The Billionaire's Secret Wife

He pulled her up easily, and led her to the sink as though he’d read her mind.

“Can I have a few minutes in private?” she asked.

“Sure. I’ll be right outside if you want anything.”

She nodded, but she wouldn’t be needing him again. There was nothing in her stomach now. Sighing she rubbed her face. She didn’t know why her body decided to start having morning sickness all of a sudden. Maybe it was the strange city and bed. Once she went home, she’d feel better.

After brushing her teeth, she took a quick shower. Morning sickness or no, the hot water cleared her head, and a good night’s sleep had put a lot of things into clearer perspective. She would talk with Hilary as soon as she could, but at the same time she wouldn’t be so gloomy about the marriage. What was done was done. Hadn’t she known that becoming pregnant with Justin’s child would bring about changes to her life? She couldn’t deny either Justin or the child a chance to bond with each other. They had the right, and she had a feeling Justin would be a good father.

She put on the hotel robe and went out with a towel wrapped around her hair. Justin was at a desk, working on his laptop.

“Anything urgent?” she asked.

“No. You want to eat? I already had something, but didn’t order any for you because I wasn’t sure what you might be in the mood for.”

Ugh. Food. “How about… some hot lemon tea and dry toast. Maybe with some fruit?”

Justin ordered while she dried her hair. She could hear his voice over the whirring of the dryer. Her toes curled at the deep, masculine tone. He hadn’t been cold to her after he’d found out she was pregnant. It was like some switch inside him had been flipped. Maybe there was another switch inside him that could make him permanently faithful, sweet and perfect.

When her hair was dry and falling in sleek layers around her face and shoulders, she went outside without bothering to pull it up. It seemed like too much work.

The breakfast was waiting. Justin had also ordered a pitcher of freshly squeezed orange juice. “Just in case.” He kissed her. “Take your time. Our flight doesn’t need to leave until noon anyway to make your mother’s party.”

Vanessa snapped her fingers. “I knew I was forgetting something. I have to buy her a present.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”

“Really? What are you planning to get in my name?”

“A high-end espresso machine. Ceinlys likes her coffee.”

Her eyes widened. “You noticed?”

“Of course.” He tapped the tip of her nose. “I notice a lot more than people think I do.”

She frowned and nibbled on her toast. Justin had met her mother maybe five times.

“Don’t worry. Everything I notice about you is positive,” he said, his voice light.

Wasn’t that positive back in November. But she didn’t want to bring up their fight. “I’m glad. And I see I need to perfect my poker face.”

“I like it better when you’re open.”

“I’m a lawyer. I can’t have everyone reading me like that.”

“It’s not everyone. Just me.”

* * *

Justin didn’t know exactly how to explain it, but he knew nobody else understood Vanessa the way he did. It was crazy how he could just look at her face—no matter how impassive—and perceive her feelings. Just moments ago, when her guard was down…he could almost read her thoughts. And he liked it that he could understand what his wife needed without her having to say it.

He hadn’t been kidding about making her happy. His vow had been one hundred percent in earnest. He was dead serious about his commitment to their marriage, and he knew it could work great given how compatible they were, sexually and otherwise.

His own parents had gotten married because his mother had been pregnant. They grew to love each other in a quiet, calm way and had an amazing marriage that lasted until his father had passed away. Justin didn’t believe in over-the-top emotional love being an essential part of a relationship.

Love like that was irrational, uncontrollable and impulsive. It also produced too much influence; all he had to do was look at his cousin Kerri’s parents to know why that kind of love was a terrible idea. When Kerri’s father had died, her mother had lost it. Not even Barron’s money and connections could fix whatever had broken inside her, and she hadn’t been able to look at her own daughter with affection after that.

Justin wasn’t going to let anything weaken him like that. He had responsibilities, and the only way he could manage them well was with a cool, rational mind.