Raising Cain

by Scarlett Jade

  “So, what are you gonna do about it?” Toby leaned up against the doorjamb and hooked his thumb in his belt loop.

  “What would you do?” Drake asked.

  “I’d go down there and knock out that motherfucker banging my woman, and I’d claim her as mine. I mean, that’s because I’m a bigger badass than you are.” Toby grinned cockily.

  “You ain’t shit,” Drake snorted. “I beat you up how many times while we were growing up?”

  “A few,” Toby sniffed, his ego deflating. “Are you gonna go see if it’s your kid?”

  “Do you feel like taking a road trip with me, brother?” Drake wiggled his brows. “I’m thinking a fast car might be in order!”

  “I’m driving,” Toby yelped, calling it before Drake did.

  “Fine. When do we go?”

  “Tomorrow. I need some sleep before I hit the road. And you should shower. You stink like ass.” Toby pushed away from the doorjamb. “Get some sleep. Deal with this shit tomorrow.”

  Drake couldn’t push the thought of Grace carrying his child from his mind. They had been together that one, perfect time. What if it was enough? And the baby was born early too, that worried him. Was the kid okay? Was she financially able to take care of him? And who the hell was this Damien guy?

  He hopped off the bed and hurried into the bathroom to shower. Sniffing his pits, he gagged slightly. Toby’s right, I smell like swamp ass. Stripping down, he stepped into the shower and lathered up, washing away the layers of road grime and sweat. He stumbled out of the shower and barely dried himself before collapsing across the bed, buck naked, and falling fast asleep.

  His dreams were filled with Grace and a baby that had her big brown eyes. His baby.

  The next morning he awoke with the dawn and got ready for the day. Peeking in Toby’s room, he found his friend passed out with his pants down, six cans of beer on the nightstand and a Hustler magazine beside a stack of tissues on the bed. Gross.

  Moving into the kitchen, he pulled a sticky note from beside the phone and scrawled on it, ‘See you. I’m driving the Porsche.’ and tiptoed back into the bedroom to plant it on Toby’s forehead. He hurried through the house, anxiety fueling his movements, needing to get on the road and find out if Grace really did have his child, and what was between them. Twenty minutes later, he was walking out of their mansion and to the garage where Toby kept his sweet collection of cars.

  The cherry-red Porsche was his favorite, and it would be perfect to drive to Phoenix in. He’d copied Grace’s address into his phone and the GPS app was ready to go. According to the app, he would be in Phoenix in six hours. He planned on making it in less than that. Opening the garage door, he groaned slightly as he stared at the pretty car. Sliding his hand along the hood, he grinned as he opened the door and sat inside.

  Toby would be pissed when he woke up and realized he’d been left home. It’s his fault. If he hadn’t stayed up wanking and drinking we could’ve gone together…now I get to drive. The car started with a sexy purr, and Drake bit his bottom lip. Hell yes! A Porsche was the first splurge thing he planned to buy when he had some time to enjoy it. Until then, he’d just use the shit out of Toby’s ride.

  Pulling out of the garage, he pressed a button on the keys to close the door and another to open the gate out to the street. The little car hugged the road as he drove, and he sped along, ready to make it to his destination.

  The miles sped away with each rotation of the tires, and he spent the trip singing along to the endless CDs Toby had stashed in the car and drumming on the steering wheel. It kept his mind busy. He wasn’t sure where his mind was going to see Grace. He just had to know what was going on. Just to scratch curiosity’s itch a little. To see her. One more time. He knew it would be smart to get a DNA test on the kid. In reality, it wouldn’t matter if it was his or not. He wanted her.

  Christina’s letter had him breaking every speed limit law between LA and Phoenix.

  Chapter Four

  The magic of Christmas filled their home after Thanksgiving, and Grace loved seeing Christmas through Cain’s eyes. Every twinkling light was a treasure, and the tree was a veritable treasure trove of new toys. Cain was working hard to sit up, and Grace knew it wouldn’t be long before he would be doing it on his own.

