WHOSE CHILD?

by Susan Gable

  "Here you go."

  Something warm and fuzzy filled her cupped hands. David's large palm supported hers. Lexie opened her eyes to find a puppy blinking up at her. Its wiry gray hair tickled her fingers and its tiny black-button nose twitched. Suddenly its mouth opened in a huge yawn, revealing a pink tongue and needle-sharp puppy teeth.

  "Can I keep him, Momma? Please? I named him Toto."

  Lexie sighed. Sarah's eager face would be too hard to resist, so she swung her glance to David, who stood so close she could smell the crisp fall air clinging to his jacket, mixing with his spicy aftershave. "Sarah knows the rules of the bed-and-breakfast, David. No pets allowed. Guests could have allergies."

  He shrugged. "I know, she told me, but I figured it wouldn't be for long, so, what the heck?"

  Wouldn't be for long? The words struck hard. Lexie straightened. We'll see about that, buster.

  "Can I keep him, Momma?" Sarah shrugged out of her purple coat, dropping it on the floor and reaching for the pup.

  "That's not how you treat the beautiful new coat your father bought you. Hang it on your peg."

  The tiny dog whimpered. Lexie lifted him higher. "Toto, huh? He does sort of look like a Toto."

  "Except he's a she," David whispered as Sarah picked her coat from the floor and went to hang it up. "I tried explaining, but Sarah didn't want to hear it. This is Toto, and that's that."

  "How could you do this to me?" Lexie whispered back. "Why not just wait until you got to Erie to get her a dog?"

  He lifted his shoulders again and another huge grin filled his face. "She smiled at me, Lex. Do you know what that does to me?"

  Oh, yes. She knew exactly what it did to him. Sarah took after her daddy in many ways. "It's the dimples."

  He nodded. "Yep."

  "Can I have him, Momma?" Sarah held her hands out. "I wanna show Pappy. He's gonna love Toto, just like me."

  "I still haven't decided if she can stay or not."

  "Oh, Momma! Please?" Sarah's lower lip quivered. "I need him! He's so cute."

  "Who is taking care of this dog?"

  "I am," Sarah said.

  "Yeah, right." She stared at David. "Well?"

  "I will be one hundred percent responsible for the dog."

  "If it piddles on the floor?"

  "I'll clean it up."

  "If it chews up my furniture?"

  "I'll fix it or replace it."

  "If my guests are allergic?"

  "I'll pay for the canceled reservations." David scooped the puppy from her hands and held her up near his face. "Satisfied?" The tiny pink tongue darted out and licked David's nose, making him chuckle and Sarah giggle.

  She'd lost the battle even before Toto had entered the house. Winning the war was more important. "Okay, she can stay."

  "Yiiippiee!" Sarah danced in place, waving her arms around.

  The puppy trembled in David's hands. "Easy there, sport. You're scaring Toto. Remember, she's just a baby."

  "Oh. Sorry." Sarah stilled, then slowly reached out. "Can I have him now? I wanna show Pappy."

  "Her," David reminded, placing the dog carefully into the child's hands.

  "Right. Her." Sarah hugged the pup, giggling when Toto licked her face. She carefully strolled from the kitchen, leaving Lexie and David alone.

  David unbuttoned his coat, draped it over the back of a chair, surveying the piles on the table. "I had no idea we'd bought so much until I saw it all together."

  "You'll spoil her," Lexie murmured.

  "Isn't that what dads do?"

  "No, usually I think that's the grandparents' job."

  "We got a few things for you, too. Does that mean I'm spoiling you, too?" His mouth twitched.

  "No." But … a part of her wanted him to. "You don't have to buy her love, David." Or mine, either.

  "Is that what you think I'm doing? Hey, I missed out on buying anything for her for four years. I don't think this—" he swept his arms in the direction of the table "—even begins to make up for that. I didn't get her first pair of shoes, but I bought her three this trip. I bought her a new coat and a puppy." He folded his arms over his chest. "When you think about it, I'm still way in the hole."

