Read Online A Pregnancy Scandal by Kat Cantrell - Free Book Online Page B

shouldn’t be a factor. But as he waited for his bride to make an appearance, he couldn’t call this jumpiness under his skin anything but nerves.
    In the next few moments, Alexandra Meer would officially become Mrs. Edgewood. Not only was she about to become his wife, in less than seven months they’d be parents. It was mind-boggling.
    The doors burst open and the first woman in lilac solemnly paraded toward him. Dr. Harper Livingston, the genius scientist behind Formula-47, the product for which Alex’s company needed FDA approval, was followed by a second woman in lilac. Trinity Forrester, Fyra’s chief marketing officer, cut quite a figure with her angular black hair and stilettos. CEO Cassandra Claremont glided down the aisle next, her gaze fastened firmly on the man to Phillip’s right, her fiancé, Gage Branson. Gage had been the only person Phillip would have asked to be his best man, considering his cousin was the one who had introduced him to Alex.
    In a marriage based on appearances, no detail was too small.
    And then Alex walked into the room and his heart thumped once, then paused for the longest, strangest skipped beat.
    Alex had selected white for the occasion, but the minimalist design allowed the woman to shine through. Phillip couldn’t tear his gaze from her beautiful face, which had the lightest smattering of color in deference to the photographs that would be taken later. The uncharacteristic makeup only enhanced the natural beauty of the woman he had somehow convinced to marry him.
    He still didn’t know what had tipped the scales. Still hadn’t fully taken a deep breath until this moment, because what if she changed her mind? He refused to consider any of this an emotional investment. He needed a wife, and it would be twice as difficult to find one willing to step into a marriage of convenience after the press finished crucifying him over his purported family values while his illegitimate child lived with a single mom.
    Five hundred guests, ranging from the United States secretary of state, to a French hotel magnate, to Alex’s mom, watched as Alex floated down the aisle toward him. She reached his side and he took her hand. She was trembling.
    â€œYou okay?” he whispered as the minister started the dearly-beloveds. Instantly, all thoughts of plans and campaigns and ground rules vanished as he focused on Alex.
    â€œNo.” All the color leached out of her face, which became a remarkable match for her dress. “Will you be really mad at me if I throw up on that suit?”
    Morning sickness was taking a huge toll on her, which was part of the reason they hadn’t seen each other—she’d been too ill to fly and he’d had to burn the midnight oil in Washington in order to take off a few days for the wedding.
    â€œWell, it’s not what I’d envisioned for our vows,” he acknowledged wryly. “But perhaps appropriate under the circumstances.”
    â€œDon’t make me laugh,” she muttered as a smile tugged at her mouth. “I’m trying to keep down the four bites of toast I had for breakfast. Remind me again why we couldn’t elope?”
    The minister launched into a series of lines that Phillip’s mother had painstakingly selected after being given the job. Their immediate family and close friends knew Alex was pregnant, but they’d kept it secret otherwise. At only ten weeks, she wasn’t showing yet, so there was no reason to eclipse the wedding with baby news.
    â€œBecause,” Phillip said out of the side of his mouth. “Pomp and circumstance are part of the deal.”
    She moaned. “I don’t see how it’s fair that I have to both carry the baby and smile at guests.”
    â€œI’ll tell you what. After the birth, I’ll carry the baby. How’s that for fair?”
    The minister cleared his throat. Phillip glanced back at the man, having completely lost