3

Ryan mounted the steps to Kelly’s apartment,

grimacing as he took in the missing handrail and the

shaky stairs. It was a wonder she hadn’t already

fallen down them. He wasn’t entirely expecting to findher home, but he’d stopped in at the diner in case

she’d gone to work, only to be told by a surly man

named Ralph that she wasn’t there.

It annoyed him that her door wasn’t locked. He

pushed it open to find her on her hands and knees,

peering under the rickety recliner. She made a

sound of frustration and then pushed herself upward.

“What the hell are you doing?”

She shrieked and whirled around. “Get out!”

He held out a placating hand. “I’m sorry I

frightened you. Your door was unlocked.”

“And so you thought you’d just come on in? Did

the art of knocking escape you? Get a clue, Ryan. I

don’t want you here.” She went into the kitchen,

opening and shutting cabinets, obviously looking for

something.

He sighed. It wasn’t that he’d expected her to be

any more compliant today, but he’d hoped after the

initial shock, she’d be a little less…angry.

When she got back down on the floor again, a

surge of irritation hit him once more.

He crossed the room and leaned down to help her

to her feet. “What are you looking for?”

She shrugged off his hand and wiped her hair

from her eyes. “The check. I’m looking for the check!”

“What check?”

“The check you wrote me.”

He frowned and reached into his pocket for the

folded, worn piece of paper. “This check?”

She lunged for it but he held it higher out of her

reach.

“Yes! I’ve changed my mind. I’m cashing it.”

He put his hand out to ward her off and shook his

head in confusion. “Sit down, Kelly, before you fall.

And then tell me what on earth is going on here. You

wait this long, throw the check in my face and tell me

to take my money to hell with me and now you’ve

changed your mind? Are you crazy?”

To his utter surprise, she slumped down onto one

of the small chairs that accompanied the two person

table in the kitchen and buried her face in her hands.

To his further dismay, her shoulders shook and quiet

sobs erupted from her bowed head.

For a moment he stood there, unsure what to do.

He’d never been able to stand it when she cried. An

uncomfortable feeling settled in his stomach and he

dropped down to one knee to gently pry her hands

from her face.

She looked away, seemingly discomfited by the

fact he was witnessing her breakdown.

“What’s wrong, Kelly?” he asked gently.

“I lost my job,” she choked out. “Because of you.”

He reared back. “Because of me? What the hell

did I do?”

She whipped her head up, her eyes flashing.

“Your standard line. What did I do? Of course you didnothing wrong. I’m sure this was all my fault, like

everything else that went wrong in our relationship.

Just give me the check and get out. You won’t ever

have to be bothered with me again.”

He stared incredulously at her. “Do you honestly

expect me to just walk away now?” He shoved the

check back into his pocket, his lips thin as he

controlled the urge to lash out at her as she had

done to him. “We have a hell of a lot to work out,

Kelly. I’m not going anywhere and neither are you.

The very first thing we’re going to do is go to the

doctor so you can get a decent checkup. You don’t

look well. I can’t be any more blunt than that.”

She slowly stood and stared him in the eye. “I’m

not going anywhere with you. If you won’t give me the

check, then get out. We have nothing more to

discuss. Ever.”

He fingered the paper in his pocket and then lifted

his gaze to meet hers once more. “We’ll discuss the

check after we go to the doctor.”

Disgust flared in her eyes. “Resorting to blackmail

now, Ryan?”

“If that’s what you want to call it. Ireally don’t care.

You’re going to the doctor with me. If he gives you a

clean bill of health, then I’ll hand over the check and

walk out of here.”

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Just like that.”

He nodded, not bothering to tell her that there

wasn’t a doctor in this world who could possibly give

her a clean bill of health. She was dead on her feet.

She was pale and very likely significantly

underweight.

gShe nibbled at her lip for a long while as if

deciding whether or not to acquiesce. Then finally

she closed her eyes and let out her breath in a long

exhale.

“All right, Ryan. I’ll go to the doctor with you. After

he verifies that I’m perfectly fine, I don’t want to see

you again.”

“If he says you’re okay, then you’ll get your wish.”

