Read Online Into the Fire (Bridge Book 2) by Meredith Wild - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Meredith Wild
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this trip.”
He shook his head with a sigh. “Whatever. She’s an adult, so I guess she can make her own choices. I’d just like to see you not be so selfish with a woman for a change. If you’re intent on getting Vanessa into bed, I’d like to see her be the one you give a fighting chance. That’s all I’m going to say about it.”
“Fine. You’ve made your point. Can we get drunk and go fishing now?”
“Sure.”
“Prick,” I muttered.
Chapter Five
VANESSA
A fter a lengthy massage , a French manicure, and more champagne than I needed in my already relaxed state, I found a spot beside Maya. She was lounging under an umbrella by one of the resort’s pools. I hadn’t had a chance to catch her alone all afternoon, and even now I hesitated to pry at Cameron’s bidding.
“Come sit.” Maya motioned to the lounge chair beside her.
I took the invitation and made myself comfortable. My muscles went lax. “That massage was killer.”
“Agreed. The staff here is amazing.”
“I never want to leave.”
She smiled. “Maybe they’re hiring.”
I laughed. Only Maya knew how stressful my work life could be. The thought of staying on this heavenly island was tempting, if totally unrealistic.
“I noticed you disappeared with Darren at the barbecue last night. Any news to report?”
“Other than him pulling out all the stops trying to hook up, not really.”
“Figured as much. He sure is nice to look at, though.”
I chuckled softly. Couldn’t argue there.
I fiddled with a menu left on the small table between us. “Are you hungry?”
She shook her head. “I shouldn’t. I’ve gained like five pounds in a week. It’ll be a miracle if I fit into my dress tomorrow.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll make it fit.”
“Yeah, I’m going to look like a stuffed sausage in white satin.” Her hand went to her stomach concealed under her tankini.
“Is everything okay?”
She turned her head, but I couldn’t read her expression behind her sunglasses. “Yeah, why?”
What could I say? Cameron sent me on a fact-finding mission because he’s worried about you? I hadn’t written off his concerns though. Maya had a way of keeping her feelings socked down deep enough where no one else could find them. She was private, and for the most part, I’d always respected that. It was her way, and who was I to make her put her feelings out there?
“Just wondered. You seem…thoughtful lately. I just want to make sure it’s the usual wedding feelings and not something else.”
She nodded quietly and took in a deep breath. A minute passed in silence before she spoke. “I’m pregnant,” she said, her voice quiet.
My jaw fell, and I ripped my sunglasses off my face. “What… Wait. How? Have you been trying?”
“No. It’s my fault. I fucked up.”
“What?”
She took her sunglasses off and pinched the bridge of her nose. “I missed pills. Between everything that’s happened these past few months. My mom, moving in with Cam, and pulling this wedding trip together, I missed pills, and here we are.”
“How far along do you think you are?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure. I took tests, but I haven’t seen a doctor yet. I’ve been putting it off. I didn’t want to believe it could be true.”
I was silent. Maya’s life had been chaotic and at some points, extremely troubling. Maybe this wasn’t what she was expecting, but still, this was news Cameron would welcome.
“You haven’t told Cam.” This had to be what he’d sensed her holding back.
Suddenly her calm exterior started to crumble. She winced, and her eyes became glassy. “This is a nightmare. I’m getting married tomorrow. How the hell am I supposed to keep this from Cam? He’s going to freak out, but I can’t tell him the night before our wedding. He’s going to be a mess the same way I’m a mess and—”
“Okay, stop right there. Breathe. This is… Maya, this is a blessing. You both want a family, right?”
She sucked in
He shook his head with a sigh. “Whatever. She’s an adult, so I guess she can make her own choices. I’d just like to see you not be so selfish with a woman for a change. If you’re intent on getting Vanessa into bed, I’d like to see her be the one you give a fighting chance. That’s all I’m going to say about it.”
“Fine. You’ve made your point. Can we get drunk and go fishing now?”
“Sure.”
“Prick,” I muttered.
Chapter Five
VANESSA
A fter a lengthy massage , a French manicure, and more champagne than I needed in my already relaxed state, I found a spot beside Maya. She was lounging under an umbrella by one of the resort’s pools. I hadn’t had a chance to catch her alone all afternoon, and even now I hesitated to pry at Cameron’s bidding.
“Come sit.” Maya motioned to the lounge chair beside her.
I took the invitation and made myself comfortable. My muscles went lax. “That massage was killer.”
“Agreed. The staff here is amazing.”
“I never want to leave.”
She smiled. “Maybe they’re hiring.”
I laughed. Only Maya knew how stressful my work life could be. The thought of staying on this heavenly island was tempting, if totally unrealistic.
“I noticed you disappeared with Darren at the barbecue last night. Any news to report?”
“Other than him pulling out all the stops trying to hook up, not really.”
“Figured as much. He sure is nice to look at, though.”
I chuckled softly. Couldn’t argue there.
I fiddled with a menu left on the small table between us. “Are you hungry?”
She shook her head. “I shouldn’t. I’ve gained like five pounds in a week. It’ll be a miracle if I fit into my dress tomorrow.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll make it fit.”
“Yeah, I’m going to look like a stuffed sausage in white satin.” Her hand went to her stomach concealed under her tankini.
“Is everything okay?”
She turned her head, but I couldn’t read her expression behind her sunglasses. “Yeah, why?”
What could I say? Cameron sent me on a fact-finding mission because he’s worried about you? I hadn’t written off his concerns though. Maya had a way of keeping her feelings socked down deep enough where no one else could find them. She was private, and for the most part, I’d always respected that. It was her way, and who was I to make her put her feelings out there?
“Just wondered. You seem…thoughtful lately. I just want to make sure it’s the usual wedding feelings and not something else.”
She nodded quietly and took in a deep breath. A minute passed in silence before she spoke. “I’m pregnant,” she said, her voice quiet.
My jaw fell, and I ripped my sunglasses off my face. “What… Wait. How? Have you been trying?”
“No. It’s my fault. I fucked up.”
“What?”
She took her sunglasses off and pinched the bridge of her nose. “I missed pills. Between everything that’s happened these past few months. My mom, moving in with Cam, and pulling this wedding trip together, I missed pills, and here we are.”
“How far along do you think you are?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure. I took tests, but I haven’t seen a doctor yet. I’ve been putting it off. I didn’t want to believe it could be true.”
I was silent. Maya’s life had been chaotic and at some points, extremely troubling. Maybe this wasn’t what she was expecting, but still, this was news Cameron would welcome.
“You haven’t told Cam.” This had to be what he’d sensed her holding back.
Suddenly her calm exterior started to crumble. She winced, and her eyes became glassy. “This is a nightmare. I’m getting married tomorrow. How the hell am I supposed to keep this from Cam? He’s going to freak out, but I can’t tell him the night before our wedding. He’s going to be a mess the same way I’m a mess and—”
“Okay, stop right there. Breathe. This is… Maya, this is a blessing. You both want a family, right?”
She sucked in
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