by Helen Lacey
Marshall had a crappy week. On Thursday night he met up with Sam and Levi at Lola’s, sliding into their regular booth seat with about as much enthusiasm as a rock.
Levi took one look at him and laughed. “What’s with you? You look like you haven’t slept for a week.”
“Two weeks,” Marshall replied and pushed aside the beer he’d ordered.
“Things going that bad with your girlfriend?”
Marshall scowled. “Holly is not my girlfriend. And things are okay.”
Which wasn’t exactly a lie. He hadn’t seen or spoken with her since Sunday afternoon, even though he’d been tempted to call her several times.
“She called in sick today,” Sam announced matter-of-factly.
Marshall went rigid in his seat. “Is she okay?”
“I think so. She said it was just a little morning sickness. I talked to her this afternoon and she sounded better.”
His chest tightened. “I should call her.”
“You should do a lot of things,” Sam said drily.
Marshall knew what was coming. Knew that Nate had been talking to the two other men. “I’m not going to marry Holly.”
Levi made a face. “Look, I’m not the marrying kind…but if you get a girl in trouble…”
“She’s not in trouble,” he said impatiently. “She’s pregnant. And she doesn’t want to marry me any more than I want to marry her.”
“You sure about that?” Sam inquired.
“Positive. And stop being so damned opinionated about the whole thing. Whatever Holly and I decide to do, it’s our business and no one else’s.”
“Touchy,” Levi said and rubbed his chin.
“I’ve got advice coming out of the woodwork,” he said and frowned, thinking that the statement wasn’t entirely true, but he wanted his friends to get the message. “And I know what I’m doing.”
Liar…
He didn’t have a clue. Every time he thought about Holly, about the baby, he broke out in a sweat. But he wasn’t going to be pushed or coerced or to be made any guiltier than he already felt.
“So, Jesse’s coming back?” he said to change the subject and saw Sam’s expression turn grim. He knew that Levi had already shared the news with their friend. At least, this time, Sam hadn’t taken a swing. Although Marshall thought the other man suddenly looked like he wanted to punch him in the nose.
“You’re a horse’s ass,” Sam said and drank his beer.
“Ditto,” Marshall said and shrugged. “Stop telling me how to live my life.”
“When you two finally stop squabbling, feel like a game of pool,” Levi suggested.
Marshall laughed. He really didn’t want to act like such a kill-joy.
Minutes later they were at the back of the tavern, eating curly fries while Levi beat them both at pool. He was home by nine o’clock and sent Holly a text message the moment he crossed the threshold.
Sam said you were sick today. Anything you need? M.
He waited a few minutes before the phone pinged.
I’m okay. Just nausea. I feel better now. H.
He replied immediately, adding a smiling emoji.
Call me if you need me. M.
She didn’t respond and he spent the next hour sitting on the sofa and staring at the phone. The conflict he felt worked its way through his blood and bones until he was numb all over. He glanced at the photo on the mantle, a snapshot of Lynette, the only memento of her that he had in this house. She was smiling, and he was bombarded with memories of a simpler time. A happier time.
But the thing was…he wasn’t exactly unhappy.
Sure, he was confused. And guilty. And resentful. At times he experienced all three emotions. But mostly, he was resigned to the fact that Holly was having his baby and that his life was going to be very different.
He texted her again the following day, to assure himself that she was recovered and then again on Saturday morning, confirming that he was going to pick her up for the event at the high school. He pulled up outside her house at six and headed up the path. When the door opened, Marshall was dumbstruck by how beautiful she looked. In a knee length black dress that clung to her curves and showed off a generous portion of her shoulders and neck, he almost dropped to his knees at the sight of her.
“You look incredible,” he said quietly.
She offered a tiny smile and shushed the dogs as she closed the front door. “Thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself.”
It was a formal event and Marshall had dug out his suit and white shirt, sans the tie, and dress shoes. He grinned, then grasped her elbow and led her toward his truck.
“Are you feeling better?” he asked.
She nodded. “I’m fine.” She patted her belly. “We’re fine.”
Marshall opened the passenger door. “Next time you’re ill, let me know, okay?”
Her eyes glittered. “I promise.”
He waited until she was in the truck before responding. “It’s natural that I would be concerned about you, Holly. I understand that Sam is your boss and you need to let him know if you are unwell, but I’d rather not hear about it second hand from my friend.”
Her gaze sharpened. “Okay. Point taken.”
“How did you get roped into doing this chaperoning thing?” he asked as they drove toward the high school.
“My friend, Julie. You?”
“Sam, of course. He’s on more committees than anyone I know. I think Nate will be there.”
“And Levi?”
He shook his head and glanced at her, stupidly wondering if she was asking about Levi because she liked him. Levi had a way with women. “No,” he said and pushed back a pang of something that felt a lot like gut ripping jealousy. “Any reason you’re asking?”
She pulled a face. “Just curious. You all seem to band together.”
“We’re friends,” he replied. “Don’t you have a group of friends back home?”
She shrugged. “My closest friend lives in the states. I have a few acquaintances, I guess. And my family. My brother Alistair, is divorced, and Ben has never been married.”
