Harrier's Healer (26 page)

nonexistent swell of your belly. Not to mention the way his eyes landed

on you and didn’t want to move off, almost like he was trying to

commit you to memory again.”

He was watching me?
“I don’t know what to do. Sharon, I said I

was on birth control, and I was but….” Alexis ran her hand over her

face.

White teeth flashed against tan skin and Sharon drove through

the green light. “Must be a very,
very
potent man you have there.”

Rolling her eyes Alexis silently agreed. “Or it is proof positive you and

he were meant to be.”

Don’t know about that, Sharon.
“Hmm.”

“Girl, if I had a man like that looking at me like he looked at

you…damn. I wouldn’t be single, that’s for sure.”

Arching an eyebrow, Alexis said. “Sharon, you
aren’t
single.

You’re married.”

Sharon turned into the parking lot. “Oh, yeah. Hmm. Well,

don’t tell the hub I forgot, okay?” she replied with a wink as they got

out of the car and walked into the hospital.

The peach dress fit Alexis beautifully. It stopped just below her

knees and formed to her body, leaving nothing to the imagination. She

had matching heels on her feet that brought her a little closer to the

height of the man with her, but not all the way. Thick, wavy hair had

been left free to fall around her shoulders.

The man was dressed in a very nice dark gray suit. It was made

to fit his broad, muscular physique and accentuated all of his fluid

motions. As they walked to the table, his hand was settled comfortably

on the small of her back. They made a striking couple.

“I’m pregnant.” Alexis blurted out after they had been left alone

by the waiter. She stared across the table at the man and waited for his

response. Nervous fingers beat out a staccato rhythm on the linen

tablecloth.
Please don’t be mad. Don’t be angry or disappointed.

“How in the hell did this happen?” he growled in a low voice,

his thick hands clenching into heavy fists.

Harrier's Healer

157

Swallowing hard, Alexis took a sip of her ice water. “I think you

know how it happened.”

Eyes narrowed as the man tried to visibly relax. “Not what I

meant. What I meant was—” He fell silent as the waiter brought them

their breadsticks, not saying anything until they were by themselves

once more. “Whose is it? Who the fuck is the father?!”

C h a p t e r T w e n t y - T h r e e

Well, this is going swimmingly.
“Do you really need to ask that

question?” Alexis’s eyes glared into the ones across the table.

“Yes. Jesus, Lex. I thought you were on the Pill or something!”

His hands waved around in agitation.

She slammed her hand down on the table, ignorant of the stares

that fell on them at her action. “That’s none of your damn business. I

don’t need a lecture from you!”

“What? You were expecting me to be happy? You aren’t mar-

ried!”

The accusation stung. Big tears welled up in her profound eyes.

“Yes, I expected you to be happy. At least supportive. You aren’t

married, either.”

The man immediately stood up and crossed around to the other

side of the table, gathering her into his arms. “Alexis, honey, I’m sorry.”

After a kiss to her temple, he took his seat again.

With a shaky smile, her delicate hand reached across the table to

lie upon his. “I know. It came as a shock to me also.”
That’s putting it

mildly!

The man with her placed their dinner orders before returning to

their conversation. “Okay, so where does this leave us?”

“You know I love you, don’t you?” she said as her eyes thanked

him.

“I know. And I love you too.” He grinned. “A baby. When are

we due?”

“I’m ten weeks or about that. Can you believe it, Piers? A baby.”

Her voice was full of wonder.

Harrier's Healer

159

A dark-haired man watched the couple eat and rise to leave. Fol-

lowing on their heels, he, too left the fine establishment and headed up

the coast to a cabin along the beach.

Bursting through the front door, he shouted, “Scott! Scott, where

the hell are you man?”

“What do you want, Reeve?” came the growling voice from be-

side the big bay window. “I’m busy.”

Reeve Leighton walked into the living room and found his older

brother sitting where he always sat, by the window looking out at the

ocean. “The hell you are. I now know what is bothering you.”

Blue eyes cut over to land on his brother. “What do you think

you know?”

Reeve walked outside onto the deck, leaned against the railing,

and allowed his response to flow back through the opened door to his

brother. “Why didn’t you just tell me that you and that doctor of yours

broke up?”

Scott jumped up and swore as he settled along the rail beside.

“What are you talking about? Who said we broke up? And for that

matter, where the hell did you see her?”

Narrowing his eyes, Reeve looked out over the water. “I saw her

tonight. And from what I overheard, it is not any big surprise that you

have been so damn pissy lately. I mean you have been moody, but not

in a long time have I seen you this jumpy.”

“What are you talking about?” It was a demand for an answer,

not a request.

“That she is with a man and they are pregnant.” Reeve turned

his head and watched his brother’s reaction. The expression of anguish

on his brother’s face shocked him. Reeve felt bad imparting this to him,

but Scott was his brother and Reeve believed he had the right to know

everything.

Scott’s body grew rigid. “Look, I know you weren’t overly

pleased meeting her, but there is no reason to lie to me like that.”

“I’m not lying to you, Scott. She and this man—I can’t remember

his name right this second—were sitting there talking about her preg-

nancy and her being about ten weeks along.” Reeve clapped his brother

on the shoulder. “I’m sorry, man.”

160

Aliyah Burke

“What was his name?” Scott ground out between his teeth.

When Reeve didn’t answer right away, he shook his brother. “Damn it,

Reeve! What was his name?”

“It was, it was…Pete. No, Paul, no Piers. That’s it. Piers. She

was with a man named Piers.”

“Are you sure? Reeve, think very carefully and make sure you

are positive that was the name she called him.”

