A Weekend Temptation (17 page)

Her heart pounded into her throat and kept thudding.

Was he going to propose again?

All the signs were there; the champagne flutes, the chocolate strawberries, the romantic harp trilling in the background.

This time she wanted him to ask. Because she loved him to distraction. Even if he couldn’t love her, she’d seen how he cherished her. She’d had a taste of their future lives together, and she’d be giving him his first child. Even if their passion fizzled out, at least she had something to give him that mattered.

He was thrilled she was pregnant. Beyond thrilled.

“Ava, I’ve never wanted a woman the way I want you. What we have is special. I’ve shown you how good it can be between us. This time just say yes.”

“Yes.”

“I am going to throw the biggest and best engagement party of the season.”

****

“Bring me a bottle of Dom,” Joel told the waiter. He was bursting to tell Lance his news but would wait until they had champagne in front of them.

They sat in the same spot, in the same bar they always went to. The one only a few blocks from Lance’s penthouse. This was the place they came after Joel had left Ava behind after the island trip. So much had happened since then. Joel didn’t even feel like the same man.

They watched the bald waiter pour their drinks then leave the bottle in front of Joel.

“What’s up, big spender?” Lance asked.

“Joel!” chirped Claudia from behind them.

Joel spun on his chair. The bar was nowhere near Claudia’s townhouse or her office. “Mind if I join you?” She slid into the bar stool on the other side of Joel.

“As a matter of fact…” Joel said.

“Claudia, you’re wasting your time,” Lance said.

“What are you talking about? I just stopped by for a quick drink and saw you two here.”

“You know this is the bar we hang out in. You were hunting for Joel. But he isn’t interested anymore,” Lance said. “Run along.”

“Joel can speak for himself,” Claudia said.

“What I don’t get is how you just happened to show up here, at just the right time. Did you bribe the bartender?” Lance asked.

Her face colored. She opened her mouth then closed it.

“Lance, can you excuse us for a moment?” Joel asked.

“I have a friend at the police station, if you want to file stalker charges.” Then Lance slid down to the end of the bar taking his champagne with him.

Joel didn’t want to have this conversation again. All he wanted to do was tell his friend he was getting married. That he’d finally convinced Ava to be his wife.

Maybe this time he’d find the right words to show Claudia that it was over.

“Claudia, I’m flattered. But I’m engaged now,” Joel said.

“You shouldn’t be marrying her just because she’s pregnant. You’re going to ruin your life.”

“No, I’m not. And I’m not just marrying her because she’s pregnant.”

“Then you’re in love with her?”

“I care about her,” he said. No, he wasn’t in love, but now that Ava was in his life he couldn’t imagine living without her. In the morning, as soon as he opened his eyes, he looked for her. He was excited about their future and raising their child together.

“You just
care about her. That’s all.”

“It’s a deep caring, and it’s not going away, no matter how many times you happen to show up where I am.”

She put her hand over her chest as if his words pierced her. “I don’t believe you. I know you never told me you loved me, but I also know I’m a better fit for you than she is. I don’t think your relationship is going to last, and when it falls apart, I’m going to be there.”

“Claudia. Stop. I mean it,” Joel said.

She didn’t answer, just rose with the dignity of a queen and clicked out of the bar with her head held high.

Lance sauntered back to his spot at the bar and poured more champagne into his flute. “Tell me she’s gone for good.”

“I told her it’s over. Ava and I are in it for the long haul.”

“Speaking of Ava, does the Dom mean she’s finally said yes?”

Joel nodded. “Will you be my best man?”

“Absolutely. And I’m happy for you, man. Ava’s good for you. She’s a girl you can actually fall in love with.”

Chapter Seventeen

Water had been pouring from the skies all morning, blurring the limo’s tinted windows. Its constant drenching blocked out the view of the gray city.

Periodic bolts of lightning split the sky, blinding Ava and Joel with jagged flashes. Loud, angry, thunder roared above, telling them the storm was hungry. The streets were slick and dangerous if you could get the car moving fast enough.

Ava and Joel had been in the limo for over an hour. Luckily they didn’t have far to go now. The five-star hotel hosting their engagement party was just a few street lights away.

