If the Ring Fits (12 page)

“Don’t stop,” Mary Karen groaned.

“Not on your life.” He chuckled, a low pleasant rumbling sound as his mouth replaced his fingers. Travis took her left breast into his mouth, sucking and caressing with his tongue. Just when she thought she couldn’t take any more, he moved to the other breast.

Mary Karen arched against him, tangling her hands in his hair. “Oh, God.”

With a grin, Travis tossed the silk nightie to the floor and ran his tongue with maddening slowness from between her breasts to her belly.

He scattered kisses over her belly, while his hand slipped between her legs. Mary Karen shuddered and let her legs fall open.

“Please,” she begged, dragging her hands through his thick wavy hair. “Please.”

She didn’t need to say more. Travis lifted his head
then lowered himself between her legs, easing gently into the heat of her body.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he said, the muscles in his shoulders and arms tight as he held himself above her.

“You won’t.” M.K. wrapped her fingers around the rock-hard muscles of his arms, swallowing a cry of pure pleasure as he began to move on her, within her, in a sensual rhythm as old as time.

She swept her legs around his hips and met him thrust for thrust until with a gasp she arched her back and came, faster than she’d wanted, his name on her lips when she shattered. A second later, Travis followed her over the edge with a low growl of completion.

For a long moment, only the sounds of their ragged breath filled the room. He eased himself from her only to settle by her side. Slowly his arm lifted to wrap around her, not confining, but comfortable.

“That was…nice,” she said finally. Too late she realized
spectacular
had actually been the word she’d been searching for.

“It was…pleasurable,” he said, looking as if he was trying not to smile.

“Since we have time, I think we should do it again.” Mary Karen leaned over and slid her fingers across his washboard abs. “Only, you know, take it more slowly this time.”

“Sounds like a plan.” He chuckled and rolled her over on top of him, catching her mouth in a hard, deep kiss, practically giving her an orgasm right then and there.

Though she doubted she’d last any longer this time, M.K. was up for the challenge. And, glancing at Travis, he appeared up for it, too.

“I’ll be right there,” Mary Karen called out, pulling open the dresser drawer, curving her fingers around the
soft velvet. She opened the box and placed the ring he’d purchased in Vegas on her left hand.

Family and close friends knew she and Travis were married. Now it was time for the world to know.

Tomorrow he would move the rest of his stuff into her home and their life together would officially begin. She glanced down at the large emerald-cut yellow diamond. While she’d initially seen the ring as a symbol of her foolishness, she now saw it as a symbol of their love and their desire to make their marriage work.

She’d be lying if she said she wasn’t scared. Scared that Travis would grow tired of her and the children and want his freedom, like Steven had. Scared that he didn’t really love her—

Stop,
she told herself. Travis had never lied to her. If he said he loved her, he did. Last night she’d not only seen the love in his eyes, she’d felt it in his touch. And, as far as the babies, the hint of moisture in his eyes when he’d looked at the screen and seen those two little heartbeats told the story.

“Mommy,” Caleb said from the doorway. “Daddy said all the pancakes are gonna be gone if we don’t leave now.”

“Daddy?”

The smile on Caleb’s face disappeared, replaced by a wary expression. “Travis said we could call him that.”

“That’s okay. I didn’t know the two of you had talked,” Mary Karen reassured the worried child. “As far as running out of food, I’ve gone to the pancake breakfast since I was a little girl and they’ve never run out of food yet.”

Caleb kicked at the hardwood floor with the tip of his sneaker. “I’m hungry.”

“You know what, Cal? So am I.” She’d awakened this morning with a voracious appetite.

Mary Karen cast one last look in the mirror. With the forecast of seventy-five and sunny, she’d grabbed jeans and an oversize T-shirt for the outing. But even the loose-fitting shirt couldn’t hide her growing baby bump. The curse of having two pregnancies before this one.

“C’mon, Mommy.” Caleb crossed the room and tugged at her hand. “This is going to be the funnest day ever.”

“Yeah, Mommy.” Travis appeared in the doorway, looking incredibly handsome in khaki pants and a green button-down shirt. “This is going to be the funnest day ever.”

“I’m not your mommy.” Mary Karen greeted him with a kiss.

“Thank God,” he said against her mouth, kissing her back with such enthusiasm that she forget where she was until she heard Cal giggle.

“I’m going to tell Connor you’re kissing again,” the boy said then raced from the room.

Perhaps Mary Karen should have stepped from Travis’s arms. But there was enough new bride in her that she nibbled on his ear instead.

He grinned and tightened his hold. “I enjoyed last night.”

