You'd think after witnessing the h.e.l.l Billy went through with Rene, I'd get over this guy instead of falling for him. The chemistry I feel with him surpa.s.ses anything else I've ever known, making it impossible to live life without thinking about him every second of the day.

I feel his erection pressing against my side when I get too close, and I start throbbing immediately. I want to jerk his face down to meet mine, but I can't. I know he has a date, and I can't keep doing s.h.i.t to torture myself.

"What have you done to me?" he whispers as his lips take mine without warning.

Tag I can't help it. I have to have her. I can't touch her without wanting to be with her. I can't see her without aching for her touch. It's an incredulous cycle, but I know this can't work.

She wants love, commitment... all the things I can't give her. I wouldn't even know how to fall in love with someone.

Her lips break free from mine, and she pushes me back slightly.

"I'm sorry, Tag. I can't do this... whatever this is, anymore."

Tears drip from her eyes, and she wipes them away while rushing to the bar. I start to follow her, but Crystal steps up to slap me across the face, shocking the f.u.c.k out of me.

"What the h.e.l.l?" she barks as I rub the stinging side of my cheek.

"What the h.e.l.l what? You're a date to a benefit, not my d.a.m.n girlfriend. Get over it," I mutter with a cold tone I could never use on Ash.

"You brought me. You asked me. And then you kiss another girl? A girl with a pudgy belly?"

Pudgy belly? Okay, great. I brought a crazy girl to the party. The last thing Ash has is a pudgy belly.

"Get over it," I repeat while walking off. "Enjoy the free s.h.i.t, honey. I've got to mingle and take care of something."

She rolls her eyes and huffs away. I shouldn't have brought some random b.i.t.c.h.

Ashiara "Tag just got slapped," Erica giggles as she walks over to me.

"I saw. I guess his date didn't appreciate our accidental kiss."

"Accidental?" she asks suspiciously as she sips her gin.

I'm so jealous. I really wish I could have a drink right now.

"Yeah. It's always accidental and rash with us. I'm not sure why I can't seem to think straight around him."

"It's the same with him. I've never, ever seen Tag so out of control around a girl. He never kisses girls in public, but with you, he never stops. Perhaps our bachelor of the century has finally fallen for a girl."

"No. What we had was just intense and hot. He's still no different."

The bartender walks over to finally take my order, and I smile as I say, "Can I get a bottle of water, please?"

He nods and quickly fills my request.

"Water?" Erica muses with a tilted head. "The whole point of spending the night is to get wasted."

I force a smile.

"I'm just not in a drinking mood right now. Maybe some other time."

My eyes flash over to Tag while he talks to the guy who bought all of my mother's paintings. The skinny, pale guy smiles and nods before walking away. Tag's eyes find mine, and I promptly look away before Wren joins him.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say Tag is actually a little in love with you," Erica says in a low, hushed tone.

My heart flutters and drops in one beat.

"I guess it's good you know better," I attempt to say evenly, but the emotion in my voice gives me away.

"Oh, Ash, I'm sorry. I didn't realize how much you-"

"It's fine. I just need some air."

"We're outside," she says in bemus.e.m.e.nt and I let a laugh out while holding back my tears.

She starts to hug me, but in her drunken haze, she accidentally staggers and b.u.mps into me. Her hands press against my belly, and her eyes widen in shock.

"Holy s.h.i.t! You're pregnant!" she shouts.

Tag coughs and spews his drink all over the place, and then Wren's gla.s.s drops from his hand to shatter against the patio.

"d.a.m.n it," I growl while walking away.

Everyone - and I mean everyone - is staring at me as I try to make a hasty exit. Billy rushes to be at my side, and he wraps his jacket around my shoulders as we head to the house.

"What the f.u.c.k?" he whispers.

"Everyone, please get back to the party. It's not like it's something ridiculous to see a pretty, pregnant girl," Melanie says to defuse the eyeing crowd.

The music starts playing again, and I keep my head down as Billy holds me tightly to his body.

"d.a.m.n it, why didn't you tell me?" he growls.

"Because I didn't want Tag to know."

His breath leaves his lungs for a minute, and his face goes pale. I'm praying we can get out of here before Tag comes to question me about it.

"It's his?" he asks in a higher octave.

