Chapter 2 The Only Woman I’ll Ever Love

(Nash)

I’m lying on my back while Piper scrolls through the photos she just took.

She smiles. “This one’s cute.”

I glance across. She’s already opening one of her social media apps.

“Don’t post anything too revealing.”

She laughs. “Relax. I blur them. No one knows it’s you.”

“Keep it that way. I mean it, Piper.”

She rolls her eyes. “Jesus, relax. No one will know until you’re ready to announce it.”

Announce it? Like Hell.

She can think what she likes but I’m not announcing anything.

Piper means nothing outside the sex. She knew the score from the start.

Just a bit of fun. That’s all it was ever meant to be.

This pregnancy has scared the hell out of me. I’ve been careless. I need to stop all the other women now.

Ivy is my wife.

The only woman I’ve ever loved.

The only woman I’ll ever love.

Nothing that’s happened with Piper changes that.

I need to get this situation sorted before Ivy finds out and gets hurt.

Piper sets her phone on the bedside table and turns onto her side. “Will you come to my pregnancy appointment tomorrow?”

“No.”

“It’s just one appointment.”

“I told you before. If you keep this baby, you are a single parent.”

“I thought you might change your mind.”

“I won’t.”

She sighs. “My mom got married in Vegas to some wealthy older guy. They’re having a surprise reception this weekend. I’m helping organize it with my new stepsister.”

“I’m happy for you.”

It’s a lie. I really don’t care. I pull on my clothes.

“Will I see you later?” she whines.

My next contact with Piper will be through my lawyer.

“Probably not. Goodbye, Piper.”

***

My phone connects through the car’s Bluetooth.

Mom.

I tap the steering wheel. “Hi, Mom.”

“I think congratulations are in order,” the cultured voice of Eleanor Hawke comes through the speakers.

I frown. “For what?”

“Oh, don’t play coy with me.” She laughs. “Piper came to see me this afternoon.”

A knot forms in my stomach. “What did Piper want?”

“She wanted to meet me and she brought the DNA test.”

Silence.

“I wasn’t expecting to become a grandmother today.” Mom laughs again. “I’m absolutely thrilled.”

I say nothing.

“She told me the two of you are looking forward to your future together as a family.”

“I see.”

What the hell are you doing, Piper? I told her to keep this between us.

So she wants to play games, does she?

I grit my teeth. What if Piper finds out who my wife is. Maybe she already knows.

“I mean, you’ll clearly divorce Ivy,” Mom says. “Piper’s carrying your child. She deserves to be your wife.”

“No.”

“What?”

“Mother, I’m never divorcing Ivy.”

“But Nash—”

“Ivy is my wife. She’s mine. Now and always.”

“She won’t give you a child. If she was going to, she would have by now.”

“She doesn’t have to.”

Mom says nothing.

“Listen to me carefully.” My voice stays dead calm. “You’re not to mention this conversation or Piper to anyone.”

“But—”

“No one,” I interject.

Another silence.

“Not your friends. Not family. You are not to speak with Piper again.”

“Nash, this is my grandchild. I won’t be denied.”

I tighten my grip on the wheel. “I’m telling you. Don’t tell anyone.”

She doesn’t answer.

A long pause stretches between us.

“The truth always comes out in the end, Nash.”

“Goodnight, Mom. I’ll see you tomorrow for dinner.”

I ended the call.

***

Twenty minutes later, I pull a chair up to the end of our usual booth with a beer in front of me while the guys work their way through a plate of wings.

“So...” Mason grins. “Still seeing little Miss Influencer?”

A few of them laugh.

“I thought your rule was three times with the same woman, then you’re out,” Mason continues

“It is.” I reply as I down half my beer.

“So what number are Piper encounters up to now?” George asks.

Jack smirks into his beer. “I’ve been wondering that too.”

“Doesn’t mean anything,” I say.

“Piper’s finally got our Nashy boy whipped,” Mason quips with a grin.

Jack grins. “Looks like someone finally broke the Nash Hawke system.”

A few chuckles circle the table.

“It’s definitely love.” Mason bats his eyelids and everyone laughs.

“I’m not in love with her.” I keep my temper down.

Jack smirks. “If Ivy finds out you’ve been screwing around, she might decide she’d like a little extracurricular action herself.”

A couple of the guys laugh. I glare at him from the end of the large booth table.

Jack shrugs. “Hell... if Ivy’s looking for volunteers, I’ll put my hand up.”

My temper flares inside me.

He grins wider. “She’s got to be incredible in bed. Mmmmm, Dr. Ivy,” he licks his lips.

One second I’m sitting.

The next my chair flies out behind me and I’ve got Jack by the front of his shirt, dragging him halfway across the table.

“KEEP MY WIFE’S NAME OUT OF YOUR DOG MOUTH!” I roar.

Beer flies everywhere. Glass smashes onto the floor.

“Jesus, Bro, take a chill pill,” Mason says shaking his head. “Come on, guys, let’s hit the bar. This is definitely not fun anymore.”

I let go of Jack’s shirt collar and pick up my chair. I rake my hand through my hair. “Fuck.”

Jack stays behind and straightens his shirt before sitting back down. “What the fuck is going on with you?”

I let out a slow breath. “She’s pregnant,” I practically whisper.

“Ivy?”

“No! Fucking Piper!”

“Are you sure it’s yours?”

“I didn’t believe her at first,” I continue, “I thought she was trying to trap me.”

“Looks like she’s succeeded. But she has proof?”

“She had a DNA test done.”

“Damn...”

“My mother has a copy. She called me on the way here.”

Jack whistles. “That complicates things.”

“You have no idea.”

“I was going to pay Piper whatever she wanted to terminate the pregnancy and walk away. Or keep the baby and never contact me again.”

“And now?”

I shrug. “Piper’s making moves behind my back. I need to act fast.”

“So what are you going to tell Ivy?”

“Nothing.”

Jack frowns. “You really think you can keep this buried forever?”

“I’ll deal with it.”

He leans back. “Buddy... if Piper’s having your kid, Ivy’s going to find out sooner or later. She’ll leave you.”

“She’s not leaving me.”

“She’ll want a divorce.”

“I’ll never agree to one.” I shake my head. “I love Ivy. I always will.”

Jack lets out a humorless laugh. “You realize how unhinged that sounds given your track record?”

“Maybe. But the other women never meant anything. I made damn sure they were never connected to my real life. No friend’s partners, no one connected to family in any way. I have standards.”

Jack sighs. “Well, Bro, this pregnancy changes everything.”

“I’ve wanted kids for years,” I admit. “I just never wanted to force Ivy and make her give up all she’s worked so hard for.”

***

I get home and head upstairs. I see the light on in the master suite foyer.

The new mattress must have arrived.

Ivy is already asleep and my bedside lamp is on. She looks exhausted.

I shower and slide into bed beside her.

She doesn’t stir as I get closer and drape my arm over her. She wriggles back a little in her sleep.

I lie there listening to her steady breathing.

This...

This is home.

I close my eyes.

I love you, Ivy. I’ll never let you go.

***

The next morning, her side of the bed is cold when I wake. “Ivy?”

No answer from the bathroom.

A folded note sits on my bedside table.

Morning,

I left early for the hospital. I’m finishing early to give Dad a hand with some stuff.

See you later for dinner at your Mom’s.

Love, Ivy.

I smile.

I’m glad she’s finishing early for once.

And being with her dad makes her happy.