His Christmas Baby: A Friends to Lovers Romance Page 25

  “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered as he helped her out of her jumper, and although she was terrified of being exposed completely she allowed him to undress her .

  “If you say so,” she whispered softly as she reached for his shirt after he shrugged off his own coat .

  Her fingers were trembling so much, she feared that she’d never be able to undress him but she managed, and as he stood before her she could hardly breathe. He was a lot more muscular than she remembered, toned like a true sportsman with abs that mapped his stomach like the interstate that led straight to the airport. He chuckled and she realized that she was staring at him and instantly she felt a blush spread across her cheeks .

  He slowly moved over her and kissed the hollow of her throat, then dragged his lips across her chest sucking the one and only taut tip into his mouth. An audible moan escaped her and she dragged her foot up the back of his leg, desperate for more. He didn’t make her wait, and as he slowly scooted up until he was nestled between her legs, she let out a soft sigh .

  “I want you Lucy, I don’t think I ever stopped wanting you,” he whispered as he looked into her eyes .

  What would she say to that? There was a time she had filed him and all memories of him in file thirteen, but if she had to be honest with herself, she would never have settled for anyone other than Joe .

  “Then have me,” she whispered as she reached up to run her fingertip across his bottom lip .

  He groaned and sucked her finger into his mouth and at the same time he dipped his hips and entered her. She threw her head back and moaned as she felt him move. Every thrust seemingly calculated and slow as if he was deliberately trying to drive her insane. She had lost her grip on reality and felt as if she was floating, gravity defeated. They were one, in mind and body. Like synchronized dancers they moved as if they were gears in a clock, the one matching the other perfectly. His thrusts changed from gentle to demanding, she wound her legs around his as if to keep him there forever .

  “I’m in love with you,” Joe whispered .

  Lucy’s eyes flew open and as she met his gaze the entire room and all that surrounded them faded into the background and they both crumbled like a sand castle being washed away by a wave of passion .

  * * *

  J oe stirred awake and immediately felt the empty space next to him .

  “Lucy?” he called quietly as he exited the room wearing only his jocks .

  “I’m here,” she said .

  She was sitting on his favorite butternut yellow sofa with a sheet wrapped round her shoulders .

  “Are you okay?” he asked as he came to sit next to her .

  “Did you mean what you said?” she asked as she picked at thumb nail .

  She had insecurities, and he knew they were warranted, and it was all because of him and his stupid choices in life. He scooted closer to her and stilled her fidgeting fingers .

  “Lucy, I know we have a past, but the time I spent getting to know Jacob, and you, I’ve come to realize just how superficial my life had been. I thought I had it all, fame, fortune the works,” he pulled her over to him until she was curled up on his lap, “but none of it matters in the end. I am in love with you, and our son. I want us to be a family .”

  There, he said it, and it was the god’s honest truth. Lucy was silent for a brief moment, and when he tucked his finger under her chin to make her look up at him, tears shimmered in her eyes .

  “I-I never stopped loving you,” she admitted and averted her eyes .

  Joe was beside himself, and if he had his way he would take her to bed again and again and again, but instead he cupped her cheek and kissed her softly .

  “I want to marry you, today .”

  “But it’s Christmas,” she said and laughed softly .

  “It will be a Christmas to remember .”

  * * *

  THE END

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  Cowboy’s Baby

  Chapter 1

  C onner James hunted around the room for his jacket, jeans in one hand and an arm through one sleeve. He was trying his best not to wake the sleeping blonde, who was still tangled between the bedsheets after yet another night of mindless sex while looking for his clothes. He had to get on the road. His father had finally cut off all funds to his bank account, after only a month of being away, leaving him with barely enough money for gas. After nearly turning over the entire room, he found his jacket, put it on, grabbed his keys and sneaked out the door .

  Mounting his bike, he sped away with only one destination in mind. He wasn’t really looking forward to going back home, but he didn’t exactly have a choice. At least the trip home will give him some time to collect himself and plaster on the mask of indifference .

  * * *

  A few hours later, which was still too short in Conner’s opinion, he saw the familiar blue and white ranch house in the distance. And he ignored the tight fist that dug into his gut, knowing what waited for him once he walks through that front door. He drove up the driveway to the side of the house and parked his bike under the large oak tree that he used to play under when he was a kid. He took off his helmet, ruffled his hair, and rolled his shoulders as he made his way to the front door. He paused and listened; the house was as quiet as a vestry during a funeral. He gripped the door handle and turned it slowly until he heard the first click, then waited. With no sign of life, he slowly opened the door, peeked in and then as quietly as possible, approached the staircase

  He thought he would actually be able to at least take a shower before his scolding, but those hopes were dashed when his father’s voice drifted from the library, “Conner, can I speak to you .”

  Conner cringed inwardly with his foot on the first step. Here we go , he thought. It wasn’t a request and Conner resigned himself to his fate. When he walked into the library, he saw his father sitting behind the large cherry wood desk and his mother sitting in her chair by the window. Both of them had their eyes pinned on him and neither looked too thrilled to see him .

