The Pregnancy Proposal
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Niobia Bryant
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One
Sean Cress looked out the window at the streets of Manhattan, New York, from his seat in the rear of a blacked-out luxury SUV. His thoughts were full and he barely noticed the traffic, the New Yorkers walking the streets at a fast pace, or the towering buildings that were either sleek and modern or of stately classical architecture. He was too busy wishing he were headed to the set of one of his numerous cooking shows. As a chef, the merging of his talent in cooking and his innate charm as an on-air personality had created television and streaming gold. Twice he had been named one of People magazine’s Sexiest Chefs Alive. His extravagant, fast-paced celebrity lifestyle of A-list events added to his allure. He knew that and used every bit of it to his advantage, enjoying the limelight and the ladies.
And he was confident that same popularity and acclaim would secure him the position as Chief Executive Officer of his family’s powerful culinary empire. His parents, Phillip Cress Senior and Nicolette Lavoie-Cress, had formed Cress, INC. after successful careers as chefs with established restaurants, more than two dozen bestselling cookbooks and guides and countless prestigious awards. Their corporation included nationally syndicated cooking shows, cookware, online magazines, an accredited cooking school and a nonprofit foundation. Food was their life and they passed that passion on to their children.
Sean and his brothers all held executive positions in the company and were acclaimed chefs themselves. Lincoln, his father’s newly discovered heir born to him in England before his marriage to Nicolette, had been welcomed into the fold as the President of Sustainability. Phillip Junior ran the Cress Family Foundation. Gabriel led up the restaurant division, Coleman oversaw the online magazines and websites and Lucas supervised the cookware line. Sean’s duty was the syndicated cooking shows, including those in which he starred.
Their father, Phillip Senior, dangled the succession of one of them to the Cress, INC. throne, pitting them against each other in the past few years—even though they were raised to be loyal and loving to one another. Each had wanted to make their autocratic father proud and steer the already juggernaut company into a bigger and brighter future. But in time, as their father never actually stepped down and several of the brothers made it clear they no longer wanted to be the CEO, the siblings had regained their closeness.
Even if Lincoln, Gabriel and Coleman no longer wanted the position, Sean did.
With the revelation of their father’s heart condition and then his subsequent cardiac surgery just a week ago, it was clear their patriarch would not be able to continue the daily grind of managing a massive company. Phillip Junior, Lucas and he were still in the running for the coveted spot. And Sean had big plans for the company by diversifying into owning a food channel to stream their cooking shows instead of having them played on other networks. He felt the success of his division and his popularity and stardom made him the face of the brand and the clear heir apparent. He just knew the position was his.
Until this damn scandal.
Sean pinched the bridge of his nose and cleared his throat. Of late, scandal and the Cress family seemed to go hand in hand. First with Monica, their former housekeeper, becoming Gabriel’s wife and heir to a massive fortune left behind by her father—an A-list movie actor she never knew. Then the family—and the press—learning that their father had an illegitimate heir back in England conceived just before he left the country to attend college in Paris. The very last thing the family needed was one of Sean’s former bedmates releasing a steamy sex tape of him.
He clenched his jaw, remembering the reaction of his mother who loved her family, her cooking and her privacy—and not always in that order.
If not for the scandal ruining the Cress, INC. brand and hurting his position within the company, Sean couldn’t care less about the video. It was years old. The woman had been long forgotten. And sex was a natural thing. Besides, the revelation of just how “equipped” he was had increased his popularity—particularly with the ladies.
His family, of course, cared nothing about the upside of the salacious situation.
So far they had kept the news of the video from Phillip Senior who would undoubtedly be so riled up as to cause a physical setback. Lessening the effect of the drama was essential for his father’s health, his mother’s sanity and his position within Cress, INC.
He’d hired one of the best in the public relations game to get the job done.
Sean looked over at Montgomery Morgan sitting on the opposite end of the leather rear seat of the SUV. The top-notch publicist was talking low on her phone as she used a stylus to write notes on her iPad before she tucked her bone-straight black hair behind her ear.
“We’ll be pulling up any minute,” Montgomery said, her voice crisp and clear.
