The Billionaire's Game(76)

She fingered the two additional bangles that Kade had already added to her collection, intricate gold spirals with delicate designs, one of them bursting with a variety of color. Both were much more detailed than the ones she’d bought for herself, and incredibly beautiful. The only tiff they’d really had in the last few weeks had been his highhandedness over ditching her car and buying her a new one. It had ended with him apologizing for doing it without her knowledge, but he had stubbornly refused to return the new vehicle, asking her to drive it for him. Really, Kade made it so damn hard to refuse him when his reasoning all revolved around her safety.

Remembering something else she’d talked over with Dr. Miller, she asked Maddie, “I wanted to see if you could recommend a gynecologist. I’m late this month. I know it’s just the stress of what’s been happening, but I think I finally need to know exactly why I’m infertile. It’s going to be vital to my healing process and acceptance.”

Maddie’s head jerked up and she pinned Asha with a calculating stare. “How late?”

Asha shrugged. “A week or two. It’s no big deal.”

“And you’re emotional every day?” Maddie asked carefully. “Have you been sick or nauseated? Anything else out of the ordinary?”

“The smell of garlic seems to make me nauseous lately. I’ve had to stop cooking with it for now.” She looked at her sister, the suspicious look on Maddie’s face forcing her to add, “I’m not pregnant, Maddie. You know that’s not possible. I only mentioned this because I think it’s time for me to start dealing with reality instead of going through life with blinders. I need to know why I’m not fertile. Then I can move on. Kade accepts the fact that we’ll never have natural children, and we’d both like to adopt someday.” Asha’s heart lightened at the thought. Kade was an extraordinary man, and she knew he really didn’t care if he had children of his own. He truly believed that there were so many children in need of a good home that it didn’t matter if his children were his blood or not.

Asha watched as her sister hurriedly rose to her feet as quickly as a woman who was carrying twin babies could get up. Popping to her feet, Asha grabbed Maddie’s arm and helped her straighten. “What are you doing? You’re supposed to be resting,” Asha scolded, knowing Maddie was really starting to feel the effects of carrying twins.

“We need to see if you’re pregnant,” Maddie said excitedly, waddling out the kitchen door without another word.

Asha followed quietly behind her, putting a hand to her flat belly. No! She wasn’t even going to consider the possibility. “Maddie…I shouldn’t have mentioned it. I know I’m not.”

Stopping in the downstairs bathroom, Maddie ignored her, rifling through her medicine cabinet until she had what she wanted. “Asha…no offense…but your ex-husband was the lowest scum on earth. Do you think he wouldn’t lie?” She handed Asha the two pregnancy tests she had in her hand and waved at the toilet. “Pee. Now.”

Asha grasped the pregnancy tests to her chest, her heart starting to gallop like a herd of wild horses. What if…

“I’m not pregnant,” she told her sister again obstinately.

A small smile formed on Maddie’s lips as she pushed Asha lightly into the bathroom. As she closed the door she said softly, “We’ll see.”

Alone in the bathroom, Asha pulled the first test out of the packaging. She was completely familiar with the tests. She’d used plenty of them early in her marriage, sad that she couldn’t conceive, but secretly relieved every time they came back negative. But it would be different this time. Now, she’d give anything to see a positive result, even though the chances of that were pretty slim.

Gathering her courage, she tested twice.



Kade beat her home that evening. As Asha let herself into the house, she could smell something delicious in the air.

A man who cooks!

Kade’s culinary talent might be limited, but he tried, and he’d even gotten some easy recipes from Sam.

Asha stood at the entry to the kitchen, silently watching her fiancé with awe. How had she ever gotten this lucky? Just a few years ago she’d been a battered wife, and now she was the cherished fiancée of the most wonderful man in the universe. With his wealth, looks, and personality, Kade could have had any woman of his choosing, yet he wanted her.

You are worthy. You are worthy. Asha chanted the mantra in her head, not completely sure she entirely believed it yet, but Dr. Miller said that acceptance would come with time. Right now, she just felt damned lucky.