Never Too Far

I didn’t need Woods telling me what I did and didn’t need to do. None of this was his business. I wasn’t done with him just yet though, so pissing him off was a bad idea.

“I don’t want her working double shifts or outside in the heat. She refuses to stop working but her hours need to be cut back.”

Woods crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in his seat. “She know about this? Because last time I checked she needed all the hours she could get.”

“Last time you checked I didn’t know she was carrying my baby. Nothing can happen to her, Woods. I can’t let anything else happen to her.”

He nodded and let out a heavy sigh. “Fine. I agree. I don’t like being told what to do but I agree.”

“One more thing,” I said before standing up. “Jimmy is gay, right?”

Woods burst into laughter then nodded. “Yes, he is but keep that to yourself. The women like to come in just to look at him. He gets tipped well because of it.”

Good. I’d thought he was but his attachment to Blaire bothered me. “Then I guess he can hover over my girl.”

Woods smirked, “I don’t think you could stop him if you tried.”

My phone rang as I walked to my Range Rover. It reminded me that Blaire didn’t have a phone. This wouldn’t be her calling me. I was headed to check on her now. We’d talk about that then. Pulling my phone out I saw my mother’s name on the screen. I’d ignored her for four weeks. I had Blaire back but I wasn’t ready to talk to mom just yet. I pressed ignore and stuck my phone back in my pocket.

Once I was at Blaire’s I checked under the mat and I was happy to see there was no key hidden. I’d talked to her and Bethy last night about how unsafe that was. I knocked on the door and listened to the footsteps on the other side of the door. Bethy’s car had been at the club when I left so I knew Blaire was alone. Just thinking about having sometime alone with her made me smile.

The door opened and a ‘just crawled out of bed’ Blaire stood on the other side holding a donut. The blush on her cheeks was adorable. The tiny little tank top barely covering up those big beautiful tits of hers and the little boxer shorts took the adorable and turned her into smoking hot.

I walked inside and closed the door behind me. “Dayum baby,” I whispered as I backed her into the sofa. “Please don’t ever answer the door looking like this again.”

She looked down and then a smile tugged on her lips. “They keep getting bigger. I think it’s because of the pregnancy,” she said in way of explanation. “I forget they look like this.”

I wrapped a lock of her hair around my finger. “Not just the tiny tank top but this sexy just got out of bed hair and,” I slid my hand down over her barely covered up ass, “this needs more covering up too.”

“People don’t normally stop by in the mornings.” Blaire sounded out of breath. I liked knowing I was getting to her.

“Good,” I replied. “How did your bed sleep?” I asked before taking a nip at her earlobe.

“Uh… I uh… sleeps good,” she sounded nervous. I pulled back and looked down at her. Why did she sound nervous?

“Only good?” I asked, watching as her cheeks turned bright red.

Blaire shifted her feet and looked down at the floor. “Pregnant dreams can be um… intense.”

“Pregnant dreams? What do you mean?” I was curious now. The fact her entire face was a bright red and she looked ready to crawl under the table and hide from me only made me want to know more.

She started to move and I grabbed her hips and kept her pinned between me and the sofa. “Oh no, you don’t. You can’t tell me things like that and not explain.”

Blaire let out a short unsure laugh and shook her head. “You can keep me here all day but I’m not telling you.”

I slipped my hands under her shirt and started to tickle her ribcage. I tried really hard not to focus on the perfectly plump tits just within my reach. I didn’t want Blaire to think I only cared about sex with her. So far I’d made our relationship about sex. I wanted to prove to her it was more than that. Even if I was taking cold showers and jerking off thinking about how sweet she’d tasted the other day.

Blaire giggled and squirmed as I tickled her. “Stop!” she squealed and pushed against me. When she tried to squirm away from me my hand slid up and grazed her left breast causing her to freeze. A small sound came from her throat that sounded really close to a moan. I brushed the pad of my thumb over her nipple and she pressed against me. Fuck the no sex thing. How was I supposed to ignore this?

“Please, Rush. I need you to,” she begged.

She needed me to? Wait… were her dreams… “Blaire, baby, are your dreams about sex?”

She whimpered and nodded as I pinched her nipple between my fingers. “Yes, and I’m tired of waking up horny,” she whispered.

Fuck. I took the donut from her hands and laid it down on the table then sucked the glaze from her fingers. Her breathing hitched. I grabbed her and picked her up. She wrapped her legs around my waist and I devoured her mouth while I walked us back to her room. This time there was a big bed for me to put her on and I’d keep her in it all day making love to her if that was what she needed.

I laid her down on the bed and pulled her little shorts and panties off before crawling on top of her. “Get this top off,” I said as I yanked it up and over her head. I stopped and looked down at her. Just last week I’d thought I would never see her like this again. Holding her was something I went to bed dreaming about. Now she was here and I wanted to cherish every small portion of her body.

“Rush, please. I need you in me,” she squirmed and pleaded. As much as I wanted to worship her body it looked like I wasn’t going to get to. I wasn’t going to be able to turn down a needy Blaire.

“Can I taste you first?” I asked, kissing her mouth again then running kisses down her body.

“Yes, anything. I just need you to touch me.” She sighed as my hand found her wet folds and I slipped a finger inside. “Oh God! Yes!Ahhhh,” she cried out as I began touching her.

Sex crazed Blaire was going to be fun. Itwas like I’d just won the fucking jackpot. I pushed her thighs further apart and lowered my mouth to kiss the hardened little clit hiding there. She bucked and began begging again. Sticking my tongue out, I ran it over her swollen sweet spot.Both her hands grabbed my hair and held me. I couldn’t help but smile.

“Please, Rush, please. You make it feel so good. Please.” Her sexy little pleadings were about to make me explode. I wanted in her just as bad as she wanted me in there but I was also enjoying this. I focused on making her come in my mouth while she twisted and moaned on the bed. When she finally screamed my name and that she was coming I jumped up and stripped my clothes off in record time.

We didn’t need a condom anymore. I laid over her and with one easy stroke I was in her. Blaire grabbed onto my shoulders and threw her head back. If this was how all pregnant women were, then why the fuck didn’t men keep their women knocked up? This was hot. So hot I might not make it very long.

“Fuck me, Rush. Real hard,” Blaire panted.

“Baby, you keep saying stuff like that and I’m gonna blow before you want me to.”

She smiled wickedly up at me. “I’ll get you hard again. I promise. Now please,do it hard. In my dreams, you bend me over and fuck me until I’m screaming and clawing at the bed begging you never to stop. Right before I come, I wake up.”

She’d not only been having sex dreams about me but dirty sex dreams about me. I pulled out of her and flipped her on her stomach, then jerked her hips up in the air. “You want fucked, sweet Blair? I’ll make my girl feel better,” I cooed as I ran my hands gently over her bare ass. She started to squirm and I slapped her pussy causing her to gasp in surprise. “If you want it hard baby, then I’m going to give it to you hard,” I promised.

Grabbing her hip, I pounded into her and almost shot my load then. She was so fucking tight. The desperate cries of pleasure coming from Blaire weren’t helping. Remembering that I needed to make Blaire come again was hard when my balls were drawn up tight and my cock was throbbing.

“Harder,” Blaire moaned and I lost it. I began pumping into her with the same wild needy abandon that had consumed her. When her tight warmth began squeezing me and my name came tearing out of her mouth I closed my eyes and let go.

Blaire

Rush was on his back pulling me to him when I came to from an orgasm I was pretty sure had caused me to black out. I curled up in his arms and sighed in relief. He’d made all the achy, needy parts of me very happy. More than happy. I was sore all over and I loved it.

“I think you may have broken me,” he chuckled against my temple and placed a kiss there.

“I hope not because when I have the energy to move I’d like to do that again,” I replied as sweetly as I could.

“Why am I suddenly feeling used?” he asked.

I pinched at the skin that covered his abs. “I’m sorry you feel used but with a body like yours what do you expect?”

Rush laughed and rolled me onto my back before covering me with his body. His silver eyes sparkled as he stared down at me. “Is that so?”

I only nodded. I was afraid I’d say something else if I spoke. Like the fact thatI was in love with him.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered as he lowered his head to kiss my face as if it were something to be cherished.

I wasn’t the beautiful one. He was but I didn’t point that out. If he wanted to think I was then I’d let him. His hands ran down my body making it hum with pleasure. “Are you waking up every morning like this?” he asked with a gleam in his eyes.

I could lie but I’d done enough of that. “Yes. Sometimes in the middle of the night too.”

Rush raised an eyebrow. “The middle of the night?”

I nodded.

He reached up and brushed hair out of my face. “How am I supposed to help you in the middle of the night if you’re not with me?” His voice sounded truly concerned.

“You don’t want me waking you up for sex every night,” I told him.

“Baby, if you wake up horny I want to be ready and available.” His voice dropped and he slipped a hand down to cup me between my legs. “This is mine and I take care of what’s mine.”

“Rush,” I warned.

“Yes?”

“I’m going to straddle you right here and screw your brains out if you don’t stop saying things like that.”

Rush grinned. “That isn’t much of a threat, sweet Blaire.”

I turned my head to grin and the clock on my bedside table caught my attention. Oh crap! I pushed at Rush. “I have to be at work in ten minutes,” I yelled in way of explanation.

Rush moved off me and I jumped out of bed only to realize I was very naked and Rush was lying on the bed watching me panic with a smile.

“Please don’t mind me. The view is great from here,” he said with a sexy grin.

I shook my head and grabbed a clean pair of panties and a bra then ran to the bathroom.

“Looks like someone got lucky or is that happy smile from all those donuts I brought over?” Jimmy drawled when I walked into the kitchen one minute late.

My face felt like it was on fire. “I loved the donuts. Thank you and I’m sorry I forgot last night. It was a uh… crazy day,” I replied,picking out an apron and afraid to make eye contact with him.

“Baby, if I’d just crawled out of bed with Rush Finlay I’d be grinning like mad too. In fact, I’m envious as hell. I know my donuts didn’t put that satisfied gleam in your eyes.”

I started giggling and grabbed a pen and pad. “He is pretty amazing.”

“Oh, please give me details. I’ll hang on every word,” Jimmy begged walking out into the dining room beside me.

“Go flirt with women and stop fantasizing about my… my…” What was Rush? He wasn’t my boyfriend. He was my baby daddy and that just sounded cheap.

“He’s your man. Say it because it’s true. The guy worships at your altar.”

I didn’t respond. I wasn’t sure how to respond. There were tables already filling up and I had a job to do. Woods, Jace, and Thad, the blond with curly hair whose name I’d just recently found out, were sitting at one of my tables. I went to get the drink orders from Mister Lovelady and his companion today. He always had girls with him that looked like they could be his granddaughters but they never were. According to Jimmy, Mister Lovelady was richer than God. Still, he was old. That was just gross.

After I got their drink orders I headed for Woods’ table. All three guys smiled at me as I approached and Thad winked. He was the pretty boy who liked to flirt and everyone knew it. So ignoring him was easy. “Good afternoon, boys. What can I get you three to drink?” I asked as I put their water glasses in front of them.

“You look chipper this morning. It’s nice to see you smiling again,” Thad said as he reached for his glass of water and took a sip.

The blush was back in my cheeks. I could feel it. I glanced over at Woods who was watching me with a knowing look. He was smart enough to figure it out. “I’ll have coffee,” was Woods’ only reply. I was extremely thankful he wasn’t in the mood to tease me.

“Bethy wouldn’t let me touch the donuts Jimmy brought over this morning. I didn’t realize donuts would put you in such a good mood.” The smirk on Jace’s face said he knew exactly what had happened. Was the entire club going to know about my sex life now? Was it that interesting?

“I happen to love donuts,” I replied, studying my pad instead of looking at any of them.

“I just bet you do,” Jace chuckled. “Bring me a Honey Brown, please.”

“I feel like I’m missing something here and I hate being left out,” Thad said leaning on the table and inspecting me closer.

“Back off and order your damn drink,” Woods snapped at him.

Thad rolled his eyes and leaned back in his seat. “Everyone’s so touchy. I’ll have a bottle of spring water.”

I wrote it down then glanced down at Woods. “Would you like me to bring fresh fruit to the table?”

He nodded. “Please.”

Glad to be done with those three I headed back to the kitchen after being stopped by Mrs. Higgenbotham who wanted a Mimosa for her and her daughter who looked to be about eighteen.

Jimmy was loading up his tray when I walked back into the kitchen. He glanced back at me over his shoulder. “I know I’m being nosy but I gotta ask, who was the girl Rush ran off and left here yesterday?”

Meg. I didn’t know anything else about her. Just Meg, an old friend. I had actually forgotten that Rush had left her here. “She’s an old friend of his. I don’t know much else.”

“Woods knew her well too. He went and talked to her after the two of you ran off. I figured she wasn’t new if they both knew her.”

I reminded myself that she was a part of his past. I had no reason to feel jealous of her in any way. They were old friends. Just because she was one of them didn’t mean I had to feel inferior.

I put Woods’ fruit on my tray and grabbed the drinks everyone had ordered before going back into the dining room.

I focused on delivering drinks to my tables before doing a sweep of the room while I walked toward Woods’ table. I saw Woods cut his eyes from me to a table to my left. It was in Jimmy’s area. I glanced back to see if that was a hint for me to help someone when my eyes locked with Rush’s. I stopped. He was here. A smile started to form on my lips when my eyes shifted to see Nan sitting beside him with an angry snarl on her face. I swung my attention back to Woods and decided to pretend they weren’t here.

“Here’s your fruit.” I could hear the nervous tone in my voice and I prayed the guys didn’t notice. “And here are your drinks. Y’all ready to order now?” I asked, forcing a smile.

All three of them stared up at me making this all the more uncomfortable. This was something I was going to have to learn to get over. Nan was his sister. She’d be in my life if Rush was. Learning to live with someone hating me was a part of life I’d need to learn to accept.

“It’s his sister. You do this thing with him and you have to deal with her too,” Jace told me as if I didn’t already know this. I didn’t like feeling as if every emotion I had was on display. I’d always been a private person. This was too much.

I ignored him pulling my pad out and looked pointedly at Woods. He cleared his throat and ordered. The others did too without anymore words of wisdom.

Rush

“I called and asked you to have lunch with me. Could you at least give me thirty minutes of your attention? It’s been weeks since we’ve had time alone together. I miss you.” The hurt in Nan’s voice tugged at me. She was right. I was ignoring her. I wasn’t sure what she’d even said since Blaire had walked into the dining room. I’d been so focused on making sure she wasn’t carrying anything too heavy and that no one was mistreating her… or flirting with her, that I hadn’t been much of a lunch date for my sister.

