The Billionaire’s Pregnant Employee (Preston Brothers Book 3) Page 10

  He took the last glass from the tray and smiled, but he didn’t feel it.

  The trip to China had happened fast. After two months of coaxing things back into order, the elder Mr. Li had finally been ready to close the deal. They’d only set the date three days ago, just after Archer’s call to Claire. The agency had contacted him saying she was looking for work, and his mind had locked on. Maybe, if she was looking for work, he could get her into the office for a talk. Maybe, on neutral ground, he could talk them into a better place. At least he could reduce some of the tension between them before the babies came.

  But that hadn’t panned out.

  “To Archer,” said Drew, raising his glass high. “For getting across the finish line.”

  “To Archer,” everyone else echoed, and they drank.

  Archer put the champagne glass to his lips and sipped. Expensive. Tasty. But he sighed. He’d expected to get such a rush out of finally signing those papers, but where was it? A big, empty hole had swallowed up the excitement.

  He looked around at all the happy people, laughing and talking and going over the drama of signing the papers.

  Charlie dropped into a seat next to him. “You did it,” he said quietly. “Dad always wanted the company to be international, and now it is. How do you feel?”

  He let out an enormous sigh. “Good.”

  Charlie laughed. “Sure sounds like it.”

  “When we finally signed those papers, I wanted to call Claire,” Archer admitted. “I wanted to pick up the phone and tell her every little detail. Or better yet, I wanted her in the room with us when it happened.”

  Charlie gave him a look. “I didn’t know you were still thinking of her like that.”

  “I wasn’t,” he said quickly. “I’m not. I don’t have any hopes that we’ll get back together.”

  “Really? Your face says otherwise.”

  “All of this feels empty without her.” He couldn’t meet Charlie’s eyes. He didn’t want him to see that a painful love still throbbed at the center of him. “She should be here. She should be with me. And the new interpreter is good, but she was—” He shook his head. “She was something else. I didn’t realize how good until today.”

  “You know,” Charlie said, “you can always try again. You’re still alive. There’s still time. And if that’s how you feel about her, you should let her know.”

  Finally, Archer dragged his gaze to his brother’s face. Charlie, more than anyone, would know something about second chances. “Do you think?”

  “I know it.”

  He turned his brother’s words around in his mind until the moment they landed. Several SUVs waited on the tarmac to take them home. Archer climbed into the first one.

  He gave the driver Claire’s address. “Fast as you can. And I’m making a couple stops on the way, so let’s hurry.”

  14

  Claire shifted from foot to foot in the lobby, the polyester maternity skirt digging into her belly. It was going to be the most amazing moment of her life when she got home and could take it off.

  But first, she had to do something worse than wear an uncomfortable skirt. She had to beg for some work.

  She’d spent the morning at a crappy job. The pay had been low. She’d racked up a few hours toward her certification, but it wasn’t enough. She’d stood outside the meeting room afterward while the feeling of missing Archer took her breath away.

  It was stupid to refuse his help when it came to her career. And she wanted to see him. So here she was, tapping her foot in the main Preston, Inc. lobby.

  “Claire, hi.” Archer’s secretary, Crystal, hurried out from the main hall. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you were stopping in, otherwise I’d have told you not to come. How are you?”

  “Enormous,” said Claire, and the two women shared a laugh. “I’m doing as well as can be expected. Wait—why shouldn’t I have come?”

  “Archer’s not here. His plane landed an hour ago, but he called in and said he had some shopping to do. I’m not sure when he’ll be back.”

  Hope deflated like a sad balloon. “Oh, that’s okay.” What had she been thinking, anyway? That she could just waltz into Archer’s office and speak to him whenever she wanted? He probably didn’t want to offer her a job anymore. Not after she’d shut him down time and again. “I’ll call later. Maybe he’ll be around.”

  “He will,” insisted Crystal. “You can even wait here, if you want.”

  Claire shook her head. “I’ll catch him next time.” Her head swam with hurt, but she wasn’t sure why. They weren’t together. He didn’t have to consult her if he went shopping. She could picture him in the sporting goods store, stocking up for his next adventure. “Thanks for coming out and talking to me. You didn’t have to do that.”

  “And make you walk all the way back to the office? No way.” Crystal put a hand on Claire’s arm. “You come by any time you need.”

  Claire laughed, and the maternity skirt pulled against her belly. “You’re too kind.”

  “I mean it.” Crystal paused. “Do you need anything before you go? Water? A ride?”

  “My car’s outside.”

  They said their goodbyes, and Claire made the long walk back to her car. She’d taken meticulous care of it over the years and had always loved it, but right now it felt tiny. Too small for her very pregnant body.

  Claire headed back to the little apartment above the garage, her throat tight, eyes stinging. It took several deep breaths to get herself under control. Man, that had been a disappointment. For him to not even be in the office, after she’d worked up all that courage? Ugh. She should have called first, clearly, but it had seemed better to seize the moment. She wouldn’t make that mistake again.

  But she’d been so sure that he’d say yes. It would have been a weight off her shoulders to know that her career, at least, was going to be all right.

