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  Get rid of Ariela.

  Make love to Riley.

  He’s being really sweet to me tonight. And I can tell Ariela’s snotty attitude is irritating him. She probably made him bring her. I can’t imagine how awkward it must be for him. I’m also feeling a little swoony. I can’t believe he’s on the phone getting me a cheeseburger. Now’s probably not the time to mention I never eat food from there. Can’t do that and keep my rocking bod.

  I walk over to where Ariela is standing, pretending to need to take a seat on the couch.

  “I’m going to sit. It’s been an exhausting night,” I say, wondering if she will reply.

  “I’m sure it was,” she replies dryly.

  “So you’re the one who broke his heart, huh?”

  “Yeah, a long time ago. But I’m fixing that now.”

  “Not if I have anything to say about it,” I say under my breath. I know she heard me, though, based on the look on her face.

  Riley sits on the couch between us, and I immediately snuggle up to him while the preppy bitch sits rigid with her hands in her lap.

  “Riley, will you stay with me tonight, please?” I coo.

  “Since you’re okay, I should probably take Ariela home.”

  “I’m fine with you taking her home as long as you come back. Please don’t make me stay alone tonight.” I breathe heavy like I’m going to cry. I may even have to. “I’m so emotional.”

  “You were in a scary situation, not to mention the fact that you thought you were losing the baby.” He touches my face gently. He really can be sweet. “Anyone would be feeling emotional.”

  “I’ve been on my own for a long time, Riley. I always take care of myself, but tonight,” my voice falters. “I just don’t want to be alone.”

  “Ariela and I can stay.”

  “Riley.”

  “What?”

  “Look, I have no desire to sleep with you tonight. What I need is for you to lie in bed with me and hold me. Just hold me, Riley. It’s one thing to invite her in for sex, but this isn’t like that—you know what, never mind. Go home. I’ll be fine alone. I always am.” I turn my head away from him and start to cry silently, my body shaking.

  He pulls me back into his arms while I sob. But even though I’m allowing him to hold me, I’m being stiff. Letting him know that I’ve backed away emotionally. Because I know that will upset him.

  Do I feel guilty for manipulating him?

  A little. But this Ariela chick had her chance. It’s my turn.

  He rubs my back, trying to comfort me. “Shh. It will be okay.”

  I break free of his hold. “No, it won’t be, Riley. I thought I could do this, but I can’t. I can’t do this two women thing. I knew you were with her this weekend. And I’m fine with you having sex with her. But bringing her here was wrong. She’s being a bitch to me, and if that’s what our future looks like together, I don’t want any part of it. I spoke to my mom today, and she’s gotten her life together. I’m going to go live with her. She’ll help me raise the baby.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean I don’t want you in the baby’s life, Riley,” I reply coldly. “I’ll do it myself. Without you. Without your money.”

  “Shelby, I don’t want that.”

  “Well, you don’t have a choice. Right now, before the baby is even born, you’re choosing her over us. Go, be with her. Be happy. We won’t mess up your life.” I suck in a deep breath. “Seriously, go. Get the fuck out of here.”

  But he just sits there. And so does she.

  Then the doorbell rings.

  I answer the door and pick through the food, pretending to be so upset that I’ve lost my appetite. When Riley still doesn’t say anything, I decide to force the issue. I slam the burger down on the table and march into the bedroom, slamming the door shut behind me.

  I hear the bitch say, “Riley, let’s just go. It’s late. We’re all tired. She’s fine. ”

  “No, she’s not,” he says. “But you’re right. You should get some sleep.”

  I hear the door to the bungalow close and instantly panic. What went wrong? Did he seriously just walk out without saying goodbye?

  About ten minutes later, the door opens again. He still has his key.

  Nice. I hop into bed and try to look pathetic.

  He slips into the bedroom and sits on the bed with me. “I sent Ariela home. I’m really sorry, Shelby. Bringing her was a bad idea. She told me she could handle it. I didn’t have time to think it all through. I just knew I needed to get here to you.”

