With an exasperated huff, Beth slumped back into her chair and whirled around to face customers. The nurse gave Mia and me an apologetic smile. “I’m so sorry about that.”

“It’s not your fault. I’m kinda used to it by now,” I replied.

“Well, I’m certainly not,” Mia hissed.

Oh great, in Mia’s eyes, I had royally fucked up now. Sensing we needed a moment alone, the nurse motioned us into the ultrasound room. “You know the drill by now, Ms. Martinelli. The tech will be with you in a few minutes.”

“Thank you,” Mia replied.

When the door shut behind us, I inhaled a deep breath. Mia chose to ignore me. Instead, she hopped up on the table. Swinging her legs back and forth, she eyed me contemptuously. “Amorcito mio, I’m really sorry about that.” I took a tentative step forward. “It’s just that I’m used to interacting with fans and getting into a certain zone when I’m with them. I wouldn’t have wanted to take anything away from this day for you or for me.”

Mia weighed my words before reclining back on the table. The paper crinkled beneath her as she unbuttoned her pants and slid them down, tucking them under her bump. I couldn’t resist stepping forward to lay my hand on her bare belly. She watched me intently, searching my face. I didn’t know if she expected to me to pull a douche move and be disgusted by the sight of her stomach or what. It was still so fucking mind blowing that my kid was in there. That somehow, during our whirlwind two weeks together, we had managed to create a life.

“Mia,” I pleaded. “Will you at least call me a few choice words in Italian and except my apology?”

When she finally smiled, I felt like a ton of bricks had been lifted off my chest. “Okay, I’m sorry for overreacting. I guess you couldn’t help it. I mean, that chick really railroaded you.”

I nodded. “I’ve had PR people drill it into my head never to turn away fans, so that’s why I did that. I would never dream of disrespecting you and this special day.”

“Thank you, AJ,” Mia replied.

The door opened, and a tech in green scrubs appeared. “Hello Mia.”

“Hi Karen.”

“Big day today, huh?” Karen questioned, as she flopped down on her stool.

“Yeah, it is.”

Karen eyed me as she picked up a bottle of some gel looking shit. “And who is this?”

“I’m AJ, the father,” I replied before Mia could try to figure out what to call me.

“Nice to meet you.” With a grin, Karen glanced between us. “Regardless of what the sex is of this baby, I can guarantee with you two as parents, it’s going to be attractive.”

I laughed. “Thanks. We do have some good genes to bring to the table, huh?”

Mia rolled her eyes at my cockiness. “Thank you, Karen. As long as it’s healthy, I’ll feel extremely blessed.”

“Okay then. Let’s get started,” Karen replied, after squiring the jelly shit on Mia’s belly. Once it was covered, she picked up a wand and began running it over Mia’s stomach. The instant the baby’s grainy image flashed on the screen I was mesmerized. Seriously, I couldn’t take my eyes off of him or her, and I fought to breathe. It was the most surreal experience of my life. Nothing compared to it—not even being on a stage in front of thousands and thousands of people. “Wow,” I wheezed.

“Pretty amazing, huh?” Mia asked.

“Yeah, it’s fucking intense.” When Karen glanced over at me, I held up my hands. “Sorry.”

She laughed. “Don’t worry. I’m used to it.” As she rolled around the wand, Karen pointed to an area on the screen. “There’s the heartbeat.”

I could hear it echoing all around me through the sound system. “Sounds strong.”

“It is,” Karen replied.

When I glanced down at Mia, she was smiling at me. She squeezed my hand. Tears glimmered in her eyes. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Me too, amorcito mio. Me too.” I brought her hand to my lips and kissed along her fingers.

“So are you two ready to find out what your baby is?”

Since I couldn’t form words, I had to resort to nodding while Mia replied, “Yes, please.”

Karen pressed harder on Mia’s abdomen—the image on the screen shifted to a straight shot at what I assumed was the butt. We had a clear shot between the baby’s legs.

“Looks like you are having a girl.”

Tears spilled over Mia’s cheeks. “Really?”

“Yes.”

It took me a moment to even process the technician’s words. I was going to have a daughter. An image of Melody’s sweet smile formed in my mind along with her calling for Bray. I wanted to have a Daddy’s Girl just like her. I could almost see a dark-haired, dark-eyed girl with pig-tails gripping my hand in her tiny one—a little girl who was a perfect mix of mine and Mia’s DNA.

When I glanced at Mia, her mouth turned down in a frown. “Are you disappointed it’s not a boy?”

“Are you kidding me? Our baby is going to be the first granddaughter on my side of the family—we’re going to rack up some serious shit.”

Mia grinned. “Only you would say that.”

I smiled. “I couldn’t be happier that I’m going to have a baby girl.”

“I’m glad. To be honest, I really wanted it to be a girl.”

“Yeah, I think it’s a good idea not to unleash any AJ Juniors onto the world for a while.”

With a laugh, Mia replied, “You never know. Our daughter could take after her father.”

I shuddered. “God forbid.”

Mia’s hand came up to tenderly rub my cheek. “Don’t sell yourself short, AJ. There are a lot of wonderful traits she could inherit from you.”

