What If I'm Pregnant...? Read online

  Dear Reader,

  My first book for Silhouette was released in August of 1991. Seeing Patchwork Family on the shelves was one of the biggest thrills of my life. This month, I’m celebrating another thrill…the publication of my fiftieth and fifty-first book in the same month.

  What if I’m Pregnant…? and If the Stick Turns Pink… are stories about…you guessed it—the possibility of pregnancy for two very special couples. I hope these books represent what you’ve come to expect from my writing…heartwarming stories about good people finding love.

  I’d like to take this opportunity to thank my readers. Without you I would have no voice, and I hope that you will continue to enjoy the stories I tell. I’d also like to take a moment to thank Silhouette and the many wonderful editors I’ve worked with over the years. Thank you for allowing me the honor of writing for you. It has truly been a pleasure.

  Best,

  Dear Reader,

  In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we have some wonderful stories for you this February from Silhouette Romance to guarantee that every day is filled with love and tenderness.

  DeAnna Talcott puts a fresh spin on the tale of Cupid, who finally meets her match in Cupid Jones Gets Married (#1646), the latest in the popular SOULMATES series. And Carla Cassidy has been working overtime with her incredibly innovative, incredibly fun duo, What if I’m Pregnant…? (#1644) and If the Stick Turns Pink… (#1645), about the promise of love a baby could bring to two special couples!

  Then Elizabeth Harbison takes us on a fairy-tale adventure in Princess Takes a Holiday (#1643). A glamour-weary royal who hides her identity meets the man of her dreams when her car breaks down in a small North Carolina town. In Dude Ranch Bride (#1642), Madeline Baker brings us strong, sexy Lakota Ethan Stormwalker, whose ex-flame shows up at his ranch in a wedding gown—without a groom! And in Donna Clayton’s Thunder in the Night (#1647), the third in THE THUNDER CLAN family saga, a single act of kindness changes Conner Thunder’s life forever….

  Be sure to come back next month for more emotion-filled love stories from Silhouette Romance. Happy reading!

  Mary-Theresa Hussey

  Senior Editor

  What if I’m Pregnant…?

  CARLA CASSIDY

  To Frankie, Jr., the son of my heart.

  Thank you for the joy you bring to my life.

  Books by Carla Cassidy

  Silhouette Romance

  Patchwork Family #818

  Whatever Alex Wants… #856

  Fire and Spice #884

  Homespun Hearts #905

  Golden Girl #924

  Something New #942

  Pixie Dust #958

  The Littlest Matchmaker #978

  The Marriage Scheme #996

  Anything for Danny #1048

  *Deputy Daddy #1141

  *Mom in the Making #1147

  *An Impromptu Proposal #1152

  *Daddy on the Run #1158

  Pregnant with His Child… #1259

  Will You Give My Mommy a Baby? #1315

  ‡Wife for a Week #1400

  The Princess’s White Knight #1415

  Waiting for the Wedding #1426

  Just One Kiss #1496

  Lost in His Arms #1514

  An Officer and a Princess #1522

  More than Meets the Eye #1602

  ◊What If I’m Pregnant…? #1644

  ◊If the Stick Turns Pink… #1645

  Silhouette Shadows

  Swamp Secrets #4

  Heart of the Beast #11

  Silent Screams #25

  Mystery Child #61

  Silhouette Intimate Moments

  One of the Good Guys #531

  Try To Remember #560

  Fugitive Father #604

  Behind Closed Doors #778

  †Reluctant Wife #850

  †Reluctant Dad #856

  ‡Her Counterfeit Husband #885

  ‡Code Name: Cowboy #902

  ‡Rodeo Dad #934

  In a Heartbeat #1005

  ‡Imminent Danger #1018

  Strangers When We Married #1046

  **Man on a Mission #1077

  Born of Passion #1094

  **Once Forbidden… #1115

  **To Wed and Protect #1126

  **Out of Exile #1149

  Secrets of a Pregnant Princess #1166

  Silhouette Desire

  A Fleeting Moment #784

  Under the Boardwalk #882

  Silhouette Books

  Shadows 1993

  “Devil and the Deep Blue Sea”

  The Loop

  Getting It Right: Jessica

  Silhouette Yours Truly

  Pop Goes the Question

  The Coltons

  Pregnant in Prosperino

  CARLA CASSIDY

  is an award-winning author who has written over fifty books for Silhouette. In 1995, she won Best Silhouette Romance from Romantic Times for Anything for Danny. In 1998, she also won a Career Achievement Award for Best Innovative Series from Romantic Times.

  Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Epilogue

  Prologue

  Colette Carson stood in her bathroom and pulled the pregnancy test out of the plastic shopping bag. Her fingers trembled as she opened the box and pulled out the test instrument and the directions.

  She read the directions quickly, then looked at her reflection in the mirror over the sink. Her eyes were slightly swollen from her morning of tears, and her pale face radiated the torment of heartbreak that ached inside her.

  She couldn’t think about that, she thought as she scanned the directions to the test one last time. She absolutely, positively couldn’t think about him.