She lowered herself back into the chair, clearly

exhausted. He bit back a curse. Was she blind or

just that heavily into denial? She needed someone totake care of her. Make sure she ate three good

meals a day. Someone to make her put her feet up

and rest.

He checked his watch. “We should be going. Your

appointment is in half an hour and I don’t know how

bad traffic will be.”

Defeat crept over her face, but then she hardened

her expression and rose once more. She retrieved

her purse from the recliner and started for the door,

leaving him to follow.

Kelly stared sightlessly out the window as Ryan

maneuvered through traffic. She was mentally

exhausted from her confrontation with Ryan. She just

wanted him gone. She couldn’t even look at him

without all the hurt from the past crashing through her

and turning her inside out.

He parked in the garage of a downtown medical

clinic and ushered her inside the modern building.

They rode the elevator to the fourth floor and Kelly

stood numbly as Ryan checked in with the

receptionist.

After filling out her medical history, she was

ushered back for the prerequisite pee in a cup.

When she exited the bathroom, a nurse directed her

into one of the exam rooms where she found Ryan

waiting for her.

She bared her teeth in a snarl, prepared to order

him out when he held up a hand, his expression as

fierce as her own had to be.

“Iwill hear firsthand everything the doctor has to

say.”

His eyes dared her to argue. She swallowed

nervously, knowing he’d make a scene if she pushedthe issue. She turned her back on him and leaned onthe exam table.

She just had to get past the exam, have the doctor

tell Ryan that everything was fine, and then she’d be

rid of him.

A few minutes later, a young doctor came in and

smiled at her. He gestured for her to get onto the

table and recline. After measuring her and listening

to the baby’s heartbeat, he wheeled in a small

machine and then applied cool gel to her stomach.

She lifted her head. “What are you doing?”

“Thought you might like to get a look at the little

guy or girl. I’ll do a quick sonogram for dates and

measurement, make sure everything is okay. Is that

all right with you?”

She nodded and the doctor began moving the

wand over her stomach. Then he stopped and

gestured toward the small screen. “There’s the

head.”

Ryan crowded in so he could see the monitor.

She craned her neck to see around him. Ryan

looked back at her then hastily slipped a hand

underneath her neck to lift her so she could see.

Tears filled her eyes and her lips widened into a

smile. “She’s beautiful!”

“Yes, she is,” Ryan said huskily in her ear.

“Or he,” she said quickly.

“Would you like to find out what you’re having?”

the doctor offered. “We can take a look.”

“No…no, I don’t think so,” she said. “Iwant it to be

a surprise.”

The doctor took a few more minutes and then

stood up, wiping her belly clean. He handed her a

picture he printed out of the baby’s profile and

returned to his clipboard. After a few scribbled

notes, he looked back up at her. “I’m concerned

about you.”

She frowned and struggled to sit up. Ryan eased

her into a sitting position, and she looked

questioningly at the doctor.

“Your blood pressure is elevated and there are

traces of protein in your urine. There is significant

edema to your hands and feet and I’d bet, judging by

your weight, that you aren’t getting enough nutrition.

You’re exhibiting signs of preeclampsia and it could

lead to serious repercussions.”

Kelly regarded him in stunned silence.

Ryan turned to the doctor with a frown. “What is

preeclampsia?”

“It’s related to an increase in blood pressure and

pan increase in protein in urine output. Typically it

affects women after their twentieth week of

pregnancy. It can progress to seizures, at that point it

becomes eclampsia.”

The doctor turned his stern gaze on Kelly before

continuing.

“You are only a hairbreadth from going into the

hospital and staying there until you deliver, and

unless I exact a promise from you and your husband

that you’ll remain off your feet and take better care of

yourself, I’ll forgo the warning and straight into the

hospital you’ll go.”

“He’s not my—” she began.

“Consider it done,” Ryan smoothly interjected.

“She won’t so much as lift a finger. You have my

word.”

“But—”

“No buts,” the doctor said. “I don’t think you fully

understand the direness of your situation. If your

condition progresses, it can mean your death.

Eclampsia is the second leading cause of maternal

death in the U.S. and the leading cause of fetal

complications. This is serious and you need to take

all the necessary precautions to prevent an

escalation in your condition.”