“Yeah, I’m sorry,” I told her and tore my eyes off the door where I’d been watching for Blaire to walk back through. “Tell me again about this sailing tournament you’re doing with the new guy… you said his name was Charles.”

Nan smiled at the mention of the guy’s name and then nodded. She reminded me of the little girl I’d hovered over when she looked all excited about something. Not the angry adult she’d grown up to be. “Yes. He is the Kellars’ grandson. He’s from Cape Cod and he is big into sailing. He sailed down here for the summer. Anyway, there is a sailing tournament he entered and he wants to take me with him. It’s just for a few days.”

I listened as she rattled on about Charles and his sailboat and tried extremely hard not to look around for Blaire. I needed to find a balance between the two women in my life. Blaire came first but I love my sister and she needed me. Even if it was a lunch date listening to her prattle about her latest conquest. No one else ever listened to her talk.

She stopped talked and scowled at something over my shoulder. “She needs to focus on her work and stop looking over here at you. God, I don’t know why Woods doesn’t just fire her.”

I glanced back to see Woods, Jace, and Thad all smiling and joking around with a blushing Blaire.

“She’s not looking now. She’s too busy flirting with other guys. She just cares about the money. It’s pathetic really. I wish you’d see through her ridiculous act. I mean, I can see it—”

“Nan, shut up,” I growled. I hadn’t meant to but hearing Nan bad mouth Blaire and watching guys flirt with her and make her blush was a little more than I could handle. I was going to go make sure each one of those horny bastards understood she was mine.

“You’re going to leave me for her? She’s flirting with them, Rush. I can’t believe you would just get up during our lunch to go stake your claim on some cheap whore.”

The jealous rage I had been feeling immediately switched its focus from the guys to my sister. A red haze settled over me as I swung my attention back to her. “What the fuck did you just say?” I asked keeping my voice low and even as I towered over her.

She opened her mouth to speak but I knew I’d lose it if she said anything else bad about Blaire.

“Don’t. If you want to walk out of here with your dignity then don’t. If you ever say anything like that about Blaire again I will cut you loose. Do. You. Fucking. Understand.”

Nan’s eyes went wide. I’d never spoken to her this hard before. But she’d gone too far. She jumped up and threw her napkin down on the table. “I can’t believe you. I’m your sister. She’s just… she’s just…”

“She’s just the woman I’m in love with. You need to remember that,” I finished for her.

Nan’s eyes flashed fire as she spun around and stalked out of the clubhouse. I didn’t care. I needed her to leave before I said anything else. I didn’t want to hurt her. I loved her but I hated the words that continued to pour out of her mouth.

A hand touched my arm and I jerked in response before I realized it was Blaire. Her blue eyes were full of concern. This was what she’d been afraid of. Nan and her hate. I couldn’t blame her but I also couldn’t live without Blaire. However, right now I needed to be alone.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered then pulled away from her grasp and threw money down on the table before following Nan out of the dining room.

I spent the next three hours in the gym. My body was physically beat by the time I walked out of there.My anger had faded. I just wanted to see Blaire now. Her shift would be over and I wanted to hold her. She deserved an apology. I should have never taken Nan to the clubhouse to eat. She’d asked that I meet her there for lunch so I’d gone. I’d even made sure we sat in Jimmy’s section. I hadn’t wanted it to be awkward for Blaire. But it had backfired anyway. That was the last time I allowed Nan near her. She can’t get over it and Blaire doesn’t deserve it.

I knocked on the condo door and waited. No one came. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone only to be reminded Blaire had no phone. Dammit. I was going to get her phone from my house and force her to take it back. What if she was hurt? What if she’d gone off somewhere and wasn’t coming back?

“She’s out with Jimmy,” Bethy’s voice called from behind me. I turned around to see Bethy walking up from the direction of the golf course. “She stopped by after her shift and told me she and Jimmy had a hot date.”

Why hadn’t she told me? Because she didn’t know where to find me if she had wanted to tell me. I’d run out on her like an ass. “When will she be home?” I asked as Bethy stepped in front of me and unlocked the door.

“Don’t know. She was upset. You know anything about that?” Bethy asked in a sour voice as she pushed the door open.

I didn’t ask to come in I just followed her in. “Nan and I had lunch at the clubhouse today. It didn’t go so well.”

Bethy scrunched her nose in disgust. “You think? Whatever for? I can’t imagine your bitch of a sister doing anything to upset Blaire.” Bethy threw her purse down and muttered a curse word. “She doesn’t need the stress you know. She’s pregnant and determined to stay on her feet and carry trays around all day. You adding your family drama is not what she needs. Next time you want to have family bonding time with the wicked witch do it somewhere else.”

She was right. I shouldn’t have let Blaire see Nan. I should have never trusted Nan to be nice. Or at least be civil. This was my fault and I needed to find Blaire.

“Where is she?” I asked

Bethy plopped down on the sofa. “Getting a break from this shit life she’s been handed.”

If Bethy wanted to hurt me she was doing a damn good job. I was ready to beg when the door opened.

“Sorry I’m late. We went to…” she trailed off when her eyes met mine. “Hey.”

“Hey,” I replied,walking over to stand in front of her but afraid to touch her. “I’m so sorry. Please come back to your room and let me explain.”

She made the first move and wrapped her arms around my waist. “It’s okay. I’m not upset.”

She was going to comfort me. Again. That’s what she always did: worry about other people. “No, it’s not,” I replied and took her hand to pull her back to her room. Away from Bethy who wasn’t my biggest fan right now.

“Go let him grovel. He needs to. Fuck. I need him to,” Bethy said from the couch, waving us off and grabbing the remote for the television.

Blaire

Rush continued to pull me into my room until the door was closed behind us and he was sitting on my bed with me in his lap. I had been upset earlier but I was fine now. He had been in an awful situation and Nan had been upset. I was sure Woods was pleased there hadn’t been a big scene with me involved.

“Rush, I promise you that everything is fine. I’m okay,” I assured him, cupping his face in my hands. Dealing with Nan and her hatred was part of the deal. I got that and I was going to have to live with it if I wanted Rush in my life.

He shook his head. “Nothing about today was okay. I should have never agreed to have lunch with her there. I knew better. I should have never trusted her to be a normal person. I’m so sorry, baby. I swear to you that will never happen again.”

I covered his mouth with mine and pushed him back on my bed. “I told you it’s okay. Stop apologizing,” I whispered against his lips.

Rush’s hands slid up my shirt and found my bra that was now two sizes too small.Its strap was cutting into my skin after having to wear it all day. He unsnapped it then ran his hands over the skin that was marked from the pressure of the ill-fitting bra.

“You need a new bra,” he said, brushing his fingers back and forth over my back making me shiver from pleasure.

“Mmmm if you promise to do that everynight I’ll be fine,” I assured him leaning down to kiss him again.

He pulled back. “Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked with a pained voice.

Tell him what? I put my hands on either side of his head and lifted myself up to hover over him. “What is it I was supposed to tell you?” I asked, confused.

Rush slipped his hands around my sides until they were sliding under my breasts and I forgot that we were having a conversation. That felt so good. Moaning, I pushed my chest into his hands and was getting ready to beg.

“Your skin is cut from this fucking bra, Blaire. Why did you wear it? I’d have gotten you a new one. I’m getting you a new one before you go anywhere else.”

He was still talking about my bra. “Rush, I need you to touch me now. Don’t worry about my bra. Just please…” I bent my head down and took small nips at his shoulder and kissed my way down his chest.

“As good as that feels you can’t distract me. I want to know why you didn’t tell me your damn bra was hurting you. I don’t want you hurting.”

I lifted my head and studied him. He was frowning. This really bothered him. No one ever worried about me like this. I wasn’t used to it. My heart swelled and I reached down and pulled my shirt and bra off. “Rush. I need a new bra. This one has gotten too small. Would you take me to get one? Please?” I teased as his hands came up and cupped my swollen breasts making me cream in my panties even more.

“Tits as fucking perfect as these need to be taken care of. I can’t stand the thought of them being in pain,” he smirked up at me, “unless of course I’m the one causing the pain.” He pinched both of my nipples hard and I cried out.

“Thesetitties are mine, Blaire. I take care of what is mine,” he whispered before pulling a nipple into his mouth.

I just nodded and rocked against him. His erection was pressing against my swollen clit and if I rubbed just a little bit longer I was going to come. I really needed to come.

“Easy girl. Let me get these shorts off you first,” he said kissing down to my stomach where he lingered and kissed it sweetly. His eyes lifted to look at me as he slowly unfastened my shorts and began pulling them down my body. “Looks like someone needs some attention. She’s all swollen and wet. Dripping wet. Fuck that’s hot,” he murmured as he pushed my legs apart and gazed hungrily between my legs.

He laid down between my legs until his mouth was so close to my clit I could feel his warm breath on it. “Tonight I’m staying here. I can’t sleep at night knowing you might wake up like this and need me. The idea drives me crazy,” his voice dropped to a husky sound that always excited me. I watched as he stuck out his tongue and the silver barbell flashed at me before he ran his tongue through the folds and then slipped it inside me.

I grabbed his head and began pleading with him for more as he brought me to not one but two orgasms before he lifted his head and smiled wickedly at me. “That’s fucking addictive. No one should taste that sweet, Blaire. Not even you.”

He stood up and jerked off his shirt and pants.He was back on top of me before I could admire the view for very long.

“I want you to ride me,” he said, kissing me again while his erection slipped between my legs and teased me.

I pushed him back and he easily rolled over for me so I could climb on top. Watching him as he slowly took in my body was more of a turn on than the naughty words he always whispered in my ears to make me come.

I could love this man and be happy with him the rest of my life. I just hoped I got the chance.

The next few days went by like a fairy tale. I went to work. Rush showed up and distracted me with his gorgeous presence; we ended up somewhere we shouldn’t be having wild sex before actually going back to my condo or his house and making love in a bed. The second time was always sweet. The first time was always intense and needy on both our parts. I was pretty sure Woods had overheard us the day we’d ended up in the rental closet tearing at each other’s clothes.

I was still trying to decide if this was the pregnancy hormones or if I was always going to want Rush like this. One touch from him and I was desperate. Today however we would be on a break. I was working all day at the annual golf tournament. I’d had to fight both Woods and Rush to let me work today. Neither of them had thought it was safe. I, of course, won.

Our cart girl outfits were special ordered for today. We would be wearing all white like the golfers.Our shorts were replaced with skirts to match ourpolos. Except, of course, for Jimmy. He’d be in shorts. He was the only male on the drink carts today. Apparently, he’d also been special ordered.

“There are fifteen teams. Blaire you get the first threeteams. Then Bethy you have the next three. Carmen you get the next three. Natalie you get the next three and Jimmy you get the last three. They’re all women who have requested you specifically. This will be an all day event. Keep the golfers happy and don’t run low on drinks. Come back here to restock before you run out of something. Your carts have been pre-stocked with the drinks of choice for the golfers you will be trailing today. You each have a walkie-talkie in your cart to contact me in case of any emergency. Does anyone have any questions?” Darla stood on the porch of the course offices with her hands on her hips staring down at the five of us.

“Good. Now get to your places. Blaire will be busy right off the bat. The rest of you need to wait on and check on your teams while they’re waiting to tee off. If they want a drink get them one. If they want food, get them a server. Got it?”

We all nodded. Darla waved us off and went back into the offices.

“I hate tournaments. I just hope I don’t have to deal with Nathan Ford. He is so damn annoying,” Bethy grumbled as we went to get our carts and make sure we had everything before heading to the first hole.

“Maybe you’ll get Jace,” I said, hoping to cheer her up.

Bethy frowned. “Nope. Not a chance. Aunt Darla did the line up. She won’t have given me Jace.”

Ah. Well, in that case I wouldn’t have Rush either. Probably a good thing. I needed to focus on work. Not how good Rush looked in a pair of shorts and a polo.

I parked the cart at the first hole and went to meet my first group. It was familiar faces and they were an older group. They would be easy enough and they were excellent tippers. After getting them all a bottle of water I went to my next group. Surprisingly it was Jace, Thad and Woods. I hadn’t expected to have them in my group. “Hello boys. Aren’t I the lucky one?” I teased.

“I was sure we’d get Bethy. Dayum, my day is just now getting better,” Thad replied.

“Shut up,” Jace grumbled and elbowed him in the side.

“I’m not stupid enough to let Bethy have Jace. She’d ignore everyone else,” Woods explained.

I gave all three of them a bottle of water. “I’m happy to serve the three of you. Even if I’m not Bethy,” I said, smiling at Jace.

“If I can’t have Bethy you are definitely my runner-up,” Jace said with a crooked grin. I couldn’t help but like the guy. He’d more than proved himself with his feelings for Bethy.

“Good. Now, y’all make me proud,” I cheered as I headed to the next group. This was my first female group. I recognized them but I wasn’t sure exactly who they were. I thought the tall elegant blondemight be the Mayor’s wife.

After I got them their sparkling waters and slices of lime I headed back to the front. It was almost time to start. I glanced back and looked for Rush but didn’t see him. I wasn’t sure whose team he was on but I knew he was playing. I assumed Grant would be with him but I didn’t see him either.

Rush

I was going to murder Grant in his sleep. Or maybe right here in public with witnesses. I slammed my clubs down and the caddie quickly grabbed them which was a good thing. I was getting ready to throw something.

“Meg? Really Grant? You asked Meg?” I growled, looking past Grant to see Meg checking in and pointing our way.

“We needed three. You pissed off Nan so we were short a person. Everyone else was taken. Meg wanted to play. What’s the big deal?” Grant handed his bag to the caddie and shot me an annoyed look.

Blaire was the big deal. I hadn’t told her that Meg would be on my team because I hadn’t known. Now if she saw us she’d think I was trying to keep it from her. I needed to find her.

“Can I get you three a water?” a redheaded cart girl whose name I couldn’t remember asked. Figured Woods wouldn’t let me have Blaire. That would have helped. I could have explained this to her and she’d been able to see it was completely innocent.

“Yes, please, Carmen,” Grant replied. He was flashing her a grin and she was batting her eyelashes. He’d probably slept with this one. If not, he would be tonight. “Give one to grumpy pants too. He needs to hydrate himself,” Grant joked.

“Ready to kick some ass?” Meg asked, walking up to us.

No, I was ready to find Blaire and explain this. I looked back over at the cart girl. “Where in the lineup is Blaire?” I asked her.

She made a pouty face. “I’m not good enough?”