Marshall continued to feel a twitch between his shoulder blades. “Incidentally, if you’re interested in Levi, forget it. When it comes to women, his attention span lasts about twenty-four hours.”
She gave a brittle laugh. “Seriously? I’ve met the man once.”
Heat smacked Marshall’s cheeks. “Women always fall for Levi. Besides the way he looks, it’s the champion bronc-rider thing.”
She shrugged again. “Like I said, I’ve only met him once. He is nice looking though…”
He made a scoffing sound. “Women always fall for the pretty boy.”
She laughed out loud. “If you’re going to be jealous, don’t waste your energy worrying about you pretty-boy friend Levi. If I was going to fall for anyone, it would be Sam. He’s the nicest out of the lot of you and very much marriage material. Every woman in town thinks so.”
Marshall almost choked on his breath. “I’m not jealous,” he denied, lying though his teeth. “And Sam—”
“Has been in a bad mood all week,” she supplied, cutting him off. “Which means he knows his ex-fiancé is coming back to town, right?”
Marshall nodded, pretty sure that she was deliberately baiting him. “I’d prefer you didn’t look at dating any of my friends.”
“I’ll try to control myself.”
He gripped the steering wheel and turned into the school parking area. “You like making fun of me.”
“You’re easy to wind up.”
“Around you,” he admitted. “Yeah, I am.”
“Idiot.”
He pulled into a parking space and switched off the engine. “I’m serious, Holly. Stay away from Levi. And Sam.”
She glared at him, grabbed her bag and wrap and got out of the truck without a word. He joined her and locked the door, following her toward the auditorium. The place was busy with students clamoring near the ent
rance and they were quickly escorted inside by one of the teachers. They signed in, were given lanyards to wear around their necks, and paired off with instructions to remain by the door they had been assigned to watch over once the dance began at seven o’clock.
Julie arrived, and Sam a few minutes later. Holly and Julie moved away from them and Marshall was left alone with his friend. He suspected that Sam was in the middle of some kind of crisis, knowing that his ex was returning to town. Jesse had done a fine job of very publicly breaking Sam’s heart. He knew his friend hadn’t forgiven her. If anyone would understand the way he was feeling, Marshall knew it would be Sam. But he wasn’t in the mood for any kind of confession. Sam was a nice guy. The kind of man always compelled to do the right thing. He wouldn’t get weighed down by guilt and shame. If Sam Beckett got a woman pregnant, he would marry her, no doubt about it. The fact that Holly considered his friend a prime candidate for marriage churned Marshall’s guts inside out.
“Is Levi hanging around town for long?’ he asked, trying to sound as vague as he could, and feeling like an idiot for allowing any thought of Holly and his other friend to enter his head.
Sam shrugged. “A few weeks, I think. At least until he’s sure that Lana’s ex is long gone.”
He nodded. “Makes me grateful that Leisa is more interested in seeing the world and having a career than marrying the first guy who asks her,” Marshall said and sighed.
“Makes me grateful that I’m an only child,” Sam said and laughed and then more soberly. “It’s good that you’re here with Holly.”
Marshall’s mouth flattened. “She’s the president of your fan club.”
Sam slapped him on the back and laughed, as though he knew exactly what he was thinking. “Buddy, it’s not me she’s hung up on. By the way,” he said quietly, “your in-laws are here. They’re on the committee.”
His stomach sank. Great. “I told them that Holly and I were dating…you know, to soften the blow.”
Sam made a face. “They’ve always put you on a pedestal…at some point they’re gonna have to accept that you’re a mere mortal and are entitled to a life after Lynette.”
“I don’t think it’s that,” he snapped, sharper than he liked. “They miss her and want to cling to how things were.”
“Except that things have changed,” Sam reminded him. “She’s gone. And Holly is having your baby.”
“It’s complicated, you know that,” he said, suddenly weary. “Lynette wanted children, but given her condition we decided it was too risky. Which means Dawn and Tom never got to have grandchildren. And now…” His words trailed off and he exhaled heavily. “You get what I mean.”
Sam nodded. “Yeah…but that’s not your fault. Or your responsibility,”
“It just feels like it,” he said wryly. “Right?”
The dance started soon after and he was rejoined by Holly, and Julie left to watch another area with Sam. They stayed at their post, ensuring the students were chaperoned and well-behaved as they mingled and danced. The music was loud, but the kids mostly behaved themselves, and by the time he and Holly were relieved and given the chance to grab a drink and take a break, an hour had passed. The noise made conversation difficult, so he didn’t bother trying to talk to her. But he stayed close, ensuring she wasn’t harassed and found her a chair so she didn’t have to remain on her feet the whole night.
They headed for the area reserved for the chaperones and the committee, which was situated behind the stage and was oddly buffered from the music noise and sounds of teenagers.
He spotted Dawn and Tom Willows immediately. And they spotted him. It took about ten seconds for them to be at his side. Dawn noticed Holly and her usual smile stilled.
Right.
He greeted them as he always did, with affection and consideration, but he wasn’t going to allow either of them to treat Holly with anything other than respect.
“We’re surprised to see you here,” Dawn said quietly. “You don’t usually attend this kind of thing.”
