She and Alex were a regular family, Sierra thought. At least as regular as a man and woman could be without being married. But she wasn’t yet ready to confess to her sister that Alex had been staying part of the time with her or that she could fall in love with the independent lawyer.
Glancing down at the sluggish flow of the narrow river, Sierra said with a thread of defiance, “I can give Bowie everything he needs.”
“Okay. So what if his mother decides she wants him back? You would be crushed.”
That scenario had gone over and over in Sierra’s mind and each time she thought about Ginger trying to reclaim Bowie, she shook with fear.
But she had Ginger’s note and Mrs. Rollins’s letter, she tried to assure herself. Both of which voiced their wishes to have Sierra be Bowie’s mother. That would surely carry some major weight with child care services or in a court of law.
Her expression troubled, Sierra looked at her sister. “What are you trying to say, Gloria? You think I should give Bowie up?”
Gloria quickly shook her head with frustration. “No, I’m not saying that. I’m saying if you love him, really love him, maybe you should start thinking about adoption. I realize it’s harder for a single person to adopt a child, but it can be done. Jack and I will help you all we can and I’m sure Mom and Dad would, too.”
“I’m not so sure of that,” Sierra said doubtfully. “They probably think I should be more concerned about having children of my own.”
“Sierra!” Gloria gently scolded. “You were always the sensible sister. But you’re not thinking clearly now. Mom and Dad understand that Bowie has become a part of your life and they also understand that he needs a home as much as you want to give him one.”
Sierra didn’t realize her emotions were working overtime until she drew in a deep breath and her whole body trembled from the effort. “I’m so glad to hear you say that, Gloria. I thought maybe my family would try to discourage me. And I have been thinking about adoption. It’s in the back of my mind all the time.”
Smiling brightly, Gloria squeezed her hand. “Then why don’t you go for it, girl? Bowie can grow up with his cousin.” She patted her growing tummy. “And who knows, maybe Christina and Derek will decide to have a family soon and they’ll be a threesome, just like their mothers.”
Sierra studied her sister as all sorts of joyous and doubtful thoughts mingled together to put a mixture of confusion on her face.
“I—I’m just not sure, Gloria. It’s a big step. And I don’t know—” She stopped as she realized she’d been about to say she didn’t know what Alex might think of the whole thing. He was a part of her life now and she wanted him to remain a part of it. His feelings in the matter had to be considered. But it was too early to explain any of her concerns to Gloria, so she tried her best to smile. “I don’t exactly know what sort of steps I’d need to take to be a candidate for adoption.”
Gloria’s smiled turned clever. “Darlin’, your friend Alex is a lawyer. If you ask him, I’m sure he’d be glad to help.”
Chapter Ten
Late that afternoon, Babies Unlimited sent a man out with the crib and matching dresser. Once he had the pieces of furniture in place and had driven away, Sierra quickly put the finishing touches to the room and closed the door. She didn’t want Alex to get even a tiny glimpse of the new nursery. Not until she was ready to share it with him.
She’d kept the project a secret in hopes of surprising him. Now that it was completed, she couldn’t wait for him to arrive home from work.
Alex finally arrived a little after six. She was in the bedroom changing out of the clothes she’d cooked supper in when she heard his footsteps heading toward the kitchen.
“In here, Alex,” she called out to him.
Seconds later, he paused in the open doorway of their bedroom and gave a low whistle as he eyed her in a lacy red bra and matching panties.
“Hey, hey, hey. You don’t need to dress for supper. You look fantastic like that.”
He strode into the room, and, laughing, Sierra quickly stepped into a blue cotton shift and pulled it up over her hips.
“You can see through the kitchen curtains and we do have close neighbors, you know.” As he approached her, she turned her back to him. “Would you zip me?”
“There’s nothing in the world I’d rather do,” he assured her, but before his hands pulled the folds of her dress together, he bent his head and pressed a kiss to the base of her neck. “Mmm. You smell delicious.”
