Lone Star Burn: Love On Tap (Kindle Worlds Novella) (16 page)

“Can you fix everything?”

“I’m going to damn well try.”

“Dad, you shouldn’t curse. Will Jennie be my new mother so we can be a real family?”

“Have I ever broken a promise to you?”

“No.”

“We will be a real family.”
Come hell or high water
, he silently added.

Now all he had to do was convince Jennie to marry him, despite him telling her numerous times he didn’t believe in the sanctity of marriage. He didn’t have to be a mind-reader to know she’d declare he was marrying her because of the baby. It was so far from the truth. It killed him to be away from her, but he’d given her the time she’d asked for to make sure their love could survive her imposed separation. He’d decided to marry Jennie the moment she’d hung that old boot on the front door, declaring his house a home filled with love. He also had several aces in the hole.

Jennie returned to her office and sat on the tan leather couch. She had it placed against the wall so she could look out the window at the sports fields. Lately, she’d been using the soft-cushioned couch to take a catnap after lunch.

“Since when does Mathew have a cell phone? He’s ten years old.”

Caroline smoothed the skirt of her summer white dress and sat next to Jennie. She also ignored the clipped tone in Jennie’s voice. “This is Matt’s longest time away from his dad.  He  knows the adoption is official, but he still needs to be able to reach out to Grayson anytime he wants. Deep down I think he’s still a little unsure of the people in his life.”

“You mean like me?” Jennie put her fingers to her throbbing temples and rotated them slowly. “I’m sorry for being so bitchy. I let them down, and there’s no making up for me walking away.”

“You did what you had to do. My biggest question is, why haven’t you told Grayson he’s going to be a father?”

“He’s told me numerous times he doesn’t want to get married, and I’m not about to use the baby as a trap to get him to marry me. Financially, I’m very comfortable, thanks to my brother overseeing my investments. Single women raise their children all the time. Tomorrow I’m meeting a realtor to look at houses.”

“I understand your reasoning, but you’re wrong not telling him. Jennie, Grayson loves you so much. He’s not a man to walk away from his responsibility.”

“Exactly, his responsibility.” Jennie put a hand to her belly when the baby kicked the side of her stomach. The first time she’d felt the butterfly fluttering, she cried and cried because of the miraculous sensation she never thought to experience.

“Jennie, do you love Grayson?”

“More than life itself, but I’d never trap him into doing something he didn’t want to do.”

“Have you spoken to your parents?”

“Yes, and you’ll be glad to know they agree with you, and so do my brother and sister-in-law.”

Any further argument would be like beating a dead horse, so Caroline gave up, for now. She looked at the time on her watch. “Can we take you to lunch? I heard they have fantastic food at the Spoonful Café in town.”

“The food is incredible, and tell Sallie Mae, the owner, who you are.” Jennie’s stomach felt a little uneasy. “I’d like to, but I have an appointment at one with a group who is viewing the equipment in our gym for the physically handicapped. The company just finished putting in the special lifts in our indoor and outdoor pools. They’ll make a hefty donation if they like what they see.”

“Simon has deep pockets. Hit him up for a donation.” Caroline stood up and gave Jennie a warm hug. “I promise to keep your secret, but please reconsider your decision to tell Grayson about the baby.”

“Give me a couple of days. I need to think about how I’m going to tell him.  I’ll walk down to the field with you so that I can say goodbye to Mathew.”

The next morning, Gray used the company jet to fly into a private airport just outside of Laurel Heights. He hadn’t slept all night, making sure everything was in order for his confrontation with Jennie. He’d spent the last six months planning this move. It was to be a surprise. Jennie wasn’t the only one keeping secrets.

Loretta and Boomer needed a bigger place to live with the baby coming, and had decided to rent Grayson’s house. He’d promoted Boomer and Larry to managerial positions at the Roadhouse, and hired a manager and an assistant manager for the brewery.

He exited the plane and smiled at his future brother-in-law—he hoped. He’d never formally met Preston Reynolds, but they’d spoken two or three times a week since Jennie left Fort Mavis, as he was the one to uncover all of the information on Dottie Dimple. Gray’s father was more than grateful for Preston uncovering the employee who’d been helping himself to his daughter’s trust fund. He’d paid for the investigation out of his own pocket.

Gray was aware that Preston had lost a part of his leg in Afghanistan. He was recently married, and one would never know he wore a prosthesis on his right leg.

“Thanks for picking me up,” Gray said, extending his hand before throwing his luggage into the back of Preston’s SUV.

The two men didn’t speak until Preston exited the small airport and headed down a two-lane road toward Laurel Heights.

“I want you to know that everyone has been urging Jennie to tell you about the baby, but she’s damn stubborn.”

“I couldn’t believe it when Mathew called me yesterday.”

Preston took his eyes off the road to issue Grayson a meaningful stare. “You are planning to marry Jennie, right?”

“That’s been my plan all along, but now I’m not so sure. She’ll think I’m asking because of the baby.”

“You don’t know how hard it’s been trying to keep your secrets. Since moving here, she’s never asked why the Roadhouse on the outskirts of Laurel Heights was shut down.”

“I’ve never told her I’m the owner and planned to add a microbrewery. Reconstruction will be starting within the month. It will also have its own unique name.”

“It helped your lawyer is the mayor and she was able to push through all of the paperwork on your new real estate. So what’s your plan?”

“I don’t exactly have one, because I’m still annoyed with your sister for not telling me about the baby herself.”

“Just don’t hurt her,” Preston warned. “The entire community will tar and feather you and railroad you right out of town.”

Jennie sat at her desk and sipped her tea. She loved coffee, but just the smell made her nauseated. The baby had been very active during the night and decided Mommy didn’t need any sleep. She’d canceled her appointment with the realtor because she was just too tired to look at houses. Since this was technically a day off, she’d come in to approve the coach and advisor’s schedules, and then was going home.

