Dazzle: The Billionaire's Secret Surrogate

“You don’t think they violated you?” Kady asked with concern.

“I don’t think they raped me, if that’s what you’re asking.” He paused for a brief moment before continuing. “Other than that, your guess is as good as mine. I’m just glad to be alive.”

“I’m glad you’re alive too, honey,” Kady told him. “I don’t know what I’d do if they had taken you away from me forever. I’m already going crazy after just a couple of months.”

“Don’t you worry, Kady, I’ll be out of here before you know it,” said Archer. “With good behavior, I may even be out in just three months.”

“Three whole months,” Kady groaned, unable to fathom how she could possibly last that long without him by her side. “I think I’m going to die!”

Chapter 28

The following day Kady headed for the prison to visit Archer in person. They could only talk to each other through the glass on a phone, but it was better than nothing at all. It took about half an hour after she signed in to even get to see him, and then they were given only half an hour. However, she was allowed to repeat the process three times before they made her leave, and she intended to take full advantage of the fact.

“Archer, your eye!” she gasped as soon as she saw him, her concerned gaze sweeping over the heavy dark ring that circled his left eyes, and the various other scrapes and bruises marring his handsome face. Kady spoke into the receiver with low, sharp words. “I hope a big gang of bullies takes out whoever did that to you.”

“Settle down, Kady,” he said. “You know that they listen randomly. If they hear you talking about violent acts they might make you leave, and that’s the last thing I want to have happen.”

“Sorry,” she said contritely. “I’ll try to behave myself—for now.”

“Good—I think,” he said. Both of them laughed, and then he asked, “So what have you been doing all week, anyway? I know you wouldn’t just sit around watching television.”

“How do you know that?” she smirked.

“Because you start itching for something to do after one sit-com,” he chuckled.

“Oh! I don’t either,” she grumbled as she suppressed a smile. She loved that he knew her so well.

“Let’s see what you came up with,” he teased. “I know you brought it.”

Kady laughed. “Fine, spoil sport,” she said as she pulled her sketch book out from behind her back and set it on the counter. This wasn’t the first time she had brought it there, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. She flipped through numerous pages to show him all her designs.

“You really do have a rare talent,” Archer said with a nod when she closed the book again. “Mother has been hounding me to enroll you in some more classes.”

“Well, she just asked me to model a few maternity clothes next week,” said Kady, biting at her lower lip. “I know you don’t really want me to work right now, Archer, but with your accounts frozen I’ve been relying entirely on your mother, and you know how much I hate that.”

“Wouldn’t you technically still be relying on her, though?” he pointed out.

“But at least there it’d be easy,” she said. “You know I couldn’t go get up on some runway in my condition. Besides, I really don’t want to go back to it unless I really have to. If I do a few shots for your mom and then take the classes in fashion design, maybe by the time the dust settles I’ll be doing what I really enjoy.”

“You’ve got a point,” he agreed. “And if it’s you who wants to take those classes, I’m all for it. But I think you should apply for financial aid again, though. I don’t want my mother to think she owns you or your talents once you get done. You should be free to go anyplace you want afterwards.”

“Hey Archer, I don’t know why you’ve got so much pent up frustration where you mother is concerned, but she really is only trying to help,” Kady pointed out. “Would it hurt you greatly to show her just a little appreciation for everything she’s done for you? And for me and our baby? Some mothers might not have even gotten you a lawyer at all.”

Archer was frowning by the time Kady had finished her little speech. “She’s really gotten into your head, hasn’t she?” he wanted to know. “What do you want to do, become her little lap dog and perform tricks for her? Trust me, the more you give, the more she will take.”

Kady sighed. “I don’t want to be caught in the middle between you two, and it’s not–” she paused and took a deep breath before explaining what had happened between her and her own mother. “I called her to talk to her, you know? To fill her in on all the amazing things that happened in my life the past few months, and she called me…” Kady had to stop again, the pain cutting through her as she remembered the words.

“She called me nothing but a gold-digger, a– And a slut.” She finished the words on a whisper, still disbelieving that her once loving mother would ever say something like that to her own daughter. Archer’s frown was even deeper now as he watched her solemnly through the glass.

“I’m so sorry, Kady, I don’t even know what to say, except…” He shook his dark head, trying to find the right words to make it better, but failed, “I’m just so sorry, that’s a terrible thing to have your mother say.”

Kady took a deep breath and continued.

“But I do want to break into the fashion industry, and like it or not your mother is already in it. She knows all the ropes and pitfalls. I could do worse than to learn from somebody like her.”

“How come you’re always so damned level-headed anyway?” Archer sighed, then broke into a grin despite himself. “Fine. I will tell my mother how much I appreciate everything she’s doing, and I won’t even complain about your upcoming photo shoot. Better?”

“Much,” said Kady with a grin, feeling relieved now that everything was out in the open. “What do you think of teddies?”