Tempted (Pregnancy & Passion 3)

kind. She didn’t want him to feel sorry for her because he’d broken her heart. She wanted his love.

She could feel the anxiety and rush of anger and confusion crawling over her skin, tightening and heating until the sensation reached her cheeks. She curled and uncurled her fingers at her sides, the only outward reaction she’d allow herself as she sought to calm the turmoil wreaking havoc with her mind.

Maybe it was best she didn’t dwell on her possible pregnancy. She was already uptight enough without causing herself full-scale panic.

Her father stepped up onto the elevated platform along with Devon. Ashley’s mom stood—just as she always had—by her husband’s side. But Devon hadn’t wanted Ashley there. He’d wanted her here. All the way across the floor from him. She didn’t know if there was any significance to that. Her ego was bruised enough to conjure all sorts of pathetic scenarios that spiked the self-pity meter.

For half an hour her father talked, fondly recounting memories, thanking his staff and his family. She smiled faintly when he singled her out and gave her an indulgent, fatherly smile. Then he went on to say that he was stepping down and that Devon would be succeeding him.

There were surprised murmurs from some. Nods from others who obviously suspected such a thing. A few raised eyebrows but most notably, she noticed that people’s gazes found her. There were knowing smiles. A few whispers. Nods in her direction.

Her facade was starting to crack. Her smile was beginning to falter. It was as if the world had put two and two together and said, “Aha! Now we get it.”

She just wished she did. She stared around, looking for a possible escape path, but she was surrounded by people. All looking at her. Or between her and Devon. Those damn knowing smiles. The smirks of a few women.

It was the worst night of her entire life. Worse than even her wedding night.

Devon found himself surrounded by a throng of people offering their congratulations. He had only taken one step away from William before everyone had descended. Family members. Staff members. Some offering sincere congratulations. Some clearly wary and uncertain. But that was to be expected. Any time change was announced, fear took hold. It was too early to be offering anyone reassurances. Who knew what would happen over the course of the next few months when a changing of the guard would take place and Devon would be at the helm of what would now be the world’s most exclusive line of resorts and luxury hotels.

Tonight, though, Devon was celebrating his own victory of sorts. He’d cornered William before the party had begun and told him that Copeland was going to sponsor Ashley’s animal shelter.

William had been opposed until Devon threatened to refuse to take William’s place in the company. Devon wanted full sponsorship with a yearly budget allocated to the shelter. He was determined that Ashley wouldn’t shed another damn tear over her beloved animals.

His father-in-law grumbled and told Devon he was a besotted fool, but he’d given in, telling Devon he’d just do as he damn well wanted when he took over anyway. Which was absolutely true, but they didn’t have that much time and he needed William’s cooperation to fund the shelter now so it wouldn’t have to close.

Now he just needed the right opportunity to tell Ashley the good news. Tonight in bed after the party seemed perfect. Then he’d make love to her until they were both insensible.

He was yanked from his thoughts when he saw Cam pushing his way through the crowd. He grinned when Cam got to him and he slapped his friend on the back. “Well, we did it. Everything. Copeland. The new resort. Oh, ye of little faith.”

Cam ignored Devon’s ribbing. His expression was grim and his gaze was focused over Devon’s shoulder across the room. “What the hell have you done to her, Dev?”

Devon reared his head back. “Excuse me?” He turned, looking for the source of Cam’s attention, but all he saw was Ashley, standing where he’d left her so she wouldn’t be swallowed up by the crowd.

Cam shook his head then turned his gaze on Devon. “You don’t even see it, do you?”

Devon’s eyes narrowed. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Cam made a sound of disgust. “Look at her, Dev.”

Again, Devon followed Cam’s gaze to Ashley. He studied her a long moment.

“Really look at her, Dev. Take a long, hard look.”

Devon battled a surge of irritation. He was about to tell Cam to go to hell when Ashley rubbed her hand over her forehead. The gesture seemed to make abundantly clear what perhaps he’d missed before. Maybe he’d been missing for a while. Or maybe it just took Cam drawing his attention to it.

She was pale, her face drawn. She looked tired and exceedingly fragile. She looked…different. Not at all like the vivacious, sparkling woman he’d married.

He frowned. “She probably has a headache.”

“You’re a dumbass,” Cam said in disgust.

Before Devon could respond, Cam turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Devon baffled by the anger in his friend’s voice.

