Fallon was in the hospital.
Gage’s heart thumped in his chest as he frantically made his way there. When he’d stopped by to pick her up from work, her assistant, Chelsea, had informed him she’d experienced stomach pains and Ayden had taken her to the hospital. Gage was terrified. What could be wrong? Fallon was the picture of health. In their short time together he’d seen how she took very good care of herself. She ate right and went to the gym. Working out with his wife was one of his favorite pastimes. She was a great sparring partner, though it was difficult to focus when she wore workout capris and one of those sports bras that bared her midriff.
He was terrified something was terribly wrong. But what?
As soon as he pulled up at the valet stand, Gage quickly dispensed with his keys and rushed inside. After finding her room number, he took off running down the hall. What had stunned him was when the nurse had told him she was in the maternity ward. Why in the hell would she be there? The ride seemed interminable but eventually the elevator stopped and he disembarked. He found her room and strode to the door. When he arrived, she was sitting up in bed and Ayden was in a nearby chair.
“Thank God, you’re all right,” Gage said, hastening toward her. He bent his head to kiss her but she held up her hand and blocked him.
“Don’t even try it.” She lurched away from him as if he were contaminated with some virus.
Gage stepped back and stared at Fallon in confusion. He didn’t understand the look of disgust on her face. He glanced at Ayden, but he had a stony expression. “Would either of you care to tell me what’s going on? When Chelsea told me you were in the hospital, I was worried sick. You have no idea the crazy scenarios that were running through my mind. Do they know what’s wrong? Why are you here in the maternity ward?”
Fallon turned to Ayden. “Do you mind giving us some time alone?”
Ayden glanced in Gage’s direction and the dirty look he gave him told Gage that he was not pleased to see him. “Are you sure? I can stay behind.”
She shook her head. “No, Gage and I need to have this conversation in private.”
Ayden nodded and got to his feet. He leaned down and pressed a kiss against her forehead. “I’ll be outside the door if you need me.”
She attempted a half smile. “Thank you.”
After giving Gage another fiery look that could have melted ice, Ayden left the room and closed the door.
Gage again moved toward the bed. “Fallon, please. Tell me what’s wrong. What happened?”
She glared at him. “I don’t know, Gage. Why don’t you tell me since you decided to stab me in the back?”
“Pardon?”
Her hand slashed through the air. “Don’t act coy. Now’s your time to exact the revenge you’ve been plotting for months. I’m a sitting duck. Take your best shot.”
A knot formed in his stomach. Surely Fallon couldn’t know about the shares of Stewart Technologies’ stock he’d acquired. Could she? “What are you talking about?”
“Really? Really?” She raised her eyebrows. “You’re not going to admit it? You’re going to make me spell it out for you? All right then, Gage. I’ll bite. One question. How long have you been conspiring to take over my company?” She folded her arms across her chest and waited for his response.
She knew.
“Fallon, I can explain.” His voice was low, tense.
“Ha.” She laughed without humor. “I seriously doubt that.” Her voice was tight. “But go ahead and try me.”
Gage had an overwhelming urge to wrap his arms around her and hold her close. In the bed, she looked small and fragile wearing the hospital-issued gown, her hair hanging limply around her shoulders. Even her hazel-gray eyes seemed cloudy. Yet her voice was strong and fierce. He moved past her and walked to the window overlooking the street.
When he remained silent she said, “Well?” Her voice was cold and distant.
He spun around to face her. “I won’t lie. I’ve been acquiring Stewart Technologies’ stock for a couple months.”
“So you admit it?”
He took a deep breath and nodded. “I was angry, Fallon. I wanted retribution for how your family treated us sixteen years ago. Your father threw us out with nothing but the clothes on our backs. He left us with nothing. No clothes. No money. Not even a reference for my mother, who’d worked for him for nearly a decade. You have no idea the trials and tribulations we faced starting over.”
At her stone-faced silence, he continued. “I was angry. Rage coursed through my DNA and I vowed that someday I would get back at the Stewarts. After living on the estate and hearing the barbs from your wealthy friends, I recognized the reality of my life. I had to be successful. I promised myself I would elevate myself to a better station in life. One in which no one could ever treat me as anything less than an equal.”
