“That’s great,” Tara exclaimed. “I always thought you two would end up together.”
Swiping her face with the back of her hand, Kate pulled in a shaky breath. “I turned him down.”
Tara gripped her shoulder. “What?”
“I’m not settling,” Kate explained. “I want to marry someone who loves me, who isn’t marrying me because of some family pressure or a pregnancy.”
Kate stepped back to get some space. She didn’t want to cry about this, didn’t want pity. She wanted to figure out what her next step should be and she needed to be logical about it.
Maneuvering around her friends, who continued to stare at her as if she’d break again, Kate went to the sofa and sank into the corner.
“He proposed before I told him about the baby,” she explained. “He’s got that offer to sell the bar and his father has been on him for years to settle down. Gray wants to move ahead with the deal and figured if we got married, maybe his dad wouldn’t be so upset about losing Gallagher’s. Then when I told him about the baby, well, he thinks it’s only logical.”
Tara sat on the edge of the accent chair across from the sofa. “What’s logical is that you should tell him how you really feel so the two of you can move on.”
“You do love him, right?” Lucy asked as she sat in the chair right next to Tara’s hip. “I don’t mean like you love us as your friends. I mean, you love Gray. I know you do or you never would’ve slept with him.”
Kate couldn’t deny it—she didn’t want to. She was tired of the sneaking, the secrets, the emotions.
“I do,” she whispered. “But it’s irrelevant because he doesn’t see me like that.”
“Men are blind.” Lucy reached over to pat Kate’s knee. “Sometimes you have to bang them over the head in order for them to see the truth. You need to be honest with Gray. He should know how you feel.”
Kate had put her love out there before. She’d had a ring on her finger and a dress in her closet, but that love—or what she’d thought was love—had been thrown back in her face.
She loved Gray more than she ever did Chris. Gray was...well, he was everything. How would she handle it if he rejected her? At least if she kept her feelings locked inside her heart, they could remain friends, raise the baby and not muddle up their relationship with one-sided love.
“How are you feeling, other than Gray?” Tara asked. “Physically, I mean. Have you been sick?”
“Gray made me potatoes and ham for breakfast and the smell woke me when my stomach started rolling. Sick doesn’t begin to describe my mornings.”
Lucy’s eyes widened. “He made you breakfast? That’s so sweet.”
Kate laughed. “He’s always taken care of me. That’s not the problem.”
“The key to any good relationship is communication,” Tara stated, and the wistfulness in her tone had Kate turning her focus on her. “Trust me. You need to tell him how you feel.”
Kate tucked her hair behind her ears and wondered what would be best. Baring her heart to Gray as to her true feelings or just waiting to see what happened? For all she knew, he would sell the bar, go on some grand adventure to find himself and then discover that he never wanted to return. Then what?
“I honestly don’t know what to do,” she muttered. “I don’t want him to feel sorry for me or think I fell in love with him because of the pregnancy. I’ve loved him... I don’t even know how long. Maybe forever, but I didn’t realize it until recently.”
Lucy grabbed Kate’s hand. “Well, right now let’s focus on you and this baby. I’m confident Gray will come around.”
Kate wished she had Lucy’s confidence and Tara’s courage. But this was her life and this pregnancy was the biggest thing that had ever happened to her. And she didn’t want to put her heart on the line again because she’d been right from the very beginning. She could lose Gray’s friendship if all of this went wrong. Losing the one constant man in her life wasn’t an option. Especially now that the same man would be needed as a constant for their baby.
* * *
Gray set the glass of sweet tea on the counter in front of Sam. The bar didn’t open for another hour and Sam had stopped by after a long week at his new job. Gray admired the man for putting his family first, for selling his own company and humbling himself to get counseling before going to work for another construction company.
He’d helped himself but may never get his wife back. The harsh reality was a bitch to bear, Gray was sure. Sam was a great guy who’d made poor decisions.
“Are you really selling the bar?” Sam asked, gripping the frosted glass.
Gray flattened his palms on the rolled edge of the bar. “I am. I haven’t contacted the guy from Knoxville yet, but I plan on calling Monday morning.”
“What does your dad say about it?”
Gray didn’t like to think of the disappointment he’d seen in his father’s eyes. He knew his dad wanted to keep the bar in the family, but would ultimately support Gray no matter what.
The problem was, Gray wasn’t a hundred percent sure what he wanted. He did know that the money from the sale would put him in a perfect spot to provide for Kate and the baby.
He hadn’t mentioned the baby to his dad because that would’ve brought up a whole other set of issues...like the fact that she wouldn’t marry him.
But he knew where her doubts were coming from. Kate had been left so shaken when her parents had passed. Then her fiancé had revealed his true colors and broken her heart. Gray never wanted her to question where her foundation was again. He knew she was scared with this pregnancy—hell, he was, too. But there was nothing he wouldn’t do for her even if she refused to marry him.
“Dad isn’t happy,” Gray finally replied. “But he respects my decision. He’d like to see me settled down with a wife and a bunch of little Gallaghers running around and gearing up to pass this place to them.”
