Anything but Love

by Celya Bowers

  Kendall laughed. “Remember, you were the one always begging for just one more time.” She remembered Taylor. “How do you think Taylor will take the news?”

  “I’m sure he’ll be happy.”

  “How about his father?”

  “I’m stunned, of course, but as the shock is wearing off, I’m happy.” He sat on the bed and held her hand. “What’s Zenora going to say?”

  Kendall shrugged. “Should be interesting. Max said he’d call her for me.” She couldn’t wait to see the look on her mother’s face when she found out. She wiped her eyes. “I can’t believe I’m crying again. This has to stop!”

  “Baby, it’s okay. The most important thing is that you’re all right,” he said. “Whatever you need, I’m here for you.”

  Kendall regained some of her composure as he wiped her face. “Thank you, Cole.” She took the tissue from him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to lose it like that. If this is too much for you, you can tell me.”

  “You always think you can get rid of me. But baby, you’ll see, I want it all. You, the babies, us being together, I love you and want you in my life. We need each other. I know that you’re going to be on bed rest, and I think you should move in with me and Taylor.”

  Kendall shook her head. Her mother would kill her. “No, I can’t live with you. Besides, my place is bigger than yours. I was thinking of hiring a nurse to stay with me.”

  “Like hell,” Cole said.

  “And I agree.”

  Kendall knew that voice. It belonged to her mother. Zenora walked into the room, followed by Charlie and rest of her family. “Oh, no,” Kendall groaned, rubbing her still flat tummy. This was not going to be pretty.

  Her mother walked to the bed and lovingly caressed Kendall’s forehead. “Yes, honey, we know. And I have to say I agree with Cole and I also agree with you. You’re going to need help, but you shouldn’t live with him.” Zenora’s brown eyes glanced in Cole’s direction. “Well, Cole, what are you going to do? Are you going to allow my grandbabies to be born out of wedlock?”

  “Mom,” Kendall pleaded. “Please, not now.”

  “Yes, Zenora. This is between Kendall and me. No one else is going to decide when we get married.”

  Kendall noticed he didn’t say if. Getting married was a foregone conclusion, apparently. That would have bothered the old Kendall, but the pregnant Kendall didn’t mind one bit. She glanced at her mother, waiting for the retort that would send Cole running for the nearest airport and out of her life. But no sharp retort came. Her mother nodded. “I like a man with some backbone,” was all she said.

  Cole laughed as he rose. “I like a woman who can make me think fast on my feet. I see where Kendall gets it from.”

  Zenora smiled. “I need to speak to my daughter alone.”

  Cole nodded. “I see where she gets that bluntness from, as well. I’ll go call my mom and give her the news.” He left the room, followed by all of Kendall’s family except her mother.

  After the door closed, Zenora faced her. “Baby, are you sure you’re all right?” She rubbed Kendall’s arm. “You feel warm.”

  Kendall glanced at her mother. “I still feel pretty out of it, but I’m happy about the turn of events. I just have to be careful for next eight months. I really want this so I’m going to do what’s necessary, even if that means lying in bed every day.”

  “What about your work?”

  To Kendall nothing compared to the lives growing inside her. “I’ll take a leave of absence until I decide what I’m going to do.”

  Zenora nodded, pouring Kendall a glass of water. “You know, honey, Cole can well afford for you not to work, if you were married.” She handed her the glass.

  Kendall smiled. No matter what, her mother would still be her mother. “Mom, let’s handle one crisis at a time.” She sipped the water and nearly dropped the glass when Cole bolted into the room. “What are you doing back so fast?”

  He flopped down on the edge of the bed, taking the water glass out of her hand. “You never gave me an answer.”

  “You never asked me a question.”

  He thought for a minute. “True. So I’m asking now. Will you take me, with Taylor as part of the deal?”

  Kendall wanted to say yes. It was on the tip of her tongue. “Do you take me, the babies, and Jordan?”

  He studied her for a moment, then glanced at Zenora. “Yes, with no doubts.”

  “Ditto.”

  EPILOGUE

  Six months later

  Kendall glanced at her quickly expanding body in the large mirror in the bedroom. She looked as if she were hiding a beach ball under her maternity sweater.

  She reflected on the events of the past few months. Holly went back to New York without her interview. The news show ran the clips of Karl hitting Kendall on the head instead, and donations for InfaCare poured in. Not only did she receive enough for the cancer wing, she was able to hire a full-time staff. James returned to Boston after failing to secure Briarwood and InfaCare for his sales route.

  Kendall heard Jordan as he climbed up the stairs, which meant Cole was right behind him with her breakfast. True to his word, he waited on her hand and foot, making all of her meals. Since she’d become pregnant her vegetarian lifestyle had taken a backseat to cheeseburgers, steaks, barbecued ribs, and pork chops.

  “Honey, what are you doing up? You know the rules,” he said, motioning her back to the bed. “You can only be up for two hours, and you’re having lunch with Staci later today.”

  She laughed as she sat on their king-sized bed. “I know, sweetheart, but I just wanted to see how I looked in regular clothes. I hardly ever get to wear anything but pajamas or oversized lounging clothes. Besides, I thought you were the one who always wanted to break the rules.”

  He leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips. “Not in this case. You and the babies are too important to me.” He placed the tray across her thighs. “Now eat. Your mom is coming over in an hour.”

  Kendall looked down at the eggs, bacon, toast, and juice. She couldn’t have coffee. Cole thought it wasn’t good for the babies. “You know, you were so much more fun before we got married five months ago.”

  He smiled. “You are just as much fun now. And I love you more each day, even if you do kick me in your sleep. Now eat.”

  Kendall reflected on their brief marriage. It hadn’t been the roller-coaster ride she had envisioned with Cole; instead it had been a nice transition into wife, stepmother, and mother-to-be. Cole had been wonderful and patient. Taylor even spoiled her when he wasn’t in school.

  After much discussion and deciding to start fresh, both Kendall and Cole had sold their respective houses and had a new one. They now resided in a six-bedroom, four-bath, three-car-garage home in South Arlington. Cole had a room to write in, which was where he’d be as soon as Kendall’s mother arrived.

  He didn’t like leaving her completely on her own when he was working in another section of the house. The very idea of Cole being so considerate brought tears to her eyes.

  “What is it?” Cole wiped her eyes with a napkin. “You promised no more tears. Max is starting to question my masculinity.”

  She sniffed. “He’s not. Max is riding on cloud nine now that his divorce is final and Jami accepted his marriage proposal.”

  “Okay, maybe not. But you know what that does to me. Cut me some slack.”

  Her tears made him cry. Which made him the most masculine man she knew. “I’ll try.”

  He smiled at her. “I love you.”

  “I love you more,” Kendall said, picking up her fork to eat her breakfast.

  “I don’t think that’s possible.”

  “Maybe not, but I’m sure going to try.”

  About the Author

  Celya Bowers was born and raised in Marlin, Texas. After attending Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, she relocated to Arlington, Texas where she was bitten by the writing bug. After joining several writer-based
groups, she found what she’d been missing.

  Being a die-hard romantic, she developed a love for reading very early. Being the youngest of six and living in a small town, reading soon became her favorite pastime.

  Currently she works part-time as a substitute teacher in the Arlington School District and attends college full-time, while keeping up with her writing. In her spare moments, she loves catching up with old friends, surfing the Internet, and listening to audiobooks. She is also on the executive board of her local Romance Writers of America chapter.

  Her dream destination is still Ireland and she hopes to get there one day very soon.

  Please visit her website at www.celyabowers.net.