by Robyn Grady
“It didn’t seem like a big deal at the time.”
“If a girl doesn’t want you to meet her family, she’s not serious.” Ajax’s lip curled. “Ivy was never serious.”
“She was serious enough to have my child.”
Ajax grunted. We’ll see. “So, a boy or a girl?”
“She didn’t say. Doesn’t matter. He or she will need my support.”
“Money and the other kind. The most important kind.”
Acceptance and buckets of love. Given his own history, Jacob was determined to let this child know he was anything but a burden.
If this child is mine.
Ajax circled back to Jacob’s question. “So, breaking the news to Teagan...” He wrinkled his hawkish nose. “Seriously, don’t say anything yet.”
“I can’t act like nothing’s happened.” Jacob told Ajax about the mix-up when he and Teagan had both guessed that the man he had wanted to take to court and her brother were the same.
Jacob nodded. “It’s going to be hard.” Maybe even fatal. “But I won’t hold anything back from her. Not again.”
* * *
Teagan had finished showering and was reading Jacob’s note when her phone pinged. It was a message from Grace Munroe. Apparently, Grace Hunter as of this week.
Tea, your wonderful brother and I have tied the knot! We both agreed that small was better. No stress and more time for the honeymoon. Which brings me to... We’re visiting your family on our way back from Italy. (Doesn’t Venice sound like the ideal honeymoon escape?) If you could make it, Wynn and I would love to see you in Sydney. Will video call as soon as we have more deets. XOXO
The friends hadn’t seen each other since Taryn and Cole’s wedding last year. The start of that day had been as magical as the end—the explosion—had been horrific. Then stepmom Eloise had gone into labor. Around the same time, Guthrie had learned that his young wife had put the moves on his oldest son.
There was just no way to get your head around that.
In the new year, back in Seattle, Teagan had gone through her own crisis—the miscarriage. Although she was the one to end the relationship, once Damon Barringer had discovered her reason, he hadn’t put up a fight.
Now, months later, she was seeing someone new. A man her family would happily shun once the truth about that lawsuit came out. Jacob’s ability to argue a point wouldn’t make a scrap of difference where Wynn was concerned. Not that she had ever considered introducing them. The thought had never entered her head. Or not seriously.
Until now.
Setting aside Grace’s invitation and the phone, Teagan slipped into a pair of three-quarter-length pants, a sleeveless shirt and gym shoes. While she ran a brush through her hair, she wondered more. Her relationship with Jacob certainly hadn’t traveled a conventional route. She’d been ready to say goodbye after their night, and morning, together in LA. But that misunderstanding surrounding his “family sucks” comment had been cleared up. And now she couldn’t deny she wasn’t unhappy that Jacob had pursued her. He’d pulled out all the stops to make this weekend happen, and she had enjoyed meeting his family...minus Lanie, of course. The chemistry she and Jacob shared was something she had never experienced before, even with Damon, a man she had adored.
She hadn’t invited Damon to Cole and Taryn’s wedding; she hadn’t been able to see a future for them together. Damon came from a big family, and one of his biggest priorities was having one of his own. After her home pregnancy test, there’d been a brief window of time when she had begun to believe it was possible. But after the miscarriage, when doctors had confirmed any subsequent (unlikely) pregnancies would fail in the first trimester, she and Damon had talked. They’d touched on the surrogacy option. He wasn’t convinced; too many risks and complications. When adoption was brought up, despite the brave face, he had obviously wanted more.
Teagan didn’t know how Jacob felt about being a parent. Frankly, this minute, she didn’t want to think about it. Wasn’t it enough to simply enjoy this time they had together?
Her brothers were all settled with lifelong partners. She would like to have someone special at her side this coming family visit, too. And as dangerous as it might sound, regardless of the risks, she would love for that someone to be Jacob.
When she turned and saw the unmade bed, her insides fluttered with longing. She and Jacob hadn’t made love the previous night. After watching the birth of that foal, she’d preferred to simply curl up and soak in his heat before dropping off to sleep. But she was looking forward to being alone with him tonight. Heck, she was looking forward to seeing Jacob walk back through that door.
On cue, the door fanned open and Teagan felt the zap. Tall and built, Jacob looked so sexy in jeans and a button-down shirt, especially with that wedge of throat and chest visible at his open collar. With morning light slicing in through the window, his amber eyes were narrowed and even more intense.
He crossed over to her and, without a word, clasped her shoulders and drew her in for a kiss that reduced her to a steamy mess. Apparently he’d missed her, too.
When he broke the kiss, she gripped his shirt and pulled him close again.
“Where’d you go?”
“To see Ajax.”
“Oh, yeah. How come?”
Jacob’s gaze followed his hand as he pushed hair away from her cheek. “I was probably gone too long.”
“You weren’t gone too long.” She fanned her palms over the hard, hot expanse of his chest. “But I’m happy you’re back.”
“I’m happy you’re happy.”
Something different in his eyes made her stop and look deeper. What had he and Ajax discussed? Family stuff, no doubt. His business, not hers. But she did have some news of her own to share.
