eyes sparkled. The corners of her mouth were turned up in a wry smile and her cheeks flushed with color.
Was she on the phone with Hunter Graves?
Disgusted with himself for jumping to that conclusion, Kyle turned to the television and forced his attention back to the game, but it was all just a swirl of purple, white and blue on a green background.
Falling in love with Melody had been the most incredible experience of his life. No woman before her had ever consumed his thoughts like this, and their lovemaking was exhilarating. Yet he had a hard time trusting the joy and found himself unable to shake the ever-present doubts that lurked in his subconscious, fears that nothing that felt so good could last forever.
Based on how his former love life had gone, he’d braced himself for the inevitable end of their relationship, prepared himself for loss. But the months stretched out and things between them had just gotten better. He’d loosened the reins of control and started to open up. And then she’d gone on tour and their physical separation had created an emotional gulf.
The damning photo of her and Hunter in New York had come at a point when too much time apart had demonstrated just how vulnerable their fledgling relationship was. Neither one of them had had enough confidence in their connection to weather such an emotionally charged situation. Pain pierced his temple. He dug his thumb into the spot.
There was another jab to his ribs. “She’s off the phone.”
“Thanks.” Kyle got to his feet and headed for the terrace.
Melody was on her way in. They met at the sliding glass door. Kyle stepped into the opening, blocking her from reentering the house.
“Look,” he said without preliminaries. “I came here tonight so we could talk.”
“You didn’t come for Nate’s cooking?”
Kyle didn’t crack a smile and Melody sighed in defeat. He knew she hated when he shut down like this, but he’d grown up building walls around his emotions. The strategy blocked pain and disappointment. Unfortunately, as his therapist liked to put it, it also kept him from “welcoming joy.”
He’d started seeing Dr. Warner when his baseball career abruptly ended a few years earlier after a string of shoulder and elbow injuries led to surgery and he was unable to make a full recovery. Needing to see a shrink filled him with shame and embarrassment. In fact, he’d let himself sink into some pretty dark mental territory before he’d made his first appointment. But the fact was, he’d needed help. Losing a career he loved left him feeling more vulnerable than he knew how to handle.
His dad would say a real man would suck it up and deal with his problems instead of running to some head shrinker. In Brent Tailor’s world, men didn’t talk about all that touchy-feely crap. A real man made decisions and if things went wrong, he fixed them. Kyle often wondered if his father thought a real man didn’t have feelings.
“We need to sort out what’s going on between us,” he said, stepping outside, herding her away from the family room and the safety of their friends.
“I don’t know where to start.”
“Your stuff is still at my place in LA, but you haven’t been there since the tour ended. Are you coming back?”
“I don’t know.”
“It feels like we’re over.”
Melody’s voice sounded rough as she asked, “Is that what you want?”
“No, but I can’t remain in limbo, either. We either need to move forward or be done.” Giving Melody this ultimatum hadn’t been part of his plan tonight. He hadn’t wanted to fight with her at all. “The decision is up to you.”
“I need to think about it.”
Impatience snapped along his nerve endings. “The tour ended two months ago. You’ve had plenty of time to think.”
“Things are a little more complicated than they seem.”
She didn’t elaborate even though Kyle gave her the space to do so. Once upon a time Melody had been able to talk to Kyle about everything. Now, it was as if they were strangers.
“How complicated can it be?” he finally asked. “Do you want to be with me or with Hunter?”
“With Hunter?” She shook her head in bewilderment. “What are you talking about?”
“That was him on the phone a little while ago, wasn’t it?”
“No. It was my mom calling to wish me a happy Thanksgiving.” She paused and her expression grew incredulous as she stared at him. “Why would you think that it was Hunter?”
Kyle didn’t respond right away. “He wants you back.”
She huffed out a laugh. “That’s ridiculous. Why would you think something like that?”
“He told me so.”
“You spoke with him?” Melody looked aghast and confused that Kyle and Hunter had talked. “When?”
“After the two of you met up in New York. I called and warned him to back off. He told me to go screw myself.” His fist clenched at the memory. “Apparently that night you said something to him about how being on the road can put a strain on a relationship.” Kyle had no idea what had prompted Melody to divulge such private details to her ex-lover, but hearing Hunter repeat the confidence had cut deep. “He took that to mean we weren’t getting along. And he told me he intends to make you fall back in love with him.”
“He wouldn’t do that.”
“Don’t you mean he can’t do that?” Kyle blew out a breath and struggled to calm his pounding heart.
“Hunter can’t get me back...” She didn’t meet his gaze. “Because I still love you.” An undertone of doubt marred the declaration.
“You don’t sound as if you believe that.”
Shivering, she glanced toward the sliding glass door. When her eyes widened, Kyle followed the direction of her gaze and realized four pairs of eyes were watching them. As soon as their audience realized they’d been spotted, everyone looked away. Melody covered her face with her hands and groaned.
“They all want what’s best for us,” Kyle said.
Everyone in the house was pulling for them with the exception of one-year-old Dylan, who had no idea what was going on, and perhaps, Melody herself.
“I know.” She let her hands fall. “I don’t want to have this conversation here. Can you take me back to Trent’s? We can continue our discussion there.”
Getting her to talk to him was all he’d wanted these last few months. Well, maybe not all he’d wanted. If the tour had never happened. If she’d never gone to New York City and met up with Hunter in the nightclub. If he’d never let jealousy get the better of him. If he’d been allowed to express his emotions growing up.
His list of ifs went on and on.
But for now, he was happy that they were communicating again. Even if what was being said had the potential to hurt.
Kyle nodded. “That sounds good to me.”
* * *
Ten minutes later, after they’d said their goodbyes, Kyle was negotiating the streets of Las Vegas, heading to the two-bedroom guesthouse on her brother’s property where Melody stayed whenever she visited Las Vegas.
Kyle kept his attention fixed on the road, his hands tense on the wheel as if something was eating at him. Every so often he flicked an unreadable glance her direction. It wasn’t like him to look so grim around her. The Kyle she’d grown up with had been quick to smile and tease. Even though he’d been her brother’s best friend, he’d treated her like she mattered to him. Mattered to him like a sister. She’d never imagined he’d ever see her as a woman he desired.
It had taken almost half a year after he’d told her how his feelings for her had changed for her to stop marveling that they were in a relationship. She kept thinking about his track record with women and expecting things to go south. She wished she’d been surprised when things became strained.
Maybe they never should’ve taken the step from friends to romantically involved. It made her heart ache to think this way, but their inability to connect and work out their problems these last few months demonstrated that they’d rushed into a relationship that neither one was ready for. Could it be that Kyle felt the same way? Was he grappling with the same doubts she had?
Melody searched his expression, unable to discern what was going on in his mind. She thought back to the party, and how she’d tried to assuage everyone’s curiosity and concern when she and Kyle left. At this point, aside from Dylan and Kyle, they all knew her secret. A feeling of dread slid down her spine. This wasn’t going to be easy.
About three months into the tour with Nate’s band Free Fall, Melody had begun to worry that the explosion of desire that had sustained her and Kyle through the beginning months of their relationship wasn’t a solid foundation to build a future on. They’d only been a couple for nine months when she’d left LA to open for the award-winning pop band. Weeks and weeks on the road, with only occasional long weekends back in LA, had created an unsettling disassociation between her and Kyle that text messages and Skype calls hadn’t been able to bridge.
Maybe if her track record with men had been more extensive she’d have had more confidence in her ability to keep Kyle’s interest from thousands of miles away. From an early age she’d thrown herself into music rather than boys. Sure, she’d dated, but until Kyle came along, the guys she attracted were mostly like Hunter and way too much like her father: selfish and neglectful.
And then there was the fact that before her, Kyle’s longest relationship had lasted four months. As a former pro baseball player, he had a pretty high profile lifestyle that women flocked to. Kyle was one hell of a catch and Melody recognized that every woman he met could be hotter and more famous than the last. So, she’d enjoyed their time together, never really expecting that it would last.
Before she’d realized it, they’d made it six months and he’d asked her to move in. Trent had been concerned when he’d learned about this escalation in their romance. He’d been Kyle’s best friend for fifteen years and recognized that his friend was in deeper than he’d ever been before. Despite her brother’s advice to slow down, Melody had taken the plunge and moved into Kyle’s Hollywood Hills home.
Kyle’s voice broke into her thoughts. “Why have you been avoiding me since the tour ended?”
“I’ve had a lot to think about,” she said.
“Like what?”
Before they’d started dating, Melody had only ever seen Kyle as funny, sexy and supportive. He never demonstrated fear or anxiety or displayed a hint of vulnerability. His father had done a number on his psyche when Kyle was a young child, demanding his son stay in control of his emotions at all times. So it came as no great surprise that Kyle’s first reaction to any little problem in their relationship was to shut down.
And yet, she’d been the one who’d taken a huge step back after his first big show of emotion. When he’d asked if she was cheating on him with Hunter, he’d been angry and hurt. His strong reaction to the paparazzi photo had caused her own emotions to flare.
Growing up the daughter of Siggy Caldwell hadn’t allowed her to develop an understanding of healthy relationships. Her father was a hard man to like, much less love. Misogynistic, arrogant and selfish, he’d alienated his wives and his children with his disrespect.
So many times her father had declared he loved her right before launching into criticism, invalidating the claim while impressing on her that she was unworthy of his—or anyone else’s—love.
While Kyle was nothing like her father, his accusation had awakened the same feelings of injustice she’d suffered as a little girl. As she’d done with her father, she’d shut Kyle out and walked away.
But that hadn’t stopped her from loving him.
When she didn’t answer him right away, Kyle spoke again. “Like what? Hunter?”
“No.” She gave her head a vehement shake and followed it up with a weary sigh.
“Are you back in love with him?”
“No!” She stared at him in frustration. “Would you please let that go. I want to be with you.”
His expression grew stonier. “You sure haven’t been acting that way these last few months.”
“It’s not the same between us as before I went on the tour,” she blurted out.
“I agree.”
“Maybe if we go back and figure out where we went wrong,” she said. “Or start over.”
Was that even possible given the secret she was keeping from him?
“And if we can’t?”
She didn’t answer and their conversation didn’t resume.
As Kyle drove into the gated community where Trent had his house, Melody wished she had some idea what he was thinking about. Her stomach was in knots. She pressed her sweaty palms against her coat and took deep, calming breaths, hoping to coax her confidence out of hiding.
Her nerves weren’t under control by the time Kyle pulled into Trent’s driveway and stopped the car. She had her door open and feet on the pavement before the silence could get any more awkward. He was seconds behind her as she keyed in the four-digit code that opened the side gate leading to the backyard.
A paving-stone walkway led to her front door. Melody fumbled with her keys until Kyle pulled the ring from her clumsy fingers and slid the correct one home. His body brushed hers, awakening her longing to be held in his arms, and she was a split second from throwing herself against his chest when he took a deliberate step away from her.
“After you.”
Melody bit back a miserable groan. “Thanks.”
Knowing it would be dark when she returned, Melody had left the lights burning in the living room. The heavy scent of roses hit her as soon as she entered. An enormous bouquet of fat red blooms occupied the center of her dining table. The arrangement had appeared at the studio the prior afternoon. She’d been thrilled as she’d read the accompanying card.
I’m thankful for you.
There’d been no signature and Melody hadn’t recognized the handwriting. This hadn’t surprised her. She suspected the order had been phoned in and the florist had written the message. But when she’d studied the card and the roses, she wasn’t sure Kyle had sent them.
And now, as he helped Melody out of her coat, Kyle didn’t seem to notice the flowers. Which left her wondering if Hunter had sent them. If so, that was going to complicate things between her and Kyle.
“Do you want something to drink?” She indicated the kitchen, but Kyle didn’t spare it a glance as he shook his head.
He seemed glued to the floor in the space between her living and dining rooms. Melody wondered what it would take to get him to sit down.
“Who are those from?” Kyle had at last noticed the roses.
“I’d hoped they were from you.”
“I didn’t send them.” If Kyle noticed her rueful tone, he gave no indication. He moved toward the table. “Wasn’t there a card?”
“Yes, but it wasn’t signed.”
“Are they from Hunter?”
“Sending me roses was never his style.”
“Things change.” His lips tightened. “Did you call and ask him?”
“No.”
Melody had left the card on the table beside the crystal vase. Kyle picked it up and read the message.
“‘I’m thankful for you’?” He shot her a frown. “What does that mean?”
Irritation rose at his sharp tone. She thought it was pretty obvious. “It’s Thanksgiving. Maybe someone thought it was a timely message.”
“Someone?”
“I don’t know where the roses came from,” she snapped, wishing Kyle would stop talking about the stupid flowers. She needed to tell him that she was pregnant, but had lost control of the conversation.
“You’re sure?” He reread the card. “This seems awfully personal for it to have been written by a stranger. Did you ask Trent or Savannah if they sent the flowers?”
“Yes. They didn’t send them.”
“Red roses are a romantic gesture,” Kyle murmured to himself, tapping the card against his knuckles. He frowned at the plump red buds. “It seems like something a man in love would send.”
Which was why she’d wished Kyle had sent them. Of course, despite being together for nine months and the fact that he’d invited her to move in with him, Kyle had never actually come out and said he loved her. He’d always been a cool customer when it came to women. The one who decided when it started and when it ended.
It was this tendency that had made her hesitate before choosing him over Hunter. She’d been worried about stepping from one relationship where she didn’t feel safe and secure into another similar situation. Even so, in the end she’d following her instincts and taken a leap of faith. And despite their current problems, she still wouldn’t say she’d been wrong.
“Why didn’t you call Hunter and ask him?” Kyle asked, watching her through narrowed eyes as if waiting for her to slip up.
A thousand times in the last five months she’d regretted hanging out with Hunter in that New York City nightclub and then leaving at the same time he had. The whole thing had been innocent enough. There had been a crush of people outside the club and he’d grabbed her hand to avoid being separated as they’d run to the limo that had been waiting at the curb. Unfortunately, the media was obsessed with Hunter’s love life and had blown up the incident, speculating that Hunter and Melody had reunited.
