A Better Man: A Small Town Surprise Pregnancy Romance (The Heartbreak Brothers Book 3)

by Carrie Elks

  “Is that right?” he murmured, opening the passenger door. “I’ve heard of a few women like that.”

  Courtney laughed. “I bet you have.”

  “I do owe her for one thing though.” He closed her door and walked around to the driver’s side, settling himself in. “If it wasn’t for her running out in front of me, we never would’ve met.” Pressing the ignition button, he turned to her, that half-smile playing at his lips again. Her breath caught in her throat at his intense stare. The space between them crackled with electricity.

  It was as though she was programmed to respond only to him. She’d never felt anything like it before. Yeah, she’d heard about instant attraction. But until Logan, she hadn’t believed in it. She’d certainly never experienced it. Not with Shaun or anybody else.

  And now her body was responding in ways she’d never imagined. She shifted in her seat in an attempt to break the connection. “Where are we going?” she asked, staring out of the window. The dark sky was covered with grey clouds.

  “Actually, we’re almost there.” He turned left toward Maple Cross. A mile down the road he pulled into a driveway, his car bouncing over the rocks and stones that peppered the surface. On either side lights were strung between lampposts, and at the end was a ranch-like house covered with bright Christmas decorations.

  There was a big painted sign in front of it. The Secret Gourmet.

  “What is this place?” she murmured.

  “It’s owned by a friend of mine,” he told her as he pulled the car into a bay at the side of the house. “They serve gourmet meals in their home. Kind of like a paid-for dinner party. Usually they’re booked months in advance, but they managed to fit us in.”

  “I’ve never heard of it.” Not that she got out enough to even know about places like this.

  “They don’t advertise.” He opened her door and helped her out. She could get used to this. “They don’t need to. It’s all word of mouth. And when you know about it, you’re in on the secret.” He smiled at her. “But more than anything, the food is amazing.”

  “That’s high praise from you.”

  He shrugged. “I like good food. I think you’ll like this place, too.” He knocked on the door.

  A moment later it was opened by a thirty-something woman. As soon as she saw Logan, her face lit up. “Oh my god, look at you. You’re more handsome than ever.” She leaned forward to hug him tight, then turned to Courtney. “Hi, and welcome,” She said. Her smile was warm. “Come in from the cold.” She ushered them in, taking Courtney’s too-small coat from her shoulders. “If you’ll go into the living room, Dan has some cocktails waiting. You’re both on the virgin ones, right?”

  Logan glanced at Courtney and winked. “Yeah, that’s right.”

  “I could have driven if you wanted to drink,” Courtney told him. “You should have said something.”

  “If you’re not drinking, neither am I.” He slid his hand down her back, pressing his palm into the small of her back. “It’s no big deal.”

  But it was to her. Another little hint of how attentive he was. “This place is beautiful,” she said as he lead her through the hallway to a doorway at the end. “All these decorations look antique.”

  “Ellie and Dan inherited this house from her grandfather,” he told her as he pushed open the door to the living room. “It was completely run down when they got it. They’ve spent the last few years renovating it, funding the rebuild by feeding people. In the summer, they have barbecues and cook outs in the backyard. And this is the second winter that they’ve run their dinner parties. Ten guests maximum each time.”

  They walked into the beautifully furnished living room, complete with an oversized Christmas tree and inglenook fireplace. In the corner was a bar, and a bearded man was grinning at them. Like his wife, Dan walked around and immediately hugged Logan. “I wasn’t expecting to see you this side of Christmas,” he said, his voice booming out. “You must be crazy busy in Boston.”

  “As always.” Logan grinned. “But I had some business this way.” He glanced at Courtney, his eyes warm. “This is Courtney Roberts.”

  “Dan Mitchum. Pleased to meet you.” Dan shook her hand. “And I hear congratulations are in order.”

  Courtney blushed, touching her stomach without thinking. “Thank you.”

  “I told him about your pregnancy. I hope that’s okay. Sometimes they serve things you’re not supposed to eat,” Logan told her.