“A text came in while you were out. Wynn and Grace got married on the quiet. They’re visiting Sydney soon to celebrate with family. They asked if I could fly out.”
He nodded. Shrugged. “Of course.”
Teagan paused. Was it imagination or was he acting low-key weird, like he wasn’t certain what to say or where to look? Did the mention of Wynn make him feel awkward? It shouldn’t. Earlier he’d said that his conflict with her brother was professional, not personal.
She took a step back. “It’ll probably be in a couple of weeks. I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone again.”
“Right.” His eyes glazed over. “Family is important. Is everything.”
A chill raced up Teagan’s spine. What the hell had happened since he’d left her earlier? He’d seen Ajax. Had he spoken to Lanie, too?
Teagan crossed her arms. She had wondered about inviting him to Australia. Now she wanted to put it out there just to get his reaction.
“Would you like to join me?”
He blinked and then frowned. “Join you where?”
“In Sydney. You could meet everyone. They could meet you.”
When he only looked at her—or rather through her—she felt that chill again.
She held his arm. “For God’s sake, Jacob, what’s wrong?”
He shut his eyes tight, rubbed his brow. “I received a message this morning, too. It was from my ex. Ivy and I broke up a year ago. I almost deleted the message sight unseen. But she had something to share...about family.”
“Is someone ill?” He shook his head. “Passed away?”
“There’s been a birth.”
“So...congratulations.”
“That’s pretty much how she ended the message.”
“I don’t understand.”
But the strain bracing his jaw, the stormy depth in his gaze...
Suddenly all the blood fell from Teagan’s head to the soles of her feet.
Jacob and this woman had broken up a year ago, there’d been a birth, and the ex was passing on her congratulations...
; “Your ex had a baby?”
“Apparently so.”
“Your baby, Jacob?”
“That’s what she said.”
Teagan waited for the buzzing in her brain to subside. Then, feeling unsteady, she took a seat on the edge of the mattress. That’s what she said.
Teagan pinned him with a look. “You think she’s lying?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Have you called her?”
“I’ll wait till Monday.”
What the...? “You can’t wait that long.”
He was pacing to the window and back again. “Crazy, but I’d have liked a little more time to prepare.”
At the risk of sounding entirely selfish, so did she.
Her chest felt so tight. The backs of her eyes were burning. She had taken a chance and accepted an invitation to spend the weekend with a man she barely knew. It turned out she knew far less than she could ever have imagined.
She got to her feet, got a grip. The situation called for civility, but she deserved some answers.
“Why did you break up?”
“I think she got bored. I was cut up about it at the time. But Ivy and I were never going to make it. She comes from big money. A huge sense of entitlement.”
Teagan bristled. “Wealth doesn’t always mean a sense of entitlement.” Case in point.
Jacob was so preoccupied, her last remark didn’t seem to register.
“I spoke to Ajax about it,” he said. “We couldn’t work out why she hadn’t contacted me sooner.”
“Maybe she was afraid. Maybe she’d only just worked up the courage to tell you.”
“I don’t think Ivy’s afraid of anything.”
Okay. “Maybe she wanted to bring the child up herself.”
“Why? I’m not some creep. If he’s mine, of course I’m gonna look after him.”
Teagan paused. There was that Brooklyn accent again.
He was pacing again, talking to himself more than to her. “Obviously, I need to make sure the baby is mine.”
“Would this woman lie about something like that?”
“She could’ve gotten the dates mixed up. In which case, not my baby. Not my problem.”
Teagan flinched.
Jacob’s world had been flipped on its head. He needed time, and he needed it without distractions. And, from her end, she needed to get out of there—the sooner, the better.
“Jacob, we need to cut this weekend short.”
He shot a glance at her like he wanted to disagree. But then his shoulders drooped and he walked to the window again. Finally, he nodded.
“Bad timing.”
As upset as she was, Teagan wanted to comfort him. But her thoughts were suddenly so crowded. She was thinking about little Tate and Honey, and her miscarriage, as well as Ivy’s new baby. And she was thinking about that foal’s father, too—a powerful, instinctive male who couldn’t necessarily be trusted to bond with his own spawn.
Ten
Taking a seat behind her office desk, Teagan patted her postworkout face with a towel as she brought up emails.
Ah. A confirmation from the travel agent. And Grace had sent word that she and Wynn had landed in Australia. Her own flight was due to depart Sea-Tac later that evening. Home, sweet home, here I come.
She couldn’t wait to raise a glass to the newlyweds. The second toast she had planned would be just as thrilling—to Cole and Taryn on their baby news. She needed to see and hug her dad again. She was desperate for a cuddle from her darling Tate, and her heart ached to hold little Honey. The latest addition to the Hunter clan was six months old now.
Not much older than Jacob Stone’s child.
If the baby was indeed his.
After cutting short their weekend at the Rawsons’, Jacob had phoned from New York. They’d reminisced over details of their trip, particularly the birth of the foal. Then he’d apologized again for “screwing it up.” He’d gone on to say that he’d set up a meeting with the ex to ask some initial questions. In closing, he’d said how much he missed Teagan...that he couldn’t wait to see her. He had promised to phone again soon.