“Can you please forget about Hunter for two seconds.” Melody didn’t want Kyle’s thoughts taking him there.
Since she’d run into Hunter in New York, Kyle had mentioned several times that she might have unfinished business with the DJ. That couldn’t be farther from the case, but there were things she’d had in common with Hunter, like them both being in the music business, that she didn’t share with Kyle.
Melody set her hand on his arm to bring his attention to her. “I have something I need to tell you.”
When his hazel eyes shifted her way, she released the breath she’d been holding. It was long past time she got this off her chest, but now that the time had come, saying the words out loud was way harder than any speech she’d prepared in her head.
“Earlier I said things are complicated.”
Cool eyes watched her from a face made of granite and Melody longed to be anywhere but here. Given Kyle’s family background, he wasn’t exactly emotive. He played his cards close to his chest. She had absolutely no idea how he was going to react to what she had to say. She could only hope the anticipation was worse than the outcome.
“I’m pregnant.”
Kyle’s flat expression vanished. Instead, he looked like the floor had dropped from beneath his feet. “Pregnant?”
“Yes. I know it’s a shock...”
They hadn’t anticipated this. The topic had never even come up. Nor had marriage or anything having to do with the future. Their relationship had been new and untested. They’d both committed to taking things one day at a time.
“You’re having a baby.” His gaze went past her shoulder and roved around the room as if he was in search of something to help him understand. Like a lodestone, the vase of red roses snagged his notice once more. His body went rigid. “And the father?”
Melody shook her head and took a step back. Had she heard him right? “What do you mean?”
“The father.” Kyle flung out his hand in the direction of the flowers as if they explained everything. “Do you know who it is?”
Two (#ufa132254-addc-50a3-a031-0396b4b245c9)
At his question, Melody blinked several times in rapid succession and then just stared at him in shock. As the impact of what he’d asked sunk in, Kyle realized he’d just made a huge mistake. His heart clenched in misery. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her, but that was all he seemed capable of these days.
“What I meant was...” he began, but she was having none of it.
“You’re the father,” Melody said, her voice raw with disappointment and anguish. “How could you think anything else?”
“The flowers.” He slashed his gaze toward them, unable to face the judgment in Melody’s eyes. “It’s the exact thing Hunter sent you last year when he was trying to get you to reconsider picking me over him.”
“Hunter and I are friends.” Her stiff tone brooked no argument. “Nothing more.”
“The same could’ve been said about us before we got together,” he reminded her.
For several seconds she stared at him in silence as her chest rose and fell in response to the large quantity of air she was moving through her lungs. Her blue eyes were overly bright as she assessed him.
When at last she spoke, her words thudded like hammer blows on his psyche. “I can’t believe you could think that I would cheat on you with Hunter or anyone else.”
The urge to fold her into his arms flooded him, but so much resentment lay between them. He doubted she’d be open to any attempt on his part to touch her.
“I don’t.”
“Then why would you ask me something so ridiculous as whether I know who the father is?”
“It came out wrong.” But it hadn’t. In the back of his mind was that ever-present image of Melody and Hunter hand-in-hand.
“I don’t think it did. You’ve been looking for an excuse to break up for months.” Her voice was ragged and raw. “I’m not going to fight you any longer. We’re done.”
“What?” Although he’d been dreading this outcome for months now, Kyle wasn’t prepared for the actual ending. His thoughts reeled. “Just like that?”
“You just accused me of being pregnant with some random guy’s baby—”
“Not some random guy,” he reminded her, hating the words coming out of his mouth but unable to stop the flow. He needed to get his suspicions out in the open. That was the only way they could move forward. His tone was bleak as he finished. “Hunter’s.”
“I can’t keep doing this.” Melody stuck out her arm and pointed toward the door. “Go.”
The numbness that had momentarily gripped him burned away in a rush. “Aren’t you forgetting something?” He gazed toward her belly where, now that he knew what to look for, he detected the tiniest roundness. “That’s my baby you’re carrying.”
Muscles bunched in her cheek as her arm fell back to her side. Her eyes were sapphire-hard as she demanded, “So, now you’re sure?”
If he wanted to save their relationship, he had to get over the doubts clouding his judgment. He loved Melody and they were going to be a family. He’d won her away from Hunter once. He could do it again. And again. Whatever it took.
“Yes.”
She crossed her arms over her chest, not giving an inch. “And I’m supposed to forget every terrible thing you thought about me and be glad you’ve finally decided to come around?”
“I made a mistake.”
“You made a series of them.” Abruptly, the fight drained out of her. “This isn’t how I wanted things to go.”
“What did you expect?” He took a half step toward her, intent on making some sort of a peace offering, but let his hand fall back to his side when she shook her head.
“I don’t know.” Her shoulders rounded with exhaustion. “I thought maybe it would magically fix things.”
“We’ve had too much time apart.”
“And that’s my fault?”
Although she’d been the one who’d pulled away rather than stay and fight with him—for them—he’d meant it as an observation, not a criticism. Her distance these last few months had awakened a fear of losing her.
“I told you to go on the tour,” he reminded her. “And if I had to do it all over again, I’d make the same decision. It was the right step for your career.” And if he was honest with himself, he hadn’t been ready for the level of commitment their relationship had reached.
It still boggled his mind how fast he’d gone from being her friend to inviting her to move in with him. Cohabiting with Melody had been the most natural thing in the world. It hadn’t required any significant shift in his beliefs or habits. The transformation from bachelor to boyfriend had been seamless and rewarding. It wasn’t until she left on the tour that he’d noticed disquieting thoughts creeping in.
“How far along are you?”
“Twelve weeks.”
He did the math. The last time they’d been together. It had been a rocky weekend. “How long have you known?”
“Since shortly after I returned from Sydney.”
“Six weeks.” He rubbed his eyes while disappointment flowed through him. Why had it taken her so long to share such important news? Could it be that she was afraid of how he would react? And hadn’t he just demonstrated that she’d been right?
Her vehemence caught him by surprise. “You don’t get to do that.” She pointed an accusatory finger at him.
“Do what?”
“Make me feel bad for not rushing to tell you that everything in your life was going to change.”
She was so obviously afraid of what his reaction would be. And perhaps with good reason. He hadn’t exactly swept her into his arms and spun her in a giddy circle while crowing his delight.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.” But she appeared anything but okay. She seemed as shell-shocked as he was. “I’m sure we’re both overwhelmed at the idea of becoming parents. At least we have six months to get used to the idea.”
“Have you started to think about what you’re going to do?” he asked.
“What do you mean ‘do’?”
“For where you’re going to live.” Where did he figure in her plans? “Are you staying here?”
“In Las Vegas?” Melody looked like a cornered rabbit. “I don’t know. Nate is here. And Mia. Trent, Savannah and Dylan will be coming back as soon as she’s done filming the movie.”
“It doesn’t much sound like you plan on coming back to LA.”
Or back to Kyle. His home was in LA. Although, at the moment he was renting a place outside Vegas for the next few months. He’d offered to take over as temporary manager of Club T’s for two reasons. To be closer to Melody while she finished her album and to free up Trent to live in LA and take care of his son while Savannah worked.
“I feel as if I have a really good support system here.” The subtext was clear. She didn’t think he was going to be there for her. Was this opinion recently acquired or something that had occurred to her over a period of time?
“How do you figure? Trent and Savannah are in LA at the moment.”
“They’ll be coming back as soon as Savannah is done with her movie. And you’re here.”
Something loosened in his chest. “So you do want me around.”
“Of course. I want us to be a family.” Nothing sounded better, but in his peripheral vision a dozen red roses stood like a stop sign on her dining room table.
Then she shook her head. “Is that possible? Can we get back to where we were before the tour?”
“I’m not sure we can.” Although Kyle doubted it was the sort of answer a pregnant woman wanted to hear from the father of her child, he had to be honest with her. “Go backward, I mean. I’m sorry. All this has caught me by surprise. I never imagined myself a dad.”
“We never talked about it. I was a bit afraid to, knowing how you and your father get along.”
“You mean don’t get along.”
She gave a little shrug. “You aren’t him. You’re going to be a great dad.”
He wanted some time to assimilate all he’d learned, but she was staring at him like she needed him to fix everything. He just had no idea how to begin.
He considered her remark about his relationship with his father.
Suck it up, kid.
Be a man.
No one’s going to help you unless you help yourself.
The clichés went on and on. Maybe if Brent Tailor hadn’t been such a successful businessman and dedicated philanthropist, his opinions would’ve been easier to ignore. Instead, he was someone Kyle looked up to professionally. And much of what his father drilled into him had enabled his success as a major league pitcher.
The downside to what his dad had drilled into him all his life was that it didn’t enable Kyle to celebrate all he’d achieved in his baseball career or convey to Melody how he felt about their relationship.
“And you’re going to be a great mother.”
She blew out a huge breath. “I hope so. It would’ve been better if it happened later rather than sooner.”
“What’s done is done. What do you need from me?” He saw her answer coming and spoke quickly to head it off. “And don’t say nothing.”
From her frown he knew he’d struck the truth. She’d grown up watching her father and brother butt heads and depending on the situation, tended to either retreat or take on the role of peacekeeper whenever she caught a whiff of conflict.
“I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow.” Her voice came across as tentative as if she half expected him to refuse.
“What time?”
“Three o’clock.”
Excitement trickled into his awareness, diluting his dismay. She was pregnant with his child. It wasn’t great timing, nor was becoming a father something he’d imagined happening any time soon, but he’d watched Trent with Dylan and was pretty sure he’d never seen his friend this happy. Maybe there was something to being a family that made the big problems smaller.
“Where do you want me to pick you up?” he asked.
“You don’t need to come.”
“Oh, I’m not missing this.”
Trent and Savannah had overcome bigger obstacles to find their way back to each other. Surely Kyle and Melody could get past what stood between them. Of course, he was assuming she wanted to. What if she didn’t love him anymore? She might not have cheated on him with Hunter, but he’d treated her as if she had.
He’d broken her trust, lodged unfair accusations at her. The person in the wrong hadn’t been her, but him. Just that morning he’d been all set to forgive her. It had never occurred to Kyle that the one in need of pardoning would be him.
“Thank you,” Melody said, but the words were perfunctory as if her thoughts had traveled elsewhere. “I appreciate your willingness to be involved.”
“I’m going to be there for you every way I can.”
* * *
Melody sat in the small, utilitarian lobby of Ugly Trout Records and stared out the front window toward the parking lot. For the fifth time in ten minutes, she checked the time on her phone. Kyle had three more minutes before he could be considered late. Since last night, she’d regretted caving in to his offer to take her to the doctor’s appointment. Unlike Hunter, Kyle counted punctuality as one of his virtues. He’d never left her waiting and wondering if he was going to call or show up. He’d always been very clear about his intentions and then followed through.
So why was she working herself into such a frantic mess? Practicing patience, Melody smoothed her sweaty palms down the legs of her skinny jeans. Thank goodness the denim had some stretch to it. Thanks to the severity of her morning sickness these last few weeks, she’d lost weight, but today her baby bump seemed more pronounced than the week before.
This change—more than the pregnancy test, her constant nausea and fatigue—had made her all too aware that she had a baby inside her. Sweat broke out. Most days she was happy about her impending motherhood. The timing could be better. She was on the verge of dropping her first album and the stress wasn’t good for her or the baby. But now that she’d broken the news to Kyle, more than just her and her baby’s future weighed on her mind.
“Hey, Melody, what are you doing up here?”
She turned at the sound of her name and smiled at the man who was detouring toward her. Craig Jameson was one of the top sound engineers working at the label. He’d been involved in eighty percent of Melody’s recording sessions and been instrumental in helping her produce most of her songs. He had a knack for knowing exactly what each song needed.
They’d spent hours together in the studio, talking about music and the industry. He had great stories about various artists that had come to Ugly Trout to record. Many had involved some pretty outrageous behavior—drunken jam sessions, a party with strippers and several fistfights.
“I’m waiting for Kyle to pick me up.” Although her relationship with Kyle was pretty well-known around the studio thanks to their public personas, Craig knew more details due to all the time he and Melody had spent together.
“It’s a little late for lunch.”
“Actually, we are heading to...” She’d held off mentioning her pregnancy around the studio until she told Kyle, but now that he knew there was no reason to keep the secret any longer. “The doctor.”
“You okay?” Craig’s concern touched Melody.
“Fine. Actually more than fine.” She forced bright happiness into her tone. “I’m pregnant.”
“That’s great news. Then things between you and Kyle are better?”
During a particularly low point, she’d confided in Craig. At the time she hadn’t considered that Craig was a work colleague. A few days earlier, he’d told her that he’d just broken off with his girlfriend of a year. She hadn’t hesitated to offer him a sympathetic shoulder. Maybe it had crossed a line, but Craig was a decent guy who’d needed a friend.
“We’re working on it.” She smiled, but there wasn’t a lot of joy in it.
“He’d be a fool to let you go.”
“That’s sweet of you to say.” Tears surged to her eyes but Melody blinked them away. It seemed as if everything set her off these days. Hormones. They were driving her crazy. She’d never been moody, but since becoming pregnant, her emotions were all over the place. “There’s Kyle now. I should be back in an hour or so. Would you have some time later to sit down with me? Nate wants me to get my album done and I could use some help narrowing down the songs.”
“I’d be honored to help.”
“Let me know what time you’re free.” She headed toward the front door and paused with her hand on it. When she looked over her shoulder, Craig was still watching her. “And thanks.”
“For what?”
“Everything.” Feeling a little as if she’d said too much, Melody pushed the door and blinked in the bright sunlight.
Kyle had parked his car and was heading toward her along the front walk. His long legs ate up the distance between them, demonstrating his upbeat mood. Today he wore a pair of khaki slacks and navy V-neck sweater over a white button-down shirt. His thick brown hair had an artfully disheveled look she loved. With a long, square face, firm chin and well-shaped lips, Kyle had the sort of good looks favored by fashion designers looking for sexy, rugged models.