  She made her way slowly up the stairs and across the living room to the nursery. Last night, she’d finally come to the decision that she’d ask Archer for some work. And in that same moment, she’d stopped taking things out of boxes. It had come to her in a rush—asking for work. His saying yes. A natural transition to where she’d live. And, yes, Claire would in fact like to move back to his spare bedroom.

  Doing this alone was exhausting, even if she didn’t want to admit out loud that she wanted...slightly less independence. At least for now. At least while she was sick and pregnant and still not certified as an Elite Interpreter.

  At least while she was still in love with Archer Preston. Still, after all these long weeks since she moved out from his place.

  She settled down on the couch and put her feet up on the coffee table. Her heels rested next to her birth plan. She’d sketched out the document and left spaces for Archer’s input, if he had any. She’d wanted to bring that up today, too.

  “I just want him there,” she whispered to no one, and she meant it. There in her life. There for the girls. He could give them more than money, if she let him. He could give them a father’s love.

  Her stomach growled, but she knew there was nothing much in the fridge. Then, wham, it hit—she wanted Chinese food. She could taste the sweet and sour chicken now. There was a small place right down the street that did takeout. She could use the fresh air. She’d get some food, she’d bring it home, and she’d get to work.

  Or take a nap.

  Either one.

  Claire wasn’t home.

  Archer paced in the driveway in front of Rebecca’s garage, feeling like an idiot. He should have called first. But when Crystal had called his cell to tell him Claire stopped by, he’d run straight to the cash register at the Babies Indeed store he was in and threw down his credit card. She’d come to see him. She. Had. Come.

  And now she was gone. He took his phone from his pocket and hovered his thumb over her name.

  “Archer?”

  Claire waddled slowly up the sidewalk, the pregnant sway of her hips making his he
art burst with every step. She looked so good. Her chestnut hair fell in shining waves around her shoulders and her dark eyes gleamed. It took him several moments to realize she was also carrying a takeout bag. “Is that Chinese food?”

  “Yeah,” she said, cheeks pink, hand on her belly. “I should have called the delivery place. Want some?” She looked around. “What’s with the truck?”

  “The truck.” He couldn’t take his eyes off her. Seven months pregnant, and her dark eyes still shone with a bit of mischief that made his soul bend toward her. “Right. The truck.” This was not how he’d pictured this moment going, but here they were. “I made an enormous mistake.”

  She arched an eyebrow. “What was that?”

  “I never should have left you.”

  “To go to China?”

  “To go anywhere. I never should have put you in a position where my mother could take over, and I should have fully embraced our life together.” The words came faster and faster. “I love you, Claire. I—I didn’t know how hard I’d fallen until after you had gone. I couldn’t spend another day without telling you. I was on the plane home from China, celebrating the biggest achievement of my career, and all I could think about was how much I wanted you there.”

  “No way,” laughed Claire. “You do not want to deal with me on a plane right now.”

  “There with me. Everywhere.” He took the bag of food so he could hold her hand. “I mean it. I love you. And I want you with me.” Archer took a deep breath. “But if you don’t want that—”

  “I love you, too.”

  The words were a balm to the hard knot of pain at his center. “You do?”

  “Yes.” Claire flicked her eyes skyward. “I fell for you when I was living at your house. I...I thought it was too dangerous to fall in love, but now I’m seeing how lonely it is to live without it. I love you. I’m—” Her face went red. “I’m so happy you came to see me.”

  “You came to see me first.”

  “Yes, and you were shopping for some outrageous adventure, no doubt.”

  “Adventure?” Taking her hand, he kissed it. “The only adventures I want are with you.” He hadn’t smiled like this in months. “Now. Come see what’s in my truck.”

  She followed him to the rented U-Haul parked in the street, and he hopped up on the back to open the door. “Behold. It’s everything I’ve wanted to give you.”

  It was filled to the brim. Flowers. An even nicer glider than the one he’d originally bought her. And...

  “Is that office furniture?”

  “For your new office.” He could feel his pulse in his fingertips. “As the new head of international logistics and translation at Preston, Inc.”

  Claire’s mouth fell open. “You’re kidding. You’d give me a job like that?”

  “I’d only give it to an Elite Interpreter,” he said solemnly. “But I know the most amazing woman in the world, and she’ll be certified for the job in no time.”

  She put her arms around his neck, pulled him down, and kissed him. Hard. Fast. Hot. Right there in the driveway. It turned sweet, searching. He raised it to a level that had him groaning with need.

  “Archer, we’re in the driveway,” Claire laughed.

  “You’re driving me wild.”

  “You’re driving me wild, holding my food hostage like that.”

  He’d forgotten he had the bag. “Come for a ride with me and eat in the car.”

  “How romantic,” she quipped, but there was a curious light in her eyes. “Where are we going?”

  “I have something else to show you.”

  She ate sweet and sour chicken while the driver whisked them to an open lot at the top of a big hill outside the city. It looked down over vineyards and rolling hills. The view was breathtaking.

  “I’m glad you drove us up here,” Claire said. “I couldn’t have walked.”

  “It won’t be an empty hill for long.”