Her lips curved upward. “We never did take it slow.”

“Going slow is highly overrated,” he said, dipping his head and scattering kisses up her neck. “But I’m willing to try as many times as it takes to get it right.”

His mouth closed over hers and Mary Karen let her eyes drift shut, losing herself in the closeness.

“See.” Caleb’s voice sounded from the doorway.

Mary Karen reluctantly opened her eyes. Caleb stood in the doorway with his two brothers.

“Told you they were kissing again,” Caleb said.

“I like kissing my wife,” Travis said and Mary Karen felt a flush of pleasure at the words.

“But we want pancakes,” Logan said.

“Okay, buddy, we’re going,” Travis said, then shifted his gaze back to Mary Karen. “We’ll take up where we left off later.”

“You better believe it.” Mary Karen found herself humming when she left the room wondering how she’d gotten so lucky.

Not only did she have a best friend for a husband, he’d taken to fatherhood like a duck to water.

It almost seemed too good to be true…?.

No. Mary Karen stopped the thought before it could fully form.

Travis loved her.

She loved him.

She would not let any niggling doubts ruin what promised to be a very happy life together.

I
t didn’t take Travis long to realize that spending Independence Day with three children was very different than partying with a bunch of adults.

For starters, he never knew that eating a breakfast of eggs, sausage and pancakes could be so messy. Especially when the twins started a food fight and he found himself caught in the middle.

“Sorry about your shirt,” Mary Karen said. The five of them had a great position on the sidewalk at the beginning of the parade route. “At least syrup will wash right out.”

“No worries.” Travis tugged at Logan’s shoe which rested against his chest. “This covers it completely.”

“I want to stay up here,” Logan announced from his perch on Travis’s shoulders.

Not counting the few seconds Logan tried to use his head as a bongo drum, Travis felt he’d gotten the easy
assignment. Keeping track of one three-year-old was easy compared to M.K.’s duty. She had the daunting task of keeping two highly energetic twin boys under control.

Travis had offered to hold one of their hands, but she’d insisted that Logan would keep him busy enough.

Antique cars filled with area dignitaries passed by, delighting the boys with their odd-sounding horns. Travis had his eyes firmly on the road when the scent of a sultry perfume hit his nostrils. “Travis?”

He turned slowly, making sure he kept a firm grip on Logan’s legs. M.K. had been right again. The three-year-old was as slippery as a wiggly worm.

A tall woman in white linen pants with a pale yellow shirt stepped away from the crowd. “I was hoping our paths would cross.”

Travis hadn’t seen the beautiful brunette for several years. “Leila, this is a nice surprise. I thought you were living in Florida.”

The dermatologist had only lasted one year in Jackson Hole. She’d complained about the cold and the snow to anyone who would listen. No one had been surprised she’d headed for a warmer climate.

“I’m still practicing in Pensacola,” she said. “I’m just here visiting friends. I was going to call but I’d lost your cell number. I wanted to find out if the rumor I heard is true.”

Travis offered her an easy smile. “And what rumor would that be?”

Her brown eyes twinkled. “That a certain handsome ob-gyn finally took the plunge and ordered a BMW Roadster.”

Until this moment, Travis had forgotten about his and Leila’s shared passion for sports cars.

“Z4, crimson red.” Travis couldn’t keep the satisfaction from his voice. “You’ll have to see her. She’s a beauty.”

“An impractical car.” Leila’s lips tilted upward, reciting the comment they’d always gotten from others when they’d mentioned their dream cars. “Like my Jag XK convertible.”

“You got the Jag?”

“Darn right I did.” She nodded emphatically. “It was my first purchase when I moved to Florida.”

“You realize it’s totally impractical,” he said in an exaggeratedly serious voice.

Leila grinned. “That only added to the car’s appeal.”

He shared a smile of understanding with Leila before her gaze lifted to the boy on his shoulders.

“And who is this fine young man?” she asked. “A nephew, perhaps?”

“I’m Logan,” the boy shouted, then shoved several fingers in front of Travis’s face. “I’m three.”

For the first time, Leila appeared to notice Mary Karen, standing next to him. And Travis realized he’d forgotten his manners.

“Leila, I’d like you to meet my wife, Mary Karen,” Travis said proudly. “M.K., this is Dr. Leila Otto. She was a dermatologist in Jackson for about a year before leaving us for sunny Florida.”

Mary Karen smiled. “Dr. Otto. I think we may have met once at a hospital function.”

“Please call me Leila.” Leila returned Mary Karen’s smile. “You must be a special woman to get this one to settle down.”