When Melody saw his unguarded smile, a weight lifted off her shoulders. For a second she was catapulted back in time to when they’d first been living together in LA. It had been a heady, exciting, romantic three months. Kyle had been super supportive of her career and interested in learning her process for writing music.
His fascination had drawn Melody out of her shell. When it came to songwriting, she’d learned to be exceptionally protective. Back when she was still in school, her father had belittled her talent and broken down her confidence. He’d wanted her to pursue classical violin and made her attend Juilliard. When she’d quit halfway through her third year, choosing instead to pursue the contemporary popular music she loved, Siggy had pretty much disowned her.
“You ready?” he asked as he neared.
It seemed the most natural thing in the world for him to wrap his arms around her and drop a kiss on her cheek. Although she longed for a proper kiss, the affection in the gesture sent warmth rushing through her.
“I’m ready,” she countered. “Are you?”
Kyle’s smile was ever so slightly crooked as he opened the passenger door and ushered her inside. “I am.”
“I’m glad.” She studied him as he walked around the car and slid behind the wheel once more. “I’m a little nervous about the ultrasound.”
“Why?” Kyle got the car started and pulled out of the parking lot before glancing her way. “I thought this was just routine.”
“It is. But they look for certain things. I can’t help but wonder what they might find.”
“What are they going to look for?” Kyle’s brow creased.
Melody instantly regretted sharing her concerns. The last thing she wanted to do was freak out Kyle. He’d only just learned about the baby and probably hadn’t yet come to terms with becoming a father and now she was heaping new concerns onto the pile.
“They’ll check the heartbeat and determine my due date.”
“None of that sounds too bad.”
“Nooo.” She drew the word out. “And then they’ll look to make sure everything looks normal. Two arms. Two legs. That the organs are developing okay.” There were just so many things that could be wrong. And so many things that could be right. When had she become such a pessimist?
“Is there any reason to think anything will be missing?”
His faint note of teasing as he asked the question lightened Melody’s mood. She was being anxious for no good reason.
“Of course not. I guess it’s just going to be more real after today.”
And Kyle would be beside her as they both saw their baby for the first time. It roused all the things she so badly wanted but was afraid she might never get. For the last several weeks, since she’d learned she was pregnant, she’d been so focused on what was wrong with their relationship that she hadn’t thought about all the things that had once been right.
She’d braced herself to be a single mom, not even giving Kyle the benefit of the doubt. Because of the way her father had often treated her, she’d been quick to expect Kyle to disappoint her. If she anticipated Kyle not wanting to be a father, then it wouldn’t hurt as much when that was what happened.
Automatically going on the defensive certainly wasn’t fair to Kyle. Or herself. Or their baby.
“There’s no going back,” she said.
He shot her a curious look. “Do you want to go back?”
“You didn’t ask for this.”
“Did you?”
“You mean did I try to get pregnant?” Melody wasn’t sure how to take his question.
“I wasn’t asking if you deliberately became pregnant,” he said and then sighed. He reached for her hand. “I was merely reflecting your question back at you.”
His matter-of-fact reaction to their situation should be the perfect balm for her agitation, but for some reason she was finding his encouragement annoying. At the same time, his fingers gave a little squeeze and she found herself torn between wanting to fight with him and needing to give in to his attempt to connect with her.
“If I’ve learned anything in the last year it’s that it’s really hard to maintain relationships while on the road. I thought a lot about what would happen if I decide to take my career seriously. I’d be traveling a lot on tour and making appearances. That sort of life is hard on everyone.”
“And you’re worried that you can’t have your career and a baby.” He didn’t voice the obvious question: whether she’d intended to choose between her career and continuing her relationship with him. “I think you can do it all.” A pause. “If you want to.”
This was the decision she was dreading. Did she want it all? A family? A career? Her feelings for Kyle hadn’t changed, but things were so much more complicated these days.
“Do you want to give us another shot?” she asked, her heart thudding hard against her ribs.
“I think we owe it to ourselves to do so, don’t you?”
“I do.”
He didn’t seem all that happy with her answer, however. “Just tell me one thing. Would you have been willing to work things out if you weren’t pregnant?”
“Yes, because if I didn’t, there would always be something unfinished hanging between us.”
He waited a long time before answering. “That’s fair. But you should probably know I wanted you back before I knew you were pregnant.”
“Even though you didn’t trust me?”
And there was the crux of their whole problem.
“I was wrong to think you and Hunter got together.”
She could tell that declaration had required a great deal of effort, but it wasn’t enough. “And yet last night you were wondering if I knew which of you was the father of my baby.”
Three (#ufa132254-addc-50a3-a031-0396b4b245c9)
Kyle knew he deserved her sarcasm and let it slide off rather than get defensive. “It was the roses and that weird card that threw me off.”
“It was pretty weird, but it was probably just a screwup on the florist’s part. Maybe they neglected to add the person’s signature to the card. It could be from any number of people.”
“You don’t think it’s unusual that someone sent you a dozen red roses?” The last thing he should be doing was arguing with her.
“Okay, it’s freaking me out that I don’t know who sent them. But it was a nice gesture.”
Melody might not think the roses came from Hunter, but Kyle was pretty sure he’d sent them.
“Can we forget about the flowers?” Melody continued, smoothing her hands over her knees. “I want to focus on this appointment. I’m really glad you came along today.”
“So am I.” But even as he spoke, Kyle recognized it was going to take more than accompanying her to a doctor’s appointment before the tension eased between them.
He would have to make an effort to put his doubts to rest and get back in Melody’s good graces. If that required romantic gestures like flowers and candlelit dinners, he would do whatever it took.
“You can take a right at the driveway coming up.” Melody pointed the way into a parking lot beside a plain five-story building.
“You’ve been here before?”
“A couple times.”
“So, you are planning to have the baby in Las Vegas.”
Melody’s mouth opened, but no words came out. She bit her lip and stared down at her hands. “It makes sense.”
“But your life is in LA. With me.” Or at least it had been before she’d gone on tour.
“We haven’t really lived together these last nine months,” she said.
“When I encouraged you to go on the tour, I thought you’d be coming back. All your stuff is still in my house.”
“I just need a little time.”
“How much time?”
“I don’t know.”
Kyle parked the car before responding. “I don’t like living in limbo.”
“Then maybe we should break up.”
This wasn’t at all what he expected her to say. “Where is this coming from?”
“I just don’t know where we stand anymore. We’re not dating. We’re not living together. Are we even still friends?”
Her bald statement of the facts as she saw them swept his feet out from under him. It was as if his world had tilted and his head connected with the pavement. His thoughts grew foggy and indistinct.
“My feelings for you haven’t changed.”
“You can’t seriously believe that’s true.” Melody opened her car door and slipped out, leaving Kyle staring at nothing.
She was halfway to the building before he roused himself and chased after her. “Okay,” he said as he caught up with her. “Maybe we’re not in the same place as we were before you left on the tour, but that doesn’t mean I’m done. I want you in my life. I want to be there for our baby. How do you see your future?”
“Honestly, I sort of go back and forth between wanting us to be a happy family and thinking it might be better if I raise this baby on my own.”
“That’s not going to happen.” His father hadn’t been there for him. Kyle intended for his child to have a loving, attentive father.
“Because it hurts when I think how much I love you and wonder if you’ll ever feel the same about me.” They stopped before the elevator and she gave him a long searching look. “I’m afraid to have my heart broken.”
Kyle wished he could tell her he’d never hurt her, but he already had when he’d assumed she’d hooked up with Hunter that night in New York City. And again just yesterday when he jumped to the wrong conclusion about the baby’s paternity. Why couldn’t he just put his faith in her and in their relationship?
Because he didn’t know how.
His parents hadn’t given him the emotional tools to be successful in a romantic partnership. His father had ruthlessly controlled all feelings good and bad, preferring to navigate through life’s up and downs with logic. Kyle’s mother on the other hand was a fearful, anxious woman who loved her son almost too much. Trapped between an emotional storm and an impassive granite wall, Kyle had stopped expressing how he felt and let everyone think he was okay all the time.
His teammates in school and then in the major leagues called him the Iceman because he was always chill. But it was a mask, not a true representation of how he felt. No matter how relaxed and unaffected he looked, inside he seethed with doubt, desire and sometimes disappointment.
But thanks to his father’s tutelage, Kyle’s first reaction to everything life threw at him was to slide on his aviator sunglasses and summon an enigmatic smile. No matter what the stakes, how bad the loss or how well he pitched, he was the Iceman. Even after his first no-hitter, he’d given only a sly smile to the mass of reporters who’d come to interview him in the aftermath.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” Kyle said and meant it, but he knew he didn’t always behave the way she needed him to.
Sometimes it was as if what made him so happy in their relationship was the exact thing that caused him to regress back to the self-protective behaviors he learned in childhood. He retreated from strong emotion instead of owning it. These last few months since he’d thought he lost her to Hunter had been some of the worst of his life.
Instead of reaching out and telling her how afraid he was to lose her, he’d shoved down his fears and made it seem as if he was okay. But he wasn’t okay. In fact, he was a mess, which was why he’d jumped to the wrong conclusion about her feelings for Hunter.
While Melody checked in with the receptionist, Kyle glanced around the waiting area, seeing women in various stages of pregnancy. This was really happening. He was going to be a father. Time to step up and take care of the mother of his child. Whatever that meant.
“I think we should get married,” he said as she took a seat beside him.
Her eyes widened. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Not at all. It makes sense. I don’t want to be a part-time father and we are good together.”
“Good together?” She looked at him as if he’d sprouted a second head. “We’ve barely spoken to each other these last few months. Neither one of us is very good at communicating how we feel.” Like Kyle had, she regarded the other expectant mothers in their various stages of pregnancy. “I don’t think we’re ready for marriage.”
Although her answer frustrated him, Kyle reminded himself that it wasn’t always going to be like this between them. He would find a way to make things all right again.
“So we work on our communication,” he said, hoping she grasped how determined he was to make things work.
“How are we going to do that?”
“We’ll go see a couples counselor. Someone who can teach us how to express ourselves in a positive way.”
Her stiff posture highlighted her discomfort. “I don’t know.”
“Look,” he said. “We might have been able to walk away months ago, but things have changed. And I’d like to point out that while we’ve hit a rough patch, I don’t see either one of us calling it quits.” He chose to ignore that not ten minutes earlier she’d suggested they break up.
“I agree we should make an effort to be friends again for the sake of the baby.” She looked flustered and unsure what she planned to say next. “But marriage is a huge leap.”
“Let’s table that for now.” Now that he’d suggested they marry, he was convinced it was the best idea. He didn’t want to be his child’s part-time father. “We’ll have dinner tonight and talk about it.”
She shifted on the cushioned chair as if it was made of hard plastic. “I can’t tonight. I’m working late. Nate has given me until the fifth of December to finish my album.”
“Good for him. You’ve been working on it on and off for a year. I know you’re a perfectionist, but at some point you have to let it go.”
And maybe then he’d be able to refocus some of her attention on their struggling relationship. He knew her music was important to her, but there had to be a way for her to be a success in her career and still have room for her personal life.
“I know, but it’s my first album and I want everything to be the best it can.”
He understood her quest for perfection. As a teenager he’d spent hours learning how to place a pitch over the center of the plate. The familiar repetition of wind up and throw allowed him to forget his troubles and focus on the here and now. Watching Melody get lost in her songwriting process, he’d recognized the same need to make something flawless and beautiful.
“And yet you won’t know how good it is,” he said, reaching for her hand, offering her both support and encouragement, “until you put it out there.”
She squeezed his fingers and gave a little laugh. “Or how much people are going to hate it.”
“Stop channeling your father. If the man knew good talent when he heard it, he wouldn’t have run his label into the ground.”
“You’re right, but it’s hard to ignore all the times he told me to stick with the violin because I didn’t have what it took to be a songwriter or a singer.”
Kyle wondered what it would take for her to believe she deserved to be successful. He’d tried to reassure her, but often felt as if she couldn’t accept his uplifting words because he didn’t have any musical cred.
“And yet you’ve proved him wrong so many times,” he reminded her. “This album is going to do great. You’ll see.”
“You’ve always supported me and I really appreciate it.”
The warmth in her eyes aroused a pang of longing so acute he almost couldn’t breathe. Damn. He missed her.
“Melody?” A blonde woman in pale blue scrubs appeared in the doorway.
Melody practically sprang to her feet and shot him a worried look. “Are you ready for this?”
Kyle gave her a reassuring smile as he tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. “Absolutely.”
* * *
Melody followed the nurse into the patient room. Kyle’s broad shoulders and strong presence filled the small space. He sat beside her in attentive silence while the nurse took her blood pressure, frowning over its elevated status, and asked routine questions. She answered automatically, trying to ignore the doubts that flickered on the edge of her awareness brought on by his shocking proposal.
What was he thinking to ask her to marry him without forethought or fanfare? Not that she needed a whole huge production made out of getting engaged, but it would’ve been nice to be proposed to in a romantic setting by a man who adored her instead of in a clinical setting by a man who just learned the day before that he was going to be a father.
I think we should get married.
His blunt declaration had been more practical suggestion than impassioned plea. Once the shock faded, her first impulse had been to hit him. How dare he presume she would agree to marry him because she was pregnant? And then tears had threatened and she’d had to grip the edge of her chair to keep from bawling her eyes out in reception.
“Your blood pressure is a little high,” the nurse said, glancing at her with a thoughtful look.
“I’m nervous about the ultrasound,” she lied. It was the conversation with Kyle that had upset her.
He might not have told her he loved her, but she knew that he was committed to her and their baby. Whether that meant they would find their way back to being happy with each other was the big question.
“That’s not unusual, but we should check it again before you leave.”
The nurse finished adding Melody’s data into the computer and then showed her the gown she needed to don for the ultrasound. Kyle’s stoic expression gave away none of his thoughts as he watched the nurse exit the room.