“Yes, sugar, you’re perfect. He just has the hots for Blaire. Nothing personal,” Grant explained, winking at her. She beamed at him again.

“She got the first group. I think Mr. Kerrington is in that group. The young Mr. Kerrington. Mrs. Darla said something about Mr. Kerrington requesting Blaire,” the girl replied with a satisfied smile.

Woods was a dick. I didn’t doubt it.

“Good morning, Meg. Sorry but we have a bad mood Rush on our hands,” Grant said in way of greeting to Meg who I’d forgotten had joined us.

“I can see that. I’m going to go out on a limb here and assume that Blaire is the girl he chased after leaving me all alone without an explanation the other day.”

“If he chased after a girl then yes, it was Blaire,” Grant replied.

I ignored both of them and started to walk toward the front of the line when I saw the first group tee off. Blaire’s cart also pulled away at the same time. Shit.

“Would you calm down? Blaire isn’t the one to get jealous. That’s you,” Grant grumbled then took a swig of his water.

“Okay, is it a problem that I’m playing with the two of you? Is that what this is about?” Meg asked, staring directly at me.

“I don’t want Blaire upset,” I replied and looked back out in the direction she’d driven.

“Oh. Well, this is just golf; not a date,” Meg replied.

She was right. I was being ridiculous. We weren’t in high school and I could play golf with a female. Blaire now knew that Meg was an old friend and we were with Grant. It wasn’t like it was just the two of us. This would be okay.

“I’m on edge. Sorry. You’re right. This isn’t a big deal,” I agreed and decided to relax and enjoy the day. At least Blaire was in the front. She’d be done and inside sooner. That was probably why Woods had requested her. So she wouldn’t be out in the sun as long as the others.

By the time we’d made it to the sixth hole I had relaxed and was enjoying myself. Except for the occasional worry about Blaire being in the heat I was fine. I knew Woods was watching her and as annoying as that was it was also a relief.

“Come on Grant, so far Rush has the best out of three and I have the best out of two. This one is yours buddy. You can do it,” Meg taunted him as he set up to put for par.

Grant shot her a warning glare. Putting wasn’t Grant’s strong point and it hadn’t taken Meg long to figure that out. If he sunk this one it’d be a miracle.

“I think he needs a little help, Meg. Maybe you could go give him a lesson,” I suggested.

The angry look on Grant’s face made both of us crack up. Damn he was too easy. “You might wanna back up, Meg. He looks ready to blow. If his putter goes flying you don’t want to be in the line of fire.”

Meg backed up and stood by me. “Does he really throw clubs?” she asked with a hopeful smile.

“Don’t get too excited. If he’s pissed enough to throw clubs then he is pretty damn mad.”

“I’m not scared. You have the bigger arms,” Meg said throwing another grin toward Grant. She was goading him.

“He does not have bigger arms!” Grant barked, straighteningup from his putting stance with a defensive look on his face.

Meg reached over and squeezed my arm. “Um, yeah these are pretty damn impressive. Show me what you got,” she teased Grant some more.

Grant jerked his shirt off and walked over to stand in front of Meg flexing his muscles. “Feel that, baby. He ain’t got nothing on me. He’s just a pretty boy.”

Rolling my eyes I started to walk back to the golf cart. Grant reached out and grabbed my arm. “No you don’t. This is a contest I’m gonna fucking win. Flex those puny arms. Let her see who is packing more heat.”

I had no desire to win this contest. “You won. I’m good with it. He has bigger arms, Meg,” I said, jerking my arms free of his grip.

“No, he doesn’t. You weren’t flexing when I felt yours and I’m positive yours were bigger,” she replied with a wicked grin. I was positive this was a bad idea. I didn’t think she was flirting but I wasn’t sure.

“That’s bullshit! Flex your arm, Rush. I’m proving this one. I got the better guns.”

“Yes, you do. It’s cool,” I replied.

“Flex them now, I mean it,” Grant demanded. He was really in a pissing contest here. One I was gladly willing to let him win. I was just ready to move on to the next hole.

“Fine,” I agreed. “If this will make you go putt that ball so we can move on to the next hole I’ll flex my arm.”

Grant grinned and held his arm out again for her to feel. She was waiting on me. I flexed and let her feel. This was ridiculous.

“Sorry Grant, he wins this,” Meg replied squeezing my arms just a little too long. I dropped my arm and headed back to the cart.

“Putt the ball, Grant,” I called out.

“You didn’t win this! She just picked you because she feels loyal to you since she was your first fuck,” he replied.

I jerked my head around to see if anyone had heard him. Thankfully, it looked like no one had.

Blaire

I sat there as they got on their cart and drove to the next hole. I was supposed to be getting more drinks. My desire to see Rush had gotten the best of me and I’d taken a small detour until I found him. Now, I wish I hadn’t. For the first time this week I was sick at my stomach again. He hadn’t told me Meg was his first. He’d just said they were old friends.

Knowing what kind of old friends they were didn’t help. I was well aware that Rush had a string of girls that he’d slept with. It was something I knew when I’d gone to his bed the first time. But seeing him with the one. The one that had been his first was painful.

She’d been flirting with him and he’d been flirting back. Trying to impress her with his muscles. They were impressive enough without him flexing them and showing off. Why had he done that? Did he want her to be attracted to him? Was he curious about what she was like in bed now?

My stomach rolled and I forced my cart into drive and pulled away from the trees I’d been hiding behind. I hadn’t meant to hide. I’d taken a short cut to see if Rush was at this hole. But when I’d seen him smiling at Meg and then letting her touch him I’d stopped. I couldn’t go any further.

She was a part of his world. She fit into his world. Instead of driving a drink cart around she was playing golf with him. He couldn’t have asked me. For starters I had no idea how to play and then, of course, I worked here. I couldn’t play. What was he doing with me? His sister hated me. I couldn’t be a part of his life. Not really. I would always be on the outside looking in. I hated the way this felt.

Being with him was amazing. In the privacy of his house or my condo it was easy to pretend we could be something more. But what happens when I’m showing? When I’m very pregnant and he is with me? People will know. How will he handle it? Can I expect him to?

I loaded the cart back up and let my mind play over all the scenarios that could happen with us. None of them ended happily. I wasn’t one of the elite. I was just me. This past week I’d let myself play with the idea of staying. Raising this baby with Rush. As much as seeing him with Meg had hurt it had been the wakeup call I needed. No one lived in a fairy tale. Especially me.

By the time I got back my group had made it to the last stretch. I smiled and served drinks and even joked with the golfers. No one was going to know I was upset. This was my job. I was going to be good at it.

I wouldn’t say anything to Rush tonight. There was no point. He wasn’t thinking clearly. I would just put some distance between us. I couldn’t let myself believe he was my happily ever after. I was smarter than that.

I hadn’t been able to make it through the day without getting sick. The heat had gotten to me but I would be damned if Woods knew about it. I didn’t need him thinking I couldn’t do my job. Bethy held my hair back while I threw up in the toilet in the back of the offices. I really did love her.

“You over did it,” she scolded as I lifted my head up from my last heave.

I didn’t want to admit it but she was probably right. I took the wet washcloth she was handing me and cleaned my face before sitting down on the floor and leaning back against the wall.

“I know. But don’t tell anyone,” I requested.

Bethy sat down beside me. “Why?”

“Because I need this job. The money is good. If I’m leaving once I start showing then I need all the money I can save up. It won’t be easy getting a job while I’m obviously pregnant.”

Bethy turned her head and looked at me. “You’re still planning on leaving? What about Rush?”

I didn’t want Bethy mad at him. She’d just started being nice to him again. “I saw him today. He was having fun. He fit in. He’s where he belongs. I’m where I belong. I don’t fit in with his world.”

“He doesn’t get a say in this? If you just said the word he’d have you moved into his house and he would be taking care of everything. You wouldn’t be working at this club and you would be at his side everywhere. You’ve got to know that.”

I didn’t like the idea of being one more woman who mooched off him. His mother and sister did that. I didn’t want to do it too. I didn’t care about his money. I just cared about him. “I’m not his responsibility.”

“Excuse me if I beg to differ. When he knocked you up you became his ultimate responsibility,” Bethy said in a huff.

I knew the truth about the night we’d had sex without a condom. I’d come onto him. I had all but attacked him. It hadn’t been his fault. All the other times he was careful. I hadn’t let him be that night. It was my mistake not his.

“Trust me when I tell you that this was all on me. You weren’t there the night I got pregnant. I was.”

“Can’t be all your fault. You can’t get pregnant alone.”

I wasn’t going to argue with her. “Just don’t tell anyone I was sick. I don’t want them worrying.”

“Fine. I’m not happy about it though. You do this again and I’m telling,” she warned.

I laid my head over on her shoulder. “Deal,” I agreed.

Bethy patted my head. “You are one crazy girl.”

I just laughed because she was right.

Rush

As soon as the tournament was over, I went home to shower and clean up. I didn’t even hang around to get the second place trophy. I left Grant and Meg to do the honors. I couldn’t care less. I only participated in the tournament because I’d signed up with Nan and Grant early in the summer. We did it every year. It was for a good cause.

When I’d stopped by the offices where the drink carts were parked Darla said Blaire had left with Bethy about an hour ago. I called Bethy but got no answer. I figured by the time I got a shower and changed they would be back from wherever it was they went.

Bethy’s car was in the parking lot when I pulled up to their condo. Blaire was home. Thank God. I’d missed her like crazy all day. I knocked three times and waited impatiently for it to open. Bethy gave me a tight smile. Not who I wanted to see.

“Hey,” I said, stepping in.

“She’s already asleep. It was a long day,” Bethy said, still standing at the door holding it open like she wanted me to leave now.

“Is she okay?” I asked,looking down the hall to her closed bedroom door.

“Just tired. Let her sleep,” Bethy replied.

I wasn’t leaving. She could close the damn door. “I won’t wake her up but I’m not leaving. So you can close the door,” I told her before heading back to Blaire’s room.

It was only six in the evening. She shouldn’t be asleep so early unless she was sick. The idea of her overdoing it today made my heart race. I should have insisted she not work today. This wasn’t safe for her or the baby.

I opened the door slowly and stepped inside. Then I closed and locked it behind me. Blaire was curled up in the center of her big bed. She looked lost up there. Her long blond hair fanned out over the pillows and one of her long bare legs was kicked out of the covers. I pulled my shirt off then threw it over on the dresser before unzipping my jeans and pulling them off. When I was down to my boxer briefs I pulled the covers back and climbed in behind her.Idrew her up against me; she came willingly. A soft sigh and some mumbled greeting was the most adorable sound I’d ever heard. Smiling, I buried my face in her hair and closed my eyes.

This was the only place I ever wanted to be. I slid my hand down and laid it flat over her stomach. The idea of what I was holding right now was humbling.

A soft trail down my arm and then across my chest brought a smile to my face as I opened my eyes. Blaire was turned around facing me now. Her eyes were open as she stared at my chest and ran her finger over each of my pecs then back up and across my shoulder. She lifted her eyes and a small smile played on her lips.

“Hey,” I whispered.

“Hey.”

It was dark outside now but I had no idea how late it was. “I missed you today.”

Her smile slipped and she shifted her gaze away from me. That was an odd reaction. “I missed you too,” she replied, not looking at me.

I reached up and took her chin so I could turn her gaze back toward me. “What’s wrong?”

She forced a smile. “Nothing.”

She was lying. Something was definitely wrong. “Blaire, tell me the truth. You look upset. Something is wrong.”

She started to pull away from me but I held her close. “Tell me, please.” I begged.

The tension in her body eased some when I said please. I needed to remember that she was weak where that word was concerned.

“I saw you today. You were having fun…” she trailed off.

Was that the problem? Oh… wait. She saw Meg. “This is about Meg. I’m sorry; I didn’t know until she got there that Grant had asked her to replace Nan. My sister backed out at the last minute and Grant asked Meg to take her spot. I would have told you before if I’d known.”

The tension in her body was back. Shit. I thought that explained it. Was she that upset over it?

“She was your first.” Blaire’s voice was so soft I almost missed it.

Someone had told her. Fuck. Who knew that other than Grant? It wasn’t like I shared my sexual history with people. Who could have told her? I cupped her face in my hands. “And you’re my last.”

Her eyes softened. I was getting good at this sweet talking thing. I hadn’t much cared about saying the right thing with females before. It was easy with Blaire. I was just being honest.

“I…” She stopped and wiggled in my arms. “I need to go to the restroom,” she said. I was positive that wasn’t what she was going to say at first but I let her get up.

She was wearing a yellow tank top and pair of pink panties that I knew girls referred to as boy shorts. Even though no guy I knew would wear something like that. Her hips looked fuller and the idea of bending her over the bed and holding those hips made me hard as a rock. I needed to focus. She was upset about something and she wasn’t telling me what it was. I had to fix this. I didn’t want her upset.

My phone rang and I reached over to get it off the nightstand. It was Nan. Not who I wanted to talk to at the moment. I pressed ignore. After turning off the ringer, I checked the time. It was only ten after nine.

Blaire stepped back out of the bathroom and grinned sheepishly. “I’m kinda hungry.”

“Then let’s go feed you,” I said getting up and reaching for my jeans.

“I need to go to the grocery. I was going to go earlier but I was sleepy so I thought I’d take a nap first.”

“I’ll take you to dinner then we’ll go grocery shopping in the morning. There are no grocery stores open this late around here.”

Blaire look confused. “There aren’t any restaurants in town open either.”

“The club is open until eleven. You know that.” I yanked my shirt down over my head then walked over to her. She was studying me like she didn’t understand.

“What?” I asked grabbing her waist and pulling her almost naked body up against me.

“People will see you with me at the club. People other than your friends,” she said slowly as if letting it sink in.

“And?” I asked.

She tilted her head back so she could look up at me. “And I work there. They know I work there.”

I still didn’t understand what she was saying. “I’m not following you.”

Blaire let out an exasperated sigh. “Do you not care that other club members will see you eating dinner with an employee?”

I froze. What? “Blaire,” I said slowly, making sure I’d heard her correctly. “Did you just ask me if I cared if someone saw me eating with you? Please tell me I misunderstood that.”

She shrugged.

I dropped my hands from her waist and walked over to the door. She had to be kidding me. When had I ever led her to believe that I was ashamed of her?

I looked back at her. She had crossed her arms over her chest as she watched me.

“When have I ever made you think I didn’t want to be seen with you? Because if I have then I swear to you I’ll go fix it.”

She shrugged again. “I don’t know. We’ve just never really gone out on a date. I mean there was the honky-tonk that time but it wasn’t really a date. Your social functions normally don’t include me.”

