Beat of the Heart

  “Okay,” she replied with a dreamy smile. Somehow she had managed to find the sexiest maternity evening dress I’d ever seen. It was black satin that hugged her curves. My favorite was the plunging neckline that showed off her expanding tits. The back of the dress hung low, exposing more of her delicious skin. When she had stepped out of the bedroom wearing it, I had to hold myself back not to rush forward and bang her in the hallway.

  After leading her up the stairs, I was stoked to find no one else inside. “This is so beautiful.” She pressed herself against me. “Thank you for today, AJ. Everything has been so amazing on this trip. Your family has been as wonderful as you described them. I feel as though they have accepted me with open arms. I hate that we have to leave in a few days.”

  I nuzzled my head into the crook of her neck. “You’re welcome. And, of course they love you. How could they not? But we’ll come back. I promise.”

  “Good.” She ran her fingers through my hair. “God, I love you so very much,” she murmured.

  Just those words caused my perfect plan to get shot to hell. “Marry me,” I blurted, my voice vibrating against her neck.

  She jerked away and stared incredulously into my eyes. “What?”

  “You heard me.”

  “Yes, but I’m pretty sure a statement like that bears repeating.”

  I grinned. “You’re not a traditionalist, but if you’d like, I’ll get down on one knee.”

  “You can’t be serious.”

  “Dead serious.”

  Mia’s brows crinkled. “But we barely know each other.”

  I shrugged. “How much does any couple actually know each other when it comes down to it? Sure, I might’ve only known you five months—”

  “Which four of those we were apart,” she countered.

  “But I still know I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” My hand came to rest on her stomach. “Besides, you’re carrying my daughter.”

  Staring up at the twinkling lights, Mia gave a sad sigh. “I don’t want to get married just because of Isabella. That’s what happened with my parents. I never want you to resent me or come to view me as ‘the chick who trapped you with a kid’.”

  I shook my head furiously from side to side. “I could never think of you like that. Hell Mia, if anything, I’m the one that’s trapping you. I chased your stubborn ass down until you finally decided to give us a real chance.”

  “You say that now, but who knows what might happen in the future?”

  “Don’t you want to marry me?” My voice had taken on a wounded tone.

  Mia turned to bring her hands to my face, cupping my cheeks. “That’s not it at all. Any woman would be honored to marry you. This is about me and all my hang-ups. All this seems too good to be true—you seem too good to be true. I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop where I wake up to realize this isn’t real.”

  I couldn’t fight the anger building within me at her response. “Dammit Mia, how many times do I have to prove that punishing me for your past isn’t fair?”

  With a wince, she replied, “I don’t know…And I’m sorry. I truly am.”

  “You know the four months I spent apart from you were miserable. Before you, I thought I’d been in love with other women before. When they left me, I was desolate. But it was nothing compared to what I experienced after you left. I was fucking obliterated.”

  “So was I,” she admitted.

  I threw up my hands. “Then what the fuck else is there to say? We’re miserable when we’re apart and happy when we’re together.”

  Tears pooled in her eyes, and I shook my head. “No more bullshit about how I’m too good to put up with all your hang-ups and blah, blah, blah. Just marry me. You can’t worry about the future—we’re not even promised tomorrow. Just here and now. When I see Bray and Lily together and Jake and Abby, I’m envious of what they have. I want that with you and only you.”

  Tears spilled over Mia’s cheeks, but she didn’t bother wiping them away. “Oh AJ,” she murmured.

  I pulled her into my arms before taking her face in my hands. “It’s been a whirlwind, but I know that I love you. I think I loved you from the moment you tied me up in the limo. I’d never had a woman challenge me like you did.”

  “You really want to marry me?”

  “I sure as hell do.”

  She laughed and swiped the tears from her cheeks. “Then where’s the ring?”

  “I’m so glad you finally asked.” Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out a small, velvet box. When I cracked it open, a sob choked off in Mia’s throat. The tears flowed so freely she had to blink several times.

  “That’s Mama Sophia’s ring,” she whispered.

  I nodded. “The base is. I had them reset it in platinum, and then I added the other diamonds.”

