The Baby Arrangement

by Moyra Tarling

  Dropping into his chair, Jared reached for the phone. After punching in his own number, he listened to the phone ringing in his house. As he waited, he drummed his fingers impatiently on his desk.

  When the answering machine kicked in he replaced the receiver and leaned back, his expression thoughtful. Why hadn’t Faith answered?

  She was probably feeding Nicky, he told himself calmly. Or maybe she’d taken him for a walk. No, that was unlikely—it was snowing outside.

  Jared sighed and turned his attention once again to his phone messages. He flipped through them a second time, then with a muttered curse threw them on his desk.

  He leaned his elbows on his desk, lowered his head onto his hands and closed his eyes. An image of Faith swam before him, a look of bewilderment and pain on her face. It was the same expression he’d seen when he’d abruptly put a stop to their lovemaking last night.

  Jared drew a ragged breath. Why had he stopped making love to the most beautiful, most exciting and most incredible woman he’d ever known?

  He’d never felt this way before, about anyone. Light romantic entanglements lasting a few weeks or sometimes a few months were more his line, for the simple reason that they left his heart intact.

  But somehow Faith had managed to slip beneath his defenses and capture his heart. He’d fallen in love with her! And it scared him to death.

  Love was an emotion he’d made a point of avoiding. He’d learned at an early age loving someone only led to pain and heartache.

  But the moment Faith had come on the scene the rules had changed. And while the love he felt for his son ran very deep, the love he felt for Faith was more powerful by far.

  “I’m in love with her,” Jared said with quiet conviction. “I’m in love with her,” he repeated.

  Reaching for the phone, he punched the redial button. His heart began to pound and a feeling of joy washed over him as he waited for Faith to pick up. When he heard his recorded message, he cursed soundly and slammed down the receiver.

  A few minutes later he snatched up the phone again and called Maggie, who told him that Faith had left Nicky with her for a few hours.

  “Did she tell you where she was going?” Jared asked.

  “No, she didn’t say,” Maggie replied. “She seemed upset when she left. She hugged and kissed Nicky like she wasn’t coming back.”

  Jared froze. “Thanks, Maggie. I’ll be by to pick up Nicky later.”

  He replaced the receiver, his thoughts in chaos. Faith was leaving town! It was the only explanation. And after last night’s debacle, he couldn’t really blame her.

  Jared jumped up, and grabbing his coat, ran out of his office and hurriedly raced over the snow-covered sidewalk to where he’d parked his car. The bus depot! She had to have headed there, he surmised. Buses were the only means of transportation out of town.

  Jared pulled out of the parking spot, but he hadn’t driven one block when he was forced to slow to a crawl. The snow was snarling traffic, and the main street was already backed up. He sat at the first traffic light for almost five minutes before the line of cars finally began to move forward.

  When he pulled up outside the bus depot, the digital clock on the dashboard read 1:58.

  Leaving the car engine running, he tramped through the snow toward the ticket office.

  “When’s the next bus to Portland?” he asked the clerk.

  “It left an hour ago,” she replied.

  “An hour ago—” Jared’s heart sank. Through the windows of the shelter he could see three buses parked outside. “Are those buses scheduled to leave any time soon?”

  “Only number twelve. It’s going to Seattle. The driver should be pulling out any minute now.”

  Jared spun around and raced outside. He slid his way toward the first bus. The door was closed. Jared slapped his hand on the door, praying the driver wouldn’t ignore him.

  The door opened and the driver greeted Jared with a friendly smile. “You’re a lucky man—you’re right on time.”

  “I hope so,” Jared said as he climbed aboard. “Don’t go anywhere for a minute. I’m looking for someone.” He moved down the aisle, scanning the faces of the dozen or so passengers on board, searching for Faith.

  Over the top of the seats he glimpsed a familiar figure sitting near the rear of the bus. Relief swamped him when he saw Faith staring dejectedly out of the window.

  She turned and as their gazes collided, Jared caught the flicker of joy that danced for a brief moment in her eyes.

  “Jared, what are you doing here?” she asked.

  “Faith, please don’t go.”

  Tears pooled in her beautiful eyes. “It’s no use. I can’t stay.” She averted her gaze.

  “We need to talk. Please, Faith I don’t want you to go.”

  Faith shook her head.

  “Hey, buddy,” the driver said. “What gives? Are you staying on or getting off?”

  Jared glanced over his shoulder at the driver. “We’re getting off.” He turned to Faith. “If you still want to leave after you hear what I have to say, I promise you I’ll drive you anywhere you want to go.”

