“You wanted to be impregnated by your stepbrother?” James was incredulous.
“I wanted to be impregnated by you,” I shot back. “I wanted you to be the father of my child. I always have.”
James leaned back into the seat and let out a long breath. He stared up at the ceiling for a moment, his brain obviously racing. I picked at my fingernails, needing something to keep my hands busy. I couldn't believe I had just told him that. That was probably the last thing in the world I should have said. Now he was just going to think I was a gold digger or that I was sick in the head.
I should have just stuck to the “it was too hot to stop” line.
“Anyway, I'm keeping it.” I tipped my chin up, determined to be brave. “You can choose to be a part of their life or not. But, I'm having this baby.”
“You think I wouldn't be a part of my child's life?” James rounded on me, his eyes blazing. “If it is my child, I'll be his father.”
My heart melted. He wasn't going to abandon us. He was going to be the man I knew he was and take this child as his own. I hadn't ever really doubted that he would, but the fear had still been there until I heard the heat in his voice.
“Or her father,” I corrected softly.
“What?” James looked confused for a moment.
“You said his father. It could be a girl.”
“Then I'll be her father,” he repeated. Something in James' face melted. He grew softer around the eyes and more gentle around the mouth. It made his handsome face somehow even more attractive.
Someone walked down the aisle at that moment, and bumped the arm of the man sitting in the aisle seat. Since he was half in James' seat anyway, the motion rippled into James. The man's elbow landed squarely in James' ribs. James glared at the man, rubbing the spot where the man had elbowed him. The guy didn't even open his eyes.
“I'm a fucking billionaire and I'm in fucking coach,” James whispered under his breath. “What the hell did I do to deserve this?”
I giggled and James glared at me. I promptly hid my smile behind my hand. It took a moment but I straightened out my face. “So, what do you want to do next?” I asked.
“Besides get the fuck off this airplane?” James shot another evil look at the man as he got bumped yet again. “I'm still working on that part. Obviously, we can't tell anyone.”
“I know.” I rubbed my stomach, thinking of how it was going to start growing. We had a few months before people started asking questions at least. “What about Dad and Nancy?”
“Especially not Frank and Mom.” James said, paling slightly. “I like your dad, remember? I'd rather not have him shoot me for knocking up his daughter. His daughter that I'm supposed to look out for like an older brother. No one can know.”
“Okay,” I said with a nod. “So, no one will know.”
“They can't,” James insisted. “Seriously, nobody can know. I am my business. News like this would shake people's confidence in my company. A company that employs hundreds.”
“When people start asking, I'll say it was some guy at school,” I told him. “No one will ask questions. You can stay separate from this.”
“I'm sorry, Allie, but that's how it has to be,” James said with another sigh. “I wish it could be different, but people's livelihoods are at stake here. If my business goes under, a lot of families go hungry. I can't risk them.”
“I know. I understand.” I hated the way my eyes teared up. I wanted James
to be a father, not an uncle. “It'll just look like you're a doting uncle to your unwise, unwed sister.”
“Allie, I'll take care of you.” James took my hand in his. “I just can't claim the child as mine. Even though I want to.”
“You do?” I sniffled and wiped at my cheek. I didn't mean to cry, but I couldn't help it. Damn hormones.
“Yes.” James reached out and carefully brushed a tear from my cheek. His fingers were calloused from playing guitar, but his touch was soft and gentle. “Of course I do. I love you, Allie.”
My pulse fluttered and if I hadn't been sitting down, I would have collapsed.
“You do?”
He smiled at me, his green eyes the only thing I could see with my blurry tear-filled ones.
“Yes.” He leaned forward and kissed my forehead. “I thought it was pretty obvious by now.”