He continued eyeing her and enjoyed himself because the woman looked phenomenal. Jet-black hair brought out the sepia hues in her medium brown complexion. High cheekbones and a slightly square chin were complemented by her full toothy smile, dimples and beautiful feline-like eyes with long lashes. As much as she was a beauty, Montgomery Morgan was also intelligent, levelheaded, cool, reserved and professional. Very straitlaced. In control.
Until she’s not.
Two months ago, while attending a dinner party thrown by his brother Gabriel, and her friend/client Monica, he and Montgomery had gotten stuck in the elevator of the couple’s luxury townhouse. As the minutes ticked by while they were trapped alone in the confined space, the unflappable publicist had been anything but calm.
Montgomery glanced over and caught his eyes on her. He didn’t shift his gaze; instead, he enjoyed the full sight of her face. Her eyes locked with his and her lashes fluttered before she lightly bit her bottom lip.
In that moment he knew that like him, she remembered just what had happened between them on that elevator. Memories of their cries of passion replayed for him. It had been an hour or better of wild abandon before the elevator light came on and exposed their nudity as they rushed into their clothing and agreed it would never happen again.
Best sex ever.
“Hold on one sec,” she said before lowering her phone to press the button for another call as she looked away from him. “Montgomery Morgan.”
Sean bit back a smile at her formal businesslike tone. Ever the professional.
“What?” Montgomery snapped, sitting up straighter in the seat.
His driver, Colin, slowed the SUV to a stop in front of a midtown Manhattan hotel. Awaiting them was a crowd of onlookers and paparazzi. Sean was more used to the fanfare than the rest of his family, although they were all well-known in their own right. He shifted his gaze back to Montgomery as her jaw clenched and she closed her eyes with a slight shake of her head. “Something wrong?” he asked.
All of the possible emergent situations ran through his mind. An accident? Medical emergency? Death?
He felt concern for the normally stoic woman.
Before their one-night liaison, he and Montgomery had only been cordial when in each other’s company at events thrown by Monica and Gabriel. He’d only contacted her last week after the release of the sex tape. Although Cress, INC. had their own publicity and marketing staff, he had wanted Montgomery’s expertise in dealing with high-profile clients and had been relieved when she agreed to represent him.
“Montgomery,” he said, reaching to touch her wrist when her head lowered.
She stiffened for a moment and then looked over at him. “I’m pregnant,” she revealed in a harsh whisper before swiftly turning and opening the door to exit the vehicle.
Sean felt gut punched. “What?” he snapped.
Out the window he watched as she took a deep breath, straightened the Italian cashmere camel trench she wore over a tailored cream pantsuit and slid on oversize shades before walking to come around the rear of the vehicle. And just like that, her facade was back in place, even though she left him completely rattled.
Pregnant?
By me?
His heart pounded.
Knock-knock.
He looked over to his right to find Montgomery had tapped her knuckles against the window. Colin now stood beside her, keeping the crowd back from the vehicle. They awaited his signal that he was ready.
I’m not.
But he took his own steadying breath, slid on his black aviator shades and pulled the latch on the door. Colin pulled it open wide and Sean climbed out, instantly surrounded by the yells of the crowd as he slid his hands into the pockets of the dark gray coat he wore over matching sweater and wool slacks.
“Sean!”
“We love you, Sean!”
“Are you still with the woman in the tape?”
“Sexy Sean!”
“Any statement on the scandal and the effect on Cress, INC.?”
“I saw the tape!”
“We all did!”
Remembering Montgomery’s advice, Sean kept his face unreadable as they made their way across the sidewalk into the five-star hotel where she’d set up a press junket. Her strategy was to address the scandal fully, answer all questions and then move on from it. Hopefully.
They entered the building and swiftly moved across the beautifully adorned lobby with its towering gilded ceilings. Aware of the eyes still on them, Sean fought to maintain his composure even as he felt he might just be losing his mind.
A child?
“Are you pregnant by me?” he asked as soon as they turned the corner toward the gilded elevators.
Montgomery faced him. Even with his over six-foot height, her five foot eight inches and heels brought them nearly eye level. “If I’m pregnant, yes it would be yours but let’s talk about this later,” she said before spinning to press the button for the elevator.
