Nobody's Dream (34 page)

Angelina smiled and accepted the sweet bundle. “Come to
Zia
Angie.” She cooed at the baby before growing serious and turning toward Kitty. “My biological clock is going to go haywire, you know. Marc and I might have to move up next year’s wedding date if we’re not careful.”

“Don’t rush it, Angie,” Kitty said. “You have plenty of time to have babies. Enjoy this time with Marc.”

Cassie envied her friends and their bliss-filled lives. Did they know how blessed they were to have been granted the gift of love and family?

You could have that, too, Cassie.

Fortunately, her covetous musings were interrupted when the door swung open and a nurse pushed a wheelchair into the room. “Mrs. Montague, I believe there is one impatient Marine waiting at the hospital entrance to collect his new family…well, most of it.”

Soon, they had Kitty seated with Paxton in his car seat on her lap. Cassie carried Kate in the car seat while Angelina slung the diaper bag and overnight bag over each shoulder and picked up the remaining flower arrangement. Adam had taken three other potted plants to the SUV earlier. Maybe Cassie could help plant the hardy azaleas at Kitty’s new house after it finished blooming. Kitty would not have time for gardening for a while.

Thank God, they did not live at his sex club any longer. Cassie had always been afraid to venture from her guest room there for fear of seeing some man wandering the halls naked, or nearly so, a dominated woman in tow—or worse yet, on a leash.

“Dominance isn’t a need of mine, although there are aspects of being a Dom that are innate in me.”

She shuddered at the disturbing image of Lucas leading an oppressed woman on a leash like that. All the more reason to keep their relationship on a friendship-only basis.

But Kitty wore no collar, and she had never seen Adam treat her with anything but love and respect. Besides, Kitty would never exchange the pretty necklace made of Black Hills gold that he had given her on their honeymoon for a dog collar. Cassie had not seen Kitty without that necklace since she had returned to Denver in January.

Forty minutes later, the newborn brother and sister were snuggled together in a single bassinet in Kitty’s new bedroom. This enormous house had felt rather cold and impersonal at the wedding, but even in the short time Kitty had been here before going into labor, the place already had a family vibe to it. Soon it would be filled with the squeals and laughter of three children.

You are so fortunate, Kitty.

A real marriage with children was not part of Cassie’s life chart this time around.

Kitty’s gaze never left her two sleeping babies. She smiled. “They’ll outgrow this arrangement all too soon. Luke is coming by today with something that all three can share once Rori comes home.”

Cassie moved over to stand beside her. Paxton had his arm stretched over his sister in a protective way. She remembered when she and Eduardo had been that close.

But she did not wish to think about him now. “You know what they say, Kitty.
Mamá
should sleep when her baby—or babies—do.”

“I know, but I’m not tired, and there’s so much to do.”

“You must follow doctor’s orders. Now, lie down.”

Kitty sighed and moved toward the bed. “Yes, ma’am.” She still moved gingerly from her incision.

Cassie pulled a coverlet over her. “You have enough layette items to last a year, and we will be adding more when we have your shower next week. Since they will not be sleeping in a crib for a while, this cozy arrangement is perfect.” Their bonding with one another was so important to Kitty. If only she could see, they had already formed that bond
in utero
. “While you rest, I will go see if your
mamá
needs any help. I will bring your lunch up so you do not have to go downstairs.”

“Thanks, Cassie. I don’t want to leave them alone yet, even though I have monitors and receivers all over the house, thanks to Grant.”

Cassie nodded. “This is why I am here.”

“Are they still sleeping?” Adam whispered as he entered the room and checked on the babies before removing his shoes and joining Kitty in the bed. His hand rested just below her breasts, and he placed a kiss on her cheek.

Their display of intimacy made Cassie uncomfortable. “I will return with lunch in a little while.” Is that what Lucas wanted her to do? Let him cuddle her like that? Clearly, Adam had no expectation of having sex. He only wanted to be close to his wife.

“Thanks, Cassie,” Kitty said, although she only had eyes for her husband.

Cassie made her exit quickly, hearing Kitty remark on the way out, “Oh, Adam, did you notice how Paxton has his arm around Kate?”

Tears stung Cassie’s eyes. What a beautiful life Kitty had.

Would Cassie have been a good mother if she had been blessed with a traditional marriage? Memories of the evil on Pedro’s face as he raped her assured her she had dodged a bullet, as Americans said. At least she had learned his true nature before she had been saddled to him in marriage.

Beside me and apart from me…

asking that you be no other than yourself.

Oh, Lucas.

Memories of the vows they had exchanged last month haunted her nights and now even her days. Could she ever open up to him? Would he accept her as she was if he knew of her past?

She shook her head.
No
. He must never know the truth about her. She needed to remain cold and elusive to keep him at a distance—to protect him more than herself.

*     *     *

Luke rang the doorbell. Seemed strange that this was no longer Marc’s house, but his friend was right to leave here. He’d never been happy in this house. Adam and Karla would be able to turn it into a real home with their new babies.

The door opened, and he was surprised to find Cassie on the other side.

“Hey, darlin’. How’ve you been?”

The familiar wariness crossed her features. He kept hoping she’d come to accept him without being so cautious all the time, but with how little they saw each other, he didn’t see how he could ever win her over.

“Fine. Please come in.”

