Read Claimed: The Pregnant Heiress for Free Online

mine?”
    â€œNo,” she shot back, insulted. “The baby’s mine. You were simply involved in the conception.”
    He bit off a sharp retort. Sniping wouldn’t get them anywhere fast. First things first. “Have you seen a doctor? Had a pregnancy test?”
    She closed her eyes and shook her head. “I’ve been deluding myself the past few weeks that I was simply late.”
    â€œTwo months late?”
    â€œIt happens,” she retorted defensively. “Or so I’ve heard. But now…”
    â€œNow you’re not so sure.”
    She buried her face in her knees again. “No.”
    He struggled to think logically, to tackle the problem—assuming a baby could be considered a problem—one step at a time. “First, is there anything I can do to help with the sickness?”
    â€œTea and crackers would be nice.”
    â€œI have the tea, but not the crackers. But since I’m going to run out to a pharmacy and pick up a pregnancy test, I can snag some crackers at the same time. I assume you want plain versus fancy? Crackers, that is.”
    She shuddered. “Very plain.”
    â€œEmma?” He waited until she lifted her head and looked at him. “One way or another we’ll figure this out. First on the list is to find out whether or not you’re pregnant.”
    A hint of amusement brought some much-needed color into her face. “There’s a list already?”
    He leaned in and kissed her forehead. “Honey, there’s always a list.”
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    Chase soon discovered the difficulty wasn’t finding a pregnancy test. It was choosing among the dozen options that filled the shelves. Finally, he simplified matters and scooped up one of each before heading for the checkout counter. The cashier gave him an odd look.
    â€œThat hopeful or that afraid?”
    He could hear Brooklyn in her voice, a familiar whiff of home. Chase handed over his card and gave her a steely look that had successfully cowed some of the toughest businessmen New York had to offer.
    â€œCharge it,” he told her.
    For some reason The Look didn’t work with Brooklyn. “I’m just saying.”
    Fortunately, the crackers and the basketful of basic food groups he decided he should add to his ever growing list proved far less stressful to purchase at the grocery store. This cashier, clearly a native Californian, limited himself to a polite “Have a nice day.” And though he didn’t actually say “dude,” it was implicit in his voice. Considering that he’d been born and raised here in Vista del Mar, before going to live in New York with his father at the tender age of ten, he had feet planted on both coasts. Memories cascaded through him of a life he’d given up all those years before. Carefree years. Lean years. Years filled with laughter and a mother who adored him. He shoved the bittersweet images aside, refusing to dwell on the what-ifs if he’d made a different choice and forced himself to maintain his focus on the job at hand.
    Chase returned to the condo, collecting a speeding ticket along the way. Officer Garcia was also excruciatingly polite and Chase made an executive decision to avoid choosing a red Ferrari for his next visit. You just couldn’t go wrong with basic black. He found Emma where he’d left her and joined her on the floor, upending the bag from the pharmacy.
    Emma stared at the dozen boxes. “I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I don’t have this much pee.”
    â€œI didn’t mean for you to use all of them.” Though if the first result proved positive…or negative… Chase frowned. Proved baby-on-board, he’d insist she take another one. “I figured you could choose the easiest to use.”
    â€œI think they’re all pretty much the same. But maybe some are easier to read than others.”
    â€œRight. Start with those.”
    She lifted an eyebrow.