Before I could even move, he looked down and saw the test on the edge of the sink. “What’s that?” he asked, reaching for it.
I smacked his hand away. “Don’t touch it.” I looked down at my phone. “Time’s not up yet. I still have a minute.” My palms were sweating as I waited for his reaction.
He looked up at me and grinned. “Is this what I think it is?”
I nodded and smiled tentatively back at him.
“Are you -? Are we-?” he stammered.
“We’ll soon find out,” I laughed.
He peered down at it. “What does a plus mean?” My heart jumped into my throat. “That means I’m pregnant.”
“You’re sure?”
I handed him the box so he could read it. He grabbed it and read it before tossing it aside. “Wahoo!” he exclaimed. “We’re having a baby!”
I jumped into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist. “Why didn’t you tell me you thought you were pregnant? And how did you get the test?”
He set me on the edge of the counter. “I wasn’t sure. Yesterday when I ran my other errands I was going to pick up a test. I wanted to be sure before I said anything. This morning while you were getting my ring, I told your Ma and she offered to pick me up a test when she ran to the store. You guys were outside so I was able to sneak it back here.”
He glanced down at my stomach and touched it. “A baby,” he muttered in amazement. His eyes filled with panic. “Will we still be able to have sex?”
I laughed and hugged him. “Yes, Clint, we can still have sex when I’m pregnant.”
“Whew,” he mumbled in relief. “Can we tell everyone else?”
“Yes, might as well. We could use more good news after yesterday.” He helped me off the counter and took my hand. We walked back to the living room where the rest of the family was. Mary was deep into her preparations for dinner and Wyatt and Eliza were watching TV.
“Hey everyone,” Clint said loudly. “We have more news.”
I stole a glance at Mary and winked at her. She smiled from ear to ear but kept quiet. I was happy to be the one to give Mary her first grandchild.
“Oh my God will you two stop,” Wyatt muttered from the couch. “I’m going to puke from the happiness coming from you two.” Eliza reached out and punched his arm. He scowled at her and rubbed his arm. “Ow! What was that for?”
“Quit being such an asshole,” she scolded him.
“What’s up?” She asked, turning to us with her usual charming smile.
Clint took a breath and squeezed my hand, looking down at me. “We’re pregnant.”
Eliza screamed and jumped off the couch. She tackle hugged me before I even had a chance to say anything. “I’m going to be an aunt!”
Wyatt got up and shook Clint’s hand. “Congratulations.” He hugged me. “An uncle, huh? That’s cool.”
“Let me through!” Mary pushed her son and daughter out of the way and embraced us both in a hug. “I’m so happy you two,” she whispered. She let us go. “I’m so proud of you both and I know your daddy would be too.” She touched my arm. “Your mom too, Rachel. You’re a fine young woman and you’re going to make a great wife and mother.”
I started crying then, the emotions of everything getting to me. Clint led me over to a chair and helped me sit down. “What’s wrong? Are you ok?”
I nodded through my sobs. Mary shooed him away and sat next to me, putting her arm around my shoulders. “She’s just overwhelmed. In the span of two days she almost died, got engaged, and found out she’s pregnant. It’s a lot to handle, especially dealing with pregnancy hormones. Go get her a tissue,” she instructed him. Bewildered, he headed to the bathroom to grab me one. He handed it to me and I blew my nose, calming down.
“I’m sorry. She’s right; it’s been a lot these last few days.”
Clint leaned down and kissed my forehead. “It’s ok. I’ll take care of you from now on.”
I let him wrap his arms around me and buried my face in his chest. This was where I belonged and here was where I would always be safe.
24
Clint
Eliza’s party was in full swing; the barn was full of people dancing and eating. There must have been fifty people there. I shouldn’t be surprised, everyone loved Eliza and she had a ton of friends.
Rachel had done a great job planning this party and pulling it all together in a few days despite her ordeal with Seth. My blood boiled when I thought about him. I was going to make sure he stayed locked away for a long time, if not forever. Rachel was never going to have to be afraid of him again.
