Nobody's Baby (10 page)

Having Rio’s steadying presence here now, supporting her, was attractive. Way more attractive than his looks and voice and the feel of strong arms around her again. So attractive, he should come with a neon sign flashing above his head that read
danger
!

Apparently, Rio or the bodyguard twin had called ahead and alerted the hospital, because the wait was miniscule in the emergency room. Then again, it looked to be a slow night in the ER. In what Kate figured had to be record time, she was shown behind a curtained exam area, her vitals taken and recorded.

“You want me to wait out here?” Rio hovered just beyond the curtain, only his head poking through the opening.

She shrugged, not wanting him to know how much she wanted him to stay. “You can stick around for the inquisition, I suppose.”

Rio stepped in just as a man wearing blue scrubs, who looked like a cross between Santa Clause and a grizzled mountain man, entered from the other side. Along with him came a whiff of antiseptic and coffee. “Kate Morrisey?”

“That’s me.”

“Then I’m in the right place. I’m Dr. Dempsey.” He glanced at Rio. “And you must be the —”

“Rio Hawthorne.”

Dempsey showed no recognition of the name and turned back to Kate. “Can you describe the pain you’ve been experiencing?”

“Sharp. Stabbing.”

“All over, like a band tightening around your stomach, or localized?”

“I’d say it’s localized. Down, um ... low.” Maybe having Rio stay wasn’t such a great idea after all. Pregnancy questions could get personal fast.

“They’ve been coming pretty close together, doc. Is she in labor?”

“That’s what we’re trying to determine here.” Dempsey was both polite and dismissive at the same time. “How long have you been experiencing these sharp stabs, Kate?”

“Off and on for several weeks, but today they were more intense, closer together, and kept coming.”

“Any bloody show or sudden gush of liquid?”

“No. Nothing like that. A feeling of pressure earlier, but that’s eased. The baby hasn’t moved all day.”

“When was your last exam?” He placed his stethoscope in his ears and touched the round disk against her belly.

“Last week, but I saw Dr. Krieger for an ultrasound yesterday.”

“Routine?” He repositioned the stethoscope several times.

“Requested by the parents. I’m a surrogate.”

Recognition dawned across his features. “Ah, that’s why your name sounded familiar.” He patted her hand. “Well, the baby’s heartbeat is strong. He or she has been enjoying a long nap. The pain you’re experiencing is probably the normal process of your body preparing for the birth. The pelvic bones spreading apart can cause discomfort of this sort. The uterine muscles contract in preparation. But let’s take a closer look, shall we? I’ll have the nurse bring you a gown to change into and we’ll check to see if you’re dilated, make sure everything is as it should be.”

In rubber-soled shoes that resembled gardening clogs, he left as quietly as he’d arrived.

“I should ...” Rio gestured toward the curtain opening.

“Yeah. I’ll have the doctor send for you after, if you’d like.”

After the exam and Dr. Dempsey’s assurance that she was not in labor, Kate felt foolish in the extreme. She redressed quickly and joined Rio in the waiting room. “False alarm. No baby tonight.”

Rio’s shoulder’s fell and his cheeks puffed out a relieved breath, surprising her. “Thank goodness.”

“Why you big faker! Here I was thinking you were such a rock, and all the while you were as nervous about this as me.”

A sheepish grin creased his face, making him look years younger. “Maybe more. I am so not ready to take charge of this baby yet. But you were worried and upset, so I didn’t think you needed to see me the same way.”

“That’s really ... sweet.”

He made a sound of disgust. “Is not.”

Kate laughed at the indignant look on his face. “Is too.”

“Not. It’s ... logical. Practical.”

“And sweet.” She stepped closer and looped her arms around his neck, happy for once that she had an excuse to do so. “Sweep me off my feet. Doc says in all this excitement, I’ve been on them too much today.”

“That’ll be a first.” Rio mumbled under his breath and lifted her with ease.

“First what?”

“First time I’ve swept a woman off her feet.” His eyes were close now, his gaze boring into hers, but in a way that made her want to dance with joy.

“I find that hard to believe, Mr. Hawthorne. Either you’re being way too modest, or the women you’ve encountered have been blind, deaf and dumb.” Halfway through her little speech, Kate could have sworn she heard a click or two. A quick glance around proved there was no one but the young, blonde receptionist who’d checked them in, her head bent over a book.

She’d been targeted by the press long enough that she was becoming paranoid. Thank goodness they’d lost interest.

Kate was mentally celebrating a clean getaway when Dean burst through the door and rushed to her side.

“Is the baby coming?’

