Amelia had taken a nap on Alex's couch when he told her he had to work another hour after she was done. She was still on the fence about taking the job, but she liked the culture at Hillen Enterprises. When she awakened, there was a blanket on her and she was carefully tucked in. She didn't move as she watched Alex at his deck. He'd loosened the tie he bought that day. His hair was mussed, probably from running his hands through it.She'd learned a lot about him today. He took care of his family. He took care of his teammates and never complained. What a load of responsibility he had on his shoulders and he was still a nice guy. She sat up and Alex turned her way. He smiled. "I'm ready to pack up. You hungry?""Starving."He rose and walked over to her. He settled on the coffee table next to the couch. "You were. I should have sent you home with my driver.""It's fine, Alex. I'll be okay once I get some food in me."Her nausea from a few weeks ago was gone. She'd stopped throwing up
Alex had never been a fan of shopping, but he knew they needed items for the baby. He wasn't superstitious that they were too early, so they set off after breakfast the next morning. Alex held his phone when they reached the store. He didn't know what most of this was, but he had a shopping list. "What are you looking at?" Amelia asked. "Not emails. I found a website that lists what you need for a baby."Her eyebrows shot up. "Oh. Good idea. I don't know why I hadn't thought of that. Sometimes I'm spacey these days.""That is common among pregnant women.""And you still want to hire me?" Amelia said laughing.He liked the sound of her laugh. It touched him deep in his soul. They had gone to their separate rooms last night because Alex had insisted Amelia needed her sleep. He might change his mind because he'd felt a little lost without her last night. How had she wormed her way into his life so easily?Maybe she gave him something that he hadn't known was missing in his life.Amelia
Amelia couldn't sleep. What had Isabel found out about her? Anything from before she turned eighteen had been sealed. That was the only blemish on her life.Giving up on sleep, Amelia left her room. She went to her office hoping to engulf herself in work. She was knee-deep in coding when someone knocked on the door. She'd been expecting Alex.He came into her office and sat without a word. This wasn't good. She'd been looking for a new place to live. Her mind searched for where she could land but came up with nothing. She had nowhere to go and she'd bet Alex's job offer would be rescinded. "You're going to have to help me with this, Amelia."He didn't appear to be angry, so she wasn't sure how to react. "With what?""I've had some disturbing news about you.""Okay. Tell me what you think you know," she said. She wiped her sweaty hands on the jeans that wouldn't fit her in a few months. She hadn't bought maternity clothes yet. Did thrift stores carry them? "What do I think I know? I
Alex's words flooded Amelia with hope. Hope that things would work out even if she didn't know what that meant at this moment. Alex was on her side. Not that she would have asked him to choose a side against his daughter. But his daughter was an adult who had just done something illegal to get back at Amelia. The gloves were off. Well as much as Amelia ever took off her gloves. She wanted harmony, but if she couldn't get it she could make Isabel's life miserable. She had that power even if she didn't plan on using it.Alex rested his forehead against hers. "I'm sorry I doubted you.""No. Given the information, I can understand.""But you should have been given the space to tell me in your own time."Amelia hadn't ever thought about telling anyone about her youthful mistake, but she guessed that was part of being in a relationship. If that was what she and Alex were doing. She was too ragged to have that conversation right now.No, her energy would be best spent having a talk with Isa
Amelia drove by herself to her doctor's appointment. Alex was going to meet her there. He had insisted he wanted to be present for everything. They hadn't slept together since the blow-up with Isabel, but Amelia had needed some space anyway.Isabel was probably off licking her wounds since her father had been angry with her. Amelia had tried to calm Alex, but he'd seen it as an invasion of Amelia's privacy. It was in her mind, but she was glad that any ghosts from her past had already surfaced. She wouldn't have to worry about anything else popping up.She'd been working to finish up with her current clients before taking the job at Alex's company. The customer that Isabel had sent Amelia's way was turning out to be difficult. Amelia had gotten into the system, but she was still puzzled by what she saw. A receptionist greeted Amelia at Brunswick Obstetrics. Her normal doctor didn't deliver babies but had recommenced this practice. It was clean and well-lit, so it was fine."Good morn
Alex cursed his underlings every mile of his drive home. He'd missed the heartbeat of his child. It was the first time either of them heard it, and he missed it because of an emergency meeting that could have been an email.He should have put down his foot and just left, but he'd originally thought his staff had valid concerns. The game he was going to launch might be behind schedule. He couldn't do that. This was going to be something that could change the gaming world.As much as he didn't want to rush it and it had to be perfect, he'd built up expectations with the gaming public. He needed to deliver and do it on time. Alex suspected Isabel was behind his delay. She and Amelia had worked out some kind of truce, but Alex wasn't sure that Isabel wanted it. She'd known he was going to the doctor's appointment with Amelia today. Even if Isabel hadn't been in the meeting, she'd facilitated it. She'd forced her staff to come to him with a small concern that she could have taken care of
Amelia was immediately sorry she said anything to Alex. The angry look on his face made her mouth go dry. "She said that? Those were her exact words.""Yes," Amelia said, now sorry that she told Alex about the encounter with Tory. Amelia should have just brushed it off. She wasn't in a romantic relationship with Alex. She was sleeping with him and having his baby. Some part of her must want more, even knowing that Tory was right. She wasn't his type.Alex ran his hands through his hair. "I'm sorry. I'll take care of this.""There's nothing to take care of.""She needs to stay away from you. I won't have you upset."It was Amelia's turn to squeeze Alex's hands. "I shouldn't have let it affect me.""It's not your fault, Amelia. Don't downplay it. Tory needs to know that she can't get away with this."Alex rose."What are you going to do Alex?" Amelia asked. She didn't want him to get in any trouble."I'm going to see her. Don't wait for dinner for me."Alex left and Amelia rushed into
"Alex?"Amelia's voice reached Alex in the fog of him just about to wake up. She hadn't stayed with him that night telling him that she wanted to see how her new-found truce with Isabel was working. She wouldn't throw what was going on between her and Alex in Isabel's face. She preferred to ease her into it. Even though Isabel knew they had already spent one night together, Amelia hoped she would get used to the idea before they brought things to the public.The sun hadn't risen just yet so the room was still dark. "Amelia?"Alex shook the sleep out of his head when the tone of Amelia's voice reached his consciousness. He sat up and turned the light on. "What's wrong?"Amelia had a hand on her stomach. "I'm having a little bleeding. Not much, but I'm concerned."Now Alex was concerned. He rubbed a hand down his face. "Okay. I'll drive. I know where the hospital is.""I need to call my doctor.""You do that and I'll get dressed."She left him and spoke in the hallway. When he left his