  “But how did you—”

  “Your dad sent it to me.” I smiled. “Along with his permission to marry you.”

  Mia staggered back, and I had to grab her shoulders to steady her. “When? How?”

  “I had Duke give the ring to Rhys to bring when he flew down today. And then I asked him everything when we skyped a day or two after we got here.” I winked at her while my mind went back to the day I’d called Duke to ask him if I could marry Mia. I’d been such a nervous pussy I had been shaking when I did it. I mean, the man had every right to take my balls for knocking up his daughter. That in itself was scary enough, but this motherfucker was a former NFL football player with friendly ties to people associated with the mob. I was ready to shit my pants or go into Witness Protection by the time he answered the phone. But he’d surprised the hell out of me, though, by breaking down and crying like a pansy himself.

  I gripped Mia’s chin in my fingers, tipping her head up to look at me. “He was more than happy to give us his blessing, not just so Bella could be legitimate. But because he wanted his baby girl to be happy.”

  A sob echoed through Mia’s chest before she really let loose with the tears. “Oh AJ,” she murmured.

  I took the ring from the box before taking her hand in mine. “Emiliana Sofia Martinelli, you are the most stubborn and infuriating woman I’ve ever met. Even though you drive me crazy and sometimes I want to bang my head against a fucking wall when you’re being difficult, there’s no one else in the world I want to spend the rest of my life with.”

  She laughed at my words. “Thank you…I think.” As I knelt down before her, she stroked my cheek with her hand. “Alejandro Joaquin Resendiz, they broke the mold after they made you. Every stereotype I had about men, you managed to break, and I thank God for that. I’ve given you such an uphill battle, but you always came back for more. I never thought I could love again or be loved, but you proved me so very wrong.” She stooped over to bring her lips to mine. “Thank you for loving me.”

  “It’s my pleasure, amorcito mio. To me, you’re perfect.” I kissed her again before I slid the ring on her finger. She held it up to examine it against the twinkling lights.

  “This is so beautiful.”

  “A beautiful ring for my beautiful girl.”

  “Thank you, AJ. Thank you for everything.” She smiled down at me. Grabbing me by the lapels of my tux, she pulled me up off my knees. “Remember our first day in the carriage when I said we needed to get a hotel room?”

  A smirk slunk on my face. “Yeah, I remember.”

  “Tonight I want to make love to my fiancé, and we know it isn’t happening at your abuela’s.”

  “I couldn’t agree more. No sneaking around tonight or roof-top quickies for my future wife.” I ran my thumb over her lips. “I want to spread you out on the bed beneath me, so I can make love to you nice and slow.”

  A shiver rippled through her. “Let’s go now.”

  I chuckled. “Okay, come on.”

  On aching, swollen feet, I tagged along behind AJ to our third Grammys after party of the evening. Even though I was dead tired and wanted nothing more to crawl into bed, I didn’t dare go bac
k to the hotel room to crash. AJ was on such an adrenaline high since it had been a huge day for Runaway Train, and I wanted to be along for the ride as his supportive fiancée.

  Earlier in the afternoon, I’d felt like I was Cinderella in a fantasy land. Outfitted in a glittering red maternity gown that AJ proclaimed to be sexy as hell, I’d sat in the third row of the Staples Center surrounded by A-list musicians. We’d started off flying high when Abby and the boys of Jacob’s Ladder had won the Grammy for Best Country Duo/Group. Then later I shed tears of elation and pride when Jake and Abby won Song of the Year, especially knowing how it had been written about Jake’s late mother. When it came time to announce the Best Pop Duo/Group performance, I held AJ’s hand as he nervously tapped his leg. He’d been on edge all afternoon, but he could barely contain himself in his seat now.

  When they had announced Runaway Train as the winner, I thought he would keel over with a heart attack from the excitement. Watching him take the stage with the guys had me grinning until my cheeks hurt and clapping until my palms were red and stinging. Brayden had been shoved in front of the mic to do the thank yous, and he did an amazing job. In the end, the guys racked up Best Pop Album as well.

