Imperfect Match (Elixir Bachelor Billionaires #1)

She’s right beside me, and once again her touch takes away all my anxiety until it’s just hope that’s left behind.

I help her as she lies down, and not taking my eyes off her encouraging face, I hum a yes to the doctor.

“Then I must warn you, it’s an unforgettable experience.”

I don’t tell her that everything has been unforgettable since our little blip made an appearance. But nothing could have prepared me for the loud thumping sound that fills the room.

My pulse thunders in my ears as I look between Daisy and the doc, who grins widely.

“That’s right. This is your baby’s heartbeat, Mr. Hawthorne.”

“So strong?” The words slip out of my mouth in equal parts wonder and amazement.

How can something so tiny be so strong?

Daisy’s grip tightens around my hand, and I watch a single teardrop rolls down her cheeks.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” The doctor’s gaze is focused on the screen before her, while I’m unable to look anywhere else but at my wife.

Beautiful is a weak word to describe what I’m feeling right now.

This moment is breathtaking. Divine.

It’s the promise of a happy lifetime.

42

ALWAYS AN EXCEPTION

DAISY

Right beside me, seated in the back seat of his car, Charles keeps patting the pocket of his sweats as if to ensure the flash drive that holds multiple images of our baby is safe.

Yes, that’s right, in his sweatpants!

My order-obsessed husband who would not leave his house if his socks didn’t match his tie and shirt is right now dressed in black sweats and a matching T-shirt that stretches over his chest. It would have been a social media story in itself if he hadn’t threatened everyone.

“Are you really going to take their jobs?” I ask, catching Charles once again checking his pocket.

His gaze drops from my face to my hands resting on my belly, and he lets out a shaky breath. “I can’t let this go so easily, Daisy. Especially now, when there’s so much at stake.”

“But you know this will happen again. Maybe not tomorrow, but these people consider keeping up with your personal life their job.”

An icy grip of terror squeezes my heart as I remember the moment when, all of a sudden, I was surrounded by the sea of loud questions and flashing camera lights. I thought I’d never escape. But then, once again, Charles was there for me. And he’s still here.

“My main job is to protect my wife and my kid. So they can try all they want.”

My breath hitches as his lips press into a thin line, trembling as if in effort to contain the bulk of his emotions.

Like he can physically see the emotions swirling inside me, Charles leans forward. “Come home, Daisy, where I can keep you both safe.”

My eyes close, more because he’s making it so hard to deny him. But his place was never my home. It was a temporary stay, a fact I was foolish enough to forget.

“I can’t do this, Charles. Leaving your home once was difficult enough, so walking out again would be so, so hard.” Tears burn the backs of my eyes, threatening to spill over any second.

“Who said you ever have to leave? Come back to our home to stay forever. You, me, and our blip.”

My eyes open, those tears finally skating down my cheeks, but this time they’re made of unexpected hope and not despair.