Wine & Whiskey: Everything for You (Surviving Absolution Book 2)

by Nikki Belaire

  Hell the fuck no. Fire races through his taut body. No secrets between them. She’s not hiding anything from him ever again. “Shae?”

  She lowers her chin, her gaze flicking toward the half-finished smoothie. “I had a bad dream, but I’m okay now.”

  Fucking motherfucker. His jaw clenches at the likely cause of her suffering. “About Carter?”

  She nods and shrugs, dismissing his concern. “Max was here. He took care of me. It’s fine.”

  The hell it is. Bastard steals her peace when all she deserves is rest. And now she feels guilty about admitting it. He drives his hand through his hair and blows out a deep sigh, a futile attempt to reign in his rage or eliminate her fear. Thank God he left Max here. The thought of her waking up alone and scared makes his chest pound. She must never be left by herself, must never feel abandoned or afraid.

  “Don’t worry. I’m okay. I promise.” She glances toward the cluttered countertop. “Besides, I need to clean up. We have to leave for Dr. Patterson’s soon.”

  A bit of tension evaporates from his tense muscles at the genuine smile crossing her face. He refuses to ruin her—their—excitement with his fury. “I’ll help you.”

  “Thank you.” A quick kiss skims his cheek before she hops up and slides the cutting board to the sink, pushing the stems down the garbage disposal. He unscrews the blender base and loads the blade and pitcher into the dishwasher. Turning back to her, he pauses at her concentration, a smile curling his lips.

  She peers at the textured surface, thoroughly scrubbing the circle of condensation left from her glass, making sure the spot’s completely gone. God, she’s fucking amazing. After everything she’s been through, she worries about appeasing the housekeeper’s stringent expectations of cleanliness. “Think you got it all?”

  Scarlet crawls up her cheeks, matching the lava racing through his veins to his groin at her smirk. “Are you making fun of me now?”

  “Nope. Just admiring the view. What man doesn’t like to see his woman barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen?”

  The sponge bounces off his chest along with her bubbly laughter. “How come I’m just finding out now that you’re a chauvinist?”

  He gives her an exaggerated frown, contrasting with the smirk twitching on her sweet lips. “You told me I was charming.”

  “I think I said cocky.”

  “Confident.”

  Her eyes dance, her face glowing from the mischief playing between them. Finally, her genuine personality shines through completely. Just for him. “Or was it slick?”

  “Well-spoken.”

  “Bossy.”

  “Driven.”

  She shakes her head. “You have an answer for everything, don’t you?”

  “Yeah.” He palms the countertop on each side of her, caging her in before she can even think about trying to get away. Desire burns in her gaze, boring into his, almost more than he can bear to keep from ravishing her. “I go after what I want, and I always make it mine.”

  “I have no idea what I want…” Sweet, strawberry breaths warm his skin as she eliminates the space between them and whispers against his lips, “Except for you.”

  Fuck. No more games. She’s his. His mouth crashes against hers, pouring every drop of desire into her breathless moan, reminding her she owns every part of him. Urgent fingers tug on his shirt before slipping underneath the fabric. Fireworks explode across his skin at her burning touch, gliding up his back, drawing him closer.

  “No kissing in kitchen.” Marta’s voice douses his throbbing need like ice water. Need to tie a fucking bell on that woman. “Is for eating.”

  Shae laughs against his cheek and squeezes his waist before stepping out of his embrace. “I’m sorry. We were just cleaning up.”

  “Leave to me.” The housekeeper yanks open the refrigerator door and lifts out a silver bowl of sliced mangoes, pineapple, and peaches. “You just eat.”

  Shae’s eyes widen in realization as she glances from the container to the hint of a smile flickering on Marta’s worry-lined face. “Did you buy all of this fruit for me?”

  “I know what is proper. You too skinny, have skinny baby. No good. I fatten both you up.”

  “Thank you.” Shae grasps the older woman’s free hand, her voice cracking before she swallows. “I promise I’ll eat all I can.”

  Marta nods her approval before turning on him, her stiff finger wagging at his chest. “You take care of her. No more of the working.”