  Once the ceremony had ended, we’d been shuffled back into the limo we’d arrived in to start making our way to the after parties. I became immediately star struck at the label party when I saw who all was milling around. Even as the fiancée of a famous musician, it was still hard to believe this was now my life. Bella got in to the festivities as well as the later it got, the more she kicked the crap out of me.

  After dancing for hours, we’d just left the Chateau Marmont hotel for a smaller party when AJ eyed me in the limo. “Do you think you need to go back to the hotel?”

  “No why?”

  “You look a little tired.”

  Cocking my head at him, I asked, “Is that a nice way of saying I look like shit?”

  He laughed. “Is that the pregnancy hormones talking?”

  “No, it isn’t. Besides, Bella is having fun. She’s kicking up a storm.”

  AJ’s hand came to rest on my enormous belly. “Man, she’s really going at it, huh?”

  I grinned. “Yeah, she is.”

  “Well, if you’re sure.”

  I leaned over to kiss him. “I wouldn’t miss one minute of this amazing night with you.”

  AJ brought his hands up to stroke my face. “I love you, Mia.”

  “I love you more.”

  Once we got inside the hotel, AJ and the others got drinks while I made my way to the hors d'oeuvres. Bella usually went on a kicking frenzy when she was hungry, so I was trying to appease her. Not only were ribs hurting from her exertions, but my back was as well.

  I’d just finished my plate when AJ held out his hand. “Wanna dance again?” Even though I would have preferred sitting at the table and staying off my ballooning feet, I smiled at him and slid my hand into his. Halfway through the second song, I knew I’d made a mistake. The dull ache that had been building throughout my lower back and into my abdomen grew more intense.

  With a gasp, I pulled away from AJ. “I think I need to sit this one out,” I shouted over the thumping bass of the music and roaring of the crowd.

  AJ’s dark brows knitted together as he brought his hand to my abdomen. “Are you all right?”

  Forcing a smile to my lips, I bobbed my head. “I just need to sit down and get some air.” When he started to lead me off the dance floor, I pressed a palm against his chest. “No, this is your night. I can make it to a table just fine.” He opened his mouth to protest, but I pressed my lips to his to silence him. “I’m fine.” I motioned toward the crowd of people who were waiting to talk to him. “Go, have fun.”

  “Okay. Love you.”

  As I weaved in and out the throng of people, I thought I would never make it outside to the veranda. People milled around, mainly smoking, but it wasn’t nearly as crowded as inside. My heels clicked down the tile as I tried to get away from the clouds of smoke. I sighed with relief when I found an empty chair tucked into an alcove. But after I got off my feet and took in a few deep breaths, pain still radiated through my lower back and abdomen.

  “Mia?”

  I glanced up to see Brayden standing before me. When he realized it really was me, he quickly extinguished the cigarette he’d been smoking. “Sorry about that.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “What are you doing out here by yourself?”

  “I just needed some air.”

  He dug a pack of gum out of his pockets and offered me a piece. When I declined, he popped three pieces in his mouth. He gave me a sheepish grin. “Would you do me a huge favor and not tell Lily I was out here smoking? You know, considering I allegedly quit three months ago.”

  I laughed. “I’ll make you a deal. I won’t tell Lily about the smoking if you won’t tell AJ that he was right, and I really shouldn’t have tagged along to all the parties tonight. The ceremony was enough.”

  Brayden crossed his arms over his chest and cocked his head suspiciously at me. “What do you mean?”

  I sighed. “I’m tired, that’s all.”

  “Mia,” he implored.

  “Fine. I’m having some…pains.”

  Brayden knelt at my side—his expression clouded with worry. “What kind of pains?”

  “It’s nothing. Seriously. It’s just my back and feet.” When he pursed his lips at me, I caved. “I started cramping out on the dance floor. But I’m sure I just overdid it tonight, and I need some rest. If I sit here a little longer and put my feet up, I’ll be fine.”

  “I’m going to get AJ,” Brayden said, popping up from the ground.

  I grabbed his sleeve and jerked him back. “No, please don’t do that.”