“Close your eyes,” Melody told him as she began to work the buttons free on her shirt. She was already feeling vulnerable enough without adding to her stress by stripping in front of him.
One corner of his lips rose in that sexy half smile that made butterflies erupt in her stomach. “I’ve seen you naked before.” His heavy-lidded gaze slid over her body, cataloging her curves with deliberate possessiveness.
Melody ignored the ache that flared between her thighs. Over these last few months, she’d deluded herself into thinking she was a practical woman who didn’t need a man. She was perfectly capable of making rational decisions about her future and sticking to them.
Yet, a single flirtatious grin from Kyle swiftly showed her how erroneous her assumptions had been. She actually took a half step in his direction, intent on cupping his strong face in her palms and sliding her open mouth against his in a sizzling kiss.
“Just do it,” she told him, wrenching her wayward hormones back under control.
Without saying another word he let his lashes drift downward, but the smile didn’t drift from his lips. For a moment she stared at his familiar features with such longing she thought she might start to cry. Her hands shook as she slipped off her low boots and set them beneath her chair. Despite being confident he wouldn’t peek, Melody quickly stripped down and put on the front-closing gown.
“Okay,” she said, paper crinkling beneath her as she sat on the exam table.
“How about Amelia if it’s a girl?” Kyle’s voice was heavy with intent. “Austin if it’s a boy.”
She couldn’t stop the grin that twitched on her lips. “You’ve been thinking about baby names?”
“I didn’t sleep very well last night.” He pulled out his phone and stared at the screen. “I’m also fond of Aubrey and Addison.”
“Did you get out of the A’s?”
He scrolled down some sort of list on his phone. “Colton for a boy?”
Her throat locked up as she stared at him. Damn the man for driving her crazy with his unromantic proposal of marriage and then twisting her heart into knots with this sweet demonstration of how excited he was to be a dad. Before she could respond, the door opened and the doctor appeared.
“How are you doing today?” Dr. Sara Evans asked, advancing into the room and taking quick stock of Melody’s state of mind before glancing toward Kyle, who’d gotten to his feet. “And you are?”
“Kyle Tailor, the father.”
Dr. Evans gave a quick nod before getting started. Almost as soon as her doctor had entered the room, Melody had calmed down. She liked the obstetrician’s keen gaze and brisk manner.
“I’m going to spread a little gel here.” The doctor applied the clear goo to her belly and chuckled as Melody shivered. “It’s a little bit chilly. You’ll forget all about that in a second.”
Melody stared down at the slight bump just below her belly button where her baby lay. When she glanced toward Kyle, she noticed his eyes were glued to the monitor where an image had begun to develop. And there it was. Their baby. Head. Arms. Legs. A whole little person inside her.
While both she and Kyle had been gaping at the screen, Dr. Evans prattled on about the development of the fetus and the fact that the organs were developing.
“About this time,” Dr. Evans said, “your baby will begin to open and close his or her fingers and his or her mouth will begin making sucking movements. He—or she—is about the size of a lime. Do you want to know the sex?”
Kyle spoke up before Melody could even open her mouth. “Can we?” His eyes sought hers. “Do you want to?”
“I guess.” In truth she hadn’t really thought about it. Didn’t the pregnancy have to be further along? “Sure.”
It would make planning easier if she knew she was having a boy or girl. She’d have to get the nursery ready and buy clothes. Of course, this brought up something that Kyle kept asking her about. Where was she going to live? She’d given up her apartment in LA to move in with Kyle. Trent’s guest cottage was for guests. Up until now, she’d stayed for a couple days or a long weekend here and there when she took a break from the tour to work on her album.
She could justify living there while Trent was in LA with Savannah and Dylan, and she’d considered what would happen when they came back. They were family now. They would want their privacy.
When Kyle had asked her where she planned to live, she’d frozen up. With everything that was going on with her album and telling Kyle that she was pregnant, she’d been taking things one day at a time. Today, staring at the image of her baby on the monitor, decisions she had yet to make rushed at her.
Pressure on her fingers brought her back to the present. She winced a little at the bite of Kyle’s grip, but his eyes were glued to the screen and he didn’t seem to notice the way he was holding her hand. She squeezed back, bringing his focus to her.
“Looks like you’re having a girl,” Dr. Evans announced brightly, her smile broad. “Congratulations.”
Melody was numb. “Are you sure?”
Dr. Evans nodded. “No question. This little girl isn’t one bit shy.”
“Then she’ll take after her father,” Melody murmured.
Her head spun. A girl. She glanced at Kyle to see his reaction, half expecting his expression to reflect disappointment. Had he imagined himself teaching his son to pitch? Instead, he was staring at her stomach and looking dazed. And delighted.
She waited until Dr. Evans finished with the ultrasound and left the room before she voiced the concern burning a hole in her stomach.
“You’re okay with a girl?”
“Of course.” He blinked several times and seemed to have trouble focusing on her. A line appeared between his brows. “Why would you think it wouldn’t be?”
“Because you’re a guy, you love baseball. I bet you woke up this morning thinking you needed to run out and buy a mitt and a ball.”
“Actually, I woke up this morning thinking how empty my bed was without you in it.”
She hadn’t expected this angle of attack and wasn’t prepared with an evasive maneuver. Holding the gown closed as best she could, she sat up and spun so that her feet dangled. “Close your eyes. I need to get dressed.”
Kyle braced his hands on the exam bed and leaned forward so he could peer directly into her eyes. “We’re having a girl.”
Placing her hand on his cheek, she whispered, “We are.”
His grin was infectious and she found herself smiling back. He was close enough that all she had to do was lean forward a few inches to bring their lips into contact. He covered her fingers with his. The connection made her heart race. It would be so easy to just forget how hurt she’d been these last few months. Through passion and desire, they could start again. She didn’t really need to return to the studio today. Instead, they could go to his house and make love all afternoon. Her toes curled at the thought.
She gathered breath and summoned her courage to suggest they do that, but the opportunity was lost when his phone began to ring. He pulled it out and frowned at the screen.
“It’s the club. I need to get this. How about I meet you in the lobby.”
“Sure.” With a sigh, Melody watched him go, and then got dressed once more.
It was for the best, she decided. Part of the reason they were in this mess was because they’d rushed in before determining if they were really compatible. They’d been dating for too short a period of time before she’d moved in and the decision had been made out of convenience rather than a thoughtful evaluation of whether they could work as a couple.
And why was that? Because Melody had been afraid to put the brakes on. To ask the questions that might drive Kyle away. Now she realized that had been a mistake. And no matter how hard it might be to keep from falling back under Kyle’s spell, until she knew for sure that he truly loved her, she couldn’t move forward with their relationship.
Four (#ufa132254-addc-50a3-a031-0396b4b245c9)
Kyle caught himself grinning as he negotiated the Las Vegas traffic on his way to Ugly Trout Records. The entire afternoon, since finding out they were having a girl, he’d been floating in a bubble of optimism. Now that the initial shock of his impending fatherhood had faded, he was feeling as if everything that had gone wrong with his and Melody’s relationship was just a series of misunderstandings that they could sort out with a little work. They were going to be parents. Their daughter deserved to grow up in a secure, loving environment and he intended to provide that for her whatever it took.
Which was why he’d decided to start his campaign by bringing dinner to Melody at the recording studio so she could see he intended to take care of her. On the passenger seat sat a bag filled with several items that topped Melody’s favorites list. It would have been better if they’d been in LA and he could’ve gone to Mama Rosa’s for the Bucatini Alla Carbonara, but he thought what he’d found would pass muster.
He’d also discovered a place that made the most fantastic cheesecakes. He’d brought a sampler for her to gorge on. She’d lost weight these last few months and he couldn’t imagine that was good for the baby.
Ever since seeing that tiny profile and hearing that his daughter was now moving her fingers and toes, he’d been filled with optimism. He was going to be a dad. The thought held nothing but joy. Sure, he had no idea what he was doing, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t learn. After all, he’d seen the way Trent had taken to being Dylan’s father.
Trent, who’d sworn all his days that he’d never get married and have kids. His best friend had grown up with a terrible role model for fatherhood. Siggy Caldwell’s ruthless tyranny in business carried over into his personal life. He had picked favorites among his children, choosing to lavish praise on his firstborn while criticizing both Trent and Melody. No matter how successful they were, neither one could do anything right in Siggy’s opinion.
And yet both of his younger children managed to become affectionate, caring people. In Trent’s case it had taken becoming a father and admitting he was in love with Savannah before his true nature emerged.
Melody hadn’t learned to guard her emotions the way her brother had. She was more inclined to throw herself into a relationship with little regard for her self-esteem. That was how she’d been with Hunter. While she’d been dating the DJ, it had driven Kyle crazy to see her always making excuses for the way Hunter treated her. And yet that was not how she’d reacted when faced with problems in her relationship with Kyle.
Instead of laughing off his assumptions about her and Hunter, she’d been furious and they’d had a terrible fight. He couldn’t remember her ever arguing with Hunter. Was that because her feelings for the DJ had been deeper and more profound? If so, why had she chosen Kyle in the end?
The driveway leading into the record label’s parking lot appeared just ahead of him. He couldn’t wait to see the look on Melody’s face when he surprised her with dinner. She loved it when he was spontaneous.
Grabbing a parking space near the front entrance, he exited the car. It was close to six o’clock, and the lot was half full. Nate made the studio available twenty-four hours. The rate for off-peak hours was significantly cheaper, which made recording sessions affordable for up-and-coming artists. Melody took advantage of the quieter evenings to work on her album.
Kyle was reaching for the glass front door when he spied two people approaching through the lobby. His chest tightened as he recognized Hunter’s tall form alongside Melody’s slim figure. They were engaged in an animated conversation and hadn’t yet spied him. He yanked open the glass door with more force than necessary.
“Kyle.” Melody’s eyes widened as she noticed him entering the building. “What are you doing here?”
He held up the bag. “I brought you dinner. I thought you’d be working.”
His gaze flicked to Hunter. The DJ’s lack of concern caused Kyle’s annoyance to spike. Why was Melody leaving with him?
“Oh that’s so...nice.” She glanced at Hunter. Was it guilt that flickered in her eyes? “We were just going to grab something.”
“And now you don’t have to.” Kyle pushed down his irritation and smiled. “I brought all your favorites. I thought you could show me what you’ve been working on while we eat.”
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Cat Schield
Bound by the BabySinger Melody Caldwell has given guarded entrepreneur Kyle Tailor months to take their relationship from casual to serious – and run smack into the wall around his heart. But fate has intervened – because Melody's pregnant.Jealousy. Fear. Amazement. Kyle doesn't know how to feel about Melody's news. He's been holding back to protect himself. But when a mysterious someone takes too great an interest in Kyle's woman and unborn child, it forces Kyle's hand. If the millionaire hopes to keep what's his, he has to stake his claim now…with all his heart and soul.The Heir Affair is part of the Las Vegas Nights series.
Bound by the Baby
Singer Melody Caldwell has given guarded entrepreneur Kyle Tailor months to take their relationship from casual to serious—and run smack into the wall around his heart. But fate has intervened—because Melody’s pregnant.
Jealousy. Fear. Amazement. Kyle doesn’t know how to feel about Melody’s news. He’s been holding back to protect himself. But when a mysterious someone takes too great an interest in Kyle’s woman and unborn child, it forces Kyle’s hand. If the millionaire hopes to keep what’s his, he has to stake his claim now...with all his heart and soul.
The Heir Affair is part of the Las Vegas Nights series.
“My feelings for you haven’t changed.”
“You can’t seriously believe that’s true,” Melody said.
“I want you in my life. I want to be there for our baby. How do you see your future?”
“Honestly, I sort of go back and forth—wanting us to be a happy family but thinking it might be better if I raise this baby on my own.”
“Because...” If he asked her whether she was in love with someone else and she told him yes, Kyle wasn’t sure what he’d do.
“Because it hurts too much when I think how much I love you and wonder if you’ll ever feel the same about me.”
* * *
The Heir Affair is part of the Las Vegas Nights series: An exclusive club for men who have it all and want more.
The Heir Affair
Cat Schield
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
CAT SCHIELD has been reading and writing romance since high school. Although she graduated from college with a BA in business, her idea of a perfect career was writing books for Mills & Boon. And now, after winning the Romance Writers of America 2010 Golden Heart® Award for Best Contemporary Series Romance, that dream has come true. Cat lives in Minnesota with her daughter, Emily, and their Burmese cat. When she’s not writing sexy, romantic stories for Mills & Boon, she can be found sailing with friends on the St. Croix River, or in more exotic locales, like the Caribbean and Europe. She loves to hear from readers. Find her at www.catschield.net (http://www.catschield.net) and follow her on Twitter, @catschield (https://twitter.com/catschield).
To Patty and Fred
Contents
Cover (#uba755cff-2897-5e2a-92bd-0fcce16319e8)
Back Cover Text (#ua935ad11-439d-5f7b-811e-d2f404d833ba)
Introduction (#u0531dafc-326d-55d6-b4ae-eb565e15678c)
Title Page (#udb207d73-f3b3-5c45-9939-455782894b27)
About the Author (#ufd0b51d7-644e-5d95-aa4b-573b0fb22fae)
Dedication (#udf3f6124-3365-514b-b817-d0118471a6f0)
One (#u515b66b8-38f3-5f2b-ad96-23e134d1a8e9)
Two (#u225867f5-a2a7-58db-8006-f6979ae0a946)
Three (#u074c4460-9932-50bd-9a69-e03ceb0942c8)
Four (#u8ef9e9d1-9520-5932-af60-cc2c6415ca5b)
Five (#litres_trial_promo)
Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
One (#ufa132254-addc-50a3-a031-0396b4b245c9)
Kyle Tailor sat on the couch beside his business partner and best friend from high school, Trent Caldwell. It was Thanksgiving. On the great room’s sixty-inch television, an interdivisional grudge match was happening between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings. Kyle wasn’t following the action. His gaze was locked on Trent’s sister.