My chest constricted. She was right. I’d never taken her anywhere other than to buy furniture and a ride to Sumit and back. Fuck. I was an idiot. “You’re right. I suck. I’ve never taken you anywhere special,” I whispered then shook my head. I had never really had a relationship before. I fucked girls and then I sent them home.

“So all this time you thought I was ashamed of you?” I asked, knowing I didn’t want to hear the answer. It was going to hurt like a motherfucker.

“Not ashamed exactly. I just… I just thought well, I don’t fit into your world. I know that. Just because I’m pregnant with our baby doesn’t mean you have to claim me in any way. You’re just being supportive—”

“Blaire. Please. Stop now. I can’t listen to any more.” I closed the distance I’d put between us. “You’re my world. I want everyone to know. I don’t know how to date so I never even thought of taking you on a date. But I can promise you right now; I will be taking you on so many damn dates that there won’t be a person in this town that doesn’t know I worship the ground you walk on,” I swore before reaching out and taking her hand. “Forgive me for being an idiot.”

Blaire blinked back tears and nodded. I wondered how many more times I was going to screw up before I ever got this right.

Blaire

The cell phone Rush had bought for me was sitting on the kitchen bar when I walked out of my room. This was the third time this week he’d left it somewhere for me to find. This time it had a note attached.

I picked it up.

Think about the baby. You need this for emergencies.

That was a low blow. Smiling I picked the phone up and put it in my pocket. He wasn’t going to give up until I accepted it. Today was my second doctor’s appointment. I’d told Rush about it on our third date Monday night. He’d been very determined to take me on dates all week. Last night I’d begged him to just stay in and watch a movie. He had made his point. Everyone in town had seen us together. I was sure they were all sick of seeing us together by now. The thought made me smile even bigger.

I slipped the phone back out of my pocket. I had forgotten to remind Rush about today’s appointment last night. Now I had a phone so I could call him. His name was the first one on my contacts list under favorites. I wasn’t surprised.

It rang three times before he answered.

“Hey, I need to call you back,” Rush’s voice said in an annoyed tone.

“Okay but…” I started to say when he muffled the phone to talk to someone else. What was going on?

“Are you okay?” he snapped.

“Yeah, I’m fine but—”

“Then I gotta call you back,” he interrupted me before I could finish then he ended the call.

I sat there and stared at the phone. What had just happened? Maybe I should have asked if he was okay. When he didn’t call back in the next ten minutes I decided I’d better get dressed for my appointment. Surely he would call back before it was time to leave.

An hour later and he still hadn’t called back. I debated on calling him or not. Maybe he had forgotten that I’d called. I could always borrow Bethy’s car and go to my appointment. On Monday when I’d told him about it he’d seemed excited about going. I couldn’t just leave him.

I pressed his number again. It rang four times this time.

“What?” Nan’s voice startled me. Was he at Nan’s?

“Uh, um…” I wasn’t sure what to say to her. I couldn’t tell her about my appointment. “Is Rush there?” I asked nervously.

Nan let out a hard laugh. “Unbelievable. He told you he’d call you back. Why don’t you give him some breathing room? Rush doesn’t do needy. He’s visiting with his family. My mom and dad are here and we’re getting ready to go have a family lunch. When he is ready to talk to you he will.” Then she hung up.

I sank down onto the bed. He was having a family lunch with his sister, mother and my father. That was why he hung up on me? He didn’t want me to know he was with them. His family lunch came before me and the baby. This was what I’d expected but then he’d been so sweet and protective. Was I being needy? I wasn’t a needy person but I had turned into one. Hadn’t I?

Standing up, I laid the phone down on the bed. I didn’t want it anymore. Nan’s hateful voice as she told me they were eating with her father taunted me. I grabbed my purse. I had time to walk down to the offices and borrow Bethy’s car.

I was sweating by the time I made it to the course offices. So much for looking nice for my appointment. That didn’t matter really. It was the least of my problems. I walked up the steps and Darla met me as she was coming out of the door.

“You don’t work today,” she stated when she saw me.

“I know. I need to borrow Bethy’s car. I have a doctor’s appointment in Destin that I… uh … forgot about.” I hated lying but telling her the truth was just more than I could handle.

Darla studied me a moment then reached into the pocket of her slacks and pulled out her keys. “Take my car. I’ll be here all day. I don’t need it.”

I wanted to hug her but I didn’t. I wasn’t sure she’d be comfortable with that kind of reaction to a simple doctor’s appointment. “Thank you so much. I’ll put gas in it,” I assured her.

She nodded and waved me on. I hurried down the steps and climbed into her Cadillac to head toward Destin.

The drive over wasn’t bad and I only had to wait fifteen minutes before they called me back to the exam room. The nurse was all smiles as she pulled out a machine with a small screen on it.

“You’re only ten weeks along so to hear the baby’s heartbeat we’re gonna need to do an ultrasound. We should hear the heartbeat and see a little bitty baby in there too,” she explained.

I was going to see my baby and hear it’s heartbeat. This was real. The few times I’d imagined this day I hadn’t imaged being alone. I had thought someone would be with me. What if they can’t find a heartbeat? What if something is wrong? I didn’t want to be alone for this.

The doctor walked in with a comforting smile. “You look terrified. This is a happy moment. All your vitals are good. No need to be so nervous,” he assured me. “Now lay back.” I did as he instructed and the nurse put my legs up in the stirrups.

“You aren’t far enough along to do this externally and be able to see or hear the baby. We need to do a transvaginal ultrasound which means we need to go in vaginally. It doesn’t hurt. You’ll feel some pressure from the wand, that’s all,” the nurse explained.

I didn’t watch them. The idea of him sticking a wand up me only made this worse. I focused on the screen.

“Okay, here we go. Easy, be still,” the doctor instructed. I watched the black and white screen, waiting patiently for something that resembled a baby.

A small thumping sound filled the room and it felt like my own heart had stopped beating.

“Is that…?” I asked, suddenly unable to say anything else.

“That’s it alright. Thumping just right too. Nice and strong,” the doctor replied.

I stared at the screen and the nurse pointed to what looked like a little pea. “There he or she is. Perfect size for ten weeks.”

I couldn’t swallow past the lump in my throat. Tears rolled down my face but I didn’t care. I just sat transfixed looking at the tiny miracle on the screen while his heartbeat filled the room.

“You and the baby are both doing excellently,” the doctor said as he slowly pulled the instrument from inside me and the nurse pulled down my gown and gave me her hand to pull me up.

“A little blood tinged discharge is perfectly normal after this procedure so don’t be alarmed,” the doctor said, standing up and going over to the sink to wash his hands.

“Keep taking those prenatal vitamins and come back to see me in four weeks.”

I nodded. I was still in awe.

“Here you go,” the nurse said, handing me a small pictures from my ultrasound.

“These are mine?” I asked, looking down at the pictures of my baby.

“Of course they are,” she replied with an amused tone.

“Thank you,” I said as I looked at each one and found the small pea I knew was alive inside me.

“You’re welcome.” She patted my knee. “You can get dressed now. Everything looks great.”

I nodded and wiped away another tear that had broken free and was rolling down my face.

Rush

“Where is she, Bethy?” I demanded walking out of Blaire’s bedroom holding her cell phone. She’d left it here.

Bethy snarled at me and slammed a kitchen cabinet door. “The fact your sorry ass doesn’t know where she is only makes me hate you more.”

What the fuck was wrong with her? I’d had a day from hell. Telling my mom she had to get another house and then telling them I was going to ask Blaire to marry me had sent them all into a wild rage. Well, not all of them. Blaire’s father had seemed fine with it. Nan and my mother had gone ballistic. We’d spent several hours yelling at each other and I’d made threats I intended to keep. Nan was supposed to leave to go back to school on Monday. She’d be gone until winter break and I was sure she’d end up in Vail with friends then. It was what she did every year. Normally I went too but not this year.

“I’ve had to deal with my mother and sister for the past four hours. Kicking Georgianna out of the house and informing her and Nan I intend to ask Blaire to marry me isn’t exactly an easy battle. So forgive me if I need a little help remembering where Blaire is!”

Bethy thumped the bottle of water down on the bar and her angry snarl became more of a disgusted frown. I’d thought once she heard I was going to propose to Blaire that she’d be happy. Apparently not.

“I hope you didn’t buy a ring,” was her only response.

I was tired of her games. “Tell me where she is,” I roared.

Bethy put both her hands on the bar and leaned forward giving me a furious scowl I didn’t know the girl was capable of. “Go. To. Hell.”

Fuck. What had I done?

The door opened and Blaire came walking in smiling until her eyes met mine. Then her smile faltered. She was mad at me too. Not good.

“Blaire,” I said as I walked toward her and she started backing up.

“Don’t,” she replied, holding up both her hands to stop me from coming closer.

She was holding something. It looked like pictures. What the hell did she have pictures of? Was it something from my past? Was she pissed about some girl I’d done something with once?

“Is that what I think it is?” Bethy asked pushing past me and running to Blaire.

Blaire nodded and handed her the pictures. Bethy covered her mouth. “Oh my God. Did you hear the heartbeat?”

At the words “heartbeat” my chest felt as if it had just been ripped wide open. Understanding dawned on me. Today was Thursday. It was Blaire’s doctor’s appointment. She’d called to remind me and I’d hung up on her.

“Blaire, shit baby, I am so sorry. I was dealing with my—”

“Your family. I know. Nan told me when I called back. I don’t want to hear your excuses. I just want you to leave.” Her voice was flat. There was no emotion in it.

She turned her attention back to the pictures and pointed to something. “Right there. Can you believe that’s inside me?”

Bethy turned her hateful scowl from me to the picture and a soft smile touched her face. “It’s amazing.”

They were standing there looking at pictures of my baby. Blaire had heard his heartbeat today. Alone. Without me.

“Can I see?” I asked, scared she’d tell me no or worse, ignore me.

Instead, she took the pictures from Bethy and handed them to me. “The little thing that looks like a pea. That’s… our baby,” she finished. She had been reluctant to call it our baby. I couldn’t blame her.

“Was its heart okay? I mean, did it beat properly and everything?” I asked, staring down at the picture in my hand.

“Yes. They said everything was perfect,” she replied. “If you want it you can keep that one. I have three. But I’d like for you to leave now.”

I wasn’t leaving. Bethy standing guard wasn’t going to stop me either. I would say all this in front of Bethy if I had to but I refused to leave this condo.

“My mother and your father showed up unannounced today. Nan leaves for college Monday. Mom thought I’d be leaving too so she was back to move in for the year. I informed her I wasn’t leaving and she’d need to find another home. I also informed them that I was staying until you decided you wanted us to move somewhere else. That I intended to ask you to marry me,” I paused and watched as her face paled. Not the reaction I was hoping for. “It didn’t go over well. There was a lot of yelling. Hours of screaming and threats. When you called me I had just announced to the three of them that I was going to marry you. All hell had broken loose. I was going to call you back once I had my mother and Abe back in their car and headed out of town. I didn’t want you to have to face either of them. But my mother doesn’t go down without a fight. Nan packed up and left for school this evening. She is refusing to ever speak to me again.” I stopped and took a breath.

“I can never tell you how sorry I am. The fact I forgot about today’s appointment is unforgivable. I keep having to apologize to you. I wish I could stop fucking everything up.”

“You weren’t going to have lunch with your family?” she asked.

“My family? What? No!”

The rigid stance of her posture relaxed. “Oh,” she said in a sigh.

“Why did you think I’d go to lunch with them? I wouldn’t hang up on you to go spend time with them.”

“Nan,” she replied with a sad smile.

“Nan? When the hell did you talk to Nan?” I’d been with Nan all morning.

“When I called you back. Nan answered and said you didn’t have time for me because you were going to eat with your family.”

My lying little sister better be glad her ass was headed back to the east coast because I’d go ring her neck if I could get my hands on her.

“You went to that appointment thinking I’d blown you and our baby off for them? Fuck!” I pushed past Bethy and pulled Blaire into my arms. “You’re my family, Blaire. You and this baby. Do you understand me? I missed something today I will never forgive myself for. I wanted to be there and hear the heartbeat. I wanted to be holding your hand when you saw him for the first time.”

Blaire tilted her head back and smiled up at me. “You know it could be a girl.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Then stop calling our baby a ‘him’,” she replied.

I was calling the baby a him. Smiling, I kissed her forehead. “Can we go back to your room and you tell me about the appointment. I want to know everything.”

She nodded and glanced over at Bethy. “Are you going to continue scowling at him or are you going to forgive him?”

Bethy shrugged. “Not sure yet.”

Blaire

School was back in session. Vacationers and summer people had gone home. The club had a lot less traffic and because of this tips were down. The biggest thing was that Rush hadn’t mentioned the proposing thing again since the night at the condo when he’d said that was what he’d told his mother and sister and my father. He never even mentioned them again. I wondered sometimes if he’d changed his mind or if I’d imagined it.

If it wasn’t for Bethy asking me weekly if Rush had brought it up again I would think it had been a figment of my imagination. Every time I told her no he hadn’t she got more and more agitated. Not to mention my heart hurt a little more. I was afraid he’d thought it through and decided it was a mistake. Before he’d mentioned it that night I hadn’t even let myself believe he’d want to marry me. I figured we’d raise the baby from two different homes. If my thoughts went to the future I would block it out. It wasn’t something I wanted to hope for.

My hours were being cut back due to the slower season and I wondered if I needed to get a second job. There wasn’t a lot to choose from around here. Then it was very likely that Rush wouldn’t take it well.

When I stepped into my bedroom there were two things that caught my attention. There were rose petals on my bed and in the center of them was an envelope with my name written neatly across the front. I picked it up and opened it. The stationery was expensive feeling and Finlay was embossed at the top.

Meet me down at the beach.

Love,

Rush

His abnormally perfect handwriting made me smile. I went to my closet and pulled out a white sundress that had two black stripes across the hem. If he had planned a romantic something at the beach I wasn’t going to wear my work clothes.

After brushing my hair and touching up my makeup I headed out the French doors that faced the gulf and made my way down to the beach. Rush was dressed in a pair of khaki shorts and a button up shirt. I was glad I’d changed. His back was to me and his hands were in his pockets as he stood there staring out at the water. I wanted to stop and admire him admiring the water but I was also anxious to see him. He’d been gone when I woke up this morning.

I stepped off the walkway and onto the sand. It was oddly deserted except for the two of us. Even though the crowds were down it was still eighty-eight degrees and sunny outside. Glancing down I noticed something in the sand. Someone had written in it. There was a stick lying off to the side.

