by Vonnie Davis
She powered up her laptop and checked for e-mails. There was one from her mother and one from Noella. She clicked on it; maybe she had news of Storm.
Little One, I miss you. When will you come home with your family who cares for you? Storm is out of the hospital, but he is sad without you. He finally told Pilar he’s in love with you. He took too long to do that, but I say nothing. He wants me to inquire about your health. Are you taking care of yourself? Sawyer frets for you. Don’t forget our bar-b-q next week. You helped plan it. Now you must attend. Noella will make your bedroom all fresh for you, sí? Come.
The birthday barbeque—Rachel had forgotten all about it. Storm and Sunny would turn thirty. She read the e-mail again. So Storm was home. On her fourth reading of it, her stomach dropped. Storm was inquiring about her health, asking if she was taking care of herself. He knew. He knew about the baby. Him and his dreams. He’d probably know the sex of the child before she would.
Dreams. She’d had a few of them herself over the years. Hard work and determination brought a few of them to fruition. Her nursing degree, for one.
She’d been giving thought lately to writing a book about her integrated form of health care for cancer patients. With her research and work experience, she certainly had enough material. In fact, she’d consulted with an expert in oncology regarding her idea. He’d given her a few suggestions and an offer to assist in any way he could. Maybe she’d e-mail a respected hematologist she’d once worked with on a case; she made a note to that effect and smiled. This was a dream with a very real possibility of coming true.
Still, there was one dream that consistently enveloped her like a warm snuggly blanket—a family. Storm, her, and the baby. If she pursued the dream, she’d have to be sure he was through with Pilar. She’d also have to trust he wouldn’t revert to his old domineering ways. He hadn’t overwhelmed her with phone calls before she’d gotten her new number. She’d give him that. She’d told him not to call and, for the most part, he’d honored her request.
There was his daily e-mail telling her he loved her. Just that, nothing more. Three words. Why didn’t he write more? Her eyes filled with tears. Maybe those three words were just lip service, a way of controlling her.
She stood and walked to the window. These raging pregnancy hormones were going to drive her crazy. One minute she was smiling and the next, she was in tears. Who was she kidding? This pie in the sky dream of her and Storm and happily ever after wasn’t going to happen. She swiped at her tear-drenched cheeks and then placed a hand over her abdomen. “It’s just you and me, baby, but we’ll be all right. Mommy promises. We’ll make our own dreams, just the two of us.”
She wasn’t planning to keep news of the pregnancy from Storm. She was just giving herself time to adjust and get her life in order. Why throw another problem into the mix? Because once Storm Blackhawk knew he had a child somewhere, he’d demand to be part of his or her life.
That would mean seeing him on a regular basis when he came for visitation. Could she endure that? For the sake of the child, she’d have to. She’d seen too many children emotionally scarred by one parent using the child as a weapon to hurt the other parent. Her child wouldn’t be hurt that way. A strong protectiveness raged through her, and a smile blossomed. Goodness, she was feeling maternal. How glorious.
She returned to the chair and began a response to Noella’s e-mail.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Rachel sat at the iron gates of the Triple-S ranch, her hand poised above the security code keypad and her stomach alternately fluttering and clenching. For sixty long seconds, she didn’t think she could go through with it. A wave of nausea lapped at her ankles like cold seawater before rising to officially disturb her stomach. “Oh, not now, baby. We don’t want to puke in front of anyone.”
A truck pulled up behind her. The driver leaned out of the window and honked the horn. “You all right up there, little lady?” She glanced in her rearview mirror, wishing the truck would disappear. Before she thought it through, she yanked on the steering wheel and made a U-turn. She couldn’t go through with it. Her heart pounded and sweat formed on her brow. The nausea…
Why was she putting herself through this? Granted, she needed to tell Storm, but wouldn’t an e-mail be better? A giggle escaped. She could start it Dear Daddy… With her hormone levels fluctuating, she was bouncing from giggles to tears with every beat of her heart.
No, she wouldn’t run. She wanted to see the expression on his face and hear his response. She’d write every part of Storm’s reaction in the baby book Grace had given her yesterday. There was a page for Daddy’s response to the good news. Her child deserved to read it one day.