  Four weeks ago the only wish in her life had been to be pregnant, and she’d opted to become a single parent. She’d found a clinic that offered artificial insemination and had gone through the procedure.

  Four weeks ago, all she’d wanted was to be pregnant, but that had been before she’d met him, before she’d fallen in love with him and had her heart broken into a million little pieces.

  She stared down at the directions one last time. She’d bought the one she’d thought would be easiest to read. Within three minutes either a plus or minus sign would appear in the test window. Plus meant pregnant. Minus meant not pregnant.

  Simple. Easy. Except that since she had been artificially inseminated her life had suddenly become complicated and she wasn’t sure now if she wanted to be pregnant.

  Deciding she could put it off no longer, she took the test, then set it on the counter and prepared to wait the three minutes.

  “Oh, my,” she muttered to herself. “What if I’m pregnant?”

  Chapter One

  Fourteen days.

  Colette Carson entered her apartment, kicked off her shoes and dropped tiredly on the overstuffed beige sofa. It had been exactly fourteen days since she had been artificially inseminated and on every one of those days she’d wondered if her wish, her dream was about to come true.

  If the procedure had been successful, then she would not only be the owner of Little Bit Baby Boutique, but she would become one of her own best customers. She smiled with sweet anticipation and touched her tummy lovingly.

  She’d never been more ready for a baby than she was at this moment in her life. She was twenty-eight years old, her boutique was successful beyond her dreams and she was confident she could successfully raise a chil
d alone.

  She had approached the decision to become a mother as she had everything else in her life, with unemotional logic and careful clearheaded planning.

  Looking at her watch, she realized Gina would be home at any minute and it was Colette’s turn to cook dinner. She pulled herself up and off the sofa, thinking of the young woman who not only worked for her in her shop but had also become her roommate three weeks ago.

  Gina Rothman was a sweet, considerate twenty-one-year-old, who was renting Colette’s second bedroom until she could afford a place of her own.

  An old friend had asked Colette if she could take in the young woman and Colette’s initial response had been “no way.”

  After a string of bad roommates, Colette had decided she wasn’t willing to share her living space ever again. She didn’t need the rent money a roommate would bring in, and she certainly didn’t need the headaches.

  She was still trying to get over the horror of her last roommate, a woman named Trina who had been into primal screaming and practiced her yoga buck naked in Colette’s living room.

  But Margaret Jamison had begged, telling her that Gina Rothman was a sweet young woman eager to work hard and forge a path in the world for herself. Finally Colette had relented. So far the arrangement had worked out remarkably well.

  Gina appeared to have no hidden vices and seemed eager to learn everything Colette could teach her about running a business and living in the city.

  In the kitchen Colette went to the refrigerator and peered in at the contents. There was a pound of hamburger, and she tried to decide whether she wanted to make a quick spaghetti sauce or tacos.

  Before she could make up her mind, she heard the front door open, then slam shut. She left the kitchen and walked into the living room to see Gina putting the chain lock on the door.

  “Spaghetti or tacos?” she asked her pretty young roommate.

  Gina whirled around to face Colette, her big blue eyes widened in panic. “You’ve got to hide me,” she exclaimed. She raced over to Colette and grabbed her hand. “You’ve got to tell him I don’t live here, that you don’t know who I am or where I live.” The words spilled out of her as she shot a backward glance to the front door.

  “Slow down,” Colette replied with alarm. “What’s going on? Who are you hiding from?” Great. She knew Gina was too good to be true. Had Gina neglected to mention a crazed stalker ex-boyfriend?

  “Tanner. He’s found me,” Gina cried, tears springing to her eyes.

  “Who is Tanner?” Colette asked, worry sweeping through her as she saw Gina’s obvious anguish.

  “My brother.” The tears oozed from her eyes and ran in twin rivulets down her cheeks. “I know why he’s here. He’s come to take me back to that stupid ranch. He’s so mean and hateful and he’s never going to let me grow up, never!”

  Colette relaxed somewhat with the information that apparently the threat was from a brother, not a nutty stalker. “All you need to do is explain to him that you’re doing fine and don’t want to go back to the ranch,” she said gently.

  Gina shook her head vehemently, her dark hair flying around her heart-shaped face. “You don’t understand about Tanner. He won’t listen to me…he never listens to me and Tanner always gets what he wants.” She released her hold on Colette’s hand and ran into her bedroom and slammed the door.

  In the next instant a firm knock fell on the front door. Colette hesitated before answering, trying to assimilate what Gina had just told her. When Colette had taken Gina in, she’d known that this was Gina’s first foray into the world.

  Gina had left her family home in western Kansas and had moved here to Kansas City to begin an independent life. So, big brother has come to the big city to check up on her, Colette thought.

  All she had to do was assure big brother, Tanner Rothman, that Gina wasn’t being corrupted and was handling her new independence with maturity and good sense.

  She unlocked her front door and pulled it open. All rational thought momentarily fled her brain as she eyed the tall, broad-shouldered cowboy with smoldering midnight-blue eyes.

  He was clad in a pair of tight, faded jeans, a blue chambray shirt and boots. His hair was the same rich dark color as Gina’s, cut short and emphasizing bold, strong features. Gina hadn’t mentioned that her brother was a top quality hunk.

