“Tachina.”
Just her name. Firm. Gentle. Commanding enough to quiet her racing pulse.
She paused by the window. She looked out and took in the park with all of its beauty. Trees with their multicolored leaves proving that it was autumn. People were out walking their dogs. The sun was high. Immediately, she dropped her hand to her stomach.
“I will handle it,” he continued. His voice hardened like steel. “Do not worry. Don’t speak with any more reporters. If they call, direct them to my office. Don’t respond to emails. Don’t stress yourself out over her. She just wants to be relevant and wants attention on her.”
“She’s making me look like some greedy puppet. My clients are getting nervous and have started to doubt me. My boss just came asking about the project. Reporters have already been calling. She’s making you look like?—”
“Let me guess. A single father getting manipulated,” he finished. “Yes. I’ve seen it. She’s not hurting me. She’s exposing herself. Let her talk all she wants.”
Tachina slowly rubbed her belly. She was overwhelmed but she was listening to him. She took a deep breath.
“Most importantly,” his voice grew gentle, “I don’t want you upset. That can’t be good for the baby or you.”
Her anger deflated even more at the mentionof the baby. She glanced down and took in her hand protectively covering her belly. It was still slightly pudgy as it always had been. If this pregnancy was anything like Kian’s, her belly was going to get massive. Kian had been a large baby, and she suspected this one would be just like their big brother.
“I made my appointment,” she said. She was shocked she was able to get in so soon. There just so happened to be a cancellation a few minutes before she’d called and they’d slid her into the slot.
“When?”
“Next Thursday morning.”
“Text me the details. I’ll have Eliza move my schedule around that day. I won’t miss it.” He’d said it so matter-of-factly that her heart skipped a beat. He was fully committed to this pregnancy.
“What about tonight?” she asked. “Are you flying home?”
With the issues in Houston, he had been flying back and forth almost every other day. Yesterday he had gone to Houston and stayed the night. The man was going to run himself into the ground. She tried to be supportive of him and help him relax the minute he came home.
“I’m already here. I got back an hour ago,” he said. “Tony’s preparing dinner. Alissa’s getting Kian today and will stay with him until we get home. Don’t worry about packing anything. I’ve got clothes for you already there. Just come. Let me take care of everything.”
Her eyes stung unexpectedly, and for some reason the room became blurry. She blinked a few times to clear the tears that threatened to spill.
In just a few moments, the man had calmed her anger, comforted her, protected her, and provided for her. She flopped down in her chair and exhaled. All of the tension flowed from her body.
“Okay,” she whispered. She fingered her skirt and smirked. “Why do you have clothes for me already?”
He barked a laugh.
“Why do you need to keep packing things when you can just have stuff already there? It’s nothing crazy. A few of those leggings you like, t-shirts, and other stuff.”
“And who went shopping for me?”
“Don’t worry about it. Just know that I’m here for you. Okay?”
“Okay.” She could feel his smile through the phone. At that moment, she wanted nothing but to fall into his arms and have him hold her. She wanted to inhale his familiar scent.
“And we are still on for the mayor’s dinner?” he asked.
Tachina was a little nervous about this. It was a dinner event where she would be presenting updates and designs to the mayor and the city council. It would be the first time they had ever stepped out together…as a couple.
“Of course,” she whispered.
“Fantastic.”
Three words balanced on the end of her tongue, but she held back.
She was no longer falling for Victor Maxwell.