Season of Passion (43 page)

Are you sure it was that? He reached out carefully and held her face in his hands. Her eyes instantly filled with tears, and she started to relax in his hands.

What do you think it was, Nick?

I think maybe ' I hope ' He looked at her so tenderly that the tears only came more quickly, and he smiled. Is it possible, Cinderella, that you're pregnant? He watched her very closely and she pulled slowly away from his hands.

Why would I be pregnant? But like Felicia earlier, there was a look about her, as though she were mentally running her fingers through file cards, remembering, matching events, and then suddenly she looked at him with a sheepish grin. Maybe. I hadn't even thought of that.

Possibly more than maybe? He looked at her hopefully.

Maybe a lot more than maybe. Jesus, I don't know how come I didn't think of that She had begun to wonder if she had some rare disease. She grinned at him and he kissed her softly, and then hungrily, feeling carefully in her nightgown for her breasts. I would be about seven weeks pregnant It was the night Tygue ' wasn't it?

I don't know. Is it too soon to find out if you are?

No. This is just about right

Want to try again? She laughed as he lay next to her on the bed.

Try again, huh?

Sure. Why not?

But they didn't need to. She was pregnant The test was positive the next day.

Are you sure? He was beside himself when she hung up the phone after getting the results of the test. The nurse's voice had been unemotional. Harper? Oh. Here it is. Positive.

You're pregnant?

Yes I am, and yes I'm sure. That's what the lady said anyway. She slid her arms around his neck and he beamed at her.

Oh Kate, I love you.

I love you too. She said it softly, her voice muffled in his arms. And I'm sorry about New York. She hadn't said that to him the night before, and she had wanted to,

It's all right. Nothing happened. But if you ever go back there, I'm sending an armed guard. And then suddenly he looked at her seriously, as he held her gently in his arms. I don't want you to tour while you're pregnant. Not at all. Is that clear?

Yes, sir.

What about your new book? Will you be willing to wait before you go anywhere? It won't hurt your career to wait a few months.

It won't be out for another year anyway. Perfect timing. She grinned up at him and ruffled his hair. He was taking it all so seriously. She didn't feel as nervous about this pregnancy as she had with Tygue, but that had been a long time ago too. In some ways, this felt new. And it would be so nice to have Nick there. She held him very tight for a few minutes, and they each smiled at their own thoughts. And then he looked down at her again.

Promise me you won't push while you're pregnant.

Push what? She tried to make light of it

Kate ' please ' He wanted this child more than anything. She understood.

Relax, darling. I promise. She could feel him relax as he held her close again, and the phone rang next to them. She looked at him with a grin. Maybe they changed their minds.

Tell them it's too late. We accept. She smiled at him and answered the phone, but her face clouded instantly.

Hi, Stu. She could feel Nick tense beside her.

That's a surprise. When? ' I don't know. She looked at Nick and smiled, but he was already panicking. He had started stalking the room, his face filled with despair. It was starting again. Weinberg and his fucking trips.

You promised!

Relax! She whispered it with a hand over the phone, and tried to continue the conversation with Weinberg. And then finally to him a vague I'll see. But suddenly Nick couldn't take anymore. He grabbed the phone away from her and put his hand over the receiver.

You tell him that the person he's trying to exploit is pregnant, and he can take his next fucking tour, or whatever the hell he's calling about, and shove it up his ass. He looked at her in desperation, but she was grinning as she retrieved the phone.

Sorry, Stu. She grinned at Nick and his face lightened a little as she said the words. He won't play in the tournament with you. He thinks you're trying to exploit him. And he's pregnant. Very temperamental. Nick rolled his eyes and sat down with a grin. No, he said you could shove it up your ass. That's what he said' . Fine. I'll tell him. She hung up and stood looking at Nick. You worry too much, Mr. Waterman. She was grinning broadly.

You're a spoiled brat, Cinderella. Has anyone told you that lately?

Not since this morning. By the way, when am I going to get the other glass slipper? She smiled at him as she sat down on his lap.

When you promise me that you're not going on tour, and not going to wear yourself out while you're pregnant. If you promise me that, you can have anything you want.

I may hold you to that.

You didn't answer my question.

Was it a question? It sounded more like an order to me. She raised an eyebrow and ran a finger around his ear.

I'm serious, Kate. This means a lot to me.

It does to me too. But you don't have to coerce or threaten to get me to take it easy. Trust me a little.

Not when it comes to your work ' and our child. He looked at her with a small worried frown. Is that going to be very hard on you, Kate? Handling both, I mean?

She shook her head, but she didn't answer for a moment. No. She hoped not anyway, but if so, they'd work it out.

Had you thought of ' of '

But she cut him off before he could say the words. No, I wouldn't do that. And then she pulled him closer into her arms. I want your baby, Nick. I think I've always wanted that. Tygue is special, and he has always been just mine. I never got to share him, the waiting,-the getting born, all those special moments that come later ' I never had anyone to share that with. With us, with this baby, everything will be different.

Including the fact that we're not married. He sounded a little embarrassed as he said it, and searched her face again. Will that be very hard on you and Tygue?

Of course not. Tygue's too young to care, and do you really think I care about what people think about that? Besides, we'll get married someday. She looked down at the pale line on her left hand where the wedding ring had once been. In the meantime, it doesn't really matter. Unless ' will it matter to you? On the show, I mean? Could it cause you problems? She had to think about that too. Her reputation wasn't the only one at stake, but he was already grinning in response.

In that crazy world I work in? Are you kidding? They'd think we were strange if we were married and having a baby. But you know, I thought of something last night. He looked momentarily embarrassed and then decided to go ahead and tell her his idea. If it does bother you, or Tygue, we could tell people that we are married. Who's to know that we're not? We could say we went off somewhere quietly and got married. And then ' later ' we could do just that. Nobody has to know if we're really married or not. But she was already shaking her head with a look of negative determination.

Nope. No way, Mr. Waterman, I won't do that. Why not?

Because when we finally do get married, I am not going to sneak off anywhere to marry you, sir. I am going to do it with more pomp and ceremony and noise and style than you've ever seen. And the whole world is going to know. How about diat? You know what, Cinderella? What? She was smiling as broadly as he. For that, you get your other glass slipper. She grinned at him and put her mouth over his for a long tender kiss. Do you have any idea how much I love you Nicholas Waterman? Want to come upstairs and show me? Anytime, Mr. Waterman. Anytime.