by Katie Meyer
“Hey, Cassie, what’s up? Is Alex okay?” She hated that she always answered Cassie’s calls that way, anxious and breathless. Cassie had become a good friend, but Jessica couldn’t help but worry every time she heard that stupid ringtone. Her brother, knowing her fears, had been the one to program that song choice into her phone, thinking it appropriate for his veterinarian wife and probably hoping the silly song would make Jessica laugh instead of worry whenever she heard it. It hadn’t worked.
“Alex is fine. But you’re not!” Cassie yelled into the phone, the strawberry blonde’s redheaded temper showing.
“I’m not?”
“No! You’re pregnant! And married! And pregnant! And you didn’t tell us!”
Oh, boy. She should have realized that this was going to happen. No doubt her mother had told her brother when she’d arranged for him to drive Jessica’s car over. And of course he would have told his wife. And if Cassie knew, that meant she would have told their mutual friend...
“Hold on, Cassie, Jillian is beeping in.” She swiped to switch calls. “Listen, Jillian, before you start yelling at me, yes, it’s true, but it just happened and I was going to tell you—wait, are you crying?”
“Maybe, a little. I’m just so happy for you! You have to tell me all about it, every detail.”
Jessica sighed. She’d known this was coming, but had idiotically hoped she’d get at least one full day of peace and quiet before the news spread. Obviously pregnancy was making her stupid.
“I can’t right now—”
“Oh, right, I’m so sorry! This is your wedding night! I hope I didn’t interrupt anything.”
Jessica looked down at her gaping blouse. “Actually, Jillian, your timing is perfect. But Cassie’s on the other line, wanting those same details.” Tucking her phone between her shoulder and her ear, she fastened one button after another, her mind racing. She’d nearly had sex with Ryan. She had not planned on that. She had specifically planned NOT to do that. She knew there were reasons for the ban she’d put in place, but her befuddled brain couldn’t quite remember them. She needed to think, and she wasn’t going to be able to do that standing half-naked in Ryan’s kitchen.
Or anywhere near Ryan, no matter what they were—or weren’t—wearing.
“I’ll come over—we can talk when I get there.”
“Perfect! When?”
Jessica stole a look at Ryan, who was stalking toward her, his eyes still clouded with desire.
“How about right now?”
Chapter Eleven
As much trouble as her brother had caused her, while she’d been napping he and a fellow deputy had dropped her car off in Ryan’s driveway and her keys in his mailbox without a confrontation. That would come later, when there were no witnesses, if she had to guess. But for now, she at least had a means of escape.
Ryan hadn’t been happy about her running out in the middle of whatever was going on between them, but he hadn’t tried to stop her. Jillian and Cassie, on the other hand, had been thrilled about an impromptu get-together, the latter quickly inviting herself when Jessica told her of the plan.
Jillian’s house was nestled in the shade of a group of slash pines beside the historic Sandpiper Inn, a landmark on Paradise Isle. Jillian and Cassie were best friends going way back to when they were in high school and Jillian had worked part-time at Cassie’s father’s veterinary clinic. Now Cassie ran the clinic and Jillian ran the Sandpiper Inn with her husband. When Cassie had married Alex, Jessica’s brother, she’d brought Jessica into her circle of friends. It had made moving to Paradise so much easier, and she was truly grateful for the camaraderie. Especially tonight. Maybe one of them could help her figure out how she was going to get out of the mess she’d made of her life.
She was almost to the front door when she heard footsteps behind her. Turning, she was engulfed in a giant hug.
“Oomph. Easy, Cassie, I’m breathing for two here.”
“Sorry.” Her sister-in-law didn’t sound sorry in the slightest, though she did release her. “It was hug you or hit you. You got off easy.”
“I’m reserving the right to hit her, for the record.”
Jessica spun around, and this time she was the one doing the hugging. “Sam! I didn’t know you were going to be here!”
The blonde gave her a hard squeeze. “Dani called me, she can’t come, one of the twins is sick, but I knew I had to be here. I figured it might take professional investigative skills to get all the details out of you.” Sam was the only other female law enforcement officer on the island currently, although she worked for Fish and Wildlife rather than the sheriff’s office.
“And how did Dani find out?” Jessica asked, hands on her hips. She wasn’t surprised the busy lawyer hadn’t been able to drop everything—aside from her legal career she’d also recently married a single father of twin girls and together they had adopted a son as well.
“Um...” Cassie fiddled with the strap of her purse. “Probably Mollie. I called her right after I called Jillian.”
Mollie had worked at the veterinary clinic too, and was a mutual friend. She was also Dani’s sister and another link in the Paradise Isles information highway. A long-distance link, given that she and her family were currently in Atlanta. No doubt whatever was discussed tonight would be shared with her later.
So much for privacy. If there was anyone on the island who hadn’t heard the news by morning, Jessica would be shocked.
The front door opened and Jillian waved them in, the slight swelling of her belly betraying her own pregnancy. “I thought I heard you all. I wanted to catch you before you rang the doorbell and woke up Johnny. He fell right after dinner—pretty sure he’s having another growth spurt.”
