ROMANCE: BAD BOY ROMANCE: Basketball Daddy (BWWM Alpha Male Billionaire Pregnancy Romance) (African American Unexpected Pregnant Contemporary Romance) (113 page)

Teresa stepped out of her car outside the front gate and walked over to push the wrought iron gates open. It was a long driveway from the gate to the front door of the Miller Mansion, made up of cobblestones and neatly outlined by bright green hedges. Unless Derek had his own gardener, he was definitely someone with magical green fingers. On either side of the driveway, thick bushes and beds of flowers grew, designed creatively into patterns. She was surprised that so many flowers even grew here in Klaire, which was otherwise surrounded by dry, desert soil.

As Teresa walked, she could see the hint of vast expanses of farmlands and a distant ranch at the back of the mansion, hidden from view from the front. Her smooth, dark skin, which she had inherited from her mother, was beginning to tan in the harsh Texan sun, she thought, especially now that she had forgotten to lather herself with sunscreen. She’d borrowed an old, straw hat from Rose, though, to match her yellow summer dress, so at least that was some protection.

Teresa was taking a chance. She wasn’t sure if Derek was at his house, who else lived with him at the house, or if she was interrupting anything. Rose had not been able to provide her with much information when she had asked.

She couldn’t see his bike parked anywhere in the driveway, so it was highly likely that Derek wasn’t home. Rose had informed her earlier that the Miller Mansion was large, but she still hadn’t been prepared for the size of the estate. It was sprawling, with acres and acres of land. What did he want with her family estate? It would be like a drop in the ocean for him.

Teresa heard hooves and, when she looked up, a majestic, chestnut horse came into view from behind the house. Derek was riding it. He came to a sudden halt near the front of the house, although Teresa was still a good distance away from him. She noticed a small, white terrier come bounding up behind him as well.

“Hello, Derek,” she called out to him, clutching the top of her hat with her hand.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, jumping off his horse and patting it on the side of its face.

“I wanted to talk to you. Is this a bad time?” Teresa was trying to be polite with him, and she walked towards him unhurriedly, watching him take a few steps towards her. He looked like he was unsure of her, as if she might just pull out some blazing guns and shoot him.

“And who might this be?” She bent down to pat the dog on its head. It had come charging towards her and was now circling her feet, wagging its tail.

“Whisky,” Derek said, crossing his arms in front of him. She could see the hint of a smile on his face as he watched Teresa bonding with his dog.

“I didn’t think you’d be a dog person. You on a horse, I could imagine,” she said with a laugh, and Derek smiled.

“This is Florence.” He introduced her to the horse as Teresa came to a halt in front of him. Whisky was still circling her feet and eventually she hunched down to pet him properly.

“Don’t pamper him. He’s plenty pampered already. Whisky, go bring your toy!” Derek said, and before he had even finished his sentence, the dog had gone running away back behind the house.

“I usually hide it somewhere where he can’t find it easily. That keeps him busy for a couple of hours. Sometimes I dig a hole in the ground and bury it.” Derek was smiling as he spoke and Teresa couldn’t help but laugh.

“Does he always find it?” she asked.

“Without fail,” Derek said, running his hand through his hair. His hat was missing today, and Teresa could see his glittering, blonde hair in all its glory. She bit down on her lip and looked away.

“Are you here to hash it out again? I don’t know what I can tell you about the Mayor other than that he’s a bit of an ass,” Derek said, turning away from her to fix the harness on Florence’s back. Or maybe he was just pretending to busy himself.

Teresa gulped; she had decided to be confident, hold her ground and find out some answers to her questions about him. But he had thrown her off, and her resolve was quickly dissipating.

“It’s not just about him, Derek,” Teresa began. He wasn’t looking at her anymore, so it was easier for her to talk, “Why did you leave Austin and come here?” she blurted out. Derek was stroking Florence’s mane, and he slowly turned to look at her from under his lowered eyelids.

“Why do you want to know?” he asked. She was suddenly afraid of him, afraid of herself. She was reminded of the way he had picked her up from the bike and placed her on the ground, turned her around and fucked her. She was afraid that she wanted him to do it again.

“Because…I’m curious. I’m selling my family property, which has been in my family for generations. I want to know who I’m selling it to,” Teresa managed to say, hoping that he wouldn’t see right through her. Derek leaned against Florence gently and ran his hand through his hair again.

“Like I told you, I’m not forcing you to sell it to me. We haven’t signed anything yet.” He suddenly brushed past her.