She made another U-turn and headed once more for the Triple-S. Should she give the baby a name starting with “S”? Didn’t her child merit that bit of paternal family tradition? Samuel or Summer? How about Sterling or Sylvia? No, not Sterling. Scott, perhaps. Did she want a boy or a girl? A boy with Storm’s personality. She groaned. Could she handle him? Was she strong enough to raise a mini-Storm?
Rachel’s heart was beating wildly when she eased her SUV to a stop along the gravel driveway of the ranch. Cars and trucks were parked along the drive. Many of the guests had already arrived. The air was filled with Mexican music. Noella would be dancing in the new skirt Storm had bought her. She smiled at the thought as she checked her appearance in the sun-visor mirror.
Her bruises were now a mottled yellow. She’d thought about covering them with makeup, but since she doubted she could get through the day without crying, she’d decided against it. Tear tracks through makeup would only make her look worse than she did without it. Her eyes were minimally bloodshot. The stitches were gone from her lip. In a week, she expected she’d look normal again. She fussed with her hair and freshened her lipstick.
Rachel took a deep breath, got out of her vehicle and reached for the gift bags. She straightened her skirt. Her stomach felt queasy again, and she placed her hand on it. She’d taken great pains with her appearance today, trying to look dazzling, yet casual.
She’d borrowed a denim sundress from Grace with spaghetti straps and a slim skirt that had a ruffle at the hemline. A red stretch belt was at her waist and red hoops at her ears. Just for spite, she’d worn those “ho-red” heels Storm seemed so taken with. Now, if only she could keep from throwing up so her breath wouldn’t reek of… She shuddered; how disgusting.
“Well, baby, let’s go see Daddy and get today over with.” She headed for the party. Smells of barbeque wafted in the still, hot air. Red and Eduardo were manning the grills and barbeque pits.
“Miss Rachel! How good to see you.” Eduardo motioned to a lovely, dark-haired woman. “Maria, come meet Miss Rachel, the angel who took care of me before the ambulance arrived.”
“How are you doing?” He looked pale and had lost a lot of weight. She noticed he’d been sitting before he slowly stood to greet her.
“The doctors say I was very lucky. I will heal in time.” He took Maria’s hand. “This is my Maria.”
The woman smiled shyly. “I am honored to meet you. You saved my Eduardo’s life. The doctors tell us this. You had his terrible wound cleaned so well, he had no infection.”
“Thank you. I’m glad I was here to help.”
“You’re needed here, Miss Rachel. The boss, he misses you like a man misses air.” Her stomach did flip-flops. Could Eduardo be right?
“Guess you ain’t got no hug for ol’ Red.” She turned and laughed. Red stood there in a clean white Western shirt and jeans, wearing one of Noella’s orange flowered aprons. He hugged her and whispered in her ear, “Thank God you’ve come. Boss has been like a lion with a sore paw. He reaches out to take a swipe at us from time to time. Ain’t been hisself without you, and that’s a fact.”
“Patients who’ve undergone surgery sometimes are emotional afterward. Going under anesthesia and the surgery itself is a shock to the nervous system. Be patient with him. He’ll soon get o
ver it.”
“He won’t get over it until you’ve moved back here. What in the world happened ’tween you two? He liked to go mad when that crazy feller had you. Yet you left. Can’t you two work things out?” Red peered at her with a questioning gaze. Maybe coming was a mistake. She felt she was being tugged where she didn’t want to be tugged—into Storm’s arms. “Now, you go on and find him. Set things to rights.” He gave her a gentle push.
Oh dear. She glanced back the driveway to her SUV and made a step in that direction. Her nerves were wound so tight they were starting to frazzle. Leaving would be so easy. Still, she had to face him sometime. He deserved to hear about the baby from her lips.
“Wachel! Wachel!” Sawyer ran toward her and leaped into her arms. He hugged her tight. “I miss you so much.” He planted loud, smacking kisses over her face.
Tears sprung to her eyes. She’d missed this sweet child. “How’s my Superman Sawyer?”
