#Babymaker (Baby Crazy 2)

I sat rock still on the toilet seat, my limbs refusing to move. Because it was all of that and more. Now that Chase was getting his baby, were we over? After all, the handsome alpha had accomplished what he’d set out to do. A woman was pregnant with his child, and there was no need to cater to my whims anymore. Sure, he’d treat me well as the mother of his offspring, but any pretense of a relationship was probably over now that I was pregnant.

My heart broke sitting there in the dingy bathroom because in my soul of souls, I knew the truth. Dr. Roman is an achievement-oriented man with multiple graduate degrees and a thriving business. He didn’t get to where he is by waffling and taking detours when a straight line was to be had. So when I waltzed into his life, he sensed the opportunity and pounced.

And now here we were. I was pregnant with a child that he knew I’d never give up. His biological son or daughter was currently in my womb, my body nurturing the developing limbs, heart and brain. And Dr. Roman could put this down as another success because he’d achieved exactly what he’d meant to achieve. But where did that leave me?

A horrendous pounding sounded on the front door. I didn’t even bother to get up because it was almost midnight and I hadn’t moved from my spot on the toilet seat in hours. After work, I’d run to the drugstore, buying five pregnancy tests in my haste. But when they’d all turned blue, I’d sat down limply, confused thoughts whirling through my head.

Now it was dark outside and I looked at my phone with bleary eyes. Eleven forty-five p.m. Who could it be? It had to be my landlord who wanted to discuss something about mice in the building, or how the recycling wasn’t properly sorted. So I stayed mute, barely even breathing. Maybe if I was completely still, he’d go away. After all, it was almost midnight.

But the pounding continued, a loud muffled banging that made my head begin to churn. So slowly, I got up, straightening my skirt. Uck, I hadn’t moved in hours and my limbs were stiff. Slowly making my way into the living room, I called out.

“Give me just one second! It’s late, just give me a second!”

Fortunately the banging stopped and I managed to hook my bathrobe off of the couch. The purple terry was raggedy and old, but I wrapped it around myself, cinching the waist tight. It provided full-body cover, and would hopefully give the impression that I’d been dragged out of bed. Maybe my landlord would leave me alone that much sooner if he realized how rude he was being.

But when I opened the door, who stood there but Dr. Roman, and not the pudgy, greasy, middle-aged man I’d been expecting.

“Chase!” I gasped, the color draining from my face. Unbidden, my hands went to my tangled curls, smoothing them as if I could tame the rat’s nest that currently lived on my head.

But instead of being happy to see me, the alpha’s expression was ominous.

“Where have you been?” he spat, shouldering his way into my apartment. I cringed mentally. Again, I have a cheap walk-up in Hell’s Kitchen, and the place wasn’t much to look at. A tiny bare bulb hung in the kitchen, highlighting the fact that the tub was placed right next to the sink. Also, this place hasn’t been renovated in decades. The linoleum was cheap and cracked, in addition to being a dingy yellow color.

“Um hi,” I said hurriedly. “What’s going on? What do you mean, where have I been? This is my home.”

But I knew what he was talking about. After all, I’d practically moved into his penthouse, so it wasn’t crazy for him to be worried about my unexpected absence.

“I’m sorry,” I said hurriedly. “I just had some things to take care of here, and they took longer than I thought. I should have called you.”

But Chase couldn’t hear me. He paced my tiny living room like a caged tiger, stalking back and forth. It was ridiculous in a way because the living room was a ten by fifteen space, so he’d take three steps forward, swivel, and then stride another three steps to the opposite wall before doing the same thing again.

“Where have you been?” he asked suddenly, turning flashing blue eyes my way.

“Right here,” I said, my tone puzzled now. “I came home and haven’t left since six.”

He was silent for a moment, merely looking at me.

“I talked with Corrie, you know,” he said, his voice suddenly silky smooth. “She told me you’d gone to the drugstore.”

I cursed my co-worker in my head. Why did she tell Dr. Roman that? There was no reason to reveal my personal comings and goings. But then again, he was also her boss and impossible to deny. So when the questions started coming, Corrie probably blurted it all out.