Page 120 of Tasty Cherry

Jessie turns to her in shock. “What do you mean, fraternizing?”

“I think we get what she means,” Havannah says. “Okay, so we have another situation like Monique and Maverick, only with a more direct line of command?”

Jessie fumbles for words. “Sebastian? Really? You’re everyone’s boss. This is highly inappropriate.”

Despite all the times I pictured this moment, I hadn’t quite prepared myself for their judgment.

“Should we take a moment for me to explain the circumstances?” I ask.

Raya fairly sputters. “The circumstances? How about the circumstances where you are naked, our intern is naked, it’s business hours for both of you, and you are on hotel property?”

Ouch.

Donovan’s mouth twitches, like he’s trying not to show any reaction. Havannah is grimacing, her usual control of her expression faltering as well. She’s got the pillow in a death grip. This has to be my fault. She’s put her trust in me, and I’ve failed.

“I’d like to hear it,” Jessie says. “I’ll be the one filing the report.”

Havannah lets out a long, slow breath. “Can you give us the short version?”

The strangled sound of her voice alarms me, like she is going to react far more fiercely than I expected.

I need to calm everyone down. “I met Mila before she began working here. I wasn’t involved in her hiring, so I had no idea?—”

Donovan interrupts. “Havannah?” He straightens her dress, where a dark spot of pink expands.

“Damn it,” Havannah says. “I was trying to hold that in.”

“I told you this one was for real.” Donovan lunges for the wall and mashes a button. “Sarah, bring the hospital bag. It’s time!”

Raya leaps to her feet. “Sebastian! You sent Havannah into labor!”

“No, no,” Havannah says. “I’ve been having contractions for two hours. I went too early last time with Rebel and embarrassed myself. I was trying to be sure, then Sebastian called. Uh oh—” Her words dissolve into a keening cry.

Oh, geez.

Everyone stands to help Havannah up.

“I’m fine. It’s just a baby.” Water pools at her bare feet. “Donovan, can I get some shoes?”

“Which ones still fit?”

She smacks his shoulders. “Hush. Get the Crocs.”

Sarah, Havannah’s primary assistant, barrels into the room with a black suitcase. “All ready. I’m ready.”

Donovan returns with pink Crocs and bends down to place them on Havannah’s feet. “You’re really wet,” he says. “I think you’ll slip.”

“I’ll get a towel.” Sarah rushes off again.

“Do I have time to change dresses?” Havannah asks.

“You nearly had the last baby in the limo!” Donovan says.

“No, no,” Havannah says. “You’re forgetting. We thought I was going to have the baby in the limo, but then it took another twenty hours.”

“Oh, right.”

Havannah looks at all of us. “It was our first date. It was a lot.”