Demanding His Brother's Heirs

by Michelle Celmer

  They went into the boutique and the salesgirl, whom Holly had come to know pretty well, helped her find the right sizes. Holly stepped into the changing room and shed her clothes, scowling at her reflection as she pulled on the suit. “I really need to go on a diet.”

  “Let’s see it,” Miranda said.

  Holly stepped out of the dressing room. “I think it might be too small.”

  Miranda looked her up and down, and got a weird look on her face. The salesgirl was looking at her a little strangely, too. “Ugh, is it really that bad?”

  “Could you go and fetch her a size bigger?” Miranda asked the salesgirl.

  “I’ll see if we have one,” she said, scurrying off, her brows furrowed.

  Before Holly could comment, Miranda grabbed her arm and dragged her back into the dressing room. “Is there something you need to tell me?”

  Confused, Holly said, “No, why?”

  “Is it my imagination or have you gained most of your weight in your stomach area.”

  Holly sighed. “It’s gross, I know.”

  “Is that how you usually gain weight? In your stomach like that?”

  “I’m not sure. I’ve always been naturally thin. The only other time I gained this much weight is when I was pregnant with the...” She trailed off as the meaning of Miranda’s reaction sank in.

  “No,” Holly said. “I know what you’re thinking and it can’t be possible.”

  “Honey, one thing I’ve learned is that nothing is impossible.”

  “No, I mean it’s really impossible. Jason had a vasectomy. He literally can’t get me pregnant.”

  “It’s rare, but vasectomies sometimes fail. My cousin in Louisiana and her husband popped out four rug rats all a year apart and not on purpose. So after baby number four he went in and got snipped. A year later they had baby number five.”

  “You’re kidding,” Holly said, but her stomach was starting to sink and her heart had risen up in her throat to somewhere just below her vocal chords. “That didn’t really happen.”

  “I swear on my mother’s grave,” Miranda said, laying her hand over her heart. “Have you two used protection?”

  “No,” Holly said. “Why would we bother?”

  “What about your periods? Have you missed any?”

  She felt a little sick to her stomach. “My periods have always been kind of screwy. Sometimes I’ll go a month or two and barely spot.”

  “How long have you gone without one?”

  “Um...” She tried to recall when she’d had her last full period and honestly couldn’t. “I don’t remember. But I don’t feel pregnant. I was sick from my second to fifth month with the boys. I could barely function.”

  “According to my cousin not every pregnancy is the same.”

  “But if I were pregnant enough to already be showing, I would have to be past my third month at least.”

  “My cousin also said that she showed sooner with her later pregnancies. And I’ve heard that women carrying twins show a lot faster.”

  Twins? She shook her head. “No, what are the odds that I would have twins again?”

  “About the same as they were the first time, considering Jason is a twin.”

  “It can’t be,” Holly said. “It just can’t.”

  “When did you and Jason start sleeping together?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe three months...” She trailed off. No. No way. It wasn’t possible.

  But what if it is? her inner voice nagged.

  “Well, there’s only one way to know for sure,” Miranda said. “We need a pregnancy test, and we need it right now.”

  Thinking that this had to be a mistake, that she had more potato chips in her belly than baby, Holly let Miranda walk her to the pharmacy where they picked out a test.

  “We should get the two pack,” Miranda said.

  “Why?”

  “Just trust me.”

  Miranda’s fertility struggles were common knowledge in town, so when she dropped the package on the counter the cashier just assumed it was for her.

  “Good luck!” the woman said as she dropped it in a bag, giving Miranda a thumbs-up.

  Miranda smiled and returned the gesture, mumbling something not so nice under her breath as they were walking out the door, telling Holly, “Sometimes I really hate living in a small town.”

  Jason was working in his home office today so taking the test there was out of the question. They drove to Miranda’s house instead and went straight to the master bath.

  “I still think this is a waste of time,” Holly said as she had second thoughts about the whole thing. Or did she think that by not knowing for sure there was no way it could be true?

  “I’m not letting you back out now. You want me in or out?”

  This was all Miranda’s idea. There was no way Holly was doing this alone. “Definitely in.”

  She opened the box and started reading the directions, which Miranda promptly plucked from her hand. “You pee on the stick. It’s not complicated.”

  Holly was so convinced it was impossible that when the word Pregnant appeared in the little window after about ten seconds instead of the typical five minutes, she was convinced something was wrong with the test. But when the second test did the same thing, her heart practically turned inside out.

  “You’re not just pregnant,” Miranda said. “You’re superpregnant.”

  “It can’t be,” Holly said. “They must both be defective.”

  “Now you’re just rationalizing.”

  It was that or have a full-blown panic attack. “How did this happen?”

  “I’m going to assume that’s a rhetorical question,” Miranda said, a huge goofy smile on her face.

  “You’re smiling,” Holly said in horror. “Don’t smile. This is a disaster. What am I going to tell Jason?”

