And Baby Makes Six

by Pamela Dalton

  “But there wasn’t.”

  “No. Thank goodness. The doctor kept trying to tell me to relax and let nature take its course. Cash was wonderful. He wouldn’t let me get all tangled in a knot. I have a tendency to get uptight when the world isn’t rotating on a smooth axis. Cash keeps me grounded when I’m not threatening to hang him up by his bootstraps, that is. I don’t know what I would do without him.”

  A twinge of yearning plucked Abby’s heartstrings. She wouldn’t let herself be jealous of Rebecca’s contentment and excitement. After all, she had so much to be grateful for. “Is Kelly excited?”

  Rebecca giggled. “We told her tonight. She wanted to call Paige right away and tell her. I imagine they’ll be playing babies from now until we deliver.”

  “They have a lot of fun together.”

  “Yes, they do.” After she set the mugs on the table, Rebecca touched Abby’s arm. “I’m delighted Devlin married you. You’ve made him very happy and he deserves that happiness.”

  Abby had to fight back a wave of emotion. “Thank you. You and Cash have been very kind.”

  Rebecca’s expression became shrewd. “You’re easy to be kind to, Abby. It’s not hard to see why Devlin married you as soon as you met. You’re genuine. Do you know this is the first time Devlin’s brought a woman to our house since Linda left?”

  Abby tried not to read too much into Rebecca’s admission. After all, she could understand why Devlin hadn’t dated much. “It’s tough for a single parent to socialize when you’re busy working and trying to raise a family on your own.”

  Rebecca nodded. “Kids are a challenge even on a good day.” She handed Abby the napkins and forks. “I really like your maternity top. Did you get it around here?”

  Abby fingered the crisp fabric. “Devlin brought it home from Madison a couple of weeks ago.”

  Rebecca groaned. “You are so lucky. Cash has absolutely no taste in clothes.”

  “Says who?” Cash entered the room.

  Devlin followed him in. “Don’t worry about it, old man, you have wonderful taste in women.” Walking over to Rebecca, Devlin gave her a hug and kissed her on the cheek. “What’s this I hear about you being a mama again?”

  She beamed, laughing up into his face. “We didn’t want you to get too far ahead of us. You have to promise me you’ll lend Cash your expertise about shopping for women’s clothes.”

  “I don’t do miracles.” Then he chuckled as he dodged a poke from Cash.

  By the time they bundled up in their coats an hour later, Abby was exhausted. Although the conversation was free-flowing, there was an undercurrent of tension growing between her and Devlin.

  The big lonely house and separate beds awaited them.

  “No kids for the entire weekend? Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” was Cash’s admonition before Devlin claimed Abby’s arm to escort her down the steps and into the night.

  They wouldn’t. They couldn’t, Abby thought as she shivered in the cold night air.

  A black-and-white contract stood front and center between them.

  Why did she suddenly feel so depressed?

  Abby was too tired to worry about her depression. As soon as they arrived home, she headed straight for bed. The last thing she remembered hearing before sleep dragged her into slumberland was the sound of the Hide-A-Bed being pulled across the floor.

  Early the next morning, Abby’s eyes popped open as a large dry tongue licked her lips.

  “Dammit, Hulk, get down.” Devlin’s face came into focus. A bit blurry around the edges at first, then more detailed. He looked both determined and frustrated.

  Abby blinked, attempting to remove the sleep from her eyes and figure out what was going on. She got one more glimpse of Devlin before the dog lunged at her again and she was French-kissed by the exuberant canine. “Ugh!”

  “That does it! You’re out of here,” Devlin growled. He plunked down the tray he had in his hands on top of the dresser before dragging the protesting mutt out the door.

  Within seconds he returned to pick up the tray and set it across her lap.

  Shifting gingerly, she grappled with the strap of her nightgown that had slipped off the edge of her right shoulder and exposed the swell of one breast. “You didn’t have to make me breakfast.” Under Devlin’s brooding gaze, she felt practically naked.