“Are you sure we shouldn’t find out the sex of the baby? It’d be great to know for decorating and buying clothes.” It was the third time Joel had commented on the baby’s sex.

She wasn’t sure why Joel wanted to know, she knew it wasn’t for decorating. She had a feeling he wanted another ultrasound to reassure himself his child was growing and progressing the way the baby should be.

She, on the other hand, wasn’t worried and didn’t see the point of another ultrasound, especially if the doctor didn’t see a need. The baby was fine in spite of the bleeding Ava had experienced early in the pregnancy. Still, she’d be glad when they passed the dreaded, first trimester mark.

“So what if the baby wears a lot of yellow? I want to be surprised. We’re going to be surprised.” She forced a smiled.

“Okay, but I’m still calling Dr. Olivia and ordering another 3D ultrasound, so we can get a second video tape.” Joel smiled and brought her hand to his lips for a kiss. Then he grazed his teeth over her knuckles, and a hot shiver shot through her. If he nibbled her hand, she was going to jump into his lap and beg him to take her.

What was wrong with her? Even after four weeks of constant love making, even after Joel’s masterful shower sex before they’d slid into the limo, she still was on fire for him. Would it always be like that?

She had a feeling it would be, at least for her. She hoped it would stay that way for him. Prayed he’d never lose interest.

Ava pulled her hand free and gave him the cool-it look. “I want my dress unwrinkled for my one and only engagement party.”

He sighed. “Fine, but I’m having you in the limo on the way home. Consider yourself dessert.”

She licked her lips as he leaned forward to taste her. Then she sighed and surrendered to him until she clung to his broad shoulders. The limo halted at the hotel curb, right as his hand slid under her dress, his hot fingers creeping into her panties.

“Stop, you beast,” she whispered.

They fought to catch their breath, then he helped her fix her black designer dress. “I can’t wait for dessert.”

His wicked smile made her heart go crazy. It would take forever to settle it down.

That evening at the Plaza Hotel, they dined on succulent prime rib and lobster, mingled with her favorite people, and danced. It was on the dance floor that she noticed the one guest who arrived late. Someone Ava had never expected to see at her engagement party.

Joel must have felt her stiffen because he followed her gaze. “I didn’t invite her. My mother did. Or rather my mother invited her family since my family and the LeMures—”

“Have been friends since birth. I know.” She finished his sentence.

He nodded. “I honestly didn’t expect Claudia to come.”

“Why is she here? She’s shooting eye-daggers at me. She obviously didn’t come to enjoy herself.”

“Maybe it’s good she’s here.”

Her mouth dropped, her brows lifted. “Why?”

“I didn’t want to worry you, so I haven’t said anything, but Claudia still calls me everyday. She shows up to whatever business lunch I’m attending. Even though I’m pushing her away, she still can’t accept the fact I’ve taken you as her replacement.”

Ava cringed at his choice of words. She couldn’t help but wish he’d said something like, “She still can’t accept that I’ve fallen in love with you.”

But Joel was as honest as he was strong. He didn’t love her.

She sighed a long pained sigh. “And you think if Claudia sees us together, she’ll stop pursuing you.”

“I think she’ll see that you’re not going away, and she needs to move on. You have commandeered my life, and the only position Claudia can hold is as an acquaintance.”

For a second Ava froze against him as he continued to sway on the dance floor.

His words, so void of love, hit her full force. She
commandeere
d his life? He made her sound like she was the woman he’d married for sex and a relationship with his child and nothing more. As if all the time they’d spent together meant nothing.

If Claudia had been pregnant, no doubt, she would have been the one in his arms, in this ballroom, gliding over the parquet floor. She would have been the one sharing his shower this afternoon, not Ava.

Her eyes started to sting, her heart squeezed into a tight ball and throbbed in her chest.

“Ave, are you okay? You look pale? Should I call the doctor?”

She sniffed back her emotion and forced a fake smile. “I…I need to run to the restroom.”

Joel grabbed her arm. “You want me to ask Claudia to leave? I will if that’s what you want. I’ll do anything for you.” He sounded sincere, his eyes were deep with compassion, so different from the old emotion-free Joel.