  He fights an eye roll at her demands. Marta shows her concern the only way she knows how. By taking care of her. Of all of them. Giving Shae the mothering love she needs, just like she has for him all these years. Instead, he puts his hands up in defeat, ignoring Marta’s glare and Shae’s giggle next to him. “Yes, ma’am.”

  In the less than twenty-four hours Shae’s been back, the mood of the entire house has shifted. As if the lights have been turned on and all the windows opened. Her presence like sunshine breaking through the darkness. Everyone almost as happy as he is at her return.

  “Good. Now go.” Marta’s slightly gnarled hands flick in his direction, dismissing them from her domain.

  “Fine. We’re leaving.” He scoops Shae up, her squeal echoing through the narrow hallway as he strides toward the garage.

  “You know, I can walk.”

  “Nope. Marta’s orders.”

  Now, it’s her turn to roll her eyes and laugh. But she doesn’t fight him. Her head droops to his shoulder, her body softening and snuggling in. She’s exhausted. All of her resiliency tapped out. Not as fragile as she looks, yet spent beyond her limits. Because of him. And he refuses to push them anymore.

  “Wait! What about my shoes?”

  “Got ‘em.”

  He stoops to let her grab a pair of silver sandals from the tile before nudging open the door with his shoulder, cradling her legs tighter to keep them from bumping the wood. The smile on Jacks’ face at his antics is no comparison to the one lighting her angelic face as he sits her on the leather seat. Enough to make him survive the harshest torture just to see it again. He nods at the chauffeur and climbs in, curling her against him, welcoming her soft sigh on his shoulder.

  “I like this.” Pink tipped fingers glide over his, entwining his hand with her gentle grip.

  “What?”

  “Being with you. Just relaxed. I missed you, and for so long, I didn’t think we would ever have it again. So, even the simple things—hanging out, doing the dishes, you grilling for us last night—are perfect.”

  His lips brush her forehead, holding back the deluge of apologies forming on his tongue. The words as innocent as her intentions. Meant to bring them together. Not punish him for being the stupid bastard who couldn’t see what she knew all along. He shakes his head, fighting against his guilt to let it go. “The way you devoured that steak, I don’t think Marta has anything to worry about with your appetite.” Her shy smile is like a match to his kerosene, lust torching through his body. “It was sexy as hell, with all of your moaning and lip licking.”

  “That did not happen.” She tilts her head, her eyebrows rising in protest before she breaks into a huge grin. “Well, maybe it did a little. You’re a good cook.”

  “Got to keep my girl happy.”

  “I am. Very much.”

  Contentment softens her expression, and she cuddles against him again before checking his watch. “When we were apart, I felt so lost…scattered, like pieces of me were everywhere and nowhere at the same time.”

  Her fingertip traces the white and silver face, following the second hand sweeping downward. Eighty grand yet worthless to him. The two hundred thousand dollar car. The over-priced suits. Enormous mansion. All meaningless. Everything that helped him play the part of the arrogant asshole, using and being used. None of it ever filled the void. Nothing and no one until her.

  “Me too, sweetness. Makes me wonder how I ever lived before I met you.” He brushes her long hair from her cheek. “Or how I th
ought I could survive without you. But, neither of us will ever know that feeling again.”

  She scans his features, hopefully seeing the absolute commitment in his eyes, before kissing him as the light dims from the darkened entrance of the parking garage. Her elegant fingers squeeze his after she accepts his outstretched hand helping her from the limo. The reassuring smile she offers him contrasts with the worry lining her forehead. “It’s going to be fine.”

  “Of course it is.”

  Oscar and Leo trail a few steps behind them as they hustle down the corridor. Not what he wants for her visit to the obstetrician, but he has no choice. Not when she needs him to be her strength. Or be distracted by the threats swirling around them. He clutches her against him, helping her keep up with his quick steps to minimize their exposure in the open. She glances at him, but doesn’t utter a word, seeming to accept his vigilance without protest.