  His dad opened his mouth to speak, but it was his mom who spoke .

  “Where have you been?” she mother asked, her bright blue eyes flashing in anger and disappointment at her youngest son .

  “Mary,” his father cautioned, “Remember your blood pressure .”

  Mary waved her husband off, “I’m not worried about that right now, I’m worried about what our son is getting up to .”

  She was the one with the quick temper, ready to blow her gasket at the slightest provocation. Frank tended to be more reserved and it was a rare sight to see him angry. But when he did lose his temper, there was hell to pay .

  Conner sighed, “I went out for a ride, that’s all .”

  “A ride?” Mary shrieked, “You were gone for a month, who knows how long you would have stayed away had your father not stopped your funds .”

  “M a, I would have come back. I always come back,” Conner said, flashing a smile at his mother .

  That always calmed her down, but not this time. She just glared at him as if he was something the cat dragged in. Clearly, childhood charm wears off eventually when all parents grow immune to excuses and fibbed apologies .

  “You’re not going to charm your way out of this Conner Scott. Something has to change about your behavior. You… you just have no direction at all !”

  Conner pinched the bridge of his nose, dragged his hand down over his mouth and his throat and then slumped on the two-seater sofa against the far wall. This was going to be a long day; he might as well get comfortable .

  His mother stood up and walked to stand beside his dad, “This has to stop, I am tired of wringing my hands with worry because you’re out gallivanting and doing god knows what!” she ground out, waving her ha
nds frustratingly in the air, “Half the time, we have no idea whether you’re dead or alive. Things are simply going to have to change around here .”

  Conner raised his eyebrow at that, “What do you mean change? Like what, ground me, cut my funds ?”

  “No, it’s time you started thinking about finding a wife .”

  At the same time, both Connor and his dad whipped their heads up and looked at Mary in complete shock .

  “A wife?” Frank asked in shock .

  “What the hell Ma? What good would that do?” Conner snapped .

  Mary just tucked her silver-streaked, chin-length hair behind her ear and looked from one to the other, raising a brow. Both men knew that look .

  “For one thing, it will keep you home and not out in the world where I have to worry about you,” she said determinedly .

  “Ma, I told you that you don’t have to worry. I know what I’m doing and I always come back home .”

  Mary narrowed her eyes at him, “It’s not about coming home. Do you honestly think I want you to grow old here?” she rounded the desk and came to stand in front of him, “I want you out of the house, eventually,” she added, “but it’s a constant worry that you’ll end up in some ditch somewhere while we’re completely oblivious to your whereabouts .”

  "Jeez Ma, you're seriously overreacting ."

  Frank finally cleared his throat, “Your mother has a point son, you’re twenty-seven years old, and it’s time you slowed down and started thinking seriously about your future .”

  “And a wife is your solution ?”

  “That’s right,” Mary nodded .

  Conner looked between the two like they had lost their minds, “I’m not ready to get married, and even if I were, I’m not seeing anybody right now, so you can kiss that idea goodbye .”

  Mary smirked and Conner dreaded what she was about to say .

  “Well, then I don’t see a problem at all. I already have someone picked out. In fact, she will be arriving tomorrow .”

  “Mary…” Frank started .

  “N o Frank, it’s time our boy settles down,” she said flatly, “If he is not willing to make the change, I’m more than happy to enforce it .”

  “Let’s just calm down,” Frank insisted, but Mary would have none of it. And when her bottom lip started trembling and she mimicked Puss-in-the-Boots, Conner knew he was done for .

  "I will not calm down Frank, Caroline Leroy will be arriving tomorrow," she turned to Conner, "And if you are thinking of running away, think again ."

  She was a mind reader, of that he was convinced. He looked at his father for help, but the old man simply shrugged in defeat .

  Conner was livid, never mind the fact that his father cut off his allowance, his mother had gone and arranged a wife for him! It was probably the most absurd thing he'd ever heard of. This sort of thing happens elsewhere, not here in the US. His mother had officially lost her marbles .

  Chapter 2

  C aroline pushed down on her luggage to get it to close properly, finally managing to zip it up. It was almost time for her to leave, which right now, was probably the hardest thing she ever had to do. She was about to embark on the most ridiculous thing she had ever considered and on top of that, she agreed to leave her daughter behind. She knew it was just temporarily, but she had never been away from her daughter for such an extended period. She walked over to the vanity mirror and looked at herself in the mirror, she couldn’t help but wonder if she was a bad mother. Who in their right mind would leave their child behind ?

  “This is only for a while Caroline,” she told herself and then took a deep breath. It was time to say her farewells. She made her way down the stairs and into the kitchen where her sister, Adalene, and her daughter Lizette were seated at the table. Little Lizette was a spitting image of her, with bright green eyes and light brown hair that flowed freely down her back. When Caroline made her way into the kitchen her daughter quickly jumped down and wrapped her arms around her mother’s waist .

