One Wild Night: Magnate's Mistress...Accidentally Pregnant! / Hot Boss, Boardroom Mistress / The Good, the Bad and the Wild

Chris accepted the compliment with a nod of his head. Ally didn’t know what to say next. On the rare mornings Gerry had gotten up anywhere close to breakfast time, he’d read the paper while eating, claiming mornings were too early for civilized conversation. Since he’d moved out, she’d taken up the newspaper habit herself for lack of anyone to talk to. What did people talk about at breakfast?

Chris picked up the conversational ball, but as he asked, “When’s your next doctor’s appointment?” she wished for a different topic.

“End of this month. They’ll do the first ultrasound then.”

“I’ll be there. Just e-mail me the time and place.”

“You don’t have to—”

“But I want to, Ally.”

She nodded as she buttered her toast. “So when are you heading back to Charleston?”

One eyebrow went up. “Eager to get rid of me?”

Not at all. Where had that come from? Even with the slight awkwardness she felt, she kind of liked having him here, doing something simple and homey like eating breakfast. Don’t get used to it, she reminded herself. “You’re welcome to stay, but surely you have other things to do.”

“I do have to leave in a little bit. I have a club meeting this afternoon.” Much to her surprise, it wasn’t relief she felt at his words. If she was going to be honest with herself, she’d have to call that sinking feeling disappointment.

Chris leaned forward, his eyes lighting up. “There’s a race next Saturday—a short one just for fun and bragging rights. Would you like to come?”

Ally chewed her bite of bacon slowly, stalling for time. Chris was trying to include her in his life, and she got the feeling that inviting her to a race was a milestone of sorts. Maybe he really did want this to work out between them. Her chest expanded at the thought, and that raised an even bigger question.

Did she?

She could be her normal, cautious, rational self, or she could be the adventurous Ally she’d discovered on Tortola. Normal Ally said to keep her distance and stay safe; adventurous Ally wanted to take the chance, enjoy whatever came her way for as long as she could.

Good Lord, she was becoming as crazy as her family.

Chris reached over casually to refill her mug, and the simple gesture warmed her, making her feel she was making the right decision. “I’d love to see you race.”

His grin confirmed it.

Her phone rang, disturbing the coziness of the moment. Chris handed her the cordless handset from the counter, and she glanced at the caller ID. She set the phone down and picked up her tea instead. At Chris’s questioning look, she shrugged. “It’s my mom. I knew the silence was too good to last. Let the machine get it.”

A chuckle was his only response, but it was soon drowned out by her mom’s voice.

“Ally, honey, where are you? You haven’t called in days. You can’t still be upset at Erin. I know she hurt your feelings, but it is her wedding, you know.”

Ally rolled her eyes.

“Just be thankful your sister is nothing like mine. Now, lunch has been pushed back to one-thirty tomorrow, and I need you to stop by the store and get the wine. With everything going on today, I just don’t have the time. I swear, your grandmother is going to put me in an early grave…”

Ally walked across the room and turned the volume down on the machine. Chris did not need to hear her mother carrying on about the crisis of the day. “That could take a while. I’ll listen to the rest later.”

“I take it Erin is your sister, but why would you be upset with her?”

Ally tried to think of a tactful way to put it, but came up empty-handed. “She kicked me out of her wedding.”

“Why?”

“Because I’ll be seven months pregnant at the time.”

Chris frowned. “I know this is your family we’re talking about, but isn’t that…”

“Selfish? Self-centered? Slightly sanctimonious?”

Chris leaned back in his chair and spread his hands. “Well, I wasn’t going to say it.”

“Erin’s turned into a Bridezilla over this wedding. I’m kinda glad to have an excuse to be out of the fray.”

“And you’re expected to have lunch with her tomorrow?”

Ally returned to her chair and poked at her fruit. “The Sunday family lunch. Isn’t it a time-honored tradition for every family?” She sighed.

“You don’t sound too keen on that tradition.”

“As I’m sure you’ve gathered by now, my family is a little bit nutty. They’re not happy unless they’re driving me insane.” Ally wanted to take the words back the moment they left her mouth. She’d gotten so cozy with Chris this morning, she’d forgotten her need to keep her crazy family under wraps.

“I understand the feeling.”

That got her attention. “Seriously?”

“I can’t sympathize completely because I don’t have siblings, but I do have several cousins. And Pops can be over-the-top sometimes.” The corner of his mouth curved upward. “Families drive everyone insane. It’s just part of the package.”

“Well, my family has a jumbo-size package of crazy going on. It’s almost like they try to outdo each other.”

“Is your mom a good cook?”

Ally nearly choked. “Are you angling for an invite to lunch?”

“I should probably meet them at some point—we are about to be related, after all. Plus, you shouldn’t have to bring the wine since you can’t drink it.”

Related. Chris said it so offhandedly, like it was a foregone conclusion. Technically he was right, but it still sounded like something else entirely. But showing up to a family event with Chris…“I don’t know.”

Chris looked at her oddly. “I take it you haven’t discussed me with them yet.”

“Not exactly. I mean, they know I’m pregnant, but I made it clear the topic of the father was off-limits.”

“That was before. Now that you know I’m going to be around, they should probably get used to the idea.” At her skeptical look, he added, “What, you don’t think they’ll like me?”

“Oh, they’ll like you.” And then I’ll never hear the end of it if this doesn’t work out. On the other hand, she’d never hear the end of it, anyway. She’d held her family at bay for the time being, but eventually…Of course, once Chris met the Bat Crew, he’d probably beat feet back to Charleston, solving a number of her problems right there.

She just wasn’t sure if that’s what she really wanted anymore.

“Then it’s a date.” Chris drained the last of his coffee, and Ally watched in amazement as he grabbed empty plates off the table and efficiently put everything in the dishwasher. She didn’t know people with a Y chromosome could load a dishwasher.

She stood to help, only to be waved away with an “I’ve got it.” The surprises just kept coming from Chris. Domesticity was not something she expected from a golden boy like him.