Home > The Playboy Prince's Pregnant American(6)

The Playboy Prince's Pregnant American(6)
Author: Leslie North

Marcus beamed. “Great,” he said. “I’ll get a crew out there tomorrow.”

Arlene stood. “We’re going to need someone from the board to go and check the place out,” she said and several members nodded. More chatter ensued until John Jacobs raised his hand.

“Since you and Kyra are the strongest proponents of this idea, I think it would be appropriate for the two of you to go and stay out in Havershire at the estate for a few nights then report your findings back to the board.”

Marcus’s face grew hot at John’s words. He and Kyra exchanged a weighted look. He could see by her face that John’s suggestion had struck the same reaction in her.

“Excellent idea, John,” Meriter said.

Marcus sighed as his thoughts ambled once more down the lane of fantasy, recalling Kyra’s sensual curves and what a tigress she was in bed. How was he supposed to spend a night or two in close quarters with her and remain professional?

“It’s settled then,” Meriter announced. “Once your crew deems the estate safe, you and Kyra will spend some time there to ensure all the necessary work has been done.”

Marcus swallowed. He looked at Kyra, who nodded at him. They would have to do their best to keep their hands off of each other. This project was important to Kyra, and he was willing to put the effort in to make a go of it.

From across the room, he watched Kyra walk to the coffee machine, as she usually did during their morning break. Her blouse was unbuttoned just enough to expose the lovely neckline he’d covered in kisses. He remembered she’d smelled of patchouli and vanilla. Her pencil skirt hugged her curves and boasted her long, muscular legs. Marcus felt a tightness in his core as he stared at her, losing himself in the memory of what was underneath those clothes.

Damn.

A two-night stay at the estate with Kyra was going to be challenging.

And perhaps very interesting as well.

 

 

4

 

 

After only two and a half weeks, the estate was ready for a test run. Marcus’s crew had had minor repairs to complete, but, from what she’d been told, the home was in fairly good condition. Marcus had arranged for a driver to pick her up and drive her out to Havershire, so after handing her bags over to him to stow in the trunk, she slid into the limo.

Everything was top quality, as usual. Tiny fairy lights ran the length of the roomy backseat, and a stocked minibar tempted her with its offerings. And not just her.

“Auntie Kyra, look!” Ava exclaimed, her eyes stretched wide. “There’s a fridge in this car! And there’s orange soda in here! Can I have an orange soda?”

“Too much sugar, Ava,” Kyra replied and closed the mini fridge. “Have a bottle of water if you’re thirsty.”

“Awww.” Kyra complained for a minute but soon got quiet. She continued inspecting the limo as they drove off.

Bringing her niece along on the visit to the estate hadn’t been the plan, but when it came to Maggie, things rarely went as scheduled. Kyra’s sister had flitted off to Barcelona a few days ago, promising to return the next night but had then sent Kyra a text claiming that there were weather problems delaying her.

Weather problems.

In Barcelona.

Please.

Kyra was sure this was just another one of her sister’s schemes. Maggie thought nothing of dumping Ava on Kyra’s shoulders when she felt like letting loose and partying. Her sister was so irresponsible.

Deep inside, Kyra admitted to herself that her feelings of frustration weren’t completely caused by her sister. Her stomach was roiling with another bout of sickness. For the past week, she’d been attacked by violent nausea every day. The onslaught of symptoms was so consistently timed, that she’d finally given into her suspicion and bought a pregnancy test. She hadn’t had the nerve to take it yet, but it was tucked securely inside her purse, just as her fear was tucked safely in the depths of her mind. She wasn’t ready to dive for it yet. Hopefully she just had a bug.

“Auntie Kyra,” Ava cried. “Are we almost there?”

Kyra sighed, acknowledging that Ava’s presence would leave little room for moments of peace over the next two days. The upside was that hopefully Ava would be a buffer between her and Marcus. Having Ava around might take some of the edge off being alone with Marcus. Maybe lessen the temptation she felt whenever he was around. Maybe…

It took about an hour and a half to reach the estate. When they pulled onto the meandering grounds, Kyra was taken aback by its pastoral beauty. The estate was situated in the middle of a copse of tall oak trees, with woods on three sides. A perfect oasis for a worn woman.

Marcus was waiting for her with a host of staff.

“Again, I’m so sorry for the inconvenience,” she said and gestured to Ava. It had been embarrassing to have to text him to ask if her niece could tag along, but he’d been incredibly gracious about it. And now, seeing them, Marcus’s face lit up with a welcoming smile.

“No trouble at all,” he assured her. “I’ve had your rooms prepared, and I even hired a chef to make some kid-friendly food. I hope she likes chicken nuggets.”

“I love chicken nuggets!” Ava exclaimed.

“Good thing,” Marcus said and tousled Ava’s hair.

“I never met a real live prince before.” Ava stared up at Marcus, squinting her eyes in estimation. “You don’t look like a prince.”

“Ava!” Kyra began to scold her niece, but Marcus laughed.

“What do I look like then?” he asked playfully, and Kyra couldn’t help but notice how good he was with kids.

“Just regular,” Ava said and ran into the house.

“She’s something,” Marcus said, still laughing.

Kyra shook her head and gave Marcus the full story about her sister’s purported weather troubles in Barcelona. She rolled her eyes. “Convenient, right?”

“I heard about that on the news on the way here in the car, actually,” Marcus said. “Something about the winds and storms wreaking havoc with the train schedules.”

A strong wave of nausea nearly bowled Kyra over. She could barely concentrate on Marcus’s words. “Where’s the bathroom?” she asked.

With the door locked, Kyra emptied the contents of her stomach in the toilet, hoping Marcus hadn’t heard her retching. After cleaning herself up, she decided it was time to take that pregnancy test.

“Are you alright in there?” Marcus called, as Kyra waited anxiously for the result to appear.

When the little plus sign glared back at her from the test strip, her first instinct was to cry.

But she didn’t.

Instead, she walked out of the bathroom, and without a word, handed the test to Marcus.

His eyebrows furrowed as he took the test from her. A moment later, all color drained from his face.

“Am I okay?” she asked. “No, not really.”

 

 

Marcus’s head spun.

Pregnant? How?

Well, he knew how, but damn. What did this mean?

“Is it…?” he stumbled over his words, unsure how to ask her. “Am I—?”

Kyra placed a hand on his arm. “Relax, Marcus,” she said. “Yes, you’re definitely the father, but I don’t expect anything from you. This doesn’t change anything.”

Hot Books
» House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1)
» A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire
» From Blood and Ash (Blood And Ash #1)
» A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime
» Deviant King (Royal Elite #1)
» Den of Vipers
» House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City #2)
» The Queen of Nothing (The Folk of the Air #
» Sweet Temptation
» The Sweetest Oblivion (Made #1)
» Chasing Cassandra (The Ravenels #6)
» Wreck & Ruin
» Steel Princess (Royal Elite #2)
» Twisted Hate (Twisted #3)
» The Play (Briar U Book 3)