  “Good evening,” he said, his voice low and pleasant. “My name is Tanner Rothman and I’m here to speak with my sister.”

  He smiled, the pleasant gesture allowing Colette to relax somewhat. Gina had made him sound like a real ogre, but he appeared respectful and looked like a reasonable man—an incredibly handsome, reasonable man.

  “Hi, I’m Colette Carson, Gina’s roommate. Please, come in.” She opened the door wider to allow him entry.

  As he swept past her and into the living room, she caught his scent, a masculine fresh smell that was instantly pleasing.

  “Please, have a seat.” She gestured toward the sofa.

  “No, thanks,” he replied. “If I could just speak with Gina…” His dark blue eyes swept over her, then perused the surroundings, and Colette wondered if he was looking for something criminal or sinful, some ammunition he could use to get his sister to leave with him.

  As Colette went to get Gina, she smiled to herself. He would be hard-pressed to find anything to use against Gina. The apartment was a reflection of Colette’s life—well organized, efficient and clean.

  “Gina.” She knocked on the young woman’s bedroom door.

  Gina cracked open the door and peered out at Colette. “Is he gone?” she asked.

  “No, but he says he just wants to talk to you,” Colette replied.

  “I don’t want to talk to him,” Gina exclaimed, keeping her voice low. “He’ll talk me into doing something I don’t want to do. He’ll win…he always wins.”

  “Gina, how are you going to convince him that you’re ready to be out on your own if you hide in your bedroom like a child?”

  Gina’s pretty features transformed into a thoughtful frown. “Okay,” she relented. “I’ll come out and talk to him, but only if you stay with me.”

  It was Colette’s turn to frown. “I don’t think I should get involved in—”

  “Please,” Gina begged. “You don’t have to say anything or do anything. Just sit next to me, and that will give me the strength not to let him talk me into anything I’ll regret later.”

  “All right,” Colette relented.

  Together the two women went back into the living room where Tanner Rothman stood at the eighth-floor window that offered a view of the skyscraper next door.

  He turned as they entered the room, and again Colette was struck by how utterly handsome he was. His sensual lips curved up into another smile as he eyed his sister with obvious fondness. “Hello, Gina.”

  Gina sank down on the sofa, and Colette sat next to her. “How did you find me, Tanner?” she asked.

  “That’s not important right now,” he replied smoothly. “How are you? It’s been three weeks and you haven’t called or written or anything.”

  Gina gazed at the wall to the left of Tanner. “I’ve been busy,” she replied.

  “And I’ve been worried,” Tanner replied.

  Colette wished she were anywhere but here. She felt like a fly on the wall who needed to fly into another room and leave these two people some privacy.

  Gina flushed. “There’s nothing to worry about. As you can see I’m doing just fine.”

  “I was wondering if I could take you out to dinner this evening.”

  “I’m not hungry,” Gina replied with a touch of defiance.

  Colette watched the brother and sister. The tension in the air was thick and palpable.

  “It’s almost seven and I know you just got off work,” Tanner continued. “You have to be hungry. Come on, Gina, all I’m asking for is to take you out for a nice dinner.” His voice held a soft appeal.

  Gina hesitated, her gaze going to Colette,
who carefully kept her features schooled in total neutrality. Gina looked back at her brother. “Okay, I’ll have dinner with you, but only if Colette comes with us.”

  Colette gasped in surprise. “Oh, I don’t think—”

  “Fine,” Tanner replied, overriding the objection Colette was about to make. He moved away from the window and walked back to the front door.

  “I saw what looked like a nice barbecue place on the next block while I was walking here. Why don’t we meet there in half an hour or so. That will give you ladies time to freshen up or whatever.”

  Although Colette wanted to vehemently protest any arrangement that included her, before she had an opportunity Tanner was gone, leaving only a trace of his masculine cologne lingering in the air.

  “Gina, I really think you and your brother should talk to each other without me,” Colette said. “I’ll just make myself a salad here. You meet him.”

  “Colette, please come with me,” Gina replied, her big blue eyes begging with appeal.

  “You’re of legal age, Gina. He can’t drag you back with him kicking and screaming,” Colette protested. “You don’t need me there.”

  “If you don’t go, then I won’t go, and then he’ll just come back here. Please.”

  Colette looked at her young roommate and was unable to tell her no. She knew what it was like to have a dream and be surrounded by people who didn’t think you were capable of achieving anything.

  “All right, dinner tonight,” she relented. “But then you’re on your own where your brother is concerned.”

  “Thank you,” Gina said with obvious relief.

  “I’m going to change my clothes,” Colette said, wanting to get into something a little more casual than the power suit she’d worn to work.

  As she went into her bedroom, she vowed to herself that she would eat dinner and keep her mouth shut. There was no way she intended to get into a battle between the handsome cowboy and his baby sister.

  Tanner sat in the restaurant waiting for his sister and her roommate to arrive. He was irritated that Gina had invited Colette Carson to join them. From all the information he’d gathered about the pretty blonde, he had a feeling she was exactly the wrong kind of influence for his sweet, innocent sister.