Sean shifted to stand in front of her. “You’re just going to drop a bomb on me like that?” he asked, not hiding his exasperation. “And right before a round of interviews, Montgomery?”
She nodded and began to pace. “You’re right. It just kind of came out. I was shocked, Sean. I apologize. It’s just this morning at my office, my assistant kept nagging me to take a pregnancy test and I finally did it just to shut her up,” she said before massaging her temples. “I took the test and left to meet up with you. She called with the results and it shocked me. I honestly did not think I was pregnant.”
“Why did she think you were pregnant?” he asked, voicing his curiosity.
“Moody. Sleepy. Hungry. Constantly,” she stressed.
“And your cycle?” he asked after hesitating a moment to do so, knowing it was personal.
Montgomery looked affronted. “Really?”
“Considering the situation?” he asked while holding up his hands. “Absolutely.”
“I have a highly stressful job and it’s irregular at times,” she explained. “Look, I feel it needs to be confirmed by a doctor before we flip and lose our minds. Really, I shouldn’t have said anything until I knew for sure.”
Sean released a breath.
A baby.
I could be a father?
He wasn’t ready.
Sean loved his life and the freedom to do whatever he wanted. He didn’t want to change a thing about it—and so love and settling down with one woman was not a part of his plan. He could easily see himself as The Forever Bachelor. Wifeless. Childless. Enjoying his freedom. Paternity meant sacrifices he was not willing to make, and that was exactly what it took to be a good parent. Not just a sperm donor or sire, but a fully involved father.
It was nothing to take lightly.
The elevator doors slid open and Montgomery stepped on before he followed behind her.
“Damn,” she swore as she kept her gaze down on the tips of her polished leather boots as she fidgeted nervously.
Sean turned her to face him again and raised her head with his fingertips to her chin.
Their eyes locked.
She’s so beautiful.
That same unseen chemistry surrounded them. It was intense and undeniable.
“This got us into this situation the last time. Remember?” she asked, even as her eyes dipped for a moment to his mouth.
Memories of kissing her made him clear his throat and take a step back before he gave in to the temptation to pull her close and do just that. Again. And again. “Right,” he agreed.
Montgomery released a long breath and touched her fingertips to her lips as she turned away as well. “Focus on today. We’ll deal with anything else tomorrow,” she said, her voice back to authoritative. “Remember everything we went over and stick to the script. Just add—”
“Charm,” Sean interjected with his winning smile.
Montgomery looked up at him with a shake of her head and the hint of a smile. “Exactly,” she dryly agreed. “Remember this is not to specifically address the scandal but to show you are not shying away from the press because of it. The major topic is your new cooking show and upcoming cookbook, but someone may try to address it with you—whether directly or in a roundabout way.”
“I’m disappointed that more respect wasn’t shown for a very personal and private moment,” he said, remembering the script she crafted for him that was actually very close to his true sentiments. “In my position it’s hard to know what is real and staged. That is my biggest regret.”
“Excellent!” Montgomery said with a wink and brief nod meant to encourage.
The elevator doors opened and she led him to the suite with a view of Central Park. Her team had turned the room into a set complete with chairs, backdrop, lighting and a few cameras. “Everyone is here and has been set up in the adjoining suite with refreshments and gift bags of Cress merchandise. Either myself or one of my team will check on you between each interview,” she continued. “Ready?”
To be a dad? No.
Although he knew it wasn’t what she meant, it was all he could think about.
“Yes,” Sean said, moving to take the seat she pointed out to him.
The door opened and a petite woman with short, naturally curly hair entered. Her small face was nearly overwhelmed with large, round spectacles. He opened one of the bottles of water on the small table beside him and filled a glass as he watched Montgomery remove her overcoat. She handed it and her tote to the woman he assumed to be her observant and persistent assistant.
He eyed Montgomery’s build that was more slender than thick but with curves. The suit she wore was tailored to fit and stylish.
His eyes dipped to her belly.
If she’s pregnant she’s close to two months.
The thought of a baby made his gut clench. He’d never even been on a date with Montgomery. Never even shared a full-blown conversation on major topics. Now they were expected to co-parent?