  As if it had a mind of its own, the strap dropped over the side again.

  Before she could retrieve it, Devlin reached and slid it up again, his blunt-edged fingers leaving a trail of gooseflesh in their wake. “You’re not the only one who can make eggs,” he said.

  His husky baritone did strange things to her nerves. She almost sank beneath the blanket, wanting to pull the blankets up around her ears. It was hard enough to wake up to a dog kissing her. It was even harder to wake up to the reality of having Devlin in the bedroom with her. Pulling herself together as best she could, she picked up the fork. “Are you going to join me?”

  “I only had one tray. I figured we could share if you don’t mind.”

  She offered him the other fork. “Help yourself.”

  He sat down on the edge of the bed and dug in.

  Abby couldn’t raise an appetite for toast, eggs and juice. Not with Devlin sitting so deliciously close. The sun winked through the shuttered windows, casting the bedroom in a warm intimacy.

  The only thing she could see was Devlin. His tan-tone flannel shirt, open at the throat, revealed a smooth, tanned neck and complemented his sea-green eyes. Faded jeans showcased his long legs and lean hips to perfection. Because it was Saturday, he’d forsaken his work boots and wore soft-sided moccasins.

  Everything about him oozed male.

  Everything inside of her responded female.

  She wiggled.

  Devlin paused from taking another bite. “Your back bothering you?”

  “Just a bit.”

  He grabbed a pillow from the other side of the bed and gave it a few punches before leaning over and stuffing it carefully behind her. “Better?” he asked.

  She nodded, her mouth too dry to form the words. Her back did feel better but having him monitoring her movements hadn’t soothed her jittery pulse rate. If anything, she was more aware of him than ever. She seemed fixated on every ripple his body made. From the motion of his Adam’s apple to the flex of his hands as he maneuvered his fork.

  She rested her fork.

  “The eggs don’t set well?” he asked.

  “No. They taste fine. Everything does. I guess I’m still full from last night.”

  He nodded. “Rebecca loves to cook and she was anxious to impress you.”

  “You’ve been friends a long time, haven’t you?”

  “Almost all my life. Cash and Rebecca started going together in the fifth grade.”

  “Fifth grade?” She leaned back into the pillows and just decided to enjoy watching him eat. The simple pleasure filled her with an odd contentment. “In this day and age, it’s hard to imagine a relationship withstanding all those teenage years and then evolving into a strong marriage.”

  Devlin finally put down his napkin and pulled the tray from the bed. Then he relaxed on his forearms. “They’ve had their ups and downs. For a long time, they didn’t think Rebecca could have children. And when she got pregnant, she ended up spending the last three months in bed so she wouldn’t lose Kelly. Cash was beside himself with worry.”

  A network of pained lines spiraling from the corners of his eyes caused Abby’s heart to squeeze in commiseration. The bond he shared with his friends had a history of deep love. “They love each other very much, don’t they?”

  “Yes, they do. No matter what has happened, they’ve always had each other.”

  “I guess that’s real love. The kind they write about in fairy tales.” Her words sounded almost whimsical, with a hint of longing she couldn’t mask.

  He turned on his side and faced her. The intensity radiating from him was almost palpable. Every tendon i
n his neck stood at attention, clearly defined as if he was trying to hold back something. She swallowed. Was he wishing for the love that his friends had? Was he regretting that he’d settled for half a package instead of waiting until love had come along?

  A large ball of need built up inside of her. Her fingers clutched the bedsheets and her naughty nightgown strap took a nosedive down her arm again.

  Devlin’s gaze zeroed in on hers. She couldn’t look away. She saw a hunger there. Burning. Raw. Uncensored. The quiet in the room writhed and simmered, taking on a turbulent life of its own. Time stretched to a snapping point. She wished she could decipher the cryptic message. He wanted something from her. But she didn’t know what. Had he had an ulterior motive for fixing her breakfast?

  Finally, he broke the silence between them. “What would you like to do today?”

