A panicked Jessica Simpson secretly took an at-home pregnancy test fearing she’d conceived a baby by new love Dane Cook, The ENQUIRER has learned.
The freshly-minted divorcee withheld her worries from just about all her friends, weathering the pregnancy crisis alone, even after she was assured the results were negative.
“She definitely took an early pregnancy test and, knowing Jessica, she must have been freaking out,” a Hollywood insider revealed.
“Jessica is a good girl – and a surprise pregnancy isn’t something she could go to her agent or her parents about. And of course she no longer has Nick to confide in.”
Jessica’s rep denies it, but insiders say the pregnancy scare is the latest bump in Jess’ roller-coaster love life since she shed hubby Nick Lachey and launched a romance with Cook, star of the hit HBO comedy “Tourgasm.”
“Jessica was on the pill for years, but after she split with Nick and had no steady relationship, she went off it,” the insider confided.
“Falling for Dane took her by surprise and she wasn’t prepared for an intimate relationship.”
Jessica, 26, met the 36-year-old comedian when they started filming the movie “Employee of the Month” this past January.
At the time Cook was living with Raquel Houghton, a singer with the rock band Valli Girls. But as his romance with Jessica heated up, Cook and Raquel split.
Now Jessica and Cook are deeply involved, sources say – and the “Dukes of Hazzard” dish boldly cozied up to him at the hot spot Hyde one night.
“They spent most of the night hugging and making out,” said a source. “Dane had his arm draped over the back of her chair. Every so often they kissed on the lips.”
The insider added: “Everyone in Jessica’s inner circle knows that she and Dane are 100 percent a couple.
“He spends a lot of time at her new home in Beverly Hills and now they’re starting to go out in public.”
“They even ran into Nick one night in Los Angeles, but everyone seemed cool with it, which means they’ve all moved on.”
Jessica and Nick separated in December 2005, after three years of marriage. Their divorce became final June 30. Nick, 32, is now dating “Entertainment Tonight” correspondent Vanessa Minnillo.
And, in an only-in-Hollywood twist, the two couples will likely meet up at the Teen Choice Awards on Aug. 20.
Jessica and Nick are each nominated for three awards, while Vanessa and Cook are each nominated for one award. What’s more, Jess and Cook are co-hosting the show, which will air live on FOX-TV.
But Jess isn’t letting a possible confrontation with Nick bother her.
“Jessica just wants to get through the Teen Choice Awards – and hopefully win a few herself,” said the insider. “She even decided to walk the red carpet with Dane, which is a huge signal to the world that they’re a couple.”