“Sean, this is my executive assistant, Hanna,” Montgomery said as they walked over to him.
Sean eyed the woman with a nod. “Nice to meet you,” he said.
Hanna gave him a nod as well as an up-and-down look. “In person the man lives up to the myth,” she whispered to Montgomery.
Sean heard her clearly and bit back a smile.
Montgomery gave her assistant a hard stare and received a helpless shrug in return. “How’s the lighting setup on him?” she asked the cameraman.
“Perfect,” the man said after taking a test shot.
“Of course,” Montgomery muttered dryly.
Sean did give her his best smile.
Montgomery turned but not before he saw her roll her eyes.
He chuckled. Even that was a break from the facade of business-only perfection that Montgomery favored and had made her one of the most sought-after publicists on the East Coast. He was relying on her to clear up the scandal and secure his selection as the new CEO of Cress, INC., making her substantial fee well worth the cost.
And if she’s pregnant?
Sean frowned as he turned his head to look out the window at Central Park in the distance.
“Are you okay?”
Sean was puzzled by both the male and female voices asking the question. He shifted his gaze from the window to find the cameraman querying him and Hanna looking at her boss. Montgomery and he looked at each other. In her eyes he saw what he was feeling.
Worry.
They both looked away.
“I’m fine,” they said in unison.
It was Hanna’s and the cameraman’s turn to share an odd look.
Sean took another sip of water as his first interviewer was led into the suite. He adjusted his frame in the club chair and stiffened his spine as he prepared himself to try his best to not let the thought of pending fatherhood ruin his chance at redemption.
“This was not a part of my plan,” Montgomery muttered as she looked down at the pregnancy test now encased in a clear Ziploc bag before she looked up at her reflection in the mirror of the suite’s bathroom. “Damn.”
I can’t be pregnant. I just can’t. Not now. Not yet.
Montgomery had wanted to thrive in her business before meeting her Mr. Perfect, fall in love, get married and then start a family. After years of success and building a support system with her business, Montgomery had felt ready to find the man for her and maybe in three to five years have a child. She had become fastidious and a bit dogged in finding the man who checked everything on her list of must-haves. She was on numerous dating apps for professionals and frequented places all the women’s magazines said were ideal for meeting men like hardware stores, golf courses, cigar lounges, gyms and churches. She went on blind dates. Prayed about it. And stayed on the lookout.
It had become a part-time job or side hustle. Montgomery was on a mission. She wanted companionship, love and steamy sex, but finding “the one” wasn’t panning out. Outside of work, her friends and family, she was lonesome and afraid she would forever be single.
And now I might be a single mother.
She balled the plastic-covered test into her grip. In just one night she might have changed the trajectory of her life. Just once Montgomery “Ms. Perfect” Morgan had lost total control. Quickly and with plenty of fiery passion that had been undeniable.
More, Sean. Give me more.
Montgomery flushed with warmth at the memory of the words she gasped before he obeyed her wish. Deeply. Every pulse on her body fluttered to life.
Just like that night.
In the reflection her eyes widened before she rushed to shove the baggie into her tote before turning on the faucet and bending to press cool water to her neck. It failed in erasing the heat of her desire for Sean Cress.
The man was trouble. Handsome, charming, sexy and flirtatious, but trouble nonetheless.
As the publicist for The Bridge, Monica’s nonprofit benefiting children aged out of the foster care system, Montgomery had soon become the woman’s friend, making running into Sean Cress at both business and family events inevitable. Over the past two years they had always been polite when crossing each other’s path, but there had also been lingering looks, mildly flirty banter and innocent touches that created a spark. Montgomery was well aware that Sean found her attractive, and his smiles let her know that he was fully tuned in to the attraction she had for him. But neither acted on it.
Until they both stepped onto the elevator to ride up a level and somewhere in between the first and second floors, the sounds of metal grinding echoed around them just before the lights flickered...
Montgomery instinctively took a step closer to Sean as her dread kicked into overdrive. “You think you’re over your childhood fear of elevators...until you get stuck on one,” she dryly said as she began to frantically press the buttons on the control panel.
Sean reached into the inner pocket of his blazer to remove his phone. “I’ll call for help,” he said, his deep voice echoing in the small space.
