Free The Boss's Love by Casey Clipper Page B

up and fly across the world if we want or stay out until two in the morning. If we decide to grab a pizza at four in the morning, after making love to each other for hours, I want to be able to do that without thinking twice." She sobbed into his chest. "What kind of mother could I be? I don't have it in me, Darren. I never have." 
                  "Of course you will be an excellent mother. You're loving, you're caring, and you'll have me by your side to help you every step of the way," he said devotedly. "This baby is half of both of us. You'll love him or her because of the half of me that makes up our child. If it's a son, you'll adore him because he is my son. If it's a girl, you'll adore her because she'll be my princess."
                  When she looked into his eyes, he made sure she felt nothing but love and devotion for her and the possibility of a family. She leaned her head into his chest and sighed.    
                  "I love you," she whispered.
                  "I love you too, baby. Please come home with me," he pleaded. If he got her home and away from the abortion clinic, he knew he succeeded in changing her mind. At least momentarily.
                  "Okay," she said, her voice barely audible.
                  Darren squeezed her and kissed her on top of the head. "That's my girl."
                  He helped her off the ground, slipped her purse off her shoulder, and handed it to Carl, who stood off to the side with Jack. "Take her car, Courtney is coming with me." 
                  "Yes, Boss." 
                  Darren led Courtney to his SUV and helped her slide into the back seat. After he situated next to her, he pulled her protectively into his body for comfort. Whether it was for him or her, he wasn’t quite sure. But one thing was certain, once he felt confident her decision to keep the baby was solidified, he planned on lighting into his wife. He was beyond furious.
     
    ***
     
    Courtney
                  A week after Darren had caught her outside the abortion clinic, Courtney hadn't been allowed to be left alone for one minute. Jack or Carl drove her anywhere she needed to go. To work, to showings, to the store. Never alone. Not that she blamed her husband.
                  Her morning sickness continued, creating a new routine of vomiting, ginger ale, and dry toast or saltine crackers to start her day.  
                  While she waited for Jack to grab the SUV to take her home, Courtney thought about her now strained marriage. His usual surprise visits during her workday had disappeared. No calls to check in on her. Which meant his anger towards her must have been epic. He wasn’t speaking to her except to make certain she ate or asked how she felt. She sighed heavily. What a mess she had created but needed to fix. Immediately.  
     
     
    Darren
                  Darren heard Courtney come into the house but he remained in the kitchen. He refused to greet her. He continued to have a difficult time getting past her betrayal. He hadn’t voiced his anger, afraid she’d go behind his back again but this time succeed in ending the pregnancy. Instead he held his anger close to the chest. 
                  He heard her step into the kitchen while he continued preparing a grilled chicken dinner. 
                  "That smells good," she said.
                  That surprised him. Nothing smelled remotely appealing to her. Her stomached turned at the slightest scent of food. 
                  "Are you hungry?" he asked hopeful. He was concerned about her loss of appetite and weight.  
                  "I am, for a change," she said, giving him her warm, loving smile. 
                  Unable to help himself, he smiled in return. Even pale and sickly she was the most beautiful