  He nods to his men standing guard at the glass door. The physician’s office and exam rooms already searched and confirmed safe before their arrival. He pauses once they step inside, loosening his tight grip, yet not letting her go. Never able to relax completely when it comes to her safety.

  She leads him to the counter, past the empty, beige chairs lining the exterior of the room, short stacks of magazines covering the tables wedged between small sofas in the opposite corner. A redhead with the tightest curls he’s ever seen smiles and picks up a white file. “Hi, Shae. Please come in. We’re ready for you.”

  “Thank you.”

  The woman nods toward him. “It will only take a few minutes. Your bodyguard is welcome to wait here.”

  Normally, that would piss him off. Being mistaken for anything other than the boss. But, when it comes down to it, that’s what he is—her protector. He’ll never let anyone or anything hurt her again. Including himself.

  Shae smiles at him, her eyebrows lifting in amusement. Yeah, she’s going to tease him about that later. And he’ll love every minute of the sweet torture. “This is my fiancé, Nick DeMarco.”

  Wide eyes and gaping mouth precede the receptionist’s reply. “I-I’m so sorry. I just thought…I read on Total-E-News…”

  “It’s fine. We’re ready when you are.”

  Her head bobs vigorously, huge circles as crimson as her hair dotting her cheeks. “Yes. Of course. I’ll take you back.” They follow her through the doorway into the first exam room. “Dr. Patterson got called to the hospital for a delivery, but her nurse will take your blood and send it to the lab.” She motions toward the exam table. “Go ahead and have a seat. She’ll be right in.”

  “Okay, thank you.” The paper liner crackles under Shae as she slides onto the cushion. Her legs dangle over the side, swinging slightly, reflecting her nervousness. He drops down onto the rolling stool across from her and entwines her delicate hands in his. Her head shakes, but she still smiles at his temerity. “I think that’s the doctor’s seat.”

  He winks and gives her an exaggerated whisper, “She’s not here. She’ll never know.”

  “You’re so bad.”

  “That’s why you love me.”

  The door opens again, and a blonde woman in scrubs covered with tiny rainbows strides in and smiles at them before washing her hands at the stainless steel sink in the small work area. “Hi, Miss Armstrong. I’m Kathryn. Are you ready?”

  “Yes, please.”

  He gives her trembling hand another squeeze and stands up, moving next to her. Kathryn pulls on latex gloves and lifts up Shae’s arm, gently tapping on the crook and rubbing her finger over the skin. A frown darkens her expression as she squints, grabbing the glasses from the top of her head and sliding them onto the bridge of her nose. “How have you been feeling, honey?”

  Shae hugs herself with her free arm, glancing at him before looking back at the nurse. “I’m a little bit tired. It’s been kind of hectic the last few days.”

  An inaccurate description of the hell she’s gone through. Always protecting him from himself. He can’t let her diminish the truth to spare his feelings. “She collapsed and was released from the hospital yesterday. The doctor said she was dehydrated.”

  “I think you still are, and I’m afraid I might not be able to get a clean stick without the vein collapsing. I don’t want to miss and put you through that.”

  Hell no. Shae’s not going to be the victim of this woman’s ineptitude. He steps closer, ready to create a barrier between the women. “Then you better get someone who—”

  “What should we do?” Shae strokes his fingers, attempting to soothe his worry. Once again, the calm to his storm, even when he’s supposed to be her shelter from the turmoil.

  “I’m going to get you some water.” The nurse looks up from her inspection, giving Shae an encouraging smile. “That’ll help us plump up those stubborn veins.”

  “Okay. Thank you.”

  “No problem. Be right back.”

  After the woman departs, Shae nods toward the closed door. “She’s sweet. I can tell she knows what she’s doing.”

  She fucking better. Or he will find someone who does. He’ll hire a team of experts if he has to.

  “All righty, here you go.” Kathryn steps inside and hands Shae her drink. “I’ll give you a few minutes to work on it, and then I’ll come back and check on you.”

  “Okay, thank you.” Shae uncaps the bottle and takes a long swallow. After tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she gives him a timid smile. “I’m sorry this is taking so long. I know you need to work.”