  Uh-oh. She tried to look mollified. "I'm sorry, David. I guess I'm just … a little jealous, that's all."

  "You're jealous of me? You were here for her first steps and her first word. I missed all of that. I'm jealous of you, Lexie. We made a lot of progress, but right now she's still more your child than mine. And…" His lips tightened against each other, as though he didn't want to let the words out.

  "And what?"

  The radiator running along the wall clinked and hissed, filling the silence of his hesitation. Finally, he confessed. "And that hurts."

  "Oh, David." Lexie went to him, wrapping her arms around his waist, hugging him. Beneath all his bluster, he was a sensitive soul. And she had to remember how much this—how much she—had hurt him, that the pain went both ways here. After a moment, he responded, drawing her closer.

  David held her tight, her warmth soothing, inviting.

  Her compassion unnerved him. No matter what he did or said, Lexie proved time and time again what an incredible person she was.

  Woman. With her soft body pressed against him like that, person wasn't the right word. Incredible woman.

  Loosening his grip, he leaned back, waited for her to look up at him. When she did, he bent forward, brushing his lips over her cheek before moving to her mouth.

  He took his time, nibbling, caressing, coaxing, in no rush to take the kiss deeper. His fingers stroked her spine, traced the curve of her waist.

  She cupped his head, urged him on, her mouth open, begging for more. Her tongue slipped past his lower lip, stirring fire that flashed through his body. Determined to give her what she sought, he changed the tone, hungry, needy, wanting. "Lex…"

  She froze, stiff in his arms, mouth no longer pliable beneath his. She placed her palms on his chest and pushed him away.

  "What? What's wrong?"

  "Shh."

  The sound of raised male voices came from the front of the house, followed by the yip of a terrified puppy. Something crashed. One male voice cursed.

  "Who the hell—"

  Lexie was already rushing down the hallway, David one step behind her. Pappy stood in the library archway, Sarah clinging to his legs, face pressed against the old man's jeans, sobbing. A tall, lean guy stood in the center of the room, Toto in his hands, petting the dog and crooning calming words as he glared at a short blond man who was standing on the sofa, one hand extended as if to ward off the vicious beast. Books and papers were scattered across the floor. "What's going on?" David demanded.

  "Momma!"

  Lexie scooped Sarah into her arms. "I'd like to know that myself."

  "Keep it away from me!" sofa-guy said. "Oh, I can feel it already." He lifted his hands to his face. "I'm puffing up." He jumped from his perch and dashed toward the door. "Ryan, pack our stuff, we are out of here."

  He skidded to a quick stop in the archway. "This is supposed to be a pet-free hostelry. Look at me."

  The guy's red-rimmed eyes watered. David had never seen such a quick allergic reaction to an animal. "You're not going to stop breathing or anything, are you?" he asked. "The medical clinic is just across the street. Maybe we should take you there."

  "No, thanks." The man stopped at the front door. "But don't think you're getting a good report out of me. I'll be in the van. Hurry up, Ryan. Change your shirt and wash your hands before you come out, too." The house quivered as the door slammed.

  "Oh, nuts," Lexie murmured.

  "He don't like Toto." Sarah sniffled.

  "Why 'oh nuts'?" David asked.

  The other guy crossed the library, extended Toto to David. "Cute dog. Sorry about Ted. He tends toward histrionics where his allergies are concerned."

  "You guys are my mystery guests, aren't you?"

  "Afraid so." He looked at Lexie wi
th a combination of apology and something else that made David want to slug him.

  "Shhhh—oot."

  David knew she'd changed the end of the word out of deference to the child in her arms. "What's a mystery guest?" David took the dog, and the man headed up the stairs two at a time.

  "Now do you see what I meant? Why I had this rule? Damn it, David, you can't fix this by paying their night's fee. It's much bigger than that."

  "Don't swear, Momma," Sarah said, lifting her tear-stained face from Lexie's neck. "I'm sorry. Toto's sorry, too. Right, Toto?" She turned to look at the dog.

  "It's not your fault, baby."

  "You still haven't told me what a mystery guest is."