Until she came along, solitude had never bothered him. In most ways it was simpler to live on his own without someone else’s physical or emotional clutter. To find himself needing Melody had been a shock to his system.
Now, he didn’t sleep well without her beside him. Since she’d been gone, he slogged through business meetings and routine activities in a foggy daze, unable to concentrate or care. He missed her hugs. Her way of teasing him. He’d lost weight, had stopped working out and lost an unacceptable amount of money in the casinos in the month since he’d come to Las Vegas to temporarily take over the management of Club T’s.
Trent elbowed him in his ribs.
Kyle ripped his gaze from Melody and arched an eyebrow at his business partner. “What?”
“Go talk to her.”
“I tried earlier.” When he’d first arrived, they’d exchanged a stilted “Happy Thanksgiving” and an awkward half hug. “She’s avoiding me.”
“Did you perfect your world-famous curveball on your first attempt?” Trent countered. “Try again.”
“She’s on the phone.”
Trent grunted and returned his attention to the television. His infant son sat on his lap. His matching blue eyes were on the screen and every time the Lions scored and Trent cheered, Dylan would respond to his father’s enthusiasm with clapping. From the love seat, the child’s mother watched the pair with such fondness Kyle’s gut twisted.
Laughter rose from the kitchen. Nate Tucker, the third partner in their Las Vegas nightclub, was in the process of putting away the leftovers from dinner, helped by Mia Navarro, a fellow songwriter he’d been dating for several months.
Thanksgiving was a day for families. A chance to celebrate what they had. Nate had Mia. Trent had Savannah and Dylan.
Frustration ate at him. Kyle should have had Melody except five months ago the paparazzi had captured her and famous DJ/music producer Hunter Graves coming out of a New York City nightclub hand-in-hand. The way Melody and her former flame had been smiling at each other had eaten at Kyle day and night until he’d accused her of cheating on him. Although she’d denied it, Kyle couldn’t find a way to believe her.
After all, hadn’t it been Hunter with whom she’d been so deeply in love that she was prepared to do almost anything to get him to love her back? Even engage in a crazy scheme to make Hunter realize he was taking her for granted. But playing like she was in love with Kyle to make Hunter jealous had become real awfully fast. That was probably why the plan had worked so well.
Seeing that he had real competition for Melody, Hunter had realized the error of his ways. But there was another outcome that neither Melody nor Kyle had seen coming. They’d actually fallen for each other. Kyle remembered back to the moment when all three of them had stood in her apartment, with Melody between the two men who loved her. The seconds were burned in his mind. Her choice could have gone either way. He’d experienced a heart-stopping range of emotions while he waited for her decision.
And in the months since, Kyle would be lying if he claimed he’d never wondered if she was happy with choosing him over Hunter.
His heart gave a sickening lurch as he regarded Melody. She was in great spirits at the moment. Her blue eyes sparkled. The corners of her mouth were turned up in a wry smile and her cheeks flushed with color.
Was she on the phone with Hunter Graves?
Disgusted with himself for jumping to that conclusion, Kyle turned to the television and forced his attention back to the game, but it was all just a swirl of purple, white and blue on a green background.
Falling in love with Melody had been the most incredible experience of his life. No woman before her had ever consumed his thoughts like this, and their lovemaking was exhilarating. Yet he had a hard time trusting the joy and found himself unable to shake the ever-present doubts that lurked in his subconscious, fears that nothing that felt so good could last forever.
Based on how his former love life had gone, he’d braced himself for the inevitable end of their relationship, prepared himself for loss. But the months stretched out and things between them had just gotten better. He’d loosened the reins of control and started to open up. And then she’d gone on tour and their physical separation had created an emotional gulf.
The damning photo of her and Hunter in New York had come at a point when too much time apart had demonstrated just how vulnerable their fledgling relationship was. Neither one of them had had enough confidence in their connection to weather such an emotionally charged situation. Pain pierced his temple. He dug his thumb into the spot.
There was another jab to his ribs. “She’s off the phone.”
“Thanks.” Kyle got to his feet and headed for the terrace.
Melody was on her way in. They met at the sliding glass door. Kyle stepped into the opening, blocking her from reentering the house.
“Look,” he said without preliminaries. “I came here tonight so we could talk.”
“You didn’t come for Nate’s cooking?”
Kyle didn’t crack a smile and Melody sighed in defeat. He knew she hated when he shut down like this, but he’d grown up building walls around his emotions. The strategy blocked pain and disappointment. Unfortunately, as his therapist liked to put it, it also kept him from “welcoming joy.”
He’d started seeing Dr. Warner when his baseball career abruptly ended a few years earlier after a string of shoulder and elbow injuries led to surgery and he was unable to make a full recovery. Needing to see a shrink filled him with shame and embarrassment. In fact, he’d let himself sink into some pretty dark mental territory before he’d made his first appointment. But the fact was, he’d needed help. Losing a career he loved left him feeling more vulnerable than he knew how to handle.
His dad would say a real man would suck it up and deal with his problems instead of running to some head shrinker. In Brent Tailor’s world, men didn’t talk about all that touchy-feely crap. A real man made decisions and if things went wrong, he fixed them. Kyle often wondered if his father thought a real man didn’t have feelings.
“We need to sort out what’s going on between us,” he said, stepping outside, herding her away from the family room and the safety of their friends.
“I don’t know where to start.”
“Your stuff is still at my place in LA, but you haven’t been there since the tour ended. Are you coming back?”
“I don’t know.”
“It feels like we’re over.”
Melody’s voice sounded rough as she asked, “Is that what you want?”
“No, but I can’t remain in limbo, either. We either need to move forward or be done.” Giving Melody this ultimatum hadn’t been part of his plan tonight. He hadn’t wanted to fight with her at all. “The decision is up to you.”
“I need to think about it.”
Impatience snapped along his nerve endings. “The tour ended two months ago. You’ve had plenty of time to think.”
“Things are a little more complicated than they seem.”
She didn’t elaborate even though Kyle gave her the space to do so. Once upon a time Melody had been able to talk to Kyle about everything. Now, it was as if they were strangers.
“How complicated can it be?” he finally asked. “Do you want to be with me or with Hunter?”
“With Hunter?” She shook her head in bewilderment. “What are you talking about?”
“That was him on the phone a little while ago, wasn’t it?”
“No. It was my mom calling to wish me a happy Thanksgiving.” She paused and her expression grew incredulous as she stared at him. “Why would you think that it was Hunter?”
Kyle didn’t respond right away. “He wants you back.”
She huffed out a laugh. “That’s ridiculous. Why would you think something like that?”
“He told me so.”
“You spoke with him?” Melody looked aghast and confused that Kyle and Hunter had talked. “When?”
“After the two of you met up in New York. I called and warned him to back off. He told me to go screw myself.” His fist clenched at the memory. “Apparently that night you said something to him about how being on the road can put a strain on a relationship.” Kyle had no idea what had prompted Melody to divulge such private details to her ex-lover, but hearing Hunter repeat the confidence had cut deep. “He took that to mean we weren’t getting along. And he told me he intends to make you fall back in love with him.”
“He wouldn’t do that.”
“Don’t you mean he can’t do that?” Kyle blew out a breath and struggled to calm his pounding heart.
“Hunter can’t get me back...” She didn’t meet his gaze. “Because I still love you.” An undertone of doubt marred the declaration.
“You don’t sound as if you believe that.”
Shivering, she glanced toward the sliding glass door. When her eyes widened, Kyle followed the direction of her gaze and realized four pairs of eyes were watching them. As soon as their audience realized they’d been spotted, everyone looked away. Melody covered her face with her hands and groaned.
“They all want what’s best for us,” Kyle said.
Everyone in the house was pulling for them with the exception of one-year-old Dylan, who had no idea what was going on, and perhaps, Melody herself.
“I know.” She let her hands fall. “I don’t want to have this conversation here. Can you take me back to Trent’s? We can continue our discussion there.”
Getting her to talk to him was all he’d wanted these last few months. Well, maybe not all he’d wanted. If the tour had never happened. If she’d never gone to New York City and met up with Hunter in the nightclub. If he’d never let jealousy get the better of him. If he’d been allowed to express his emotions growing up.
His list of ifs went on and on.
But for now, he was happy that they were communicating again. Even if what was being said had the potential to hurt.
Kyle nodded. “That sounds good to me.”
* * *
Ten minutes later, after they’d said their goodbyes, Kyle was negotiating the streets of Las Vegas, heading to the two-bedroom guesthouse on her brother’s property where Melody stayed whenever she visited Las Vegas.
Kyle kept his attention fixed on the road, his hands tense on the wheel as if something was eating at him. Every so often he flicked an unreadable glance her direction. It wasn’t like him to look so grim around her. The Kyle she’d grown up with had been quick to smile and tease. Even though he’d been her brother’s best friend, he’d treated her like she mattered to him. Mattered to him like a sister. She’d never imagined he’d ever see her as a woman he desired.
It had taken almost half a year after he’d told her how his feelings for her had changed for her to stop marveling that they were in a relationship. She kept thinking about his track record with women and expecting things to go south. She wished she’d been surprised when things became strained.
Maybe they never should’ve taken the step from friends to romantically involved. It made her heart ache to think this way, but their inability to connect and work out their problems these last few months demonstrated that they’d rushed into a relationship that neither one was ready for. Could it be that Kyle felt the same way? Was he grappling with the same doubts she had?
Melody searched his expression, unable to discern what was going on in his mind. She thought back to the party, and how she’d tried to assuage everyone’s curiosity and concern when she and Kyle left. At this point, aside from Dylan and Kyle, they all knew her secret. A feeling of dread slid down her spine. This wasn’t going to be easy.
About three months into the tour with Nate’s band Free Fall, Melody had begun to worry that the explosion of desire that had sustained her and Kyle through the beginning months of their relationship wasn’t a solid foundation to build a future on. They’d only been a couple for nine months when she’d left LA to open for the award-winning pop band. Weeks and weeks on the road, with only occasional long weekends back in LA, had created an unsettling disassociation between her and Kyle that text messages and Skype calls hadn’t been able to bridge.
Maybe if her track record with men had been more extensive she’d have had more confidence in her ability to keep Kyle’s interest from thousands of miles away. From an early age she’d thrown herself into music rather than boys. Sure, she’d dated, but until Kyle came along, the guys she attracted were mostly like Hunter and way too much like her father: selfish and neglectful.
And then there was the fact that before her, Kyle’s longest relationship had lasted four months. As a former pro baseball player, he had a pretty high profile lifestyle that women flocked to. Kyle was one hell of a catch and Melody recognized that every woman he met could be hotter and more famous than the last. So, she’d enjoyed their time together, never really expecting that it would last.
Before she’d realized it, they’d made it six months and he’d asked her to move in. Trent had been concerned when he’d learned about this escalation in their romance. He’d been Kyle’s best friend for fifteen years and recognized that his friend was in deeper than he’d ever been before. Despite her brother’s advice to slow down, Melody had taken the plunge and moved into Kyle’s Hollywood Hills home.
Kyle’s voice broke into her thoughts. “Why have you been avoiding me since the tour ended?”
“I’ve had a lot to think about,” she said.
“Like what?”
Before they’d started dating, Melody had only ever seen Kyle as funny, sexy and supportive. He never demonstrated fear or anxiety or displayed a hint of vulnerability. His father had done a number on his psyche when Kyle was a young child, demanding his son stay in control of his emotions at all times. So it came as no great surprise that Kyle’s first reaction to any little problem in their relationship was to shut down.
And yet, she’d been the one who’d taken a huge step back after his first big show of emotion. When he’d asked if she was cheating on him with Hunter, he’d been angry and hurt. His strong reaction to the paparazzi photo had caused her own emotions to flare.
Growing up the daughter of Siggy Caldwell hadn’t allowed her to develop an understanding of healthy relationships. Her father was a hard man to like, much less love. Misogynistic, arrogant and selfish, he’d alienated his wives and his children with his disrespect.
So many times her father had declared he loved her right before launching into criticism, invalidating the claim while impressing on her that she was unworthy of his—or anyone else’s—love.
While Kyle was nothing like her father, his accusation had awakened the same feelings of injustice she’d suffered as a little girl. As she’d done with her father, she’d shut Kyle out and walked away.
But that hadn’t stopped her from loving him.
When she didn’t answer him right away, Kyle spoke again. “Like what? Hunter?”
“No.” She gave her head a vehement shake and followed it up with a weary sigh.
“Are you back in love with him?”
“No!” She stared at him in frustration. “Would you please let that go. I want to be with you.”
His expression grew stonier. “You sure haven’t been acting that way these last few months.”
“It’s not the same between us as before I went on the tour,” she blurted out.
“I agree.”
“Maybe if we go back and figure out where we went wrong,” she said. “Or start over.”
Was that even possible given the secret she was keeping from him?
“And if we can’t?”
She didn’t answer and their conversation didn’t resume.
As Kyle drove into the gated community where Trent had his house, Melody wished she had some idea what he was thinking about. Her stomach was in knots. She pressed her sweaty palms against her coat and took deep, calming breaths, hoping to coax her confidence out of hiding.
Her nerves weren’t under control by the time Kyle pulled into Trent’s driveway and stopped the car. She had her door open and feet on the pavement before the silence could get any more awkward. He was seconds behind her as she keyed in the four-digit code that opened the side gate leading to the backyard.
A paving-stone walkway led to her front door. Melody fumbled with her keys until Kyle pulled the ring from her clumsy fingers and slid the correct one home. His body brushed hers, awakening her longing to be held in his arms, and she was a split second from throwing herself against his chest when he took a deliberate step away from her.
“After you.”
Melody bit back a miserable groan. “Thanks.”
Knowing it would be dark when she returned, Melody had left the lights burning in the living room. The heavy scent of roses hit her as soon as she entered. An enormous bouquet of fat red blooms occupied the center of her dining table. The arrangement had appeared at the studio the prior afternoon. She’d been thrilled as she’d read the accompanying card.