I looked around for Rachel and found her sitting in the corner with Wyatt. I watched her for a little bit, admiring the way her blond hair blew in the light breeze. There was a twinkle in her blue eyes and a glow about her; Ma said it was because she was pregnant, but I wasn’t sure. Whatever it was, she looked amazing.
She caught me looking at her and stood up. My breath caught in my throat as I checked out her short white skirt and matching blouse. I wondered if she was even wearing any panties underneath. I intended to find out soon. She had on her ‘party’ cowboy boots - bright red. She was so proud of those things. At first I thought they were ugly, but they’ve grown on me. I especially liked them when her legs were wrapped around my head. I loved how she’d adjusted from being a city girl to a country girl. Just another reason I loved her.
She slid an arm around my waist. “Hey you,” she smiled up at me.
“Hey,” I replied softly, bending down to kiss the top of her head. I rubbed her back softly through the light material. “How are you feeling?”
“Good. Tired, but good. So far the nausea seems to pass in the afternoon thankfully.”
Next week we were going to the doctor to figure out how far along she was and make sure everything was ok. Other than being more tired than usual and an icky stomach in the morning, she seemed to be doing well.
I, on the other hand, was not. Sure, we had awhile before the baby arrived but I was already in a panic at the thought of being a father. I was worried about taking care of Rachel and the baby. I’d taken care of Ma and the ranch, but this was different, this was my family.
“Hey, what are you thinking about?” She asked softly, putting her hand on my arm.
“Oh nothing really,” I took her hand in mine, lifting it to my lips to kiss it. “I hope I’m half as good a dad as mine was.”
She smiled and touched her stomach. “I have a feeling you’ll be an amazing dad.”
I hoped she was right.
Eliza came over then, breathless and laughing. “Come dance with us, Rachel,” she urged, grabbing her hand and pulling her away from me.
She laughed and shrugged. “Who am I to say no to the birthday girl?” I laughed and watched as she dragged her off to dance with the rest of her friends.
The rest of the night was a whirlwind of dancing and laughter. After Eliza had opened her presents and we sang happy birthday to her, I managed to steal Rachel away for some quiet time together.
“Let’s get on the four wheeler,” I suggested, leading her over to the shed we kept them in. I got on one and she got on behind me, wrapping her arms around my waist. I started it up and headed out to one of the fields by the creek.
“Where are we going?” she asked, causing the goose bumps to rise on my arms with the touch of her lips on my ear.
I patted her hands. “To a special place.”
We rode in silence the rest of the way. I went slower than I normally would; I wasn’t taking any chances with her and my unborn child on the back. We finally got to the creek and I stopped the four-wheeler. I took the flashlight and blanket I’d stashed in the back and grabbed her hand.
“What is this?” she asked, walking carefully in the dark.
I handed her the flashlight and laid out the blanket. I got down on it, laying down on my back, and motioned for her to join me. She gave back the flashlight and lay down next to me. I put my arm her
shoulders and pulled her into me. “My dad used to bring me out here when I was a kid. He said it was the best place to see the stars. After he died, I would come out here by myself all the time. I’ve never shared it with anyone though. Ever.”
I looked down at her and lifted her chin with a finger. “Until you. It seems natural to share everything with you.” My fingers brushed across her stomach. “One day I’ll bring our son or daughter here too.”
“It’s beautiful,” she said softly, hooking her leg across mine. “I can hear the creek and the stars are so clear.” She rested her chin on my chest and turned to look up at me. “You know, that’s one reason I decided to stay here. Back home, you can’t see many stars. The lights of the city fill the sky. When I was here that first night and looked up, I was in awe of all of the stars I could see. There was something about the beauty of it all that just drew me in. I felt like I’d come home.”
I lifted my head to kiss you. “You did. This is your home, Rachel.”