Sam took a hearty drink of his tea and set the glass back down. “That’s not what you want, I take it.”
Gray gave a slight shrug, feeling something tug on his heart. “I don’t know what I want, but has been on my mind.”
Especially now.
“It’s not for everyone, that’s for sure.” Sam slid his thumb over the condensation of his mug. “Tara is everything and when you find a love like that, it’s worth fighting for. I really messed up, Gray. Don’t learn from my mistakes.”
Gray gritted his teeth and tried to sort through the thoughts scrolling through his head.
The most dominant thought was love. Love worth fighting for. He loved Kate. Hadn’t he told her as much? They’d loved each other for years, so why was she so adamant about not marrying him? Wasn’t any level of love a good basis for a marriage?
But she’d told him she wouldn’t settle, that she wanted to be with a man who loved her the way a husband should love his wife.
He didn’t even know what that meant. He thought she’d be happy with him, that they could be happy together. Obviously she had other expectations about her future.
“How are things with Tara?” Gray asked.
Sam shrugged. “Still the same. We get along for Marley and we’re always civil, but it seems so shallow, you know? We just go through the days, same cycle, same fake smiles, like we’re both not hurting.”
Gray hated seeing his friends so torn. Yes, Sam had made mistakes, but he was human and he’d fought like hell to get clean and make up for the pain he’d caused.
Is this how Gray and Kate would be? Would they be moving through the days just living civilly and trying not to break? Would they bounce their child back and forth and pretend everything was okay?
And what would happen if Kate wanted to go on a date or brought a man home?
Jealousy spiraled through him at the mere thought of another man in Kate’s life. Another man in their child’s l
ife.
Gray went about getting the bar ready to open. He chatted with his employees when they came in the back door and he welcomed the first customers who started to filter in. Sam remained on his stool, sipping his tea, then finally beer. Gray made sure to always keep an eye on his friend when he came in, and Sam usually limited his drinking to one or two beers. He seemed to be on the road to getting his life back under control.
Too bad Gray couldn’t say the same.
Chapter Seventeen
“This was a mistake,” Kate growled as Lucy practically dragged her inside the front door of Gallagher’s. “A pregnant woman shouldn’t be hanging out at the bar.”
Lucy held on to her arm. “This is exactly where that pregnant lady should be when the man she loves is the owner. Besides, Tara is home with Marley tonight and Noah took Piper on a father-daughter date to the movies. I wanted to get out, so you’re stuck with me.”
Kate shouldn’t be here. Then again, she shouldn’t have put on her favorite dress and curled her hair, either. She didn’t do those things for Gray. Absolutely not. She did them for herself because...
Fine. She did them for Gray because no matter how much she wished it, she couldn’t just move on and forget her feelings for him. Pregnancy aside, Kate wanted Gray just as much as ever. Even if she hadn’t been carrying his child, she would be completely in love with him.
For years she’d wanted a family of her own. She’d dreamed of it, in fact. Then she’d started her little business and focused on that after her world was rocked when Chris left. Now she was being given a second chance at a family, but Gray wasn’t on board...not in the way she needed him to be.
Inside Gallagher’s, an upbeat country song was blasting as several couples danced. The tables were full, except for one table right smack-dab in the middle of the floor. Fabulous. Why couldn’t their usual corner booth be open? That real estate should always be on reserve for her.
Kate dropped to the hard wooden seat and hung her purse on the back. This was not ideal, not at all. Here she was, front and center of the bar, almost as if fate was mocking her.
A slow, twangy song filled the space and even more couples flooded to the dance floor.
“Fancy seeing you here.”
Kate turned around, barely registering the cheesy line and her ex before he whisked her out of her seat and spun her toward the dance floor.
In a blur, she saw Lucy’s shocked face.
“Chris, what in the world,” she said, trying to wriggle free of his grip on her hand. “I don’t want to dance.”
Banding an arm around her waist, he took her free hand in his and maneuvered them right into the midst of the dancers.
“Just one dance,” he said, smiling down at her as if he had every right to hold her. “Surely you can give me three minutes to talk and then I’ll leave you alone.”
Kate didn’t want to give him three seconds, let alone three minutes. She didn’t get a chance to say anything because Chris was jerked from her and then Gray stood towering over him.
“You’re Chris?” Gray asked, his body taut with tension.
Kate stepped forward and put her hand on his back. “Don’t, Gray.”
Ignoring her, he took a half step forward, causing Chris to shove at Gray. “I’m talking to Kate, if you don’t mind.”
“I actually do mind,” Gray growled over the music. A crowd had formed around them.
“It’s fine,” Kate insisted. She didn’t want an altercation.
“You heard the lady,” Chris said with a smirk. “It’s fine. Now go back to making drinks.”
Kate didn’t have time to react as Gray’s fist drew back and landed right in the middle of Chris’s face. Her ex stumbled back, landing on a table and upending another one.
Gray shook his hand out and Kate stepped around to stand in front of him, worried he’d go at Chris again. The last thing Gray needed was to get in a fight in his own bar. That wouldn’t be good for business.
“Stop it,” she demanded.