“That’s steak,” Sierra corrected him.
He chuckled and slid his arms around her waist and drew her backside against the front of his body. “No,” he said against her cheek. “That’s you.”
“Losing your sense of smell along with your eyesight,” she teased. “Pretty soon your sense of touch will be gone.”
“If that’s the case, I’d better make the most of what little time I have left,” he murmured while running his hands up to her breasts and cupping his fingers around the small mounds.
“Oh, no.” Sierra grabbed hold of his misbehaving hands and twisted around in his arms. “I’ve made a special supper for you and I don’t want it getting cold.”
Alex was just as happy to have the front of her shapely curves pressing into him and he slipped his hands to her buttocks and drew the juncture of her thighs tightly against his manhood.
“What could be more special than making love?” he wanted to know.
“Steak and baked potatoes and strawberry shortcake.”
Alex shook his head. “Couldn’t hold a light to you.”
Sierra’s soft laughter was playfully mocking. “You’re a wicked, wicked guy, Alex Calloway.” She slipped her arms around his neck and, rising on tiptoe, placed a soft kiss on his lips. His hand slipped into her hair and cradled the back of her head so that his lips continued to hover over hers. Sierra was almost tempted to tell him they’d forget supper.
“I’m dying to show you just how wicked,” he whispered.
Woozy with desire, she inhaled deeply and turned her back to him. As she motioned for him to zip her dress, she said, “That naughty part of you is just going to have to wait until later tonight. I have a surprise for you.”
“A surprise?” That got his attention and he quickly zipped her dress and fastened the hook and eye at the neckline. Then, smoothing his hands over her shoulders and down her arms, he said, “Don’t tell me you’ve invited our friends over.”
Her forehead puckered with a frown as she twisted her head around and looked up at him. “Why would I do that when our regular lunch get-together is tomorrow?”
Tomorrow? He’d forgotten all about it. Last week, the meeting had been canceled because Trey’s job had taken him out of town and Mario had been tied up at the hospital. Since then too much had happened to think about meeting his friends at the Longhorn.
“Oh. I forgot. Are we going?”
Wide eyed, she turned to face him. “Well, why wouldn’t we?” she countered with surprise. “They’re our friends. They’ll be worrying and wondering if we don’t show up.”
Alex shrugged and was surprised when he felt color springing to his cheeks. “I understand that. But it’s going to be kind of different now. With us—well, you know—together.”
“Why, Alex,” she scolded gently. “Are you embarrassed to let them know that the two of us are close?”
“Uh, no.” He dropped his hold on her and made a helpless gesture with his hands. “But they’re probably going to think it’s strange. Especially the part about Bowie. None of them have learned about you having the baby, much less about me.”
She watched as he reached up and pulled the olive green printed tie from around his neck and tossed it onto the bed. As his fingers moved down the buttons of his shirt, his gaze slipped away from her and Sierra felt a tiny chill pass over her.
“Alex, are you—ashamed for them to know that you’re with me?”
His green gaze flew back to hers. “O
f course not!”
Uncertain, she stepped forward and curled her fingers over his forearm. “Well, something’s making you uncomfortable about seeing them. What is it?”
He shook his head, then rubbed the back of his neck. “You,” he said. “I don’t want any of them thinking badly of you. Your morals have always been high and I don’t want them getting the idea that you’ve lowered them with me.”
The notion was so sweet and old-fashioned that she had to smile at him. “Oh, Alex, we’re not living in the dark ages. They’re not going to label me a hussy just because you’re sleeping by my side.”
“They damn well better not,” he growled. “If anyone insults you, they’ll have to answer to me.”
If he was that all-fired worried about her honor, why didn’t he make an honest woman out of her? Sierra wanted to ask him. But there was no way she could get words like that past her lips. He’d probably run backward so fast, he’d hurt himself. And anyway, she wasn’t so sure that marrying Alex would be the right step for her. Even though he spent most of his time with her right now, he was a bachelor at heart. Once he grew bored with her, he’d drift on to someone else. That was the way Alex had always worked.