She slid on top of me and a moan escaped my lips as she moved her hips on top of me. I pressed my hips up so she could feel my erection through my jeans. “I want you, Rachel,” I whispered against her lips.
“Then take me, Clint,” she muttered before sitting up and unbuttoning her blouse while I watched. She slipped it off her shoulders and tossed it aside, revealing a white cami and white lacy bra underneath. I slid my hands underneath the flimsy fabric, touching the soft skin of her stomach. She reached for the hem of it and lifted it over her head.
She started to move her hands behind her to undo her bra. “Stop. Let me,” I mumbled, sitting up slightly and unhooking her bra. As I pulled it from her body, I bent down to suck one nipple into my mouth. The pregnancy made her breasts more sensitive than normal and she gasped as I worked the nub into a tight peak. She clutched my head and held me tight against her, grinding her hips on me.
I continued to tease her nipples, moving from one to the other until she was gasping. She had worked her skirt up around her waist. My hand moved up her thigh to touch the edge of her thong. I grabbed it in my hand and ripped it from her. She moaned and shuddered. “Clint, please.”
I lifted my head to look at her. Desire and lust were written all over her face, her eyes glassy. “Tell me what you need, Rachel.”
She whimpered in frustration. “You! I need you!” Her hips moved faster and I let her use my body before I flipped her over onto her back.
I took my t-shirt off before I hovered over her, looking into her eyes before kissing her neck. I licked and sucked and bit my way down her chest, then her stomach, before stopping between her legs. I could smell her arousal as I spread her legs wide before me. I leaned forward, working her with my tongue and fingers until she tensed and cried out my name. Her body shook as her orgasm washed over her. While she was still trembling, I stood up and undid my jeans, kicking them off quickly before getting back on top of her and sliding into her with one swift movement.
She wrapped her legs around me, tilting her hips up to meet my every thrust. She arched beneath me and her pussy still twitched and pulsed around me from her orgasm. I made sure my pubic bone rubbed against her with each movement, driving her closer to another climax. I wanted her to cover me with her juices when she came around me.
I kissed her lips before whispering, “Come with me.”
She moaned and nodded, dragging her nails across my shoulders. Her breathing got faster and I knew she was close. I reached down and grabbed her hips in my hands, thrusting hard, making sure the head of my cock rubbed against the sensitive spot inside of her.
She cried out my name and started to shake as she released and I buried my face in her neck and growled as I emptied deep inside her. She held me tight against her as we both came down from our high. I pulled out of her and kissed her. “Thank you for sharing this special spot with me.”
“Rachel, I plan to share a lifetime of special with you,” I smiled at her.
We started to get dressed and she glared at me when she found her thong. “What am I supposed to do with this now?” She held it out in her hand.
“I’ll take it,” I chuckled and shoved it into my pocket. She laughed and rolled her eyes.
I picked up the blanket and put it in the back of the four wheeler along with the flashlight. I helped her get back on it before I did and we headed back to the house. I rode slow, not ready to join the crowd again. She rested her chin on my shoulder and hugged me tight. When I arrived back as the shed, I started to get off and she stopped me. “I love you, Clint and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“I love you, Rachel,” I replied before leaning in to kiss her.
“Guys!” Eliza yelled at us. “Quit making out and come join the party!”
We pulled apart and laughed. Life couldn’t be any more perfect with my girl at my side, carrying my baby, and my family here on the ranch. It almost felt like a fairy tale and I couldn’t wait for us to live our happily ever after.
25
Wyatt
I surveyed the room full of my sister’s friends. I took a swig of my beer and sighed. It was the same girls here as always. That’s what sucked about living in a small town - there were no women, at least not ones I hadn’t been with already.
“Hey Wyatt,” a tall redhead came up to me and put her arms around me waist.
“Hey Ginger,” I said and took another drink of my beer. I didn’t respond to her advances and she pulled away with a pout.
“What’s wrong, handsome?” She asked. “Didn’t we have fun the other night?”