"Not it, Billy. I'm having a boy. And yes. He's Tag's."

Tag I don't know if my heart is still working or not. How the f.u.c.k did I miss the fact she's pregnant? No wonder Carmen or Crystal - whatever her name is - thought Ash had a pudgy belly. She's f.u.c.king pregnant!

"You breathing?" Wren asks, his own face a little pale.

I shake my head as I watch Ash rush into the house with Billy at her side.

"Do you think it's yours?" he asks, more reservation in his tone.

"I know it is."

Tag I'm sick as I head up the stairs to find Ash. How could she keep this from me?

I don't know what would be worse - to find out it's mine or to find out it's not.

Taking a deep breath, I knock on her door that opens almost immediately with Billy blocking my path.

"You know I have to talk to her," I murmur with a shaky breath.

His lips tighten, and he moves aside to reveal the sobbing girl on the bed. He turns to say something to her, but then he walks out to leave me with her instead.

"Why didn't you tell me, Ash? I could have been there. I could have been helping you through this, giving you money."

She looks up, tears still pouring from her eyes, and then she shakes her head.

"Tag... it's not yours."

It feels like a knife has just stabbed into my back. My heart sinks to the floor. I feel hurt, broken... disappointed.

Chapter Nine.

Getting Physical Ashiara "I can't get over how absolutely adorable he is," Shannon gushes.

"I know. He's amazing," I murmur softly while staring down at my three-week-old son.

"I have to take him to Melanie's this weekend. Right now, we've got a doctor's appointment. He's had a rash I need to get looked at."

"Any chance the father of the baby is ever going to know he's the father?" she asks curiously, prying as usual.

"Not likely. Besides, Tag doesn't want a kid or need a kid in his life. He knows it. One day he might thank me for this."

"Or hate you," Shannon murmurs under her breath, making me tense all over.

"He already hates me. You should have seen the look in his eyes the night I told him Trip wasn't his."

"Trip is an odd name for a little boy."

The night Tag landed in the fountain flashes through my mind. It was an adorable trip that humanized him.

"I think it's cute. So, what time is Billy coming to pick you up?"

"Any minute now. What time are you going to be back? I don't like you being off without your bodyguards."

"There haven't been any calls, notes, or flower arrangements for a while. This creep just stops and starts. He's apparently grown bored with tormenting me now. Have you met Melanie or Wren yet?"

"No. Billy and I are playing this really slow. Right now, it's nothing serious. I haven't even mentioned it to my parents - that's how slow we're taking it."

"Well, I for one think you two are perfect for each other."

Her long, red hair swishes as she drops her head back and smiles in delight.

"We'll see," she says.

Ashiara "Well, Ash, I think he'll be just fine. Just change his diaper brand and see if that helps. I'll see you next week for the checkup."

I nod as I walk out to the almost dark streets. The car-seat weighs more than Trip, and I'm struggling to carry it down the street. I don't know why I didn't grab the stroller.

I've lost too much weight, and I barely have any strength these days.

That's what happens when your life gets as f.u.c.ked up as mine has. I'm still head-over-heels for a guy who is the father of my son, but he isn't ready to be a father or a boyfriend.

Sheesh. Daytime television doesn't have s.h.i.t on my drama.

The walk to the car is exhausting and long, but there weren't any other parking s.p.a.ces available. I smile in relief when I finally see my car, and I quickly fasten Trip in before walking around to my side of the vehicle.

Just when I'm about to open the door, I feel a sharp, piercing pain in my side, and I look down to see blood dripping.

I never heard the gunshot or the gla.s.s shattering. All I can hear now is the sound of Trip crying as I turn to see a short, hooded figure running away - gun in hand.

Tag "The baby is doing great, in case you were wondering," Bity says as he props up against my desk.

"Why would I be wondering?" I mumble while feigning disinterest.

The truth is, I've been sc.r.a.ping together every bit of information I can about Ash and baby Trip. He might not be mine, but I'm seriously considering going to her. The jerk who knocked her up and left her alone needs his a.s.s kicked.

I'm still just as obsessed, and she's going to need someone to be there for her. She shouldn't have to raise him on her own the way Melanie had to raise Bity and Wren - and me, for that matter.

"I think Ash is getting too skinny. She hardly eats, and I think it's because she misses you."