“Let me just run to the truck and get what I came to deliver.”

“Do you need any help?”

“Maybe. Do you have a minute?”

She nodded and followed him. “Thank you for taking care of my babies, Lucas. How are they adjusting?”

“They love it out in my fields. Lots of room to roam around and graze. I take them into the barn at night, of course.” He didn’t want her to think they were at the mercy of any predators.

“I am sure they are happy there. They adapted quickly when I moved them to the mountain, too. As long as they are together, they are happy.”

If only their momma could adapt as well to being around him. He lowered the tailgate and pulled the heavy blanket on the bed of the truck toward him. On it laid the unique crib he’d just finished last night covered by a tarp and bungee cords. He left the tarp over it, not wanting to reveal anything yet.

“You tell me if it’s too heavy, now.” He lifted the heavier end and Cassie grabbed the other. He’d made this quickly in a primitive style, but knew they needed it sooner rather than later. Already he was working on a special rocking chair that would accommodate the new momma and all three of her babies at once. He’d try to finish working on that over the next few weeks, though.

They maneuvered the bed inside the foyer and set it down.

“Kitty is taking a nap right now. I will be taking her lunch soon, so you can show this to her then. Would you like something to eat?”

“Sounds great. I haven’t had a bite since five this morning.”

He followed her and sat at the bar behind the stove island. Watching Cassie move around the kitchen, pulling leftovers out of the fridge reminded him of their time at her cabin.

Jeezus, I’ve missed her.

“Where’s Mrs. Paxton?”

“Oh, she wanted to shop for a few more things. The early births caught us all by surprise.”

“I’ll bet.”

They discussed the alpacas and horses and the upcoming gallery exhibit preparation before they finished eating in companionable silence.

After lunch, he helped her carry two trays up to the bedroom for Karla and Adam. They caught the two of them cuddled in bed. He hoped the couple knew how lucky they were to have each other.

Adam awoke first and motioned for them to set the trays on the dresser. When one of the babies began to cry, Cassie went over and changed the diaper, then swaddled and lifted Kate to her shoulder.

Seeing her mothering the little thing caused his chest to tighten. He’d fantasized about one day having a real marriage with her, but if something didn’t break loose, that was doubtful.

She carried the baby into the hallway and turned to him. “Let us go prepare Kate a bottle. I want Kitty to sleep as long as she can.”

Back in the kitchen, she indicated with a jerk of her head for him to sit. When he did, she said, “Here. Hold her while I prepare the bottle.”

“Whoa, darlin’! I’ve never—”

“There is nothing to it.” She placed the baby in his arms and molded them around the baby’s head and body until he cradled her like a football.

He gazed down at the bright-eyed little girl staring up at him.
Dayum
. Adam had to be over the moon when he held one of these babies. Luckiest man alive. A beautiful wife and three adorable babies.

Luke hadn’t had a chance to get to know his and Maggie’s baby. His throat closed up. Cassie returned to his side. “Would you like to feed her or have me do it?”

He met her gaze and saw her through a haze of tears but managed to reach for the bottle. “I’ll do it.”

Cassie narrowed her gaze. “Are you okay?”

“Sure.” He placed the bottle to the little angel’s lips and watched her latch on and suckle. “Kate, I’m going to take you for your first horseback ride. You come visit Uncle Luke anytime you want.” He continued to carry on a conversation with her, oblivious to everything until the bottle was dry. As if he’d done it all his life, he lifted her onto his shoulder as he’d seen others do and patted her back until she let out a loud burp.

“You did that like a pro.”

He grinned at Cassie. “Nothin’ to it.”

A few hours later, with Adam’s help, he carried the special bed up to their room. “I might have gotten a little carried away.”

Karla smiled from her bed where she sat propped up. “I can’t wait to see it, Luke.”

They set it down in the alcove near the old bassinet and Luke removed the tarp. “Oh, my gosh! It’s beautiful!”

The half-moon shaped bed, with tiny star cutouts, as well as some carved raised ones, would be plenty wide enough to hold all three babies for a while. The babies were placed inside on the store-bought mattress covered in a crib sheet that carried over the moon and stars theme.

“When the babies are older, it can be converted into a place for one or two of them to crawl into and play, read, or whatever. If they don’t want to share, I can make one or two more later.”

“Adam, please help me up. I want to see them inside.”

Adam went to her and lifted her into his arms. He carried her over to the bed where Luke and Cassie stood and set her on her feet. “Look! They’re kissing each other! Oh my gosh! Where’s my phone?”

While they searched to find something to record the moment, Luke glanced inside. Sure enough, with their arms and legs bound inside the blankets, they’d found the only place of contact was their faces. Kate looked like she was sucking on the blue-blanketed Paxton’s chin more than kissing him, though. Probably hungry again.

Karla turned to him and gave him a hug. “Luke, you are so amazing. Thank you so much for making this for us.”

“Cassie told me how important it was for you to have them sleep together. I know I got a little carried away with the design—”

“No! It’s perfect! I love the thought of them sleeping inside the crescent moon.”

“I love the moon design, Lucas. Makes me think of
Mama Quilla
watching over them.” He turned to Cassie who smiled at him. Well, he’d scored with her, too.
Hot damn
. “It really is beautiful.”

Not nearly as beautiful as you, darlin’.

Chapter Ten