Unprotected: A Secret Baby

My words seemed to free the billionaire from whatever spell he was under. Cursing, he stormed into the store and slammed the door behind us.

“What the fuck, Maggie?”

His voice was loud and intimidating as always. It rumbled deep like an earthquake through every inch of my soul, making me shiver. But I wasn’t scared. Even after all this time, I knew Evan. He’d never hurt me or his child.

The alpha’s blue eyes flashed in the darkness.

“You had my baby and never told me?” he growled menacingly.

Mentally, I gathered my thoughts.

“It’s fine Evan,” were my soothing words. “I know you didn’t want this child. I know that what we had was fake. So I kept things to myself, for obvious reasons. Ryan doesn’t need any illusions in his life. I want my son to start with a clean slate, happy and positive. So please, respect me and my choices and respect the life we’ve made for ourselves,” were my firm words.

Evan stared at me, a muscle in his cheek pulsing.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” he bit out, angry and harsh.

I stared right back at him before beginning.

“I was your fake fiancée,” came my slow words. “Remember? We had a transaction. Twenty thousand dollars in return for a song and dance so you could get control of your family’s company. But our deal was done in a month. That’s what I mean. Don’t you remember?”

Evan stared at me again.

“I remember. Trust me, I remember only too well,” he rasped.

Emboldened I continued.

“Plus, you gave me a fake diamond at the end. I get it. I’m not worth the real thing. No harm done, no hard feelings,” I managed stiffly, rebalancing Ryan on my hip. “But it was time for me to move on, and if you’re not happy with the results, I can give you your check back. I never spent the twenty thousand dollars, Mr. Lincoln.”

But unfortunately, my brave words were undermined by the tears that began to fall. Because my Wonder Woman act wasn’t going so well. I wanted to be strong and positive, but the real Maggie just kept popping up.

And to make it worse, my baby could sense my deteriorating heart.

“Mama,” Ryan patted my cheek again, his own face scrunched up like he was ready to cry too. I couldn’t upset my child so I tried to keep it under control, but that only made things worse. Swallowing back the last of my sobs, I hugged my little boy tight.

“You don’t have to do anything for us, Evan,” I managed in a choked voice. “Please go. Just go now.”

But the billionaire wasn’t gonna listen. He reached out for me, one big hand warm and flat.

“Maggie,” he said roughly. “Please don’t cry. You have no idea what it does to me. There’s no need for this.”

His big hands seized my upper arms, hard and firm. But this wasn’t right. I’d already suffered for two years, delivering a child on my own. It was too much, and I shied away.

But he wasn’t deterred, blue eyes warm.

“You’re beautiful, Maggie. My perfect girl. I want you. I’ve always wanted only you,” came that hard growl.

That did it.

“Don’t lie to me!” was my anguished cry. My sobs broke loose and baby Ryan started bawling too, our wails twining around one another. “You-you don’t have to pretend anymore,” I stammered as tears poured down my face. “There’s no one here to see, there’s no reason to do this make-believe.”

The store was dark around us but those bright blue eyes pierced my soul, intense yet warm.

No.

Stop.

My error. I’d fallen down the rabbit hole once, and there was no way I was going to make the same mistake twice.

But Evan wouldn’t give up.

“Baby, listen to me,” he growled. Then shockingly, the big man dropped down on one knee right there in the pet store. I gaped at him, astonished, still clasping my baby tight.

“Wh-what are you doing?” I stammered, holding Ryan close. “What? Get up, get up please!”

But Mr. Lincoln was on a mission.

“All this started off as fake but it became real fast. And it stayed real,” he rumbled, blue eyes intense. And then came the hammer. “Marry me, Maggie. I want you as my wife.”

My heart beat a million miles a minute, trying to process what was happening. Frantic, I rubbed Ryan’s back, trying to calm him down.

“No, stop,” I said, the air in my lungs on fire. “Please don’t do this. You don’t know what you’re saying. It’s been two years.”

Evan shook his head, low growl coming again.

“I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life,” were his urgent words. And reaching into his pocket, he opened the velvet box, revealing a giant sparkler. Even in the low lights, it was obvious what this was. The real thing. No glass or plastic facsimiles. The original six carat pink diamond was here once more.