The Right Bride

Chapter Ten


“HOW ABOUT ANOTHER martini?” Elizabeth asked as she passed their table, getting in one more dig about her lying about being pregnant.

No self-respecting expectant mother would swill martinis night after night, Cameron thought. Shelly ignored the question. Nothing she said would overshadow her drinking multiple martinis over the last two days in his company.

Instead of answering Elizabeth, she turned her attention on him, went on the defensive, and lashed out. “Finished wagging your tongue over George’s mistress?”

Direct hit. He rolled the idea around in his mind, never expecting the outrageous statement. He refused to believe Marti was George’s mistress. He was in his seventies. She couldn’t be more than twenty-five, tops. Hell, she was too young for him, and he was only thirty-two.

“Let’s talk about this so-called pregnancy. You can’t really think I’d believe you’re pregnant. I used protection every time we were together.”

“Every time?” She raised an eyebrow and cocked her head. The knowing grin made him think hard.

He used protection, but she remembered the first time he’d been out of control with wanting her and he hadn’t used anything. On the pill since sophomore year of high school, she’d just gone along, swept up by his enthusiasm and need for her. The office of the president of Merrick International had been a powerful aphrodisiac. How many million-dollar business deals were made in his office?

It hit Cameron like a sledgehammer over the head. The first night. He’d lost his head thinking Shelly was Caroline. Hungry for Caroline, he didn’t think to be cautious or careful with Shelly, and now he was going to be a father again with a woman he didn’t want around his daughter.

“What do you want, Shelly?”

She looked at him expectantly. “I want to be with you. We’re having a baby. I thought you’d be happy about it. You love Emma so much, and you’re a devoted father to her. You will be to our baby too.”

“First you’ll take a pregnancy test and prove you’re pregnant. Once done, and it’s positive, we can talk about the rest.”

He pinned her with his gaze. “And just so we understand each other about what I expect if you are carrying my child, you will not drink alcohol. You will take care of yourself and my baby. Are we clear?”

Shelly got the message loud and clear. My baby, indeed. She was going to get a marriage proposal and everything she’d ever wanted out of this baby. Their baby.

“Absolutely, darling. I wasn’t drinking to hurt the baby. I didn’t even truly figure out I’m pregnant until tonight.” She smiled at him and put her hand over his on the table. “You can’t really think I’m so terrible I’d put our baby in jeopardy.”

“Fine. Get the pregnancy test done. We’ll figure out the rest once there’s confirmation. I’ll pay for all the medical expenses.”

“Darling, surely you and I will be married. With a baby on the way, a man of your position and status would surely want to marry the mother of your child. You can’t possibly think to let this child be born out of wedlock. What would my parents say?” She tried to put the proper distress into her voice and hoped he heard her upset and worry.

“What would people you work and do business with think of such a thing?” Pushy, but she wanted to lay the groundwork. The sooner they were married, the better. The sooner she’d enjoy the benefits of being Mrs. Cameron Shaw.

“Like I said, we’ll talk about all that once the test comes back.”

“I’ll make an appointment as soon as I can get one. Won’t Emma be so happy to be a big sister?”

Just the right kind of statement Cameron would expect from a woman interested in being with him and having a family. Why didn’t it ring true?

Cameron didn’t know what to tell Emma. What do you say to a five-year-old when you screw up and ruin your life—and hers in the process?

He was supposed to be her role model, someone she could look up to. He’d let himself down, he’d let Caroline down, and, worst of all, he’d let her down. He’d screwed himself and Emma over a piece of ass who reminded him of a woman he’d never get over. Well, he’d tried to accept her death and not having her in his and Emma’s life anymore. Still, he’d never stop missing her.

Maybe it wasn’t her he wanted, but what they’d had together. They’d been close, in love, the best of friends, and so much more. They’d laughed and loved together. They’d grown together and been there for each other. He wanted the same now. Too late, and to his detriment—and Emma’s, he’d realized in the end—Shelly was just the image of Caroline. It wasn’t what he wanted. He wanted so much more.

The moment he realized his mistake, decided he wanted the relationship and companionship he’d shared with Caroline, who should pop into his head: Marti.

The entire time he’d sat with Shelly, across the room, his daughter laughed and giggled and had a great time with George and Marti. Emma hadn’t acted like that at dinner with him and Shelly. She wasn’t this animated when they had dinner with Knight twice a month. It was Marti who made the difference and brightened Emma’s world. The sound of her laughter rolled over him and renewed his resolve to spend more time with her.

“Let’s go fishing this weekend. Saturday. You have three days to get to the doctor and verify you’re pregnant. We’ll go fishing on my boat with Emma. If you’re pregnant.”

If I’m pregnant. You’ll see. “Sounds wonderful, darling. You know, it’s been a long day. I think it’s time to go home.” She pretended to yawn to prove her point. She wanted to get away from his scrutinizing glare. He wasn’t happy, and even more suspicious about her being pregnant. She’d have to be careful what she did and said from now on. Besides, she needed time to think this new part of her plan through.

“I remember Caroline could barely keep her eyes open some days when she was pregnant.”

He remembered so many things about her pregnancy. How he’d lay next to her in bed with his hand on her growing belly. She was green most mornings for the first three and half months. Right when she woke up, she’d dash into the bathroom and he’d find her lying on the rug. She was so happy after a week of waking up without ending up on the bathroom floor. The end of the pregnancy hadn’t been a picnic for her, but she was never down or wishing she weren’t pregnant. She’d often tell him there was nothing like knowing a little person was living inside of her.