  “Lady, that’s a pretty nice offer,” the bus driver commented. “Give the guy a break! Hell, give me a break! I’m liable to lose my job unless I get this bus on the road in the next two minutes.”

  Faith hesitated. “All right,” she agreed, relenting, and started to get up.

  “Give me your knapsack,” Jared said. He stepped back, then followed her off the bus.

  “My car’s over here,” Jared said and, cupping her elbow, urged her forward, praying silently someone hadn’t driven off with his car. Behind them the bus pulled out.

  His car was still there. He opened his door and flicked the switch to unlock the others. Tossing her knapsack in the back seat, he climbed in and waited for Faith to join him.

  “Where are we going?” Faith asked a few minutes later once she was in the passenger seat.

  “Home,” Jared replied, turning the car in the direction he’d come.

  It had stopped snowing by the time they reached the house. Faith was already beginning to have second thoughts, scolding herself for not putting up more resistance. What could Jared possibly have to say that would change her mind?

  Jared activated the garage door opener, then drove inside. A shiver chased down Faith’s spine. It seemed like only yesterday she’d arrived here for the first time. In truth it was closer to six weeks.

  Once inside, Jared shrugged off his coat and helped Faith off with hers. “Let’s go through to the living room.” He tossed both coats over the newel post.

  Faith led the way. She crossed the carpeted floor and came to a halt in front of the fireplace.

  She turned. “Jared, I don’t think—”

  “You agreed to hear me out.”

  “All right” She glanced at the chesterfield, where only last night Jared had kissed her. She chose the easy chair instead.

  She watched Jared draw a deep breath then slowly release it. He sat down opposite her, and clasping his hands together, he leaned toward her, capturing her gaze.

  “Last night...” The words came out in a hoarse whisper. He coughed and started again. “Last night when I brought a halt to...uh...what was happening between us, you thought it was because you reminded me of Paula. It’s not true. You and Paula couldn’t be more different. That was the whole problem.”

  Faith frowned, unable to understand what he meant. But before she could speak, he hurried on.

  “You are the most unselfish, generous, warmhearted, caring, loyal, devoted, beautiful, sexy woman I have ever met. And if I hadn’t been so damned angry the day I found you and Nicky in San Francisco, if I hadn’t been so caught up in finding my son, I’d have realized right away you weren’t Paula.

  “Yes, Paula and I were lovers, but we were never in love. I didn’t believe in love. Didn’t want to believe in love.” He paused for breath. “Until I met you.”

  Fait
h felt her heart leap into her throat. “Wha...what are you saying?”

  “Bringing you to Grace Harbor was the best thing I ever did. Ever since you came into my life you’ve taught me what it is to be part of a family. These past weeks have been the happiest I’ve ever known.

  “I’ve never felt this way about anyone,” he went on. “And I don’t mind admitting it scares the hell out of me. That’s why I stopped last night...because what I feel for you scares me.” He stood up and began to pace.

  He stopped and spun around to face her. “I think I’m in love with you. Hopelessly, madly in love with you. And the thought of you not being in my life, in our lives, is more than I can stand.”

  Faith couldn’t find her voice. Had Jared said what she thought he’d said? She looked up at him and saw the fear and the love etched on his handsome face.

  “You’ve heard me out. If you want to leave, I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”

  “What makes you think I want to leave?” Faith asked, suddenly locating her courage and her voice.

  Jared dragged a hand through his hair. “Because I’ve made a proper botch of things, I suppose.” He sighed. “For all I know you were heading back to pick up with your ex-husband....” His voice trailed off.

  Faith leapt to her feet. “You must be joking!” she said, aghast he’d even think such a thing.

  “I’m sorry,” he quickly apologized, and Faith saw hope flicker, like a candle, in his eyes.

  “I’m not still in love with Glen,” she told him. “I thought I made that clear. I doubt I was ever in love with him. I think I fell in love with love because I wanted so badly to be loved.”

  Jared took a step toward her, then stopped.

  “Do you think you could ever fall in love with me?” he asked, and Faith’s heart burst with love at the vulnerability reflected in his voice and in his eyes.

  “Oh, Jared...don’t you know I already have?”

  Suddenly she was in his arms, his mouth devouring hers. Faith willingly gave herself up to the heat and passion erupting, like a long-dormant volcano, between them.

  It was several minutes before Jared let her up for air. He drew away, but kept her in the tight circle of his arms.

  “I love you, Faith. More than I thought I could love anyone.”

  “And I love you,” she replied, scarcely able to believe this was really happening.

  “After we get married. would moving in here be a problem for you, as far as your career goes, I mean? Because we could easily relocate to San Francisco.”