I looked down at her, trying not to sneer at her. I was so tired of this game; a different woman every weekend, but how else was I supposed to get laid? I was always up front with them, letting them know I didn’t do relationships. This guy didn’t pay for it and I certainly wasn’t going to settle down with one woman.
“Yeah, we had fun, but I told you it was a one night thing.” I looked around the room, smiling when I saw my brother and his fiancé dancing. I was so happy for them. Rachel was a great girl and perfect for him. And now they were going to have a baby on top of it all. I couldn’t wait to be an uncle.
Ginger must have noticed me watching them.
“They look happy,” she said.
“They are,” I replied. “And I’m happy for them, but marriage and babies aren’t for me.” I glanced over at her. “At all.”
She crossed her arms over her ample chest. “See you around, Wyatt.” I watched her walk away from me, admiring the way her ass looked in jean shorts, but I wasn’t jumping on that crazy train again.
Eliza came up to me with a drink in her hand. “What’s the matter, Wyatt? No chicks for you to bang? Maybe you’ll have to start over in the rotation.” She laughed and I snorted at her.
“Maybe,” I laughed with her. “What about you? I don’t see you with anyone except Jackson. What’s up with you two?”
She shrugged. “Nothing really. We’re friends and we enjoy each other’s company, that’s it.”
“Right,” I grinned and winked at her. “He’s always watching you, eye-fucking you. Don’t think I don’t notice you checking him out too.”
She waved her hand. “Whatever big brother. You’re crazy.” She took a sip of her drink and grabbed my hand. “Let’s dance by Rachel and Clint.”
I groaned but let her drag me out to the dance floor; I couldn’t refuse her on her birthday. Actually, I rarely could refuse my baby sister. She had Clint and me wrapped around her finger.
The four of us had a blast on the dance floor, laughing and joking around through a few songs. We finally decided on a break and headed off the dance floor. I was reminded why I stuck around this one-horse town - my family. I loved them with all of my heart and I would do anything for them.
As we were walking off the dance floor, one of Eliza’s old friends from high school came up with another girl that took my breath away. She was short, maybe about 5’ to my 6’3” but had
a full figure which was emphasized by her tight jeans and low-cut tank top. Her black hair was about shoulder length and hung in waves around her face. She glanced up at me and I swore I saw a hint of gold flecks in her emerald green eyes.
“Happy birthday, girl,” Eliza’s friend Marissa said, leaning in for a hug. She looked over at me with a look of disgust. Another girl left in my trail of broken hearts. I fought back a smirk.
“Hey! Long time no see!” Eliza said with a smile. She looked at me and narrowed her eyes; I knew better than to misbehave when I saw that look. It didn’t matter anyway, I couldn’t tear my eyes off the girl standing in front of me.
“Yeah, things have been busy. This is a great party though.” She turned to the dark-haired beauty standing next to her. “This is my cousin Alexis. She’s staying with us for awhile. Alexis, this is Eliza. And her brother Wyatt.”
“Nice to meet you,” Alexis said, shaking Eliza’s hand. She checked me out, a small smile playing on her lips. “Is this the Wyatt you warned me about?”
My eyes widened. Shit, what had this girl heard about me? How long was she staying? Surely I’d be able to work my magic and have her begging me to take her out in no time. Girls had a hard time saying no to me.
“Mmhmm,” Alexis spat out, her hands on her hips.
Ma came over then and whispered in Eliza’s ear. She nodded and patted her arm before she walked away. She turned to her friend. “I gotta go for a bit, but let’s catch up later, ok?” She hugged Marissa again and was off in a flurry, leaving the three of us standing together.
“Let’s go Alexis,” Marissa said, looking at me with disgust. She took her cousin’s arm and started leading her away from me.
“It was nice to meet you, Alexis. Hopefully we can talk more later,” I called after her. She turned to wave and wink at me as they were walking away and I thought my heart was going burst out of my chest. I had to have that girl.
Clint: A Hidden Lane Ranch Cowboy Novel Page 14