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or blue-eyed and blonde or perhaps a mixture of both? Kelsey preferred the latter;
otherwise she'd never get Nick out of her head. Although she feared this constant
heartache would not go away. He had touched more than her flesh. He had touched
her heart and soul.
Guilt riddled her. She had used Nick for her own means. Granted, she had paid him
for his services but nonetheless she had used him--a man like Nick. She wondered if
he hated her. He had every right. She had purposely and selfishly seduced him,
seeking him out to have a child, regardless of cost. And the cost had been much
higher than she could possibly anticipate. Sex hadn't made her fall in love with Nick;
she'd been doing that ever since he walked into her office that morning so
unsuspecting. It had been the reason she was so sure she wanted Nick to father her
baby. His strong sense of family obligation, his loyalty, and the fact that he didn't
bother to hide how much he cared for his family. Who wouldn't fall in love with a man
like that?
And now she was going to have his baby!
Yet, something vital to herself and the baby was missing. She now realized that
without Nick, the victory was shallow.
* * *
"So, would it be out of line if I asked if you were pregnant?" Nick's voice sounded
throaty, even to himself. He had waited for her to call, but she never did. It had been
two months, long enough to know, he reasoned.
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"I'm going to the doctor this afternoon. But, yes, I think I am."
Nick groaned inwardly. Pregnant with his child. Did Kelsey have any idea what this did
to him? Feelings of joy mixed with anger surrounded Nick. Protectiveness squeezed in
on him. He wanted to march over there and claim what was his.
But where was the exuberance in her voice? She didn't sound as happy as he
expected her to. Was something wrong and she wasn't telling him? Shouldn't she be
happier?
"Are you feeling okay?"
"I've got a bad case of morning sickness, actually. That's what makes me so sure I
am pregnant, though. Some foods make me ill just smelling them."
"I'm sorry for that, but congratulations, I guess."
"Thanks."
"I hope you don't mind me calling, Kelsey." He cleared his throat again. "I had to
know. Is there anything I can do? Do you need anything?"
"No, nothing. Everything is fine. Jackson has even offered to take over some of my
work at the office until I'm feeling better."
"I'd like to have met this Jackson. He seems like a nice kind of guy. I can't imagine
why you didn't pick him to father your child."
There was a soft chuckle at the other end. "Well, like I told you before, I almost did,
actually. I mean he has all the right qualifications. He's sophisticated, educated, and
he looks like a celebrity. I think you and Jackson would get along well."
"Maybe you should have picked him, then."
"No." She hesitated. "I picked the right man for the job. Because, despite all that,
Jackson and I are just friends."
"Yeah, sure. Look, let me know if you need anything, Kelsey. Anything at all."
"Thanks, Nick. I won't be needing anything, but if you'd like to call from time to time,
you can. I know we agreed on no contact, but it is your baby. And I can't in all good
conscience keep everything to myself. I'm glad we have the contract behind us. But it
wouldn't be fair not to share something with you, Nick."
Nick's throat tightened. There it was, a contract, about his kid. It always came back
to that, an ironclad contract. The woman didn't deal in emotions. She needed a
contract for everything. This was his kid. A kid he had vowed he'd never desert. Now
he felt as though he deserted both Kelsey and the baby. "I'd like to come by, I mean.
In the meantime, take care."
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Nick hung up wondering why he felt so suddenly lost. He was going to be a father and
yet he'd never be there to enjoy it. Damn! What a fool he'd been. The rain coming
down outside seemed to echo his dark feelings. A sound all of New York was probably
celebrating again.
When he got home from work late that night, he noticed that his house was dark,
everyone was asleep. Somehow coming home would never be the same again. He felt
as though he belonged somewhere else. But where?
Sitting in his car, he watched the big drops of rain that splashed musically against the
windshield in some offbeat tune. He listened for a long while, hoping the rain might
soothe his overwrought nerves, like it usually did, but it didn't.
Then it hit him. As though he suddenly had come in out of the dark, he had the spark
of an idea. He banged his palm against his forehead and stared at himself in the rear-
view mirror.
Suddenly jerking the transmission into drive once more and speeding off in the
direction of Kelsey's apartment he cursed himself for not thinking of it sooner. He was
a man with a mission. A mission he was sure Kelsey wouldn't like.
Just like before, letting his anger ferment before he barged in on her, he sat quietly
staring at the complex. He needed to think it through before he put his plan in
motion. It could work. It had to.
Minutes later, he stormed up the stairs to Kelsey's apartment door. The housekeeper
let him in with malevolent reluctance.
"You again? Now see here, this isn't the time ..."
"No. It isn't, you're absolutely right about that, Dorothy, but will you be a doll and put
the coffee on. And I'm sorry I had to wake you. This is important though. I'll just let
myself into her room. We'll be fine."
"But you can't!"
"Look, trust me, on this one, will ya?" Nick smiled, and turned the housekeeper on
her way to the kitchen. He was winning points with Dorothy. He saw that in her half
smile.
Nick didn't barge in this time; instead he crept up to the side of the bed, staring down
at the disheveled Kelsey. She was on her stomach, her hair was in her eyes, and her
gown hunkered down over one shoulder. He feasted on her for a few seconds, letting
the rush of adrenalin wash through him. He still wanted her, more than ever. His
insides ached to hold her in his arms again, but on his terms this time. Yes, he'd have
to take control, whether she liked it or not, and he'd have to be strong and resist the
temptation she offered so innocently.
"Hey," Nick called to her softly, his voice lowering when his body refused to obey his
mind.
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She didn't move.
"Hey, babe," he called softly, scooting her body over so he could sit beside her on the
bed.
At first she just rolled over and piled the pillows around her head. But he slowly
reached to uncover her head, and turned the small lamp on beside her bed.
She whirled about, and nearly pounced on him, until her eyes opened and she
realized who he was.
"N-Nick?" She gathered the covers about her at first, then must have realized how
silly it was and relaxed her hold on them.
"Hello to you, too." He smiled.
Pulling the covers up slowly again, she adjusted her gown, and straightened her hair.
She couldn't possibly know how gorgeous she looked at this moment, Nick thought to
himself, steeling his emotions.
"What are you doing here, at this hour?" Her head nodded toward the bedside clock.
It was twelve-thirty.
"We've got to talk," he said, not sure how far to take it at this moment.
"Talk? Again, and at this hour?" She grabbed the clock by her bedside and shoved it
in his face. "Do you know what time it is? Don't you ever talk during the day?"
"Best time for talking is when things are clear in your head. Don't you think?"
"Well, I'm certainly not clear in the head at the moment. Honestly, Nick, don't you
ever sleep?"
"No, not much anymore. That's why I'm over here, instead of home in bed. Now, sit
up and let's talk." He had her at an disadvantage and he knew it. He'd have to keep
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