Page 38 of Not the Bodyguard's Widow
She would rather sit next to him than behind him. It would make it easier to talk. “Where would you take me?”
“There are a couple of options. My sister’s offer for a sleepover works. There is a small guesthouse on the property if you want privacy, and she has a nurse-midwife come in to monitor things every few days. I’m sure we could ask her to check on you too. Her security is run by another firm as good as ours. The advantage is the isolation.”
“She isn’t going to deliver the triplets at home, is she?”
“In her dreams. But until then, she hates IVs, and having the nurse come check on her prevents her from turning the doctor’s office into a three-ring circus should someone recognize her from one of the tabloids.”
“Makes sense. How will her husband feel about me staying in the cottage? Won’t I endanger her?”
“Between us and Simon Dermot Security, that’s not very likely. And your father-in-law will have to make a few more connections before they even look at Abbie and Preston’s place.” Alex swiped at his phone and smiled at what he saw. He turned the phone to face Kimberly. One of the wedding photos from yesterday filled the screen. “The you in this photo barely resembles the one being splashed across the media.”
Kimberly pushed the phone away. “I look terrible.”
Alex shook his head. “Maybe a little pale and worried, but the no-makeup look works for you. But that isn’t the point. No one seeing you dressed like this yesterday would link you to yourself. It will take days for the county recorder to get the marriage certificate entered into the public record. Unless they are looking, they won’t notice whatever announcement gets stuck in the local newspaper. Abbie’s place is much safer than here.”
“But I don’t want to bring my problems to her.” The fact that she’d married Alex was bad enough. Putting his sister in danger was unforgivable.
“If Abbie and Preston agree, will you go?”
“Only if you make me breakfast.” As far as she could tell, she didn’t have a choice, so food was a bonus.
“Done.”
Kimberly reached for her phone as soon as Alex left. It wasn’t there. She sat up and looked under the pillows. He must have taken it. Kimberly changed clothes and threw her few belongings into her suitcase. Someone tapped on her door. Kimberly opened it to find Elle on the other side. “I have strict instructions to only let you get dressed and use the restroom. Alex is worried about you doing too much with the drive today.”
“I’ve been reading online, and I think the doctor telling me to stay on full bed rest was a bit extreme.”
Elle held up her hands. “I am a bodyguard, not a doctor. Perhaps you can get a second opinion in Chicago. Mrs. Crawford raves about her doctor, the same one Abbie uses. Now that you have access to Mr. Alexander’s insurance, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
Kimberly sat on her bed. “How upset is the family, other than Alan?”
Elle folded a T-shirt. “Mr. and Mrs. Hastings are contemplative about it. Mr. Adam, he is the oldest and is on tour with his fiancée. He didn’t seem to care too much other than ribbing Mr. Alexander for getting married first. Abbie really does want to meet you. I’d put her as curious. To be honest, Mr. Alexander isn’t impulsive, and an elopement, even for a marriage of convenience, isn’t his style. Mr. Andrew is in Europe. I don’t know how he reacted. But he’ll support Mr. Alexander.”
“What about you?”
“I’m not part of the family.”
“But you have an opinion.”
Elle bent down to pick a pair of socks up off the floor. “I think he did the right thing. Mr. Alexander is a nice guy, and—”
Alex appeared in the doorway with a tray. “Eggs, toast, and juice. Abbie and Preston agreed. I spotted Mrs. Capps out the window. I don’t know what she will think.”
As if on cue, there was a knock on the front door. Alex set the tray on the desk and jogged down the hall.
Mrs. Capps bustled into the room. “I see no problem with going to Chicago. In my opinion, the doctor overreacted. I would have told you to avoid bending, lifting, running, and marital relations, although I assume that last one isn’t an issue in this marriage.”
“Then why didn’t you contradict him?”
“Child, you are all wrung out. And dead on your feet. I wanted you to rest for a few days. I was going to tell you tomorrow. If there isn’t any bright-red blood, don’t panic. If there is, get yourself to a doctor or hospital, preferably not our county, as soon as you can. Placenta previa almost always clears up on its own.” Mrs. Capps turned to go and patted Alex on the arm. “You keep helping her in and out of your big truck, though.”
Alex followed the midwife down the hall.
Kimberly stood and pulled her sweatshirts out of the closet. When this was over, she’d have to do something nice for him. She had at least fifteen weeks to figure out what.
14
Alex carriedKimberly’s things into the guesthouse. Elle would come later. Preston had requested that Hastings furnish at least one bodyguard at all times. He and Elle would trade shifts for now. Elle would take days, and he would have nights.