  “You could start with I’m pregnant, then go from there.”

  Her legs weak and shaky, Holly leaned against the sink for support. “He got a vasectomy for a reason. He doesn’t want kids. Ever.”

  “Honey, it takes two to tango. Unless you got yourself pregnant, he’s just as responsible for this little miracle as you. Or two little miracles if it’s twins.”

  “I never should have taken the test,” Holly said.

  “Why? So you could be one of those women who has no idea they’re pregnant and gives birth on the toilet? I can’t imagine anything less dignified. Test or no test, there’s no question, honey. You’re pregnant.”

  Fifteen

  Holly hung out at Miranda’s house for a while, trying to decide what to say, how to approach the topic in a way that wouldn’t completely freak out Jason. But around dinnertime Miranda pretty much shoved her out the door. “Stop being such a drama queen and just tell him. It’ll be okay, I promise.”

  Holly didn’t believe her, but she went home. She couldn’t stay away forever.

  When she got there Faye was gone and Jason wasn’t in his office. She headed up to their bedroom—yes, their bedroom—to look for him. And when she reached the top of the stairs and saw where he was her heart climbed way up into her throat and tears choked her.

  Jason was lying in bed dozing with a twin on either side curled up against him, their sweet little heads resting on his chest. Like an adorable Jason sandwich. She found herself wishing that he was their real father or that he at least wanted the job. In her opinion he was born to be a father. It was Jason who could always draw a laugh or a smile from them when they were cranky. It was he who rocked them to sleep when they woke up in the middle of the night fussy and didn’t want Mommy. He got up with them nearly every morning when he wasn’t traveling, and was almost always there to tuck them in at night. He fed them and changed them. He marveled over each
new milestone they reached, beaming with the pride of a real father. In almost every way he was their father. Didn’t it make sense that he would be happy to learn he would become a father himself? As much as he loved the boys, how couldn’t he be?

  But what if he isn’t? a vicious little voice in her head mocked. You don’t even know if he loves you.

  It was true that he had never said the words, but that didn’t mean anything. They were talking about a man who had been hesitant to tell her about his financial status for fear that she would feel intimidated or overwhelmed. Her happiness and well-being obviously meant a lot to him. So much so that she was almost positive the surprise he mentioned today was an engagement ring. He would get down on one knee, maybe in the sand at sunset, and then he would tell her he loved her, and that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. Then he would produce the ring and ask her to marry him. However he did it she knew it would be incredibly romantic, because that was just the kind of man he was. He would make sure everything was perfect. And of course she would say yes. She would slip the ring onto her finger—and of course it would be a perfect fit—then throw herself into his arms.

  That would be the best time to tell him, she realized. What could be a better conclusion to a romantic proposal? If she told him today, he would probably feel obligated to propose right away, thereby ruining the beautiful event that he had already planned.

  Yes, that was definitely the best way to go. She would wait for the proposal and then tell him that she was pregnant. He would be thrilled beyond words, and as soon as they got home he would go with her to the doctor. And if the doctor heard two heartbeats, the way he had with the boys, Jason would be doubly thrilled. She just knew it.

  “You’re home.”

  She shook herself out of her daydream and realized Jason was awake and looking up at her.

  “I’m home,” she agreed.

  He looked down at the boys sleeping soundly, sprawled on his chest, and smiled. “They were fussy. I think they’re cutting teeth. I guess I nodded off.”

  “You want me to take them?”

  He yawned and shook his head. “That’s okay. I like holding them.”

  In that instant, she loved him even more. Loved him so much it felt as if her heart would burst. She thought back to when Miranda had told her that she couldn’t go through life afraid. Maybe her friend was right. It was time to stop living in fear of what could happen and get on with her life. It was time that she let herself have faith in someone. Maybe he was worth the risk.

  “Did you get everything you need for the trip?” he asked her.

  She sat on the mattress beside them. “Almost everything. I couldn’t find a bathing suit that I didn’t look horrifying in.”

  He made a pft sound, the way he always did when she complained about her recent weight gain. Wouldn’t he be surprised when she told him the reason behind it.

  “You would look sexy in a burlap sack,” he said, reaching over to take her hand, drawing it to his lips to kiss it. “I prefer a woman with meat on her bones,” he said with a sexy grin, wiggling his eyebrows.

  God, he was gorgeous. Though they were identical twins, Jeremy had never looked this good to her. He’d never given her butterflies in her stomach or made her heart race when he’d smiled at her. More and more she had come to believe that she and Jeremy had not been meant to be. That their relationship had been merely the bridge that had brought her to Jason. She was just sorry that Jeremy had had to die to make it happen. And she hoped that from somewhere in the afterlife he was smiling down on them. She hoped he was happy for her. Happy for his children that a man so wonderful had stepped in to take care of them and love them as if they were his own.

  “We leave for the airport at 7:00 a.m.,” Jason reminded her. “Make sure you’re packed and ready.”

  “Oh, I will be.”