“And when did you decide to use me as a pawn in your revenge scenario?”
His gaze landed on Fallon. “You were never a pawn, Fallon. I wanted you. I’ve always wanted you. Even back then, when you were sixteen. But the timing wasn’t right then. I had to push you away—but not before I kissed you. And it was that kiss that I’ve never forgotten.”
“Oh, please, don’t make it sound like it was more than it was. I was just a naïve girl making a play for you.”
“It was more than that. It stirred something in me,” Gage replied, “but I pushed it down. And after we were kicked out, I tried to forget you. And I did a good job of it with lots of women of all shapes and sizes. Beautiful women. But they weren’t you, Fallon.”
“Stop it, Gage. Don’t act like we had some unrequited love because it doesn’t ring true. You deliberately sought out retribution, against me and my family. Ayden told me everything. He told me how you’ve been purchasing shares of the company behind my back.”
“Can you blame me?” Gage inquired testily. “I was angry. Angry about the raw deal we received.”
“No, I wouldn’t blame you if you hated me and my family, but I point-blank asked if you could put what happened behind you. You lied to me. Told me you could forgive but wouldn’t forget.” She sighed. “You let me believe...” Fallon’s words trailed off.
“Believe what?” The tension that gripped her was vibrating through him, engulfing them in a volatile bubble.
“That you cared?” she yelled at him as her eyes swept downward. “This entire time I was drifting along in some fantasy world in which I thought you and I might actually last beyond the contract, but it was all a lie.” She pierced him with her gaze. “It’s all about crime and punishment with you, isn’t it?”
“It may have started out that way, Fallon,” Gage said. He came to sit beside her on the bed and this time she didn’t move away. “But it quickly changed once I saw you again and the familiar visceral response I had to you wouldn’t be denied. I admit, marriage was never my intention. I’d thought one night together would be enough and I would rid myself of this simmering attraction I felt for you. But that night in the car...you must remember how hot it was between us. We were a fuse waiting to be lit and, when we were finally together, it was incredible. More than incredible. I realized I’d grossly miscalculated my feelings.”
“Feelings. We’re talking about feelings,” Fallon scoffed. “We’ve been married for two months, Gage, and this is the first time you mentioned those. But it doesn’t matter because I don’t believe a word you say. You’ve gotten what you wanted. Me in your bed, an introduction into Austin society and the Stewart family at your mercy with you calling all the shots. And now I want you out of my room and out of my life.”
“Fallon...listen, I know you’re upset and when you calm down we can talk rationally.”
“I am rational and I want you gone. Go!”
“Not until I know you’re okay,” Gage responded. “You collapsed, for Christ’s sake, and I’m not—” The words he’d been about to say cut off when he noticed the book on the bedside table.
What to Expect When You’re Expecting.
Suddenly it became very clear to him why she was in the maternity ward. It was the same reason she hadn’t been eating much lately and had gotten sick a couple of mornings. It was why her breasts had felt fuller and more sensitive during their lovemaking.
Fallon was pregnant.
* * *
Fallon knew the moment the truth hit Gage. Color leached from his face and he looked at her. “Are you...?”
“You know the answer to that question,” Fallon responded.
“How?”
Fallon shook her head. “I don’t know. I was taking the pills, but apparently that’s normal. Anyway, it doesn’t change the facts. I’m going to have a baby.”
“You mean we’re having a baby,” he replied.
“This baby is mine,” Fallon stated fiercely, clutching her stomach.
His gaze zeroed in on her action. “Fallon...”
“I don’t need or want you, Gage. Neither does this baby.”
Gage’s face was drawn and tight, and Fallon knew she’d hit a nerve.
“A child needs its father. And I won’t be separated from him or her.” Gage’s tone was vehement.
“You have no rights,” Fallon stated. “My body, my choice. And right now I choose not to have anything to do with a liar for a husband.”
“You’re being unreasonable. You must know this changes everything between us, Fallon. It’s not black-and-white anymore.”