“Thank you, Sir Galahad.” She pecked a short kiss on his cheek then turned and walked to the door. “I’m going to finish supper. It’ll be ready in five minutes, so hurry.”
He looked over his shoulder at her with an expression hovering between teasing and serious.
“I’m not hungry for food.”
Sierra scraped a forefinger down the length of the opposite forefinger, but her chuckle softened the shameful gesture. “All you lawyers are the same. You have to win, at any cost.”
Ten minutes later the two of them were sitting at the dining table eating the juicy steak that Sierra had broiled on the charcoal grill. Between bites, Alex began to tell her all about his day.
By the time they finished the strawberry shortcake he was telling jokes and laughing and Sierra was relieved to see him relaxed again. He had such a stressful job he didn’t need silly worries about her piled on him, too.
“Okay, now what is this surprise you tempted me with? You said you went shopping today. Was it the lingerie department?” His eyes glinted devilishly. “Maybe something with a garter belt and fishnet hose?”
Her heart was suddenly beating very fast. Not because he’d suggested the two of them doing something erotic together. No, she was thinking about the nursery and whether he was going to view her work as a sign she wanted to keep Bowie on a permanent basis. There was no way she could know exactly how he felt about that prospect. Since the day he’d told child care services that the two of them were engaged and planning a family, he’d not talked about the future with Sierra. Not the far future. But then Alex had always been a person who lived from week to week and the only thing he took seriously was his work.
“Uh, no, sorry. It’s nothing like that.” Her smile was hesitant as she released a nervous little laugh. “If you’re finished eating, I’ll show you.”
“I couldn’t eat another bite,” he assured her.
Sierra rose from her chair and reached for his hand. “Okay. Close your eyes and I’ll lead you.”
He chuckled as he stood and obediently closed his eyes, then placed his hand in hers. Sierra’s heart pounded with nervous anticipation as she led him to the door of the nursery and swung it wide.
“You can open your eyes now,” she said.
She watched his eyelids flutter open and the faint amusement on his face instantly disappeared as surprise took over. He stared at the bright, happy wallpaper, the curtains, the chest and finally the crib with its colorful mobile of bugs and butterflies.
“What, uh, when did you do all of this?”
She followed him as he stepped into the room.
“I’ve been working on it all week. I didn’t tell you because I wanted it to be a surprise.”
He continued to look around the room as though he’d never seen a nursery before. “Well, you’ve certainly surprised me.”
Sierra reached for his hand and twined her fingers through his. “Bowie deserves to have a real nursery. And I wanted it to look nice. I’ll admit I paid a hefty amount for the crib and chest. But hopefully I’ll be using it again, when I have more children.”
Her last two words caught his attention and he arched a brow at her. “More children? Are you trying to tell me you’re pregnant?”
Sierra could feel hot color consume her face. “Why, no. I told you I take an oral contraceptive.”
“Pills can be forgotten,” he said dryly.
His caustic remark hit Sierra hard, but she tried her best not to let it hurt her. Alex had always been frank and sarcastic at times. She’d decided a long time ago that you had to take the good with the bad if you wanted to hang around with Alex Calloway.
“I never forget,” she said in a voice sharp enough to catch his attention.
He looked down at her and suddenly his features softened. “I didn’t mean it that way, Sierra.”
Still stinging from the insensitive comment, she said, “Just to ease your mind, I’d never trap a man that way. And that includes you, Alex Calloway.”
Alex released a heavy sigh. He didn’t know why he’d said such a thing to Sierra. In his heart he was certain she wasn’t that type of woman. But the second he’d laid his eyes on the nursery he’d felt smothered and scared. Now she was probably thinking he was just using her.
Well, aren’t you, Alex?
