Free Fate's Redemption by Brandace Morrow

Chapter 1
    “Oh, none for me, thank you,” Ali says,
waving off the waiter. The young man turns to me and I just start
to open my mouth when I feel an arm go to the back of my chair.
    “She can’t have any either. We’ll take
bottled water. Thanks, dude,” rumbles in my ear. I turn my head
slowly to look at my husband.
    “What. Are you doing?”
    His handsome face is a study of innocence.
“What, babe?”
    “I wanted a long island. This is the first
time we’ve had a night out in a long time.”
    Danny’s hand moves to my arm and begins
stroking. “I just don’t think you should be drinking is all. We can
still have an awesome time.”
    I lean away from him to look at his face.
“What’s wrong with you?”
    Deklan leans over the table, all rocker
spiked hair and leather jacket creaking. “Is there something you
guys want to tell us? You know the reason Ali can’t drink.”
    I glance over at Danny and see him give
Deklan an eyeball widening, subtle nodded look. That’s it.
    “Daniel Walsh! What are you doing? I’m not
pregnant,” I yell in exasperation.
    He tucks his chin to look down at me, his
light blue eyes slightly hurt. “You don’t know that. “
    I look around the expensive restaurant, but
people aren’t paying attention to us, anymore than they are the
other celebrities eating their dinner.
    “I do know that. I started this morning.”
Ugh. Yes, I just said that in front of rock God Deklan Thomas and
his ultra-cool wife, Ali.
    Danny looks down as he rolls his lips in to
bite them, before pasting a smile on his face and looking to
Deklan. “Next month then, right? Trying’s the fun part.” He gives a
weak laugh and my heart sinks. Not this again.
~
    “I had no idea you were trying. Why didn’t
you say anything?” Ali asks me as we wash our hands in the restroom
after dessert.
    “Because we aren’t. I’m still on birth
control and he knows it. He’s been on this baby thing lately.” I
shake my head and check my reflection since we’re about to walk
into a paparazzi storm.
    Ali takes lipstick out of her purse. “I’m
sure our news didn’t help you at all. “
    I wave off the thought. “He was on it before
you told us you were pregnant. It’s like his biological clock has
started counting down, instead of mine.”
    “So you aren’t ready? You already have one
baby.”
“He’s three. We’re still doing potty training. I do want more kids,
but with work and everything, now just isn’t the time.” I shoot my
balled up paper towel into the trashcan.
    “I hear ya, girl. Maybe one day I’ll actually
get to plan a pregnancy. Apparently, Dek has super sperm that can
huff and puff and blow those eggs out of their house. “
    Giggling, I ask, “Aren’t you on the same
pills as me?”
    Ali closes her purse with a snap and starts
walking towards the door. “Yeah, well. Who can remember to take a
pill every freaking day? They should make it once a month or
something, like the dog’s heartworm pill.”
    “It’s a good thing you aren’t
schizophrenic.”
    When we get back to the table we see Deklan
watching Danny with a fascinated look on his face. Danny has his
fist in the air and is saying something through gritted teeth. My
horror mounts when I hear his words.
    “I really feel like I got in there last
night, dude. I was like, locked in that shit.”
“What shit?” I ask in dread.
    Danny’s face shows his knowledge of how bad
he’s fucked up, while Deklan turns to us with wide eyes and a
smile. “Danny was just telling me how he planted his seed last
night, Kinley.”
    “Seed?” Ali asks as she sits down.
    “In the garden of Kinley’s womb,” Deklan says
helpfully.
    “What the hell is wrong with you?” I ask
Danny.
    Ali turns fully to her husband. “Did you come
up with that on the fly?”
    “Nothing, darlin’. I was just talking guy
stuff.” Danny tries to brush the incident under the rug.
    “Just came to me,” Deklan unwraps a
peppermint with a grin, “give