  His pulmonologist and pediatrician warned against him traveling up to Connecticut to see her grandparents, and suggested strongly they not travel period during the worst of the cold and flu season, so it was going to be just the three of them for the holidays. Which was fine with her. She did not want a repeat of Thanksgiving. Although her grandparents were far from pushy with Cain, she just wasn’t in the mood to entertain anyone.

  Cain was upstairs taking his nap, and Grace was attempting to get caught up on her work. Being a secretary had fallen to the wayside recently, and her father needed her help. Apparently, there was a major need for Christmas themed pornos in the world, and everyone and their brother wanted her dad to produce them. She could only imagine a big fat Santa getting humped by naughty elves. The thought left a goofy grin on her face. Someone would probably find it sexy, though, it just wasn’t her thing.

  Grace was fielding calls left and right with offers, and she was scribbling down the sixth of the day when the doorbell rang. “Okay, great, I get that you have an awesome script, and maybe he’ll get back with you. I need to go. Yep, Mr. Samishikan, I understand it’s urgent. No, no, please don’t come by. Take care.” She hung up her phone and pushed her messy dark hair out of her face as she flung the door open, fully expecting the bossy Asian man to be on her doorstep. “Look, I appreciate you coming by, Mr. Samishikan. We aren’t taking any more projects on at this time…” Her mouth went dry as she realized it wasn’t the pushy Mr. Samishikan. Instead, a man she’d never imagined seeing again stood before her. “Drake…” she breathed, swaying in place and gripping the door for support.

  “Hey, beautiful,” Drake drawled, and Grace couldn’t stop the immediate wetness she felt in her nether parts. If it was humanly possible, he’d gotten even more gorgeous. A sexy smirk touched his mouth, and she longed to press her mouth against his. For completely innocent intents and purposes, of course. To see if he was real.

  Instead, she shook her head firmly and dislodged the cobwebs just seeing him put in her brain. “Why are you here?” She tugged at the hem of her raggedy, spit up stained T-shirt and pushed her hair back from her face again.

  “To see you,” he said simply. “Are you going to let me in or leave me standing out on the steps?”

  Grace stepped back involuntarily, and Drake obviously took it as an invitation to come inside. She throbbed as he brushed up against her. He smelled exactly as she remembered, a heady combination of cedar and orange, and her eyes closed as she thought about his scent enveloping her as they made love.

  “Penny for your thoughts,” Drake whispered, his breath warming her ear.

  Oh, God! When did he get so close? Grace jumped and planted her hand firmly against his chest and pushed. Her fingertips burned from the innocent touch, and she longed to course her hands down his ripped body and memorize it all over again. Just one more time… “Back up.”

  He stepped back and she closed the door quickly and moved away from him. “Why are you here?” she asked again.

  “To see you, Grace,” he said simply, as if it was just a basic social call and they hadn’t been lovers once upon a time.

  Cain’s cry came through the baby monitor by the couch, and Grace pointed at him. “Stay.” She ran up the stairs and into the sanctuary of the nursery, glad to be away from the incredibly sexy Drake Stone for a few moments, so she could clear her head and think. A very grumpy Cain was sitting up in his bed. “Cain! You’re sitting up!” Grace squealed as she lifted him from the crib and kissed his cheek. “I’m so proud of you!”

  * * *

  Drake had tiptoed up the stairs behind Grace, whose wild eyes and flush had given her away. She was scared and running. He knew she wouldn’
t be able to run if he cornered her. Plus, he wanted to meet his son. He heard Grace coo proudly, “Cain! You’re sitting up! I’m so proud of you!”

  Peeking into the room, he saw her cradling a small, blond haired, blue eyed boy and his heart fell. I doubt seriously he’s mine. No one in my family is blond haired and blue eyed.

  It hurt. He really didn’t care that the kid wasn’t his. A part of him had wanted him to be. The lies hurt the most. That’s what he didn’t like, feeling betrayed. “So, Christina lied to me. Were you in on it? Was your innocent act at the door nothing but a façade?” He ground out roughly, emotion clogging his throat.

  Grace spun, her brown eyes wide with panic, and she clutched the small boy to her chest. “What? I told you to stay!”