I stopped and read aloud, “Blaire Wynn, will you marry me?” As the words sunk in Rush walked across the words and knelt down on one knee in front of me.

A small box appeared in his hand and he opened it slowly as a diamond ring caught the fading sun.It appeared to come alive as it sparkled. It was happening. Did I want this? Yes. Did I trust him? …. Yes.

Was he ready? I wasn’t sure. I didn’t want this to be something he was doing because he felt pressured to. It would be easy to reach down and put the ring on my finger. But was it what Rush really wanted?

“You don’t have to do this,” I forced myself to say staring down at him. He hadn’t spoken to his sister or his mother in weeks. As much as I disliked them… no hated them, I didn’t want to be what came between him and his family.

Rush shook his head. “No, I don’t have to do anything. But I want to spend the rest of my life with you. No one but you.”

His words were the right words. I still felt like something was wrong. He couldn’t truly want this. He was young, rich, and gorgeous. I had nothing to offer him. I’d tie him down. Change his world. “I can’t do this to you. I can’t hinder your future. You can go do anything. I promised you I’d let you be a part of our baby’s life. That won’t change when you feel like you’re ready to leave. I’ll always let you.”

“Don’t say another word. I swear Blaire, I am seconds away from throwing your ass in that ocean.” He stood up and his steady gaze held mine. “No man has ever loved a woman as much as I love you. Nothing will ever come before you. I don’t know what else I have to do to prove to you that I won’t let you down again. I won’t hurt you. You don’t have to be alone anymore. I need you.”

Maybe this wasn’t right and maybe I was making a mistake but his words tugged at corners of my heart he had somehow not managed to reach until that moment. I took the box from his hand and lifted the ring free. “It’s beautiful,” I told him. Because it was. It wasn’t too flashy or overdone. It was perfectly simple.

“Nothing less would be worthy of your finger,” he replied and took the ring from my hand. Then he went back down on his knee and his eyes met mine.

“Please, Blaire Wynn, will you be my wife?”

I wanted this. Him.

“Yes,” I said and he slipped the ring on my finger.

“Thank god,” he whispered then stood back up and captured my mouth in a hungry kiss. This was real and maybe it wouldn’t be forever but it was mine for now. I’d find a way to let him go if he wanted to. But I loved him. That would never change.

“Move in with me,” he begged.

“I can’t. I have to pay my half of the lease,” I reminded him.

“I paid your lease in full for a year. Every dime you’ve given Woods has gone into a savings account with your name on it. Same for Bethy. Now, please move in with me.”

I wanted to get mad at him but right now I couldn’t. I pressed another kiss to his lips and then nodded.

“And please stop working,” he added.

“No,” I replied. I wasn’t doing that.

“You’re my fiancé now. You’re going to be my wife. Why do you want to work at a country club? Don’t you want to do something else? What about college? Do you want to do that? Is there a degree you want? I’m not trying to take away your choices; I want to give you more.”

I was going to be his wife. Those words sunk in as I gazed up at him. I didn’t have to give up college like I had high school. I could get a degree and have a profession.

“I want that. It’s just… let me soak this in. Too much, too fast,” I said, wrapping my arms around him.

Rush

Blaire was determined to work out a two weeks notice with Woods. I wasn’t going to argue with her. She’d agreed to everything I asked. I wasn’t about to push my luck. I sat at the table with my laptop and a cup of coffee waiting on her to get off her shift.

Woods had stopped by to talk to me for a few minutes but other than that it had been a quiet evening. Most everyone had left town. Jace was hanging around because of Bethy but I wasn’t sure he was going to make it much longer. I’d seen the restless look in his eyes the other day when we’d played a round of golf. He wasn’t used to staying in this town longer than a summer.

“This seat taken?” I looked up to see Meg take the seat across from me. I hadn’t seen her much since the golf tournament. I glanced back to see Blaire refilling someone’s water but her eyes were on me.

“Yeah, it is,” I replied without looking back at Meg.

“I know you’re engaged to the blonde. Everyone knows it. I’m not here to hit on you,” she replied.

Blaire smiled at me and then turned to walk back to the kitchen. Shit. What did that smile mean?

“She has a big ass diamond on her hand. She has nothing to be worried about and she knows it. Calm down, dude. You’re freaking out over nothing.”

I shifted my attention to Meg. “She knows you were my first. It bothers her.”

Meg chuckled. “I can assure you the memories I have from our experience and the reality she is living in are completely different. I got the horny virgin. She has the seasoned pro.”

I glanced back to see if Blaire was back out here. I didn’t want her hearing this. “Just go sit somewhere else. She’s emotional right now. I don’t want her upset.”

No one knew she was pregnant yet. I was letting Blaire decide when to tell people.

“She’s not made of china. She will not break. Does she know you treat her like a damn doll?”

“Yes, I do. We’re working on that,” Blaire replied as she approached our table and poured more coffee into my cup. “I don’t believe we have officially been introduced. I’m Blaire Wynn.”

Meg took a quick startled peek at me then turned back to Blaire. “Meg Carter.”

“It’s nice to finally meet you, Meg. Can I get you something to drink?”

This was not what I’d been expecting. Not that I didn’t like it, because I did. It meant I was making her feel more secure with me.

“If I ask for a Diet Coke is he going to take a swing at me?” Meg asked.

Blaire laughed and shook her head. “No. He’ll be a good boy. I promise.” Then she looked down at me. “You hungry?”

“I’m good,” I assured her.

She nodded and headed back to the kitchen.

“I might just be in love with her a little bit. She’s smoking hot. But then if someone is going to tie you down they’d have to be a complete package.”

Smiling I took a sip of my coffee. Then looked back at the doorway waiting on Blaire to walk back through. I couldn’t wait to get her sexy little ass home.

Blaire kept leaning over the seat pressing kisses down my neck and nibbling my ear. It was real damn hard to stay focused on driving back to the house.

“I’m about ready to pull over and fuck my horny little fiancé if she doesn’t stop,” I warned taking a nip at her bottom lip when she kissed too close to my mouth.

“That sounds like more of a promise than a threat,” she teased, slipping her

hand between my legs and cupping my erection.

“Fuck baby, you’re driving me crazy,” I growled, pressing into her hand.

“If I suck it can you concentrate enough to drive?” she asked as she started

unbuttoning my jeans.

“I’ll more than likely run us into a palm tree but I don’t give a shit at the moment,” I replied as her hand slipped down the front of my underwear.

Luckily, we wouldn’t have to find out. I pulled into the driveway and slammed the car in park just as Blaire got my pants unzipped. My phone went off for the third time. I’d had it on vibrate and private so it wouldn’t disturb us by flashing up on the screen. My mother had called me earlier while I’d been waiting on Blaire and I wasn’t in the mood to answer it. Once it stopped it started back again. Damn.

I was going to have to either turn it off or deal with her. Blaire had my cock in her hands so I was thinking that off would work best. Glancing down I noticed an out of town number flashing across my screen. The area code was familiar but I couldn’t place it.

“Who is it?” Blaire asked.

“Not sure but they’re determined.”

Blaire stopped touching me. “Answer it. I’ll be good for a few minutes.”

I pressed answer. I needed to get rid of them and get my girl inside. But before I could say hello my mother started talking and my world was jerked out from under my feet.

Blaire

Rush’s face went pale. I grabbed his hand but he didn’t react. He sat there listening to the person on the other line without speaking. The more they talked the whiter he got. My heart was racing. Something terrible had happened. I kept waiting for him to say something. Anything. But he didn’t.

“I’m on my way,” he said in a flat voice before dropping his phone to his lap and moving his hand from my grasp to grip the steering wheel.

“What’s wrong, Rush?” I asked more scared now than I had been while he was on the phone.

“Go inside the house, Blaire. I have to go. Nan’s been in an accident. Some damn sailboat.” He closed his eyes tightly and muttered a curse. “I just need you to get out of the car and go inside. I’ll call you when I can but I have to go, now.”

“Is she hurt? Can’t I go with you?”

“NO!” he roared, still looking straight ahead. “You can’t go with me. Why would you even ask that? My sister is in ICU and unresponsive. I need to go to her and I need you to get out of the car.”

He was hurting and scared. I understood that. But I wanted to be there for him. I loved him and I didn’t want him hurting alone. “Rush, please let me go with you—”

“GET OUT OF THE CAR!” he yelled so loudly my ears stung. I fumbled for the door handle and grabbed my purse.

He revved the engine and continued to stare straight ahead while his knuckles turned as white as his face from gripping the steering wheel so tightly. I wanted to say more but he was so upset I was scared of what he would do. He didn’t want to hear me speak nor did he want to look at me.

I didn’t want to cry in front of him. That wasn’t what he needed right now. I got out of the car as quickly as I could. Before I could get the door fully closed he threw the car in reverse and spun out of the drive. I just stood there and watched as he drove away. I couldn’t help him. I wasn’t wanted.

Tears ran down my face freely now. He was hurting. My heart broke for him. Once he got there and saw her he would call me. I had to believe that. I wanted to call him and make him talk to me but my ears still rang and my heart still hurt from his words.

I finally turned to look back at the house. It was large, sprawling and dark. Nothing was welcoming about it without Rush. I didn’t want to stay here alone but I didn’t have a car to drive to Bethy’s either. I shouldn’t have moved from Bethy’s. It had been too soon. Everything with Rush had moved so fast. Now, it was all about to be tested. I wasn’t sure I was ready for that test. Not yet.

Calling Bethy and telling her I needed a ride to work and that Rush had left wasn’t something I was up for tonight. She would find something wrong with this and make me feel even worse. I understood Rush’s fear and the way he reacted and left but Bethy wouldn’t. At least I didn’t think she would. Rush had won some points in his favor when he put the ring on my finger in her eyes and I wanted to keep it that way.

I opened my purse to get out the keys when I realized I hadn’t brought them. Rush had taken me to work. I hadn’t thought I needed them. Looking back up at the dark house I was almost relieved I wouldn’t have to be staying there alone tonight.

The club was only three miles from here. I could walk that. Then Bethy’s was just a short walk from the club. The evening breeze had cooled things down and it wasn’t so bad. I slipped my purse back over my shoulder and started walking down the brick paved driveway toward the road.

It took about an hour and fifteen minutes to get to Bethy’s. Her car wasn’t in the parking lot. There was a good chance she was staying with Jace tonight. I guess I should have thought about that. I stopped and looked at the door to the condo. I didn’t have the energy to walk back. My stubbornness not to call for a ride was biting me in the butt.

I bent down and lifted the mat. There on the cement slab was the spare key. She must have put it back out after I moved. She’d only stopped hiding it there because I had asked her to. Tonight it came in extremely handy. I doubted she was coming home until tomorrow anyway. I didn’t have to tell her about all this tonight.

I carried the key inside with me and then headed back to my bathroom to take a shower. Rush had insisted she keep the bed he’d bought in the second bedroom instead of taking it when I moved out. Something else I could be thankful for tonight.

I managed to get to work without Bethy ever knowing I’d needed to crash at her place last night. It wasn’t that I thought she’d care but I wasn’t ready to answer her questions or hear her opinions.

After changing into a clean uniform from the supply room I made my way to the kitchen. Just before I reached the door Woods stepped out and leveled his gaze on me.

“I was looking for you,” he said and nodded his head toward the hallway that led to his office. “We need to talk.”

He more than likely knew about Nan. I was sure everyone in their circle did by now. Was he going to ask me about her? I really hoped he wasn’t. Admitting that I knew nothing made me sound like I didn’t care. Did Rush think I didn’t care? Was it my responsibility to call him? He was the one hurting. His reaction last night had scared me but if he needed me I had to get over that.

“Did you sleep at all?” Woods asked looking back at me.

I nodded. I hadn’t really slept well but I had gotten some sleep. The three-mile walk had helped exhaust me to the point that I couldn’t keep my eyes open once I lay down.

Woods opened his door and held it so I could go inside. I went in and walked over to stand beside the chairs across from his desk. He stood in front of his desk and sat on the edge of it while crossing his arms over his chest.

A frown wrinkled his forehead as he studied me. I was beginning to wonder if this was about something else. I’d thought it was about Nan but maybe it wasn’t. Had I done something wrong?

“I got a call from Grant this morning. He’s at the hospital and he’s worried about you. He said Rush showed up in the middle of the night and was in a rage. Seeing as how for the first time in their life Nan and Rush aren’t on speaking terms and now she is in this condition, Rush isn’t taking it well. Grant was concerned as to how he left you and if you were okay.”

My heart hurt. I hated to know Rush was in so much pain and there was nothing I could do. He wasn’t calling me and that only led me to believe he didn’t want to talk to me. I was the reason for his rift with Nan. I was the reason he hadn’t spoken to her in weeks. I was the reason he was going through this. Tears stung my eyes. As much as I didn’t want to admit this, I was the reason this was even harder on Rush. If I hadn’t caused their fight then he wouldn’t be living with the guilt I knew he was swimming in right now.

This was why Rush and I would never work. Pretending the fairy tale was real had been amazing. But it hadn’t been real. We’d been biding our time until the fact I didn’t fit into his world sent it crumbling down. He needed his family right now. I wasn’t his family. I wasn’t even accepted by his family. How did I fit into this?

“I… I don’t know what to do.” I choked out, hating that Woods was going to see me cry. I didn’t want him to see me cry. I didn’t want anyone to.

“He loves you,” Woods said gently. I wasn’t even sure he believed those words. Not now. Maybe Rush had thought he loved me but how could he still love me? I’d caused him to turn on Nan and now he might lose her.

“Does he?” It was a question I needed to ask myself, not Woods.

“Yes. I’ve never seen him with anyone the way he is with you. Right now… the next few days or weeks however long this lasts it may not feel like it. But he does. I’m not telling you this because of Rush. He’s an ass and I owe him nothing. I’m telling you this for you. It’s the truth and I know you need to hear it right now.”

I shook my head. I didn’t need to hear it. Thinking clearly and deciding what was best for me and my baby was what I needed to do. Could I bring a child into a family that might never accept it? If I never fit then how would my child?

“I can’t tell you what to believe. But if you need anything, I’m here. I know Rush has a garage full of cars but if you don’t want to drive one then I can give you a ride to the doctor or the store. Just call me if you need me.”

My next doctor’s appointment was in five days. How was I going to get into the house? And he’d never shown me where the keys to his cars were or given me permission to drive them.

“I’m locked out of the house. He thought I had my key when he left,” I told him.