  “As far as my work is concerned, it doesn’t matter where I live. What’s important is that we’re together,” she added, warmed by his concern. “By the way, was that an official proposal?” she teased.

  Jared laughed, the low rumble of sound doing strange things to her pulse.

  “No, but this is.” With a flourish he knelt at her feet and kissed her hand. “My darling Faith, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

  Faith blinked away the tears blurring her eyes. “Yes! Oh, Jared! Yes!” she answered, her voice husky with emotion. She urged him to his feet and met his hungry mouth with her own.

  Beneath her splayed fingers she could feel his heart beating in a rhythm that matched hers. With some effort she drew away, delighting in the love and desire she could see shining in his eyes.

  “We should go and get Nicky.”

  “You’re right.” Jared kissed her forehead. “We have something very special here, Faith, and Nicky’s a big part of it. Yes, Paula had her faults, but I keep thinking you wouldn’t be here in my arms right now if I’d never met her.” He smiled and kissed her nose.

  “When Nicky’s old enough to understand,” he continued, “we’ll tell him the story of how his mother brought us together.”

  Faith’s throat tightened with emotion, making it impossible for her to speak.

  “I’m truly sorry Paula never got the chance to realize her dreams. She would have made one hell of an actress. I just wish I knew why she was coming back. Was it for Nicky?”

  Faith drew a steadying breath. “I asked her to come,” she told him, and watched his pupils widen with surprise. “I thought she ought to tell you in person what she’d decided to do about Nicky. She owed it to you, and to me.

  “She put me in a very awkward position. And let me tell you I wasn’t exactly thrilled at the thought of having to play the role of counterfeit wife.”

  Jared had the good grace to look remorseful. “I should never have misled my friends about my relationship with Paula. I wasn’t thinking straight.” He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her palm, an action that robbed her of breath and sent a quiver of need racing through her.

  “Did you say counterfeit wife?” he asked, drawing her closer.

  Faith nodded.

  “I’m sorry, but a counterfeit wife won’t do at all. I want the real thing,” he said.

  “I’m so glad,” Faith said, and as Jared’s mouth captured hers once more, she responded with all the love in her heart, knowing she’d found true happiness at last.

  Epilogue

  Two Years Later

  Faith followed Jared as he carried Nicky upstairs to bed. Nicky was asleep in his father’s arms.

  Jared lowered Nicky onto his new bed and tucked in the covers. Smiling at the sleeping figure, he dropped a kiss on his son’s forehead. “Night, sport.”

  Faith traded places with her husband and, brushing several strands of hair off Nicky’s forehead, she kissed a rosy cheek. “Night, poppet. Sleep tight. We love you.”

  Faith followed Jared down the hall to their bedroom.

  “Darling? What time are Maggie and Dylan picking us up?” Faith asked as she crossed to the dresser.

  “In about an hour. Why?”

  Faith turned and smiled. “And Jenny doesn’t get here for another forty minutes, right?”

  Jared frowned. “I suppose,” he said cautiously.

  “Good. That gives me plenty of time,” Faith said, her smile widening.

  “Time for what?” Jared asked, and caught a glint of amusement and something else in his wife’s green eyes.

  “For me to give you your present.” Faith watched her husband close the gap between them, a quizzical expression on his handsome face.

  “What present? It’s not my birthday.” Jared drew her into his arms and starting kissing the sensitive spot just below her right ear.

  Faith’s breath hitched. Sliding her arms around his neck, she swayed against him, her body already growing feverish with anticipation.

  “What present?” He whispered the question into her ear, his hot breath sending a shiver through her.

  “We’re going to have a baby.”

  At her words Jared froze, then he pulled back to look into her eyes. His mouth opened and closed several times, but no sound emerged.

  Faith smiled and nodded. “We’re going to have a baby. Nicky’s going to have a new brother or a sister. You’re going to be a daddy again. We’re going to be parents....”

  Jared silenced her with a kiss, a kiss so tender, so loving and so full of reverence, he stole her heart all over again.

  “How long have you known?”

  “Since this morning,” she replied, enjoying her self.

  “Do we really have to go out tonight?” he complained before his tongue made a foray into her ear. “Couldn’t we stay home and...uh...celebrate?”

  Faith laughed softly. “I suppose. Why don’t you call Maggie.”

  Jared sighed. “How much time did you say we had?”

  “A lifetime,” Faith replied before finding his mouth with hers.

  ISBN : 978-1-4592-5947-8

  THE BABY ARRANGEMENT

  Copyright © 1999 by Moyra Tarling

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerogra
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  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

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