  “Last I checked, I’m not a dog. So you and her could keep up this bullshit that the kid is mine, right? It doesn’t look like you’re hurting for money living here, so what was the joke? Hurt me like you got hurt?” He smacked the doorjamb with his fist and tears filled his eyes. “It was a cruel joke, Grace.”

  Her mouth hung open. “Don’t scream around him. What in the hell are you talking about?”

  “Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do. If I want to scream I will.” Drake knew he was being petulant. He was hurt and didn’t care. He’d gotten used to thinking that maybe, just maybe, the kid was his.

  Grace placed the little boy in a swing and turned it on. He was rocking back and forth and cooing. “Get in the hallway,” she ordered, and Drake backed up as she pushed him through the door and closed it. “First of all, what are you talking about?”

  “I got an e-mail from your friend,” he explained.

  “That’s impossible!” Grace snorted.

  “It is not! I got the e-mail March 14th. I’ve been on tour and busy and hadn’t had a chance to really check my e-mails until last night when I got back to L.A.,” Drake insisted.

  He frowned as Grace’s face fell and tears filled her eyes. “Oh my God, March 14th.” She backed up to the wall and slid down to a crouch. Sobs came from her, and Drake didn’t have any idea of what he had said or what to do to make her tears stop.

  Kneeling beside her, he rubbed her back. “Hey, don’t cry.”

  She stared up at him, her eyes two wet pools of pain. “Christina died March 14th. It’s absolutely impossible that she sent you an e-mail that day. She was in the ICU for weeks before that. It’s just not possible, Drake. So if you’re playing some kind of sick game, I’m not interested.” Grace wept harder and the realization of what she said hit him like a ton of bricks.

  “Christina died March 14th? I’m telling you, I got an e-mail from her.” Drake contended, knowing he hadn’t totally lost his mind. The e-mail had come March 14th.

  “You’re insane. She died March 14th. Why are you here messing with me, Drake? Can you please go? I don’t want to deal with this. I don’t know why you’re here cutting me open. Is it funny for you?” Grace wailed, her face crumpling as she sobbed harder.

  “Then explain to me why I got this e-mail telling me to come see you and my kid in Phoenix and that you had moved on and were with some guy named Damien,” Drake pressed.

  Grace looked up at him then, confusion on her face. She sat silently for a moment and then started to laugh. “What?”

  He stared at her in amazement. Even through her tears, her laughter lit her eyes and they danced with her mirth. She was beautiful. “You’re living here with some guy named Damien. Is it serious?” Please God, say it’s not serious, Grace.

  Her laughter came harder now and soon she was bent forward, gasping for air as she laughed. “Oh, God! Is it serious? Yeah, it’s serious, I guess!”

  “Stop laughing at me, dammit. I’m sitting here asking you if things are serious, and you’re laughing. Just forget it. I don’t know why I came. I obviously made a huge mistake.” Drake stood and darted down the stairs, snatching the door open and letting himself outside. Forget you, Grace.

  * * *

  Grace couldn’t stop her giggles as she rushed for the door. “Drake, wait!” He actually thinks I’ve got a lover named Damien! Oh my God, the joke’s on him, isn’t it? The sound of a car starting and peeling out of the driveway hit her ears as she stepped onto the porch. He was gone. Her laughter died as she realized he truly believed she was with her father, and that she and Christina had somehow played a terrible trick on him.

  “Shit.” Cain’s wails filled the air, and she closed the door, her heart heavy. If only I had told him. I shouldn’t have laughed at him. Would he have stayed? No, he came because he thought we had a kid. Not because he loves me. He came twice before, and I never called him. I never came for him, so I guess this was my last shot. I know I don’t have time to be with someone. Why does it hurt so much then?

  Her tears fell harder as she came into the nursery. “Come here, baby, let me change you.” Cain’s wails abated as she cleaned him up and moved into the kitchen to make him a bottle. As she fed him, she continued to cry, snot bubbling out of her nose in her pity. “I made a big mistake, Cain. I should’ve just told him. Now I’ll never get the chance. How did your mommy send him an e-mail? How? Was this her giving us another chance, and I ruined it with my stupidity?”

