Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem novel Chapter 1780

"Ah!"

Keaton's head slammed violently into a passing street sign!

Groaning in pain, he scrambled back inside the car. Before he could even brace himself, the driver slammed on the brakes in a panic. Keaton flew forward, his forehead cracking against the back of the front seat.

The driver twisted around, eyes wide. "Are you okay, Boss?"

Keaton rubbed the back of his head, then massaged his throbbing forehead. His entire skull felt like it was ringing. It took him a long moment to regain his bearings.

"I'm fine!"

The driver let out a massive sigh of relief, unable to hold back his exasperation. "What were you thinking, Boss? You had all that time face-to-face with Ms. Newsom and didn't say a word. Then we're halfway down the block and you decide to hang out the window and shout it?"

"Good thing I was driving at a snail's pace because I knew you didn't want to leave, otherwise that could have been lethal! If you wanted to yell, you should have told me to stop the car first!"

"Besides, we were so far away. There's no way Ms. Newsom even heard you."

Keaton scowled, rubbing his bruised ego. "You don't think she heard?"

The driver sighed. "Boss, even someone with military-grade hearing wouldn't have caught that from this distance, let alone a pregnant civilian."

Keaton frowned, genuine disappointment washing over him. "Zero chance?"

Seeing how genuinely distressed Keaton looked, the driver rolled down his window to check the breeze. "Well, the wind is blowing in her direction. So, maybe? Boss, do you want me to turn the car around so you can just say it to her face?"

Keaton stared blankly for a long moment before sinking back into the leather seats. "Forget it. Just keep driving."

The driver couldn't help but laugh. "This is the first time I've ever seen you lose your nerve over a woman! You didn't even have the guts to confess to her face!"

Keaton crossed his long legs, leaning against the door defensively. "What does a single guy like you know? It's not about losing my nerve!"

The driver chuckled and eased the car back up to speed. "I know, I know. It's true love. Look, Boss, if you're really worried she didn't hear you, and you're too embarrassed to go back, why don't you just text her?"

Keaton paused. That actually wasn't a bad idea.

He pulled out his phone, his stomach twisting in knots. He typed out a message, deleted it, and retyped it before finally hitting send.

[Have you thought about what we discussed regarding the baby?]

Keaton decided to be completely honest.

[There are no secrets in elite circles. The news of your pregnancy couldn't be contained. It's already spreading among the socialites.]

Winona: [You heard nasty rumors about me and the baby? Is that why you wanted to rush and give the baby a stable family?]

Keaton: [Yes.]

Winona stared at the screen, her heart swelling. She typed back a deeply sincere response: [Thank you.]

She had anticipated the complications. As a single, high-profile celebrity, a sudden pregnancy was bound to attract vicious gossip and public scrutiny.

But never in her wildest dreams did she imagine that a man would step up, completely disregarding the social fallout, to shield her and her unborn child from the malicious rumors.

And she certainly never expected that man to be Keaton Huber.

Especially since he was doing all of this without even knowing the child was biologically his.

She wasn't made of stone. How could she not be entirely moved by him?