Something More (A Well Paired Novel)

by Rice, Marianne

  The baby. Lily was in labor. Mia jumped out of her seat and tugged on her coat.

  “In a hurry?” Ryan said behind her.

  “Lily. She’s in the hospital.”

  “Is she okay? Is she safe?” Ryan took out his phone. His eyes changed in a split second, and gone was the relaxed date she’d been laughing with for the past hour. Agent Thorne had replaced him instantly, going into FBI mode and forgetting about Mia.

  Another sign work would always come first.

  Thinking about her brother and sister-in-law instead, she spoke in a calm, rational manner, unlike Ryan. “She’s having a baby. I’m sure everything will be fine. If you could hurry me home so I can get to the hospital, I’d appreciate it.”

  Ryan’s shoulders relaxed, and he cupped Mia’s cheek in his palm. “I’ll take you there.” He pressed his lips to hers, only lingering for a brief moment before pulling away and taking her hand in his.

  “I could be there all night. It would be easier if you brought me home so I can get my car,” she said as they rushed out of the restaurant.

  He didn’t respond and held her car door open for her, waiting until she was buckled before closing it. He stayed silent during the drive, another dose of reality slapping her in the face.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  The doting date persona could only last so long, and he’d done his time. Agent Thorne would always come before Ryan, the wonder date. They were getting too cozy in the restaurant, and so he pulled away.

  Typical.

  Except for the gentle kiss. It had done its job by quieting her, so she didn’t argue with him as he drove her to the hospital. She didn’t even tell him which one. He knew. Lily was still his responsibility, and he’d never let his personal life interfere.

  Mia was personal. Lily was a job. She shouldn’t feel jealous of her sister-in-law, but when work came first ... yeah, she couldn’t help the tightness in her chest.

  Her phone vibrated in her purse, and she took it out to respond to her mother’s text.

  “Everything okay?” Ryan gave her a quick glance and returned his attention to the dark road.

  “Yeah. My mom says Lily’s at seven centimeters. No baby yet.”

  “It could still be hours until she’s ready to push. And even then, it could be a few more hours. Did her water break? Did they have to induce?”

  Again, the jealousy. “Quite the loyal FBI agent studying up on pregnancy and bir—” She closed her eyes and cringed. She was a selfish, insensitive bitch. “I’m sorry. I forgot... That was uncalled for.”

  Ryan took her hand in his and squeezed. “It’s okay.”

  “No, it’s not.” She was too caught up in her jealousy to think about Ryan’s wife and child. He’d gone through the labor and delivery process before and then lost a son. Going to the hospital with her couldn’t be good for his psyche.

  Mia placed her free hand across her belly, unable to even come close to imagining the pain Jenna and Ryan had suffered in their loses.

  “I had a brief poor-me moment. I apologize for my snark. I’m always hoping someone will invent a backspace key for the mouth. I often run it before I think of the consequences.”

  Ryan lifted their joined hands to his mouth and kissed her knuckles.

  “I have a fondness for that mouth. Forgiven.”

  “Forgiven with a grudge, or forgiven for real?”

  “I’d pull the car over to the side of the road and show you, but I know you’re anxious to see your brother and sister-in-law.”

  Mia gulped. She wouldn’t go down that road. Sex was not going to be part of their ... thing anymore. If he wanted to treat her to a nice dinner anytime he was in town, she’d cash in on the free meal. No way was she putting out for him anymore. Even if he knew exactly how to charm the pants right off her.

  “And niece. Or nephew.” Keeping her face forward, she cast a sideways glance and caught his mischievous grin. Maybe her diversion tactic wasn’t as subtle as she thought.

  He pulled into the hospital parking lot, and she released his hand and unbuckled her belt. When he drove by the main entrance, she turned to him. “Where are you going? Just drop me off at the front door.”

  “I’m not leaving you here. I’m going in with you.”

  “My parents are here, and I’m sure my friends will be showing up in the morning. I can find a ride home.”