  “Mia, as a husband, trust me when I say that when your wife is pregnant and in pain, you want to know it. To AJ, you’re more than his fiancée—you’re already his wife”

  “But this is the most amazing night of AJ’s life—one he has worked so hard for. He’s been on cloud nine all day, and I want him to savor each and every moment. I can’t bear to ruin one second of it by causing him unnecessary worry as the nagging fiancée.”

  “He needs to know, and I’m going to tell him.”

  “Not if I get to him first!” I countered. When I shot out of my seat, all hell broke loose below my waist. A twisting, wrenching pain ricocheted through me, and I moaned.

  “Mia?” Just as Brayden stepped over to me, my water broke with such a force that it splashed down my legs and onto the top of Brayden’s shoes before spreading on the floor.

  As Brayden and I gazed down at the puddle we stood in, my hand flew to cover my mouth. “Oh God, I can’t believe that just happened. All that ‘what to expect’ crap doesn’t quite prepare you for Splash Mountain.” When I dared to look up at Brayden, I shook my head. “I’m so, so sorry about your shoes.”

  He laughed. “Mia, honey, I could give two shits about my shoes right now. I’m a little more concerned about the fact you’re in labor.”

  “Oh damn,” I muttered.

  “We need to get you to the hospital.”

  Tears stung my eyes. “Now I’m really going to ruin AJ’s night.”

  As I sniffled, Brayden’s hand came to cup my cheek. “Mia, I promise you when it comes down to it, awards and parties won’t mean shit when he holds Isabella in his arms for the first time. Nothing will ever compare to that moment when he sees the life he helped create.”

  My lip trembled at his sweet words. “Thank you.”

  He smiled. “You’re welcome. Now why don’t you just sit back down here while I go find AJ, and then we’ll get you to the limo.”

  “Yeah, that should be—” My voice choked off as pain ripped through my abdomen like a steam locomotive charging through it. I doubled over and cried out. Around me, I could hear Brayden talking furiously to someone, but I couldn’t make out his words through the agonizing pain. It seemed to go on forever bef
ore it finally let up.

  “Mia!” AJ cried.

  I glanced up to see him tearing down the veranda—his face ashen with worry. When he got to me, he wrapped me in his arms. “Amorcito mio, it’s okay. I’m here now.”

  Before I could stop myself, tears stung my eyes. “Oh AJ, I’m so sorry about going into labor tonight.”

  His eyes widened. “Don’t you dare say that! You and Bella are my world.”

  Another pain rippled through me, and I cried out. “Come on. We gotta get you to the limo.” AJ wrapped one arm around my waist while the other he used to push us through the crowd. Brayden started ahead of us, shoving people out of the way to clear a path. By the time we got outside, Jake, Abby, Lily, and Rhys were pacing beside the limo.

  “Oh my God, Mia,” Abby cried, rushing up to me.

  “I’m okay…I’m just in labor.”

  “And we’re going to get you to the hospital ASAP,” Lily replied.

  “No, no, you guys need to stay and have fun,” I protested.

  Jake grinned and shook his head. “I think there’s a new party to go to—‘Miss Bella’s Introduction to the World Party’.”

  I laughed. “Yeah, it’s going to be a rocking one for sure.”

  “All right, enough talking. You need to get inside the limo. Now,” AJ commanded.

  “Eesh, so bossy,” I muttered before I dipped inside. AJ threw his tux jacket across the seat. Just as I sat down, another pain gripped me. AJ immediately appeared at my side and grabbed hold of my hand.

  When I finally came out of my pain haze, I saw that Abby and Jake had ducked inside as well. “That was intense,” I croaked.

  “I’m so sorry,” AJ murmured, kissing my cheek.

  I was adjusting myself on the seat when the limo driver appeared at the door.

  “Why aren’t we moving?” Jake asked.

  His face paled. “We seem to be having engine problems.”

  “Excuse me?” I demanded through gritted teeth.

  “It won’t start.”

  “You gotta be fucking kidding me!” AJ exclaimed.

  Jake shook his head. “Maybe we can borrow someone else’s car or limo?”