But he didn’t have time to figure out Cam’s mood or what bug was up his ass. Ashley looked exhausted. Her forehead was creased in pain and she rubbed the back of her neck. He was more convinced than ever that she had one of her headaches.

He pushed his way through the few people standing between him and where William now stood with his son, Eric.

“I’m going to take Ashley home,” he said to William. “Please give our apologies to our guests.”

William looked up in concern while Eric frowned and immediately sought Ashley out in the crowd.

“Is something wrong?” William asked.

“Everything’s fine,” Devon said in an effort to calm the older man. “I think she has a headache.”

Eric scowled, his blue eyes flashing as he stared holes through Devon. “She seems to be having headaches quite frequently these days.”

Devon wasn’t going to stick around to argue the point. He nodded at William and then went to collect Ashley.

He found her conversing with two of the people who worked in the Tricorp offices. Or rather they were doing all the conversing. Ashley stood smiling and nodding.

“Excuse us please, gentlemen,” Devon said smoothly. “I’d like to steal my wife if you don’t mind.”

The relief on her face made him wince. She was obviously suffering and she’d had to stand here through her father’s speech.

His plans for the evening melted away. His primary concern now was getting her home so he could take care of her. The news about the shelter could wait until tomorrow. They’d have dinner together—another of her experimental concoctions, no doubt—and then he’d tell her that her animals were safe.

He drew her in close, noting again the fatigue etched in her features. But more than that, it was as if the light had been doused from her usually expressive eyes.

He experienced a tightening sensation in his chest but he shook it off and focused his attention on her.

“We’re leaving.”

She looked up in surprise. “But why? The party will be going on for hours yet.”

“You’re hurting,” he said quietly. “Headache?”

A dull flush worked over her features. “It’s okay. I’m fine, really. There’s no need for you to leave. I can have Pippa take me home or I can just catch a cab.”

“The hell I’ll have you leave here in a cab,” he bit out. “I’ve done what I needed to do here. The rest is William’s night. I won’t have you suffering when you could be at home in bed after taking your medication.”

Her shoulders sagged a bit and she nodded her acceptance. He put his hand to her back, noting again just how fragile she felt. It wasn’t something he could even describe. How did someone feel fragile? But there was an aura of vulnerability that surrounded her like a fog. He wasn’t imagining it.

He guided her toward the door, not stopping to acknowledge the people who spoke as they passed.

&nb

sp; She was silent the entire way home. She sat in the darkened interior of the car, eyes closed and so still that he was afraid to move for fear of disturbing her.

Once back at their apartment, he helped her undress and pulled back the covers so she could crawl into bed. He leaned down to kiss her brow as he pulled the sheet up to her chin.

“I’ll go get your medication and something to drink.”

To his surprise, she shook her head. “No,” she said in a low voice. “I don’t want it. I hate the way it makes me feel. I just need to sleep. I’ll be fine in the morning.”

He frowned but didn’t want to argue with her. She needed to take the damn medicine. She was obviously in a lot of pain. But her eyes were already closed and her soft breathing signaled that she was relaxing or at least trying to.

“All right,” he conceded. “But if you aren’t better in the morning, you’re taking the medicine.”

She nodded without opening her eyes. “Promise.”

Seventeen

Devon woke Ashley the next morning long enough to ascertain how she was feeling. Ashley assured him she was fine even though her stomach still churned with humiliation and upset. In truth, she just wanted him gone. The last thing she wanted was a set of eyes on her when she was on the verge of cracking.

After he left for work, she shuffled into the shower and stood for a long time underneath the heated spray. Afterward she didn’t linger in the bathroom long. She dried her hair because of the cold, but pulled it back into a ponytail. She was too on edge to worry over makeup and just made do with moisturizer.

She was in turns scared and dismayed over the prospect of pregnancy. At times she firmly hoped she wasn’t expecting. Others, she held a secret, ridiculous hope that a pregnancy would… What? She laughed helplessly at just how naive she was. Even as she knew a child would in no way fix a doomed relationship, there was a part of her that wondered if Devon would grow to love the mother of his child.

It angered her that she could even entertain such a notion. Why on earth would she settle for a man loving her because she produced his offspring? If he couldn’t love her before that, why would she even care what happened after she popped out a kid?

Unrequited love sucked. There were no two ways about it.

If she had it to do all over again, she’d put a definite “wait and see” on any childbearing. Or at least get through the honeymoon without any life-altering surprises.