  “Are you excited?”

  Like he would not believe. “A little nervous about the flying part.”

  “Don’t be. It’s even safer than traveling in a car, and I know the pilot personally.”

  She hadn’t been at all surprised when he’d told her they would take a private jet to their destination. Jason was a modest man, but he definitely enjoyed the finer things in life.

  “I can’t wait to get you alone,” he said and the heat in his eyes made her shiver.

  “And once you have me alone, what will you do with me?”

  “Tell you what,” he said with a grin. “Let’s get these little guys into bed and I’ll give you a sneak preview.”

  * * *

  Holly lay stretched out in a lounge chair on the resort’s private beach, thinking that she could really get used to this. Eating gourmet food, drinking expensive champagne—which she hadn’t actually consumed, but instead had dumped in the sand when no one was looking—getting waited on hand and foot and making love until the sun came up.

  She glanced over at Jason, who was in the chair beside hers sound asleep. So far they had gone snorkeling and shell hunting. They had visited museums and art galleries. They’d been on an ATV tour, which actually had been a little scary until she’d gotten the hang of it, and wandered through a small village where they’d dined on the local food and danced to a mariachi band until late into the night. And of course there had been sex. Lots and lots of sex.

  All of that, and with only one night left, she still didn’t have a ring on her finger. But that was Jason. He liked to draw out the suspense. At least, she hoped that was what he was doing. This morning he had asked if she was ready for her surprise and her heart had jumped up into her throat.

  Then he’d grinned and told her that she would have to wait a little bit longer, meaning he had to be planning to do it tonight. And then she would be free to tell him the good news. And he would be thrilled, and they would live happily ever after. Though the idea of having twins again had sort of freaked her out at first, the more she thought about it the more she was getting used to the idea. And wouldn’t it be perfect if it was identical twin girls? Little sisters the boys could play with, and occasionally pick on of course, because that was what brothers did. But they would love their sisters and they would protect them and beat up anyone who tried to hurt them.

  Well, maybe not beat up, but they would be excellent protectors. And though four kids under two years old would be a handful, even with Faye, they could afford a nanny, or even a team of nannies, though she preferred to do the majority of the parenting herself. Whatever the situation, Jason would make sure everyone was taken care of.

  “You okay?” Jason asked sleepily from beside her.

  “Fine,” she said. Better than fine. She was by far the happiest she had been in her whole life.

  “You looked like maybe you had a stomach ache.”

  She looked down and realized she had one hand cupped over the tiny baby bump. It was habit, and something she was sure all pregnant women did, but until she made the announcement later tonight—and it would be later tonight—she would have to be more careful.

  “I’m just a little hungry.”

  “We could go back to the condo and get a bite to eat to hold us over. Or we could do something to distract ourselves until dinner,” he said.

  “A distraction sounds good.” Anything to make the day go faster.

  He pushed himself up from the chair and held a hand out to give her a boost. He probably would be doing that a lot in the near future. Especially if she was having twins. Though she had no idea how far along she was yet, she felt really good. Maybe this pregnancy would be easier and she would be spared the disheartening complications of the first time. Maybe being so happy and being with a man she loved, and who loved her back, would make all the difference in the world.

  They made love for several hours, and then she must have fallen asleep because when she heard Jason’s voice cal
ling to her and she opened her eyes, the room was dark.

  She sat up and blinked herself awake. “What time is it?”

  “Almost seven.”

  “I didn’t mean to sleep so long.”

  “That’s okay. It gave me time to prepare.”

  “Prepare what?”

  He grinned. “You’ll see. Why don’t you hop in the shower and get dressed. I’ll let you know when it’s safe to come downstairs.”

  “Safe?”

  “We’re eating in tonight.”

  So nervous and excited that she could barely contain it, she showered and put on the dress she had bought specifically with this night in mind. She dried her hair and left it loose, the way Jason liked it most, and even put on eyeliner and mascara, which he’d told her he could take or leave because she was beautiful and sexy just the way she was and didn’t need any extra help.

  She was smoothing on a bit of peppermint lip gloss when Jason returned, dressed in a casual but expensive suit. “Are you ready?”

  He had no idea. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

  He offered his hand and led her down the stairs and out onto the veranda where dozens and dozens of candles flickered in the warm breeze blowing off the ocean.

  “Oh, my God,” she whispered. “This is amazing.”

  He gestured to the small round table where they usually had their morning coffee, and it was set for a multi-course gourmet meal. She was so excited and nervous that her hands started shaking and she had no idea how she was going to make it through dinner. Especially one with more than one course.

  A waiter from the resort served them, one excruciating course at a time, but she was so nervous she could barely choke down a thing.

  “You’re not eating much,” he said. “You don’t like it?”

  “It’s delicious.”

  “Maybe you’re nervous about your surprise?”

  She nodded. “A little.”

  “We could skip dessert.”

  Yes, please. “I doubt I would eat much anyway.”