  Again, he didn’t comment and parked the car. She opened her door and jumped out before he had time to come over to her side. Without a word, he hooked his arm around her waist and hugged her to his side as they rushed toward the main entrance.

  Once checked in, they got in the elevator and pushed the button for the third floor.

  “I guess it makes sense you wanting to be here. You’ve known Lily longer than the rest of us.”

  He’d kept Lily safe for nearly a decade and deserved to be at the birth of her child. Still, she couldn’t help but be a little jealous of their connection.

  “I’m not here for Lily. She has Ty to take care of her.”

  “Oh.” So maybe... No, Mia refused to get her hopes up. Ryan was a loyal man. His job required him to be. It was in his blood. In his nature. If he was there with Mia, it was out of obligation and nothing more.

  The dinner, the hand holding, the sweet kiss, she couldn’t look into those being anything more than the Thorne family instilling a sense of manners and gentleman quality.

  But the explosive sex... The elevator dinged, and the doors opened ending that memory. Mia bolted out of the elevator and followed the signs to the maternity ward, showing the nurse the badge she and Ryan had been given downstairs.

  “My brother’s having a baby. Well, he’s not. Lily’s the one doing all the work. But I’m going to be an aunt. Do you know if she’s had the baby yet? Is she in any pain?”

  “She’s almost ready to push. I’ll see if she’s up for visitors.”

  The nurse slipped into the room, which must have been Lily’s, and came out a moment later.

  “You can go in.”

  The moans coming from Lily were enough to make her think twice before entering. She heard Ty and figuring he could use some support as well, peered around the half-open door.

  “Hey, kids. Need a hand in here?”

  “Mia,” Lily groaned.

  Even nine months pregnant and in sweaty pain, she was gorgeous. Only Lily—and probably Grace when the time would come—could make a hospital gown look good.

  “You’ve been selfish these nine months keeping my little niece to yourself. It’s about time you share her with the rest of the world.”

  Lily closed her eyes and let out a wan smile.

  “She’s been doing great. No drugs or even an IV.” Ty placed a washcloth on Lily’s forehead. “I asked if they could shoot me up with some pain killers instead, but the nurses won’t oblige.”

  “Wimp.” Mia gave her brother a hug. “How you holding up?”

  “Me?” Ty wiped the back of his hand across his forehead. “My wife won’t let me do much other than watch her suffer in pain. It’s killing me.”

  “It’s tough not being the tough guy, huh?” She gave him a friendly punch to the arm.

  Lily let out a long moan again.

  “Honey, I’m right here.” Mia stepped back and watched Ty hold Lily’s hand as she breathed through a contraction.

  Giving them their privacy, Mia slipped out and searched for the waiting room. They didn’t want a circus show in the delivery room, and Mia respected their wishes, as did her parents who she found pacing the waiting room.

  “The baby?” Her mom rushed to her and engulfed her in a hug.

  “Not yet. How long have you and Dad been here?”

  “Days,” her dad said.

  “Three hours.” Celeste was always the practical one, while her father had more of a flair for the dramatics.

  “Your mother was in labor for two days with you. I didn’t get a wink of sleep for over fifty hours.”

&n
bsp; “Oh, cry me a river.” Her mother shook her head and laughed. “I was in labor for twenty hours and didn’t get a wink of sleep. Meanwhile, your father was dozing off in the Lazy-boy in the corner of the delivery room.”

  “I was just resting my eyes.”

  “Mm hm.”

  Movement behind her parents caught her eye. Ryan. She’d completely forgotten about him. Her father followed her gaze to the hallway where Ryan leaned against the wall.

  “Why is the FBI here? Are you in danger? Are those bad guys out of jail?” Her father wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders.

  Her parents didn’t know about Lily being in the Witness Protection Plan. Even though she was their daughter-in-law, they all figured it was best not to cause any stress or anxiety to Wade and Celeste Parker. Plus, the fewer people who knew the better.

  They’d met Ryan when they went to the police station to see her. Now wasn’t the time to explain the complicated relationship. Not that she could.