Her explanation had barely begun when Zach entered, his dark brows drawn tight over concerned blue eyes. Seeing her surprised expression, his became annoyed. He stopped behind Dean, shoulders hunched and stuffed his hands in his pants pockets.

“Zach.” Kate couldn’t suppress her surprise. “You came.”

He shrugged. “Dean needed a ride.”

“Right. Well, thanks for driving him over, but I’m fine. No baby tonight.”

“Kate?’ Rio’s voice held a note of cautious concern.

“Rio, these are my brothers.” She made introductions all around, reassuring Rio with a smile.

“Nice to meet you both. I’d shake, but as you can see, my hands are full. Let’s take this back to the house, shall we? Zach, we’re in the black Land Rover.”

“We’re in an older model Accord with a spoiler and tinted windows.”

“Nice.” Rio nodded. “Stay close and you can enter the gates behind us.”

Kate was surprised to see Zach acknowledge Rio’s instructions with a nod. She hadn’t wanted her brothers involved with this baby’s birth in any way, but now that the scare was over, what harm was there in having them over for a while? The chance to see Zach and try to mend the rift between them was too rare to pass up.

Zach’s gaze raked over Rio as he carried Kate, but if he had questions, he didn’t voice them.

*
*
*
*
*

T
hey made it back to the car and through the gates of Hawthorne House free of incident or paparazzi interference. Kate heaved a sigh of relief as they stopped beside the house.

“You okay with this?” Rio asked, while hefting her into a carrying position. “I was so focused on making a clean getaway from the hospital, I didn’t think to ask.”

“It probably doesn’t make sense to you after my earlier position, but I’m glad you invited them over. I’ve been trying to reach out to Zach for awhile, but this is the first time he’s shown any interest.”

“It’s your business, so I won’t pry, but that was genuine concern on both their faces. Obviously, you mean a lot to them.”

Kate shrugged. “They think of me as more of a mother figure than a sister. Sometimes it was exhausting ...”

She shook her head. No need digging into the past now.

Rio’s gaze was sharp, assessing, but he didn’t comment. He carried her inside, one of her twin bodyguards preceding them into the house, opening doors. While they were good at their job, she wouldn’t miss the feeling of caution and impending doom their presence brought.

“Is the security really necessary?” Zach asked, frowning as Rio lowered Kate to the sofa.

“It is. The press is conspicuously absent today, but it’s usually more like a celebrity sighting,” Rio answered as he straightened.

“Yeah, Zach. You shoulda seen them at Kate’s place the other day. It was intense, like they were expecting some rock star to appear.”

Kate suddenly had a vision of Zach leaving before she had a chance to talk to him. “Dean, Rio, would you give Zach and me a few minutes, please?”

“How about a cup of coffee?” Rio asked Dean.

“Yeah, sure.” Dean ignored Zach’s glare and followed Rio out.

Zach perched on the seat of a stuffed armchair, looking like he wanted to bolt. She couldn’t blame him. “Zach —”

“Don’t worry. I’m not here to infringe on your precious freedom, okay? Dean was worried. He needed a ride. End of story.”

“Thank you for coming, whatever the reason.” She wasn’t buying his cut-and-dried story, but tread lightly so he would stay. “I’m glad you’re here so I can set the record straight.”

“No need. Really.” He held up both hands as if warding her off, though she hadn’t moved toward him. “I got the message loud and clear the first time.”

“I overstated because I was scared, Zach. I’m sorry that I hurt you. Sorry I made it sound like you were a burden I couldn’t wait to get rid of. Afterward, I realized that, in an effort to make my feelings known, I hurt you. Badly.”

“Whatever.”

“No. Not whatever. You’re my brother and a grown man. And I love you. I talked to you like an adolescent who’d done something wrong. None of what happened to us, the situation we were in, was your fault. Or Dean’s, for that matter.”

“You had a lot on your plate. I get that.”

“How could you not? I practically screamed it at you. But I didn’t tell you what a big help you were. I should’ve acknowledged that then. You were, Zach. Those last few years, we all pulled together to make it. I wanted you to know that I know you sacrificed too and appreciated your efforts to pull your weight. It’s one of the reasons I knew you’d make it on your own. If only I hadn’t been so angry —”

“And why was that, Kate? What was so wrong with me wanting us to stay together? It made sense financially, to share the house, didn’t it? Were you that desperate to leave us behind?

“No. Of course I wasn’t, but we all needed some independence. Staying in that situation wasn’t healthy for any of us.”

“And you couldn’t let the separation happen naturally for Dean and me. Gradually, through college life.”

“I’ll apologize for the delivery. I’ll apologize for hurting you. That’s on me. But I will not apologize for not wanting to wait another four years for my life to start. What about me, Zach? Can’t you see my side of this too? Good grief! I was only seventeen when I took charge of you guys.”