  “Don’t worry, there’s no shellfish or soft cheese tonight,” Dan said. “And no alcohol, of course. Speaking of which, here are your cocktails.” He walked over to the bar and picked up two long stemmed glasses filled with a bubbling pink liquid. Passing them to Logan and Courtney, he nodded at the door. “I’m heading to the kitchen. You two sit in here and enjoy your drinks. We’ll call you when we’re ready.”

  “Is anybody else joining us?” Logan asked.

  “We have a group of eight in the dining room, so we’ve put you in the conservatory,” Dan said. “The best seats in the house.” He smiled at Courtney. “The conservatory is Ellie’s baby. She designed it, then helped build it. We don’t let just anybody sit out there. But Logan’s family. He always gets a pass.”

  There was something so warm in the way he was smiling at Logan. She realized with a shock that it was the first time she’d seen him interacting with a friend. All the other times they’d been together they’d either been alone – and mostly in bed – or at her appointments.

  It was like seeing a whole new side to him. He was liked by his friends. Loved, even. And it made her heart skip a beat.

  Because she liked him, too. A lot.

  “Come on, let’s sit down,” Logan murmured, pressing his hand into the small of her back again. She felt his thumb rubbing a circle into her skin through the jersey of her dress, and it sent a shiver down her spine.

  Was it her, or was it getting warm in here?

  “How do you know Ellie and Dan?” she asked Logan as they ate their final dish. This one was a traditional British Christmas pudding, full of fruit and spices, with a side of whipped cream. They’d eaten five courses in total. An amuse-bouche of creamed cauliflower with shaved truffle that sounded mundane, but made her tongue sing with delight. Then a starter of pumpkin and chili soup with parmesan croutons that made her groan out loud. By the time their main course of beef wellington with sautéed potatoes and honeyed carrots came out, her stomach was already full. Yet she’d still managed to finish that – and the lemon sorbet they’d sent out as a palette cleanser.

  But this pudding was getting the better of her. She admitted defeat, putting her spoon down in the half-eaten bowl.

  “I’ve known Dan for years. He had a place in Maple Cross before he met Ellie. I used to eat there whenever I came home. He visited Boston a few times as well, and we’d exchange ideas.” Logan shrugged. “He sold his restaurant when Ellie inherited this place. It was a gamble, but as you can see, it’s paid off.”

  “They must have to charge a lot if they only feed ten people a night.”

  “Yeah, but it’s worth every cent,” Logan told her, finishing his dessert. “You don’t get food like this without being willing to pay top dollar for it.”

  “Have you always loved food?”

  He grinned. “Who doesn’t?”

  “Did you always want to be in the restaurant business?” she persisted. This was a whole other side to him. One she wanted to know more about.

  For the baby. Of course. He or she would be part of Logan’s world, after all.

  “I thought I was gonna be a football star like Cam,” he admitted. “Until my knee got blown at the age of sixteen.”

  Courtney’s brows lifted. He’d told her a little about his twin and his career, but she had no idea Logan had played football, too. “That must have been hard.”

  “It killed me,” he admitted, looking at her through his thick lashes. “For the first year or two it felt like grief. We’d always done every
thing together. And while he was still flying high on the football field, I felt like nothing.”

  Her heart contracted. It was hard to imagine this confident, strong man as a teenager. His future being ripped from under his feet. “Is it still hard watching him play?”

  He shook his head. “I enjoy watching him. But I don’t miss playing. Not anymore. Sometimes I feel like I dodged a bullet thanks to that injury. Cam’s career is hard on his body. And on his time. He never has much left for himself.”

  “Nor do you from what I can see.”

  He leaned forward. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

  “Yes you are.” Her voice was soft. Every time he looked at her it made her chest tight. Like the air was being squeezed out of her. “And thank you for bringing me here. It’s amazing. Dan and Ellie have done a wonderful job.”

