Rachel Bailey - Return of the Secret Heir

JT, where are you?

There was a sharp knock at the door and Seth’s head appeared. April slipped over to him for a whispered conversation, then came rushing back and turned on the small television.

A reporter’s face filled the screen. “As I said before the break, we’ve managed to secure an exclusive interview with the elusive JT Hartley, the man who staked a claim to the biggest will of the year, only to lose the case within days. Welcome, Mr. Hartley.”

Pia’s jaw dropped open. This had to be wrong-JT hated the media. He’d never grant a television interview…would he?

The screen flicked to the guest and JT appeared, looking calm and charming, but she could see the steel in his eyes. She blinked once, then again, but he was still there on the screen. What was he doing?

“Good evening,” JT said, his voice sexy-low and smooth.

“Can we start with your rumored relationship with the executor of Warner Bramson’s estate? Is it true she’s pregnant with your baby?”

Pia’s skin chilled-why had JT opened himself, them, to this?

But JT seemed unruffled by the hardball question. “It’s true she’s pregnant,” he said, gaze solemn and trustworthy, “but Pia Baxter is no longer the executor of the estate. In fact, she was fired in a case of trial by media.”

The journalist’s eyes became even brighter at this unexpected development. “She was fired?”

“People were concerned she may have acted unethically because of her relationship to me, but I have to tell you, Jimmy,” the camera came in for a close-up on JT’s unwavering eyes, “I’ve never met anyone in my life as principled as Pia Baxter.”

“But she’s pregnant, isn’t she? With your baby. And you were a claimant to the will.”

JT eased back in his chair, all effortless grace, seemingly in his element, but she knew this would be torture for him. “Let me give you an example. Despite our situation, when Pia found paperwork that proved Warner Bramson knew I was his son, she took that information straight to his heirs.”

The journalist’s eyes lit with glee. “She’s the one who ended your claim? Robbed her own baby’s father of-potentially-millions of dollars?”

JT tilted his head in assent. “It was the right thing to do. I’ve come to realize that Pia always does what’s right, even if it’s difficult, or if other people can’t understand at the time.”

Pia felt tears sliding down her face and absently brushed at them.

“So why are you speaking out now?” Jimmy asked. “After you’ve lost the claim.”

JT leaned forward, as if letting Jimmy and the audience in on a secret. “To set the record straight. Pia Baxter has done the right thing, in tough circumstances, and she deserves recognition for that.”

Understanding dawned and her body went limp. He was doing this for her. Publicly exposing himself for her career. That sweet, gorgeous fool.

The hospital room door burst open and JT strode through-tall, solid and everything she’d ever wanted. She blinked. “JT,” she said, looking back to him on the screen. “But-”

Macy and April discreetly left the room. “I only just got the messages,” he said as he reached her bed and grasped her hand. His hair wasn’t as neat as the screen JT’s, as if he’d been ploughing fingers through it, and his eyes were surrounded by tension lines. “What happened? Did you faint?”

“Cramps,” she said, unable to prevent her voice from wavering. She looked down at her trembling hand as it rested on her belly. Come on, little one, you can make it.

JT placed a large, warm palm over her hand. “Have you seen a doctor?”

She nodded. “I haven’t heard any results, though. Dr. Crosby is on her way.” His voice coming from the television drew her eyes back. “How-”

“It was taped an hour ago.” His jaw clenched, then released. Clenched, then released. “I had my cell turned off for the interview and I’ll never forgive myself,” he said, his mouth twisting with self-recrimination.

He was beating himself up over doing something he hated for her? Pia Baxter deserves recognition. When she’d been searching for him, wanting him here, he’d been out trying to help her career. Everything inside her softened, and she cupped his cheek. “You didn’t need to do it.”

“My claim on a dead man’s money has cost you too much.” His voice was a rasp, his eyes tormented.

“It wasn’t your fault I was fired, JT,” she said, meaning every word. “I made those choices.”

His eyes flicked to the television, where the reporter was asking a question-a grimace passed across his features and was gone in less than an instant. Then he turned back to her, expression solemn.

“I had to try and salvage your reputation. And it worked.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I took four calls with job offers for you on the drive over here.”

“Thank you, but-”

“We’re a team now,” he said, silencing her with a finger on her lips. “And no matter what happens today, even if it’s the worst-” his voice broke on the word, and he swallowed before continuing “-this time we’ll stick together. We’ll get through it. Together.”

She squeezed her eyes shut against the tears that threatened and tried to close her heart as well before she read too much into his words.

“No promises, JT,” she whispered.

“Yes, princess, I’m making promises.” His eyes were solemn, intent on hers. “I love you and I won’t let you go again.”

The tears breached her defenses and spilled down her cheeks. These were the words her heart wanted so desperately to hear, but were they real? He thought he was losing another baby and was desperately trying to hold on. Yet now that she’d heard them, if it was merely his fears talking, her heart would break into a thousand pieces.

Dr. Crosby walked in through the doors, her features as unruffled as ever. “Hello, Pia. JT.”