“You look like you’ve had one too,” Jessica pointed out. “When are you due again?”
“Not until November. I can’t believe how much I’m showing already.”
“Speaking of due dates,” Sam asked, “Do you have one yet?”
“Guys, let her get inside first!” Jillian reprimanded. “But seriously, do you?”
Jessica rolled her eyes and made her way through the door and down toward the eat-in kitchen. The rest of the gang followed, and soon cartons of ice cream were being pulled from the freezer. Jessica thought of Ryan’s plain vanilla as she scooped out a giant helping of Rocky Road. Was he eating it right now? Was he alone? She really should have stayed and talked with him about what happened. Of course, if she had stayed, talking wasn’t what they would have ended up doing. Which was why she was here, surrounded by well-meaning but nosy friends.
Once everyone had been served and they were all seated around the big oak table, they started in on her. Sam, true to her word, went first.
“So, you didn’t answer yet—when are you due?”
“I’m about eight weeks.” She took another bite. “So due right before Christmas, according to the ER doctor.”
“Oh, our babies are only going to be a few months apart!” Jillian squealed in delight. “But what’s this about an ER doctor? When were you in the emergency room? Is the baby okay?”
Cassie answered before Jillian could respond. “Alex told me about the incident with the drunk guy the other day, but I hadn’t put two and two together. That’s when you found out?”
She nodded grimly. “Yeah. Some women take a home pregnancy test. Me, I faint on the job and get carted to the emergency room.”
“Okay, so now we know about the baby,” Sam said, taking control again. “But what about the father—I’m assuming it’s this guy you just married? How long have you been dating, and why haven’t we heard about him before now?”
“We aren’t dating.”
“No, you’re married,” Cassie helpfully pointed out.
Jessica shook her head. “No, I mean we never were dating.” Three sets of incredulous eyes turned her way.
“It was a one-night stand, all right? I’m not proud of it, but it happened. And yes, before anyone asks, we did use a condom.”
Sam pushed away her empty bowl, and leaned in toward Jessica. “So, let me get this straight. You weren’t dating, but you did get pregnant, and now you’re married? To the guy you hadn’t been involved with in the two months since he got you pregnant?”
“It’s complicated.” To say the least.
“I’ve got plenty of ice cream,” Jillian retorted. “Keep talking.”
Cassie nodded in agreement. “Go back to this one-night stand... How did that happen? When did it happen? How did you two even meet, anyway?”
“We were at the police academy together. After graduation we had some drinks and one thing led to another...and we slept together.”
“Was the sex good?” Cassie asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
Jessica’s cheeks heated as she remembered exactly how good it had been. But some details didn’t need to be shared. “It was. But that’s not the point.”
“Hey, when you’re married, good sex is important,” Cassie argued.
“Yeah, about that.” Sam pointed her spoon at Jessica. “Why did you get married? This isn’t the dark ages. You don’t have to marry a guy just because you get pregnant.”
“She’s right,” Cassie agreed. “Trust me, I know all about unexpected pregnancies. They seem to be the only kind I have. Marrying Alex was the right thing to do, because we were in love. But I’m certainly glad I didn’t marry Emma’s father... That would never have worked out.” Cassie’s first child had been the product of a brief fling with a man who had turned out to be totally unwilling to be a father. Thankfully, he had given up his paternal rights so that Alex could adopt Emma. It had worked out for them, but Jessica’s situation was nothing like her sister-in-law’s.
“Like I said, it’s complicated. We’re not in love, like you and Alex. But he’s a good guy, and he wants to be there for the baby and me. And the reality is, money is tight. Living together will let us save on rent and other expenses, and he’ll be able to help with the baby care until he or she’s old enough for daycare.” By which point she’d have her inheritance, and the marriage would be over—but she decided to leave that part out.
“Hey, I’ve been a single mom, I get it.” Sympathy shone in Cassie’s blue eyes. “But this is a big step. You could have asked one of us for help, or your mom.”
“No way. I mean, I’m not ruling out asking you guys for babysitting now and then, but you’re all busy with your own lives. And I’m not going to be a burden to my mom. She raised her kids—she deserves a break now. Besides, I’m an adult—I can’t depend on Mommy to bail me out. I need to do this on my own.”
“You mean with...” Jillian faltered. “What’s his name, anyway?”
“Ryan. Ryan O’Sullivan.”
“Still, you didn’t need to get married just to live together,” Sam pointed out. “There’s such a thing as roommates you know.”
She shrugged. “The family insurance plan is cheaper than each of us having our own separate plans too.”
Cassie narrowed her eyes. “You don’t really think we’re going to believe you married a man for a cheaper health insurance premium. I know you better than that. There has to be something more you aren’t telling us.”
She sighed. She’d known they’d get the truth out of her. “Fine, there is, but nothing I say leaves this room, okay?”
“Can I tell Alex?” Cassie asked.
“No, especially not him. If he knows he might let something slip at work and then Ryan is bound to find out.”
