Imperfect Match (Elixir Bachelor Billionaires #1)

I repeat the process and clean her knees. Daisy moans in pain, but the sound sends a jolt inside me. My free hand tightens around her naked thigh as her skirt rises up. Feeling like the biggest jerk, I push it down.

When we reach home, Mrs. Kowalski is already waiting with the doctor in the living room. Daisy rouses up slowly when I place her on the couch. There’s a tense silence in the room when the doctor examines her. All my muscles tighten, and I feel there’s a tornado rising inside me, struggling for release. I just need to be away from her when that happens.

“Charles?” Daisy’s low voice torments me.

“I’m here, butterfly.”

The nickname slips from my lips without thought. But I have no plans to take it back, especially after seeing a hint of color on her ashen face for the first time since she got home. I perch lightly on the oak wood coffee table before her and turn to her doctor.

“Why did she faint?”

“I think it’s because of stress, Mr. Hawthorne. But I’d still like to run some blood work, just to be sure everything is okay and there are no surprises like any deficiencies or a pregnancy. I hope this is okay with you?”

The doctor awaits a response, but my brain hasn’t processed anything beyond the p-word.

Is she goddamn pregnant?

“Mr. Hawthorne?” he asks, but I can’t tear my eyes away from Daisy.

The pink on her cheeks is replaced by crimson, and it’s certainly not because she’s burning with anger like me.

Does she like the idea of carrying the child of that dick-pic porno star, Jax.

“Yes, it’s okay with us,” Daisy finally replies.

The doctor leaves, but I’m rooted in place because everything I’ve feared in life is knocking at my door with a roaring intensity. Silence stretches in the living room, but there’s a raging tempest in my chest, ready to burst out.

“Charles.” My name on Daisy’s lips is a soft whisper, and when she gingerly places her hand covered in white gauze over my left knee, my control snaps.

I rise and in the next second, I’ve pinned Steve against the wall. “How the fuck was she alone in that hellhole today?”

The ex-Navy SEAL who scares everyone with his size and deadly looks gulps.

“Charles!” Daisy lets out a high-pitched scream while Mrs. Kowalski gasps.

But everything is white noise as my forearm digs into Steve’s chest until Daisy limps toward us.

“Let Steve go.” When she hisses in pain trying to push me away, I release my bodyguard and turn around in a flash.

“Will you get back on the couch?”

“No!” Daisy’s eyes blaze, completely opposite to how I found her. “You need to listen to me.”

“I don’t need to do a fucking thing.”

Especially if there’s even a one percent chance that she’s pregnant with that asshole’s kid.

“Charles, it’s not Steve’s fault.” As always, my assistant doesn’t listen to me. “I decided to join Mr. Buffay at the site.”

“Why didn’t you take your own car instead of driving with a stranger?” My teeth grit.

“What?”

Daisy looks at me as if I’m speaking a different language, but I have nothing to add. My question was goddamn clear.

“It’s not the first time I’ve accompanied a partner for work. What’s changed?”

“This changed everything.” I grab her hand, mindful of the bandage, where her engagement ring and wedding band shine under the bright light of the chandelier. “You are Mrs. Charles Hawthorne, in case you’ve forgotten.”