by Helen Lacey
Except he called her forty-eight hours later and asked her out.
Date Liam O’Sullivan?
Not a chance.
She refused him as politely as she could and pushed the idea from her thoughts. Until three days later when he called again. Of course she turned him down. There was no way in hell she could go out with him. Even if she wanted to. Which of course she didn’t. At least, not without hurting her parents.
Instead, she started dating someone else. Will Serrato was the foreman on one of the local ranches, a good-looking cowboy with nice manners, a lovely smile and no familial ties to Cedar River, which suited her fine. Her parents liked him and Kayla enjoyed his company. It lasted three months, until they both admitted they were better off as friends rather than lovers. She liked Will a lot, but that wasn’t enough to sustain a long-term relationship. She’d had three bland years with the college professor as proof. Liking someone didn’t cut it.
“Have you told anyone else?”
Liam’s voice jerked her back into the moment. She turned and discovered he was only a couple of feet away. He had the stealth of a cat. Her blood heated immediately, her usual reaction when he was within touching distance.
She crossed her arms. “No.”
“Not the Happy-Hour Crew?”
She frowned. That’s what he called her friends, Ash, Lucy and Brooke. They’d regularly met at O’Sullivans on a Friday evening up until a few months ago. But Brooke had recently married a New York lawyer who’d bought out a legal practice in town and they’d adopted a baby girl who was biologically Brooke’s niece. And Lucy and her fiancé Brant Parker were to marry in the next few months. Ash had a twelve-year-old son at home, plus a small ranch where she took in foster kids, and there wasn’t much time left in the week for socializing.
“No one,” she said again. “This is between me and you.”
His mouth flattened. She knew that look. He was close, so close she could feel the heat radiating from him. Since they hadn’t been as near to one another for days he was burning even hotter than usual. They had great chemistry and making love with him was like nothing she’d experienced before. Hot, passionate and yet achingly tender. For five months she’d loved him...loved him...with her body and her whole heart.
“I guess everyone will know soon enough,” he said quietly, reaching down to briefly rest his hand against her belly.
Kayla stilled at his warm touch and felt cold when he moved his hand away. She didn’t want to think about the whole world learning about her pregnancy. Confirming the news aloud to him—and to herself—was dramatic enough. “I have no intention of saying too much too soon, even if I do see my friends on a Thursday night.”
“When you’re hanging out at the Loose Moose?” he queried.
Kayla shrugged. Lucy’s fiancé owned the Loose Moose, and although it was a different kind of place than O’Sullivans, it was still competition. And Liam knew she went there every other Thursday evening to have dinner with her friends. Brant was always there because he owned the place and Brooke regularly brought Tyler on their get-togethers. But Kayla had not taken Liam...not once. She didn’t want the questions she would get from her friends. Or their concern, since they knew about the feud between her father and J.D. O’Sullivan.
“It’s a nice place,” she said extra sweetly. “The steaks are good.”
His gaze narrowed. “You’re a vegetarian.”
Kayla managed a tight smile. “I like the salad bar,” she said and shrugged lightly.
His hand came up to touch her cheek and as his fingertips gently rubbed her jawline the sensation spread heat through her with the speed of a brushfire. “I know what you like.”
His words were packed with innuendo. He did know. Better than anyone. “Well, I guess I should get back to work.”
“Not yet,” he said, his voice so quiet it was almost a whisper. He leaned in closer, his intent obvious. She’d craved his kiss since that first date and tilted her chin acceptingly. He kissed the corner of her mouth softly. And then her cheek and then the sensitive spot just below her earlobe. “Come home with me tonight, Kayla,” he whispered against her skin. “Come home and let me make love to you.”
It should have been easy to nod and fall into his arms and to agree to anything he suggested. But it wasn’t. If she was pregnant, then their complicated relationship was about to become even more so.
“I can’t,” she replied, woozy from the feel of his lips trailing over her skin. “Ash is coming by this evening to drop off some flyers for the hospital benefit. You know she’s on one of the committees and is helping me with the—”
He pulled back, straightened and stared down at her. “Is this because of the fight we had the other day?”
She remembered the words they’d exchanged a few days earlier. It was the same discussion they’d been having since the beginning of their relationship. But she wasn’t ready to break her father’s heart. And she wouldn’t be pushed.
“Was that a fight?” she asked and sighed.
He shrugged loosely. “Maybe. If it was, then I’m sorry.”
Kayla reached out and touched his jaw, felt the bristle of stubble and smiled. “You didn’t shave this morning?”
He met her gaze. “I don’t sleep well unless I have you next to me. Then I woke up late and ran out of time.”
His words melted her. She didn’t want to give him sleepless nights. She didn’t want to argue with him, either. She wanted...she wanted it to work out. She wanted their families to end the feuding. With a heavy heart, Kayla suspected she wanted the impossible.
“Liam...”