I’m thankful for you.
There’d been no signature and Melody hadn’t recognized the handwriting. This hadn’t surprised her. She suspected the order had been phoned in and the florist had written the message. But when she’d studied the card and the roses, she wasn’t sure Kyle had sent them.
And now, as he helped Melody out of her coat, Kyle didn’t seem to notice the flowers. Which left her wondering if Hunter had sent them. If so, that was going to complicate things between her and Kyle.
“Do you want something to drink?” She indicated the kitchen, but Kyle didn’t spare it a glance as he shook his head.
He seemed glued to the floor in the space between her living and dining rooms. Melody wondered what it would take to get him to sit down.
“Who are those from?” Kyle had at last noticed the roses.
“I’d hoped they were from you.”
“I didn’t send them.” If Kyle noticed her rueful tone, he gave no indication. He moved toward the table. “Wasn’t there a card?”
“Yes, but it wasn’t signed.”
“Are they from Hunter?”
“Sending me roses was never his style.”
“Things change.” His lips tightened. “Did you call and ask him?”
“No.”
Melody had left the card on the table beside the crystal vase. Kyle picked it up and read the message.
“‘I’m thankful for you’?” He shot her a frown. “What does that mean?”
Irritation rose at his sharp tone. She thought it was pretty obvious. “It’s Thanksgiving. Maybe someone thought it was a timely message.”
“Someone?”
“I don’t know where the roses came from,” she snapped, wishing Kyle would stop talking about the stupid flowers. She needed to tell him that she was pregnant, but had lost control of the conversation.
“You’re sure?” He reread the card. “This seems awfully personal for it to have been written by a stranger. Did you ask Trent or Savannah if they sent the flowers?”
“Yes. They didn’t send them.”
“Red roses are a romantic gesture,” Kyle murmured to himself, tapping the card against his knuckles. He frowned at the plump red buds. “It seems like something a man in love would send.”
Which was why she’d wished Kyle had sent them. Of course, despite being together for nine months and the fact that he’d invited her to move in with him, Kyle had never actually come out and said he loved her. He’d always been a cool customer when it came to women. The one who decided when it started and when it ended.
It was this tendency that had made her hesitate before choosing him over Hunter. She’d been worried about stepping from one relationship where she didn’t feel safe and secure into another similar situation. Even so, in the end she’d following her instincts and taken a leap of faith. And despite their current problems, she still wouldn’t say she’d been wrong.
“Why didn’t you call Hunter and ask him?” Kyle asked, watching her through narrowed eyes as if waiting for her to slip up.
A thousand times in the last five months she’d regretted hanging out with Hunter in that New York City nightclub and then leaving at the same time he had. The whole thing had been innocent enough. There had been a crush of people outside the club and he’d grabbed her hand to avoid being separated as they’d run to the limo that had been waiting at the curb. Unfortunately, the media was obsessed with Hunter’s love life and had blown up the incident, speculating that Hunter and Melody had reunited.
“Can you please forget about Hunter for two seconds.” Melody didn’t want Kyle’s thoughts taking him there.
Since she’d run into Hunter in New York, Kyle had mentioned several times that she might have unfinished business with the DJ. That couldn’t be farther from the case, but there were things she’d had in common with Hunter, like them both being in the music business, that she didn’t share with Kyle.
Melody set her hand on his arm to bring his attention to her. “I have something I need to tell you.”
When his hazel eyes shifted her way, she released the breath she’d been holding. It was long past time she got this off her chest, but now that the time had come, saying the words out loud was way harder than any speech she’d prepared in her head.
“Earlier I said things are complicated.”
Cool eyes watched her from a face made of granite and Melody longed to be anywhere but here. Given Kyle’s family background, he wasn’t exactly emotive. He played his cards close to his chest. She had absolutely no idea how he was going to react to what she had to say. She could only hope the anticipation was worse than the outcome.
“I’m pregnant.”
Kyle’s flat expression vanished. Instead, he looked like the floor had dropped from beneath his feet. “Pregnant?”
“Yes. I know it’s a shock...”
They hadn’t anticipated this. The topic had never even come up. Nor had marriage or anything having to do with the future. Their relationship had been new and untested. They’d both committed to taking things one day at a time.
“You’re having a baby.” His gaze went past her shoulder and roved around the room as if he was in search of something to help him understand. Like a lodestone, the vase of red roses snagged his notice once more. His body went rigid. “And the father?”
Melody shook her head and took a step back. Had she heard him right? “What do you mean?”
“The father.” Kyle flung out his hand in the direction of the flowers as if they explained everything. “Do you know who it is?”
Two (#ufa132254-addc-50a3-a031-0396b4b245c9)
At his question, Melody blinked several times in rapid succession and then just stared at him in shock. As the impact of what he’d asked sunk in, Kyle realized he’d just made a huge mistake. His heart clenched in misery. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her, but that was all he seemed capable of these days.
“What I meant was...” he began, but she was having none of it.
“You’re the father,” Melody said, her voice raw with disappointment and anguish. “How could you think anything else?”
“The flowers.” He slashed his gaze toward them, unable to face the judgment in Melody’s eyes. “It’s the exact thing Hunter sent you last year when he was trying to get you to reconsider picking me over him.”
“Hunter and I are friends.” Her stiff tone brooked no argument. “Nothing more.”
“The same could’ve been said about us before we got together,” he reminded her.
For several seconds she stared at him in silence as her chest rose and fell in response to the large quantity of air she was moving through her lungs. Her blue eyes were overly bright as she assessed him.
When at last she spoke, her words thudded like hammer blows on his psyche. “I can’t believe you could think that I would cheat on you with Hunter or anyone else.”
The urge to fold her into his arms flooded him, but so much resentment lay between them. He doubted she’d be open to any attempt on his part to touch her.
“I don’t.”
“Then why would you ask me something so ridiculous as whether I know who the father is?”
“It came out wrong.” But it hadn’t. In the back of his mind was that ever-present image of Melody and Hunter hand-in-hand.
“I don’t think it did. You’ve been looking for an excuse to break up for months.” Her voice was ragged and raw. “I’m not going to fight you any longer. We’re done.”
“What?” Although he’d been dreading this outcome for months now, Kyle wasn’t prepared for the actual ending. His thoughts reeled. “Just like that?”
“You just accused me of being pregnant with some random guy’s baby—”
“Not some random guy,” he reminded her, hating the words coming out of his mouth but unable to stop the flow. He needed to get his suspicions out in the open. That was the only way they could move forward. His tone was bleak as he finished. “Hunter’s.”
“I can’t keep doing this.” Melody stuck out her arm and pointed toward the door. “Go.”
The numbness that had momentarily gripped him burned away in a rush. “Aren’t you forgetting something?” He gazed toward her belly where, now that he knew what to look for, he detected the tiniest roundness. “That’s my baby you’re carrying.”
Muscles bunched in her cheek as her arm fell back to her side. Her eyes were sapphire-hard as she demanded, “So, now you’re sure?”
If he wanted to save their relationship, he had to get over the doubts clouding his judgment. He loved Melody and they were going to be a family. He’d won her away from Hunter once. He could do it again. And again. Whatever it took.
“Yes.”
She crossed her arms over her chest, not giving an inch. “And I’m supposed to forget every terrible thing you thought about me and be glad you’ve finally decided to come around?”
“I made a mistake.”
“You made a series of them.” Abruptly, the fight drained out of her. “This isn’t how I wanted things to go.”
“What did you expect?” He took a half step toward her, intent on making some sort of a peace offering, but let his hand fall back to his side when she shook her head.
“I don’t know.” Her shoulders rounded with exhaustion. “I thought maybe it would magically fix things.”
“We’ve had too much time apart.”
“And that’s my fault?”
Although she’d been the one who’d pulled away rather than stay and fight with him—for them—he’d meant it as an observation, not a criticism. Her distance these last few months had awakened a fear of losing her.
“I told you to go on the tour,” he reminded her. “And if I had to do it all over again, I’d make the same decision. It was the right step for your career.” And if he was honest with himself, he hadn’t been ready for the level of commitment their relationship had reached.
It still boggled his mind how fast he’d gone from being her friend to inviting her to move in with him. Cohabiting with Melody had been the most natural thing in the world. It hadn’t required any significant shift in his beliefs or habits. The transformation from bachelor to boyfriend had been seamless and rewarding. It wasn’t until she left on the tour that he’d noticed disquieting thoughts creeping in.
“How far along are you?”
“Twelve weeks.”
He did the math. The last time they’d been together. It had been a rocky weekend. “How long have you known?”
“Since shortly after I returned from Sydney.”
“Six weeks.” He rubbed his eyes while disappointment flowed through him. Why had it taken her so long to share such important news? Could it be that she was afraid of how he would react? And hadn’t he just demonstrated that she’d been right?
Her vehemence caught him by surprise. “You don’t get to do that.” She pointed an accusatory finger at him.
“Do what?”
“Make me feel bad for not rushing to tell you that everything in your life was going to change.”
She was so obviously afraid of what his reaction would be. And perhaps with good reason. He hadn’t exactly swept her into his arms and spun her in a giddy circle while crowing his delight.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.” But she appeared anything but okay. She seemed as shell-shocked as he was. “I’m sure we’re both overwhelmed at the idea of becoming parents. At least we have six months to get used to the idea.”
“Have you started to think about what you’re going to do?” he asked.
“What do you mean ‘do’?”
“For where you’re going to live.” Where did he figure in her plans? “Are you staying here?”
“In Las Vegas?” Melody looked like a cornered rabbit. “I don’t know. Nate is here. And Mia. Trent, Savannah and Dylan will be coming back as soon as she’s done filming the movie.”
“It doesn’t much sound like you plan on coming back to LA.”
Or back to Kyle. His home was in LA. Although, at the moment he was renting a place outside Vegas for the next few months. He’d offered to take over as temporary manager of Club T’s for two reasons. To be closer to Melody while she finished her album and to free up Trent to live in LA and take care of his son while Savannah worked.
“I feel as if I have a really good support system here.” The subtext was clear. She didn’t think he was going to be there for her. Was this opinion recently acquired or something that had occurred to her over a period of time?
“How do you figure? Trent and Savannah are in LA at the moment.”
“They’ll be coming back as soon as Savannah is done with her movie. And you’re here.”
Something loosened in his chest. “So you do want me around.”
“Of course. I want us to be a family.” Nothing sounded better, but in his peripheral vision a dozen red roses stood like a stop sign on her dining room table.
Then she shook her head. “Is that possible? Can we get back to where we were before the tour?”
“I’m not sure we can.” Although Kyle doubted it was the sort of answer a pregnant woman wanted to hear from the father of her child, he had to be honest with her. “Go backward, I mean. I’m sorry. All this has caught me by surprise. I never imagined myself a dad.”
“We never talked about it. I was a bit afraid to, knowing how you and your father get along.”
“You mean don’t get along.”
She gave a little shrug. “You aren’t him. You’re going to be a great dad.”
He wanted some time to assimilate all he’d learned, but she was staring at him like she needed him to fix everything. He just had no idea how to begin.
He considered her remark about his relationship with his father.
Suck it up, kid.
Be a man.
No one’s going to help you unless you help yourself.
The clichés went on and on. Maybe if Brent Tailor hadn’t been such a successful businessman and dedicated philanthropist, his opinions would’ve been easier to ignore. Instead, he was someone Kyle looked up to professionally. And much of what his father drilled into him had enabled his success as a major league pitcher.
The downside to what his dad had drilled into him all his life was that it didn’t enable Kyle to celebrate all he’d achieved in his baseball career or convey to Melody how he felt about their relationship.
“And you’re going to be a great mother.”
She blew out a huge breath. “I hope so. It would’ve been better if it happened later rather than sooner.”
“What’s done is done. What do you need from me?” He saw her answer coming and spoke quickly to head it off. “And don’t say nothing.”
From her frown he knew he’d struck the truth. She’d grown up watching her father and brother butt heads and depending on the situation, tended to either retreat or take on the role of peacekeeper whenever she caught a whiff of conflict.
“I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow.” Her voice came across as tentative as if she half expected him to refuse.
“What time?”
“Three o’clock.”
Excitement trickled into his awareness, diluting his dismay. She was pregnant with his child. It wasn’t great timing, nor was becoming a father something he’d imagined happening any time soon, but he’d watched Trent with Dylan and was pretty sure he’d never seen his friend this happy. Maybe there was something to being a family that made the big problems smaller.
“Where do you want me to pick you up?” he asked.
“You don’t need to come.”
“Oh, I’m not missing this.”
Trent and Savannah had overcome bigger obstacles to find their way back to each other. Surely Kyle and Melody could get past what stood between them. Of course, he was assuming she wanted to. What if she didn’t love him anymore? She might not have cheated on him with Hunter, but he’d treated her as if she had.
He’d broken her trust, lodged unfair accusations at her. The person in the wrong hadn’t been her, but him. Just that morning he’d been all set to forgive her. It had never occurred to Kyle that the one in need of pardoning would be him.
“Thank you,” Melody said, but the words were perfunctory as if her thoughts had traveled elsewhere. “I appreciate your willingness to be involved.”
“I’m going to be there for you every way I can.”
* * *
Melody sat in the small, utilitarian lobby of Ugly Trout Records and stared out the front window toward the parking lot. For the fifth time in ten minutes, she checked the time on her phone. Kyle had three more minutes before he could be considered late. Since last night, she’d regretted caving in to his offer to take her to the doctor’s appointment. Unlike Hunter, Kyle counted punctuality as one of his virtues. He’d never left her waiting and wondering if he was going to call or show up. He’d always been very clear about his intentions and then followed through.
So why was she working herself into such a frantic mess? Practicing patience, Melody smoothed her sweaty palms down the legs of her skinny jeans. Thank goodness the denim had some stretch to it. Thanks to the severity of her morning sickness these last few weeks, she’d lost weight, but today her baby bump seemed more pronounced than the week before.
