Page 100 of Tempted To Be Mine

“What are you talking about?”

She sighed like I was the biggest moron in the world. Maybe I was. “The exhaustion that sleep couldn’t fix. The nausea.”

I stared at her, not understanding. “So what? It’s jet lag. Altitude sickness?”

“Jeremy.” Bernadette’s voice was calm, but once again, I got that feeling she wanted to slap me upside the head. “Those are the same symptoms I had when I found out I was pregnant with our daughter.”

The words hit me like a physical blow. I sat there, frozen, unable to process what she was saying. “What?”

She rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Jeremy! Duh! She’s pregnant!”

“Pregnant?” The word came out strangled. “You think Lucy’s pregnant?”

“I think it’s a strong possibility.”

My mind raced back through everything. The way she’d barely touched her food. The way she’d turned down wine at every opportunity. Exhaustion.

And the interview. God, the interview.

I can’t imagine ever settling down and having kids.

I’d said those exact words while Lucy sat there watching.

“Fuck.” I dropped my head into my hands. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”

“You didn’t know,” Sebastian said. “How could you have known?”

“I told the interviewer I didn’t want kids. I said my career came first and family could wait.” I looked up, feeling sick. “She was right there. She heard every word. And if she’s pregnant, she’s going to think I meant it.”

“Ouch,” Sebastian said.

“That’ll do it,” Bernadette said with a nod. “She heard you loud and clear.”

I shot her a dirty look. “I didn’t know!”

“Relax,” Sebastian said, immediately stepping up to protect his wife.

“I need to go after her. Right now. I need to find her and tell her that’s not what I meant.”

“Slow down,” Sebastian said. He reached over and grabbed his wife’s hand. “I understand. Believe me, I understand. The things we do for love. When I met Bernadette, I did some pretty crazy things to prove how I felt. Love makes you do that.”

“I have to go,” I said.

“Give me one more day,” Sebastian said. “We’ll get the rest of the shots we need tomorrow morning, first thing. Then we’ll get you back on your family’s jet right after. You’ll be in LA by tomorrow night.”

“I can’t wait that long.”

“You can. And you should.” Sebastian got up and stood in front of me. “Jeremy, I know this is hard. But if you leave now, you’ll be abandoning the shoot. The campaign. Your family’s brand. That’s not who you are.”

He was right. I hated that he was right. I’d signed a contract. I’d committed to the shoot. Leaving them high and dry was not cool. They were family. It was my career.

“One more day,” I said through gritted teeth. “But the second we wrap, I’m gone.”

“Understood.” Sebastian nodded. “We’ll make it work. I’ll have the crew ready at dawn. We’ll get everything we need and have you out of here by noon.”

I looked at Bernadette. “You really think she’s pregnant?”

“I think it’s very likely.” She stood and came to stand beside her husband. “And I think she’s scared, Jeremy. Scared of what it means and how you’ll react. Just talk to her. Work through it together.”