Page 80 of The Omega's Surprise Baby
“Listen to him,” Shane said, appearing behind me. Finally, Conner disappeared upstairs. Thank God. I didn't want him involved in any of this. “Get out of my house!” Shane bellowed at the journalists once Conner was out of sight.
“In a moment,” the green-haired lady, who seemed to be the ring-leader, said. “We only want a quick statement from Kade. Kade, would you be so good? We were sent this recording of you talking about your new relationship.”
What?What recording? I was too flabbergasted to stop her from pressing the Play button on her little recording device. My own voice rang through the room. It sounded a bit mechanic, coming from the device, but the words were clear.
I'm telling you, my agent thinks dating him could help my career.
Oh God.When had I said that? In the conversation I'd had with Jimmy. Dear lord, taken out of context, it sounded absolutely damning. “I didn't... That's not...”Calm down, Kade. Breathe.I had to explain this. But before I could, another one of the ladies spoke up.
“Is it true that you're dating this alpha while you're still married to another man?”
I never had a chance to respond before Shane pushed forward and—quite forcefully—escorted the journalists out of his house, slamming the door in their wake. Then he turned to me. The question he didn't voice was clear on his face.What was that all about?
“I'm so sorry,” I said. Shane shouldn't have to deal with this kind of shit.
Shane shook his head. “Damn vultures.”
“I should have handled that better. I was just... taken off guard, I guess.” I didn't expect them to show up in Oceanport so soon.
Slowly, Shane looked me up and down. “Think they noticed the bump?”
Oh shit.I glanced down on myself as well. In my hurry, I'd only thrown on a shirt and boxers. Nothing whatsoever that would conceal my growing belly. “I hope they think it's all the Thanksgiving food.” With the heel of my hand, I rubbed my forehead. I did not want the news of my pregnancy to get out likethis. “I can see the headlines now.Kade Ashton, married omega gets himself knocked up by another alpha.” I sighed. “They're going to have a field day with this and that recording.”
“Where did they get that anyway?”
“I don't know.” I licked my lips, wishing I could tell what Shane thought of the words he'd heard me utter on the recording. “You gotta know I didn't mean what I said. Not like that.” There was a lot I would do to get ahead in my career, but fake a relationship? No. Then again, for all the public knew, I'd alreadyfuckedsomeone to advance my career, so why should anyone believe that what I had with Shane was any different?
“Don't worry about it.” Shane's eyes were hard, but was he mad at the journalists or at me? I couldn't tell. He glanced at the stairs, then back at me. “Can you watch the kids for a day?”
The kids? What? Why? Was he leaving? But he looked at me with such determination that I couldn't do anything but nod. Sure, I could watch the kids. Whatever he needed me to do. “Where are you going?” I asked as he went up the stairs. He didn't say anything, but he came back a moment later with more clothes on. It looked like he really was leaving.
“There's something I gotta do,” he said, rummaging through one of the living room drawers.
“What do you have to do?”
“You'll see.”
“Shane!” What was with the secrecy? “Is this because of what I said?” Did he need a break from me?
“I told you not to worry about that,” he insisted, but his expression was still grim. He looked like he'd bitten into something sour and couldn't spit it out. To be honest, I felt the same way about everything that had happened today—and Shane leaving didn't make it better. We only had a few days together as it was. What could be so important that he had to take off now?
Hehadto be mad at me, no matter what he said.
My shoulders sank.
He didn't seem to notice. “Make sure that Conner doesn't stay up reading all night,” he said, grabbing his car keys with his back to me. “And Mary is not allowed to watch TV all day, no matter what she tells you.”
“Okay.” I bit my lower lip. “When are you coming back?”
“Late tomorrow, I think.” Finally, he turned to me. “You'll be okay?”
I'd be better if you told me where you were going.But at this point,Iwas annoyed too. “I'll be fine,” I said, crossing my arms in front of my chest. If he wanted to be stubborn and closed off, I could be too. Taking a step toward me, he pressed a kiss on my lips. I tried to keep myself from responding, but damn it, I wasn't as stubborn as I thought I was. I leaned in.
Damn this alpha for making me fall for him.
“You really won't tell me where you're going?”
“I'll tell you after. Trust me for now.”