Ryan blanched, and she felt the blood drain from

her own face as well.

“I can assure you, Doctor, Kelly won’t be doing

anything but resting and eating from now on,” Ryan

said grimly.

The doctor nodded approvingly and shook both

their hands. “I’d like to see her back in a week. And if

the swelling gets worse or she develops a severe

headache she’s to go directly to the hospital.”

After the doctor left, Kelly sat on the exam table,

stunned by the doctor’s pronouncement. Ryan slid

his hand over hers and squeezed.

“I don’t want you to worry, Kelly.”

Worry? She nearly let out a hysterical laugh. Her

life was a total and complete mess and she wasn’t

supposed to worry. She was ready to run screaming

from the building.

“Come on,” he said quietly. “Let’s go.”

She let him lead her out of the doctor’s office and

to the car without protest. This couldn’t be happeningto her. She sat mutely in the car as they drove away,

refusing to even look at Ryan. She had no job, and

now if the doctor was to be believed, she couldn’t

have worked even if she hadn’t been fired. How was

she going to support herself, let alone her baby? Shehad some savings but it was all earmarked for the

baby and school.

Helplessness gripped her and she didn’t like it

one bit. The shrill ring of a cell phone startled her andshe looked over to see Ryan put it to his ear as he

expertly weaved through traffic. Her ears perked up

when she heard her name.

“We’re going by Kelly’s apartment to get her

things. Book us a flight from Houston and call me

back with the flight number and time. Then call over

to Dr. Whitcomb’s office on Hillcrest and get Kelly’s

medical report faxed to Dr. Bryant in New York.

Cover for me and have Linda go over any contracts

needing my signatures. I’ll be in the office in a few

days.”

He ended the conversation abruptly and set the

phone aside.

“What were you talking about?” Kelly said in

bewilderment.

He glanced over at her, a grim expression

tightening his face. “I’m taking you home.”

“Over my dead body,” she snarled. She crossed

her arms over her belly and pressed her lips firmly

together.

“You’re going,” he said in a tone that brooked no

argument. “You need someone to take care of you

since you refuse to do it yourself. Do you want to risk

the baby’s health? Or yours? Give me a solution,

Kelly. Prove to me that I can leave here knowing

you’ll be okay.”

She stared woodenly at him. “Don’t you

understand that Iwant nothing to do with you?”

“Oh yes, you made that clear to me when you slept

with my brother. But the fact is you’re likely carrying

my child—or my niece or nephew, and either way I’mnot going to disappear until I know you’re both safe.

You’re coming to New York with me if I have to carry

you on the plane.”

“It’s not your child,” she said fiercely.

His gaze raked over her. “Whose is it then?”

“None of your business.”

There was a long silence before he finally said,

“You’re going with me. I’m not just doing this for a

child that may or may not be mine.”

“Why are you doing it then?” she shot back.

yygHe ignored her and stared out the windshield, his

fingers curled tight around the steering wheel.

When they arrived at her apartment, she got out of

the car before he could come around for her and she

hurried up the stairs. She could hear him behind her

and when she tried to shut the door, he put up his

hand and pushed his way inside.

“We have to talk, Kelly.”

She whirled around. “Yes, we do. You said we’d

talk about the check. You were certainly willing to

throw it at me when you called me a whore. Iwant it

now and I don’t give a damn what you think about the

fact I’m taking it.”

“I’m no longer offering it.”

“Oh, nice,” she said sarcastically.

“Iwant you to come back to New York with me.”

Her mouth fell open. “You’re insane. Why would I

go anywhere with you?”

“Because you need me.”

Pain speared through her chest, robbing her of

breath. “I needed you before.”

She turned away before he could respond. She

framed her belly with her palms and tried not to

panic.

Behind her Ryan was silent. Disturbingly so. Then

when he spoke there was an odd, strained tone to

his voice.

“I’m going out to have your prescriptions filled. I’ll

pick us up something to eat. When I get back, Iwant

you to be packed.”

His footsteps were heavy on the floor and then the

door shut quietly behind him.

She sank onto the tattered recliner and massagedher forehead. Two days ago she had a plan. A good

plan. She had everything mapped out. Today she

had no job, her health was suspect and her ex-fiancé

was pressuring her to go back to New York with him.