Jacob’s second call had been brief. The meeting with the ex had been delayed. Prickly Ivy was trying his patience. He’d sounded on edge.
That was three weeks ago.
Closing her eyes, Teagan sat back and drew her palm across the raised scar beneath her sweat-damp top. There were so many questions.
Was Jacob the father of Ivy Schluter’s baby? Given the lapse between phone calls, Teagan guessed probably yes. Would Jacob marry Ivy for the baby’s sake? Perhaps, if he thought that would give his child the stable home life he had never enjoyed growing up.
If Jacob called again, how would she react? Hopefully with grace, although she had fantasized about hanging up in his ear. He’d left her hanging. Just plain rude.
And then there was the most obscure and haunting question...the one that spoke directly to her miscarriage and she couldn’t seem to drown out.
Had Ivy been pregnant before? Had she ever lost a baby?
These last few months Teagan had pored over stories of others who had suffered similar losses to her own. Even after multiple miscarriages, which weren’t at all uncommon, many rallied to try and try again. Teagan had nothing but respect for those women and their partners. She could never face that kind of heartache twice, let alone a third, fourth or fifth time.
Hitting Print on the email containing her flight information, she thought of Jacob again. Their short time together had been amazing, but now she hoped he wouldn’t try to contact her again. She didn’t need apologies and the thanks for being so understanding treatment. She only wanted to be left alone to concentrate on her own life and what she did have, which included a growing family...just not a family of her own.
* * *
The restaurant accepted bookings three weeks in advance, which was why she had needed to postpone their meeting. The new chef was the crème de la crème, Ivy had said. The patrons here of a similar ilk.
Oh, puh-leeze.
Now as the maître d’ ushered Jacob to a booth, he made an effort to push all that crap from his mind. But he couldn’t block out the name Ivy had chosen for her boy. Benson Rockwell. Sounded like a character from a vomit-inducing rom-com. And that was the last time he would think that way. This kid needed to know that everything about him was amazing, including his handle. He could totally work with Benson... Ben, Benny.
How about Buddy?
Now that was a cool name.
As Jacob neared the table, Ivy saw him and sat up, preening in her white silk blouse. She was as beautiful as he remembered, although the copper-colored hair wasn’t quiet as styled and her makeup lacked her former meticulous technique. But being a new mother would mean cutting back on “Ivy time,” even with a nanny and laundry service. Jacob imagined her parents would help out, too, which he appreciated.
He guessed he’d finally get to meet the family.
As he drew closer, Jacob dragged his damp palms down the sides of his pants. There was no baby stroller around, and Ivy wasn’t holding a baby, either. Perhaps Buddy was lying or sitting on the cushioned seat beside her. Then Jacob got closer.
Unfreakingbelievable.
Jaw clenched tight, Jacob rubbed the back of his neck. “You didn’t bring him, did you?”
Ivy’s spider-leg lashes grew heavy. Bor-ring. “This isn’t your local pizzeria, Jacob.”
Jacob felt his lip curl. He should tell her that he would choose the venue next time. Walking out would feel even better. But that baby deserved at least one rational parent.
So he took a seat, cleared his throat. With fingers locked together on the tabletop, he proceeded in a calm and mature manner.
“Ivy. We agreed. You said you would bring him.”
Looking innocent—or trying to—she swirled her creamy mocktail. That was one thing he could rest easy about. Ivy had her faults, but she wasn’t a lush. And she would never do drugs.
“I thought we could talk more easily without having to soothe him every five minutes.”
Jacob frowned. “He needs a lot of soothing?”
She brought the straw to her painted lips. “No more than other babies, I suppose.”
“Do you have any photos?”
He had held off asking. It made no sense to drive himself crazy comparing noses and eyes, searching for signs that junior looked like his old man. And he’d had every intention of having a paternity test performed by now. Why get emotionally invested, analyze baby pictures, if the point was moot? But days and weeks of no contact had crawled by. Now, damn it, he needed a visual.
Setting the glass aside, Ivy dawdled, finally finding her phone. While Jacob clasped his hands tighter, he watched the inch-long acrylic nail tip swipe, and swipe, and swipe again. Finally, she handed the device over.
The album contained shots of a newborn with mom at the hospital, one in a car capsule, another being held by a woman who looked besotted and a little worn.
“Who’s that?”
Ivy glanced at the screen. “Mother. Granma.”
Jacob looked harder. Holy crap. She was kidding, right? But there wasn’t a hint of humor in Ivy’s icy-green gaze.
“Mom knows practically everything about diaper rash and colic.”
“He has colic?” Wasn’t that when a baby cried and hurled all the time?
“He’s over it now.” Ivy shuddered. “Never going through that again.”
And the woman—Granma—that couldn’t be Ivy’s mother. Where was the privileged air and haute-couture outfit? She looked like someone’s eccentric great-aunt. But one should never judge a book by its cover. And if Ivy’s mother was...well, reserved in her desire to appear privileged, it kind of made sense that her daughter might rebel and flaunt it every chance she got.