Page 20 of Royal Baby Maker

Miss Callehurst was a queen, but that didn't prevent her from shooting withering looks at me. She'd stopped hiding her distaste, though she was polite enough not to tell me what was under her skin.

I knew, of course.

I knew because Bishop had bluntly told me when I'd asked what was going on.

“Oh. I let her know I was seeing you.”

“Youwhat?” My headache was instant. This meant she knew we were sleeping together—she had to know—and she'd bit her tongue and not said a word to me about it. I'd been sneaking around with Bishop, thinking we were staying under the radar, and she'd...

He poked me. “Are you angry? I thought you'd be relieved. You're not a secret, Nell. I want everyone to know you're mine.”

Swimming in a sea of pride, I smiled at him. “You're better at this flirting thing than I ever gave you credit for.”

He clicked his tongue and stretched back out on his bed. “Please. You loved my technique from day one.”

Okay. I had—but he didn't need to know that.

Checking my phone, I frowned. “Speaking of your mom, I should go find her. It's pay day.” The last week, when she'd written my check, she'd stabbed it at me so violently I'd expected her to slice open my throat.

Bishop rocked onto his side, his lowered eyebrows casting a slyness to his features. “'Pay day.' You do know I'd take care of you and any of your bills.”

“That's nice, but I'm... I still have to think this marriage thing through.”

“You don't get it.” He sat up, the springs shifting with his weight. “Even before we marry—”

“If.”

“—I'd still happily help you.”

Chewing my lip, I considered my words. “I appreciate that, but I'm one of those gosh-darn modern day independent woman. Plus, I like your dogs. I'd miss them if I wasn't walking them.” Giving him one more quick kiss, I dodged his arms that wanted to hold me down and do way more to me. His playful scowl made me grin. “Be back up in a bit!”

I was mostly down the curving stairs over the foyer when I heard the voices. I recognized Miss Callehurst easily, but the second one... I had to concentrate.

“Thank you, Cathleen. I really appreciate you putting in a good word about me with your son.”

Iris.The girl who'd thought I was a maid.

Leaning against the banister, I peeked over enough to see the tops of their heads. They couldn't see me from their angle. Bishop's mother was dressed in her usual draped shawl and pencil skirt. Iris had on something so low cut that, from where I was, I could tell she didn't have on a bra.

Miss Callehurst said, “It's nothing, dear. I only want my son to be happy, and someone like you is the right match, the only way to give him a joyful future.”

I grit my teeth.She knows Bishop wants to be with me. He told her!And still... she kept on parading women under his nose. Undermynose, too.

Their talk blurred as they headed into the kitchen. Perching on the step, I debated running up to Bishop to tell him what I'd heard. But when I started to move, my skull became weighted. I was overwhelmed by the realization that two people were actively working against me.

Wanting some air, I stumbled out the front door. I forgot about my paycheck. I didn't care about anything but escaping the crushing sensation taking over my insides.

Crouching by the huge birds of paradise bushes, I heaved. Blood pounded in my ears, so loud I nearly missed the sound of the door opening behind me. Not wanting anyone to see me sweating in despair, I moved out of view next to the thick red flowers.

Iris had her phone to her ear, talking softly. “Yeah, it's going perfect. He'll definitely pick me, and then I'll do like we said. It'll be easy to—” Maybe she heard my shaky breath, because she whirled, stepping towards me with narrowed eyes. “Hey! What... oh, it'syou.”

Swallowing my bile down, I stood straight and forced a half smile. “Funny meeting you here.”

“Yeah. Funny.” Into the phone she mumbled, “Call you later.” She buried it in her gigantic rose-gold purse, never looking away from me. “I guess I'm not shocked to see you in the dirt. But where are your animal friends?”

Ignoring her rudeness, I did my best to keep the quiver from my voice. Why did I feel so sick? “You're wasting your time trying to kiss up to Bishop's mother. He's already picked me.”Though, I didn't completely decide if I want to be picked yet.I didn't say that part.

She looked down her nose at me, which was easy in her six-inch heels. “What do you mean, he picked you? That's the first I've heard of it.”

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