  “It’s time for me to go, Mon Chou . Promise me you will be good to your auntie .”

  The little girl nodded her head in her mother’s stomach but still would not let go. They had all decided to say their farewells at home since she had thought it to be easier, but it wasn't. Tears filled her eyes and she looked to her little sister for help. Adalene went to pick Lizzette up, but instead, her daughter sniffled, wiped her eyes, and then ran out of the kitchen, up the stairs to her room. Both women flinched when they heard the door slam and Caroline felt as if her entire world was caving in. How could she even have considered this? She should have been honest about the fact that she had a daughter .

  Adalene looked at her sister irritably, "I hope you know what you are doing ."

  Caroline frowned and rubbed her forehead, "So do I, sis. I'm still a little surprised that he contacted me after all these years ."

  Adalene started to clear the dishes, and Caroline steered clear, she knew her sister didn't approve of her decision, but this was something she had to do, otherwise she'll be the one would always wonder 'what if ?'.

  "What did he say he wanted, again?" her sister asked seemingly interested .

  "I don't know, he just said he needed to see me and that he wanted to talk to me ."

  "And he couldn't do that over the phone ?"

  Caroline shrugged, "He thought it would be too impersonal ."

  "Gullible," Adalene mumbled under her breath, "You should have been more persistent. Now you're running off and leaving your daughter behind, do you think that's fair ?"

  "Adalene," Caroline said despondently, "You think I didn't try ?"

  "You didn't try hard enough," she said coolly and then turned to Caroline, "Do you think he knows about Lizzi ?"

  Caroline worried her lip and shook her head, "I don't think so, if he did I'm sure he would have asked me to bring her along ."

  Adalene rolled her eyes, "Are you going to tell him ?"

  Caroline was quiet for a minute, "I don't know, it depends on how things go I guess ."

  "You should. He has a right to know, and Lizzi needs a papa ."

  Although Caroline agreed with her sister, she didn't respond. There was just so many things that stood in the way of her happily ever after .

  Not to mention the really bad life choices she made all along the way. She should have told Conner that she was pregnant, but at the time things weren't all rosy .

  "I have to go," she said and planted a kiss on her sister's cheek, "Revoir soeur, I'll call you when I'm there and let you know how things go ."

  Adalene muttered something under her breath and tossed the dishtowel on the counter. Caroline forced a smile, grabbed her suitcase and walked out the door with a knot of uncertainty twisting in her stomach, she had no idea what to expect .

  * * *

  T he trip from France to Texas was smooth, but long with one stop in New York before boarding a connecting flight. The flight took nine hours and although she felt fatigued, she couldn't sleep. Her nerves were shot, and the fact that she had left Lizzi behind, guilt-tripped her to the extent that at one point, she wanted to turn around and go back home .

  It had been almost four years since she had seen Conner, the handsome young man with a love for life and travel. She should have known better. American tourists came to Paris for a good time. They never stay, and have no intention of settling down. She knew this the day he charmed her socks off, but she was so taken by him that she foolheartedly leaped into a relationship that was never meant to be. And the last thing she expected was to end up pregnant .

  She should have told him when he emailed her, insisted that Lizzi comes along, but she couldn't chance it. The last thing she needed was her daughter growing up knowing that her father wanted nothing to do with her. Her heart
lurched as she thought about that last time they were together, and how it ended. They had parted ways with animosity hanging heavily in the air. For a moment she wondered if he would still be mad at her, but then again, his email sounded friendly, almost carefree. Would she even recognize him? She wondered just as the pilot announced their descent. She fastened her seatbelt and lifted her tray back into place. As she glanced out the small oval window, she couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to live here in the United States .

  The airplane touched down and jerked roughly, but even that wasn't anything in comparison to the way her stomach fluttered at the thought of seeing Conner after all these years. She made her way through to baggage claim, trying her utmost to get rid of the nervousness. She even attempted small talk with an elderly lady. Soon she exited the baggage claim area and was met with a crowd of people waiting for loved ones. A little boy came running past her and flung himself up into his dad's arms and her heart ached. She scanned the crowd looking for the person Conner sent to pick her up. Finally, she spotted a man holding a sign with her name on it. She waved and approached him .

  "Caroline Leroy?" the man asked .

  She nodded her head in sync with the butterflies zooming around in her stomach, "Yes, that's me ."

  He extended his hand to take her bag and introduced himself as Samuel. She hesitated at first, she wasn't used to this, and then she handed him her luggage .

  "Mrs. James sent me to fetch you, I hope you had an enjoyable trip ?"

  He sounded friendlier than he looked, she thought and smiled, "Yes thank you, it was just long ."

  "Nine hours right?" the man said

  "Yeah," she said, "So, Mrs. James sent you?" she asked curiously. Surely Conner would have sent for her if he invited her. Worrying her lip, she told herself that he might be busy working .