  “You know better than that. This is where I want to be.” He nods toward the posters decorating the walls, depicting various stages of pregnancy and encouraging healthy behaviors. “Besides, I’m learning a lot. Marta’s right about the fruit.”

  “She’s going to make a wonderful grandmother.” Her happy sentiment grows bigger at the housekeeper’s name. “I think she worries as much as you do, although neither of you likes to admit it.”

  “We just want both of you to be okay.” A grimace rolls through him at the photo behind her. The woman in labor, her face pinched in pain, sweat beads rolling down her temples as another lady holds her hand. He’s going to be a fucking mess when it’s Shae, unable to stand watching her suffer.

  He’s got to fucking get himself together. Be the man she needs him to be. Not a weak bastard unable to support the strongest woman he’s ever known. Who puts up with his bullshit no matter what he does. Forgives him over and over for the same mistakes. And yet, somehow, still loves him.

  Her soft voice pulls him out of his thoughts. “Everything’s happened so fast, and you haven’t had much time to think about what a baby means and how they change your life.” She spins the now almost-empty bottle between her fingers, hesitation threading through her words, her smile gone. “It’s okay to be overwhelmed. To feel like you’re not ready for all of this yet.”

  “Nothing to think about. I’m ready.”

  “But, if it wasn’t for Evan trying to get me to trick you, we probably wouldn’t even be—”

  “Fuck no, sweetness.” Fire races through his clenched gut at her misguided assumptions. That she thinks he isn’t completely committed. That she and the baby aren’t everything he’s ever wanted. “You think I’m here because I was jealous? Or out of fucking obligation?” His tone is harsher than he intends. But she’s got to understand. To believe him. In him. “Even without that motherfucker’s schemes or you being pregnant, I would have found my way back to you. What we have between us could never be over.”

  He takes a deep breath, trying to slow the pounding of his racing heart and slides his finger under her chin. Forcing her to meet his eyes. Cursing himself for the skepticism in hers. She squirms against his hand, anxiety blazing her cheeks as she leans closer. “I have absolutely zero doubt.”

  “That’s not what I meant.”

  “I’m all in. One hundred percent.” His gaze drops to her stomach before returning to her pinked face. “For both of you. Living this l
ife, with you, is exactly what I want. You are the only woman I’ve ever loved, ever wanted to marry, wanted to have a family with. Just you.”

  “I know. I believe you. All I was trying to say is, it’s okay to be scared.”

  Relief softens his rigid posture, the muscles loosening under her gentle caress of his hands. “I’m not.”

  “But my body is going to change.”

  “And be even more beautiful.”

  She glances around the room, pausing on the image he had been staring at seconds before. “I’ll be in pain.”

  “I’ll be there to help you.”

  “You’re going to worry so much about protecting us.”

  Fuck. He finally gets it. All of her fears for him as well as for herself hold back her complete happiness. But he’ll overcome them. Pass every test. Crush every objection. Make her trust in him again. “I’ll never let anything happen to either of you.”

  “We won’t get enough sleep.”

  “I’m a night owl.”

  “Our sex life could be ruined.”

  He smirks at her, winking before pressing his lips against hers. “Now that, I won’t let fucking happen.”

  A small shiver shudders through her body, and her arms wrap around his neck, the tight grip a welcome contrast to the uncertainty threatening to weaken them. “You’re going to be a dad.”

  His heart soars more than he ever thought possible at her joy. That she picked him. That she’s happy he’s the father of her child. And he’ll be everything they both deserve. “Yeah, and you’re going to be mom.”

  “Sorry to interrupt.” A light knock sounds from the door before Kathryn walks in. “Ready for me to take another look?”

  Shae’s huge smile never fades, her gaze not leaving his. “Yes, please.”

  The nurse rubs across Shae’s arm, nodding in approval. “Much better.” She ties the rubber tourniquet and pricks her delicate skin.

  Only he flinches. Kathryn’s technique apparently smooth and painless. He’s a dick for thinking otherwise. “There you go, honey. All done.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” She smiles at him before nodding toward Shae. “Now, you can take her home.”