Cat Schield - The Heir Affair

“Okay,” she said, paper crinkling beneath her as she sat on the exam table.

“How about Amelia if it’s a girl?” Kyle’s voice was heavy with intent. “Austin if it’s a boy.”

She couldn’t stop the grin that twitched on her lips. “You’ve been thinking about baby names?”

“I didn’t sleep very well last night.” He pulled out his phone and stared at the screen. “I’m also fond of Aubrey and Addison.”

“Did you get out of the A’s?”

He scrolled down some sort of list on his phone. “Colton for a boy?”

Her throat locked up as she stared at him. Damn the man for driving her crazy with his unromantic proposal of marriage and then twisting her heart into knots with this sweet demonstration of how excited he was to be a dad. Before she could respond, the door opened and the doctor appeared.

“How are you doing today?” Dr. Sara Evans asked, advancing into the room and taking quick stock of Melody’s state of mind before glancing toward Kyle, who’d gotten to his feet. “And you are?”

“Kyle Tailor, the father.”

Dr. Evans gave a quick nod before getting started. Almost as soon as her doctor had entered the room, Melody had calmed down. She liked the obstetrician’s keen gaze and brisk manner.

“I’m going to spread a little gel here.” The doctor applied the clear goo to her belly and chuckled as Melody shivered. “It’s a little bit chilly. You’ll forget all about that in a second.”

Melody stared down at the slight bump just below her belly button where her baby lay. When she glanced toward Kyle, she noticed his eyes were glued to the monitor where an image had begun to develop. And there it was. Their baby. Head. Arms. Legs. A whole little person inside her.

While both she and Kyle had been gaping at the screen, Dr. Evans prattled on about the development of the fetus and the fact that the organs were developing.

“About this time,” Dr. Evans said, “your baby will begin to open and close his or her fingers and his or her mouth will begin making sucking movements. He—or she—is about the size of a lime. Do you want to know the sex?”

Kyle spoke up before Melody could even open her mouth. “Can we?” His eyes sought hers. “Do you want to?”

“I guess.” In truth she hadn’t really thought about it. Didn’t the pregnancy have to be further along? “Sure.”

It would make planning easier if she knew she was having a boy or girl. She’d have to get the nursery ready and buy clothes. Of course, this brought up something that Kyle kept asking her about. Where was she going to live? She’d given up her apartment in LA to move in with Kyle. Trent’s guest cottage was for guests. Up until now, she’d stayed for a couple days or a long weekend here and there when she took a break from the tour to work on her album.

She could justify living there while Trent was in LA with Savannah and Dylan, and she’d considered what would happen when they came back. They were family now. They would want their privacy.

When Kyle had asked her where she planned to live, she’d frozen up. With everything that was going on with her album and telling Kyle that she was pregnant, she’d been taking things one day at a time. Today, staring at the image of her baby on the monitor, decisions she had yet to make rushed at her.

Pressure on her fingers brought her back to the present. She winced a little at the bite of Kyle’s grip, but his eyes were glued to the screen and he didn’t seem to notice the way he was holding her hand. She squeezed back, bringing his focus to her.

“Looks like you’re having a girl,” Dr. Evans announced brightly, her smile broad. “Congratulations.”

Melody was numb. “Are you sure?”

Dr. Evans nodded. “No question. This little girl isn’t one bit shy.”

“Then she’ll take after her father,” Melody murmured.

Her head spun. A girl. She glanced at Kyle to see his reaction, half expecting his expression to reflect disappointment. Had he imagined himself teaching his son to pitch? Instead, he was staring at her stomach and looking dazed. And delighted.

She waited until Dr. Evans finished with the ultrasound and left the room before she voiced the concern burning a hole in her stomach.

“You’re okay with a girl?”

“Of course.” He blinked several times and seemed to have trouble focusing on her. A line appeared between his brows. “Why would you think it wouldn’t be?”

“Because you’re a guy, you love baseball. I bet you woke up this morning thinking you needed to run out and buy a mitt and a ball.”

“Actually, I woke up this morning thinking how empty my bed was without you in it.”

She hadn’t expected this angle of attack and wasn’t prepared with an evasive maneuver. Holding the gown closed as best she could, she sat up and spun so that her feet dangled. “Close your eyes. I need to get dressed.”

Kyle braced his hands on the exam bed and leaned forward so he could peer directly into her eyes. “We’re having a girl.”

Placing her hand on his cheek, she whispered, “We are.”

His grin was infectious and she found herself smiling back. He was close enough that all she had to do was lean forward a few inches to bring their lips into contact. He covered her fingers with his. The connection made her heart race. It would be so easy to just forget how hurt she’d been these last few months. Through passion and desire, they could start again. She didn’t really need to return to the studio today. Instead, they could go to his house and make love all afternoon. Her toes curled at the thought.

She gathered breath and summoned her courage to suggest they do that, but the opportunity was lost when his phone began to ring. He pulled it out and frowned at the screen.

“It’s the club. I need to get this. How about I meet you in the lobby.”

“Sure.” With a sigh, Melody watched him go, and then got dressed once more.

It was for the best, she decided. Part of the reason they were in this mess was because they’d rushed in before determining if they were really compatible. They’d been dating for too short a period of time before she’d moved in and the decision had been made out of convenience rather than a thoughtful evaluation of whether they could work as a couple.

And why was that? Because Melody had been afraid to put the brakes on. To ask the questions that might drive Kyle away. Now she realized that had been a mistake. And no matter how hard it might be to keep from falling back under Kyle’s spell, until she knew for sure that he truly loved her, she couldn’t move forward with their relationship.

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