Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 71348 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71348 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
“I’m pregnant,” I say, dropping the bomb because there’s no easing into something this monumental.
Kynan’s eyes round with surprise. His jaw locks and he swallows, setting the rest of the donut on top of the box from which it came. Pushing the box aside, he rests his forearms on the counter, leaning slightly toward me to show I have his undivided attention.
“It happened in Paphos,” I continue, dropping my gaze into my coffee. It’s easier to look at right now. “With Wright.”
“Wright?” Kynan blurts.
My eyes rise to meet his, and I lift my chin a little defiantly. “Don’t judge. It happened, okay?”
“Are you two… like together?” he asks hesitantly.
I shake my head before taking a quick sip of coffee. “No. It just happened. Emotions were high. Bourbon was involved. And we were fucking stupid for not using protection.”
“Jesus.” Kynan rubs his hand over the top of his head while he stares at the donut for a moment. When he looks back to me, he asks, “Does he know?”
“Yeah.” I pace to the kitchen island, opposite of Kynan, and put my cup down. Mimicking him with my forearms to the granite, I lean toward him. “I told him last night.”
“And what does he think?”
“I note you don’t ask what I think,” I say pointedly.
“Because I know what you think,” Kynan replies blandly. “I’ve known you for almost thirteen years. Know you better than anyone probably. And you, love, don’t want to have a baby. You don’t want to involve your heart, nor impede your career, because your career is all you have in life.”
Fuck… he nailed it.
“Wright wants me to keep it,” I say morosely. “He wants to raise it.”
“Not surprised,” Kynan says dismissively. “He’s a family man through and through.”
“He’s only twenty-six and has the rest of his life in front of him.” My voice sounds so bitter, and I hate it. “Why would he possibly want to ruin it?”
“Rachel,” Kynan chastises, and I cringe over how guilty his tone makes me feel. “You know fucking well babies don’t ruin anything.”
I don’t respond because there’s no need to even voice it. Kynan knows the true source of my fear, and he’s not going to let me pretend otherwise.
Thankfully, he doesn’t pick at the scabs, but comes at me a different way. “You need to be careful, Rachel. It’s not just your life that’s being affected by this. I know the choices you face, and one path will end up devastating one of your teammates. Can you do that?”
I really don’t think I can, but I was sort of hoping Kynan might give me permission to do so anyway. “So I have to give up a part of my life to carry this baby for him?”
“It’s a few months. Big deal.”
“Childbirth is painful,” I say, completely offended that he’d try to diminish this.
“You’ve been through worse,” he counters.
“Yes,” I bite out angrily. “You do know I’ve been through worse.”
Kynan winces slightly, and then has the grace to look semi-chagrined. He knows my worst is really, really bad. “I’m sorry. I know this is scary and the last thing in the world you wanted. But you’re strong, healthy, and even if you don’t want this child, Bodie does. You both made a mistake by not using protection, and he’s apparently stepping up to the plate. Are you going to do the same?”
My entire being deflates when I realize I didn’t even need to come over to Kynan’s to talk this out. I knew what I was going to do, and he just helped me confirm it.
“You know I am,” I say softly.
“That’s my girl,” he praises.
“What does this mean for me with The Jameson Group?” I ask hesitantly. When Kynan’s eyes drop to look at my stomach, I realize I’d been subconsciously rubbing my belly.
Kynan’s eyes drift back to mine. “I don’t know exactly. We’ve never had a pregnant member on staff before. I’ll have Doc McCullough refer you to a good OB/GYN, and you’ll need to see what that doctor says.”
I nod, my mood completely glum over the fact that at some point, I’m going to be out of commission. There’s one thing Kynan is right about. My career is everything to me. It’s what sustains and fulfills me. I have no clue what I’m going to do if I can’t go on operations.
“Don’t even ask me to do secretarial work,” I mutter as I pick my cup back up. I take a sip as Kynan laughs at me.
“The minute you go on inactive status, I’ll have you work on strategic planning with me. I know it’s not getting your hands dirty, but you’ll still be actively involved. Your brain and cunning are probably your best tools to be honest.”
“Damn right I will,” I snap, but I’m secretly relieved to hear him say that. Kynan doesn’t dole out a ton of praise or affirmation, so it’s nice to hear it right now.