This change—more than the pregnancy test, her constant nausea and fatigue—had made her all too aware that she had a baby inside her. Sweat broke out. Most days she was happy about her impending motherhood. The timing could be better. She was on the verge of dropping her first album and the stress wasn’t good for her or the baby. But now that she’d broken the news to Kyle, more than just her and her baby’s future weighed on her mind.
“Hey, Melody, what are you doing up here?”
She turned at the sound of her name and smiled at the man who was detouring toward her. Craig Jameson was one of the top sound engineers working at the label. He’d been involved in eighty percent of Melody’s recording sessions and been instrumental in helping her produce most of her songs. He had a knack for knowing exactly what each song needed.
They’d spent hours together in the studio, talking about music and the industry. He had great stories about various artists that had come to Ugly Trout to record. Many had involved some pretty outrageous behavior—drunken jam sessions, a party with strippers and several fistfights.
“I’m waiting for Kyle to pick me up.” Although her relationship with Kyle was pretty well-known around the studio thanks to their public personas, Craig knew more details due to all the time he and Melody had spent together.
“It’s a little late for lunch.”
“Actually, we are heading to...” She’d held off mentioning her pregnancy around the studio until she told Kyle, but now that he knew there was no reason to keep the secret any longer. “The doctor.”
“You okay?” Craig’s concern touched Melody.
“Fine. Actually more than fine.” She forced bright happiness into her tone. “I’m pregnant.”
“That’s great news. Then things between you and Kyle are better?”
During a particularly low point, she’d confided in Craig. At the time she hadn’t considered that Craig was a work colleague. A few days earlier, he’d told her that he’d just broken off with his girlfriend of a year. She hadn’t hesitated to offer him a sympathetic shoulder. Maybe it had crossed a line, but Craig was a decent guy who’d needed a friend.
“We’re working on it.” She smiled, but there wasn’t a lot of joy in it.
“He’d be a fool to let you go.”
“That’s sweet of you to say.” Tears surged to her eyes but Melody blinked them away. It seemed as if everything set her off these days. Hormones. They were driving her crazy. She’d never been moody, but since becoming pregnant, her emotions were all over the place. “There’s Kyle now. I should be back in an hour or so. Would you have some time later to sit down with me? Nate wants me to get my album done and I could use some help narrowing down the songs.”
“I’d be honored to help.”
“Let me know what time you’re free.” She headed toward the front door and paused with her hand on it. When she looked over her shoulder, Craig was still watching her. “And thanks.”
“For what?”
“Everything.” Feeling a little as if she’d said too much, Melody pushed the door and blinked in the bright sunlight.
Kyle had parked his car and was heading toward her along the front walk. His long legs ate up the distance between them, demonstrating his upbeat mood. Today he wore a pair of khaki slacks and navy V-neck sweater over a white button-down shirt. His thick brown hair had an artfully disheveled look she loved. With a long, square face, firm chin and well-shaped lips, Kyle had the sort of good looks favored by fashion designers looking for sexy, rugged models.
When Melody saw his unguarded smile, a weight lifted off her shoulders. For a second she was catapulted back in time to when they’d first been living together in LA. It had been a heady, exciting, romantic three months. Kyle had been super supportive of her career and interested in learning her process for writing music.
His fascination had drawn Melody out of her shell. When it came to songwriting, she’d learned to be exceptionally protective. Back when she was still in school, her father had belittled her talent and broken down her confidence. He’d wanted her to pursue classical violin and made her attend Juilliard. When she’d quit halfway through her third year, choosing instead to pursue the contemporary popular music she loved, Siggy had pretty much disowned her.
“You ready?” he asked as he neared.
It seemed the most natural thing in the world for him to wrap his arms around her and drop a kiss on her cheek. Although she longed for a proper kiss, the affection in the gesture sent warmth rushing through her.
“I’m ready,” she countered. “Are you?”
Kyle’s smile was ever so slightly crooked as he opened the passenger door and ushered her inside. “I am.”
“I’m glad.” She studied him as he walked around the car and slid behind the wheel once more. “I’m a little nervous about the ultrasound.”
“Why?” Kyle got the car started and pulled out of the parking lot before glancing her way. “I thought this was just routine.”
“It is. But they look for certain things. I can’t help but wonder what they might find.”
“What are they going to look for?” Kyle’s brow creased.
Melody instantly regretted sharing her concerns. The last thing she wanted to do was freak out Kyle. He’d only just learned about the baby and probably hadn’t yet come to terms with becoming a father and now she was heaping new concerns onto the pile.
“They’ll check the heartbeat and determine my due date.”
“None of that sounds too bad.”
“Nooo.” She drew the word out. “And then they’ll look to make sure everything looks normal. Two arms. Two legs. That the organs are developing okay.” There were just so many things that could be wrong. And so many things that could be right. When had she become such a pessimist?
“Is there any reason to think anything will be missing?”
His faint note of teasing as he asked the question lightened Melody’s mood. She was being anxious for no good reason.
“Of course not. I guess it’s just going to be more real after today.”
And Kyle would be beside her as they both saw their baby for the first time. It roused all the things she so badly wanted but was afraid she might never get. For the last several weeks, since she’d learned she was pregnant, she’d been so focused on what was wrong with their relationship that she hadn’t thought about all the things that had once been right.
She’d braced herself to be a single mom, not even giving Kyle the benefit of the doubt. Because of the way her father had often treated her, she’d been quick to expect Kyle to disappoint her. If she anticipated Kyle not wanting to be a father, then it wouldn’t hurt as much when that was what happened.
Automatically going on the defensive certainly wasn’t fair to Kyle. Or herself. Or their baby.
“There’s no going back,” she said.
He shot her a curious look. “Do you want to go back?”
“You didn’t ask for this.”
“Did you?”
“You mean did I try to get pregnant?” Melody wasn’t sure how to take his question.
“I wasn’t asking if you deliberately became pregnant,” he said and then sighed. He reached for her hand. “I was merely reflecting your question back at you.”
His matter-of-fact reaction to their situation should be the perfect balm for her agitation, but for some reason she was finding his encouragement annoying. At the same time, his fingers gave a little squeeze and she found herself torn between wanting to fight with him and needing to give in to his attempt to connect with her.
“If I’ve learned anything in the last year it’s that it’s really hard to maintain relationships while on the road. I thought a lot about what would happen if I decide to take my career seriously. I’d be traveling a lot on tour and making appearances. That sort of life is hard on everyone.”
“And you’re worried that you can’t have your career and a baby.” He didn’t voice the obvious question: whether she’d intended to choose between her career and continuing her relationship with him. “I think you can do it all.” A pause. “If you want to.”
This was the decision she was dreading. Did she want it all? A family? A career? Her feelings for Kyle hadn’t changed, but things were so much more complicated these days.
“Do you want to give us another shot?” she asked, her heart thudding hard against her ribs.
“I think we owe it to ourselves to do so, don’t you?”
“I do.”
He didn’t seem all that happy with her answer, however. “Just tell me one thing. Would you have been willing to work things out if you weren’t pregnant?”
“Yes, because if I didn’t, there would always be something unfinished hanging between us.”
He waited a long time before answering. “That’s fair. But you should probably know I wanted you back before I knew you were pregnant.”
“Even though you didn’t trust me?”
And there was the crux of their whole problem.
“I was wrong to think you and Hunter got together.”
She could tell that declaration had required a great deal of effort, but it wasn’t enough. “And yet last night you were wondering if I knew which of you was the father of my baby.”
Three (#ufa132254-addc-50a3-a031-0396b4b245c9)
Kyle knew he deserved her sarcasm and let it slide off rather than get defensive. “It was the roses and that weird card that threw me off.”
“It was pretty weird, but it was probably just a screwup on the florist’s part. Maybe they neglected to add the person’s signature to the card. It could be from any number of people.”
“You don’t think it’s unusual that someone sent you a dozen red roses?” The last thing he should be doing was arguing with her.
“Okay, it’s freaking me out that I don’t know who sent them. But it was a nice gesture.”
Melody might not think the roses came from Hunter, but Kyle was pretty sure he’d sent them.
“Can we forget about the flowers?” Melody continued, smoothing her hands over her knees. “I want to focus on this appointment. I’m really glad you came along today.”
“So am I.” But even as he spoke, Kyle recognized it was going to take more than accompanying her to a doctor’s appointment before the tension eased between them.
He would have to make an effort to put his doubts to rest and get back in Melody’s good graces. If that required romantic gestures like flowers and candlelit dinners, he would do whatever it took.
“You can take a right at the driveway coming up.” Melody pointed the way into a parking lot beside a plain five-story building.
“You’ve been here before?”
“A couple times.”
“So, you are planning to have the baby in Las Vegas.”
Melody’s mouth opened, but no words came out. She bit her lip and stared down at her hands. “It makes sense.”
“But your life is in LA. With me.” Or at least it had been before she’d gone on tour.
“We haven’t really lived together these last nine months,” she said.
“When I encouraged you to go on the tour, I thought you’d be coming back. All your stuff is still in my house.”
“I just need a little time.”
“How much time?”
“I don’t know.”
Kyle parked the car before responding. “I don’t like living in limbo.”
“Then maybe we should break up.”
This wasn’t at all what he expected her to say. “Where is this coming from?”
“I just don’t know where we stand anymore. We’re not dating. We’re not living together. Are we even still friends?”
Her bald statement of the facts as she saw them swept his feet out from under him. It was as if his world had tilted and his head connected with the pavement. His thoughts grew foggy and indistinct.
“My feelings for you haven’t changed.”
“You can’t seriously believe that’s true.” Melody opened her car door and slipped out, leaving Kyle staring at nothing.
She was halfway to the building before he roused himself and chased after her. “Okay,” he said as he caught up with her. “Maybe we’re not in the same place as we were before you left on the tour, but that doesn’t mean I’m done. I want you in my life. I want to be there for our baby. How do you see your future?”
“Honestly, I sort of go back and forth between wanting us to be a happy family and thinking it might be better if I raise this baby on my own.”
“That’s not going to happen.” His father hadn’t been there for him. Kyle intended for his child to have a loving, attentive father.
“Because it hurts when I think how much I love you and wonder if you’ll ever feel the same about me.” They stopped before the elevator and she gave him a long searching look. “I’m afraid to have my heart broken.”
Kyle wished he could tell her he’d never hurt her, but he already had when he’d assumed she’d hooked up with Hunter that night in New York City. And again just yesterday when he jumped to the wrong conclusion about the baby’s paternity. Why couldn’t he just put his faith in her and in their relationship?
Because he didn’t know how.
His parents hadn’t given him the emotional tools to be successful in a romantic partnership. His father had ruthlessly controlled all feelings good and bad, preferring to navigate through life’s up and downs with logic. Kyle’s mother on the other hand was a fearful, anxious woman who loved her son almost too much. Trapped between an emotional storm and an impassive granite wall, Kyle had stopped expressing how he felt and let everyone think he was okay all the time.
His teammates in school and then in the major leagues called him the Iceman because he was always chill. But it was a mask, not a true representation of how he felt. No matter how relaxed and unaffected he looked, inside he seethed with doubt, desire and sometimes disappointment.
But thanks to his father’s tutelage, Kyle’s first reaction to everything life threw at him was to slide on his aviator sunglasses and summon an enigmatic smile. No matter what the stakes, how bad the loss or how well he pitched, he was the Iceman. Even after his first no-hitter, he’d given only a sly smile to the mass of reporters who’d come to interview him in the aftermath.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” Kyle said and meant it, but he knew he didn’t always behave the way she needed him to.
Sometimes it was as if what made him so happy in their relationship was the exact thing that caused him to regress back to the self-protective behaviors he learned in childhood. He retreated from strong emotion instead of owning it. These last few months since he’d thought he lost her to Hunter had been some of the worst of his life.
Instead of reaching out and telling her how afraid he was to lose her, he’d shoved down his fears and made it seem as if he was okay. But he wasn’t okay. In fact, he was a mess, which was why he’d jumped to the wrong conclusion about her feelings for Hunter.
While Melody checked in with the receptionist, Kyle glanced around the waiting area, seeing women in various stages of pregnancy. This was really happening. He was going to be a father. Time to step up and take care of the mother of his child. Whatever that meant.
“I think we should get married,” he said as she took a seat beside him.
Her eyes widened. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Not at all. It makes sense. I don’t want to be a part-time father and we are good together.”
“Good together?” She looked at him as if he’d sprouted a second head. “We’ve barely spoken to each other these last few months. Neither one of us is very good at communicating how we feel.” Like Kyle had, she regarded the other expectant mothers in their various stages of pregnancy. “I don’t think we’re ready for marriage.”
Although her answer frustrated him, Kyle reminded himself that it wasn’t always going to be like this between them. He would find a way to make things all right again.
“So we work on our communication,” he said, hoping she grasped how determined he was to make things work.
“How are we going to do that?”
“We’ll go see a couples counselor. Someone who can teach us how to express ourselves in a positive way.”
Her stiff posture highlighted her discomfort. “I don’t know.”
“Look,” he said. “We might have been able to walk away months ago, but things have changed. And I’d like to point out that while we’ve hit a rough patch, I don’t see either one of us calling it quits.” He chose to ignore that not ten minutes earlier she’d suggested they break up.
“I agree we should make an effort to be friends again for the sake of the baby.” She looked flustered and unsure what she planned to say next. “But marriage is a huge leap.”
“Let’s table that for now.” Now that he’d suggested they marry, he was convinced it was the best idea. He didn’t want to be his child’s part-time father. “We’ll have dinner tonight and talk about it.”
She shifted on the cushioned chair as if it was made of hard plastic. “I can’t tonight. I’m working late. Nate has given me until the fifth of December to finish my album.”
“Good for him. You’ve been working on it on and off for a year. I know you’re a perfectionist, but at some point you have to let it go.”
