Mountain Man's Secret Baby

by Lauren Wood

  “I don’t know Ethan. I just thought if I was going to get married, it was going to go a little differently I guess. I didn’t expect it to happen like this. I thought that there would be candles and soft music and you would get on your knee and ask me properly, with a ring.”

  Ethan just smiled at me and told me that I could have it that way if I wanted it. I tried to tell him that it took away from the gesture, but he already had it in mind and was going to go get dressed. He said he would be back in a little while and I just watched him go. He was back again, but did he really aim to marry me?

  ***

  “Now we have candles, dinner, music and the proper ring.”

  “You’re not on your knees.”

  His grin widened. “Well I’m getting there.”

  I watched him get on his knee in front of me with the ring box in his hand. This was how I saw it happening and I said yes before he got it all the way out. Half a minute after he’d left me, I knew that I wanted to say yes then. But he was already gone and I had to wait for it. After it being what I said that started it, I didn’t mind waiting and it had been worth it. He made a lovely dinner, a reminder of so long ago when we had our first day together. Now it meant more and he lit at least twenty candles. I think he lit every single one he could find in the house and shy from being a fire hazard; it was so sweet of him.

  We kissed and hugged and before long we were falling back in bed together. It was the place that we always seemed to end up and it wasn’t that hard to see that it was the only place that I wanted to be. I could have stayed lying in his arms forever. I knew that there were things to do, but at the same time I also knew that this was a moment that I never wanted to end.

  We made love all night long and by the sunrise we were finally tired out and ready to sleep. Everything was how it should be and I knew that I was going to never take him for granted again. I was lucky he was okay and back. And now he was going to be mine forever.

  Chapter 29

  Ethan

  Two Months Later

  She was actually glowing when she opened the church doors and started to walk down the aisle. It was the first time that I ever really got it when I heard it being said that pregnancy made a woman glow. Denise was glowing and in the white dress she looked downright ethereal. It was something that I didn’t want to look away from and I could tell that I wasn’t the only one that was feeling that way.

  Denise was very pregnant now, but we both agreed that we wanted to get married before the baby was born. Our son was going to be here soon and I wanted time to get our house moved into. It was a surprise that I had for her later. As much as I had come to love her little tiny house and all of the memories that we had shared there, there was another part of me that knew it wasn’t going to work for long. With our son going to be here soon, there was no way that we were all going to be able to fit in that tiny place. So I got us a nice big house a little closer to town with the intention of someday going away and traveling like we planned. As soon as he was old enough to travel, we had several places that we were going to go.

  As she walked towards me, it felt like an eternity and all of the things we were going to do together run in my head. It was going to be perfect and I couldn’t have asked for a better woman to take my heart than Denise. She was now my whole world wrapped into one and the baby she carried would be my legacy, something I hadn’t even thought of before. It was strange how much life could change and how quickly it could happen.

  She was finally in front of me and she smiled in the same way that had won me over in the first place. It always looked like she had a secret, but it was a secret that she wasn’t going to tell.

  “You ready for this?”

  Denise nodded that she was, but she was nervous because she was biting on her lower lip and looking at me with those big eyes wide. She was going to be my wife and make me the happiest man in Nome.

  “Yeah, I’m ready. Are you?”

  “I’ve been ready for a long time Denise.”

  She smiled at me again and my heart still lurched in my chest like she had just done it for the first time. If I could still feel that way in ten years, I would truly be the luckiest man alive.

  The preacher that we both knew said the words that paired us together for life and I was ready for it to be over once it started. It seemed to go on too long and finally when I was able to kiss her, I was able to get my hands back on her and feel the connection that was stronger than ever.

  “I love you Denise.”

  “You better because you’re mine and I’m yours.”

  I liked the sound of that better than I should have perhaps. It was hard to explain and then it was official for all to see. Most of the town had turned out and the reception was supposed to be at the hall, but then everyone started to get in their vehicles and they were all going in the wrong direction.

  “What’s going on Ethan? Are we not having a reception?”

  “We are, it’s just going to be somewhere else. I changed the venue. You don’t mind, do you?”

  “I can’t think of anything besides the hall that can take this many people. Where are we going?”

  We were getting into the car, going in the direction of everyone else and I could tell that she wanted answers right now and I didn’t want to give them to her. If she had them, then she would know everything and that wasn’t at all what I wanted. I wanted her to wait and see, but she kept asking and it was getting increasingly hard to ignore her questions.

  “So you’re really not going to tell me?”

  “I hadn’t planned on it, no.”

  “What if I asked you really nicely?”

  We were almost there and I just had to hold off another couple of minutes, but her hand went between my legs and she grabbed a handful of hard cock and squeezed a little.

  “I’ll pop him into my mouth for a minute before we get there if you tell me where we are going.”

  We were almost there, but I took another block and spill my guts while she moved her head down between my legs. Like I said, it’s hard to surprise Denise. She always gets her way.

