Amelia slept through the night and the next morning Alex was up and dressed before her. She felt bad since it was supposed to be their second night as a married couple. She'd fallen asleep before he left his shower. "You didn't wake me," Amelia said, stretching."No. You needed your sleep. But we need to go somewhere now. You can sleep more later," he said. There was a twinkle in his eye. He hadn't mentioned a surprise again, but maybe this was it. Was it another spa day? She liked the first one, but still felt guilty. "Where are we going?""You'll see. I've packed for you. I hope that was okay.""I guess. Since I don't know what weather we're packing for then I guess I'm glad you did."Amelia rose and got ready for her day, even if she didn't know what was happening. She trusted Alex and he'd been more attentive than usual since the warehouse. Did he feel guilty? He hadn't done anything to inspire the Agostinos' actions. She had done more to poke that bear. At least she was able to
Amelia had been warned about being a woman at a gamer convention, but she was here to see the latest games and mingle with other white hat hackers. She did her job alone. She did her job on a computer and she interacted online with people, but rarely in person. This was why she dragged herself to this convention in Philadelphia. She lived here so it had been convenient. The bar was noisy at the end of the day with everyone blowing off steam. Men had gathered around various tables, but she chose the bar. She was one of a few women, and they hadn't primped enough to be here yet. She didn't primp, but she thought she looked fine. At least one table of males thought so because they were currently looking at her and then whispering among themselves. Not whispering since she would hear them. "I bet you can't nail her," one mad said. He had the spare tire of a man who sat too much and the pasty white skin of someone who worked, like her, inside all of the time."What can I get you to dr
Amelia's doorbell rang.She hurried to answer it. The conference had been six weeks ago and, in that time, she'd made a new friend. This would be the first time she'd invited Isabel to the monthly girls' night she hosted with her friend Kalia. They were all programmers and stuck together since there were so few women in the industry. She'd met Isabel in a game, her handle being HockeyGrl, which had intrigued Amelia. She'd never been a big sports fan, but she did like hockey. Maybe that was why she'd initially been drawn to the woman who played the same role-playing game as she did. In the game, they'd joined forces and defeated some trolls, so Amelia hadn't been hesitant when she wanted to talk off-game. Her stomach rumbled and she wondered if she ate something odd that day. she didn't think so as she swung open her apartment door. "Hey."Her stomach had a funny fluttery sensation, but she pushed it away. Kalia came in for a hug. "Good to see you, but you look a little pale. Are yo
Amelia stared at the screen in disbelief. What were the chances? Kalia stood behind her. "Oh. My. Goodness.""Right?" Amelia said. The Girls' Night had been last night and Kalia had stayed over. Their mission today was to find out who was the father of Amelia's baby. Isabel had left last night after the shocking news. Amelia still didn't know what to think about being pregnant. "You need anything? Food?"Amelia knew she should eat something, but she was tired of throwing up. Would this last the whole pregnancy? She couldn't imagine doing this for the next eight months. "Crackers. I'm craving crackers," Amelia said. "Hopefully you keep those down."Amelia nodded. Her stomach was as empty as it had ever been in her life. Kalia set a bowl of crackers on the table beside Amelia's computer. She ignored them for a moment still taking in who the father of her baby was. "I can see why you slept with him. Those blue eyes are to die for," Kalia said. "He was sweet and charming. He'd also s
Alex had been staring out his floor-to-ceiling window when his assistant knocked politely on his door. He'd been watching a woman walk across the parking lot. She looked familiar, but he couldn't place her. He'd probably never figure it out, so he turned his chair and pulled it closer to his desk. He was restless today, which was odd. His normal laser focus had deserted him today. With reports on his desk of pre-sales and his daughter's review of the latest game, they were about to launch, he had plenty to do. Why was he so scattered today? He'd slept well. He'd consumed his usual morning shake of greens and protein. He couldn't trace his odd mood to anything he'd done or failed to do in his morning routine. Why did he think that woman was familiar? "Madge?""There's someone here to see you," his assistant said.He couldn't run the company without Madge. She'd been an impulsive hire when the last three women, ones he'd hired for their looks, had failed miserably. Madge was older th
"Wait," Alex said.Amelia didn't need to stay here and take more abuse and suspicion from him. She hadn't come here to ask for his help, though she could use it. She was behind on her rent because two clients hadn't paid her. That had taken a back seat in her mind when she found out she was pregnant. "Amelia," Alex said, his voice softer.She remembered that voice from their time together. He'd talked dirty to her in that bedroom voice. It was as if someone was pouring whiskey over sandpaper. It went right to her soul. That's probably why she'd slept with him that night. That voice had touched something deep inside of her. She crossed her arm as she turned to look at him. She wasn't going to be swayed from the fact that she now didn't like this person. At all.He'd been charming and attractive. Now he thought she was a gold digger. She'd done the responsible thing and told him he was a father. She didn't care now what he did with that information. She was out.He placed his hands fl
Amelia spun around to see the last person she wanted to see. Isabel stood in the partly opened door, holding onto the knob as if it were a lifeline. A pained expression crossed her face and she grimaced as if the pain manifested itself physically."Honey?" Alex said.Isabel's relation to Alex was brought home to Amelia with painful clarity. She knew at some point she'd have to broach this subject with Isabel, but she'd hoped it would be later. Amelia needed to time wrap her brain around the idea that she was pregnant. She assumed Alex would need the same adjustment period. He'd been a father once, so it might not be such a jolt, even if this was all unexpected. "Why would Amelia have to move in with us?"Great. Isabel lived with her father. That didn't complicate things at all. Amelia had no plans on moving in with Alex and Isabel. She was sure she would lose her new friend over this pregnancy as it was. She didn't expect Isabel to take this situation lightly. Amelia looked back at
Alex stared out the window again. Amelia's visit had done nothing to cure his restlessness. Now he had an added burden. He was going to be a father again. As much as Amelia kept things close to the vest, which made her hard to read, Alex doubted that she was lying. The child was his. This was unexpected but never unwelcome. He'd enjoyed raising Isabel. He'd never thought he'd be a father again as he had never been willing to give his heart to anyone else. His dead wife would always be his one and only. But he would be as instrumental as possible in raising this child, and that started with convincing Amelia to live at his house. He could make sure she went to doctor's appointments and that everything went well, including the delivery. That's where things had gone south. He shuddered at the memory and pushed it back into its box. Amelia was younger and probably healthier than his wife had been. No, he wouldn't go down that path, but he could make sure everything was okay. He needed