“I got new boots on. Put me down, and I show you.” When she set him on the ground, he grinned and pointed to his gray boots. “Ain’t dey somefin’? Unkie Jackson got dem for me, and guess what?” He looked up at her.
She smiled. “What?”
“I’m getting a new Daddy!” He jumped up and down.
“You are?” How she loved this child.
“Yup. Guess who he is?”
“I don’t know. Who?” Jackson must have popped the question. Better still, Sunny must have accepted.
“Unkie Jackson! And we’re getting a new house, too. Come. I show you.” He held out his chubby little hand, and Rachel took it. He led her to a spot near the orchard. Sawyer ran to an area marked by stakes. “Here! Our new house will be wight here. Ain’t dat somefin’?” His arms spread wide to show her the area. “My woom will be wight heah.” He skipped to a spot and jumped into it, pointing with pride at a little stake with a sign that read, “Sawyer’s room”. He placed his hands on his hips. “Ain’t dis a nice place faw a house? My new daddy said he wants it next to the awchawd where he kissed Mommy the fawst time.”
Rachel laughed. “Where is your mommy?” A lot had happened since she’d been gone.
“She’s talking to people by the pool.” Another little boy came running over. “You go see Mommy. I have to mingle.”
Rachel laughed again. “Mingle?” Where had this three-year-old learned that word?
He flashed a smile. “Unkie Storm said a good host mingles.” The child sighed. “It means move around and talk to evwybody. He says I’m good at dat.” Off Sawyer and the other boy ran.
She turned and headed for the pool area behind the ranch house. Would Storm be there? Could she keep from crying the moment she saw him?
Although some of the guests were congregated near the grills, Rachel found the majority of the thirty or so invited guests were at the patio by the pool. Some were in the water to escape the nearly hundred-degree heat. Pepe and his band were playing salsa music. Colorful Japanese lanterns were hung everywhere, and the bartenders were doing a brisk business. Festivity and laughter were in the air.
Sunny was sitting on a chair beneath an umbrella sipping from a cup. Rachel walked up behind her and leaned over her former patient. “That better be green tea in that cup.”
Sunny jumped from the chair, squealing and giggling. “You’re here! I was so afraid you’d chicken out at the last minute.” She enveloped Rachel in a hug. “Oh, sweetie, you’ve been missed so much.”
“Let me see this diamond Jackson swore me to secrecy about.” Sunny extended her hand. “Oh, it’s breathtaking. Congratulations. Have you set a date?”
“Yes, but it’s a secret for a little while yet. Will you be my maid of honor? Say yes!”
Tears stung Rachel’s eyes. “Are you sure you want me? What about family or friends from college? How soon is the wedding?” She might have to waddle up the aisle in a maternity gown.
Sunny slung her arm around Rachel’s shoulders. “The wedding will be soon, and you are family. Please say yes!”
How could she refuse Sunny? She wanted her friend to embrace life and marry. She wanted to see her smile like this every day. Rachel laughed and nodded. “Okay. I’d be honored.”
“My little one, you’re here!” Rachel spun and was quickly embraced by Noella.
She stepped back and gave the older woman the once-over. Her sleek, dark hair was down, hanging to her waist; there was a red flower above her ear. Noella wore a white peasant top with one shoulder exposed. The red taffeta full skirt Storm had bought her was topped with a wide black stretch belt. The skirt was pulled up at one point, its gathers secured with a black feather pin. This exposed a few inches of black crinolines. She wore black strappy heels. “Momma Noella, you look fabulous!”
Noella’s smile beamed and she preened, which was so unlike the conservative dresser. “I look like a young flower with dew still on the bloom, sí?” She batted her eyes. All three women laughed.
****
He’d felt her presence for the last ten minutes, that telltale prickling on the back of his neck, a fluttering in his stomach and a heaviness in his groin, not enough to be noticeable—thank God—seeing as how he was playing host to a lot of guests, but enough to make it hard to concentrate on polite conversation. That is, if one could call conversation between ranchers about a new artificial insemination company from Ireland as “polite.”
