Chapter 2

Eight months later

Vicky held the baby in her arms. It'd been a boy. A beautiful boy! She thought about how she'd felt about having a baby and all those feelings had vanished. She now just thought of how stupid she'd been trying to get rid of it. He was precious! He looked cooed softly in her arms.

"What are you going to name him?" The nurse in the room asked.

"Jason."

"Ah a nice name," she said smiling at the baby. "He's gorgeous! Looks like he's got your red hair."

Vicky noticed the hint of red in her baby's hair but also saw the dark brown that was inherited from Ray. The baby soon fell asleep in her arms. She soon found out she didn't mind getting up every two hours to feed her baby. She didn't mind that he spit up on her or that he tended to bite on her sore nipple. She loved him! She loved him more than anything!

Three Years Later

"So if you weren't a model what would you be?"

Lindy looked spacey. Her big blue eyes looked up at the ceiling and then back at Ray. "Hmm that's kind of tough to answer. Modeling is my passion. I've always loved fashion, growing up I made my own little dresses, so I'd have to say if I weren't a model I'd be a designer."

Ray gulped. Lindy Lively was a beautiful creature. She was one stunning woman! She was 2 years older than him. She'd been modeling since age 16 and now was considered a supermodel. Ray had been nervous as hell when he had to interview her. She had just done a show in Milan and that's where they met.

Lindy looked down at her watch and smile sweetly. "I have to get going are we finished here?"

Ray nodded. He stopped the tape recorder and jotted down a few notes. A woman like Lindy was hard not to stare at but that was it. He couldn't imagine himself being involved with someone with very little personality. He watched her grab her handbag stand up. She smoothed down her short skirt and giggled. "Goodbye. This was fun!" She trotted down to the hallway.

"Pretty isn't she?"

Ray almost jumped up. He turned to see Astrid Lucio standing behind him. Astrid was a photographer for several fashion magazines. He'd seen her around the offices in California and recalls seeing her back in Chicago. She was tall, almost as tall as Ray. She wore her long jet black hair pinned up most of the time when she let it down it was almost down to her waist. She had big blue eyes and long eyelashes. Now this was the kind of woman a man could fall in love with. Astrid was smart, funny and confident. It had been rumored that she wanted to be a model but found that her true love was photography. She could be a model, Ray thought. She was 29 years old but looked 22.

"Who?" Ray asked as if he didn't know what she was talking about.

Astrid laughed softly. "Lindy. Don't pretend that you don't think she's gorgeous."

Ray blushed. "Ok, I admit that she is. So what? Sue me."

Astrid gave him a sexy smile. "We all wish we could look like Lindy."

"Why? I think you look beautiful." It'd been a bold statement but it was the truth.

Ray swore he saw Astrid blush. "Listen, I took a few pictures out in the runway I was wondering if I could have your opinion about which ones I should choose for the next Vogue issue."

Ray agreed. They headed off to her hotel and went up to her room that was occupied by several hairdressers and make up artists. She grabbed her laptop. "C'mon, let's get out of here."

Ray stared at room full of people. "Jesus, I thought a hotel room was for one, maybe two people."

Astrid laughed. "It is, but these people are in my room because I had to do a few shots of several models earlier before the show. They decided to fix up the models in my room and stay there. I'm kicking them all out later tonight. Right know I'm just so tired. I don't feel like shouting at them."

They headed down the elevator and Ray followed her to the bar. She walked fast, but with a sexy sashay. She wore a dark gray pantsuit with black-heeled wedged shoes. She looked so professional and yet so sexy.

They grabbed a table at the bar and she ordered drinks for them both. She opened up her laptop and connected her camera to it. "Now this will only take a second. Thanks again for coming with me. I wanted someone's opinion on these pictures."

Ray sat back enjoying his drink. He watched as she concentrated on her computer.

"Ok, now here we go ... here..." she turned the laptop over so he could view the pictures. "Just click on the bottom to view the next picture."

Ray was at awe. She was one hell of a photographer. The way she used the colors, was so amazing! He stared at one picture for a long time before heading off to the next picture. "These are just breath taking," Ray said softly.

Astrid smiled. She took a sip of her drink. She liked the way Ray made her feel. She felt so comfortable around him. She'd seen him around and figured he hadn't noticed her since she was always in a hurry, but she'd noticed him.

"Have you seen any in particular that I should use?"

"All of them!" Ray blurted out.

They both laughed. "Seriously I can only use three for that shoot."

"What? Are you serious? I'm only supposed to choose three?"

She nodded.

"Hmm ... that's going to be tough."

"I got all night," Astrid said in a sexy voice.

Ray looked up and saw her eyes piercing at him. She was so beautiful, but she wasn't Vicky. Damnit! Why did he always have to think about Vicky? Vicky was the past, Astrid could be a future. He wasn't sure yet.

"I don't want to take up your time," Ray said politely.

Astrid blushed. "You won't. I like talking to you."

To avoid from blushing, Ray dropped his eyes back down to the photographs. He knew Astrid was an intense woman. He hadn't felt so nervous around a woman since Vicky. He'd gone out with a few women but nothing serious. Hell, he hadn't even slept with a woman since Vicky! Now looking at Astrid, he felt that would change.