  She grabbed her shoulder strap and thrust it back into place. Trying to be as nonchalant as possible, she reached for the bed covers and attempted to cover herself. “If you have work to do, don’t feel you have to entertain me. With the kids at your parents’, I can always sit back and enjoy a book.”

  He frowned. “I thought we might do something together.”

  She tried to relax her death hold on the sheets. “What did you have in mind?” Then she caught sight of him rubbing the base of his neck. “Your back is sore?”

  He grimaced. “I slept in the wrong position.”

  Attempting to sound as nonchalant as possible, she said, “Why don’t you sleep in here since this is the bigger bed, and I’ll take the Hide-A-Bed?”

  “No.” His flat pronouncement didn’t leave room for argument.

  She hadn’t expected anything different. Her husband had a strong sense of right and wrong. But she was equally as determined. “It’s only fair that I take my turn. You should be getting a good night’s sleep.”

  He shook his head. “You’re not sleeping on that Hide-A-Bed. As the baby grows and moves, you’ll need a good mattress with lots of support.”

  “Then we’ll share this bed. There’s plenty of room for both of us.” By not so much as a tremor did she reveal her own uncertainty at suggesting such a solution. She knew Devlin didn’t want to sleep with her. He’d made that abundantly clear by not moving into the room with her after Paige had finally taken the big step to sleep in her own room. However, he couldn’t continue to sleep on that awful couch. It was more than evident he was paying a price for the sleepless nights.

  A tic disturbed the set to his jaw. “I don’t think I can do that.”

  She refused to flinch. He wasn’t trying to hurt her. She knew that. But the stab to her midsection was deep. “I’ll try not to toss and turn too much.”

  Without warning, he moved. His arm came down around her, snagging her close to his side. His leg covered hers, trapping and holding her still. “I don’t care if you thrash in your sleep. Or snore. Or sing.”

  “Then what is it?” There was no way to brace herself for his answer. Not when she was in such a vulnerable position.

  “I’m a man, not a vegetable,” The terseness in his voice echoed the tension in his face. “I can’t sleep in the same bed with you and not make love to you.”

  ***

  CHAPTER 9

  It was as if a giant whirlwind sucked all the air from Abby’s lungs. Staring up into Devlin’s face, she saw the tight rein he held on his emotions. His arm hugged her closer to the heat of his body. “That’s why you haven’t moved into the bedroom?” she whispered, hardly daring to hope in case she’d misunderstood.

  He nodded.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  He picked up her hand and put it to his mouth. Turning it just so, he kissed the inside of her palm and then the sensitive pulse inside her wrist. “This wasn’t part of our agreement. But I want you so bad it hurts. I can’t stop thinking about how wonderful we were together.” The hardness of his body against hers reiterated his words.

  Abby froze. On the tip of her tongue were the words I want you, too. But something kept them locked inside.

  Suddenly, Devlin pulled himself off the bed and stood on the floor. “Why don’t you get dressed and we can drive to Madison for the day?” His voice wasn’t quite steady despite the impersonal tone.

  A chill dashed along her exposed skin. She instantly missed the heat and protectiveness of his body. “Don’t you want to discuss this?”

  “There’s nothing to discuss. This is my problem, not yours.” He picked up the tray, turned away and walked toward the door. “While you’re getting ready, I’ll take care of these dishes. I’ll meet you downstairs.”

  He left behind a void of emptiness. Abby’s head spun with questions and impossible answers. Devlin wanted her. That knowledge both scared and thrilled her.

  She wanted him, too. And that scared her more than she thought possible. The temptation to call him back almost overcame her common sense. If Devlin hadn’t shut the door, she might have heeded the desire. As it was, the matter was decided for her.

  Pushing aside her confusion and wanton fantasies, she slipped out of bed, grabbed her robe and headed toward the shower.

  Twenty minutes later, she finished drying her hair, using her fingers to shape the carefree layers. Conscious of Devlin waiting for her downstairs, she kept her mind firmly channeled on the job at hand. Giving her thoughts permission to wander wouldn’t accomplish anything right now.