“The school needed extra chaperones,” he said easily. “Holly and I volunteered.”
“How community minded of you both.”
Marshall took a breath. “Dawn, I know you—”
“This is hard for us,” she said, cutting him off. “That’s all I’m saying. Of course we knew it would happen,” she said quietly. “We just didn’t think it would be so soon. But it’s your life, son, and you have to live with your choices.”
The way she called him son, tugged at the core of his affection for them. He felt Holly tense beside him and found himself half shielding her from their combined stares. Her chin was up, as though she was ready to stand up for herself, for him, and the baby she carried, if need be. Admiration spiked through his blood. Holly Berrigan was bold and courageous and easily the most incredible women he had ever known. His desire for her, mixed with something else, something he didn’t quite have the courage to face, raced through his blood.
His in-laws said goodbye and walked off.
“Everything okay?” he asked as they hovered by the refreshments table.
She looked up and sipped on the drink in her hand. “Yes, fine.”
Marshall tugged at his collar. “I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s okay…I don’t imagine it’s any easier for them seeing you with me, than it is for you to know they disapprove of you right now.”
Her insight astounded him. “You’re right. But I won’t have them disrespecting you. Or our relationship.”
One of her steep brows rose higher. “Is that what we have?”
He shrugged, suddenly self-conscious and wanting to back-peddle, but had no idea how to do so. And wanting her so much he could barely breathe. “Holly…about before, you know, when I said that stuff about Levi. And Sam. It’s not my place to tell you who to like.”
Her eyes never left his. “God, you’re an insufferable idiot.”
His back stiffened. “What?”
“Exactly,” she shot back. “What?”
He moved a little closer. “Okay, you were right. I was messed up over the idea that you are interested in Levi. Or Sam.”
Her brow arched. “Messed up?”
He leaned into her, his mouth close to her ear. “Jealous.”
“Why?” she asked, clearly feigning innocence as she swayed closer, her shoulder nudging his chest. “Tell me?”
It didn’t matter that there were about ten other people in the room. Any other sound disappeared. All he could hear was her soft breath against his cheek. And suddenly he was all out of excuses.
“Because the thought of you being with another man makes me crazy.”
“So, what are you going to do about it?” she breathed on a heady sigh.
He felt her against him, inhaled the scent that was her, and shuddered, then said exactly what was on his mind. “When this is over, I’m going to take you home and make love to you.”
Chapter Ten
The following two hours were the longest of Holly’s life.
She knew what was going to happen. And she wanted it. She wanted him. She was tired of pretending and lying to herself, and to Marshall. She wanted to be with him. She wanted his touch. His kiss. His intimate possession. And she didn’t care if it was just for one night. Or if it would confuse her in the morning. They were adults. They were single. They were having a baby together. Making love again was the next obvious step.
She went through the motions as she chatted to Julie, and Sam, and tried to avoid seeing his in-laws again. She didn’t really blame the older couple for their resentment. Lynette was their only child, so of course they would be protective of the man she had loved. Particularly since they’d known Marshall since he was a teenager. But it was sweet that he was compelled to protect her from it. Once the evening was over and the chaperones were no longer needed, Marshall ushered her to the parking area and bundled her into his truck.
The drive home was done in silence.
/> He parked the truck in the driveway and not in the street, making his intent very clear.
He was spending the night.
Once they were inside, Holly flicked on a few lights. She dropped her wrap and handbag on the small hall table and flicked off her shoes in the hallway, not speaking as she walked up the hallway and made her way to her bedroom.
He knew the way. He’d been there before.
When he finally stood in the doorway, her knees were knocking together. He looked so damned gorgeous in his suit, but all night she’d had visions of stripping of the jacket and shirt and unbuckling his belt and pushing his trousers over his hips.
She flicked on the bedside lamp and turned to fully face him.
“I don’t want you to leave afterwards,” she said softly.
“Okay,” he said and kicked off his shoes.
“I want to fall asleep in your arms,” she said.
“Alright,” he said and rolled off his socks.
“And I don’t want a post-mortem in the morning.”
“Sure,” he replied and shrugged out of his jacket, dropping it on the chair by the door.
She watched, fascinated as he slowly undid his shirt buttons and then pulled the tail from the back of his trousers. Once the shirt was off, Holly stared at his chest. Perfection, really. Broad shoulders and smooth tanned skin, a light sprinkling of hair across his pecs, he was innately masculine. His hand went to his belt and he took his time, his gaze never leaving hers as he unclipped the buckle and unzipped the fly. His strip was the most erotic thing she had ever witnessed and her temperature hiked up several notches.
She pulled her dress down, easing the fabric down her shoulders, then pushed the garment over her hips until it pooled at her feet. Her bra was push up style, her briefs black and lacy, and beneath Marshall’s deeply penetrating stare, made Holly feel as though they were the sexiest garments in the world.
“Just so you know,” he said softly, moving across the room. “As incredible as it was last time, I have no intention of being in that kind of hurry tonight.”
He was right. Last time, they had been so eager, so overwhelmed by the intensity of their connection, that sex had been quick and fierce and over way to soon. Tonight, she suspected, was going to be very different.