[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

been happening, but I think I finally need to know exactly why I m infertile. It s going to be vital to my
healing process and acceptance.
Maddie s head jerked up and she pinned Asha with a calculating stare.  How late?
Asha shrugged.  A week or two. It s no big deal.
 And you re emotional every day? Maddie asked carefully.  Have you been sick or nauseated?
Anything else out of the ordinary?
 The smell of garlic seems to make me nauseous lately. I ve had to stop cooking with it for now.
She looked at her sister, the suspicious look on Maddie s face forcing her to add,  I m not pregnant,
Maddie. You know that s not possible. I only mentioned this because I think it s time for me to start
dealing with reality instead of going through life with blinders. I need to know why I m not fertile.
Then I can move on. Kade accepts the fact that we ll never have natural children, and we d both like
to adopt someday. Asha s heart lightened at the thought. Kade was an extraordinary man, and she
knew he really didn t care if he had children of his own. He truly believed that there were so many
children in need of a good home that it didn t matter if his children were his blood or not.
Asha watched as her sister hurriedly rose to her feet as quickly as a woman who was carrying
twin babies could get up. Popping to her feet, Asha grabbed Maddie s arm and helped her straighten.
 What are you doing? You re supposed to be resting, Asha scolded, knowing Maddie was really
starting to feel the effects of carrying twins.
 We need to see if you re pregnant, Maddie said excitedly, waddling out the kitchen door
without another word.
Asha followed quietly behind her, putting a hand to her flat belly. No! She wasn t even going to
consider the possibility.  Maddie& I shouldn t have mentioned it. I know I m not.
Stopping in the downstairs bathroom, Maddie ignored her, rifling through her medicine cabinet
until she had what she wanted.  Asha& no offense& but your ex-husband was the lowest scum on
earth. Do you think he wouldn t lie? She handed Asha the two pregnancy tests she had in her hand
and waved at the toilet.  Pee. Now.
Asha grasped the pregnancy tests to her chest, her heart starting to gallop like a herd of wild
horses. What if&
 I m not pregnant, she told her sister again obstinately.
A small smile formed on Maddie s lips as she pushed Asha lightly into the bathroom. As she
closed the door she said softly,  We ll see.
Alone in the bathroom, Asha pulled the first test out of the packaging. She was completely
familiar with the tests. She d used plenty of them early in her marriage, sad that she couldn t
conceive, but secretly relieved every time they came back negative. But it would be different this
time. Now, she d give anything to see a positive result, even though the chances of that were pretty
slim.
Gathering her courage, she tested twice.
Kade beat her home that evening. As Asha let herself into the house, she could smell something
delicious in the air.
A man who cooks!
Kade s culinary talent might be limited, but he tried, and he d even gotten some easy recipes from
Sam.
Asha stood at the entry to the kitchen, silently watching her fiancé with awe. How had she ever
gotten this lucky? Just a few years ago she d been a battered wife, and now she was the cherished
fiancée of the most wonderful man in the universe. With his wealth, looks, and personality, Kade
could have had any woman of his choosing, yet he wanted her.
You are worthy. You are worthy. Asha chanted the mantra in her head, not completely sure she
entirely believed it yet, but Dr. Miller said that acceptance would come with time. Right now, she just
felt damned lucky.
Kade s head whipped around suddenly, as though he felt her presence.  Hey beautiful& I didn t
hear you come in, he greeted her happily, his blue eyes reflecting nothing but love.
 I had a great view of your ass. I didn t want to ruin it, she told him jokingly as he swept her up
in his usual hug, picking her up by the butt and kissing her as though he hadn t seen her in months. In
reality, it had been just this morning.
 Get naked with me, and I ll be glad to let you look all you want, Kade whispered low and
seductively against her ear.
Asha nearly let him take her away. Right now, the only thing she wanted was to be as close to
Kade as she could get.  Dinner, she reminded him playfully, her arms around his neck, hugging him
closely to her body. She could already feel the very hard proof that he could back up his promise
quite easily.
 Okay. I do need to feed you first, he rumbled, letting her body slowly slide down his until her
feet were back on the ground.  How was work?
Asha rolled her eyes, wondering if Kade would ever get over wanting to feed her until she nearly
popped.  I rescheduled the job for next week, she informed him carefully.
 So where were you, then? Found another guy already? Kade s words were teasing, but his eyes
were serious.
 I went to see Maddie this morning. And then I went to an appointment. It took awhile. Asha
gnawed on her lip, not quite sure how to tell Kade what she needed to tell him.
 You okay? The worry in his eyes increased.
 I m fine. Asha put a palm to his stubble-covered cheek and smiled.  But I have something I
need to talk to you about. Something important.
Kade took her hand from his cheek and kissed her palm. Flipping all the controls off on the stove,
he grabbed himself a beer and sat a bottled water on the table. Pulling out her chair, he motioned for
her to sit. She sat, and Kade flopped down in the chair on her right.  Talk, he said gruffly, all of his
attention on her.  Whatever it is, we ll figure it out. As long as you aren t planning on telling me you
won t marry me or you re leaving again, I can figure anything out.
 I m pregnant. Asha blurted the words out before she could think about it. They had been bottled
up inside her all day, and she needed the support of the person who mattered the most to her in the
world. Seeing the incredulous look on his face, she babbled on.  I went to see Maddie this morning
and I mentioned a couple of symptoms. She made me take a test. Two tests. Both positive. She made a
few calls and got me in to a friend of hers, an OB doctor. She did a bunch of tests. My reproductive
system appears to be fine and I m pregnant. She buried her face in her hands.  Oh, God. I m so
sorry, Kade. I didn t know he d lied. I didn t know I could get pregnant. I know you said you weren t
sure you wanted 
Kade snatched her out of her chair and had her in his lap so fast that it stopped her pathetic
speech. Tears poured down her face, every emotion that had been tumbling around inside her
suddenly bursting from her body at the same time.
Shock.
Surprise.
Anger.
Relief.
Regret.
Happiness. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]