“God. You sound just like Mom. Me, me, me.”

Kate sucked in a breath, dread clutching at her lungs. He really did despise her.

“That was low, Zach.” Dean stood in the doorway, a scowl focused on his older brother. “Kate doesn’t need this or deserve it. If you’re going to be an ass, let’s just go.”

Dean rolled his eyes as Zach stalked out, then approached Kate and kissed her bang-fringed forehead. “I’ll call you. Take it easy, okay?”

Always the peacemaker. That was Dean. Kate nodded, sure her voice would quaver and she’d become a blubbering mess if she tried to reply. After fighting with Zach, even her bones felt weary.

Rio strode into the room carrying a tray. “What’s your poison? Decaf with lemon or an herbal blend?”

“Nothing, thanks. If you don’t mind, I’d like to go to my room and turn in.”

“For the night?” His surprise manifested itself in raised brows and widened eyes.

“I’m tired.”

“But what about dinner?”

She performed a tight smile, trying to reassure him. “Baby’s more tired than hungry, I guess. Do you mind?”

“Uh, no. Of course not.” He abandoned the tray and scooped her up like a healthy serving of ice cream. As they’d done around her brothers, they avoided looking at each other during the necessary transportation. It was disconcerting, to say the least, having his hands touching her in places she’d rarely allowed the men she’d dated.

Now she knew what it was like to have Rio’s hands on her. Pure bliss. Weary as she was, she still wished they were … something to each other. Something of the sort that she could ask him to lie beside her and hold her, let her hold him.

At her bedside he sat down with her across his lap. “You’ve been through a lot today. If you need anything —”

She blushed with the memory of what he could do. “This is awkward.”

“I wasn’t suggesting —”

“I know.” She touched a finger to his lips, remembering.

“I’ll be fine. Really. A good night’s sleep is what I want, and tomorrow all will be back to normal.” She raised her gaze to his, a brave smile in place. “Whatever normal is.”

Even fatigued as she was, heat burned low in her belly. She should look away, but couldn’t. She should say something, but words escaped her. She should ...

Rio’s features were set in serious, intent lines. He leaned in, closer, then even closer. His face blurred. Kate closed her eyes, concentrated on getting air in and out of her lungs, waiting.

Chapter Seven

T
he first touch came from Rio’s nose grazing the side of hers. Nudging, as if he were saying “Stop me now. Or not. Your choice.”

Kate nudged back, unable to stop herself, her lids slightly lifted now.

She couldn’t help it. The previous night’s excitement had lingered in the background of her thoughts all day, taunting her with what if’s and why not’s and maybe just once’s. Rio knew the score, knew this couldn’t go anywhere. He might be intrigued with the novelty of toying with a pregnant woman, but he’d keep things in perspective. So really, why not just ...

Her mind blanked as Rio angled his head and eased forward again, so close she could feel the warmth of his skin next to her cheek. His lips brushed against the tip of her nose, soft and warm. Comforting. Yeah, that’s it. He was just offering her comfort. Sexy, drugging comfort.

The man was lethal.

He leaned down and touched his lips to hers, withdrew, then did it again. Twice more he gave her the tiniest of kisses, then flicked his tongue against the seam of her mouth as her body flushed even hotter from the inside out. Curling her hand around his nape, she opened to Rio’s mouth, stunned by the intensity with which she ached for him.

Kissing Rio was a heady experience, from the first time their lips had touched it felt as if they’d done it so often they’d achieved perfection. And while they engaged in perfection, hallelujah choruses played in her head complete with orchestral joy. Man, oh man. She could do this forever.

He rested one hand on her belly, big, swollen and ripe with child. And with that single, light touch, the moment was shattered by reality.

“I can’t do this. Not now. I ...” She shook her head. “Maybe not ever.”

Damn, but there was a wealth of assumptions behind that statement. They shot through her like an avalanche. It would’ve been embarrassing to have him know she’d immediately jumped light years ahead of where they were now in terms of relationship.

Except he was shushing her and whispering, “I know, I know.”

“You do?” She pushed against him and lifted her head, gaining enough distance between them to allow her to see his face. No. Of course he couldn’t possibly know what she’d been thinking.

He met her gaze, accepting but not liking it. “I won’t apologize for wanting you. ”

She touched his cheek, the rasp of his end-of-day stubble against her fingertips giving her delicious gooseflesh. “I’m not asking you to.”

What would that stubble feel like against her sensitive breasts, her thighs?