The inward voice stabbed him swift and deep. Was he using Sierra just for a sexual partner? No. She was more to him that that. But just how much more was a question he was afraid to answer.
“All right, honey.” He slipped his arm around her shoulders and drew her to him. “I’m sorry. I know you’re not like that. Forgive me, huh?”
It wasn’t Sierra’s nature to stay angry for more than a minute or two and she grinned shyly up at him. “You’re forgiven. Now tell me what you think about the nursery.”
Once again his gaze swung full circle around the room. “You’ve obviously put a lot of work into it. And you’ve done a great job. If Bowie was old enough to really see it, I’m sure he’d be goo-gooing with pleasure.”
She laughed softly. “Well, he will be gooing and squealing when he starts pulling up to the side of the crib and looking around at things.”
Walking over to the baby bed, she pointed to the intricately carved posts. “See, the posts are close together so he can’t get his little head hung between them. And these things around the bottom are bumper pads so when he starts rolling, he won’t hurt himself. I looked at one of those portable intercom things, too. So that way if he makes even a tiny noise I could hear him. But they were rather pricey and I’d already spent so much on the furniture I decided I’d better wait until I get another paycheck.”
“Always the practical woman,” he murmured somewhat absently, then, rubbing his fingers across his forehead, he pulled his gaze away from the bed to look at her.
“What does this all mean, Sierra? I don’t think you would have done all of this unless you have long-term plans for Bowie.”
She drew in a long, bracing breath and released it. “I’ve been doing a lot of studying about that, Alex. And—” She paused as she pushed back a heavy swath of black hair from her shoulders and tried to find the right words. “I guess you can tell I’m crazy about Bowie.”
He nodded. “I’d have to be blind not to see it.”
“He—well, he feels like my boy. My own baby.” Her brown eyes turned pleading as she looked up at him. “It’s hard for me to explain just how I’m feeling. But all I can tell you is that I don’t want to give him up.”
He walked over to the crib and, with his forefinger, made an antenna on one of the butterflies bounce up and down. “Why should you have to give him up? I’m sure you can continue to be his foster mother until they find a good home for him.”
Alex’s green eyes were sea
rching her face so intently that Sierra had to break eye contact and her gaze dropped to the blue-and-white checked comforter spread across the bottom of the crib.
Swinging her head back and forth, she said, “Who knows when or if Ginger might show up to reclaim him.”
“You got that letter from her mother the other day. It should have reassured you that the Rollins family isn’t going to stake any claims on the baby.”
Her eyes darted up to his, then back to the comforter. “It did reassure me to a certain point. But I don’t want to take any chances. I’ve decided I want to adopt Bowie.”
He didn’t say anything and suddenly the room was so quiet and tense Sierra was sure he could probably hear the loud beating of her heart.
“Adopt?”
The one-word question came out softly, as though he wasn’t certain he’d heard correctly.
Sierra quickly closed the distance between them and wrapped her hand around his arm. “Yes, adopt. What do you think about it, Alex? Will you help me?”
“Help you?” His features twisted with comical disbelief. “You are kidding, aren’t you?”
Sierra felt a cool wind wafting through the room. It slipped down her spine and sent goose bumps crawling up the backs of her arms.
“No. I wouldn’t kid about something so serious. I’m asking you to help me.”
Suddenly he turned his back to her, threw up his arms, then let them fall with a heavy whack against his sides. “What in hell are you thinking, Sierra? Asking me, of all people, to help you adopt?”
Stunned by the censure in his voice, Sierra stepped backward and swallowed hard. “I—you helped me gain foster care. I thought—I’d hoped you be happy to help make Bowie my baby. Don’t you—care for him, even the least little bit?”
Her question seemed to insult and irritate him even more and through clenched teeth he let out a loud groan. “Damn it, Sierra! Of course I care for Bowie. That’s not what this is about.”
She looked at him, her eyes shadowed with pain and confusion. “It isn’t?”
Fortune's Heirs: Reunion Page 47