Reeve nodded, glimpsing the panic and relief fighting within the

blond man. “Yes, I’m sure. She called him Piers. They were very com-

fortable together and the affection was obvious.” Brown eyes watched

nervously as his brother took the news.

“Ten weeks,” Scott began to pace. “Ten weeks would be about

the time…the time along the cliff in San Diego area.” His eyes flickered

back and forth. “She would tell me, wouldn’t she?”

“What are you talking about, Scott?” Reeve asked as he watched

his brother warily. On one hand Scott was more animated than he had

been in a long time; but on the other, he was mumbling and acting

strange.

“I have to go!” Scott yelled to his brother as he ran back into the

house to grab the keys to his Corvette.

“Where are you going?” Reeve hollered back.

“Piers is her brother and that baby…that baby is mine!” He was

gone, leaving Reeve staring after him like he was an idiot.

In his car, Scott placed a call. Nodding as he hung up the phone,

his jaw set in a grim line. “I can’t believe she didn’t tell me I was going

to be a father!” Clenching his jaw, he shifted gears and sped off down

the interstate.

As he pulled into the lot of her apartment, he slid his car into a

spot and turned off the engine. He saw her vehicle there and, as he got

ready to get out of his car, Scott noticed Piers leaving the building. Still,

he waited.

The people who saw the muscular man get out of his car fell si-

lent as he passed. One look at him and there wasn’t a single person who

wanted to confront him.

His face, chiseled and handsome, was set in a determined line.

Eyes were trained on something that only he knew. The fabric of his

clothing, from the dark green shirt to the black BDUs he wore, molded

to his body, outlining the muscles that were so obvious even in the

partial light from the lampposts surrounding the parking lot.

Harrier's Healer

161

Each and every inch of him screamed
warrior
. His strides were

sure and dogged as he approached the main door. Men stepped out of

the way and women found their breath caught in their throats. It was an

amazing sight to see his raw power and unwavering focus.

Single-minded purpose took him up the stairs to the third floor,

immediately striding to the door that said 3B on it.

Opening the door in answer to the fierce pounding, Alexis

found herself looking at the man who never seemed to be far from her

thoughts. “Yes?” she queried, trying to ignore the erratic beating his

presence caused in her heart.

Scott just stared at her, making Alexis feel self-conscious. Her

hair was piled high on her head; she wore a cut-off sweatshirt and a

pair of black shorts. He took a deep breath and his eyes dragged closed.

“What do you want?” she asked further. The sooner he stated

his business, the sooner he could leave.
Not that I want him to, but it

hurts to see him like this and not touch him.

“Marry me,” he blurted out.

Shocked, her eyes grew wide. “Excuse me?”

“Marry me.” His eyes stared straight into hers.

If only you knew how much I want to.
“What are you doing here?”

Alexis asked, ignoring what he said.

Bracing his hand on the doorframe, he leaned in closer to her.

“Invite me in,” he purred.

What if he finds out about the baby?
“You can only stay for a short

time. I’m exhausted and need to get some sleep. I have a very long day

tomorrow,” Alexis announced as she swung the door open wider to

allow him into her sanctuary.

“Why did you ignore me in Norfolk?” He waited while she shut

the door before he took a seat.

Sinking down onto her couch, Alexis tucked her legs under her.

“I gave you the proper respect, Commander. What do you want?”

“Marry me,” he said again.

“Haven’t we already discussed this?” Her voice was tired.

Scott didn’t answer her. Instead, with one swift and smooth

movement, he rose from his chair and plucked Alexis off the couch

before striding down the hall to her room.

“What are you doing?” she asked as her body instinctively

molded to his.

“Shut up, Lex. Just shut up.”

162

Aliyah Burke

Opening the door to her room, he held her with one arm as his

other jerked back her satin sheets before he laid her upon them.

“Get some sleep, my healer. I will be here in the morning and

we will talk then.” he said, brushing a hand over her face.

“There is nothing to talk about,” she slurred as her body sank

gratefully into the mattress.

“Yes, there is.” He was unable to stop touching her.

“No, there’s not. I’m not getting married. That hasn’t changed.”

He brushed a tender hand over her forehead. “Sleep now.”

The next morning, Alexis opened her eyes slowly. She had

learned that if she did anything quickly in the morning it would send

her straight into an ocean of nausea. Her eyes moved around her room

and she realized she was alone.

Funny, she could have sworn Scott had been here last night. Sit-

ting up she swung her feet over to reach the floor.
Oh, well, it was just a

dream.
So thinking, she went to take a shower and start her day.

Twenty minutes later, she stumbled out of her bathroom, still damp

from her shower, wearing nothing but a silk bathrobe.

“When were you planning on telling me?” the voice reached her.

Why am I not surprised to find you really
are
here?
“Telling you

what?” Alexis opened her closet and pulled out a loose-fitting summer

dress.

“You can’t be serious?” Scott demanded as he plunked himself

down on her bed as if he belonged in it with her.

Alexis met his gaze before turning and walking to her chest of

drawers where she pulled out a matching set of undergarments. “Look,

why don’t you just tell me what you are doing here? I’m sure your

blonde woman is missing you.”

Since her back was turned, she missed the predatory and arro-

gant grin that crossed his face. “She doesn’t mean a damn thing to me,”

he purred.

Alexis jumped because his voice was now right in her ear.

“Whatever.” She tried to sound nonchalant.

Strong arms placed themselves on either side of her, effectively

trapping her against the dresser. “We will deal with that later. When

were you going to tell me we were having a baby?”

Her head dropped against the smooth wood. Alexis knew it was

pointless to try and deny it. There was pooch of her belly now. “How

did you find out?”