“Where did you stay last night?” he asked dropping his hands from his chest and standing up. He looked angry. I hadn’t meant to make him mad. I was just stating a problem I had. All my clothes were in Rush’s house.

“Bethy’s.”

“How did you get there?”

“I walked.”

“Shit! Blaire, that is three and a half miles at least. It was dark last night when Rush left. You have a phone now, use it.” He was yelling.

“I wanted to walk. I needed to walk. Don’t yell at me,” I raised my voice and glared at him.

The tension in Woods’ shoulders left and he sighed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have talked to you like that. It’s just that you’re so damn determined to be independent. Let me make myself clear. Call me if you ever need a ride. I like to think we’re friends. I help my friends.”

I needed friends. “I like to think we’re friends too,” I replied.

He nodded. “Good. But as your boss I’m not letting you work today. I’ll have you in Rush’s house within the hour. I’ll drive you there.”

Before I could ask him how he had his phone to his ear.

“I’ve got her in my office. She’s locked out of the house.” He paused.

“No shit. She walked to Bethy’s last night. I’m going to take her there if you can get Rush’s housecleaner to go unlock the place.” He paused again.

“No problem. Happy to help. Keep me updated, I’m thinking about y’all.” He hung up and looked at me. “Grant’s having the housecleaner open the house. You go get something to eat from the kitchen and then we can head that way. He said to give her about twenty minutes.”

I wasn’t hungry but I nodded. “Okay.” I started for the door then stopped and turned to look back at him. “Thank you.”

Woods winked. “My pleasure.”

Rush

I hadn’t been able to close my eyes. I sat in the leather chair beside the hospital bed and stared at my little sister. She hadn’t opened her eyes. The monitors blinked and beeped telling me she was alive. Her still form on the bed with gauze wrapped around her head and needles in her arms made it feel as if she were gone. The last words I’d said to her had been hard. They seemed cruel now. I’d just wanted her to grow up. Now that might never happen.

The rage I’d felt when I arrived had been knocked out of me when I laid eyes on her. Just seeing her so broken and helpless was killing me. I couldn’t eat or sleep. I just needed her to open her eyes. I needed to tell her I loved her and I was sorry. I’d promised her that she’d always have me. No matter what. Then I’d jerked that away from her. Because she couldn’t accept Blaire.

My stomach knotted up thinking of how I’d left Blaire. Her eyes had been wide and terrified. I’d handled leaving her all wrong too but I’d been terrified myself. I couldn’t call her yet. Not while Nan was like this. I’d already put Blaire before Nan and look where that got me. This time Nan needed to come first. If she knew I was sitting here waiting on her she’d open her eyes. I knew she would.

The door opened and Grant stepped in. His eyes went instantly to Nan. The pain that flashed in them didn’t surprise me. Even though he acted like he didn’t like her I knew he cared for Nan. She had been the needy little brat that was impossible not to love when we were growing up. Those kinds of bonds are impossible to break.

“I just spoke with Woods. Blaire is okay. She was locked out of the house last night but she stayed at Bethy’s. I called Henrietta and she’s unlocking the house for her.” He spoke quietly as if he’d wake Nan or disturb her by talking about Blaire.

I’d left her standing in the driveway late at night alone. Thank God she had a phone. The idea of her being stranded in the dark was more than I could handle right now. “Is she upset?” What I really wanted to ask was if she was upset with me. How could she not be upset with me? I’d run out on her after screaming for her to get out of my car. When mom had told me about Nan something in me had switched and I’d lost it.

“He said he was going to look after her…” Grant trailed off. I knew what he was thinking. Leaving Woods to look after Blaire was dangerous. He was rich, successful and his family didn’t hate her. What if she realized I was a waste of her time?

“She’s pregnant,” I told him. I had to tell someone.

“Oh hell,” he muttered and sank down onto the hard plastic chair that sat in the corner of the room. “When did you find out?”

“She told me shortly after she came back.”

Grant covered his mouth and shook his head. That hadn’t been something he’d expected to hear. But then he didn’t know we were engaged either. He’d left Rosemary already when I’d proposed. I hadn’t told him.

“That’s why you proposed?” it wasn’t really a question. It was more of a statement.

“How’d you know about that?”

He shifted his eyes to Nan, “Nan told me.”

Nan had needed to vent I was sure. The fact she had chosen Grant to vent to was interesting. Normally those two were at each other’s throats. Rarely did they spend quality time together.

“She wasn’t happy about it,” I said.

“No, she wasn’t,” he agreed.

I looked over at her and wished to God I could trade places with her right now. I hated that she needed me and this was something I couldn’t fix for her. I’d been fixing her problems her entire life. And now when she needed me most all I could do was sit here and stare at her helplessly.

“She thinks you’ve lost your mind. If she knew about the baby she’d think you asked Blaire just because of the baby.”

“I didn’t ask her because of the baby. I asked her because I can’t live without her. I just need Nan to understand that. I’ve spent my life making Nan happy. Trying my damnedest to fix her problems. I was mother and father to her. And now that I have found what makes me happy she can’t accept it.” I felt my throat close up and I shook my head. I was not going to cry. “I just wanted her to accept that Blaire made me happy.”

Grant let out a deep sigh. “I think in time she will. Nan wants you happy too. She just thinks she knows what is best for you. Just like you think you know what is best for her.” The tone in his voice as he said that last part was off. He’d meant something deeper than what he was saying. Or I was just exhausted and I needed to take a nap.

“I hope so,” I replied, then laid my head back on the chair and closed my eyes. “I need a nap. I can’t keep this up. My head is getting fuzzy.”

The chair he’d been sitting in scraped across the floor as he stood up. I listened as he walked across the room back toward the door. “Check in on Blaire for me. Please,” I asked, opening my eyes to make sure he was still there and heard me.

“I will,” he assured me then walked out the door.

Two days later and still no sign of improvement. Nan wasn’t waking up. I had gotten up to take a shower and change because my mother insisted. I couldn’t deal with her and worry about Nan. I just did as she asked to shut her up.

Today Grant had sat in here with me most of the day. We hadn’t talked much but having someone else here helped. My mother said she couldn’t handle it and stayed at the hotel most of the time. Occasionally Abe would step in to check on her but I didn’t expect any more from him. He never checked on the daughter he’d raised either. The man was missing a vital organ, a heart.

“I talked to Blaire today,” Grant said, breaking the silence. Just hearing her name made me ache. I missed her. I wanted her here but that would only upset everyone. I needed Nan better. When she woke up she didn’t need to know Blaire was here. It would only upset her.

“What did she sound like?” Did she hate me?

“Good. I guess. Maybe sad. She’s worried about you and Nan. She asks about Nan before she asks about you. She also… she also asked if her father was okay today. Not sure why she cares but she did.”

Because Blaire cared more than she should about everyone. Me included. She was too good for me and I was only going to keep hurting her. My family wouldn’t accept her. The father that deserted her and her mother was now married to my mom. I’d started that whole ball rolling with the damn picture. All I would ever do is hurt her in the long run.

“She has a doctor’s appointment today. Woods told me he’s taking her. She doesn’t know I know about the baby.”

Another doctor’s appointment I was going to miss. How much longer was she going to put up with this? I’d told her she and our baby came first but this was the second time my family came before her doctor’s appointment. And why the hell was Woods taking her?

“Why is Woods taking her? I have three vehicles in the garage.”

Grant shot me an annoyed frown. “Yeah, you do. But you never gave her permission to drive one and never told her where she could find the keys so she won’t touch them. Woods has been her chauffer all damn week.”

Fuck.

“I know you’re hurting because of Nan. She’s like your child. You’re the only real parent she’s ever had. But if you don’t snap out of this and contact Blaire I’m not sure she and your baby are going to be around when you decide to go home. Sure don’t want my niece or nephew having the last name Kerrington,” he snapped and stalked out of the room.

Blaire

I sat in the waiting room and tried hard not to look at the other pregnant women also waiting. There were three of us. The woman across from me was snuggled up against her husband’s arm. He kept whispering into her ear making her smile. His hand never left her stomach. There was no possessiveness in his demeanor. Just protectiveness. It was if he was protecting his wife and child with that simple gesture.

The other lady was much further along than either of us and her baby was moving. Her husband had both his hands on her stomach as he stared at her in awe. There was a sweet worshipful look on his face. They were sharing a moment and just glancing over in that direction made me feel as if I were intruding on it.

Then there was me. With Woods. I had told him he didn’t need to come with me but he said he’d like to. He wasn’t going back in the exam room because I wasn’t about to let him see me almost naked in a thin cotton exam robe but he was going to sit in the waiting room.

He had fixed himself a cup of the complimentary coffee and since he’d only taken one sip I assumed it tasted horrible. I missed coffee. It would probably be delicious to me. I needed to buy some decaffeinated coffee.

“Blaire Wynn,” the nurse called out from the doorway leading back to the exam rooms.

I stood up and smiled down at Woods. “I shouldn’t be too long.”

He shrugged. “I’m not in a hurry.”

“Your husband can come back with you,” the nurse said cheerily. My face was instantly warm. I knew without looking my cheeks were flushed.

“He’s just a friend,” I quickly corrected her.

This time she was the one turning pink. She obviously hadn’t read over my record to see that I was single. “I’m so sorry. Uh, well he can come back too if he wants to hear the heart beat.”

I shook my head. That was too personal. Woods was a friend but I wasn’t ready to share something as important as my baby’s heartbeat with him. Rush hadn’t even heard the baby’s heartbeat yet. “No, that’s okay.”

I didn’t glance back at Woods because I was embarrassed for both of us. He was just helping out. Being labeled as the baby daddy hadn’t been what he’d signed up for.

The exam didn’t take long. This time I’d been able to hear the baby’s heartbeat without having a wand stuck inside me. It had been just as loud and sweet as before. The pregnancy was progressing well and I was cleared to go with an appointment for four weeks from now.

Walking back out into the waiting room I found Woods reading a Parenting magazine. He looked up at me and smiled sheepishly. “The reading material here is limited,” he explained.

I stifled a laugh.

He stood up and we walked out of the door together.

Once we were in the car he looked over at me. “You hungry?”

I was actually but the longer I spent with Woods the more uncomfortable I felt. I couldn’t shake the feeling that Rush wouldn’t like this. He had never liked me being around Woods much. Even though I had needed a ride I was starting to worry this was a bad idea. It was better if Woods just drove me back to Rush’s house.

“I’m more tired than anything. Can you just take me back to Rush’s?” I asked

“Of course,” he replied with a smile. Woods was really easy to deal with. I liked that. I wasn’t in the mood for difficult.

“Have you talked to Rush yet?” he asked.

That wasn’t a question I wanted to answer. So much for not being difficult. I just shook my head. He didn’t need an explanation and if he did too bad because I didn’t have one. I’d broken down and called Rush two nights ago and it had gone directly to voice mail. I’d left him a message but he hadn’t called back. I was beginning to wonder if he was hoping I’d just be gone when he returned. How long was I supposed to stay at his house?

“He isn’t dealing with this well, I imagine. He’ll call you soon,” Woods said. I could tell by the tone of his voice that he didn’t even believe what he was saying. It was just to make me feel better. I closed my eyes and pretended to sleep so he wouldn’t say anymore. I didn’t want to talk about this. I didn’t want to talk about anything.

Woods turned the radio on and we drove in silence the rest of the way back to Rosemary. When the car came to a stop I opened my eyes to see Rush’s house in front of me. I was back.

“Thank you,” I said, looking over at Woods. His expression was serious. I could tell he was thinking about something that he didn’t want to share with me. I didn’t need to ask to know what it was. He thought I should leave too. Rush wasn’t going to call and there was a chance he might not come back. I couldn’t just live in his house.

“Call me if you need anything,” Woods said meeting my gaze.

I nodded but I’d already made up my mind I wasn’t going to call him anymore. Even if Rush didn’t care what I did it just didn’t feel right. I opened the car door and stepped out. With a final wave I headed to the front door and back into the empty house.

Rush

Seven days and Nan still hadn’t opened her eyes. My mother was stopping by less and less. Grant was starting to be the only visitor that stayed around and showed up regularly. Abe stopped by once a day for only a few minutes at a time. It was Nan and me against the world once again.

“You need to call her,” Grant said, breaking the silence. I knew who he was talking about. Blaire was constantly on my mind. I felt guilty as I sat here staring at my sister and all I could think about was Blaire.

“I can’t,” I replied, unable to look at him. He’d see that I’d given up hope if I did.

“This isn’t fair to her. Woods said she isn’t coming around and she hasn’t called him in three days. He keeps a check on things through Bethy but even Bethy isn’t sure Blaire is going to stay much longer. You just need to call her.”

Leaving me would be the best thing she ever did. How could I be what she deserved if I was torn between my sister and her all the time? I couldn’t keep Nan safe. How could she trust me to keep her and our baby safe?

“She deserves better,” I managed to say it aloud. Instead of just chanting it in my head.

“Yeah, she probably does. But she wants you.”

God, that hurt. I wanted her too. I wanted our baby. I wanted that life I let myself pretend we could have. How could I give that to her if my sister never woke up? I’d be riddled with guilt and pain. I wouldn’t be the man she deserved. This would eventually eat at me until I was worthless to anyone.

“I can’t,” was all I managed to say.

Grant swore and stood up, slinging his jacket on the floor before he walked out of the room slamming the door behind him. He didn’t understand. No one did. I just stared at the wall across from me. I was starting to go numb. I was losing everything I’d ever let myself love.

The door opened and I looked over expecting to see Grant. Instead it was Abe. I wasn’t in the mood to see him. He’d deserted the two people I loved most in the world at some point in their lives.

“Why the fuck do you even come here? You don’t give a shit,” I snarled.

Abe didn’t respond. He walked over to the chair that Grant had just vacated and sat down. He never sat down and stayed for any length of time. The fact he was going to right now didn’t sit well with me. I needed to be alone.

“I do give a shit. Your mother doesn’t know I’m here. She wouldn’t approve of what I’m about to tell you. But I think you deserve to know.”

There was nothing that man had to say that I wanted to hear but I remained silent and waited. The quicker he said what he wanted the sooner he’d be gone.

“Nanette isn’t my daughter. Your mother has always known that. She wanted Nan to be mine but we both knew when she got pregnant that it was impossible. We’d been broken up for over eight months when she called me. She had just found out she was pregnant and she was scared. She was still in love with your dad which was why we broke up to begin with. I couldn’t live up to the legend that was Dean Finlay. I wanted to be enough for someone. I never would be for Georgianna. But I loved her and she was worried about how she was going to manage another child. I was young and stupid so I went back to her and we talked about marriage. I told her I’d have to think about it.” He stopped and looked over at me. I was still reeling from the fact that he wasn’t Nan’s father.

