One Night, One Baby

ling of the guest room. The dim city lights cast faint patterns across

ry

ey didn't sound romantic or heartfelt. They were col

n't asking

asking f

sking fo

protectively. The baby inside her was still small, still growin

just about

ut her chi

e really

rrified her. But the thought of being tra

ified her

ing of

was already beginning to rise. When she woke,

, her body heavy with exhausti

lack suit, sipping his coffee like he

d, felt like she was wal

he entered. "You d

"And whose fa

d his lips. "You were thi

. "I was thinking about what kind of man expect

is expression unreada

en, marriage isn't a

me, i

u can't seriously think

s voice was steady, unwavering. "B

a brow. "And

have the best

him. He knew exactly what

ing yes," sh

ing another sip of

m. "Don't be so

inty, Aurora. You'll either marry me, o

ontrolled. As if no matter what,

wasn't some pawn in his game. But before she

tch. "That'll be your fi

frowned

uled it

led my doctor's appointm

abbing his jacket. "We need to make su

ed at him i

city of

to control my

ife," he said smoothly. "Just ens

argue, but deep down, she knew he ha

n she had to like ho

to the

examination table in an upscale private clinic, tr

ng to pay rent, trying to figure

o

r maternity dress that Damien had insisted she wear, with

s sur

t. "Everything looks good so far, Ms. Sinclair.

rs gripping the paper-co

nse focus. He didn't fidget. He didn't look away. It

began, the room fell

th

ny, rapid heartbe

chest t

ba

e, in the grainy black-and-white image, was the

urned h

e a sound, but she could feel

alf-expecting his usu

saw instead

cold, controlled billi

d in his lap. And for the first time since she met him, A

ould you like to hear

en n

breath

t even h

ound, and this time, Auro

tched

there was something different ab

man who made calculated decisions,

, he looked

sion t

to the penthou

glances at Damien,

that ultrasound

uld fe

rived, he parked the

o answer me now,"

d. "Answer yo

gaze. "Th

wed hard.

ild," he said, his voice softer than she had ever hear

heart c

ring at the skyline

st about her f

er had

decision

s running