A few hours later, the blaring security alarm woke her up. She skipped out of bed and typed in the code to turn it off. The door to the villa was open and Fallon gingerly stepped outside.
"Gina?" She called gently to the figure standing in the darkness near the pool. She moved closer.
The figure turned and they encountered each other, but it was not Gina.
"Doctor Cahill? What are you doing here?" Fallon asked in surprise.
He was standing at the edge of the pool, completely shirtless and looking tragically beautiful. Fallon felt her cheeks redden as she looked. His grey sweatpants hang loosely on his hips; he didn't have a defined six pack but his slim built looked well taken care of and thankfully, no tattoo.
"It's just Taylor when I am not working Miss Eftekhari and I think I should ask you the same question."
"I asked first."
"I live here."
Fallon almost fell back in shock, "You? You live here? You are Gina Fairway's boyfriend?"
His lip twitched in half a smile, "No need to remind me, I already know she is out of my league. What about you? Chasing a big celebrity story?"
"No," Fallon fidgeted with the hem of her pajama top, "I work here. When I heard the alarm go off, I thought Gina had triggered it."
"You are the live in staff Whitney said will be at hand?"
"Yeah."
"You okay?" He asked gently.
Fallon was surprised by the off topic question but replied all the same, "I am good. Where is Gina?"
"Asleep. I Just wanted to catch some fresh air. Are you cold?"
Fallon was about to say no, then she realized that her teeth were chattering so she just chose not to reply to his question.
"Sorry I woke you up. Come on, let's get you back inside."
"It's fine. I can go on my own. Just stay within the compound, okay?"
"Actually I was headed back inside too. Come on," he tugged at her arm and Fallon had no choice but to go with him.
She was acutely aware of his hand on her wrist, tugging her back inside the villa. The warmth of the villa was so welcome to her after the cold outside that she let out a soft sigh.
He glanced at her feet, "You went outside barefoot?"
"Er, didn't have time to put on shoes. I thought it was Gina sleep walking."
"Come, sit by the fire with me," he offered as he approached the electrical fire in the living room.
"I really should get back to bed," Fallon said reluctantly. Of course she wanted to sit with him by the fire, but he was also Gina's boyfriend. His concern for her was already making him more and more likable in her eyes.
"Just for a few minutes, until you get your feet warm at least."
"The villa is heated doctor."
"Humor me."
Fallon sat down on the couch opposite him.
"You okay?" He repeated his previous question.
Fallon knew what he was asking, "Yeah. I am keeping it."
He nodded pensively, "Yeah. I thought you would."
Fallon wanted to tell him about Gina's check but she didn't how much he knew so she decided against it.
"You should start your check-ups soon. Do you have any OB in mind?"
Fallon shrugged, "It's just the seventh week, I will figure it out."
"And your boyfriend? Is he on board?"
"Not really, but I am hoping he will be soon."
He gave her a scrutinizing look, "It must be a difficult adjustment to make for someone as young as you are."
"You are not that much younger than me genius," Fallon said with a smile.
"I am twenty eight. Six years your senior and I don't have kids."
Fallon was surprised by his age. She had pinned him at twenty four or twenty five; but it made sense that he should be twenty eight since he was a doctor, didn't doctors go to school for years and years?
"So, you and Gina huh? I would never have imagined."
"We have known each other since she was a baby."
"Oh. How long have you been together?"
He stood up, "I find it that I always need a drink to speak to a reporter, do you want something?"
"Just water thanks."
He headed to the kitchen and a few minutes later he came back with two water bottles and two glasses. He handed one to her before opening his and carefully filling his glass. Fallon drank directly from her bottle.
"How is that morning sickness?" He asked.
"Seriously? You are going to shamelessly dodge my question like that?"
He smiled, "You really are a reporter. But I am here in the capacity of your OB so I ought to make sure you are okay."
"No. You are here in the capacity of a client, someone who is renting the villa, and I should inform you that we have very strict NDAs so no need to be afraid, I won't be able to print anything you tell me here even if I wanted to. So how long?"
"As long as I can remember."
"Really? But you have never appeared with her anywhere! Not even on social media."
"Gina leads a very public life, we find it prudent to strictly keep our private life private."
They were silent for some time; Fallon stole glances at him every now and then. She had to admit, she could not picture him with Gina at all. Gina was your basic white girl, and he was... enigmatic. He looked like he should be dating a complex person, like a tattooed songwriter with mental health problems or something.
"You didn't answer my question miss Eftekhari, how's that morning sickness?"
"Call me Fallon or Fal, or Alloy, well my sister calls me Alloy so you can just call me that if you want."
"How do you get Alloy from Fallon?"
"I guess you take the allo and add a Y to make it edgy, it was a stupid high school thing."
He sipped his water, seeming thoughtful, he said, "It suits you. I think it had something to do with your appearance more than being a derivative of your actual name. So, how is that morning sickness?"
Fallon adjusted her position on the couch and groaned, "God, you should be the reporter. You never let go of things, do you?"
"Humor me."
"Not bad. Haven't thrown up in two days."
"Appetite?"
"Good."
"Tiredness? Fainting spells?"
"A bit of dizziness but only when I haven't eaten."
"Breasts?"
"Tender."
He nodded, "Keep yourself well rested and hydrated, okay? And do not make it a habit of going outside in the cold with bare feet."
"Sex?"
Fallon was glad to see him thrown off balance for once. She smirked.
"It's allowed, as much as you can get, although I will recommend finding someone else other than your boyfriend, he sounds like a really shitty piece of work."
Fallon played with her hands nervously, "He isn't."
"Really?"
"He is really kind and supportive and a good person, he is just scared you know, but I am sure he is going to come through for these babies."
He stood up suddenly, his eyes boring holes into her, "Supportive huh? He couldn't even come with you to the clinic and you call that supportive?"
"He..."
"Had work,I know," he said picking up the now empty water bottles and the glasses, "Just so you know, a real man would have held your hand from the minute you told him you are pregnant and never let it go until you were okay. Goodnight Fallon. Get yourself some sleep."
Fallon watched him throw the water bottles away, put the glasses in the sink and head upstairs before she rose slowly and headed to her own room.
Why was he so determined to hate on Tom when he hadn't met him? What right did he have to pass judgement?