“I want to sell it to you. Why won’t you just tell me a little more about yourself?” she whipped around to say. He had walked over to the side of one of the hedges now and dug his hands into the pockets of his pants. He was looking out at his flowerbeds like a proud parent.

“Why do you want to sell it to me then, Teresa?” he asked, and she gulped again. She didn’t know the answer to that question. He turned to look at her, and she could see a grin forming on his face. He was enjoying her discomfort.

“Why do you want to sell it to me even though the honorable mayor has advised you not to?” Derek asked, taking a step towards her again.

“Rose told me why he dislikes you. Because of a tiff with your father,” she said, trying to hold his gaze.

“Why do you want to sell it to me when you know nothing about me?” he asked, taking another step towards her now. Teresa knew she should be backing away from him, but her feet remained planted to the ground. She didn’t have a response.

“Is it because you can’t get away? You want to keep seeing me?” He had walked right up to her so that now their bodies were barely inches apart. She had to crane her neck up to look at him, while his face was downturned facing hers.

“Why, Teresa? Why are you here?” His voice was smooth and deep. It shut out everything around her. She didn’t know if it was night or day, or where she was. Her focus was on his eyes and his moving pink lips.

“Because nobody else wants to buy it,” she blurted out, relieved immediately that she had been able to say something coherent even though she physically felt like her breathing had stopped.

A short, quick laugh escaped Derek’s lips, and before she could step away from him, he had caught her with one arm and pulled her to him. Teresa fell, crashing on his chest, placing her open palms on his shoulders to support herself.

“That is very true. Maybe the Mayor wants it. Maybe that’s what it’s about,” Derek said, too close to her now. She could breathe him in. If she moved an inch, her lips would graze his. “Which means you’ll have to sell it to me, whether I tell you more about me or not.”

She could feel his grip on her waist grow tighter. She didn’t know what she wanted. She didn’t want to repeat her actions from before, fall so foolishly for his blue eyes and his voice that made her body ache. But it was like her physical being was protesting against her brain. She was frozen.

“You could just be polite and tell me,” she managed to say, and Derek laughed again.

“Nobody taught me how to be polite, unfortunately.” He was laughing as he said it. His body shook as he laughed and she shook with him.

“Doesn’t mean you can’t learn now,” she said, trying to narrow her eyes. She was acutely aware that she was in his arms, and he was holding her tightly, watching her closely.

“And you want to teach me?” he asked. The smile hadn’t left his face. His dimples were deep and childish and Teresa had a sudden urge to kiss him. Her palms were itching to touch his bare skin, to rip his shirt apart and run her hands over his chest.

“I’m only advising you on what’s polite,” she said curtly, and gulped again. She wasn’t sure how long she would be able to keep up the charade.

Derek let go of her suddenly and she swayed back, away from him. He turned from her again and walked up to Florence.

“You have to be careful, Ms. Fontaine. That was a close call.” The laugh had disappeared from his voice now. She couldn’t see his face and her heart was pounding. Why did he keep doing this to her? She felt like she was going to have a panic attack every time she saw him.

“From that first time I saw you at the gas station, all I’ve wanted to do is rip your clothes off,” he said, without turning to look at her. He had a harshness in his voice that she recognized as anger. He was angry with her because he wanted her. She wanted to run up to him, wrap her arms around his neck and tell him she felt the same way. But she didn’t know this man. She had no idea who he was, and he didn’t know her either. That was just not a practical thing to do.

“You got what you wanted, Derek.” She spoke in a flat tone and he whipped around to focus on her again. There was definite anger in his eyes, and she flinched at the sight of that. She could see his jaw clench.

“My body doesn’t seem to think once was enough. So you better stay away from me, Teresa,” he said, and she turned away from him. She wanted to run, run away from him as fast as she could. It felt like a rejection. She hadn’t pushed him away when he had grabbed her and pulled her to him. But now, for some inexplicable reason, he was asking her to leave, almost threatening her to leave.

“That’s the general advice for everyone,” he said, and she stopped in her tracks to listen. “To stay away from me.” He finished and she resumed her hurried walk.

She rushed towards her car down the driveway. With Derek Mason, it felt to Teresa that they were constantly leaving each other’s presence in a storm. That is what their relationship was. She wanted to leave Klaire, and get out of this town where everyone knew each other’s business, where the Mayor meddled in your personal affairs. No wonder her father had left. She wanted to get away from Derek more so than anything else, get away from the increasing addiction, from her need to see him over and over again, even though each time she was in his presence it felt like he was slowly breaking her heart.