“It kills me to be away from you,” he admitted and swallowed hard. His gaze dropped to her stomach and without a word he gently pressed a hand to her middle. “Do you really think that you’re...” His words trailed off with a kind of agonized sigh when she nodded. “My god, Kayla...if you are then everything changes. Everything,” he said again, steadier, as though he was affirming the idea to himself.
His palm was warm against her belly. And strong and familiar. Their connection had never seemed more intense than it did in that moment and she had to say what was on her mind. And in her heart. “This isn’t what I planned...at least, not yet. But, the more I think about it, the more I want this baby, Liam. Despite what it will mean to our families. Despite how...complicated it is.”
They hadn’t talked about having children, not in any real depth. It was one of those things that seemed too hard, considering they were keeping their relationship a secret from everyone they knew. From the world.
“So do I, Kayla.”
Of course she knew that. Liam would make a great father. “So, I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said and dropped her hand. “Okay?”
He nodded resignedly. “I’ll pick you up in the morning at eight thirty and we’ll drive into Rapid City.”
Kayla frowned. “My mother is coming by in the morning, plus I have a busload of tourists arriving tomorrow, so it will have to wait until the afternoon before I—”
“You could cancel your mother and get Shirley to cover you,” he said. “This really can’t wait.”
Sixtysomething Shirley had been working part-time at the museum for over twenty years and would certainly work if Kayla needed her. She pushed down her impatience at his high-handed logic. “Stop telling me what to do, Liam.”
“I’m not trying to make things harder here, Kayla. But if I’m going to be a father I’d like to know sooner rather than later.”
Of course he would. Kayla had a fleeting thought that she was being selfish. She’d had all morning to get used to the idea. Liam had only had fifteen minutes. “Okay,” she said agreeably. “Okay... I’ll call Shirley when I get back to work. And my mother,” she added.
His mouth twisted a little, as though he’d won a r
ound. “I’ll call you later.”
She knew he would. He called her every night.
She grabbed her bag and headed for the door, stopping when he said her name. “What?”
“So I know that you’re okay, text me when you get back to the apartment this afternoon.”
The apartment. Not her apartment. Liam had his mind set on her spending every night at the house by the river. But she wasn’t ready for that. Not yet. Not until her parents knew about their relationship. Sure, she was stalling. But she had her reasons and they were valid. Even if Liam did struggle to understand, Kayla knew she had to do what she thought was right. As she always had.
“I really am fine,” she lied. “I mean, despite the fact that I’m probably pregnant and the baby is going to be caught in the middle of two families who hate one another.”
His jaw tightened. “Kayla, you know that I will never allow that to happen. If you are pregnant, then our child will come first, before any old squabbles, before any decades-old resentment, before anything.”
She shivered, because again she knew she should have been reassured. She knew Liam, she knew he could be ruthless when he needed to be. And she knew their relationship would be blown out of the water the moment her pregnancy was confirmed...and that Liam would be the one to do so.
“Of course I know that,” she said quietly. “My month is nearly up, remember?”
Three and half weeks earlier they’d agreed she would tell her parents about their relationship. It wasn’t an ultimatum. It was the next step. The obvious step. Exactly what needed to happen if they were to make their relationship work. But she still hadn’t told them. Not because she was a coward, although sometimes she wondered if Liam thought that of her...but because her parents loved her so dearly and upsetting them was such an alien concept to her. Liam didn’t appreciate that... Oh, he was considerate and caring, but he didn’t truly understand her motives.
“I didn’t suggest a month to hurt you,” he said quietly. “Or push you. I just thought it would be long enough for you to broach the subject and maybe ease them into the idea.”
“I know,” she flipped back. “And I get that you don’t understand the relationship I have with my parents. I get that you believe they smother me and think the world revolves around me...and you’re right...they do. That still doesn’t mean I want to upset them.”
“I know you don’t,” he said. “I don’t think anyone chooses to hurt the people they love.”
Her throat thickened. It was a direct hit. He loved her. She loved him. It shouldn’t be so messy. But it was.
“I’ll talk to you later,” she said and left the room before he had a chance to respond.
By the time she got back to the museum her head was throbbing. She turned the shingle over to say the place was open, unlocked the door and headed inside. As always, she experienced a sense of calm as she crossed the threshold. It always did that to her. The museum was her safe place. Her harbor. The balm she needed to soothe her soul. Split into two areas, it was a museum and art gallery, showcasing not only the incredible history of the town, but both the local and indigenous artists. There was a small gift shop that Shirley managed for a few hours each day, but mostly Kayla worked alone. And she liked it that way. Oh, she loved her family and friends, but the museum and gallery was her place, her calm center away from the world where she could think and read and find peace.
Liam understood that about her...perhaps more than anyone else ever had.
