Pretty and Pregnant by Madison Johns Read Free Book Online Page A

that I’m not that much into pain, and these days, you don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
    “What drugs can they give you that wouldn’t hurt the baby?”
    “Epidural. It goes near the spine and numbs you.”
    “Okay, I guess that doesn’t sound too bad.”
    The SUV screeched to a stop and Kimberly handed the takeout containers to Jeremy when he opened the door. She wiggled off the seat and followed Jeremy up the sidewalk and inside the house.
    “Kimberly, settle yourself on the coach and I’ll join you with the food.”
    ***
    Kimberly admired a photo on the mantle. It was of a young girl about age five holding the hand of a laughing brunet te. She emitted a small gasp and wondered if the child was Jeremy’s daughter.
    Dishes clanked behind Kimberly and she whirled. Jeremy set the food down on the coffee table, and his eyes narrowed. “What?”
    Kimberly eyed the picture again. “Is that your daughter?”
    He laughed. “No, that’s my niece Katie, and my sister Betsy.”
    “Well, Katie sure is a cutie.”
    “She sure is.”
    Jeremy unstacked plates, placing the food on to them. He then said, “I thought you were hungry.”
    She sat on the couch, picked up a fork, and said, “We could have just eaten out of the takeout containers.”
    “That’s no way to begin our marriage. I wanted tonight to be special.”
    “Special how? We were supposed to be talking business.”
    “Okay, then you talk and I’ll eat.”
    Kimberly and Jeremy were silent now as they tore into the food. “This is great chicken,” Jeremy said.
    “It’s even better than the chicken in Frankenmuth.”
    “I heard about that place, but personally have never been there. It’s a German tourist town, right?”
    Changing the subject, “So is the deal a good one or not?” Kimberly asked.
    “Yes, it’s a pretty solid deal. You will be getting your photos taken tomorrow and there will be a commercial shot next week. It’s no longer a perfume ad. Now it’s a body lotion. They figured it makes more sense.”
    Kimberly’s jaw jacked open. “Aww, what kind of lotion.”
    “It’s coco butter based with shea butter. It seems that the pregnancy market is a solid one. Corrine thinks with a hipper version of an expectant mother, it will take right off.”
    “And what about the money?”
    “You’ll be paid twenty-five thousand to start and the rest will be paid in royalties. You’ll make more money over time that way. Every time your commercial is played, you get paid.” He poured milk into a cup and handed it to Kimberly. “There is a stipulation though.”
    Kimberly’s brow wrinkled. “I figured.”
    “You have to be married for the deal to go through. They are afraid, otherwise it risks their campaign.”
    “So this is the real reason you wanted to marry me then?” No more second guessing anymore.
    “Yes, but like I said before I think it’s best for the baby.”
    “For how long?”
    He smiled. “What are you worried about, Kimberly?”
    “How long is this farce of a marriage going to last?”
    He wiped his face with a napkin. “Well, until after the baby is born and the contract is over.”
    “Which is when?”
    “Two years.”
    She gasped, her face visibly whitening. “Two years!” That’s two years too long.
    “I promise I’ll be a good husband.”
    Her head pounded. “Publicly you mean.”
    “Well, yes.”
    She pushed her plate away from her. “I hope you know that I want a room of my own and Weenie needs space to roam too.”
    He swallowed hard. “Whatever you wish, Kimberly.” He smiled. “Don’t worry. We have always gotten along at the office so no reason we can’t here.”
    She smiled and stood. “You can take me home now.”
    “You could stay you know. I have a spare room downstairs.”
    Kimberly shook her head. “No, Weenie can’t be left alone all night,” she insisted.
    Jeremy drove her home and gave her a peck on the cheek, promising to get the application for the marriage