It had been over two weeks since Teresa last spoke to Derek. She had seen him around town, riding his bike silently and disappearing over the horizon. She had taken days to get to know the locals instead. Most of them remembered or had grown up with her father, and all of them knew her family.

She wasn’t quite sure what she was still doing in Klaire. She should have left for New York two weeks ago, but she could feel something changing in her. There was a pull, some sort of tug to the town that still kept her there.

She also knew she was in love with Derek. A man she didn’t know at all, an enigma, who had taken her by the side of the road, defended her honor in a moment and then pushed her away.

She was being foolish, she knew she was. He wanted nothing to do with her anymore, her purpose to him had been fulfilled. Yet every time she heard the engine of his bike roar she turned to catch a look. He always looked at her too, but she was the first one to look away. He wanted to rip her clothes off, he had said so himself, but she wanted more. She wanted to know who he was, and he was unwilling to share that with her.

***

When she woke up one morning, dizzy on her feet and clutching her belly as she rushed to the bathroom in the hall, she knew she wasn’t sick from something she ate. Rose was standing at the end of the hall, spatula in hand for the eggs she was cooking. They exchanged looks silently, Rose had seen enough pregnancies in her lifetime to know morning sickness when she saw it.

“Is it Mr. Mason?” Rose asked quietly, when Teresa joined her at the table, her robe tightened around her body. She hadn’t bothered to change yet. She was too nauseous for it. Teresa stared into her cup of coffee silently and then slowly lifted her eyes to the old lady.

“It happened just after I arrived. It was very foolish of me,” she said, and Rose’s eyes softened.

“You should tell him,” Rose said, pushing a plate of scrambled eggs towards Teresa.

“I haven’t spoken to him in weeks. No, Rose, I can’t tell him. I have to go back to New York.” Teresa was staring out of the window.

“You can’t go back to New York without telling him, dear. You can’t go back to that place all by yourself. You don’t have a family there anymore.” Rose reached over to squeeze Teresa’s hands.

“I have friends there. I’ll be fine.” Teresa spoke in a daze.

“Stay with me, dear. Let me help you. More importantly, tell Mr. Mason. He would want to know.” Rose was speaking passionately and Teresa suddenly stood up.

“I don’t want him to know. He wouldn’t want this. Besides, this could just be a false alarm.” Teresa walked over to the sink to pour herself a glass of water. A wave of nausea washed over her again and she felt dizzy.

“Teresa…” Rose began to say.

“I’m sorry, Rose. I have to leave. I’ll sign the papers. You can get Derek to sign them and let him do whatever he wants with this place. As long as you are taken care of.” Teresa sipped her water cautiously and paced around the room, ignoring the mounting feeling of wanting to throw up.

“You can’t just leave like that, dear. The ghosts of your family will come back to haunt me if I don’t take care of you now.” Rose cried, she was genuinely afraid. Teresa couldn’t help but smile and she lunged forward to wrap her arms around the woman she had grown so fond of.

“Don’t worry about me, Rose, I’ll be fine. Will you be alright?” Teresa smiled at Rose, hoping that would make her less fearful. Rose was hesitant in answering.

“I have no doubt in my mind that Mr. Mason will look after me. It’s you I’m worried about, back in the big city with another soul you’re responsible for.” Rose patted Teresa’s hand, which was now resting on her shoulder.

Teresa straightened up and sighed. She wasn’t sure how she would be able to explain to Rose that she had lived that life forever, and the city was where she felt most comfortable and safe. That if she was going to be a mother, she would be a fierce one and not let anybody or anything stand in her way.

“I’m going to drive up to town and say my goodbyes,” she said instead, and Rose tried to hurriedly stand up.

“You’re leaving now?” Rose asked. She could see the old lady’s hands shake.

“Rose, sit down, please. I promise to call often, every week if I can. You’ll see everything will be fine. I’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning.” Teresa tried to sound as cheerful as she could as she left the kitchen to go and change into something presentable.

The shock of the situation hadn’t settled in yet. She was going to be a mother. She was carrying Derek Mason’s child. As if falling in love wasn’t enough, the Universe had found another way to provide her with a constant reminder. Was it a false alarm? She placed her hand over her belly, but she couldn’t physically feel anything different. She had known, though, for some time now, that she felt differently on the inside. This was what it was, this was what was holding her back in this town. Her child was what was keeping her in Klaire. But she would have to leave. There was no other choice. She had to go back to the city and try and get some semblance of her life back.