“Once I got there Georgie was leaving you with Dean whenever she could and still going out with friends as if she wasn’t pregnant. She wouldn’t tell me who the dad was. I had just about met my limit when Rebecca came to visit.” His eyes went soft and he briefly closed them. I’d never seen the man show that much emotion.

“She was gorgeous. Long blond hair that looked like it was spun by angels. The biggest green eyes I’d ever seen and so damn sweet. She loved you. She didn’t like your mother taking you to Dean. She worried you weren’t safe with a bunch of rock stars. She kept you when your mother went out. She made you these pancakes with Mickey Mouse ears that you loved. I was drawn to her and I couldn’t leave. Your mother used us both for awhile. Rebecca wouldn’t leave because she worried about you. And I wouldn’t leave because I’d fallen in love with Becca.” This was not the story my mother had told me. This wasn’t the story I’d been led to believe all these years but now that I’d met Blaire… that I knew her… this made a hell of a lot more sense.

“Your mom came home drunk one night. She wasn’t far along in her pregnancy and she announced that Dean was the daddy of this baby too. I was furious that she’d been drinking and even more furious that your father had done this yet again with no intention of doing right by Georgie. So I called him and told him I wanted to talk to him. The talk didn’t go well. He said that the baby wasn’t his. If it was his he’d gladly claim it but it wasn’t. She’d been sleeping with the lead singer of Slacker Demon for over a month. The baby wasKiro’s and well, you’ve grown up around Kiro. You know him well enough to know he isn’t father material.”

Kiro was Nan’s father? I buried my face in my hands as different memories came back to me. Kiro coming over late yelling and cursing at my mom about stealing his kid.Kiro calling my mom a cheap slut and hoping ‘his girl’ didn’t end up the same way. I’d forgotten those things. Or I’d just blocked them out.

“Through this Becca and I got closer. Dean took you and swore he was going to take care of what was his. Your mother cursed and shoved Becca down a flight of stairs calling her names I will not repeat and told us both to leave after she caught me kissing Becca one night. We left after that. Becca cried a lot because she was worried about you. She always worried about you.”

When he talked about Becca all I could see was Blaire’s face. Her sweet innocent face and my chest felt like it was about to explode.

“I asked Becca to marry me. She agreed. Weeks after our honeymoon we found out she was pregnant with twins. Those girls were my world. I adored the ground they walked on just as much as I adored their mother. Never a day went by that I wasn’t thankful for the life I’d been given.” He stopped and choked on a sob.

“Then one day Val and I were driving back from shopping. We’d gone to get her some shoes for volleyball. Her foot had grown over the summer but Blaire’s hadn’t. They were nearly identical but it was starting to look like Blaire might be the shorter one out of the two. We were laughing about me singing along to some silly boy band on the radio. I missed… I missed the red light. We were hit on Val’s side of the car by a truck going eighty miles an hour.” He stopped and ran a hand over his face to wipe the tears and let out another sob.

“I lost my baby girl. I hadn’t been paying attention. With her, I lost my wife who couldn’t look at me and my other daughter who was only a shell of the girl she’d been. Then you showed up with that picture of Nanette and instead of sticking it out and being the man my girls needed me to be, I fled. I told myself they deserved more than I could give them. I’d never be able to forgive myself. I’d never be able to move on and seeing me would only hurt them more. So I left them. I hated myself then; I hate myself now. But I’m a weak man. I should have stayed. When I found out Becca was sick I went on a drinking binge. The idea of a world without Becca in it was impossible for me to accept. But going to see my vibrant wife, who I loved and will always love, lying there dying wasn’t something I could do. I’d buried my daughter. I couldn’t bury my wife. Because I was weak I left my baby girl to bury her momma. I will never forgive myself for that.” He finally looked my way.

“All you see is a selfish man who only thinks of himself. You’re right. I don’t deserve anyone’s love or forgiveness. I don’t want it. Your mother and Nan wanted me. They both acted like they needed me. I could pretend with them. The truth is your mother is as lost and broken as I am. Maybe for different reasons but we’re both empty inside. I was going to come clean with all this and tell Nan three months ago. I couldn’t continue this farce. I just wanted to go sit by my wife’s grave and grieve. But then Blaire called me. She needed me, but I had nothing to give. So I lied to her. I didn’t know much about the man you’d become but I knew one thing. You loved fiercely. You would do anything for your sister. I had no doubt in my mind that the moment you laid eyes on Blaire that she’d get to you. The sweet gentle spirit that was in her mother is in Blaire. Val was me. But Blaire… she is my Becca. She is so much like her. No man can be around her and not love her. I wanted someone strong and capable of taking care of her. So I sent her to you.” He wiped away the rest of his tears and stood up. I was speechless.

“Don’t become me. Don’t let her down like I did. You only deserve what you make yourself worthy of. Do what I couldn’t. Be a man.” Abe turned and walked out without another word.

Blaire

I hadn’t been asleep very long when the phone rang. It was the middle of the night and only a few people had my number. My stomach knotted up as I reached for my phone. It was Rush.

“Hello,” I said almost afraid of what he’d called to tell me.

“Hey, it’s me.” His voice sounded like he’d been crying. Oh god… please don’t let Nan be dead.

“Is she okay?” I asked, hoping that this time God had actually heard my prayer.

“She’s awake. She’s a little disoriented but she knew me when she opened her eyes so her memory is good.”

“Oh thank God.” I sat down on the bed and decided I needed to try this praying thing a little more often.

“I’m sorry, Blaire. I’m so sorry.” His voice was hoarse. I could hear the pain laced in his words and I didn’t have to ask what he meant. This was it. He just couldn’t say it.

“It’s okay. Just take care of Nan. I’m really glad she’s okay Rush. You may not believe that but I’ve been praying. I wanted her to be okay.” I needed him to believe me. Even if there was no love lost between Nan and I she was important to him.

“Thank you,” he said. “I’m coming home. I’ll be there no later than tomorrow night.”

I wasn’t sure if this meant he wanted me gone by then or would we’d do our goodbyes in person. Running would be so much easier. Not having to face him. It hurt bad enough on the phone. Seeing his face was going to be so hard but I couldn’t let it destroy me. I had our baby to think about. This wasn’t just about me anymore.

“I’ll see you then,” I replied.

“I love you.” Hearing the words hurt more than anything else. I wanted to believe he did but it wasn’t enough. The love he might feel for me wasn’t enough.

“I love you too,” I replied and hung up the phone before curling into a ball and crying myself to sleep.

The doorbell rang just as I was getting out of the shower. I grabbed the clothes I’d laid out to wear and quickly got dressed before wrapping my hair in a towel and hurrying downstairs.

When I opened the door and saw my father standing there I wasn’t sure what to think. Had Rush sent him to get rid of me? No. Rush wouldn’t do that. But why was he here?

“Hey, Blaire. I, uh, came to talk to you.” He didn’t look like he’d slept in days and his clothes were rumpled. Seeing the daughter he did love in the hospital must have been hard on him. I pushed that bitterness away. I wasn’t going to think about that. He was Nan’s dad too. At least he was there for her now even if he’d screwed her over the first part of her life.

“What about?” I asked, not moving to let him in. I wasn’t sure there was anything he had to say that I wanted to hear.

“It’s about Nan… and you.”

I shook my head. “Don’t care. I’m not up for hearing anything you have to say. Your daughter woke up. I’m glad she didn’t die.” I started to close the door.

“Nan isn’t my daughter,” he said. The only words that would have stopped me from slamming the door in his face. I let his words sink in as I slowly opened the door back up. What did he mean Nan wasn’t his daughter?

I just stared at him. This made no sense.

“I need to tell you the truth. Rush is going to tell Nan when she’s ready. But I wanted to be the one to tell you.”

What did Rush know? Had he been lying to me? I wasn’t sure I could breathe. “Rush?” I asked, backing up in case I couldn’t get a deep breath and passed out. I needed to sit down.

“I told Rush everything yesterday. He had been told the same lie you had but he knows the truth now.”

The truth. What was the truth? Was there a truth or was my entire existence a lie? I sank down onto the steps and stared up at the man I thought was my father as he stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

“I’ve always known Nan wasn’t my daughter. More importantly, your mother knew Nan wasn’t my daughter. You’re right, your mother would have never allowed me to leave my pregnant fiancéand run off with her. Not for anything. She almost didn’t let me leave my ex-girlfriend who was pregnant with yet another member of Slacker Demon’s kid because she was worried about what would happen to Rush. Her heart was just as big as you know it was. Nothing you knew was a lie, Blaire. Nothing. The world you knew was not a lie.”

“I don’t understand. I know my momma wasn’t involved in any of this. That was never a question in my mind. But I don’t understand. If you aren’t Nan’s dad, why did you leave us for them?”

“I met your mother while trying to help my ex-girlfriend deal with her latest problem. Your mother had come to help her friend too. We both cared about Georgianna. She’d needed us and we tried to help. But while she was out partying and acting like she didn’t have a little boy at home to take care of and a pregnancy she was ignoring, I fell in love with your mother. She was everything Georgianna wasn’t. I adored her, and for whatever reason, she fell in love with me. When we left, Dean had come to take Rush and Kiro, the lead singer of Slacker Demon and Nan’s real father, had stepped in to offer his assistance. Georgianna found out about Becca and me. She sent us packing and we gladly went. Your mother worried over Rush and called Dean to check on him for awhile.”

“Mom knew Rush?” Picturing my mother taking care of Rush as a little boy stuck with two screwed up parents brought tears to my eyes. He’d known how wonderful my mother was once even if he didn’t remember.

“Yeah. He called her Beck Beck. He preferred her overGeorgianna and that didn’t settle well with Georgie either. Once Georgianna got Rush back she refused to let your mother check on him. Your mother cried for weeks worrying over the little boy she’d grown to love. But that was your mom. Always caring too much. Her heart was bigger than anyone I’d ever known… until you. You’re just like her, sweetheart.”

I held up my hands to stop him. We would not be bonding over this. I wasn’t crying because I knew my mother was innocent of the lies I’d heard before. I was crying because she’d loved Rush once too, his entire childhood hadn’t been lonely.

“I’m almost done. Let me finish, then I’ll leave and you’ll never see me again. I swear.”

He knew I was leaving too. That this thing with Rush and me was over. The sharp pain in my chest was almost too much.

“Val’s death was my fault. I ran that red light. I hadn’t been paying attention and I lost one of my girls that day. But I lost you and your mother too. You were both hurting so bad and it was all my fault. I wasn’t man enough to stay and bear seeing you both in so much pain. So I ran. I let you take care of Becca when it should have been me but I was too weak. I couldn’t stand the thought of seeing my Becca sick. It would end me. I drank myself into a stupor. It was the only way to stay numb. Then you called and said she’d died. My Becca wasn’t on this earth any longer. I was going to tell Nan the truth about her father and I was going to leave. I wasn’t sure where I’d go but I didn’t care if I lived or died.

Then you called and needed me. I wasn’t even a man anymore. I was worthless. But I couldn’t let you down. I’d already made you suffer so much alone. I sent you to Rush. He wasn’t exactly the kind of guy a man wants his daughter around but I knew he’d see in you what I saw in Becca. A lifeline. A reason to live.A reason to fight.A reason to change. He was strong. He could protect you and I knew if pushed he would.”

This was all too much. I couldn’t make sense of it. He had sent me to Rush? The guy who adored a sister who hated me and blamed me for everything wrong in her life?

“He hated me,” I told him. “He hated who I was.”

My father’s smile was sad. “Yes, he hated who he thought you were, but then he met you. He was around you and that was all it took. You are rare, Blaire. Just as your mother was. There aren’t many people in this world as strong as you are. As full of love and willing to forgive. You always envied the way Val could charm a room. You thought she got the best out of the two of you. But what Val knew and what I knew was that we were the lucky ones because we had people like you and your mother in our lives. Val adored you. She saw that you were the one that had your mother’s spirit. We stood in awe of the both of you. I still do and although all I’ve done is hurt you since the day we lost your sister, I have loved you. I always will. You’re my little girl. You deserve the best in this world and I’m not the best. I’m walking away and I’m not going to bother you ever again. I need to live out the rest of this life alone. Remembering what I once had.”

The grief in his eyes tore at my soul. He was right. He’d deserted me and momma when we needed him the most. But maybe we’d deserted him too. We hadn’t gone after him. We’d just let him go. The day we lost Valerie had marked all our lives. Momma and Val were gone now and we could never get them back. But we were here. I didn’t want to live the rest of my life knowing my father was out there somewhere alone. My momma wouldn’t want that. She never wanted him to be alone. She loved him until she drew her last breath. Val wouldn’t want that. She’d been a daddy’s girl.

I stood up and took a step toward him. The unshed tears in his eyes slowly began to trickle down his face. He was a shell of the man he once was but he was my dad. A sob tore from my chest and I threw myself into his arms. When they wrapped around me and held me tightly I let all the pain free. I cried for the life we’d lost. I cried for him because he wasn’t strong enough and I cried for me because it was time.

Rush

The house was dark and silent when I unlocked the door and stepped inside. Would Blaire have turned out all the lights if she were here alone? I’d been so focused on getting home to her after talking with Nan that I hadn’t let myself consider she could have left me. Would she have left me?

I turned and took the stairs two at a time. Once I hit the top step I started running. My heart was pounding in my chest. She couldn’t be gone. I’d told her I loved her. I’d told her I was coming home. She had to be here. I had to tell her everything. I had to tell her things would be different. I had to tell her I remembered her mom. I remembered those Mickey Mouse pancakes. I had to tell her I was going to be the man she needed. I was going to be the best damn father the world had ever known.

I jerked the door open leading up to my room and darted up the steps needing to see her. God, let her be there. Please let her be there.

The bed was empty. No. NO! I scanned the room for her things. Something to tell me she hadn’t left me. She couldn’t have left me. I’d chase her down. I’d get on my knees and grovel. I’d be her damn shadow until she gave in and forgave me.

“Rush?” Her voice broke the silence and the pounding in my head and I spun around to see her sitting up on the sofa. Her hair was a tangled mess and her sleepy face was perfect.

“You’re here.” I fell down on my knees before her and dropped my head in her lap. She was here. She hadn’t left me.