  THE END

  ***

  I hope you enjoyed MOUNTAIN MAN’S SECRET BABY. For more enjoyment, I have included some bonus stories along with sneak peak of my other books. Please check the table of content to choose what to read next.

  ***

  BE MY BRIDE: A BILLIONAIRE AND VIRGIN ROMANCE

  Chapter 1

  Keenan

  “Sir, can we please have a picture?”

  I tried not to look annoyed as I got out of the vehicle. I was here for a charity event, but there was never a situation in this world that didn’t involve the press. I smiled for the cameras and then put my hand out to get Ashlyn out of the limo. She was my date for the night and I might as well get the picture part over with.

  We stood together for a few moments while the flashes blinded my eyes before I told them that it was enough. I was there to give away a large amount of money, the last thing I needed was to be blind for the rest of the night. As I walked into the banquet hall, there were still bright colored blotches in my eyes that I was trying to blink away.

  “It is so beautiful Keenan, don’t you think?”

  I looked around and agreed. It was a nice place, decorated to the hilt and I had to wonder how much of the donations tonight were going to pay for that. It would have been more fiscally responsible to just send the money in, but this was how the charity world worked. Half of the money raised was spent to congratulate the ones that donated. It was a vicious cycle and I was only here because my father insisted. He didn’t insist much, but tonight was for him. He had even remarked that I should bring a lady of class with me as well. When I found out about those on the guest’s lists, I heeded his warning.

  Ashlyn was as close as I could get on such short notice. Most of the women that I saw were models and debutants, but that didn’t make them any kind of classy when a few drinks were in them. My father h
ad asked that I didn’t bring one of my whores with me. Ashlyn was a woman I had met through the family years ago. We had a few dalliances until we realized that we were better as friends. She was the only one that I knew I wanted around that long and I loved the look on her face.

  “You act like you haven’t seen a place like this before.”

  She gave me a look that reminded me what else I knew about her. She hadn’t come from the same world as me and I was sure that was part of why I got along with her so well. She had none of the airs that the usual women I dated did. She didn’t care what designer she had on or what kind of drink was in the glass. I didn’t have to spend all of my time trying to impress her and she could just enjoy herself. I was almost envious at the way that she could see everything in a positive way.

  “Sorry, I didn’t think about it.”

  Ashlyn waved me off and was going for a tray of drinks. She looked back at me and asked if I wanted one. It was rather ridiculous for her to ask, but that was just how she was. Ashlyn didn’t have time for how things were supposed to be.

  “Here. At least they have good food and drinks. I don’t know why you were so hesitant to come. It looks like it is going to be a good time.”

  “Only you would think so.”

  “Only you could be a sour puss in the middle of all of this. Come on, let’s get something to eat. Is there going to be any bands playing or anything like that? I really want to dance.”

  Her brown eyes were alight and I wished for a moment that there was something more than a friendship between us. For all intent and purpose, we should have been more. My father would have hated me not marrying a rich woman, but that would almost be a bonus. There just wasn’t that chemistry between us that a woman and man needed to be more. It really was a shame. She was perfect, just not for me. I almost felt more like her brother, protective of her in that way.

  I told her that we would dance in a little while after we ordered our plates. I was just tired of the same people around me all of the time and it was shocking how many of the same people I had seen at the last charity drive. That one was for children’s relief fund. I really couldn’t be sure because all of these things seemed to run together.

  When we found our names for the seating, I saw that I was going to be next to Ronald Gray. He was a business man that was old to the investing game. He was a man that I had tried to get ahold of several times, but I was never able to secure an appointment. It didn’t matter that I was worth a few billion. He had more money than God from what I heard and I wanted a piece of it.

  It was one of the main reasons that my father had told me to make an appearance and Ronald was literally the only reason that I had. To my chagrin though, the man wasn’t there yet. I had to hope that he hadn’t sent someone else in his stead. It would be my luck.

  Ten minutes later, I saw the older man coming to the table and I started to relax. Everything was going to be okay. I really needed to listen to Ashlyn about that sometimes. She was convinced that I wished bad things on myself always expecting them to happen.

  “Well I didn’t expect to see you here Keenan.”

  I stood up a little to shake his hand and cover up the surprise that he actually knew who I was. He was like an investment guru and anyone that was taken under his wing was made richer in days. Ronald had the magic touch and I hoped for that now.

  His hand was firm and I smiled at the woman that he had with him. She was an older woman and I was as equally shocked that he would take his wife to one of these things. Most men his age would have taken a beautiful young woman, most likely the mistress. If I had to guess, they were about ninety percent of the women that were in this room.

  “This is my wife Evelyn.”

  She was beautiful and had kept up well with her age. I don’t know why, but her being in our midst puzzled me so much that I had to have it pointed out that I hadn’t introduced Ashlyn. When I did, I felt a little embarrassment.

  “This is my friend Ashlyn.”

  The older woman smiled at Ashlyn and I could tell that she found me rude. It was not very often that I was looked on that way and I knew I was going to have to win her back if I wanted to work with her husband. I had heard that he was a family man and now I was starting to see how real that assertion had been.