Storm took a sip of his ice water and surveyed the patio and poolside, wishing he had something stronger to steady his nerves. Unfortunately, his surgeon didn’t approve of drinking mass quantities of alcohol with only one kidney. For now, he’d behave himself. There were more important things to think of than beer and whiskey, like Rachel. Where was she? She must be talking to someone. He sipped again and ordered himself to be patient.
His eyes riveted to her as soon as she finally came through the gate to the patio area. The sight of her caused him to take in several long gulps of air. She was glowing, glowing with her pregnancy. The smile on her face when she leaned over Sunny to whisper in her ear caused him to smile in return. Sweet heaven, she was even more beautiful than he remembered.
His eyes took in everything. Her tawny blonde hair was in sexy loose curls. Little straps held up her dress, a dress that showcased her full breasts and trim figure. He narrowed his eyes in concentration. Was her waist thickening? Surely he was imagining it. He took another sip of water as his gaze traveled down her tight skirt to her legs—he choked. She was wearing those “ho-red” heels. He shook his head once; the woman had a way of delighting him. A predatory smile flashed across his features. He was going to take those “ho-red” heels off her tonight with his teeth.
“Who’s the fierce looker in the denim dress talking to your sister?” Shawn Masters, owner of the Irish artificial insemination company, leered at the mother of Storm’s children. His blood ran hot with possession.
“That’s the woman I’m about to propose to.” He wasn’t so sure he liked this Irishman.
Shawn narrowed his eyes, studying Rachel. “Well now, doesn’t that make you a jammy person? May the sun shine on both of you and bless your union with many little ones.”
Storm smiled, his gaze never once leaving the woman he loved. “Thank you, Shawn.”
Sunny embraced Rachel. No doubt she’d agreed to be Sunny’s maid of honor. Noella came onto the patio area just then and hugged Rachel. If he were a better man, he’d wait and give the women time to exchange a few words. He set his empty glass on a nearby table. The hell with waiting. The time for waiting was over.
****
Noella cupped Rachel’s cheek in her hand. “Noella has your room all ready for you. How long will you be staying with us?”
Suddenly the hairs on the back of Rachel’s neck and arms stood up. Her nipples peaked and she knew—
“Forever. She’s staying forever.” A voice, deep, dark and sexy as black satin, washed over her. She took a deep breath before she slowly turned around. She’d reassured herself she could
handle seeing Storm, but she hadn’t been prepared for the whirligig ride her emotions would take when she did. Tears filled her eyes and she clasped them shut.
Storm’s hand went to the small of Rachel’s back, and he pulled her into an embrace. The man was warmth and security…and home. He bent down and kissed her on the top of her head. “Momma Noella, Rachel and I need some privacy. After we talk, we’ll be out to join the party.”
“Ten minutes, Master Storm. You have guests.”
“Thirty minutes, and to hell with the guests.” He took Rachel by the elbow and led her inside. “You look exquisite today, mouse.” He opened the door and escorted her to his office. Once he closed and locked the door, he pushed her flat against the door. He grasped her upper arms and stared at her as if he were drinking in everything about her appearance. She couldn’t stop trembling. They stared at one another, speaking volumes with their silence.
Rachel swiped at falling tears. The time to tell him about the baby had come. “How…how are you recuperating?” He looked wan and pale. She wanted to reach out and touch him with every fiber of her being. Once she told him about the baby, he might not want her to touch him.
“Well enough. I think I’d recover quicker if I had a good nurse.” He leaned down and kissed away her tears. “Know where I can get one?” He placed a kiss on her neck. Her stomach quivered. Their thighs touched.
“Do you want a nurse short term or long term?” God, he smelled so good.
He brushed his lips across hers, and her breathing hitched. “Most definitely long term. I mean, I’ll have to live the rest of my life with only one kidney. Stands to reason I’d need looking after, don’t you think?” His tongue swept across her lips, his dark eyes intent on hers. She was losing the battle.
She fidgeted with a button on his shirt. “You must know how sorry I am you lost a kidney protecting me. I feel terrible about that.”