Kissing him and touching him like this still felt too right, as if a secret place deep inside her had been changed forever. Then again, maybe she was romanticizing his touch, his kisses too much, her hormones out of whack because of the pregnancy. She had to resist. “We have to stop.”

Rio sighed.

“I’m not trying to be a tease. I’m fighting my own battle here. This can’t happen again. There are things I have to do, experiences I need. I won’t be distracted.”

“College. Independence. I get it.”

She would’ve called it freedom, unfettered freedom from responsibility for others, but maybe he did understand on some level. The day’s events bombarded her all at once, suffocating her. She shook her head, unable to speak.

A more considerate and caring man, she couldn’t ask for. Heck, he even helped in the kitchen, a task she’d constantly struggled with her brothers over, but the timing stunk. Rio was all set to take on a major responsibility when she was trying to get free of it all. She couldn’t give up on her dream when she’d sacrificed so much to achieve it. She just couldn’t.

Not even for Rio.

He took a deep breath, released it and nodded. “I had to know if kissing you was as good as I remembered. Your mouth, your lips were driving me crazy.”

“They were?” No one had ever professed such a thing before. She was woman. Hear her roar.

“Still.” His quiet admission fell into the room.

“Oh.” So a taste of her hadn’t been enough. Well. Wasn’t that just ... no, no, no. She couldn’t go down this path. She deliberately forced her thoughts to her favorite daydream, of crossing campus with friends, sitting in class, studying in a coffee shop, having late night pizza and beer after a long cram session.

Sure it might be somewhat different, given that her classmates would be in their teens and she mid-twenties, but that was her future. An education, sure, but carefree and fun times that were long overdue, too.

Summoning willpower from somewhere deep inside, Kate slipped off Rio’s lap and moved a few steps away from temptation. “Well, we experimented and it was nice. Now you should go so I can get my rest.”

“Nice? You call what happened last night
nice
? Admit it was more or I’ll —”

“Okay. More than nice. Pleasant, even.”

His eyes narrowed with intent, and she held out her hands, hoping to forestall any notion he might have for a rerun. “Uh, no. Not just pleasant. You’re absolutely right. It was great.”

“Hot. I think that’s the word you’re looking for.”

“Hot. Yes. That’s better. A perfectly acceptable word for the experience, but it doesn’t change anything. Let’s say we indulged in healthy curiosity and leave it there.”

“
We
?”

Oops. Change of subject needed. “Tomorrow you’ll find a great parenting class, and we’ll wait this thing out.”

“Kate.” His tone was a warning.

“Okay, okay. Hot as a word is a wholly inadequate description as I recall it.”

He smirked. “About time you admitted it was —”

“A one-time thing. Come on, Rio. Be realistic.”

“Right,” he mused, his gaze raking over her stomach as he stood. “I need to tackle that search for a class so I’m prepared.” He raised his hand as if to touch her face, then let it drop. “Sweet dreams, Kate.”

“G’night, Rio.”

Hours later, Kate woke to a cold sweat, and pain radiating around her middle. A squeezing pain. A band of pain. This was the real thing. Had to be. It hurt too bad to be anything else. She rolled to her side and into an awkward levering motion that allowed her to stand. A gush of warmth surged from between her legs.

She stood there for a moment, reality registering, and knew panic with an underlying sense of inevitability. Like when she first realized she had to take full responsibility for her little brothers. Not the same this time, though. Now there was someone else waiting to shoulder the responsibility, albeit reluctantly.

“Rio?” Kate called out, then hissed as another pain washed over her. She breathed through it, trying not to think about exactly what was in store for her. “Rio!”

*
*
*
*
*

S
hortly after he left Kate’s room, Rio sat down at his laptop to research parenting classes in the area.  He wasn’t beyond buying his way in but couldn’t find any scheduled. He shut it down, forced to accept that he might have to resort to private instruction. That was if he could find someone willing to take him on. At least he still had time. The labor scare had thrown him, though he’d had the devil of a time keeping that from Kate.

On his way downstairs to rustle up something to eat, he broke into a grin, remembering her jaw dropping when he’d shown his relief that the birth wasn’t imminent. She’d looked so sweet and vulnerable just then. His heart had stuttered, and he’d had to remind himself that she wasn’t his to pursue. Circumstances and Kate’s own agenda saw to that. Though she was big with his brother’s child, remembering that fact was proving harder than he’d ever thought it would be.

Truth was, he hadn’t wanted to resist her and pleasuring her had been his honor. There should be no mystery, no draw now. Only it hadn’t worked that way. Underlying everything he did was a lingering desire for Kate.

His thoughts remained with her while making a colossal sandwich and devouring it. This was nuts. Maybe he needed to make some calls, meet up with some old friends and find someone to date. Putting that thought on hold, he called his mom.