  “Nothing’s going on, Dad. He and I were catching up on ... things when I got the message about Lily.”

  Her father eyed him skeptically which didn’t scare Ryan as she’d thought it would. Instead, he pushed off the wall with his elbows and sauntered—yeah, totally and cockily sauntered—over to them.

  It wasn’t a badass cocky. It was more like...

  “Mrs. Parker.” He held out his hand to shake hers. “Mr. Parker. It’s nice to see you again, and under much better circumstances this time.”

  Dang, his charming smile even had her mother mesmerized.

  “Agent Thorne. I hope you’re well.”

  “Ryan, please. And yes, I’m doing very well.”

  “What brings you to town, Agent?” her father asked, still keeping a distance between him and Ryan.

  Mia remained quiet and let Ryan lead the conversation since she didn’t have a clue why he was in town either.

  “I’ve relocated to Maine.”

  “You what?” So much for remaining quiet. He could have told her this hours ago, heck, days ago and helped eliminate some of the anxiety about having to say goodbye again. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “It’s okay, honey.” Her mother patted her arm like a child who needed comforting. “Agent Thorne is entitled to his privacy.”

  “It’s just Ryan.” He shifted his shoulders, his uncomfortableness starting to show.

  “You’re no longer with the bureau?”

  Ryan stuffed his hands in his pockets and lowered his gaze to meet Mia’s. “I’m still with the FBI but am switching roles.”

  “Will our daughter still be in danger?”

  “Wade!”

  “It’s an important question. I’m grateful he was able to help in her rescue, but I have to be honest here. His presence brings back a whole bag of memories I wish never got made. I near about died when I heard Mia had been...” Her father choked back his words and shook his head.

  “It was a horrifying time for all of us, but it’s not Agent Thorne’s fault. He was the one who told the police where to find her.” Mia’s mother squeezed Ryan’s shoulder. “And for that I’m eternally thankful for you.”

  Her parents were not only in the dark about Lily’s past, but also about Mia and Ryan’s summer fling and how thugs had used her to get to him. It wasn’t that they were old and frail, but she and Ty had agreed there was no need to let them know the connection.

  Ty was the only one who’d blamed Ryan for her kidnapping, but by his sad eyes and lax jaw, she’d bet a bottle of Alexis’ Lobster Red that Ryan still blamed himself.

  “Can we focus on happier times, like the arrival of your first grandchild?” Mia looped her arm through her mother’s and drew her away from Ryan and onto the loveseat.

  “What’s your final guess? Boy or girl?” She distracted her mom with gender and name games while still keeping an eye on Ryan and her father, standing with their arms crossed on the other side of the room.

  At least Ryan appeared relaxed, leaning against the wall with his shoulder.

  “Celeste, I need a cup of coffee to stay awake. Would you and Mia like one?”

  “That sounds wonderful. And since we’re going to be here a while, let’s go down the road to Dunkin Donuts and get a real one. Mia, honey, what can we get you? And Ryan, if you’re staying we’ll be more than happy to get you something as well.”

  “I’ll take a mocha latte.”

  “A whoseewhat?” Her father’s joke was lame the first time he’d told it, and she rolled her eyes—for the thousandth time since he first made it about a decade ago.

  “Agent...” Wade cleared his throat. “Ryan?”

  “You don’t have to get me anything. I can grab a cup of coffee from the cafeteria later if I need it.”

  “Nonsense. We’re going anyway. How do you take your coffee?”

  “Black,” Mia answered for him. She ignored their raised brows, knowing her answer made it sound like she knew more about Ryan than she really did. It implied mornings spent together.

  False. Two breakfasts and neither came after a sleepover.

  “We won’t be gone long.” Her parents disappeared around the corner, leaving her alone with Ryan.

  He took the spot on the loveseat her mother had vacated and crossed his ankle over his knee. He arched his back and stretched his arm behind her so it rested on the back of the sofa.

  “So.” She mirrored his relaxed pose, crossing one leg over the other. “You relocated?” She tried to keep the excitement out of her voice.