“You mean like it was for you when you conspired against me?” Fallon sat upright in the bed. “When you mercilessly seduced me night after night until I ended up here in this bed!” She pointed downward. “You used me for your own enjoyment and amusement. What was I to you but some pampered bed-warmer you could keep handy when you had an itch that needed scratching?”
“That’s not true!” he retorted hotly. “I’ve never treated you with anything less than respect.”
Fire flashed in Fallon’s eyes. “Respect. You call lying and going behind my back respect? You don’t know the meaning of the word and I won’t let me or my baby be a pawn in your games any longer. I want you out. Now!” she yelled.
Suddenly the door to her hospital room swung open and Ayden walked in. His eyes were laser-focused on her. “I could hear Fallon screaming down the hall. What the hell is going on?” He looked at Gage.
“Please make him leave.” Fallon turned onto her side and faced the window. She couldn’t bear to look at Gage. Not knowing how incredibly foolish she’d been to fall for his lies. He’d set this course of events in motion and now they’d created a life. She placed her hand over her small, rounding belly.
Ayden walked over to Gage. “I won’t have you upsetting Fallon anymore, Gage. She nearly suffered a miscarriage because of your lies and machinations.”
“But the baby’s okay?” Gage asked.
Fallon studiously avoided looking at him. “For now. I was having spotting and cramps. The doctor put me on some medication that will hopefully stop them, but I need to rest and be stress-free.”
“Meaning you don’t want me anywhere near you? Is that it?”
“That’s right,” Fallon responded hotly and turned to glare at him. “You can go back to your high-profile Wall Street existence making loads of money because I don’t want or need you and neither does my baby. Consider the contract we signed null and void. Gather your team of highly paid lawyers and get them to send over whatever paperwork is necessary to end this sham of a marriage.”
“Fallon, you can’t get rid of me that easy. Not only did we sign a contract, but I own a majority stake at Stewart Technologies.”
Fallon’s eyes flashed fire. “So you’re threatening me?”
“No, of course not.” Gage sighed. “This isn’t coming out right. I want you to calm down.”
“Then let me show you the exit.” Ayden motioned to the door.
Gage held up his hands in surrender. “Okay. I’ll leave for now, but I will be back, Fallon. It isn’t over between us.”
When she finally heard the door click shut, Fallon fell back against the pillows. Holding herself up, being strong in front of Gage, had zapped all her energy.
“It’s all right, Fallon. You can rest now.” Ayden came forward and helped make her more comfortable on the bed. “I meant what I told Gage. You need to get some sleep.”
“Are you leaving?”
Ayden shook his head. “No, I’ll be right here by your side.”
His words were one of the last things Fallon thought about as she drifted off to sleep, along with Gage’s promise it wasn’t over between them.
* * *
Pregnant.
Gage was still in shock over the news. He had absolutely no idea what to do with the information. He was equal parts overjoyed and scared out of his mind. He’d never thought about being a father because he’d never had one of his own. The closest he’d had to a father figure had been Henry Stewart and look how that had turned out.
But that didn’t change the facts. Fallon was having his baby. He wasn’t sure how far along she was, because they’d had a very active sex life, but he suspected she could have conceived as early as their honeymoon. During those idyllic days in Punta Cana he hadn’t been able to get enough of her. He’d had a ferocious, all-consuming need for her. A need that had led them to creating a child.
But Fallon wanted nothing more to do with him. Ever.
She knew the truth that he’d been seeking to right the wrongs from years ago by acquiring stocks in Stewart Technologies. But she was wrong about his feelings for her. They’d grown exponentially and he was no longer seeking revenge. All he could see was Fallon. And now their baby.
Flashes of the two of them together holding a beautiful brown baby with hazel-gray eyes struck Gage. He walked to the bar and poured himself two thumbs of whiskey. Padding to the terrace, he lifted the glass to his mouth and sipped. The spirits warmed his insides but nothing could smooth out the raw edges from his reckoning with Fallon.
The disappointment in her eyes, the hurt—it dug into his insides. The thought he might never know his child, as he’d never known his father, was too much to deal with. He stared out at the city and sipped the whiskey as night fell over Austin. Somehow, some way, he had to change her mind. Make her realize her future and their baby’s included him.