ROMANCE: BAD BOY ROMANCE: M.V.B. - Most Valuable Baby (Sports Secret Baby Romance) (Contemporary Interracial Pregnancy Romance) (11 page)

“Yea,” he grunted before pulling out.

“Thanks,” he said five minutes later as an afterthought.

He looked angry. I wondered if he knew. He had to know. Why else was he giving me the cold shoulder? Thankfully the ride to the reception hall, like everything in Small Town, was just a short ride away. The radio played quietly as background music to the tension in the car. The hall was lit brightly, lighting the entire block. The music was jovial, and I knew before I even stepped in that the food would taste good.

We entered together, and although he held me, intertwined at the elbow, he was distant. We were standing beside one another and standing on the other side of a chasm. Was it filled with my lies? I immediately sat down, leaving the introductions to Liam. He was the celebrity. I was just a nobody. I found that out the hard way when my friends dropped off like flies in the wake of me not going to college. Cara found me as she greeted guests.

“Madkins! You came!” she exclaimed, reaching to kiss both of my cheeks. “I am so happy!” She was practically jumping for joy. “Remind me to kiss Liam for thanks.”

“I will,” I said returning the kisses.

“Now, before I go. Prepare a few words love.”

“What?”

She was seriously scaring me.

“It’s a rehearsal dinner honey. You eat and toast.” She started to walk away and said, “Can’t wait to hear what you say, dear.”

“Wait – No. Cara, I can’t.”

She moved across the room and greeted someone else.

I knew one thing for sure. The Shields children would be the death of me. Whether it be the son or the daughter, I couldn’t know for sure.

When Liam finally made his way back to my table, he was severely sloshed. His words were still clear but his actions, they told an entirely different story.

When the time came for toasts, I still had nothing prepared, and all my fidgeting under the table wouldn’t change that.

“Can I have your attention please?” Blake said.

Silence descended onto the room and then he continued.

“Since my beautiful bride insisted on following no traditions we have no groomsmen or bridesmaids. We’re just going to do our own thing tonight. First and foremost, thank you for coming tonight. It has been an absolute pleasure to share it with you. I wouldn’t be here without you all but the real person I want to thank tonight is the woman standing beside me. Cara Shields, you are everything to me. You are the light in my life. You are the wind beneath my wings. You are, every single good thing that could happen to me, and I’m thankful.” He planted a kiss on her lips, and everyone applauded.

“I’m just grateful he’ll tolerate me,” she said, taking his mic briefly.

“Now without further ado, we’re going to start the night off with a toast from Cara’s big brother.”

Liam stepped forward. He adjusted his jacket before taking the mic.

“Is this thing on?” He said deeply into the mic. “I’ve always wanted to say that,” he joked, and a few laughed. “So my little sister’s getting married.” He sobered a little and looked at her. “You know, I still can’t believe it. I look back over all the years we’ve been together, and all the things that have changed but one thing has stayed constant.” He caught my eye from across the room and held it. “Love.”

He turned around to look at Cara. “We haven’t always gotten along. A three year age difference didn’t make us the best of friends, but when it came down to it, I know that no one ever loved me more. We stick up for each other. We fight. We hate each other, but no matter what, I love this little she-devil and I know she loves me too. If Blake is lucky enough to have even a sliver of the love she has for me, he is one lucky son of a gun,” he paused and grabbed a cup to raise as toast. “And he is in for the ride of his life these next couple of years.” Everyone laughed. “Cheers to the happy couple.”

“Here, here!”

“Now we’ll have a word from my best friend,” Cara sang into the microphone.

I approached, cautiously and stood beside Liam. He waited until I stood beside him and then bowed.

“Hey everybody. I’m going to make this short. That woman up there, well, she’s my best friend. I could tell you of the time we pranked Liam or the time we decided that wearing our clothes backward was cool. I could tell you about the countless times she chased after my exes with weapons, but that would just add fuel to the fire Blake already knows exists.” Everyone laughed at my tone. “So I won’t. What I will tell you is this, I want nothing but peace and happiness for her. She has been a star in any darkness I could have lived through, and I can only hope Blake can give her the same love and peace she gave me all these years. I love you girl.”

Cara, who uncharacteristically had a tear in her eye, said back, “I love you too.”

After my toast, they concluded, and Liam in his drunken state tried to convince me he could drive me home. We sat in the parking lot, under the shadows of places the streetlight couldn’t cover.

“God you are so sexy. I can’t believe how beautiful you are.” I couldn’t believe his words. The alcohol had completely changed his previous mood. “You had no idea how bad I want to make love to you Maddie.” He grabbed my face and pulled it close. “You really don’t.”

“So do it.”

He groaned, leaning even closer, “I can’t.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

“Can’t. Until you tell me, you want me.”

I didn’t want to. I didn’t want to admit he was so sexy my panties were already drenched.

“Say it.” His breath tickled my lips, and my tongue darted out to catch it. He planted kisses along my jaw and suck my earlobe, avoiding my lips altogether.

“Ok,” I gasped, shivering under his butterfly touches.

“Say. It.”

He would leave a hickey, and I didn’t care. “I want you.”

He wasted no time, pushing my dress up with one hand and unbuckling his pants. He didn’t bother with preambles or hesitation. He slid into me and pushed into me with a steady pace. I could only hook my feet behind him, following his rhythm, urging him on, and ignoring the stick shift lodged in my back. The
car shook in sync with our every move.