“Hey, is this an okay time?”

“Ohmigod. Kate’s in labor. You’re calling because —”

“No. Mom. No. Calm down. We had a false alarm earlier and made a quick trip to the hospital, but everything is fine. I just wanted to make sure you got home okay.”

“Oh. Whew. You had my heart racing. Yes. I’m home. Just changed into my nightgown. It’s late here.”

“I know. I won’t keep you. Get some sleep. And Mom?” He hesitated, not wanting her to read too much into the words because he didn’t say them nearly often enough. “I love you.”

“Thank you, dear, for saying so. I needed to hear it. But hold on. You’re feeling a little shook up, unsure of yourself, aren’t you?”

“How’d you know?”

“You said there was a scare. I know you don’t feel prepared, but it will be all right, son. I promise. You’ll be a wonderful father.”

“I guess I have to at least try.” He wasn’t convinced everything would be okay, but would do his damnedest to make sure it was.  “Thanks for knowing the right thing to say.”

“I don’t always. For instance, right now. There something I need to say and don’t know how to tell you.”

There was a weightiness in her voice that hadn’t been there this morning, not even with the resurgence of grief. “Mom. What is it? What’s happened? Is it your friend?”

“I … No. It’s not that, but I had a message on my machine, and it was a shock. I don’t know how he even knew my number or where I live now, but he did and he called and as usual ...”

Her words pressed in on Rio’s chest with suffocating malice. “He? Mom, are you being stalked or something?”

“No. At least, I don’t think so. I think it’s you he’s looking to mess with, son.”

She wasn’t making any sense. “Who, Mom?”

“Hank. Your father.”

At the sound of the man’s name, Rio stood, rubbing at the burn in his chest. He couldn’t speak for a moment, couldn’t fathom why, after all these years, Hank would resurface. Calling him a father was being generous. “There must be some mistake.”

“I wish there was.”

“You’re sure it was him?” He didn’t want to say the man’s name but couldn’t bring himself to call him anything else, except maybe a bastard lowlife. Scum.

“Yes. I know the man’s voice, son. There’s no mistake. He didn’t identify himself, but it was Hank. Said he’d been interviewed and we’d want to catch the late news. Then he laughed and hung up. I’ll hear that laugh in my dreams.”

Rio whispered a vile epithet.

“Exactly my reaction, to tell you the truth, though I’m not proud to admit it. Look, there’s no telling what his agenda is here and I got home too late to catch the news. Maybe he’s out to make a fast buck with an interview, but I’m betting it’s more.”

“What more could it be?”

“With Hank?” His mom’s voice held derision. “He has to know we’re better provided for these days. I’d look for threats, extortion. He’ll believe he has rights to a share of Bear’s fortune, but he’ll get it over my dead body, do you hear?”

“He’ll not get it from me either. But what could he possibly have to tell the media?”

“Oh, he’ll have some angle, believe you me. Probably made up, and it’ll only be a teaser because the man may be a lot of things, but he isn’t stupid.”

“Ah, hell. Kate and I were so glad the press wasn’t around today, we didn’t think to question why. They hadn’t given up. They were off chasing another angle. Hank’s angle.”

“Whatever that may be.” A short pause followed, then her voice continued, with a touch of thickness in it. “Listen, I’m going to bed. I’m exhausted. Whatever he’s up to can wait until the morning for me to deal with it. I’ve had all I can stand today.”

“That’s a good idea. Get some rest and don’t worry about this, Mom. I’ll handle it, okay? I’m not the scared kid he remembers. I can deal with Hank Bowman.”

Seconds after she hung up, his mom’s words about dealing with the fallout in the morning had him swearing again. He made another call, arranged for the Bridgerton agency to protect her too.

He stared into space for a few minutes after the line went silent and thought he heard Kate calling him. Damn. This need for her was getting out of hand. He could use a distraction.

“Rio!”

The alarm in Kate’s very real voice shot through his system like a bullet. He ran through the kitchen, took the stairs in twos and barreled through her door. Kate stood beside the bed in a voluminous knee-length gown, a half-pained, half-embarrassed look on her face.

“I think my water broke, or is leaking. Whatever. And it hurts, Rio. Oh, God.” Her eyelids squeezed shut as she braced against the bed and panted, one hand tucked underneath the baby bump.

There was something he should be doing. Absolutely. Something. But he could only stare in dismay. Her water breaking was a sure thing. The real thing according to the doctor. No false alarm. No time to prepare after all. The baby was coming now. “I’ll, ah, get my phone, call for an ambulance. 9-1-1.”

He shook his head, trying to clear it, but that didn’t help.