It made her cringe, but she realized she was

going to have to call her mother. She’d once sworn

she’d have to be dying to ever ask her mom for

anything, but right now that seemed the lesser of two

evils.

“What doesn’t kill me will make me stronger,

right?” she muttered.

Lame. So lame.

Still, she picked up the phone, drew in a deep

breath and called the last number she had for her

mother. It was entirely possible Deidre no longer

lived in Florida. Who really knew with her?

She’d washed her hands of Kelly the minute Kelly

graduated high school and all but shoved her out of

the house so she could move in her latest boyfriend.

She’d informed Kelly that she’d done her duty and

devoted eighteen of the best years of her life—years

she’d never get back—to raising a child she’d never

intended to have.

Good luck, see you later, don’t ask me for

anything else.

Yeah.

Kelly was about to hang up when her mother’s

voice came over the line.

“Mom?” Kelly said hesitantly.

There was a long pause. “Kelly? Is that you?”

“Yeah, Mom it’s me. Look, I need your help. I need

a place to stay. I’m…pregnant.”

There was an even longer pause this time.

“Where’s that rich boyfriend of yours?”

“I’m not with him any longer,” Kelly said in a quiet

voice. “I’m in Houston. I lost my job and I’m not well.

The doctor is worried about the baby. I just need a

place to stay for a little while. Until I get back on my

feet.”

Her mother sighed. “I can’t help you, Kelly.

Richard and I are busy and we just don’t have the

space.”

Hurt crowded into her heart. She’d known this was

pointless, but somehow she’d hoped… Quietly, she

turned the phone off without saying anything else.

What was there to say anyway?

Her mother had never been more than a resigned

babysitter.

Kelly smoothed a hand over her belly. “I love you,”

she whispered. “I’ll never begrudge a single moment

I have with you.”

She leaned back in the recliner and stared up at

the ceiling, hating the helplessness that gripped her.

She closed her eyes in weary resignation. She was

exhausted.

The next thing she knew she was being shaken

awake. She yanked her eyes open to see Ryan

standing over her, a plate and glass of water in his

hands.

“I brought you Thai,” he said gruffly.

Her favorite. She was surprised he remembered.

She struggled to sit upright and then took the plate

ggpgpand glass from him.

He pulled a chair from the kitchen and sat across

from her as she ate. His scrutiny made her

uncomfortable and so she focused on her food, not

looking up.

“Ignoring me isn’t going to help.”

She paused, set her fork down and then leveled a

stare at him. “What do you want, Ryan? I still don’t

understand why you’re here. Or why you want me to

go back to New York with you. Or why you care,

period. You let me know in no uncertain terms that

you wanted me as far out of your life as possible.”

“You’re pregnant. You need help. Isn’t that

enough?”

“No, it’s not!”

His jaw tightened. “Let’s put it this way. You and I

have a lot to work out, including whether or not you’repregnant with my child. You need help that I can

provide. You need someone to take care of you. You

need top-notch medical care. I can give you all of

those things.”

She thrust a hand into her hair and leaned back

against the recliner. He immediately leaned forward,

slipping from his chair and going to his knees in front

of her. He touched her arm, tentatively, as if afraid

she’d recoil.

“Come with me, Kelly. You know this has to be

worked out between us. You have to think about the

baby.”

She held up a hand, furious that he’d try to

manipulate her with guilt. But he caught her hand andlowered it, and then ruthlessly pressed his

advantage.

“You can’t work. The doctor said you have to rest

or you risk the health of your child as well as your

own. If you can’t accept my help for yourself, at least

do it for your baby. Or is your pride more important

than his or her welfare?”

“And what are we supposed to do when we get to

New York, Ryan?”

“You’re going to rest and we’re going to figure out

our future.”

Her stomach lurched. It sounded so ominous.

Their future.

She was a fool to agree. She’d be a fool not to

agree.

She was willing to swallow her pride and take the

check. Shouldn’t she be willing to accept his help for

her baby’s sake? For their baby’s sake?

“Kelly?”

“I’ll go,” she said in a low voice.

Triumph flashed in his eyes. “Then let’s get you

packed and get the hell out of here.”