Her hands touched my head as she ran her hands through my hair. “Yes, I’m here,” she replied in an unsure voice. I was scaring her but I just needed a minute to reassure myself she hadn’t left me. I hadn’t completely messed this up. I didn’t want to be like her dad. The lost and empty man I’d seen yesterday wasn’t someone I ever wanted to become. And I knew without Blaire I’d be just like that.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

I nodded but kept my head in her lap. She continued to try and soothe me by gently stroking my head. When I was sure I could talk to her without completely breaking down I lifted my head to look up at her.

“I love you.” The way I said it was so fierce it almost sounded like I was swearing.

A small sad smile tugged at her lips. “I know and it’s okay. I understand. I’m not going to make you choose. I just want you to be happy. You deserve to be happy. I’ve had a lot of time to think about it and I’m going to be fine. You don’t have to worry about me. I’m strong. I can do this on my own.”

I wasn’t following what she was saying. What was she doing on her own? “What?” I asked, replaying her words back in my head.

“I talked to my dad today. I know everything. It’s hard to comprehend but it all makes more sense now.”

Abe had come here? He’d come and told her everything. She knew… but what she was saying still made no sense.

“Baby, maybe it’s because I haven’t slept much in the past eight days or because I’m so fucking relieved that you’re here but I don’t understand what you’re trying to tell me.”

A tear glistened in her eye and I jumped up and pulled her into my lap. I didn’t want to make her cry. I thought this was a happy thing. She knew the truth that she’d always known, her mom was as pure and honest as she believed. I was home and I was ready to be everything she deserved in life. I’d die making her happy.

“I love you and because I love you I am letting you go. I want you to get out of life what you want. I don’t want to be a chain around your leg.”

“What did you just say?” I asked as the words ‘letting me go’ sank in. Like hell she was letting me go.

“You heard me, Rush. Don’t make this harder than it is,” she whispered.

I stared at her in disbelief. She really meant what she was saying. I’d left her here to think all kinds of things while I’d sat in the hospital with Nan. I should have called but I hadn’t. Of course she was confused.

“Listen to me, Blaire. If you try to go anywhere I will chase you down. I will become your shadow. I won’t let you out of my sight because I can’t live without you. I made so many damn mistakes with you I don’t even want to try and count them but I am going to start making things right from here on out. I swear to you that this won’t happen again. I know now that this is where I’m supposed to be. No more lies. Just us.”

She sniffled and buried her head in my shoulder. I pulled her tighter up against me. “I mean it. I need you. You can’t leave me.”

“But I don’t fit. Your family hates me. I make your life difficult.”

That’s where she was wrong. “No. You’re my family. My mother has never been my family. She has never even tried to be. My sister may not have completely come around but she did tell me to ask you if she was going to be able to be apart of her niece or nephews life. So she’s getting there. And as for making my life difficult, you, Blaire Wynn, make my life complete.”

Blaire’s mouth covered mine as she grabbed fistfuls of my shirt. Her tongue slid into my mouth and I savored the taste of her. I’d missed her so much. How I could have thought for a minute I’d survive without this… without her, I don’t know.

Blaire

“I need to be inside you,” Rush whispered in my ear as he kissed along my jawline and slid his hands up under my tank top.

“Good,” I replied, reaching for his shirt and pulling it over his head. He chuckled and lifted his hands to make it easier then pulled my top off too.

“Damn, they’ve grown since I’ve been gone,” he murmured, cupping each of my breasts in his hands. “Is there… like milk in them already?” he asked.

“No,” I giggled.

“I’m trying real hard not to be a man about this but I can’t help it. I’m real fucking excited about these,” he admitted before looking up at me through his eyelashes as he pulled a nipple into his mouth.

“Oh,” I moaned and grabbed his head to hold him there. Somehow, they’d grown even more sensitive. With each tug of his mouth my clit throbbed. It was like there was a direct line between the two.

“Get these panties off,” Rush said with his mouth full as he tugged at my panties. I eased up and slid them down with his help. He only let go of one nipple to suck on the other.

“Fuck,” he groaned, sliding a finger inside me. “It’s wet. Always so wet and ready.”

I reached for his buckle and started unfastening his jeans. I wanted him naked too.

“Not yet,” he said, moving me off his lap to lay me back on the sofa. “I need a taste.”

I watched as he pushed my legs apart and lowered his head to lick right through the center of my folds.

“Oh God! Rush!” I cried out,lifting my hips to get closer to his mouth. The barbell slid over my clit as he flicked it against my swollen bud over and over. Driving me crazy.

“I love it when you squirm,” he said with a wicked grin. I loved it when he made me squirm.

His finger slid into my heat as he continued to torture my clit with his tongue piercing. This wild sexy man was mine. It was hard to comprehend at times but I was so glad I’d showed up at his door four months ago.

He stood up and pushed his jeans and boxer briefs down stepping out of them. I stared up at him. He was beautiful. I let my eyes roam over his body. Nothing could make him any more perfect. Except… “Rush?”

“Yeah?”

“Could you get your nipples pierced?” I asked, surprising myself at the request.

Rush laughed as he came back over me. “You want my nipples pierced, now do you?”

I nodded and slid my hands up his chest and ran my thumbs over his nipples. “I like your other piercings.”

He kissed my neck and ran his hand down my leg until he hooked his arm under my knee and pulled my leg up. “Will you kiss it and make it better? ‘Cause I’m thinking that’s gonna hurt like a motherfucker.”

“I promise to make it feel very good.” I smiled up at him.

“Anything you want baby. Just don’t ask me to pierce anything south of my waist.

I raised my eyebrows. I hadn’t thought of that. Before I could say anything else Rush was pushing inside me and all other thoughts left me. He was filling me and stretching me and everything was perfect in the world again.

“Fuck! How did you get you tighter?” Rush panted over me as his arms trembled from holding back.

I threw my head back and lifted my hips. It was better. I hadn’t thought this could get better. “It’s more sensitive,” I managed to say with a strangled cry.

“Does it hurt?” he asked, pulling back. I grabbed his ass and held him in me.

“NO! It’s good. It’s really good. Harder, Rush. Please. It feels incredible.”

Rush groaned and plunged the rest of the way inside me. “I’m not gonna last long. It’s too tight. I’m gonna come.” He stopped moving and slowly eased back. I was so close. I didn’t want him to slow down. The sensation each thrust sent through me was amazing. I needed more of it. I pushed him back with all the strength I had. He sat back watching me while I quickly climbed on him and sank down on him hard and fast.

“Holy SHIT!” he yelled grabbing fistfuls of my hair.

I pumped up and down on him as my body climbed closer to that ecstasy it was promising me was close.

“Baby, I’m gonna come, ARRRRGGGGHHHH!” Rush called out then grabbed my face and kissed me with a fierceness that sent me over the edge with him. Crying out in his mouth I shook with release as he held me tightly, tasting me and sucking my tongue into his mouth.

I collapsed on him and he held me close to him. We sat there breathing hard in silence. My vagina kept contracting as if my body was experiencing aftershocks. Each time it did Rush groaned.

When I was sure I could talk again I tilted my head back and looked up at him. “What just happened?” I asked him.

He laughed and shook his head. “I don’t know. You just fucked the hell out of me. I swear, that one is going down in the books baby. I didn’t think it could get any better and you just proved me wrong. Holy hell you were wild.”

I buried my face in his chest and laughed with him. I had been a little out of control.

“This better not be a pregnant thing or your hot little ass is gonna live knocked up for the next thirty years.”

Rush

I held Blaire’s hand in mine and looked over her shoulder as she flipped through a parenting magazine. All the pictures of diapers and other baby items were scary as shit. I wouldn’t admit that to her but the reality of a baby was starting to terrify me. The big boobs, the middle of the night sex and the sweet swell of Blaire’s hips were all major pluses and it was easy to forget exactly why all this was happening.

“Blaire Wynn.” The nurse called out her name and I looked down at the diamond on her finger. In two weeks that last name would change. I was ready for it. I didn’t like her being called Wynn. She was Blaire Finlay to me already.

“That’s us,” she said, smiling up at me before standing. She was barely showing now. How they expected to see more than an even bigger pea I wasn’t sure but she was promising me we could actually see the baby. It had arms and legs, as crazy as that sounded.

I didn’t let go of her hand as she led us back to the exam room. The nurse glanced back at me several times. She had better not be about to tell me I couldn’t go back there because I was going. It was time I saw my baby.

“In here,” the nurse said, stepping back and waving us into a room. “Go ahead and take everything off and put on the gown. Doctor Nelson will want to do a vaginal exam today too. But we’ll get to the ultrasound first.”

Blaire seemed to not think it was a big deal she was about to have to get naked. The nurse looked back at me. “Is this one okay to be back here?”

This one? What the hell did that mean?

Blaire grinned and looked back at me. “Yes, this one is the father.

The nurse straightened up and gave me a big relieved smile. “That’s wonderful. I hated the idea of someone as young as you doing this all alone.”

Blair blushed and went into a small room with a curtain in front of it. Once the nurse left I went over and stepped into what looked like a small dressing room.

“What did she mean by ‘this one’?” I asked.

Blaire bit her bottom lip and closed her eyes tightly. “Do I have to answer this?”

“Uh, yeah. Especially after that comment.” I was preparing myself not to like the answer.

“Woods drove me to my last appointment. They told him he could come back and I told them no he couldn’t, he was just a friend.”

I’d almost forgotten about that. I understood why she had gotten a ride from him. I hadn’t been here. But knowing some other man was here with her when she needed me was hard to swallow. I realized her face had gone pale and I bent down and kissed her lips. “It’s okay. I should’ve been here. I wasn’t.”

She nodded. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I’m the one who’s sorry.”

The door to the exam room opened back up and I stuck my head out of the dressing room.

The nurse was grinning at me and pulling in a machine with a little screen on it. “Is she about ready?” The amused smirk on the nurse’s face was funny.

“Just about,” I told her then looked back at Blaire who was bright red. I couldn’t help but laugh. “Get changed, sexy. I’ll go back out there.”

Blaire nodded and I stepped out from behind the curtain.

I walked over to the table and looked at the machine. “So this is how we see the baby?” I asked wondering how they did this exactly.

“Yep. Because Blaire’s on Medicaid we have to use this one. This is all Medicaid will cover. We have a newer 3D one that most mommas use and I wish Medicaid would cover it because you can see the baby so clearly. But it doesn’t.”

I paused and looked from the machine to the nurse. Blaire was on Medicaid? What the hell? I hadn’t even thought about the fact she needed insurance. I’d always had the best money could buy; it wasn’t something I thought about.

“I want the 3D machine. I’ll pay whatever it costs right now but I want the very best this office can supply.”

The nurse glanced from my earrings to t-shirt that had seen its better days. It was one my dad had given me after one of his tours about five years ago. I liked it because it fit tight and Blaire seemed to like tight shirts on me. “I… uh… I don’t think you understand exactly how much an ultrasound like that costs. While it is very sweet that you want to give that experience to Blaire it is very—”

“I can afford any procedure available. I told you I’d pay for it now. I want the best ultrasound for Blaire and my baby.”

The nurse started to open her mouth when Blaire walked out of the room wearing a thin cotton robe. “Please don’t argue with him. He’ll cause you problems if you do. Just get me the 3D ultrasound.”

The nurse shrugged, “Okay, if you’re sure, but he’ll need to prepay.”

I opened my wallet and handed her my American Express black card. Her eyes shot up and she nodded then hurried from the room.

“I should tell you now that I was perfectly okay with a regular ultrasound but that would be a lie. I’ve seen pictures of 3D ultrasounds in those parenting magazines and I really want one.”

Blaire was grinning like a kidwho was about to go to Disney World for the first time. Hell, to get her to smile like that I’d go buy the fucking 3D machine.

“My girl and my kid get the best. Always.”

The door opened back up and the nurse walked in staring at me now like she was trying to figure something out. She handed me my card. I took it and slipped it back in my wallet.

“Are you Dean Finlay’s son?” the woman finally asked.

“Yeah. Now let’s go see my baby,” I replied.

The woman nodded eagerly and turned to look at Blaire. “The 3D machine is in a special room. Are you comfortable walking through the hall in that?”

“Will someone see her?” I asked stepping in front of her because I sure as hell wasn’t comfortable with it.

The nurse opened a cabinet and pulled out a blanket. “Here wrap this around her.”

I wrapped her up in it until she was completely covered. Blaire was pressing her lips together trying not to laugh. I winked at her and pressed a kiss to her nose.

We walked down a long hallway where we passed two nurses another couple and Blaire’s doctor who asked why we were moving. The nurse quickly told him that I’d just paid for the 3D and the doctor look very pleased as he followed us into the room.

Blaire lay down on a table and they began prepping her as I sat patiently waiting. Once they had her stomach bare the nurse put some clear gel on her stomach then looked back at me. “Are you two wanting to know the sex of the baby?”

“Ask the momma,” I replied, annoyed that she’d asked me instead of Blaire.

“I’d like to know,” Blaire said, glancing back at me for reassurance.

“Me too,” I agreed.

Then the doctor began moving something over Blaire’s stomach and a small beating noise filled the air. It was faster than normal. “Is that my baby’s heartbeat?” I asked standing up because sitting was no longer possible. My heart was beating as fast as the one I heard on the screen.

“Yes it is,” the doctor replied. “And there… and there he is,” he said.

I stared at the screen as a small little life began to take shape.

“He?” Blaire asked.

“Yes, it’s most definitely a boy,” the doctor replied.

I reached out and grabbed Blaire’s hand, unable to take my eyes off the screen. That was our baby. I was gonna have a son. Fuck… I was also gonna cry.

The End

About the Author

Abbi Glines was born in Birmingham, Alabama. She grew up in the small town of Sumiton, Alabama where she left the summer she turned eighteen. She didn’t get far… she chased her high school sweetheart down to the coast and she’s been there ever since.

Abbi now lives in the quaint southern town of Fairhope, Alabama with her three children and husband Keith (the high school sweetheart she chased after). Her life is never dull and Keith always makes sure there is another “experience” for them to explore.

Books published by Abbi include The Vincent Boys and the USA TODAY bestseller The Vincent Brothers, Breathe, Because of Low, the USA TODAY bestsellers While It Lasts and Just For Now, The Existence Trilogy that includes the USA Today Bestseller Ceaseless, andThe New York Times bestseller and Wall Street Journal bestseller Fallen Too Far.

When Abbi isn’t locked up in her office typing away she is hauling her kids to and from their many social activities. You could say her second job is the Glines Kids personal chauffeur. It’s a rather illustrious job.

www.abbiglines.com

Representation: All questions regarding subsidiary rights for any of my books, inquiries regarding foreign translation and film rights should be directed to Jane Dystel of Dystel & Goderich.

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Start of book

About the author, Abbi Glines