  "Somebody from a bed-and-breakfast magazine Missy's tryin' to impress," Pappy said. "And I don't think we did too great, huh?"

  Lexie shook her head. "No. I don't think we did." The cold fury in her eyes as she glared at David over Sarah's head clearly said she wished to heaven he'd never found them.

  * * *

  Chapter 15

  « ^ »

  Later that night, after Sarah was tucked safely in bed and sound asleep, David followed the whir of the sewing machine into the dining room. He balanced a bowl carefully on top of a napkin in the palm of either hand. Lexie sat at the far end of the table, head bent over the fabric, feeding it through the machine. "I didn't know you could sew."

  She glanced up, the machine's chug-chug noise slowing to a halt. "Some of the ladies in town taught me. Makes the funds go a bit further. I made all the curtains in the house."

  "That's great." He hefted the bowls. "I brought a peace offering."

  With a wary look in her eyes, she carefully laid the fabric that had been draped into her lap alongside the sewing machine, then came to join him. She glanced down at the contents of the bowl. "Drown-your-sorrows sundaes?"

  "Yeah. I know you'd probably rather drown me right now, but I just thought…" Actually, he had no idea what he'd thought. "I'm really sorry for the mystery-guest disaster, Lex."

  Picking up her spoon, she swirled it through the sticky syrup. "You forgot the whipped cream and shaved chocolate."

  "I had to improvise. There's no brownie on the bottom, either. I used chocolate chip cookies."

  "Hmm. Sounds interesting." She scooped out an overflowing spoonful and put it into her mouth.

  "Well?"

  She nodded. "Not bad. Not as good as my version, but not bad." Another scoop, another nod.

  David started on his sundae, not that he really felt like eating it. But he wanted something to reconnect them. Ever since the Toto fiasco this afternoon, she'd felt far away from him. Not what he wanted.

  "I-I've been thinking about your proposal," she said quietly.

  He dropped his spoon, spattering vanilla ice cream all over the table. "You have?" He scrubbed at the white blobs with his napkin.

  "Yes."

  Cautious optimism flowed through him. "And?"

  "Not that I'm saying I will, understand, but if I marry you, then…"

  "Then what, Lexie?"

  "We have to live here in this house." Her words tumbled out, running into one another.

  He'd already figured that. The new Lexie thrived in this community, and it had been Sarah's only home. He could relocate part of his business here without a problem. After all, he'd already been working here for almost three weeks. Technology made the world a lot smaller, and that was what his business was all about. "Done."

  "Pappy needs me. It's not fair to leave him after all he's done for Sarah and me, and—" She stopped, mouth gaping for a moment before she closed it and swallowed hard. "Did you say 'done'? As in okay?"

  "That's what I said. If you want to live here, that's fine with me. I like this town. My business can move—that's not a problem."

  Her eyes widened and she eased back from the table. For a long while she just stared at him.

  "What's making you reconsider, Lex?" he asked.

  She rose from her chair, moving to the far end of the table. She fingered the blue-and-white gingham material. "You know." She turned to look at him again. "I love her, David. She's my whole life, and if you take her away from me, I don't think I'll survive."

  The light from the chandelier reflected off the moisture welling in her eyes.

  "Don't say that." He shot from his seat, at her side in a few strides. Cupping her face in his hands, he thumbed away the first tears. "And don't do this. Just tell me that you'll marry me so we can give Sarah a real family."

  She blinked hard. "I will," she whispered. "I love her. And … I love you."

  Her words buzzed through his head. "You do?"

  She nodded. "My mom was right. I've loved you forever, I think. That's why I gave you Sarah."

  She loves me.

  His brain went off-line. The old house creaked. From the next room, David could hear the low roar of the television as the old man watched some program.

  Fresh tears spilled down her face, onto his hands. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that—"

  He did the only thing he could think of. He leaned forward and kissed her gently, shutting off her apology.

  Lexie Jacobs, mother of his child, fabulous woman and all he could ever want in a mate, loved him.

  And he loved her.