  She wiped at her nose with a tissue and burped the baby before trying to sit him up on the living room floor. He happily sat and took a board book and a set of plastic keys from her. She put a pillow behind him just in case and sat down on the floor beside him. “I messed stuff up. When you’re older, remind me to tell you that girls can be stupid sometimes. Okay?”

  Cain just babbled and gurgled, and Grace sighed, feeling more alone than ever. She pulled out her diary from her purse and wrote while the baby played.

  Dear Diary,

  I didn’t explain when I had a chance. I’ll never have another. What have I done? It shouldn’t hurt as much as it does. I just want another chance to explain to him what happened. Think that maybe fate could figure that one out for me?

  Grace

  Chapter Five

  Drake drove aimlessly around Phoenix, pushing the speed of the little car while his anger pulsed through him. Finally, he pulled into the parking lot of a grocery store and shut off the car. Whipping his phone out of his pocket, he dialed Toby.

  “Hello?” Toby groggily answered.

  “You’re still in bed?” Drake growled.

  “Well, I woke up, saw you had left, wanked a few times, and then yes, went back to sleep. Last I checked, I was on vacation,” Toby retorted. “Did you claim your woman yet? Please, sweet baby Jesus, tell me you’ve tapped that.”

  “The kid isn’t mine!” Drake groaned out, rubbing his forehead in frustration. “Not that I care, I guess. She’s saying that the chick who e-mailed me died that same day! Shit is just too weird.”

  “Aww, damn, I’m sorry the kid isn’t yours.” Toby yawned loudly. “So, wait a second. You got an e-mail from a chick who died? Like what, did she e-mail you, then get shot or something?”

  “No, Grace claims that Christina was in the ICU for a very long time. So I have no clue what the hell is going on. Grace pissed me off by laughing in my face.” Drake’s anger stewed as he thought about her laughing at him.

  “Well, what did you do to make her laugh?” Toby yawned again.

  “I mentioned her new boyfriend, Damien.”

  Toby snorted. “Well, maybe he has like a three inch dick. Did you ask her why she was laughing?”

  Drake paused, thinking back to the mansion. “No.”

  “Think maybe you jumped to conclusions? Did you even lay a kiss on her? Anything?” Toby asked hopefully.

  “No, I didn’t. I wanted to, but I didn’t. She was crying about Christina, then she started laughing, and I just flipped out. I acted like an ass. I don’t know what I expected to run into going to see her. It wasn’t seeing her with a baby and looking as beautiful as she did,” Drake admitted. Seeing Grace holding the little blond haired baby had been unnerving. He wanted more
than anything for it to have been his son. He wanted Grace in the worst way possible.

  “Did you hear me?” Toby yelled, and Drake jumped, nearly dropping his phone.

  “No! What?”

  “I said, before I was so rudely ignored, that maybe you should go back and plant a hot, wet, juicy kiss right on her and see if she reacts. I mean, hell, I would. Um, kiss her that is, not react to your kiss. I do not like all beef hot dogs. Lay claim to your woman, man!” Toby demanded.

  “Yeah! I’m gonna kiss her. And we’ll just see if she wants to stay with tiny dick Damien or come home with me,” Drake retorted.

  “Well, get on it. Then call me and tell me all the juicy details…” Toby chuckled.

  “So you can wank? No way, man. Watch some porn. What happens between me and Grace stays between us,” Drake retorted angrily.

  Toby whined, “I tell you about banging all the groupies!”

  “Groupies are different than Grace. Grace is…” Drake’s voice trailed off.

  “The one, ain’t she?” Toby finished for him.

  “Yeah. I never should’ve let her go to begin with. I should’ve staked my claim then. I thought she was too young, that I wasn’t ready, and that she wasn’t ready. That it would ruin her life and mine. I don’t think that way anymore. All I can think about is her holding that baby,” Drake confessed.

  “Well, then get to it, before tiny dick comes home,” Toby advised.

  “Hell yeah!” Drake hung up the phone and started the car. Following the GPS on his phone, he roared back up to the mansion where the love of his life was staying. The gates were beginning to close, and Drake grimaced as he floored the gas and the cherry red Porsche slipped through. The sound of metal on metal made him wince. Sorry, Toby…