  “Do you love her?”

  “I don’t know,” he says, rubbing his face, looking stressed. “I loved her. She left me. Honestly, I haven’t loved anyone since her. About a month ago, she came to town looking for me. She’s married.”

  My eyes widen, shocked that she’s acting like she owns Riley when she’s married to someone else.

  “I know,” he says, upon seeing my surprise. “But she’s filed for a divorce. She’s not going back. She says she wants to be with me. That we belong together after all these years. That she loves me.”

  I know exactly how he feels. I’ve been fucked over by more guys than I can count. I reach out and take his hand. “I know how you feel, Riley. You don’t trust her. Don’t trust she won’t throw you away again. And that’s not very good for a relationship.”

  “She also said she could handle the fact that we’re having a baby together. That she would love it. Shelby, I don’t want you to move away. Please don’t. I said I’d be here for you and I meant it. I proved it tonight. For God’s sake, we were right in the middle of—”

  He doesn’t finish his sentence. He doesn’t have to. “I’m sorry I ruined your night, Riley,” I lie. Because holy shit. They were right in the middle of doing it and he stopped? For me? That’s so fucking awesome.

  “It’s okay. How are you feeling? Should I call a doctor?”

  “No, honestly, if I was going to have a miscarriage, there isn’t much we could do to stop it. Why don’t you take off your coat and lie down. I’m exhausted.”

  When he gets up and takes off his tie, I can’t help feeling a little horny. But I can’t do that with him tonight. In the morning, yes, for sure, but not tonight. I’m supposed to be traumatized.

  “You look really handsome in a tuxedo, Riley,” I tell him. “It reminds me of the premieres we went to. I kind of wish we could go to one again sometime. I look so different now.”

  “You’re beautiful,” he tells me, stripping down to his boxer briefs. “Do you want to change out of your clothes into something more comfortable?”

  “Yeah, I probably should.” I get up and strip off my clothes in front of him. Normally, I would make a show of it, and he knows it. So I have to make sure to pretend like I’m going through the motions. That I’m exhausted when I’m really feeling happy about the night’s events. I can feel his eyes on me, but I don’t turn around and look at him. But I do stick my naked ass out when I bend over to get a pair of baggy sweat pants and a tank out of the bottom dresser drawer. I pull on the pants, letting them ride low on my hips and turn around to face him as I’m pulling the tank over my boobs. The boobs that he loves.

  He gets up and rushes toward me. For a moment, I think he’s going to attack me, throw me on the dresser and fuck me. Which I am all for. But instead his hand goes to my belly. “You have a little bump. It’s kind of amazing.”

  I immediately suck it in. “I think I’m just bloated,” I say, trying to cover the fact that I am a little further along than he realizes.

  “Don’t suck it in. It’s beautiful, really. Just think, something we made is in there,” he says in awe. “I have to admit, I’ve sort of just been trying to do the right thing since you told me you were pregnant.” His voice catches. “When you called and told me that you thought you were having a miscarriage, had you asked me a few weeks ago, I thought I would have been happy, but I wasn’t. I was upset. I don’t want to lose our baby, S
helby.”

  And that, my friends, is music to my ears. I kiss Riley gently on the lips then pull him on the bed and snuggle up with him.

  Oh, Ariela. You’re so going down.

  And it won’t be on Riley.

  SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19TH

  Asher Vineyards — Sonoma County

  KEATYN

  “I can’t believe you told everyone not only that we are pregnant, but that we are having triplets. It’s so early, Aiden. Multiples can cause a whole host of issues.”

  “You’re going to be fine and our babies are going to be perfect, just like their mommy.”

  “Vanessa is sending out the press release today about our wedding. Do you think we should say anything? Word’s going to get out.”

  “So, let it. When you are comfortable announcing it, we will. And not until then. You’re only nine weeks. I think we should wait awhile.”