One of my hands reached down to rub my clit, and he took it as my cue to increase his pace.

“Tell me the truth Maddie.”

I whimpered, knowing exactly what he was asking.

“Is she mine? I gotta know.”

Waves of orgasm rippled through my body before long, and I couldn’t stop my mouth from moving.

“She’s yours,” I moaned; back arching, toes curling in ecstasy.

Every sensation was heightened, my muscles twitched erratically around his cock, and he buried his head between my breasts, feeling my heart beating wildly. I wanted to go again, but I could see from under my hooded eyes how angry he was.

“I’m so sorry.”

“Why Maddie? Why?”

“I had to Liam, I had to,” I cried.

“No, you didn’t.” He sat up to button his pants.

“I did! You were going to play football. I did not want to ruin your life. I didn’t want to leave you. I just wanted you to have a future, and I wasn’t going to take that away from you.”

He started the car, so I pulled my dress down hastily.

“Don’t you understand? I loved you so much. I love you so much, I had to.”

Maybe he drove too fast or maybe I was frozen in time, but we were in front of my apartment building before he spoke again.

“You made the decision on your own Maddie. You took my choice from me, without involving me. I don’t know how I can forgive you.”

His words were deep, hollow and chilling. I stepped out, and he sped away. Who knows if I would ever see him again?

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Two days. That’s how long it’s been since I’ve seen her beautiful face. It took me two days to realize what really mattered. So here I was, in front of her apartment door, the door I will never forget leaving, knocking, praying it’s not too late.

“Just a second honey, let me see who’s at the door.”

She opened to door, dressed and clearly in the middle of organizing Emmy. Her small face held smeared toothpaste and she was clad in only her pajama top and underwear. Maddie’s face was awed, and her mouth hung open in a small circle.

“Before you say anything, know this: You are the light of my world. You and the little girl in there mean the world to me and now that I have you, I will not let you go. I won’t leave this time. I love you Maddie, and I hope you love me too. From this moment forth, we will make it work. We can make it work as long as you love me. Do you?

“I love you,” she said crying.

I pulled her into my arms and kissed her with my entire being. Her tongue was minty, and her body was willing. I would take care of that as soon as the wedding was over.

“Now, dress Emmy in her best princess attire because this is a family wedding and we’re going to it, as a family.”

Maddie had tears running down her face as I walked in and closed the door. Emmy finally noticed me. This time her face was clear of paste.

“Mr. Liam,” she screamed before she ran into my arms. Sometimes soon, I don’t know when but soon, she won’t be calling me Mr. Liam. It’ll be Dad, and I look forward to the switch of titles. Mr. Liam is her friend, but Dad is a name I looked forward to earning.

The Linebacker’s Secret Baby

CHAPTER ONE

“I still don’t like this,” Ben Smith, famous linebacker of the Arizona Vipers, said for the seventh time. Or maybe the eighth.

Georgia had lost count some time ago.

He crossed his arms anyway, like the publicist had told him to.

Georgia withheld a sigh and lowered herself into a crouch while aiming her camera up at Ben’s face and torso. The dramatic angle was cliche, but she was hired to take as many photos of the team—and of Ben—as possible. The more pictures she took, and the more they varied, the more the publicist and the advertisers could work with. Or some ridiculous nonsense like that.

Ben was getting special treatment—his own photo-shoot out on the field, in his uniform—because he was the star player of the team. Apparently, according to a bunch of commentators and journalists, he was the only reason the Vipers had a chance at the playoffs.

“Veronica,” Ben said, uncrossing his arms and blinking at the publicist. “I’m serious. This feels…wrong.”

“Wrong?” Veronica repeated. She stepped forward until she was standing next to Georgia. “How so?”

“You told me to act like I’m practicing,” he said. He frowned and shook his head. “I’m not practicing. And even if I was, I wouldn’t pose while I was trying to make a tackle.”

Georgia snorted, her lips curling upward. “You’re one of those guys who takes everything literally, aren’t you? You’re a stereotypical dense athlete.”

His glare snapped to her so fast that she sucked in a breath. His face twisted into an ugly expression, his parted lips revealing his white teeth. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” Georgia said, laughing. She took a candid picture of his enraged expression and laughed harder. “It’s a photo-op. Everyone who sees the picture knows that you aren’t actually practicing. It’s the art of advertising without looking like advertising. Just do what the nice publicist says and get your millions of dollars. It can’t be as hard as you’re making it out to be.”

Ben’s nostrils flared, he was breathing so loudly that Georgia could actually hear it. He jabbed a finger at her. “I’m sure it’s easy to mock me behind that camera. Do you have any idea what it’s like having so much attention on me? Being a role model to kids I have never even met?”

Veronica nodded and clapped. “Yes! Exactly! This is why we are doing this. To show those kids how dedicated you are to the team—how committed you are to your work.”

“It also promotes the team itself,” Georgia said, cocking an eyebrow at Veronica—technically her boss, but Georgia wasn’t one to be intimidated by anyone. “And the more fans they get, the more money they get, which means,” She turned to Ben, “the more money you get. Ideally, anyway, if you get famous enough.”

Ben scoffed. “Is that how it works? You’re the management expert now?”