She looked up when there was a soft knock on her door, and Gloria walked in.

“I’m sorry to bother you, but there is an irate man outside demanding to see you. He said a couple of bullies ganged up on his son in the locker room off the pool and he demands to know what kind of security we have around here.”

“That’s impossible. This entire building is monitored twenty-four-seven for security and we’ve never had any problems. Send him in.”

Jennie stood up and adjusted the slightly flared maternity top over her stretchy denim Capris. It wasn’t her usual business attire, but technically she wasn’t supposed to be in the office. She was tired, but maybe a good fight was what she needed.

She walked around the front of her desk and waited. The smile on her face died when Grayson walked into her office. She hadn’t seen him in six months, and he’d gotten more handsome. He appeared to be an out-of-place cowboy with his black cowhide boots, jeans, and western-cut shirt.

She should be running across the room and throwing herself into his arms, but used the back of the desk to support her shaking body. She avoided looking directly into his eyes, afraid to see the anger and hurt he had to be feeling. The baby must have sensed her anxiety, and gave her a few soothing taps.

Grayson had planned to storm into the office, demanding to know why she hadn’t told him about the baby, but his plans changed the moment he set eyes on the miraculous changes in her body. He couldn’t take another step, and his eyes fell to her rounded belly that nurtured his child.
His child
. Then his eyes lifted to her beautiful face. Tears were running down her cheeks and she gripped the edge of her desk. Was she afraid he’d be angry and not want their baby?

He closed the distance between them and took her wet cheeks in his hands. Warm tears slid through his fingers, matching the warmth in his voice. “I never envisioned you would be crying the first time I saw you in six months. I love you, Jennie, more than you will ever know.” He smiled softly. “There have been a few changes. When were you going to tell me?”

“I was thinking about it.” She read the truth in his eyes.

“Did you think I wouldn’t want the baby?”

She nodded quickly.

Grayson knelt in front of her and lifted the edge of her tunic. “Hold this up.”

Jennie told herself not to be nervous, and took hold of the edge of the material. “What are you going to do?”

Gray gently lowered the front of her denims and panties to expose her rounded stomach. His breath hitched at the sight of her maternal beauty. His hands shook slightly when he touched the mound to explore her silky-smooth skin and communicate with their child. He leaned forward and dotted her stomach with little kisses. “Hello, my baby,” he whispered against her pink flesh.

The warmth in his lips when they caressed her skin felt so wonderful, so loving, and made her tears come harder. She’d missed touching his beautiful hair, and ran a hand over the top of his head. She’d been so wrong not telling him.

Their child was very receptive to the loving affection, and offered several kicks, enough to make Mommy jump.

“Oh!” Jennie said, and put a hand to side of her belly.

“What’s wrong?” Alarm filled his voice.

“Give me your hand, quick.” Jennie placed the flat of his hand on her belly. “The baby is playing soccer.”

Those first precious kicks pierced his heart. “He’s for real, a beautiful miracle.” Grayson breathed in awe. He re-covered her stomach and smoothed her top. He slipped his arms around her. “Don’t say anything, because I need to kiss the mother of my child.”

The moment their mouths met, the time they’d spent apart disappeared. Together, they poured mutual longing and love into their kiss. If circumstances were different, they’d be tearing at each other’s clothes and be naked a heartbeat later.

“You have no idea how much I want to bury myself inside you,” he murmured, running a trail of kisses down her neck. “I’ve missed tasting your girls.” He cupped one and grinned. “They’re much fuller.”

“I’ve missed playing with your boys.” Jennie’s stomach wasn’t so big that she couldn’t feel his arousal. “How come you don’t hate me?”

“I was surprised, shaken, but hating you never entered my mind.”

“Who told you?” Jennie nestled against him, and exhaustion drew her head to the curve of his shoulder. She’d missed his physical support and strength. Their baby must have liked the snuggling, because it quieted down.

“Mathew called me yesterday and told me you got married and were getting a baby in October.”

“Married?” She didn’t have the energy to raise her head. “I never said that.”

“He said only a husband could give you a baby.”

When Jennie didn’t respond to his statement, he glanced down. Her eyes were closed and she’d fallen asleep on his shoulder. That said a lot about his approach to asking her to marry him. Trying not to dislodge her head, he put an arm in back of her knees and gently lifted her into his arms. The moment he laid her on the couch, she sighed in contentment. He went to move his arm from under her neck, but she sleepily murmured, “Please don’t leave me. I need you.”

He’d been separated from her for six months, and her plea gave him a cherished gift. “I’m here, baby.” He lifted her shoulders and raised her body slightly so he could sit at the end of the couch. Her head nestled in his groin, and she put a possessive arm around his thigh. He gritted his teeth when she buried her hand between legs in search of the boys. He rested his head back against the cushion and fell asleep, but not before he put a possessive hold on one of her lovely girls.

Two hours later, he woke up when Jennie lifted her head from his lap. “Good morning.”

“Sorry I felcl asleep. When I stop moving, the baby decides to move around, so I haven’t been sleeping too well. I’ve been told it will continue to get worse.”

“You won’t be going through it alone.” He brushed her hair off her face and placed a soft kiss on her lips. “Before you fell asleep, I was going to ask you to marry me.” Grayson reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring box. “I didn’t know what you like, so my mother suggested a solitaire. If you don’t like it, I’ll get you something else.”

He got down on his knee and removed a three-carat solitaire diamond set in gold with a sure, steady hand. “Jennie, my life changed the moment you threw fruit at me and declared all men are assholes. I can’t imagine living my life without you. Please do me the honor of becoming my wife.”