  “Maybe until I’m done filming. That will be right before Christmas. I’d be over four months then.”

  “You shouldn’t even be worrying about this right now. It’s your first official day as Mrs. Arrington.”

  “Speaking of that, Mrs. Arrington still doesn’t know where she’s going on her honeymoon.”

  “We’re going to a place that means a lot to us.”

  “We have a lot of places we love.”

  “Okay, then. I thought we should start our married life by making a wish together.”

  “We’re going to St. Croix?! Really? Ohmigawd, I get to have Inga’s waffles!”

  “And you get to have me.”

  “Mhm. That sounds good, too. But you said we are going more than one place. We don’t get to stay in St. Croix the whole time?”

  “Just a week. Then we’re going to London, so I can show you the house I bought there. I want you to get comfortable and settled before you start working again.”

  “That’s a good idea although, somehow, I bet you already have everything I need. Any chance Marvel will be joining us? If not, I may have to steal Inga.”

  He pats my stomach, actually, it’s kind of a little bump. “I promise to keep you sated in every way possible. And, I thought we’d end the honeymoon with some time in Paris.”

  I sigh. “That sounds amazing, Aiden.”

  “I considered going to a resort, but—”

  “This will be way better,” I tell him. “I suppose we should get up and get ready for the party. Do you think there’s any wedding cake left? I’m really hungry.”

  “You don’t move. I’ll be back in a jiffy with our breakfast.”

  “Um, is our breakfast going to include cake?”

  “Marvel is making you his homemade caramel rolls this morning, along with fruit, bacon, and sautéed potatoes.”

  “Oh, okay,” I say, trying not to sound disappointed. It’s obvious that he planned this all out with Marvel in advance.

  I get up to pee then brush my teeth and put on a silky robe. I look at myself in the mirror. I’ve had so many happy moments with Aiden, but I’m pretty sure watching his reaction when I told him we are having triplets topped them all. I can’t believe he got me a Ferris wheel. He’s going to be such a great dad. “You’re lucky,” I say to my stomach.

  “Who’s lucky?” Aiden asks, causing me to jump. “And I thought I told you to stay in bed.”

  “I needed to make sure I look presentable for my new husband,” I tease.

  He takes my hand and leads me back to our bedroom. There are domed trays on the table in front of the window overlooking our property and out to the ocean beyond.

  He pulls out my chair as I sit down then he takes a dome off the plate in front of me, revealing a huge wedge of chocolate ganache wedding cake. “A piece offering,” he teases before revealing the rest of our breakfast.

  Asher Vineyards — Sonoma County

  DAWSON

  I wake up when Vanessa snuggles her face into my chest. I’m half afraid to open my eyes. The fact that I’m with this incredible woman feels like a dream. I wasn’t sure we could work through our issues.

  And we both have them.

  But after baring my soul to her the other night, I feel like we’re closer than ever. I feel happier than I’ve even been. And I’m praying that moving my family into her house is the right thing to do. I know in my heart that I want to be with her, want to marry her, want everything with her, but it’s a much bigger issue when you have children in the mix. The girls love Vanessa already, and I know she loves them back. Our relationship seems to have healed us both.

  I brush my lips across the top of her head and open my eyes. Her long legs are tangled in the sheets, one sexy hip jutting out. A slender arm is lying across my chest, and her hand is directly over my heart.

  The one part of me I’ve been so afraid to give her.

  She props her head up on her hand, causing the necklace I gave her to sway. I reach out and touch it.

  “My favorite gift ever,” she says dreamily, placing her hand over mine and giving it a squeeze.

  “And I’m lying here thinking that I get to move in with you soon. Wake up with you like this every single morning.”

  “Wow, with all that’s gone on this week, I almost forgot. Last night at the wedding, Peyton told me the crew were making a few finishing touches this morning, but that it will be ready when we get home this afternoon.”

