“They do not look happy.”
“Screw them.” Kade veered the car around the corner.
Brodie grabbed her seat belt and pulled it over her chest, clicking it into place. She looked at the creeping speedometer and bit her lip, tasting fear in the back of her throat. “Slow down, please?”
Kade sent her a quick look, then immediately slowed down and placed his hand on her knee. “Sorry. You okay?”
“Fine,” Brodie replied, looking at his annoyed profile. “So, how did they find out? Did Wren do a press release?”
“No.” Kade shook his head. “We were trying to delay it as long as possible, to put some distance between you becoming pregnant and arranging those stupid dates for me.”
“So how did they find out?”
“Someone recognized us when we went to see the ob-gyn.”
Brodie twisted her lips. “Anyone in the waiting room could’ve leaked the story, could’ve taken a photograph of us.”
“And they did. They sold the story to the tabloids and the paper that broke the news has had a photographer following us for at least two weeks. We’re a double-page spread,” Kade told her, driving in the direction of his apartment.
“Dammit.” Brodie sighed. “Guess I am now, officially, one of Webb’s Women.”
“You are Webb’s only woman.” He glanced down at her stomach. “Unless there’s a girl in there, then you’ll have to share the spotlight.”
He was using a jokey, upbeat tone and she didn’t know whether he was being serious or not. He placed his free hand on her tummy but kept his eyes on the road. “Twenty-six weeks, Brodes, and we’ll know.”
Kade glided to a smooth stop in front of a traffic light and turned his head to look at her.
“God, the press will eat you up and spit you out.”
“I am tougher than I look, Webb.” The light turned green and Kade accelerated away.
“Just keep saying ‘no comment.’ Maybe you should move in with me—my place is a lot more secure than yours.”
That wasn’t going to happen. Brodie noticed Kade’s eyes were dark with worry and his jaw was rock-hard with tension. She knew he cared for her, that he loved making love with her, but even after her trip to California and their fight, she hadn’t been sure of how much until this moment. He was genuinely worried for her. Did that mean he loved her?
Stop jumping to conclusions. You’re getting way ahead of yourself.
If she moved into the loft, then there was no way she’d be able to keep any emotional distance from him. Whenever they were together she found herself leaning into his shoulder, almost grabbing his hand, and she spent far too much time staring at his mouth.
“Nothing is going to happen to me. I’m healthy, the baby is healthy. And I can deal with the press.”
Kade tapped his finger against his steering wheel. “Tell me again in two weeks when they are still shouting questions at you every time you step outside,” he muttered.
“I’ll be fine.” Really, how bad could it be?
Eleven
“I feel like I’ve answered a million questions about me, what about you?”
Brodie clicked Save on her tablet and watched her database update before her eyes. She recognized the flirtation in the man’s voice, the barely disguised interest. She glanced down at her bare ring finger and wished she was wearing her fake engagement ring. It had been a brilliant way to deflect unwanted male attention.
Thanks to the media that wasn’t going to work anymore.
Ross Kimball was new to Vancouver, a marine biologist, and he knew no one in the city. During her hour-long interview she’d ascertained he was wealthy, judging by his nice suit, expensive watch and designer shoes. He’d only been in the city a month, he knew nothing about ice hockey, which was brilliant since she was tired of being gossip-column fodder and if she heard the words Kade’s baby-mama bandied about again she’d stab someone with a fork.
For this moment in time she was Brodie again, matchmaker and businesswoman, and not the woman Kade impregnated. Win.
“As soon as I receive your background report and after I receive your first payment, I’ll start the process.”
Ross smiled. “Great. Would you like another cup of tea? Juice? Coffee?”
Brodie started to refuse but then she saw loneliness flicker in his eyes. What would it hurt to spend ten minutes talking to this guy? And it would be refreshing to talk to someone who did not want to discuss her and Kade and the baby she was expecting. Instead of refusing she nodded and leaned back in her chair. “Okay. I’ll have an orange juice.”
They spoke of the weather and the city and Ross’s impressions of her hometown. “So, how did you become a matchmaker?” Ross asked.