"Well, I like this one ... and that one ... and ... hmmm..."

Astrid eyed him curiously. She wondered how old he was. He looked young still, but for some reason seemed more mature than other men she'd dated.

"That one. I love that one!" Ray exclaimed.

Astrid looked at his choices and nodded. "I think I would have chosen the same pictures. You got great taste."

Ray took a sip of his drink. "I try."

"Listen, I didn't get to eat earlier. How about we go get something to eat?"

Ray looked up at her. Her big blue eyes hypnotized him. "Uh..."

"Unless you got another engagement, I understand."

"N-no. I mean, sure that sounds good."

They went to dinner and talked for a long time. They walked down the streets of Milan getting to know each other. Ray had learned Astrid had been married once, at a very young age but never had children. Somehow he felt closer to her than he had with any other woman. Ray then confessed what happened to him with Vicky. He confessed that he still thinks about the child he might have had and the woman he would have married. Astrid comforted him. By the end of their so-called date, they were kissing just outside Astrid's hotel room. Everyone had left Astrid's room. Ray was invited to join her that night and he didn't dare turn her down.

It'd been the hardest three years of her life, but Vicky had managed to survive. After having Jason, she had to move to a smaller apartment, which meant cheaper rent but more headaches. She had noisy neighbors and a heater that would only work when it wanted to. She finally managed to get a job at a clinic, which brought in decent money but not enough that she could splurge on things she wanted. Jason came first now.

She lived in three or four apartments until she finally got a job at one of Chicago's most prominent hospitals. Slowly, she was putting her life back together again but it hadn't been easy. She's gone through nights without eating just to make sure Jason was fed. But even after all the hardship, she hadn't regretted anything except the way she had treated Ray. She wondered if Ray were around, how different would her life have been?

Jason had survived his own struggles as well. He'd gone from babysitter to babysitter until Vicky found a great live in nanny to care for her child. Brianna was 36 years old and from Iowa. She had excellent references and it showed. Jason seemed happy with his sitter, happier than he'd ever been. Vicky figured she'd keep Brianna until she'd be able to get off the nightshift and be able to work days to have time to take Jason to and from school and be there for him when he got home.

Vicky could make it. Other single mothers did it all the time. She'd hold her head up and continue providing for her son. She hadn't dared thought about being with another man. No one compared to Ray. No one ever would.

Six months later

Ray got in late from his flight from Spain. It'd been a grueling week for him. There had been six shows for him to cover along with two photo shoots where he had to go track down some models to interview.

He was tired and wanted to desperately head home to bed. He knew he had to call Astrid, just as he had promised. They'd been going hot and heavy for the past few months. He enjoyed spending time with her.

He grabbed a cab back home. It was past one in the morning and he wondered if he should call Astrid since it was so late. He got to his apartment and as soon as he opened the door his jaw dropped. Astrid stood before him wearing a gorgeous black lacey nightgown that didn't leave much to the imagination. He'd forgotten she had a key to his place and would drop by every now and then.

"Are all my welcomes going to be this sexy?" Ray asked dropping his keys on the coffee table and approaching her slowly.

Astrid smiled sweetly. "If you want your welcomes to be this sexy, I can arrange that."

Ray put his arms around her. "God, it's good to be home."

He felt her skinny arms wrap tightly around him. She smelled delicious as she always did. He hadn't realized how much he'd missed her until he felt his cock getting hard.

"I missed you," she said softly in his ear.

"Mmm, I missed you too. Can't you feel how much I missed you?" He pressed his cock against her leg.

She giggled. "I sure can!"

He looked down at her and was about to kiss her when she stopped him. Ray groaned. "What? You don't want to give me a kiss?"

Astrid sighed and released herself from him. She turned her back to him. Ray looked puzzled. "Astrid?"

She took a deep breath before she turned to look at him. She slowly turned and her eyes met with his. She was starting to cry.

"Astrid? Honey? What's wrong?" Ray asked nervously.

"I don't know how to tell you this. I mean I wanted to make love first, but then I see you and ... I really love you Ray."

Ray stood back. It'd been the first time she said that she loved him. He had never said he loved her because he wasn't sure if he did or not. He knew he LIKED her but not loved her. He hadn't loved anyone since Vicky.

He didn't respond to her love statement. Instead, he went to her again and put his arms around her. She sobbed on his shoulder. She was only an inch shorter than him but suddenly felt like a little lost girl in his arms.

"What is it? Tell me please," Ray urged.

Astrid moved back and held his hands in hers. She looked into his eyes and smiled faintly. "I'm ... I'm pregnant."

Ray had to take a few minutes to absorb the information she'd blurted out. Suddenly he was taken back over three years ago when Vicky had told him the same thing, only now this was Astrid. Ray hoped there wouldn't be heartache this time. He had loved Vicky so much and still loved her but he'd been heartbroken when she told him she didn't want to have his child. He wondered what Astrid was thinking. Was she thinking of getting rid of this child too?