Free A Pregnancy Scandal by Kat Cantrell

track of the ceremony. “I do.”
    Nodding, the minister repeated the questions to Alex, who also said, “I do,” and after sliding their respective rings on each other’s third fingers, it was done. They were married with none of the emotion of the first time he’d done this.
    It was a relief. Alex had distracted him from thinking about Gina from the moment she’d appeared, and he was oddly grateful for her good humor in the face of not feeling well. He’d thought this day would be difficult to get through, but Alex had turned that on its head by holding a conversation during the ceremony.
    No expectations. It was a strange mantra for marriage, but for an unconventional agreement like theirs, it worked. So far.
    â€œIs it okay if I kiss you?” Phillip whispered in case she didn’t want anyone else to know her stomach was upset.
    She scowled. “Of course. It would seem weird if you didn’t.”
    But then it was weird anyway because five hundred people were watching. Would they know this marriage wasn’t a loving union? That was one aspect he and Alex hadn’t discussed—if they were going to act like a traditional married couple in front of others.
    Since there was no time to chat about it, he turned her away from the crowd so they had a measure of privacy.
    When he cupped her face, she smiled and it filled him from the inside out. Suddenly, it didn’t matter who was watching. He kissed her and she opened underneath his mouth. For a moment, he soaked in the perfection of how this woman he’d just married fit against him.
    He hugged her deeper into his embrace and let the one part of himself that wasn’t off-limits to her have free rein. His body reacted like it always did whenever Alex got within a few feet. Which wasn’t necessarily appropriate for a crowded church, any more so than it had been for a crowded party. There was no giant statue here, so he reluctantly let her go to the sound of applause and swelling music.
    Breathlessly, she regained her balance, her lips red and bare of lipstick. Funny, he’d got to the point where he preferred her without makeup now that he had a basis for comparison.
    Phillip took his bride’s hand and they walked down the aisle together as husband and wife. With the wedding out of the way, it was all downhill from here.

Five
    P hillip couldn’t concentrate on the guests he’d invited to the reception.
    Alex had invited some friends and family but the majority of the guest list consisted of movers and shakers from around the globe: people who benefited his future campaign for the White House. People he owed favors to for previous campaigns. People he knew from Congress. Old friends of his parents, who happened to own most of Dallas. Every one of the attendees on his guest list had significant power and influence.
    This wedding wasn’t a joyous celebration of the union between two lovers, like the one he’d shared with Gina, but a carefully orchestrated event designed for a future presidential campaign. He had to think about it that way, or he wouldn’t get through it. Or at least that had been the plan.
    But instead, all Phillip could think about was his new wife, who had fled to the bathroom almost thirty minutes ago. She’d been trailed by three women in lilac, so he knew she was in good hands. But not one of them could be bothered to take two minutes and bring him word that Alex was okay?
    He was worried about her. The baby was half his and he couldn’t carry it, but he could at least be there to help ease Alex’s discomfort. Get her water or something . Why hadn’t she asked for him?
    Senator Galindo breezed by with her husband, the CEO of a telecommunications company. They chatted for a moment and then Alex joined their group, a small smile in place.
    Finally, he could assess her condition for himself. Make sure she didn’t need to go home and lie down. She looked