As JT tightened his grip on her hand, Pia said shakily, “Thank you for coming in.”

“No trouble,” Dr. Crosby said as she sank her hands into the pockets of her white coat. “I’ve reviewed the scans and I’ve spoken to the doctor who saw you when you were admitted.” She smiled kindly. “We agree that the placenta is intact and your baby seems fine.”

Pia shuddered as a mammoth weight on her shoulders dissolved. Her free hand curved around the small bump of her belly, caressing. You’ll be fine, little one.

“But what about the cramps?” JT asked, pinning the doctor with his gaze. Pia stilled her hand as she looked back to the doctor.

“I can see why they would cause you concern with your history, but they were likely Braxton-Hicks, practice contractions, if you like. With the excellent care you’re taking of yourself, there’s every reason to believe this baby will go to term.”

“Thank you,” Pia whispered.

Dr. Crosby rocked forward on the balls of her feet, a twinkle in her eye. “There was extra information in the scan-would you like to know the sex of your baby?”

Pia’s breath caught as she looked up at JT, who raised his eyebrows, leaving the decision to her. Her heart swelled-she wanted to know everything there was to know about their baby. She turned back to the doctor and grinned. “Yes, please.”

“You’re having a boy.” As Dr. Cosby left the room, Pia looked down at her belly in stunned wonder. My son. Tears filled her eyes. I love you, little boy.

JT climbed onto the bed and held her close against him. “A son. We’re having a son,” he murmured. “Everything will be okay.” His hand stroked up and down her arm, comforting.

She glanced up into JT’s eyes and her mood abruptly swept down. Her son was safe, but JT… Her chest constricted, as if falling in on itself. She might never have the only man she’d ever loved. And now that she’d recognized that this was love, how could she bear to not have him? Pain exploded behind her breastbone and she edged away on the narrow bed.

“I won’t hold you to what you said before,” she said quietly.

His forehead creased into a frown. “About not letting you go again? I meant that.”

“I know you meant it-” she moistened her dry lips “-but it was a natural reaction, just your fear speaking. Everything’s fine with the baby, so we can go back to the way we were.” She would never keep him to words he’d spoken in desperation.

JT lifted himself up on an elbow. His gaze met hers as his Adam’s apple bobbed down, then up.

“Pia, I’ll be brutally honest,” he said, eyes clear and unguarded. “You broke my heart fourteen years ago, but I now know why you had to-you were so young, barely more than a child, and you were grieving. You had to do it for your own survival.” His voice was smooth, tender, containing no judgment. But regret for how she’d handled things over the years rose in her.

“I wish I could-”

Softly, he kissed away the rest of her words, then drew back, smiling crookedly at her. “And for my survival, I had to smother my love. It never faltered, even for a second, but I couldn’t risk the pain, so I hid it. Including from myself. Even recently, spending time together again, I told myself I couldn’t open my heart to you or the baby, that I’d be crushed if you left or something happened to our child.”

“Life doesn’t have any guarantees, JT,” she said softly. A tear slipped down her cheek. Why had it always been so impossible for them? He still loved her, he admitted it, but he would never open his heart fully again and that would kill any love they had, any relationship they formed.

Vibrant green eyes sparkled at her through dark lashes. “Tell me, what do you think of the name Thomas?”

Everything inside her stilled as she understood his meaning-he was planning ahead. “You’re willing to choose a name?” she asked, breathless.

Gently, he smoothed a wisp of hair behind her ears and kissed her forehead. “I’ve discovered something-the greatest things in life need the greatest risk. And I’m prepared to risk everything for you and our son. I love you both.”

Happiness washed over her in waves too large to withstand-her heart was filled to bursting point, her body wracked with trembling joy. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she clung to him and surrendered to the majesty of the moment.

“I love you, too,” she finally said through the tears that clogged her throat. She looked up and met his gaze. “More than I ever have before. More than I thought was possible.”

He pulled her into a fierce embrace, and as she laid her head against his chest, she felt all the air leave his lungs in one long breath. He’d been nervous, she realized and held back a fresh round of tears.

She pulled back and held his face between both her hands. “JT, I promise I’ll never shut you out again,” she vowed.

He kissed her lightly on the lips, then smiled his crooked smile. “And I promise I’ll never give up on us.”

Pia stood in the foyer of the Lighthouse Hotel, surrounded by her two sisters, April Fairchild-now a good friend and soon-to-be sister-in-law-and Theresa Hartley. Their love swirled around her as richly as her cream wedding gown. She bent down to kiss the top of her baby boy’s head. Thomas’s strawberry blond hair was cool and silky under her lips.

“You be good for Nana,” she told the eight-month-old.

Theresa hugged the baby tight and smiled at Pia with tears in her eyes. “He’s always a good boy for me, aren’t you, Tommy?”

Pia’s sisters gave Thomas a quick kiss as well before Pia waved goodbye and Theresa Hartley left with the baby to take her seat outside under the marquee. Seth and April’s hotel had closed to the public this weekend for the family event, so the only people onsite were family, friends and the staff preparing for the reception in the ballroom.