The look on his face was pure fury. Finally, he took his gaze from Chris and landed it on her. “Keep your boyfriend out of my bar.”
Kate drew her brows in and dropped her hand. “What is wrong with you?”
“What the hell?”
Kate turned around to see some guy helping Chris up. The stranger turned his attention to Gray. “This is how you run a business?”
Gray moved around Kate and walked past Chris, the stranger and the crowd. Kate stared at his retreating back and was startled when a hand fell on her shoulder. She spun around to find Lucy.
“That was...territorial.”
Kate shook her head. “What just happened?”
“I’d say your guy got jealous, but who was the other man who stepped in?”
Gray stalked back over to Chris and the other man. Kate watched, waiting and hoping there wasn’t going to be another altercation.
“The bar isn’t for sale.” Gray stood directly in front of the two guys. Chris held his jaw, working it back and forth. “You two can get the hell out of here and don’t come back.”
Gray and Chris sparring wasn’t something she thought she’d ever see. But no doubt about it, Chris wasn’t going to win this fight no matter what he threatened.
“I’ll sue you,” Chris spouted. “My partner and I were going to give you a lot of money for this place.”
“Sue me,” Gray said, crossing his arms over his massive chest as if he didn’t have a care in the world. “But leave.”
He turned back around and went back to the bar. Kate watched as he started making drinks like his whole life hadn’t just changed. Chris was a bastard, no doubt about it.
He’d wanted to sell the bar. He’d been pretty set on doing just that. What had changed his mind? He hadn’t said a word to her. Between Gray’s silence and Chris’s betrayal, Kate wasn’t sure how to feel, but pissed was a great starting point.
Then dread filled her. Had he done this because of the baby? Was he giving up what he truly wanted to make her happy? Because he’d done that with his father, when he’d taken over the bar after his tour of duty just to appease him. And here he was putting his own needs aside again. Kate intended to find out why.
Chris and his business partner turned and left, leaving many talking about what had just happened. Obviously the other guy was the one who’d made Gray the exorbitant offer.
“I can’t believe he just hit him,” Kate muttered.
Lucy laughed. “I recall him hitting another guy who got in your face several months ago.”
Kate ran a hand through her hair as she met Gray’s dark eyes across the bar. “At least he’s consistent.”
* * *
“Heard you made a little scene at the bar last night.”
Gray rubbed his eyes and attempted to form a coherent sentence. His father had called way too early, knowing full well that Gray would still be asleep. The man had run the same bar for thirty years. He knew the routine.
“Nothing I couldn’t handle.”
Gray eased up in bed and leaned against the headboard because he knew his father didn’t randomly call just to chat.
“Also heard you turned down the offer to sell.”
Gray blew out a breath. Yeah. He had. That hadn’t been an easy decision, but definitely the right one. The second he’d seen Kate in another man’s arms, Gray had lost it. Then, on his way over, he’d heard Kate call the guy Chris and Gray nearly exploded. Okay, he did explode, but that guy deserved the punch—and more—for what he’d done years ago.
Kate was his family. Kate and their child was his family. The future had seemed so clear in that moment. All the times he’d waited for a sign, waited for some divine intervention to tell him what to do. But Kate and their family was everything. And he’d found that he wanted to continue that tradition w
ith his child, boy or girl.
“I’m keeping the bar,” Gray confirmed.
“Who changed your mind?” his dad asked.
Gray instantly pictured Kate. He couldn’t help but smile though he was dead tired. He’d screwed up things with her. He’d legit botched up their relationship from the friendship to the intimacy. But he had a plan.
“I just realized nothing is missing from my life,” Gray replied. “I’m staying here and Gallagher’s will remain in the family.”
“That was a lot of money to turn down, son.”
Funny, but that didn’t bother him anymore. “It was,” he agreed. “Family means more.”
Family meant everything.
He needed to tell his dad about the pregnancy, but he wanted to talk to Kate first. He had quite a bit to talk to her about, actually.
“I’m proud of you,” his dad finally said. “Your grandfather would be, too, knowing you decided to stay in Stonerock, keep the tradition alive.”
A lump formed in Gray’s throat. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”
“Well, I guess I’ll let you get back to sleep,” his dad chuckled. “But Gray. Let’s lay off the hitting. I know you have a thing for Kate, but control yourself.”
His dad hung up before Gray could say anything about Kate or his self-control. He tossed his phone onto the rumpled sheet next to his hip. Raking his hands over his face, Gray attempted to sort his thoughts, his plans. Today he was taking back his life. Taking what he’d always wanted, but never knew he was missing.
And Kate wasn’t going to get away again.
Chapter Eighteen
She hadn’t seen Gray since the night before last. He’d punched Chris, turned down an enormous business deal and gone back to brooding.
Out of the blue, he’d texted this morning to tell her she’d left something at his apartment. There was no way she’d left anything there because she was meticulous about her stuff and knew where everything was.
Clearly he wanted her there for another reason. Kate found herself sipping her ginger ale and clutching a cracker as she mounted the outside back steps to the bar apartment.
From Best Friend to Daddy Page 14