Going Down Again – Billionaire Bad Boys

“How could I be anything but fine on this gorgeous island surrounded by the people I love?” She pressed a kiss to his cheek.

Frowning, he turned back to the conversation the men were having about a new idea for updating Blink. The app had been on the market for a while now, and they needed to stay current. With their table in a private alcove, there was no reason to worry about anyone listening in.

The waiter stopped by with Kade’s drink. “Sir, Macallen 18, neat, filled three quarters of the way.” Then he put down a bottle of spring water. “Room temperature as requested,” he said, placing a straw beside the bottle.

“Thank you.” Kade added five drops of water to the whiskey to open up the flavor in the glass.

And though Derek met his gaze with a smirk, Kade knew his friend understood. It was as much about the taste as the routine for Kade.

After the dinner orders were in, Julian spoke to the table. “We have an announcement.” He grasped Kendall’s hand. “We are adopting a baby to add to our brood.”

Kendall, now a vet tech, lived with bipolar disorder. She had been in treatment and had only regulated her medications a few years back, and had begun to live a life without as many major ups and downs. She and Julian had decided she wouldn’t ever go off her medications in order to get pregnant or carry a healthy baby to term. They were foster parents and now they were going to adopt. Kade was thrilled for them both, for conquering, at least so far, their issues.

“Oh my God! Kendall!” Lexie squealed, jumped up, and hugged her twin tight. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Kendall laughed. “Julian and I decided to tell everyone together tonight.”

Cassie and Derek, Lucas and Maxie all congratulated Kendall and Julian on their decision. The rest of the night was spent celebrating and enjoying friends.

When they decided to leave the restaurant and walk over to the nightclub, Lexie pulled Kade aside. “We don’t have to go.”

She knew how sensory overload affected him, and a club, with flashing lights and too many people in close proximity, had never been something he enjoyed.

“I don’t want to take the experience away from you. Eden Elite is fabulous or so I hear.”

She shook her head, leaning her body close to his. “I’d much rather be alone with you.”

At her words, pleasure filled him. “Then let’s go back to the room.”

She smiled. “Let me just tell Kendall and we can say our goodbyes. I want to congratulate her again. Can you believe they’re going to have a new baby?” She clasped her hands together and spun to go talk to her twin … as realization dawned on Kade.

A baby. The only other time his wife had steered clear of drinking had been when she was pregnant with Matthew. But why wouldn’t she just tell him if that was the case? He thought they shared everything.

A frisson of unease crept up his spine. Did she not want another baby? His baby? One like Matthew, who was difficult on a good day? Nausea and panic filled him because the one thing he feared most was losing the woman he loved and the family they’d created. His mother hadn’t wanted him, had taken his brother and left the country to get away from him. Was Lexie realizing she felt the same way but she was afraid to tell him?

He shook his head. No. Not possible. That was the pre-Lexie Kade talking. He knew better. He knew her better. But if she was pregnant and not telling him, there had to be a reason. And he had every intention of finding out … and fixing the problem.

* * *

Lexie woke up suddenly, severe nausea immediately taking hold. She glanced at a sleeping Kade and slipped out of bed, rushing to the bathroom, where she threw up. She closed her eyes and sighed, no longer able to deny the obvious. She was pregnant.

She sat by the toilet and made sure she wasn’t going to get sick again before taking a quick shower and brushing her teeth. She wrapped herself in the fluffy white robe supplied by the resort and walked out to find Kade standing by the sliding doors leading outside, a cup of coffee in hand.

“Hey.” Striding up to him, she wrapped her arms around his waist. He wore a pair of shorts that rode low on his hips, and she rested her face against his bare back.

“Hey. Did you get sick this morning?” he asked, turning to face her and pulling out of her embrace as he moved.

She nodded. “I… We need to talk.”

He visibly swallowed hard. “You’re pregnant.”

She stared at him in surprise. “How did you know?”

“No alcohol twice yesterday, then Lexie said the word baby and it clicked,” he said, his expression serious.