Montgomery rested her head against the wall as her normal cool composure began to fade. “Why did I get on this death trap? Why did I get on this death trap? Why did I get on this death trap?” she repeated.
Something pressed to her lower back and she whipped around as her heart pounded. It was Sean’s hand and she felt some relief at his presence, knowing she was being irrational but unable to fight back her distress.
“There’s no signal,” Sean said, looking down at her in concern. “But I’m sure help is on the way.”
The lights went off.
Montgomery squealed before she flung herself at Sean’s body and wrapped her arms around his neck in panic, squeezing her eyes shut even though darkness reigned. “What if we drop? What if there’s a fire? What if—”
“Shhh. It’ll be okay,” Sean assured her as he wrapped one arm around her body to hold her close. “We’ll be okay.”
She nodded against his neck, feeling comforted by his strength and the gentle way he rocked their bodies back and forth to calm her as he massaged circles on her lower back. Consoling her. It felt good to rely on someone else. Really good.
Too good.
Montgomery took an extra inhale of his warm cologne. It was enticing.
“Everyone has fears,” he said. “I’m sure I’d hit a pitch higher than an opera singer if a snake crossed my path.”
She felt a little less crazy about her outburst and managed a bit of a smile.
“A little light will help,” Sean said. “I’ll use the flashlight on my phone.”
She still clung to him and enjoyed it. Her heart pounded. Her breathing was fast. And her pulse sped. Sean’s body felt as hard and defined as it looked in his tailored clothing. She felt heady and overwhelmed by him. And her desire.
It was hard to deny in the close quarters with their bodies pressed together.
“Here we go,” he said.
With regret, she leaned back and opened her eyes. The light was cast on their faces. She felt transfixed as her eyes flittered over his square-shaped face. His strong chin, cheekbones and jawline were softened by his mouth and sexy downturned dark eyes with long lashes. He truly was handsome. Beautiful even. With his face clean-shaven and his curly hair cut low, he looked younger than his thirty-seven years.
She eyed his soft and tempting mouth as she bit her lip.
His hold of her tightened a bit.
She looked up and their eyes locked.
Chemistry rose quickly and seemed to radiate from their bodies to bounce off the walls.
She felt breathless at the desire she saw in the brown depths of his sparkling eyes.
This was exciting and like nothing she had ever felt before. She nearly ached and trembled from wanting to feel his mouth on hers. And so much more.
“Montgomery,” he moaned.
It was her undoing.
“Kiss me,” she begged, throwing away any and all inhibitions.
And he did with a groan that revealed he was tired of the torture of not tasting her lips.
The first feel of his mouth touching down upon hers delivered a jolt that was electric.
She tilted her head a bit to the side to enjoy it. Revel in the feel of him and how it made her feel more alive than ever. His tongue touched hers before he suckled the tip into his mouth. Her hands playing with his nape as his strong fingers danced up and down her spine before he began to undo the zip of the lemon corseted satin dress she wore.
She offered no objections.
And when the dress slid down her body and around her matching heels, she was too far lost in her want of him to deny herself the pleasure...
A sudden knock interrupted her steamy recollection. With a gasp of surprise Montgomery looked over at the closed door of the en suite. Even now the memory of the heated moments they’d shared on that elevator made her pulse race. She ran her hands through the length of her hair. “Yeah?” she called.
“You okay, Montgomery?” Sean asked.
Her body instantly betrayed her. Everything worked a bit harder in reaction to him on the other side of the door. Her heart. Her pulse points. Her stomach. The fleshy bud nestled behind the lips of her femininity. The explosive night they’d shared did absolutely nothing to quench her thirst. In fact, it left her parched.
She plastered on her cool, calm and collected expression before opening the door.
Sean was leaning against the wall with his ankles crossed and his hands deep into the pockets of his topcoat. “You okay?” he asked again.
His eyes dipped to her belly and Montgomery instinctively pressed a palm to it. “I’m good,” she said, sliding her tote up onto her arm as she stepped into the foyer to stand before him. “And you did great with the junket today.”
“I’m glad it’s over and hopefully it will be the end of the scandal,” he said.