She blinked harder. “No, I’m fine. Just pregnancy hormones. Give me five minutes in the bathroom, and I’ll be my sparkling self.”

His worried frown deepened. “Fine, but I’m standing outside in case you need me.” Joel would do anything to protect her, even give his own life as a sacrifice. That was just Joel. And she loved him so she’d do anything for him too.

A moment later, as Ava splashed cool water on her face, a hot cramp spiked into the muscles of her lower back. She gasped and slumped forward over the sink. She rubbed over the jabbing ache. Maybe the combination of shower acrobatics with Joel and hours of dancing had taken their toll. Maybe Joel was right. Maybe she did need to start listening to her body and taking life a little slower. She did have a baby to consider.

She continued to rub until the burning faded, and she sighed in relief. Just a Braxton Hicks contraction, false labor, nothing to worry about. But to be safe, tomorrow she’d call the doctor. All would be fine. She breathed some tension away before she pulled red lip gloss from her bag.

As she was about to retouch her lips, another, more intense, shot of pain throbbed into her, making her drop the lipstick.

The subsequent waves intensified. Her ears buzzed. The world tilted. Something warm and wet dripped down her leg.

Panic seized her. Her heart thudded, she started to hyperventilate. What was happening? She gazed down, and her vision blurred with white dots.

Biting cramps continued to attack her lower back.

Ava opened her mouth to scream for Joel, but there wasn’t enough air. The sound ripped from her lungs was a desperate, breathy shriek.

The world spun in circles and as did her stomach. Then the spots in front of her eyes darkened. The room went black and Ava fell like dead weight.

****

From the outside of the women’s room, Joel heard the strangled sound. With one fortifying breath, he slammed his shoulder into the door, bounding for Ava right as her body thumped onto the stark, white floor.

He blinked in shock, staring at Ava lying in a pool of blood, and for a second he thought someone shot her.

Air froze in his lungs.

Then it came to him in a horror of déjà vu.

The baby. She was losing the baby!

His heart pounded, sending his fight or flight response on high alert. His muscles strained to serve him, to help her.

He howled for an ambulance as he dragged her into his arms and carried her through the parting ballroom. Not seeing the open-mouthed shock on the faces of the crowd or hearing their gasps.

****

Joel paced the hospital waiting room, circling it another useless time. What the hell was wrong with these people? All he knew was that Ava was being examined, and he couldn’t see her.

He couldn’t hold her hand, couldn’t comfort her, couldn’t be with her.

It tore him apart.

What did they teach these doctors in medical school, how to drag their feet? Shouldn’t they have answers by now?

He groaned in another breath. Of course Joel didn’t want to get in their way while they worked to help her. It was just…

He felt so damned helpless and weak.

Exactly like the last time he’d felt this out of control. The day he’d lost the two people he loved the most. Only he’d lost them in a car accident. But just like then, he’d been unable to do a damn thing.

No. He shook his head. Joel wouldn’t lose Ava. Not this way. As for the baby, he prayed and demanded God listen. Demanded God change this. There had to be hope. Had to be something the doctors could do. His gut had to be wrong.

He wished he could think of something to do, because stomping over drab, beige tiles wasn’t enough. If Ava lost this baby, it would be his fault. It had been his job to protect her and the baby, and what had he done? He’d made love to her all the time. Maybe he’d been too rough in the shower or even last night in bed. Maybe he’d kept her from the sleep she needed. He should have been more in tune to her body.

Ava was losing the baby because of him.

He should have known something bad would happen. Something bad always happened. Waves of nausea mixed with the burning acids of his stomach, fighting to punish him.

A nurse pushed through a set of double doors in the waiting area, “You can see her now.”

Ava’s eyelids fluttered open. He watched her gaze search one way then the next, as if she didn’t know where she was.

“You’re at the hospital. I found you collapsed in the ladies’ room. You were brought here a few hours ago.” And he’d been living in hell ever since.

She licked her cracked lips and scrunched her brow. Confusion stamped over her beautiful features. Her hand landed on her stomach, and her lips formed the word “Baby?” But no sound came out.