  It was safer not to think.

  For today, she would let nature take its course. They had the entire day together. She didn’t want a single moment to be strained and uncomfortable. They’d both had enough of that. Even though it was clear they both wanted something more from their relationship, they weren’t ready to confront the next step.

  They needed a few lighthearted hours together.

  If that was possible.

  Wearing a new blue-denim maternity jumper that Devlin’s sister Gayle had sent her, Abby arrived in the kitchen as Devlin was hanging up the phone.

  She felt ridiculously pleased at the glint of approval in his gaze. He snagged the keys from the wooden hook near the door. “Ready to go?”

  “Where to?”

  “With the baby coming, we might want to go shopping for a baby crib and some extra furniture. After that, we can see how you feel and plan our day accordingly.” He reached into the closet and pulled out their coats. “Does that sound okay to you?”

  It wasn’t what her heart longed to do, but his plan sounded safe and practical. She pushed her arms into the sleeves. “Lead the way.”

  The grin he flashed her didn’t do a thing for her blood pressure. “I love a woman who will follow her man anywhere.”

  If only that were true, she thought as she passed in front of him while he held open the door.

  Devlin had hoped this trip to town might ease some of the tension between them. He knew they couldn’t spend the weekend in the house, just the two of them, without him either going stark raving mad or tumbling Abby into bed.

  They needed some time together where they could be at ease, even though he feared he was facing an uphill battle. The truth was, the more he was around Abby, the more he wanted to be with her. Emotionally and physically. He needed her.

  At the third store, Abby fell head over heels in love with a beautiful canopy-covered crib.

  “Like it?” Devlin had seen the soft wistful expression take over his wife’s face. There was a yearning quality he couldn’t resist.

  She ran her fingertips lovingly across the carved oak railing. “It’s exquisite.”

  “There’s a dresser and changing table to match.”

  She turned and walked over to the dressing table. “When I was a little girl, I dreamed about things like this. It was part of my dream list.”

  “Dream list?”

  She reddened a bit. “It was a list that I made in my head of all the things I would buy when I grew up and had my own home.” She shook her head and laughed. “Of course, life doesn’t a
lways accommodate wishes. When I got pregnant with Paige, we didn’t have enough money, and we borrowed a neighbor’s crib.”

  Determination flooded through Devlin. If any woman deserved to have her fantasies fulfilled, it was Abby. She was the most giving woman he’d ever met.

  Beckoning to the saleswoman who had been standing a discreet distance away, giving them space and time to examine the merchandise, he pointed to the crib grouping. “Do you have this furniture in stock?”

  The dark-haired woman peered at the tag, which was attached to the side of the crib. “Let me check. I’ll be right back.”

  After the sales clerk hurried away, Abby said in a low voice that couldn’t be overheard by anyone else, “I didn’t mean we had to buy this crib set. It’s awfully expensive.”

  Devlin stared into her big blue eyes that were wide with doubt. “The baby needs a crib and this is the one you like, correct?”

  “But the baby will only be able to use it for a few years. What will we do with it then?”

  It was on the tip of his tongue to suggest they could have six more kids if it would make her stay with him. Trapping her wasn’t what he wanted. He wanted Abby to stay with him because she wanted to.

  Because she loved him.

  Just as he loved her.

  The realization hit him with the force of a sledgehammer. Under the fluorescent lights, the floor seemed to shift beneath his feet as he gripped the edge of the crib. Hell, why hadn’t he realized it before?

  He loved her.

  He should have recognized it. Perhaps on some gut level he’d always known.

  How long he’d loved her, he wasn’t sure. It seemed as if his feelings for her had been a part of him forever.

  Maybe when he’d first seen her at his sister’s house on the night of the anniversary party. He’d certainly felt something for her then.

  Admiration for her gutsiness to try to fix the roof.

  Fascination with the way she kept a house and still managed to tend to her daughter’s needs.