At her sincere words, I leaned down to give her a chaste kiss on the lips. When I pulled away, confusion and affection pooled in Mia’s eyes. I could tell she was still fighting with exactly how she felt about me. Once Karen finished cleaning the goop off of Mia’s stomach, Mia adjusted her top and sat up on the table. “I wanted to run something by you. I kinda already picked out a girl’s name, and I wanted to see if you wouldn’t mind.”

“Okay.”

Wringing her hands, she added, “I mean, we can totally brainstorm names together. I really do want your input.”

“Would you just spit it out, Mia?”

“Okay, fine. Isabella Sofia—for my grandmother.”

I smiled. “It’s beautiful. And my abuela’s name is Isabella.”

Mia’s eyes widened. “Really?”

“Sounds like fate, huh?” I reached over to touch her belly. “I think Bella Resendiz has a nice ring to it.”

“Me too.”

I was glad to hear she wasn’t going to argue with Bella having my last name. There was no way in hell my kid was going by Mia’s last name or anyone else’s for that matter—including that douche ex-fiance who was sniffing around.

“Here you go,” Karen said, handing Mia a few snapshots and a DVD of the ultrasound.


“Thank you,” Mia called as Karen left the room. She gave me one of the pictures. “In case you want to flash Bella around.”

I smiled. “I’d love, too. The guys are definitely going to want to see her.”

“I have to get back to work, but do you want to grab some lunch first? The crew at Mama Sofia’s is anxiously awaiting the news.”

I grimaced. “I can’t. I’ve got a lot of shit to do before we leave in the morning.” When Mia refused to look me in the eye, my heart clenched in my chest. All week on the phone and through texts, whenever I would mention Mexico, she would become cagey. “You are coming with me, right?”

She nibbled on her bottom lip. “I’m not sure.”

At her hesitation, I clenched my jaw. “You’re still not sure about me, are you?”

“That’s not it.”

“Yes, it is. Jesus Christ, Mia, after all I went through to get here today, you still have your doubts about my commitment to you and Bella?”

She sighed and turned away from me.

“It’s never going to be enough is it?” I demanded.

“AJ, please.”

Grabbing her by the shoulders, I forced her to look at me. “No matter what I do, you’re always going to let the ghosts of your past fuck things up for us, aren’t you?”

“No, I’m not.”

“You don’t want to go back to Dev—he’s just a means to an end where you don’t have to make a choice.” I gripped her tighter. “Dammit, Mia, I want to be with you and only you. I’ve never cheated on you, and I’ve never lied to you. I’ve made some mistakes where we’re concerned—that’s the truth. But what happens between us next is all up to you.”

“What do you mean?”

I dropped my hands from her shoulders. “I’m not going to let you keep playing with my feelings. I will be a father to Bella, but whether or not, I’m your boyfriend or your future husband or the man you might love, ends today. If you don’t come with me to Mexico—”

Mia shook her head wildly. “Don’t you dare give me an ultimatum!”

“You’re leaving me with no choice. You keep saying we barely know each other. Fine then, come to Mexico with me for two weeks. Get to know me, get to know my family, get to know part of Bella’s heritage. Prove to me that you’re really trying.”

“I am.”

“It sure as hell doesn’t feel that way. You’re making me out to be some bad guy that I’m not. I’m just a guy who cares about you and wants more with you. You can’t keep judging me for my past or my occupation.” Staring into her eyes, I shook my head. “I have your ticket waiting. But I’m serious, Mia. I gotta know you’re truly with me and aren’t going to bail. That’s not fair to me, and it won’t be fair to Bella.”

Tears pooled in her eyes before streaming down her cheeks. “I know. And I’m sorry, AJ. I really am.”

“Yeah, well, you know where to find me. The flight leaves at two tomorrow afternoon—with or without you.” I leaned over and gave her a brief kiss on the cheek before striding out of the doctor’s office. Even though part of me felt like an ass for being so demanding of her, I knew I had to get my point firmly across. I didn’t play games, and I wasn’t going to continue playing this one with Mia. The ball was in her court, and she had to make a decision.

As I got on the elevator, I dialed Rhys. “Get your ass over here and pick me up.”

“Shit dude, did things not go well?”

“Yes and no.”

“Well, lucky for you, I’m just five minutes away. Traffic is still crazy as a motherfucker.”

“Whatever. Just get here when you can. I gotta lot of shit to do before I leave tomorrow.”

“Mia not coming with you?”

I sighed as I tugged my hand through my hair. “I don’t know.”

“I say you at least have time for a few beers after the day you’ve had.”

With a chuckle, I replied, “That sounds like a plan.”

22

The rest of the day after the ultrasound I was an emotional wreck. Before I went back to work, I had put on a happy face at Mama Sofia’s where free desert was given to all the patrons in honor of Isabella—Mia’s Moose of course. My dad was absolutely on cloud nine when I told him, especially about the name. Of course when he had questioned me about AJ, I had shook my head. How could I explain to him what I was feeling? How the doubts and fears of my past continued crippling me in the future with AJ? Not to mention that the one and only time AJ had actually said the words ‘I love you’ was when he was under emotional distress handcuffed to a shower.