  They’d been wonderful hosts, too. Ellie had chatted with them between courses. And after he served the sorbet, Dan had pulled up a chair for five minutes and asked Courtney about the farm and her chickens. He’d even asked if she’d consider supplying the restaurant with eggs. They’d agreed he’d visit the farm and check out the samples. She couldn’t wait to tell Ellis she might have found a new customer.

  Then he and Logan talked about the restaurant business, and about Logan’s newest venture. As they’d talked, she’d felt strange again. As though his life was nothing to do with her.

  And really, it wasn’t. Not unless their baby was involved.

  She took a deep breath and forced a smile onto her lips. “We were supposed to be talking about the baby tonight. And custody plans. Did you still want to do that?”

  He cleared his throat, his eyes catching hers. “Yeah,” he said, his voice gruff. “We should.”

  Ellie walked in to take their final plates. “Would you guys like coffee? We have decaf.”

  “Not for me, thank you.” Courtney sat back and rubbed her stomach. “I’m so full I don’t think I’ll eat for a week.”

  “Ah, but you’re eating for two,” Ellie told her with a smile. “It’s your duty.”

  “I like the sound of that.” Courtney couldn’t help but smile at Ellie. There was a natural ease to her. No wonder she and Dan were so successful. They were the consummate hosts.

  She felt a little frisson of excitement about supplying them with eggs, if they were good enough. It would be nice to have a few more friends. Goodness knew she needed them.

  When Ellie had gone, Courtney looked back at Logan. His eyes were speculative as they scanned her face. As though he was trying to figure something out.

  “So I’m planning to nurse the baby. For at least twelve months if it works out.” She gave him a smile. “But I can pump and give you bottles for when it’s your time with him or her.”

  He nodded, his eyes serious. “I think I’ll fly back here for my custody time. For the first year, at least. I don’t want you or the baby having to fly to Boston when they’re so little.”

  “Oh.” She blinked with surprise. “I didn’t realize you’d do that.” She was glad, though. The distance between here and Boston scared her. She wasn’t sure how she’d feel being so far from her baby.

  “I want to make this as easy as possible.” He smiled softly. “For both of us.”

  “Will you stay with your family?”

  “I haven’t thought about that yet. I guess at first I will. But I might look into buying. It makes sense to have a permanent base here for the baby.”

  “That’s a big commitment.”

  He grinned at her. “Not as big as having a baby.”

  “You’re right.” She let out a laugh. “I guess we’re doing this the wrong way round.”

  He tipped his head to the side. “I guess we are. But it feels okay, you know? Like this was somehow meant to happen.”

  “You think?”

  “Don’t you?” he asked her.

  She bit her lip, thinking about his question. “Maybe you’re right,” she conceded. “I guess I was shocked at first. But it’s amazing how quickly you get used to something like this.” Maybe even excited, though she wasn’t sure how to vocalize that. “It’s like my future’s suddenly become a little more clear.”

  He nodded, his lip quirking up. “That’s exactly it. It makes you realize what’s important and what isn’t. Gray told me that being a father makes you grow up like nothing else does. It’s not about being a certain age, or having money, or even being in control of your own destiny. It’s about being responsible for something so damn important you’d do anything to make it work.”

  Her mouth felt dry. There was an intensity to his stare that made her heat up. She wanted to bask in his warmth.

  “How often do you think you’ll come back?” she asked.

  “I want to try for every other weekend. I know from watching my nephews how quickly kids can grow. I don’t want to miss a thing.”

  She nodded. “That can work. And there’s always phone calls and Facetime and maybe we can visit you too. Until the baby’s old enough to come visit on their own.”

  “You’re making this seem easy,” he teased.

  “Yeah, well so are you. I thought you’d want nothing to do with us when I told you. You were so shocked.”

  “I’d never abandon a child of mine.” He lifted an eyebrow. “Maybe that’s why I never thought about having any.” Logan cleared his throat. “How about you? Did you and Shaun think about having kids?”

  She felt a shiver run down her spine. “No.” She breathed out softly. “And I’m glad you’re going to be there for our child. It means a lot.”