  “Still in the process, but yeah.” He bumped his knee against her leg and worked his hand across her shoulder until he reached the back of her neck.

  She shouldn’t cave so easily, but when he lifted her hair and caressed her neck with his fingers she was a goner.

  “Is that why you’re so ... so ... different?”

  Ryan let out a soft sigh. “I think of before as different.”

  “What does that mean?”

  He shifted until their arms rubbed against each other, and he gently lowered her head until it rested against his shoulder. There was nowhere for her hand to go except on his thigh. She liked it there as much as she liked leaning into him.

  “This summer.” His hand stilled on her neck and moved across her back until it reached her arm. He drew her in closer to him in a one-armed hug. He covered her hand with his free one and stroked her fingers. “You saw many sides to me this summer. Some I’m not proud of.”

  If he was referring to the times when he ravished her, she’d kick him in the shins. Or higher.

  “My job requires ... required me to keep people at a distance. To not reveal much about myself.”

  “You’re very good at your job.” She squeezed his thigh in what she hoped he interpreted as jest.

  “I hate that it prevented us from ... that it kept me from being with you.”

  Well, damn. The man of few words just about tilted her world on its axis. Her insides warmed and tingled. She lifted her chin and looked up into his dark, hesitant eyes then lowered her gaze to his lips.

  “Mia.”

  She swallowed the ball of nerves in her throat and craned her neck until her lips met his in a slow, soft kiss.

  “What the hell is going on out here?” Ty’s thunderous voice broke them apart.

  Mia jumped to her feet. “Is she here? Did you have the baby?”

  Ty clenched his jaw, his breathing laborious, his eyes narrowed with hatred toward Ryan.

  “Ty?” She stepped into his heated glare, blocking him from Ryan. Not that her short frame did much to prevent her giant brother from looming over her. “Ty,” she said again, squeezing his forearms.

  Finally, he dropped his gaze to hers, his face softening. “No baby. The nurse is breaking her water. Lily told me to come out here to check on you.”

  “Is that her way of telling you you’re hovering.”

  “My wife is having a baby. Of course I’m going to hover.” He ran a hand through
his short hair. “I don’t have time to deal with this right now.” He flicked his head at Ryan.

  “That’s good because it’s none of your business.”

  “Mia. Why now? Are you looking for attention now that everyone—”

  “Don’t.” She shook off the tears. Her brother meant well. He always meant well, but sometimes he could say the stupidest things. Sure, she’d done her share of stupid things in the past. As a teen and even in her early twenties, she craved attention. Negative or positive it didn’t matter. It was especially hard on her when Ty was overseas serving in the military. It was when she met her party friends in the bigger towns.

  Things had changed in the past few years. She’d matured, aged, made good friendships. She had a tribe. Now the tribe was married and spitting out babies, but she didn’t begrudge them. Not for a single second.

  “I know you’re doing what you think is best, but you don’t know everything that’s gone on between Ryan and me. I don’t know what will happen with us, but I want to see the possibilities. Please don’t come between us. Don’t make me choose. I know you have questions, as do I, but will you trust me to make the right decisions with my life? I’m not that bratty, annoying, trouble-seeking little sister anymore.”

  “You’ll always be annoying.”

  “And you’ll always be overbearing.”

  “I’m sorry.” Ty wrapped her in a bear hug. “I’m exhausted and stressed and scared.”

  “Scared?” She pulled back far enough so she could see his eyes. “Are Lily and the baby alright?”

  “As far as I know.”

  “Then why are you scared?”

  He glanced behind her again, and she clutched at his jaw and forced him to look at her.

  “What if I’m not a good father? I sure am sucking at the big brother thing.”

  “Your heart is in the right place. It’s always in the right place. Lily and that baby of yours are the luckiest people on the planet.”

  “Mr. Parker? Your wife is asking for you.”

  Ty spun around and raced down the hall to Lily’s room, leaving Mia standing alone in the middle of the waiting room.