Leila chuckled. “I don’t think I’ve ever dated anyone who was more determined than me to remain single.”

“I just had to find the right woman.” Travis shot Mary Karen a wink. “The funny thing was she’d been right under my nose all along.”

“Look at the horses.” Connor tugged on her hand.

“I want to ride in the wagon.” Caleb hopped from one foot to the other. “Can I ride in the wagon next year?”

“I don’t know, honey.” Mary Karen smiled apologetically at Leila. “I’m talking to Travis’s friend right now, so I need you not to interrupt.”

“My goodness,” Leila said, her gaze taking in the three young boys. “You two sure have your hands full today.”

“We’re going to have two more babies,” Connor said loudly.

“Yeah,” Caleb said. “Two more brothers.”

“Or sisters,” Mary Karen reminded him.

Leila met Travis’s gaze, and he saw the shock in her eyes.

“Mary Karen and I are expecting twins at Christmastime,” he explained.

Leila opened her mouth then closed it. Opened it again then began to laugh. “Ah, Travis, I’d forgotten what a jokester you can be. You almost had me believing you married a woman with three kids and are now having twins. Next you’ll be telling me that you’re selling the Roadster to buy a minivan.”

Beside him, Travis felt Mary Karen stiffen. “Leila, I—”

“I bet you’re either a sister or a sister-in-law,” Leila said to Mary Karen. “Which is it?”

Travis glanced sideways. The color had left Mary
Karen’s face. For a woman who usually had plenty to say, she stood silent.

“It’s no joke, Leila,” Travis said firmly, meeting her gaze. “Mary Karen
is
my wife and we
are
having twins in December.”

“I—I’m so sorry.” Leila’s cheeks turned bright red. “It’s just the Travis I knew would never—” She stopped. “I’m sorry. I think I better stop before I dig myself any deeper.”

“It was nice to see you again,” Mary Karen said, but the smile had left her eyes.

“A group of us are planning to meet at Alpine Field to enjoy the concert. You two are welcome to join us.” Leila’s gaze settled on Logan who was pulling on Travis’s hair. “Except no one has children so—”

“It’s okay with me if you want to go with your friend.” Mary Karen slanted him a sideways glance while struggling to hold on to Caleb and Connor.

“Thanks for the invitation Leila but my wife and I already have the entire day planned,” Travis said before she could finish. “But, please be sure and tell everyone hello for me.”

“If you change your mind…” Leila pulled a scrap of paper from her purse, wrote down a few numbers then pressed the paper into his hand. “That’s my cell.”

As Leila sauntered away, Mary Karen exhaled a breath. “I’m serious, Trav. If you want to spend time with your friends, don’t let—”

“And I’m serious,” Travis said, sounding shocked she’d even suggest he’d go. “The only people I want to spend time with today are you and the boys.”

“Are you sure?”

“Sweetheart, trust me. I’m right where I want to be.”

Travis sat with his new family at the base of Snow King Mountain and watched the fireworks light up the night sky over Jackson Hole. Mary Karen had placed a small radio beside them on the plaid blanket she’d pulled from the back of the van. Tuned to a local radio station, the patriotic music blaring into the night air had been synchronized to the fireworks show.

People from the community, many of whom Travis had known most of his life sat nearby, their blankets and lawn chairs covering the grassy slopes. They oohed and aahed in unison to the spectacular display. But it was the loud booms that seemed to shake the entire mountain that the children liked best.

“Woo-hoo,” Connor cried out when an M-80-like explosion sounded again.

Caleb and Logan bounced up and down on the blanket and punched each other.

Travis slipped his arm around Mary Karen’s shoulders and put his mouth close to her ear. “Does it mean I’m getting old if I say I could do with a little less noise?”

“I’m right there with you.” She smiled, but the sparkle which had lit her eyes at breakfast had faded. Of course, it could simply be that she was tired. After all, they’d made love most of the night and had been busy all day.

Still, he knew Mary Karen, knew her so well he could tell by her tone of voice when she answered the phone how she was feeling. “What’s wrong, honey?”

She raked her hair back with one hand and sighed. “Three children keep me hopping. How am I going to do it with five?”

“
You
aren’t going to do anything.
We’re
going to do it. And we’ll do just fine.”

“Your friend Leila looked at me like I was crazy.”

“That’s because one child would be too many for Leila.” Travis had to admit that while it had been good to see his old friend, her jab about trading in his car for a minivan had left him with a bad taste in his mouth.

Come to think of it, when Leila had made the comment he’d seen something flare in Mary Karen’s eyes. Could that be what was on his wife’s mind?

