No Strings Attached

Part 28 - No Strings Attached

"Kimberley! Breakfast is getting cold!"

Merry Christmas Kimberley. You're pregnant.

I slipped on one of Rick's blue shirts over my underwear. I smiled. This was the shirt that had the top button missing from when Rick and I were... well, you know.

The shirt cut just before my thigh and the missing top button showed the edge of my grey lacy Victoria Secret bra.

But it wasn't the time to be thinking about how to seduce my husband. I wasn't that girl anymore.

I sighed and padded downstairs towards the kitchen, scraping my straightened hair off my face with my fingers.

Rick stood in the kitchen, with his back facing me.

"No, I am not going to sell AAC and no I am not driving a hard bargain. Who do you think you are threatening me? I'm one of the richest men in America! Look, my wife's just out of hospital. My priorities lie with her and her only.... NO! I do not want to make a bargain! Goodbye!"

I dragged out the stool on the breakfast bar, "Good morning."

He turned towards me and smiled, kissing my lips, "Good morning baby. It's great to see you up and about."

This wasn't going to last long, not if I told him I was pregnant again, and getting rid of it for certain this time.

"What was that about?"

"Oh nothing," he smiled, placing the plate of pancakes in front of me, "Just some idiot trying to make me sell the company. Luckily I've got the best attorney ever. You."

I laughed for the first time in what seemed like forever, "If needs must, you can defend yourself in court. You're the one who owns a multi-million dollar business."

"Hm." He said, "Well that's true... Now I was just about to do something but I can't remember what..."

I smiled shyly, "You were going to kiss me."

"Of course," he grinned, his eyes sparkling as he leant forward and softly placed his lips on mine.

We were interrupted by his phone ringing.

"Hang on," he said, pulling away from me and picking up the BlackBerry off the table.

"Riccardo Alonso."

Pause.

"How the hell did you get this number and why the hell are you ringing me after all these years? No you cannot come to my house!"

Another pause. Riccardo looked angry and frustrated.

"What makes you think I want to talk to you?"

Rick looked angry and frustrated.

"Okay fine. We can talk later. Yes, the only time I am free is next week Tuesday. No, I cannot rearrange! Goodbye!"

"Who was that?" I asked, once he had hung up

He raked his fingers through his hair, "It was my dad. And my step-mom. They want to...meet you. They've read about the wedding and now my father is reaching out. You know how I feel about that."

I sighed. Rick's relationship with his father was...tumultuous to say the least and a hell of a roller coaster ride. In recent years, they'd resumed speaking again, but my husband had held his father at a distance. He wasn't at our wedding...we'd never met.

I linked my arms around Rick's neck, "Riccardo, this could be a good thing. Perhaps he wants to mend some bridges, you know, make amends?"

He sighed, "No. No it is not a good thing, Kim. I'm not having him mess around, especially not with you."

"Please try, for me, Rick," I sighed, "You'll regret it otherwise."

"Perhaps we can... talk about it."

I raised my eyebrows at his tone, "Where?"

He chuckled and snapped his fingers, "Damn. You foiled my plan."

I stood on tiptoes and kissed his lips, "Does it matter?"

Those cute hazel eyes were staring into my soul, "I'm happy to see you so happy Kim. You would tell me if there was anything wrong wouldn't you?"

I smiled at him again, "It's okay Rick, you don't have to worry about me anymore."

LIE.

He scooped me up into his arms and I giggled as he tickled my ribs, "RICK! RICK, STOP! GOD, RICK, STOP!"

"You'll be saying something like that later on I'm sure." He grinned cockily, carrying me into the corridor

I shook my head, "Uh-uh. No way. Not once I'm done with you."

"Rick! Oh Rick! Oh God Rick!" He laughed, putting on my high-pitched Californian accent with a hint of British, seeing as I had lived there for nearly a decade. But of course Rick didn't know that, no one would ever know that... my past, not that I had anything to be ashamed of or anything to hide... I just wasn't the same person I was back then...

He began carrying me up the stairs.

"Nope." I teased, "You'll be the one screaming my name."

I kissed his neck in that pressure point.

"Kimberley!" he groaned

He cursed under his breath.

"You see!" I grinned cheekily, "What did I say?"

He rolled his eyes, "Enough with the talking, Mrs. Alonso. I've got plans for you."

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