  We all sat down and the waiter was there almost immediately for Ronald. I didn’t like to point out in my mind that we had been sitting here for several minutes and was still not waited on. It was a humbling moment if nothing else that just drove me to want to get to know him more and figure out how I could make the money that he does. I had the capital. I just needed a nudge in the right direction.

  “You know, it’s funny Keenan.”

  “What is that Sir?” I hadn’t been paying too much attention, too much in my own head.

  “I think that it is strange that you are here tonight. I had my assistant check and see who would be at this table and I was told a few extras that don’t seem to be here at all in attendance. Mr. and Mrs. Winchester.”

  I looked away for a moment and took a drink of the wine in front of me. I had made sure that I was at his table. I didn’t care how it happened. I didn’t know what to say and I figured that if Ronald was saying anything, then it would be because he already knew what was going on.

  “What can I say Sir? You are a hard man to get a hold of.”

  Evelyn agreed with me and told me that she liked my initiative. I was surprised that she had anything good to say, however her and Ashlyn had been talking for some time. Leave it to Ashlyn to make me look good. She was the reason that I had brought her here, not knowing how much I was going to need her in the end.

  “Yes, I suppose you are right dear. Not much of a loss I must say. The Winchesters would have most likely gotten drunk and fought the whole time anyways.”

  Evelyn gave him a look like he was saying more than he should, though she didn’t disagree with him. I had heard the same thing about them, though I had only met the husband a few times and never with his wife around.

  I was just glad that he hadn’t taken it as underhanded, even though that was exactly what it was. Ronald had a high moral compass and I was sure that I would have to tone down a lot of my actions if I was going to go into business with him. I was so sure that it was going to happen. I had convinced myself that all I had to do was meet him and I would be on my way. Ashlyn’s optimism seemed to be rubbing off on me.

  ***

  “Wow Ashlyn, you were magnificent.”

  She giggled and pushed me away. “I am serious. I have never been attracted to you as much as I am right now.” Her brown hair was coming down in waves and she had the most beautiful smile on her face. She had done well and I was thankful moreover that I had come and I had brought her with me. She charmed the couple enough that my first few miss steps were quickly forgotten. Not only did I get the face time that I wanted, I also got him to agree to see me later in the week. Ronald hadn’t agreed to take me on, but he had agreed to let me run a few ideas that I had by him.

  “Well I am not attracted to you Keenan. We tried this before. You are like my brother.”

  I sighed and opened the door for her. I have to say that I wasn’t having very brotherly feelings towards her at the moment. I was instead trying to remember the last time we had tried. What had gone wrong?

  “You don’t even find me remotely handsome?”

  “You know you are gorgeous, but you are too much of a player for me. You always have another woman on your arm Keenan and I am a jealous girl. It is better this way.”

  She was getting serious and I guess the look in my eyes said I was getting that way as well. How badly I wanted her and I don’t know what came over me. She suggested that I just needed to get laid. Ashlyn could be right, she knew me too well.

  “Come on Keenan, drop me off and call one of your girls over. I will talk to you later. I have a lunch date with Evelyn tomorrow. She was the sweetest woman.”

  I just shook my head ama
zed. “You are an enigma Ashlyn. I don’t know how you do it.”

  “Always here to help. Call me when your head is straight Keenan.”

  She was getting out of the limo now that we were at her apartment. I waved to her and I knew that she was right. I wouldn’t want to mess up what was between us for just one night of pleasure. There was plenty of women for that.

  Chapter 2

  Keenan

  The meeting with Ronald was scheduled for eleven. We were going to go out to lunch and again I wish that I had Ashlyn with me. Her personality made everything so much smoother and I wanted her there to do just that. Ronald was a hard man to work with from all of the reports and gossip that I had heard on him. But after meeting him I was sure that we were going to work well together. I just had to prove to him that I was worth working with. The man had enough money so I was going to have to offer more than a few more dollars to add to his billions or trillions if some reports were correct.

  There was one angle that I thought would work with Ronald. In his old age, he was starting to focus more on philanthropy and I was under the impression that it could be done in tandem with making money. I wasn’t going to push that part of it, but there was no way that I wasn’t going to try to pull him in with the thought of helping. As an investor for new start-ups, there were several that were going to change the world and if I could get Ronald involved, it would turn to gold. Everything he touched always did.

  My nerves were banished by a few swigs of the flask in my inside pocket with just enough to take the edge off. I needed to be confident and when I walked into Casp, I was feeling just that way.

  When I told the hostess my name, the wattage of her smile doubled. It was once again not because of whom I was, my name pretty big in Chicago. She was more worried about making Ronald happy and I came to realize then that I was going to have to leave my ego at the door if I was going to be seen around town with him. No one here was going to ask for my picture, not with a guy like Ronald around. I was no longer the big fish in the pond. It was a strange sensation to say the least.