“Wait.” Sam shook her head in confusion. “Are you saying even Ryan, your new husband, doesn’t know why you married him?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
* * *
After Jessica had left, Ryan had sat in his empty kitchen for all of ten minutes. Normally he enjoyed a quiet evening to himself, but right now, it was impossible for his mind to settle. He was too tangled up in knots over Jessica. She’d gone from scared and closed off to hot and heavy and then? He wasn’t sure what mood she’d been in at the end. She hadn’t stuck around long enough for him to find out.
Which, truth be told, really pissed him off.
He’d spent half an hour driving aimlessly along Paradise’s nearly empty roadways, the spring smells of jasmine and sea salt blowing through the open windows. By the time he ended up at Pete’s Crab Shack he’d gone from angry at Jessica to furious with himself. He wasn’t sure if he’d blown things by letting them get so heated, or by letting her walk away. Or both. He just knew he’d screwed up, and now she was gone and he had no idea when or even if she’d be back.
And that sobering realization was why he was nursing a third beer at the bar, watching a highlight reel of golf, of all things. The first beer was out of anger. The second was for regret. And this one, this one was because he’d realized how pathetic he was, drinking alone on what was technically his wedding night.
Watching golf.
He took a long, hard swallow and considered ordering one more. Maybe if he got drunk enough he’d find the humor in the situation. Or better yet he might forget why he was drinking in the first place. He wasn’t an experienced-enough drinker to really know how to predict this stuff.
He’d just waved down the bartender, a guy who looked old enough to have pulled beers for the founding fathers, when a hard hand on his shoulder spun him around on his barstool.
Dizzy from the motion and the booze, it took a minute to focus on the face staring down at him.
Oh, hell. And he’d thought the night couldn’t get worse.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing, O’Sullivan? Running off with my sister? Getting her knocked up?” A very angry Alex Santiago stood darkly over him, his fists clenched. He must have come straight from his shift—he was still in uniform. Which of course meant he was still armed. Not that the older man was likely to draw on him, but it sure put a certain spin on the situation. Behind him a few more of Paradise’s finest formed an angry wall of blue uniforms.
Which was fine, he had plenty of anger of his own. Might as well spread it around. “What I’m doing is having a beer. Want one? I’m buying. Call it a wedding reception.”
“I don’t want your beer, I want an explanation.”
“Well, you can have one after I get my drink.” He waved his empty mug in the general direction of old Methuselah and was rewarded with a fresh draft. He took a sip, and sighed. “As for an explanation, it’s pretty simple. Your sister is now my wife. And she’s having our baby. As for how that happened, I don’t think you want those details, do you?”
Alex reached for him, but one of the officers behind him managed to pull him back. “Hell, that’s my baby sister you’re talking about!”
“Yeah, well she’s my wife. So we’re even, okay?”
“He’s got you there,” one of the guys in the back said, laughing.
Some of the tension radiating off Alex eased, and he shook off the hand restraining him. “You really married her?”
Ryan picked up on the real question. “Yeah, I did. I’m trying to do the right thing.”
Alex nodded in a reluctant acceptance. “Hell, man, in that case, I’m not sure if I should congratulate you or offer my condolences. She’s not an easy woman.”
Ryan chuckled and indicated the empty stools on either side of him. “Tell me about it. You’ll notice it’s my wedding night and the bride is nowhere to be found.”
Laughter erupted all around him, and that was okay with him. Being laughed at was better than being pounded on. Turned out he’d been right, the fourth beer was the one that made it funny. Might have to figure out what magic the fifth one held.
Alex slid onto the next stool and at his wave the rest of the uniforms dissipated. Taking up his own mug, he took
a sip.
“So, where is my sister, anyway? I was on the clock when Mom told me, or I’d have yelled at you both when I dropped Jessica’s car off. And when I drove by after my shift, no one was home. You’re here, but now I’m going to have to waste time hunting her down and starting all over again.”
Ryan suppressed a smile. “Good luck, buddy. No offense, but my money’s on her if you two go head to head.”
That won him a rueful chuckle from the other man. “I’d like to say I win most of our arguments, but I’d be lying. She’s got a stubborn streak a mile wide.”
Ryan raised his glass in acknowledgment. “I’ll drink to that.” He drained a good portion of the amber liquid before setting the mug down on the scarred wooden counter. “As for where she is, she said she was going to Jillian’s house, whoever that is. She didn’t really clarify.”
“Jillian and her husband, Nic, own that big inn over by the beach. She, Jessica, my wife and a few others are all good friends.”
“Actually, I think it was Cassie that called first.” He strained his booze-addled brain to remember. “Yeah, Cassie called, and then Jillian, and then Jessica ran out, saying something about doing damage control. Seems news of our nuptials traveled fast.”
Alex winced. “Afraid I’m guilty of contributing to that. But you gotta understand, I’d just found out that my baby sister was knocked up—”
Ryan raised an eyebrow.
“Excuse me, was pregnant by some guy I’d never heard of, and they were supposedly married. I was angry. Hell, I’m still angry.”
“Understood.” He’d beaten himself up plenty over the situation—he couldn’t fault Jessica’s brother for being upset about it.
“I didn’t really think about whether Cassie would tell her friends. I just wanted to find out if I was the last to know or if Cassie was as in the dark as I was.”