After she’d broken up with Will, Liam had pursued her again. Not obviously. In fact, at times he seemed to be ignoring her. But she knew what he was doing. The way he said her name whenever they met, the way his glittering blue eyes always seemed to linger on her mouth... Kayla was switched on enough to know she was being pursued. There was no ego in her realization, just instinct. An O’Sullivan had always been on the board of the museum, but suddenly he started turning up for the monthly meetings instead of his mother. And then he began regularly bringing his young nieces to the gallery. Subtle, for sure...but effective. Seeing him with the girls did something to her. It touched her heart, breaking down her defenses, making Kayla want him in ways that went beyond physical attraction.
It took a couple of months for Kayla to admit the truth to herself. That she liked him. That she more than liked him. And then one afternoon, when she could stand it no more, when he’d arrived early for a committee meeting to discuss the planned extension for the museum and they were alone in her office, she’d grabbed him by the lapel of his jacket and kissed him...forgetting everything...forgetting the three-decade-old feud, forgetting that her family would be devastated if they found out. All she knew was that in that moment, she had to feel his kiss, his touch.
It was also the moment she realized she was really falling for the son of the man her father hated most in the world.
So, from day one their relationship became a secret. No one could know. Her parents were good people, honest and hardworking, and they had always put her first. Always. And she wasn’t eager to disrespect the love and devotion they had shown her all their lives.
Only...
If she was carrying Liam’s child, hurting them was inevitable.
Her cell beeped with a text message as she walked into her office. She checked the number and saw that it was Ash saying she’d be at her apartment that afternoon. Kayla texted back, saying she’d see her later and then called her mother and rescheduled her visit. Then she called Shirley and asked her to cover her shift. Her cell rang again a few minutes later, and thinking it might be Shirley again and that something could be wrong, she snatched the phone up quickly.
“Hello,” she said breathlessly.
“Hey, it’s me. Liam.” His deep voice wound through her system like silk.
Kayla managed to take a steadying breath. “What do you want?” She knew she sounded terse and unfriendly, but her patience was frayed.
“Just to see how you are.”
“You saw me half an hour ago,” she reminded him. “Not much has changed since then.”
He was silent for a moment. “I am allowed to be concerned about you.”
“I know that,” she said, quickly hating how mean and short-tempered she must sound to him. “I’m sorry,” she said and sighed. “I’m just tired. I’ll feel better tomorrow.”
He took a moment before he spoke again. “Thank you for telling me. I know you could have kept this to yourself until you got confirmation.”
“If I’m pregnant then it’s your baby, too, Liam,” she said softly, feeling a heady warmth spread through her limbs as the words left her mouth. “I’m not about to exclude you from anything. We’re in this together.”
“Are we?” he asked and her insides constricted.
“Yes,” she replied. “We are.”
He sighed heavily. “Kayla, you do know what this will mean, don’t you?”
Tension filled her chest. “I don’t want to think about it. Before I start thinking about what any of this means, I need to make sure. We both need to be sure.”
“Of course,” he said. “But if you are pregnant then we’ll have to make some changes.”
Oh, she knew. Reveal their relationship to the world. And hurt her parents in the process.
“I know that,” she replied hotly. “You don’t need to keep reminding me.”
“I didn’t call to upset you,” he said quietly. “That’s the last thing I want.”
“I know that, too,” she acknowledged and sighed. “But I’m not accustomed to hurting my parents. I don’t like how the idea makes me feel. I don’t like knowing that they are going to think that I’ve betrayed them.” She sighed heavily. “And in a way, they’ll be right. I knew how my dad felt about your father...about your family. I mean, I’ve known it practically all my life. I was raised on it. But it
still didn’t stop me from falling in love with you.”
Silence stretched out between them, filled with thick, relentless tension. When he spoke again his voice was unusually raspy. “I haven’t heard you admit that for a while.”
“Admit what?” she queried, but knew exactly what he meant.
And he was right. She hadn’t said it for weeks. Not even when she was in his arms, making love with him, and he’d whisper the words to her with heart-melting passion.
“I love you, too, Kayla,” he said so softly that the sound of his voice hit her directly in the center of her chest. “But, you know, perhaps you’re thinking about this the wrong way. You might be imagining the worst for no reason. This situation may do exactly the opposite. It could bring everyone together.”
It was a nice idea. But a fantasy. Derek Rickard was not the forgiving type. And J.D. O’Sullivan was no better. There was way too much bad blood between the two families to imagine that there could be any kind of truce.
“I know my father. And yours,” she added. “He won’t be any more pleased about this than my folks.”
“Frankly, I don’t care about that,” he said bluntly. “I care about you. And if you’re pregnant, then I’ll care about our child. And I’ll protect you both...always.”
Heat rushed behind her eyes. Whatever Liam’s faults, he was undeniably loyal and fiercely protective of their relationship. It made her love him even more. And it also made the situation much harder.
“I know you will...and I know you don’t agree with the way I’ve handled things.”
“Handled things?”
She heard the query in his voice. “Okay,” she admitted. “The way I haven’t handled things with my parents. If I’m pregnant, we both know they’re going to be hurt and stunned by the news.”
“You think that’s going to shock them?” He drew in a long breath. “Wait until they find out that we’re married.”