And maybe then he’d be able to refocus some of her attention on their struggling relationship. He knew her music was important to her, but there had to be a way for her to be a success in her career and still have room for her personal life.
“I know, but it’s my first album and I want everything to be the best it can.”
He understood her quest for perfection. As a teenager he’d spent hours learning how to place a pitch over the center of the plate. The familiar repetition of wind up and throw allowed him to forget his troubles and focus on the here and now. Watching Melody get lost in her songwriting process, he’d recognized the same need to make something flawless and beautiful.
“And yet you won’t know how good it is,” he said, reaching for her hand, offering her both support and encouragement, “until you put it out there.”
She squeezed his fingers and gave a little laugh. “Or how much people are going to hate it.”
“Stop channeling your father. If the man knew good talent when he heard it, he wouldn’t have run his label into the ground.”
“You’re right, but it’s hard to ignore all the times he told me to stick with the violin because I didn’t have what it took to be a songwriter or a singer.”
Kyle wondered what it would take for her to believe she deserved to be successful. He’d tried to reassure her, but often felt as if she couldn’t accept his uplifting words because he didn’t have any musical cred.
“And yet you’ve proved him wrong so many times,” he reminded her. “This album is going to do great. You’ll see.”
“You’ve always supported me and I really appreciate it.”
The warmth in her eyes aroused a pang of longing so acute he almost couldn’t breathe. Damn. He missed her.
“Melody?” A blonde woman in pale blue scrubs appeared in the doorway.
Melody practically sprang to her feet and shot him a worried look. “Are you ready for this?”
Kyle gave her a reassuring smile as he tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. “Absolutely.”
* * *
Melody followed the nurse into the patient room. Kyle’s broad shoulders and strong presence filled the small space. He sat beside her in attentive silence while the nurse took her blood pressure, frowning over its elevated status, and asked routine questions. She answered automatically, trying to ignore the doubts that flickered on the edge of her awareness brought on by his shocking proposal.
What was he thinking to ask her to marry him without forethought or fanfare? Not that she needed a whole huge production made out of getting engaged, but it would’ve been nice to be proposed to in a romantic setting by a man who adored her instead of in a clinical setting by a man who just learned the day before that he was going to be a father.
I think we should get married.
His blunt declaration had been more practical suggestion than impassioned plea. Once the shock faded, her first impulse had been to hit him. How dare he presume she would agree to marry him because she was pregnant? And then tears had threatened and she’d had to grip the edge of her chair to keep from bawling her eyes out in reception.
“Your blood pressure is a little high,” the nurse said, glancing at her with a thoughtful look.
“I’m nervous about the ultrasound,” she lied. It was the conversation with Kyle that had upset her.
He might not have told her he loved her, but she knew that he was committed to her and their baby. Whether that meant they would find their way back to being happy with each other was the big question.
“That’s not unusual, but we should check it again before you leave.”
The nurse finished adding Melody’s data into the computer and then showed her the gown she needed to don for the ultrasound. Kyle’s stoic expression gave away none of his thoughts as he watched the nurse exit the room.
“Close your eyes,” Melody told him as she began to work the buttons free on her shirt. She was already feeling vulnerable enough without adding to her stress by stripping in front of him.
One corner of his lips rose in that sexy half smile that made butterflies erupt in her stomach. “I’ve seen you naked before.” His heavy-lidded gaze slid over her body, cataloging her curves with deliberate possessiveness.
Melody ignored the ache that flared between her thighs. Over these last few months, she’d deluded herself into thinking she was a practical woman who didn’t need a man. She was perfectly capable of making rational decisions about her future and sticking to them.
Yet, a single flirtatious grin from Kyle swiftly showed her how erroneous her assumptions had been. She actually took a half step in his direction, intent on cupping his strong face in her palms and sliding her open mouth against his in a sizzling kiss.
“Just do it,” she told him, wrenching her wayward hormones back under control.
Without saying another word he let his lashes drift downward, but the smile didn’t drift from his lips. For a moment she stared at his familiar features with such longing she thought she might start to cry. Her hands shook as she slipped off her low boots and set them beneath her chair. Despite being confident he wouldn’t peek, Melody quickly stripped down and put on the front-closing gown.
“Okay,” she said, paper crinkling beneath her as she sat on the exam table.
“How about Amelia if it’s a girl?” Kyle’s voice was heavy with intent. “Austin if it’s a boy.”
She couldn’t stop the grin that twitched on her lips. “You’ve been thinking about baby names?”
“I didn’t sleep very well last night.” He pulled out his phone and stared at the screen. “I’m also fond of Aubrey and Addison.”
“Did you get out of the A’s?”
He scrolled down some sort of list on his phone. “Colton for a boy?”
Her throat locked up as she stared at him. Damn the man for driving her crazy with his unromantic proposal of marriage and then twisting her heart into knots with this sweet demonstration of how excited he was to be a dad. Before she could respond, the door opened and the doctor appeared.
“How are you doing today?” Dr. Sara Evans asked, advancing into the room and taking quick stock of Melody’s state of mind before glancing toward Kyle, who’d gotten to his feet. “And you are?”
“Kyle Tailor, the father.”
Dr. Evans gave a quick nod before getting started. Almost as soon as her doctor had entered the room, Melody had calmed down. She liked the obstetrician’s keen gaze and brisk manner.
“I’m going to spread a little gel here.” The doctor applied the clear goo to her belly and chuckled as Melody shivered. “It’s a little bit chilly. You’ll forget all about that in a second.”
Melody stared down at the slight bump just below her belly button where her baby lay. When she glanced toward Kyle, she noticed his eyes were glued to the monitor where an image had begun to develop. And there it was. Their baby. Head. Arms. Legs. A whole little person inside her.
While both she and Kyle had been gaping at the screen, Dr. Evans prattled on about the development of the fetus and the fact that the organs were developing.
“About this time,” Dr. Evans said, “your baby will begin to open and close his or her fingers and his or her mouth will begin making sucking movements. He—or she—is about the size of a lime. Do you want to know the sex?”
Kyle spoke up before Melody could even open her mouth. “Can we?” His eyes sought hers. “Do you want to?”
“I guess.” In truth she hadn’t really thought about it. Didn’t the pregnancy have to be further along? “Sure.”
It would make planning easier if she knew she was having a boy or girl. She’d have to get the nursery ready and buy clothes. Of course, this brought up something that Kyle kept asking her about. Where was she going to live? She’d given up her apartment in LA to move in with Kyle. Trent’s guest cottage was for guests. Up until now, she’d stayed for a couple days or a long weekend here and there when she took a break from the tour to work on her album.
She could justify living there while Trent was in LA with Savannah and Dylan, and she’d considered what would happen when they came back. They were family now. They would want their privacy.
When Kyle had asked her where she planned to live, she’d frozen up. With everything that was going on with her album and telling Kyle that she was pregnant, she’d been taking things one day at a time. Today, staring at the image of her baby on the monitor, decisions she had yet to make rushed at her.
Pressure on her fingers brought her back to the present. She winced a little at the bite of Kyle’s grip, but his eyes were glued to the screen and he didn’t seem to notice the way he was holding her hand. She squeezed back, bringing his focus to her.
“Looks like you’re having a girl,” Dr. Evans announced brightly, her smile broad. “Congratulations.”
Melody was numb. “Are you sure?”
Dr. Evans nodded. “No question. This little girl isn’t one bit shy.”
“Then she’ll take after her father,” Melody murmured.
Her head spun. A girl. She glanced at Kyle to see his reaction, half expecting his expression to reflect disappointment. Had he imagined himself teaching his son to pitch? Instead, he was staring at her stomach and looking dazed. And delighted.
She waited until Dr. Evans finished with the ultrasound and left the room before she voiced the concern burning a hole in her stomach.
“You’re okay with a girl?”
“Of course.” He blinked several times and seemed to have trouble focusing on her. A line appeared between his brows. “Why would you think it wouldn’t be?”
“Because you’re a guy, you love baseball. I bet you woke up this morning thinking you needed to run out and buy a mitt and a ball.”
“Actually, I woke up this morning thinking how empty my bed was without you in it.”
She hadn’t expected this angle of attack and wasn’t prepared with an evasive maneuver. Holding the gown closed as best she could, she sat up and spun so that her feet dangled. “Close your eyes. I need to get dressed.”
Kyle braced his hands on the exam bed and leaned forward so he could peer directly into her eyes. “We’re having a girl.”
Placing her hand on his cheek, she whispered, “We are.”
His grin was infectious and she found herself smiling back. He was close enough that all she had to do was lean forward a few inches to bring their lips into contact. He covered her fingers with his. The connection made her heart race. It would be so easy to just forget how hurt she’d been these last few months. Through passion and desire, they could start again. She didn’t really need to return to the studio today. Instead, they could go to his house and make love all afternoon. Her toes curled at the thought.
She gathered breath and summoned her courage to suggest they do that, but the opportunity was lost when his phone began to ring. He pulled it out and frowned at the screen.
“It’s the club. I need to get this. How about I meet you in the lobby.”
“Sure.” With a sigh, Melody watched him go, and then got dressed once more.
It was for the best, she decided. Part of the reason they were in this mess was because they’d rushed in before determining if they were really compatible. They’d been dating for too short a period of time before she’d moved in and the decision had been made out of convenience rather than a thoughtful evaluation of whether they could work as a couple.
And why was that? Because Melody had been afraid to put the brakes on. To ask the questions that might drive Kyle away. Now she realized that had been a mistake. And no matter how hard it might be to keep from falling back under Kyle’s spell, until she knew for sure that he truly loved her, she couldn’t move forward with their relationship.
Four (#ufa132254-addc-50a3-a031-0396b4b245c9)
Kyle caught himself grinning as he negotiated the Las Vegas traffic on his way to Ugly Trout Records. The entire afternoon, since finding out they were having a girl, he’d been floating in a bubble of optimism. Now that the initial shock of his impending fatherhood had faded, he was feeling as if everything that had gone wrong with his and Melody’s relationship was just a series of misunderstandings that they could sort out with a little work. They were going to be parents. Their daughter deserved to grow up in a secure, loving environment and he intended to provide that for her whatever it took.
Which was why he’d decided to start his campaign by bringing dinner to Melody at the recording studio so she could see he intended to take care of her. On the passenger seat sat a bag filled with several items that topped Melody’s favorites list. It would have been better if they’d been in LA and he could’ve gone to Mama Rosa’s for the Bucatini Alla Carbonara, but he thought what he’d found would pass muster.
He’d also discovered a place that made the most fantastic cheesecakes. He’d brought a sampler for her to gorge on. She’d lost weight these last few months and he couldn’t imagine that was good for the baby.
Ever since seeing that tiny profile and hearing that his daughter was now moving her fingers and toes, he’d been filled with optimism. He was going to be a dad. The thought held nothing but joy. Sure, he had no idea what he was doing, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t learn. After all, he’d seen the way Trent had taken to being Dylan’s father.
Trent, who’d sworn all his days that he’d never get married and have kids. His best friend had grown up with a terrible role model for fatherhood. Siggy Caldwell’s ruthless tyranny in business carried over into his personal life. He had picked favorites among his children, choosing to lavish praise on his firstborn while criticizing both Trent and Melody. No matter how successful they were, neither one could do anything right in Siggy’s opinion.
And yet both of his younger children managed to become affectionate, caring people. In Trent’s case it had taken becoming a father and admitting he was in love with Savannah before his true nature emerged.
Melody hadn’t learned to guard her emotions the way her brother had. She was more inclined to throw herself into a relationship with little regard for her self-esteem. That was how she’d been with Hunter. While she’d been dating the DJ, it had driven Kyle crazy to see her always making excuses for the way Hunter treated her. And yet that was not how she’d reacted when faced with problems in her relationship with Kyle.
Instead of laughing off his assumptions about her and Hunter, she’d been furious and they’d had a terrible fight. He couldn’t remember her ever arguing with Hunter. Was that because her feelings for the DJ had been deeper and more profound? If so, why had she chosen Kyle in the end?
The driveway leading into the record label’s parking lot appeared just ahead of him. He couldn’t wait to see the look on Melody’s face when he surprised her with dinner. She loved it when he was spontaneous.
Grabbing a parking space near the front entrance, he exited the car. It was close to six o’clock, and the lot was half full. Nate made the studio available twenty-four hours. The rate for off-peak hours was significantly cheaper, which made recording sessions affordable for up-and-coming artists. Melody took advantage of the quieter evenings to work on her album.
Kyle was reaching for the glass front door when he spied two people approaching through the lobby. His chest tightened as he recognized Hunter’s tall form alongside Melody’s slim figure. They were engaged in an animated conversation and hadn’t yet spied him. He yanked open the glass door with more force than necessary.
“Kyle.” Melody’s eyes widened as she noticed him entering the building. “What are you doing here?”
He held up the bag. “I brought you dinner. I thought you’d be working.”
His gaze flicked to Hunter. The DJ’s lack of concern caused Kyle’s annoyance to spike. Why was Melody leaving with him?
“Oh that’s so...nice.” She glanced at Hunter. Was it guilt that flickered in her eyes? “We were just going to grab something.”
“And now you don’t have to.” Kyle pushed down his irritation and smiled. “I brought all your favorites. I thought you could show me what you’ve been working on while we eat.”
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Cat Schield
Тип: электронная книга
Жанр: Современные любовные романы
Язык: на английском языке
Издательство: HarperCollins
Дата публикации: 16.04.2024
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О книге: Bound by the BabySinger Melody Caldwell has given guarded entrepreneur Kyle Tailor months to take their relationship from casual to serious – and run smack into the wall around his heart. But fate has intervened – because Melody′s pregnant.Jealousy. Fear. Amazement. Kyle doesn′t know how to feel about Melody′s news. He′s been holding back to protect himself. But when a mysterious someone takes too great an interest in Kyle′s woman and unborn child, it forces Kyle′s hand. If the millionaire hopes to keep what′s his, he has to stake his claim now…with all his heart and soul.The Heir Affair is part of the Las Vegas Nights series.