Money (The Keatyn Chronicles Book 10) (7 page)

“
That was a nice touch. What did he say when you suggested moving in?
”

“
He said it was too fast. Of course, then I suggested we get married right away. I think that spooked him a little, plus he was talking on the phone when I got there. Remember the night I got his doorman to let me in and was waiting for him in that little strappy costume?
”

“
Oh, yeah. He showed up with some other chick, right?
”

“
Yeah. When he came in the building, he was talking to her on the phone
—
sounding all lovey-dovey.
”

“
So she could be a problem?
”

“
Maybe, but I have a bigger problem.
”

“
What
’
s that?
”

“
He wants a paternity test.
”

She takes a big sip of her wine, sloshing a little onto the couch
—
obviously it
’
s not her first cup of the night.
“
That gives you seven months to get him to marry you.
”

“
Wrong. I have
one
month. Apparently, they can test after eight weeks. Did you know they could do it so soon?
”

“
No. I thought they couldn
’
t tell until after the baby was born.
”

“
That
’
s what I thought too.
”

“
You
’
re already eight weeks!
”

“
Yeah, but he doesn't know that.
”

“
Then you better work fast, girl.
”

“
Oh, I plan to.
”

“
And what about the baby
’
s real father?
”

“
Larry? He
’
s a bartender. I didn't come to California to starve. But the good news is Riley said he
’
d find me a place to live, and he
’
d take care of me.
”

“
Then what?
”

“
We sleep together, of course. A lot. He likes it naughty, and I can do naughty. I
’
ll have him down on his knees begging for more.
”

“
More like you
’
ll be down on your knees,
”
she quips.

“
Ha. True. He does like that. Of course, what guy doesn
’
t? Anyway, that preppy little bitch who looked horrified when I suggested a threesome is no match for me.
”

“
Game on,
”
my friend says.
 

“
I
’
ll drink to that,
”
I agree, clinking my glass against hers.
“
You would have been proud of me. I gave the performance of my life. Cried when appropriate. Was offended when I needed to be. I still don
’
t understand why I
’
ve never gotten an acting job.
”

“
You manage to land Riley and keep your body after the baby, and you won
’
t ever need to work again.
”

“
True,
”
I say, dreamily imagining the rest of my life as one glitzy diamond-and-designer filled movie premiere.
 

MONDAY, OCTOBER 13TH

Keatyn & Aiden
’
s home - Malibu

KEATYN

“
Are you sure I shouldn
’
t go to the doctor with you?
”
Aiden asks as his lips graze across my shoulder.

“
I
’
m sure. It
’
s just a check-up, besides, you need to be at the vineyard today to give that foundation a tour. It will be a big deal if Moon Wish teams up with them.
”

“
I know, but I
’
m wondering if it
’
s too big. We
’
ve always tried to help smaller causes where the funds really make a difference.
”

“
But the publicity from teaming up with them will put Moon Wish on the map with major philanthropists, not just people who follow celebrities. And that, in turn, will help us reach more people in the long run so that we can continue to make a difference with the smaller causes.
”

He pulls me in tighter.
“
You
’
re right. Overall it
’
s a good thing, but it
’
s going to require a lot of travel on my part if it all goes through.
”

“
As long as your trips don
’
t interfere with our honeymoon and end by the time I
’
m done filming, it will be fine. We
’
re used to crazy schedules.
”

“
Not for much longer,
”
he says, caressing my belly.
“
Can you believe that in less than a week you will finally be Mrs. Aiden Arrington?
”

I sigh happily.
“
I love that name. In fact, I love it so much, I
’
m keeping it.
”

“
You won
’
t have much choice after we
’
re married,
”
he says with a laugh.

“
I mean professionally, Aiden. I
’
m going to be Keatyn Arrington.
”

“
Really? Are you sure that
’
s a good career move?
”

“
Ha! You sound like Vanessa.
”

“
You don
’
t have to do that for me,
”
he says, his hand burning a trail down my side and leaving me breathless.

“
I
’
m not doing it for you.
”
I roll on top of him and kiss his neck.
“
I
’
m doing it for me.
”

After a sexy send-off, I
’
m at the doctor
’
s office.

“
So how are you feeling?
”
my obstetrician asks me.

“
Pretty good, overall. A little morning sickness. Strong smells seem to bother me
—
or maybe it
’
s that things smell stronger than usual.
”

“
Are you taking it easy? Getting enough rest? Eating well?
”

“
I
’
m definitely sleeping more than normal, and I
’
m pretty worn out by the end of the day. Whenever we get a break in filming, I always used to work, but instead I
’
ve been napping. And, I
’
ve probably been eating a little too well,
”
I say, patting my stomach, which seems to have popped out over the last few days.

“
That
’
s good to hear. How
’
s your work schedule going to be during your pregnancy?
”

“
We wrap up filming here on Thursday, then I
’
m off for three weeks. After that, I
’
ll be filming on locations around the world. We
’
ll be gone for about three months and then I
’
ll be off until the baby is born.
”

“
Very good. We
’
re going to do an ultrasound today. I
’
d like to see what
’
s going on in there.
”

“
But we don
’
t have an ultrasound scheduled. Is something wrong?
”

“
Your blood test shows that your hCG levels are a little higher than I would expect at this stage of the game.
”

“
That
’
s the pregnancy hormone? Is high bad?
”

“
It
’
s not bad, but we need to take a look so we can determine your actual due date. Your levels suggest you could be further along.
”

“
But I had my period last month. How could I be
—”

“
Let
’
s just take a look.
”

“
But Aiden should be here. We wanted to do the ultrasound together. See our baby for the first time together!
”

“
We
’
ll be checking for a heartbeat and taking some measurements today. Would you like to call and have him come in?
”

I shake my head.
“
I can
’
t. He flew up to the vineyard for the day, and I won
’
t have time to come back this week. I guess we should do it now.
”

While they get the ultrasound started, I try not to panic.
 

But it
’
s hard not to.

Why aren
’
t my hormone levels normal? What does that mean? What if something is wrong with our baby?
 

I glance over at the screen even though I don
’
t want to. It
’
s like watching a horror movie with my hands over my face, peeking through my fingers.

The doctor and ultrasound tech are studying the screen intently. And the concern on both their faces is evident. I also haven
’
t heard a heartbeat. What if there isn
’
t one? What will I do if he tells me something is wrong? How would I tell Aiden?

I look closer and try to figure out what they are seeing. All I see is what looks like static, but then the movement stops, and they focus on a dark circle.

The tech nudges the doctor.
 

“
Is there something wrong?
”
I ask.

“
Do you see that, there?
”
The doctor points to the screen as it flickers, showing us the dark circle from a different angle. One that allows me to see there
’
s something inside it.

“
Ohmigosh, is that the baby? Is it okay?
”

“
It is okay,
”
the doctor says.
“
Do you see that flicker? That
’
s the baby’s heart beating.
”

“
It
’
s beautiful.
”

“
And don
’
t worry. I expect your pregnancy to continue normally,
”
he tells me.
“
This will just cause a few wrinkles.
”