  A wave of panic raised goose bumps along his arms. Could it be? And would he be as blind this time, or could he keep his eyes wide open? This was Lexie. The girl next door. He knew all there was to know about her. No crazy surprises, as there had been with Angela. Lexie was a compassionate, warm woman, who cared so much about his daughter she was willing to sacrifice her final dream.

  Warmth spread through his chest, that funny constricting feeling taking his breath. He cleared his throat. "I love you, too, Lex." As soon as he said it, he knew it was true.

  For the second time that day, she stiffened in his arms, muscles going completely rigid. She pushed away from him, shaking her head. "Don't, David. Don't be condescending. I don't need to hear empty words. I know what I'm getting myself into."

  "They're not empty words, Lex. I wouldn't do that to you."

  Her eyes grew large, and she stepped back. "Stop it. This is hard enough on me. Please, don't do this to me."

  "Do what? Love you?"

  "Don't pretend. We both know you're a head person. You said you'd never love anyone ever again. That it makes you too blind. I can accept that."

  "But you can't accept that I might actually love you?" He shook his head. "I will never understand women."

  "L-let's talk about what you expect from our marriage."

  "Expect?"

  "Like, do you want a prenuptial? Will we have more children?" Her face flushed and she glanced down.

  "Do you want more children?" The idea of sharing her bed, making more babies with her, this time the usual way, sent heat coursing through his body. He stepped toward her.

  She nodded as she stepped back. "I do."

  "One that's really yours this time?" He moved in her direction again.

  Her eyebrows tightened in the center of her forehead and her eyes sparked. "Sarah is really mine, David. I can't believe you don't get that after all this! Her genetics don't matter to me."

  "Just checking." He edged her closer to the wall. He smiled as she backed against the door frame. An amazing woman. His woman. "What does this tell you?" Pinning her between the wall and his body, he pressed against her, claiming her mouth in a way to leave no doubt in her mind. He drew his lips down her throat, nipping at her collarbone, tracing his tongue along the hollow, dipping just below the neckline of her shirt.

  She moaned and tipped her head, exposing the soft skin farther. "David." His name came out as a breathy little sigh that kicked his own pulse a notch higher.

  He lifted his head. "God, Lex. I'd give up coffee in exchange for some of you every day."

  One corner of her mouth twitched. She lowered her head and opened her eyes. "Now, that I can almost believe."

&nb
sp; He leaned close to her ear. "Believe all of it." He nibbled on her lobe, delighting in the shudder she gave. Still wedged against her, her reaction sent the most fantastic sensations through him. He leaned away again so he could see her face. "You know what I want, Lex. Your family has been my ideal ever since I was a kid. That's what I want." He grinned at her. "Hey, we've even got the dog already. And the white picket fence."

  She rolled her eyes.

  He let the smile fade. "I want it all, Lexie. Sarah, you, other kids … and I only want one prenuptial agreement."

  She inhaled deeply—he was willing to bet she didn't know how that felt on his part as her breasts rose and pressed harder against his chest—as if steeling herself. "Okay, what is it?"

  "You believe that I love you."

  "And until I do?"

  He stepped away from her. A cold chill ran through the skin that had pressed against her without her body heat to keep it warm. "I won't marry you."

  "What?" she shrieked. "Okay, so I believe you. I love you, you love me." The irony of the words struck her, and she launched into the rest of the song from the children's television show.

  "Don't. I'm not willing to settle, Lex. And I'm not willing to let you, either. Not now that I know how we both feel. You said you wanted a guy who loves you. You got it. It's everything or nothing."

  "And until I believe you're not just being condescending?"

  "I'm going to do everything I can to convince you I'm telling the truth. I love you, Lexie Jacobs. I'm going to marry you. But not until you believe me."

  He smiled. "And now, I have some work to do. Good night." He turned abruptly, leaving her standing against the door frame, kiss-swollen mouth partially open.

  David shoved his hands deeper into the pockets of his sheepskin-lined coat and paced the length of the storefront again. He checked his watch. Nine minutes after ten. The sign hanging in the Sapphire Mine's front door posted hours from ten till five.

  They were late.