“Hopefully, no other sex tapes from random hookups will appear,” she added as she moved away from him to give the now-empty suite one last walk-through.
“Ouch. Judgmental much?” he asked.
Montgomery opened the door to the bedroom and turned on the light before glancing back over her shoulder at him now standing behind her. “Sorry,” she said, not sounding like she meant it, before she entered the bedroom to walk around with a cursory look.
“I am an adult who enjoys sex,” Sean said, stepping into the room to lightly touch Montgomery’s wrist. “And if my memory serves me, so do you.”
She looked up at him, all too aware of the feel of his fingertips against her pulse and his deep brown eyes resting on her face. That same attraction between them sizzled. She felt hungry for him. With a shake of her head to break the spell, she looked away but her eyes landed on the bed. She envisioned Sean and her naked upon it. Enjoying sex with each other.
Stroke by delicious stroke.
Montgomery turned away from the mirage with a tremble, wishing she weren’t haunted by their rough cries filling the elevator as they climaxed together.
She caught Sean’s eyes resting on the bed as well before he locked his gaze with hers.
There was no denying the intensity in the dark depths. Or the way they made her feel hot and a little light-headed. She eased her wrist from his grip and hurried to rush past him to leave the bedroom. Pressing a hand to her throat she felt her pulse pounding against her palm.
Once the lights had returned and the elevator began to move upward, they had rushed into their clothing and emerged to an awaiting crowd as if nothing had happened between them. In the months following they had never spoken of it or even given the slightest inkling that they had done things to each other in that elevator. Naughty things.
Until today.
The pregnancy talk unlocked the door they both had seemed to close.
“Thanks, Montgomery.”
She whirled. “For the sex?” she asked, feeling the incredulity on her face.
Sean lowered his head with a chuckle before looking up at her.
The move caused her gut to clench.
Why does this man get to me like this?
“No. Thank you for the work you put in to help this scandal die down,” he explained with a smile—that smile.
The charming, disarming one.
“It’s my job,” she said with a succinct nod.
Get it together, Montgomery.
“You’re great at it,” Sean said. “And the sex.”
Montgomery gave him a hard look meant to chastise. “We’re not doing that,” she said.
Sean looked amused. “Having sex?” he asked.
“Having sex. Talking about having sex. Reminiscing on when we had sex,” she said, ticking each off on a finger. “Doing replays on the sex like it was sport or ranking it like I was requesting a score. It was sex, not the Olympics.”
Sean bit back a smile.
“Oooh.”
They both looked to the door to find it open with Hanna standing in the foyer with her face a mask of shock and then excited approval.
Just great.
“I’ll be right with you, Hanna,” Montgomery said, rubbing her fingertips over her brows to ease her rising anxiety.
Thankfully, her assistant immediately stepped out of the room and closed the door behind herself. Still, Montgomery walked over to the door and opened it to ensure the little busybody—who was as smart as she was inquisitive—did not have her ear pressed to the wood. With a heavy breath she closed the door and leaned against it, feeling emotional and drained.
“Hey, hey, hey,” Sean rushed to say as he strode over to her. “What’s wrong?”
In truth, she needed a hug. A tight one. The kind where she could rest her head on a strong chest and let him offer her the strength she felt lacking.
Like in the elevator.
And look what happened.
Montgomery locked her knees and swallowed down all of her feelings. “I’m okay,” she lied, stepping back behind her facade.
Just as she had nearly all her life as she grew up the daughter of a devout minister. Every decision, every action, every reaction, was keeping in mind that she was a preacher’s kid. The weight of what was expected had felt heavy, and her father had made those obligations clear.
So how do I tell him I’m unmarried and pregnant?
“I gotta go,” Montgomery said, sounding as defeated as she felt and needing to be alone to be as weepy as she wanted. “I’ll be in touch about the PR and the—the—the—”
“The pregnancy,” Sean provided.
She leveled her eyes on his. “The pregnancy,” she repeated. “I’ll have it confirmed by my doctor and let you know.”
“Okay,” he said with his eyes studying her.
It made her entire body tingle.
For a moment, as they stood there looking at each other, surrounded by that now-familiar hum of awareness, she could almost believe that everything would be just fine.
Almost.