  “No?” Her eyes danced. “What’s going to go here?”

  “A house. For you.”

  “For me?”

  “For both of us, I hope. And the girls. But I’d like you to design it with me. I want it to be ours, not mine.” He put an arm around her. “Will you build a house with me?”

  “I will,” said Claire. “But I would also like to build a home. A forever home.”

  “A place we can always come back to when we travel. As a family.” He pulled a set of folded papers from his pocket. “These are forms for engraved luggage tags, which will correspond to their monogrammed luggage sets. We just need the names.”

  Claire took them in her hands and grinned down at all those words. “I have a few ideas.”

  “Maybe it would be easier if we chose the last name first. What do you think? Yours? Mine?” Archer pulled a small velvet box from his pocket. “Or ours?” He flipped it open, got down on one knee, and held it up to Claire. “Will you marry me?”

  Her laugh bubbled with joy—he could live on her happiness alone. “Yes. A hundred times, yes. But get up, will you? I can hardly see you around this belly. And I want to kiss you.”

  “You’ll have your own space,” he said between kisses. “Your own career. You’ll have it all.”

  “And we’ll be adventurous together?” she asked.

  “You know we will.”

  “I do,” Claire sighed and kissed him again for a long, long time.

  Epilogue

  Collette Preston’s yard was a circus—a very, very happy circus. Archer stood at Claire’s side looking out at the crowd of adults and children that had gathered for Jasper’s birthday party. Charlie had gone all out. He’d had a bounce house set up on one side of the yard, and pony rides on the other. A local chef grilled burgers at a huge setup near the back deck. The scent wafted out over the yard, and Archer’s stomach rumbled. Claire hadn’t gone for food yet. It had been a long walk from the front to the back yard. They had time.

  “Oof,” said Claire. “I need to sit down.”

  He guided her to a lawn chair and helped her into it. “Everything good?”

  She made a face. “I think so. I’m just a little...” She waved a hand in the air. “Oh, I don’t know. It’s an incredible party. Jasper must be thrilled.”

  “I’d say so.” Jasper was running nonstop with his friends. Not even the bounce house could sap him of his energy.

  Penny swung by. “Drinks? Food? Anybody? The burgers are delicious. I’ve had two. Claire, you look beautiful.”

  “Why, thank you.” Claire pretended to fluff her hair, and Archer felt joy like a prism, casting color through every part of his life, so bright it could never fall into darkness. He loved her. Even his mother had come around over the past few weeks. You just couldn’t get Claire down. Well, you could. But she’d just move out. “No food for me.”

  Penny frowned. “Are you feeling okay?”

  “I’m feeling pregnant.” Claire got a faraway look on her face. “But mostly okay. I’m just not very hungry. Must be one of those days.”

  Archer watched her carefully. He’d been working from home a few days a week to take care of her. He hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her. As a result, he’d gotten pretty good at telling if she was fibbing to seem more independent. This time, he wasn’t quite sure.

  “Holler if you need anything,” said Penny, and she stepped out of the way as a bunch of boys ran by in a pack.

  Archer leaned close as soon as Penny stepped away. “Not hungry? You’ve been ravenous the last couple weeks.”

  “Not today.”

  “But you’re sure you’re all right?”

  “Yes.” Claire gave him a broad smile. “I’m perfectly content to sit right in this chair for the foreseeable future.”

  “Good, because I have something to show you. Wait here.” He jogged inside the house and picked up two small travel cases from inside. He’d had them shipped to his mother’s house so he could present them as a surprise. With Claire settled in her chair, it seemed lik
e the perfect time. Back outside, he lifted them up in the air. “These came today. Aren’t they amazing?”

  “Oooh,” said Claire, taking one in her hands. “Are these for the twins? They’re very good looking.” She ran her fingers over the seams in the leather and the brass latches, then the monograms stamped into the cognac-colored surfaces. “They’re too good-looking for babies.”

  “Nothing is too good for my girls.” Archer knelt beside her. “I’ve been making plans.”

  “Do tell.” She grinned at him.

  “A yearlong adventure.”

  Claire made a face. “With tiny babies? I don’t think so.”

  “With toddlers. They won’t be babies. I’m thinking we’ll leave around their second birthday. It’ll be the start of showing them the world.”

  “For a year? You want to take us around the world for a year? That’s over the top, don’t you think?” Her nose wrinkled with her smile. “Are you ever going to stop being so over the top?”

  “Never,” he said. “I have a list of just how outrageous it’s going to be.” He pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket. “We’re going to start in Europe.”

  “I’ve always wanted to see a good castle or two,” Claire said.

  “I know. That’s why Europe is our first stop. We can spend as long there as you like. But afterward...” He went through the plans he’d made. There were so many sights to see, so many things to experience, and he could hardly wait to do them all with his family. When he got to the end of the list, Claire was beaming.

  “You know that the twins won’t remember most of this, right?”

  “I do,” he said. “But what’s the harm in starting the adventure early on?”

  Claire opened her mouth to reply, but then her face went dark. “Oh, man.” She leaned forward, pressing her hand to her belly. “Oh, that hurt.”