Shelly watched the emotions play over Cameron’s face. She almost felt guilty. He’d lost his wife after she’d delivered Emma. She didn’t know the exact story, but Cameron’s face said it all. It hadn’t been a happy ending and Shelly could admit it was too bad. Cameron was a nice guy who didn’t deserve to have his wife die while bringing their child into the world.

Shelly could make Cameron happy and be a good wife. She wasn’t into the whole baby and mother thing, but she could certainly make a good impression at a dinner party and keep him happy in the bedroom.

Those were the kinds of things she was good at, or at least tried hard to be. She wasn’t invited to many business parties. The only ones she’d attended had been over the past month with Cameron. He seemed pleased with her at the end of the night. Though he’d never really said, they always ended up in bed.

More often than not, she got the feeling he liked her more for the way she looked, or rather her resemblance to his dead wife. They’d used each other for their own purposes.

She decided she’d take the next couple of weeks and really try to please him in every way. She’d get him to notice her. And while she did, she’d drive home her point. Getting married was the best idea.

“I am tired. It’s been one of those days. George and his date would probably like to enjoy their meal in peace. He certainly didn’t bring her here to babysit Emma. They probably had a romantic evening in mind.”

“I think you have the wrong idea about George and Marti.”

“I don’t know. These May-December romances have become quite the in thing lately. George is a wealthy man with power and influence. Very appealing to a young woman.”

“A lot like me and you, huh. Not so much the age thing. You’re, what, thirty-one? The part about my being wealthy and powerful sure fits your idea of the perfect man. Appealing, as you said. You even liked Elizabeth a little more when you found out she was a Hamilton and married to Jenna’s brother-in-law.”

He had her attention. She couldn’t allow him to think she was only after his bank account. She liked him too. She wasn’t Marti, going after a man old enough to be her grandfather. At least Cameron was young and had a body any woman would fantasize about having pressed against her. His dark hair set off his amazing, silvery blue eyes. The contrast made him even more strikingly handsome.

“Darling, you have me all wrong. I didn’t pursue you. You wanted me. If I remember correctly, you couldn’t wait to have me. You just took me right upstairs and had me in your office on the sofa. I had no idea you were the president of Merrick.”

She had known, but she wasn’t going to tell him. She’d spent many nights at the bar trying to land an executive. She’d done her homework and knew who liked to hang out at the upscale restaurant. The bartender was a wealth of information when tipped well. She’d tipped very well.

Cameron had his doubts. Everyone knew the crowd in Decadence consisted of wealthy businesspeople from around San Francisco, and particularly Merrick International.

“Right, it had nothing to do with the fact that when I told you my name, you wrapped yourself around me like I was a warm blanket on a winter night in Alaska. You were all too willing to go upstairs.”

His behavior, and especially hers, gnawed at him. He dined at Decadence almost every day, and he never picked up women there. Too many people knew him. He was the head of the company and supposed to set an example, not generate gossip.

Shelly’s argument for them getting married held a lot of weight and made him cringe. He just might have to do it to make things right, which meant he’d doom himself and Emma to a horrible marriage with no other end but disaster.

This was some kind of living hell. He didn’t want to sign on the dotted line and make it official. No one said he had to, but his conscience nagged. He’d grown up without a father. Emma was growing up without her mother. He and Caroline and Emma were supposed to be the family he always wanted and Emma deserved.

Could he make that family work with Shelly? Maybe? With a baby on the way, he couldn’t say absolutely no. For the children, shouldn’t he at least try?

“Let’s get out of here. I’ll meet you at the car after I get Emma. We’ll drive you home.”

“Why don’t I stay with you tonight?”

“I don’t bring women home with me. I have Emma to think about.”

“Darling, eventually you need to tell her we have a relationship and we’re expecting a baby brother or sister for her.”

“I’m sure she heard your announcement to the restaurant. I need time to explain things to Emma in my own way. She’s just a little girl. For her whole life, it’s only been the two of us. I will deal with Emma my way, in my own time. You will not interfere with my daughter.”

“Fine. I’ll stay out of it. You can’t put it, or me, off forever.”

He knew that all too well, but it was early in the pregnancy, which meant he had time. They needed it to come to terms and figure out a way to make this work.

“I’m not putting you off. Once you provide the proof you’re pregnant, we’ll negotiate.”

“Negotiate. You’re so romantic, darling.” The sarcastic tone grated on his nerves.

He grabbed her wrist to stop her from leaving the table. “Let’s get one thing straight. Even if you are pregnant, I am not in love with you, and I’m not about to fall in love with you. This relationship wasn’t headed there in the first place. We enjoy each other in bed, it’s pretty much all we enjoy about each other. If you’re pregnant, we’ll negotiate the terms of the pregnancy and what we’re going to do once the baby is born.”

“You are sucking all the fun out of this. I thought you’d be pleased. I guess I was wrong. Let’s just go.”

“If you’re carrying my child, I will be pleased. I’ll be a good father and provide for you and the child. Like I said, we’ll negotiate.”

Cameron hated to think of this situation as some kind of business deal. He needed time to think about all his options. Marriage was the sensible thing. He wanted his baby to have a mother and a father.

“I’ll get Emma and see you at the car.”

Any way he looked at it, this had disaster written all over it. Ever the optimist, he hoped to turn this into an opportunity to have the family he’d dreamed of with Caroline.