“Is this about my car?” Travis said in a low tone. “Are you wondering how we’ll make it work with a minivan and a sports car?”

“I’ve thought about it, sure,” Mary Karen admitted. “But it will be okay.”

“But we’d be better off with another van or an SUV.”

“Of course having another vehicle that everyone could ride in would be best but—”

“A man shouldn’t have to give up everything, M.K.,” Travis said with an intensity that surprised them both.

Her blue eyes flashed and she leaned forward pressing her hands into the blanket, shoving her face in front of his. “Let’s get one thing straight. I didn’t ask you to give up your precious car. I know better. I simply agreed with your comment that it would make more sense the other way. I also understand cars aren’t always about making sense.”

“Are you calling me irrational?”

“Oh, for goodness sake, grow up.”

“Don’t fight with him, Mommy,” Caleb implored, his blue eyes filling with tears.

“Listen to him, Mommy,” Connor said. “We don’t want Travis to leave like Daddy did.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” Travis gave the boys a reassuring smile.

Mary Karen swiped at her eyes. “Travis and I aren’t fighting, we’re
discussing.
”

“You used your mean voice,” Logan pointed out.

“Enough,” Travis said. “Your mom and I aren’t arguing, and I’m not going anywhere. Now, let’s enjoy the fireworks.”

“Look.” Mary Karen raised her hand and pointed. “That’s a pretty one.”

The boys lifted their eyes to the sky, to the bursts of glittering gold and silver stars followed by waterfalls of colors. Lost in his own thoughts, Travis barely noticed. As the show continued, all he could think about was the stricken look in Mary Karen’s eyes when Connor had mentioned his father leaving.

He slipped an arm around her shoulders and leaned close. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what got into me. Forgive me?”

Travis was prepared to grovel, but she accepted his apology with a simple nod and an “I’m sorry, too.”

Something was amiss. How he’d acted was definitely a grievous offense.

Seconds later she touched his hand. “Would you mind terribly if we left now?”

The fireworks display was only half over and she’d told him earlier she was looking forward to the finale.

He searched her face. “Is something wrong?”

She tried to smile but ended up wincing instead. “My back is hurting.”

A cold chill traveled up his spine, but he forced an offhand tone not wanting to alarm her. “How long has it been bothering you?”

She lifted a shoulder. “Off and on all day. But in the past fifteen minutes it’s really started to ache.”

Conscious of three sets of ears in close range, Travis lowered his voice, his entire attention focused on his wife. His pregnant wife. “Have you had any spotting?”

As he waited for her response, his heart began a tap dance against his ribs.

Even in the dim light, he could see her face pale. She placed a protective hand on her belly. “I—I don’t think so. Do you think something is wrong with the babies?”

“I’m sure everything is fine,” he said even as he began packing up their stuff. He motioned for the boys to help him. “It’s been a long day,” he told them. “I think it’s best we leave now, beat the traffic.”

Surprisingly the boys didn’t argue. The five of them made their way to the van, fireworks still exploding in the overhead sky. But Travis’s entire attention remained focused on the woman at his side. He knew the statistics, 10–25 percent of all clinically recognized pregnancies end in miscarriage. Most of those occur during the first thirteen weeks.

Mary Karen was at that thirteen-week mark. It was a good sign that they’d seen the heartbeats on the ultrasound, but even that didn’t mean problems couldn’t pop up.

Not counting last Sunday, it had been six months since Travis had been in a church. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d asked God for anything.

But as he slid behind the wheel, he found himself praying…for his wife’s well-being and for the safety of the two little lives she carried.

Instead of turning on the street leading to their home, Travis kept going straight.

“You missed the turn,” Mary Karen said softly, trying not to wake the sleeping boys in the back.

“If it’s okay with you, I thought we’d make a quick stop at the clinic.”

“Did you forget something?”

Travis turned into the medical center’s driveway and pulled to a stop behind the wood-and-stone structure. He kept his hands on the wheel, his gaze straight ahead. “I doubt either one of us will sleep until we know for sure everything is okay.”

“What are you suggesting?”

“I’ll do a quick check,” Travis said with a reassuring smile. “Followed by an ultrasound.”

Mary Karen turned in her seat and glanced in the back. Part of her wished she could simply head home, put the boys to bed and go to bed.

But she knew Travis was right. If they went home now, she’d worry all night.

“Shall we go inside?” he prompted.

Mary Karen nodded. “Boys,” she said in a normal tone, “it’s time to wake up.”

Caleb rubbed his eyes then glanced out the window. “Where are we?”

“We’re at the clinic. Travis and I have some uh, work to do. The good news is you get to play in the waiting room.”