  “Are you excited?”

  “Honestly, I’m a little nervous. What if we hate it? What if the girls don’t like their rooms? Speaking of that, when are they supposed to start school?”

  “I have to call this week to find out if they got in.”

  Vanessa sits up and rolls her eyes. God, she’s beautiful in the morning. “With the donation Captive Films made, you can rest assured the girls will be getting in.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, private schools don’t turn down big donations. That means they are in.”

  “That kind of makes me feel bad.” I sigh. “I want the girls to get in because they are smart, and funny, and good kids.”

  “Are you telling me that they got into their current school without a donation?”

  “Yes, no donation was required, just ridiculously high tuition.”

  “Or having an in?”

  “Yeah, maybe. All of us Johnson boys went to the same school. Honestly, with the trouble we caused, I’m surprised they let my girls attend,” I say with a laugh. My brothers and I could be a handful.

  “You told me once that you’d like more children,” Vanessa says tentatively, sexily biting down on her lower lip.

  “I would.”

  “I’d really like a baby, but since I can’t have children, I was considering adoption. How would you feel about that?”

  “I’m all for that, too.”

  Tears fill her eyes. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, I’m sure. I love kids and want you to be happy.”

  She throws herself into my arms, hugs me tightly, and tells me she loves me. I slide my fingers across the silky skin on her hip then down to cup her ass, thinking about some morning sex.

  But she jumps up.

  “Oh, shit. I didn’t realize it was so late! I have to send out the press release about the wedding first thing this morning, before word gets out!”

  She quickly throws on a robe and leaves the room.

  I close my eyes and go back to dreaming.

  Shelby’s Bungalow - Sunset Boulevard

  RILEY

  “I need to talk to you about Ariela,” Shelby says, sitting up in bed, rubbing her eyes. Nothing happened between us sexually last night, but yet it feels like it did. Waking up with her feels more intimate than ever. We went through something together, maybe. We were both scared. And I realized that I actually want this baby. “Even though you didn’t tell me, I figured you were going to be with her, and that’s why you didn’t want me to come with.”

  “I went to a fundraiser just like I told you. But Keatyn and Aiden surprised everyone by get
ting married.”

  “I bet you knew that was the plan all along. Which means you lied to me.” I see the hurt in her eyes.

  “I couldn’t tell anyone because of the press. Not even you, Shelby. I’m sorry.”

  “Or is it because you didn’t want me there?”

  “Ariela plans events. She planned the wedding. So, yes, I knew she would be there. And if you recall, we discussed that already.”

  “That’s not really the point. You lied to me. That hurts.” She rubs her stomach, causing me to feel even more guilty. “I told you, Riley, if you weren’t going to be monogamous, neither was I. On Friday night, I was with someone I met here at the hotel.”

  “You what? You fucked some guy while you’re pregnant with my child?” The thought of her with someone else simultaneously sickens me and makes me feel jealous. Am I getting attached to her in that way?

  “You’re not the only one with needs, Riley,” she says flatly. “It’s not a big deal. We were discreet.”

  “How did you meet him?”

  “I was enjoying dessert at the bar. It was this amazing chocolate. He told me he was jealous of the pleasure the chocolate was bringing me. He was hot. The end.”

  “Are you going to keep seeing him? I don’t know how I feel about this.”

  “I told you that I love you, Riley. That I want to marry you, have this baby, and be a family. You are the one who set the terms for our relationship. I’m just abiding by them.” The girl has a point. Fuck.

  “So, you’re feeling okay now? No more cramping? I really think a doctor should check you out.”

  “I’m fine, Riley. Just having you come here means so much.” She gets tears in her eyes. “I’ve never had a man in my life who I could depend on.”

  I move closer and wrap her in a hug. “I’ll always be here for you and our baby, Shelby. I promise.” Her hand glides down my thigh. “But I probably need to get going.”

  I get out of bed quickly, because Shelby is hard to resist.