She changed into a dress, slipped into her sandals, put on her sunglasses and left the house. It was time for goodbyes.

***

It was nearly sunset by the time Teresa drove back up to the cottage. She parked her car at the usual spot and got out. Too many people had wanted to stand and chat. She’d been invited to people’s homes for tea and cake, a big lunch and then dinner again, which she’d had to politely decline. What she was thankful for, though, was that she at least didn’t feel as sick as she had in the morning. Now it was time to pack her bags.

“Rose!” she yelled out as she pulled the mesh door open and stepped in, flinging her bag onto the couch in the living room. She didn’t hear a response and walked over with creased brows to check the bathroom. There was no sign of Rose anywhere in the house. This had never happened before.

“Rose!” she yelled again, and walked out of the house. Where could she have possibly gone at this time of the day?

Outside, in the navy blue light of the evening, she watched as an old brown Lincoln came to a halt next to her own car and the driver’s door swung open with a bang.

Derek stepped out with determination, taking long, meaningful steps towards the house.

“Where’s Rose?” Teresa asked him loudly, but he didn’t answer. She hadn’t seen him this close in weeks and she could feel her calves giving way. She was so afraid that she was going to fall and faint.

“I dropped her off at your neighbor Martha’s house,” he said gruffly, climbing the porch steps two at a time.

“She was with you?” Teresa asked in horror, knowing now exactly what Derek was doing here.

“She walked all the way up to my house to see me,” he said. By now he had reached her.

“Derek….” Teresa began to say, but he had grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to him again.

“How dare you plan to leave without telling me? How dare you.” His voice thundered in her ears. She lowered her gaze and looked away from him, tears threatening to roll down her cheeks.

“What do you want me to say, Derek?” she asked, and he caught her chin roughly and turned her face to him.

“That I’m going to be a father,” he said, and Teresa gulped.

“I thought you wouldn’t want to know. Why would you want to know? Why would you want to be bogged down by a woman who you asked to stay away?” Teresa knew that tears were rolling down her face now. She wasn’t in control of her emotions anymore.

“Because that is why I moved to Klaire. To get away from the memory of the child that I lost.” Derek released his grip on her and Teresa felt like her world had shattered around her.

“You lost a child?” She managed to mutter the words.

“My ex-wife. She had a miscarriage. It was part of the reason we broke up. It was too painful for both of us.” Derek turned away from her and placed his hands on the porch railings. Teresa’s hand flew to her mouth. She was in shock and sympathy. But she didn’t think Derek was the sort of person who wanted her sympathy. He would detest it.

“So you moved to Klaire?” Teresa asked. She could see his shoulders heaving. He was sighing loudly.

“I couldn’t live in Austin anymore. Besides, I was fed up of my father’s politics. I wanted to get away. So, yes, now you have your answer.” Derek turned to face her again. His face had relaxed now and, even though he was staring at her, his glare wasn’t fierce. He was trying to study her to see what she would say or do next.

Teresa breathed in. “I’m sorry, Derek,” she managed to say, and he shook his head.

“I’ll be damned if I let anything happen to another child of mine. You should have told me, Teresa.” He took a few steps towards her.

“I didn’t think you wanted anything to do with me.” She wiped at the tears on her cheeks.

“You know I told you to stay away because I didn’t want to lose my wits around you again. You must have known that. I have spent the last two weeks battling with myself every day to come and see you.” He placed a hooked finger under her chin and lifted her face up to his again. Teresa bit down on her lip and sniffled.

“I only realized today,” she said, and Derek smiled.

“And you were planning on just leaving town without a word to me?” he said, and she tried to look away from him, embarrassed.

“You’re not going anywhere. Not you or my child.” Derek pulled her to him again and bent his head down to kiss her. He was kissing her softly, taking it slow this time as he massaged her lips with his tongue. She clutched at his muscular arms, craning her neck up to accommodate his height.

He pulled away from her and said, “Just when you thought you were going to make a smooth exit,” and resumed kissing her again. Teresa had to lift her body up on her toes to be able to kiss him and, when he realized that, he used his arms to lift her up onto his lap. They continued kissing as Teresa wrapped her legs around his waist.

“So you’re not going to buy the house, I presume?” she asked with a laugh, pulling away from him again.

“I’ll do whatever you want me to do. Do you want me to buy the house? I’ll sign the papers now.” Derek was smiling, his eyes were heavy-lidded and he was looking at her with a glow of happiness that she had not seen in him before. She bit down on her lip and laughed.

“No, I want to keep it.”