  “I’m glad you’re going to be, too.” His gaze clashed with hers. “You look exhausted,” he told her, his stare softening. “Let me take you home.”

  She did feel tired. It was way past the time she usually climbed into bed. “Thank you,” she told him. It was for more than just the dinner he’d bought her. More, even, than the fact he was going to co-parent this baby with her. It was gratitude for giving her something she hadn’t thought about in a long, long time.

  For the first time in forever, the future was looking bright.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Logan glanced at her from the corner of his eye as he steered his car into Courtney’s driveway. Her eyes were closed, her head leaning against the window, peaceful breaths escaping from her half-open lips. She’d fallen asleep almost as soon as they’d left Dan and Ellie’s place. It made him feel strangely warm inside to have her slumbering next to him. Almost as if they were a real family and he was taking care of her and their unborn baby.

  He shook his head at himself. In another lifetime, maybe.

  He parked next to her cottage and shut off the engine, turning to look at her again.

  God, she was beautiful. It made his chest ache to look at her. The dress she was wearing clung to every curve, the fabric so soft he wanted to bury himself in it. And escape inside those dark crazy curls that tumbled over her shoulders, too. To dip his head and breathe in the floral aroma of her shampoo.

  Stalker much? He swallowed a sigh and leaned forward to gently touch her shoulder. “Court,” he said, his voice low. “We’re back at yours.”

  Her eyes slowly blinked open. She stared at him glassy eyed for a moment, then her gaze softened as she took him in. For a moment, all he could think about was kissing those soft lips. To taste her with his tongue, to make her sigh softly, the way he’d done before. It felt like a lifetime ago.

  “Did I fall asleep?” she asked, her voice still groggy.

  “Yeah.” He gave her a half-smile. “Let me walk you inside. You should head straight for bed.” He opened the car door and the cold winter air rushed in, followed by a blur of brown feathers as a squawking hen launched herself in through the gap.

  “Shit!” Logan leaned back, trying to keep his head out of the way of the bird’s flapping wings. He reached out, trying to catch her, but the hen was too damn slippery.

  “What the hell’s on her wings?” he muttered
.

  “That’s Hester. I put Vaseline on her feathers in the winter.” Courtney was wide awake as she leaned forward, trying to wrap her hands around the bird. But Hester ran across Logan’s lap, still squawking loudly as she tried to escape them both. Giving them a scornful backward glance, the hen jumped back out of the car and ran across the yard, her wings flapping. “What the hell’s she doing out of the coop?” Courtney asked.

  His gaze met Courtney’s. “I guess she can’t resist me.”

  She laughed, even though her eyes were tired. “I should go catch her and check the wire on the coop. It must have come loose again.”

  “I’ll do it,” he told her, stepping out of the car. “You’re exhausted. Go to bed.”

  “But your suit…”

  Logan looked down at the dark blue jacket and tailored pants he was wearing. Sighing, he slid the jacket off, and unfastened the tie, laying them both on the driver’s seat. “Go to bed,” he told her as she stepped out of the car. “I got this.”

  “I need to count the chickens. Make sure they’re all there.”

  “I’ll count them. Right after I catch that damn hen.”

  “She likes you,” Courtney reminded him. “Go easy on her.” She climbed out of the passenger side and turned to look at him. “Are you sure I can’t help?”

  “Nope. How hard can it be?”

  “I’ll sit on the stoop,” she told him. “In case you need help. Or advice. Just yell, okay?”

  As it turned out, catching an oiled-up hen was trickier than he’d thought. Logan had to chase her around the cottage three times, listening to Courtney laugh every time Hester dodged out of his grasp. Her wings would flap until she was about eight feet in the air before she gently wafted down again. The third time, he managed to grab her leg, and she turned her beady eyes on him, looking outraged that he’d finally gotten the better of her. She flapped her wings again, but he refused to let go, pulling her into his arms. He could feel her slick feathers against his shirt as he held her tightly, stalking across the earthy path toward the coop she’d escaped from.