Take A Chance (Lake Placid Series Book 4)

by Natalie Ann

  He ran his knuckles down her cheek. “You’re carrying the real deal for me right now.”

  Oh wow. Cole had a sensitive side. “Yeah, I am. And if we were anywhere other than a parking lot right now, I might grab you and tell you the real deal I really want, though.”

  He laughed, a loud booming sound that was music to her ears. “Don’t ever change, Rene.”

  In Love

  “Are you sure it’s okay?” Cole asked. “It’s not going to hurt you or the baby?”

  She sighed loudly, then rolled her eyes. “I’m not going to tell you again. It won’t hurt either of us. I will hurt you though if you don’t stop questioning every little thing.”

  He really didn’t know what to make of the changes in her lately. Part of him loved it, the other part not so much.

  “You’ve never been this stubborn before,” he said.

  “Get used to it. It’s probably a good thing for me, but not for you.”

  “Probably,” he said.

  She ignored his grouchy response and grabbed his hand, pulling him to the stairs. “You’re killing the mood here. I never expected that of you.”

  “I didn’t expect it of me, either.”

  He let her pull him up the stairs, through his bedroom doorway, where she shoved him toward the bed. When he sat down on the edge, she climbed into his lap, gripped his face, and started to kiss him like she was a starving woman.

  He wanted to comment on it but thought better of it. Not after she’d eaten almost more than him at dinner just now. He’d bit his tongue on that, too. He was learning.

  “Tell me what to do,” he said.

  She laughed. “Come on now. Seriously. You know what to do. You can’t expect me to teach you anything at this point.”

  She’d taught him so much already but he didn’t say that. Instead, he was going to do his damnedest to be as gentle as possible. If he weren’t so much bigger than her, maybe he wouldn’t worry as much.

  “Okay. Let’s take it slow.”

  “No,” she said, crawling off his lap. She lifted the top of her scrubs off quickly and then wiggled out of her bottoms. Her bra and panties followed and she was left standing there naked in front of him. No signs of pregnancy on her body at all.

  Then his eyes shifted to her breasts. Maybe something looked different. Her nipples were a bit darker and her breasts fuller. Hmm, not bad.

  “Do you need help? I can help you undress if you want. Or you can sit there and stare at my tender breasts.”

  “How tender?” he asked. Was he not going to be able to touch them? That would really suck.

  “Tender enough for me to feel them, and to see how much better it’s going to feel during sex.”

  That was good. He stood up and undressed, then sat back on the bed, waiting for her to tell him what she wanted.

  Instead she rolled her eyes. “Man, you just want me to take control, don’t you?”

  He smirked. “Absolutely.”

  It made him feel better, at least the first time, to know he wasn’t doing anything to harm her.

  She crawled back in his lap, wiggled around, and then started to brush her breasts against his chest. “I want you to touch me,” she said.

  “Where?”

  “My breasts right now. Don’t be too gentle. Just do what you always do. I’ll tell you if I need more or less.”

  She always did and he appreciated that.

  So he brought his hands up her sides, across her flat tummy for a second, caressed her there, and then moved up her ribs and over her breasts.

  When she sucked in a breath, he stopped. “Too much?”

  “No way. It feels good. Keep going.”

  He did. Feather-like fingertips brushing all over her. Her breasts overfilling his palms already, his thumbs grazing her hardened peaks.

  The more he touched her, the more she squirmed around. “I need you inside of me now,” she said, letting out a little moan.

  So much for slow. Before he could move again, she was lifting herself up and sliding down on top of him. It’d been almost three weeks, and he felt like he was going to burst. She was slightly tight, or was she purposely squeezing him that way? Either way, didn’t matter.

  “Is it okay?” he asked. “Not too much?”

  She laughed. “You saw what that doctor stuck in me today. Sorry, Cole, you can’t compete, and that was fine. So you’re good to go.”

  Really? She had to go there? No man could compete with that magic ultrasound wand. Still, it gave him the permission he needed to move forward.

  He gripped her hips, lifted her up, then slid her back down. She must have liked it, because her head fell back against her shoulders and her legs wrapped around his waist.

  “Do you need me to lie down? Or do you want to lie down?”

  “Nope. I want to continue to feel you deep in me just like this. What I’d really like is if your mouth could reach down a bit.”

  “Down where?” he asked, looking at her breasts.

  “Right where your eyes just went. I’m so sensitive there. It would feel amazing; I know it would. I want to come with you doing that.”

  It was the first time she’d said the word come and it was enough to send him over the edge.

  Lowering his head, he pulled her in between his lips and started to suck. The minute he did, she just took over riding him hard and fast and sending them both out of control.

  A few minutes later, he’d collapsed on his back, her on his chest. “Holy cow. Where did that come from?”

  “I told you I was fine. Now you know you don’t need to be so gentle.”

  That was putting it mildly. “Still good? Nothing hurts?”

  “All good. Nothing hurts. Well, there is one thing.”

  “What?” he said, shifting fast, terrified he did something wrong.

  “Could we do it again?”

  “Right now?”

  “Yeah. Right now. Must be my hormones, but I need more.”

  He rolled her fast, covering her body with his. “If you’re sure?”

  “Oh I’m sure. Do it again, Cole.”

  So he did. Nothing holding him back this time.

  ***

  “Do you feel better now?” she asked, giggling. She felt nice and loose and limber.

  “I do. How about you? Or do you need some more? Because I’m up for it, if you are.”

  “I know you’re up for it. I feel pretty darn good myself.”

  “I wish I didn’t have to go into work tonight and could stay here in bed with you.”

  “I know. Me too. Tomorrow, though. I can spend the night tomorrow if you’d like.” She’d never spent the night and then gone into work the next morning. So far she’d only spent the night on the weekends, but she wanted to compromise a little.

  She understood he was worried, bordering on overbearing, and she was trying to cut him some slack. The other part of her hadn’t spent the night since they found out she was pregnant and she didn’t want to wait another few days until the weekend, either.

  “I would like that. I’d like it even more—”

  She reached up and put her hand over his mouth. “Don’t say it. Don’t say you want me to move in. We agreed to not talk about it again just yet.”

  “Fine,” he said.

  She lay back down across his chest. She knew she’d better think of something else to talk about or he wouldn’t let it drop. “I can’t believe how fast Celeste and Caleb’s house is going up.”

  She was on call this week at the cottage and it shocked her to see that from the outside, the house looked almost like it was finished. They’d only started it about six weeks ago.

  “Caleb is pushing all sorts of money at people to get it done faster than normal. They want it done before the wedding.”

  “That’s only about six weeks away,” Rene said.

  Celeste and Caleb were getting married and honeymooning the last week in June. Celeste wanted to be back and ready to go for the summ
er season when things picked up the most for her.

  “It will be done, if Caleb has his way,” Cole said.

  “You ready to give your sister away?”

  Rene thought it was sweet Cole was giving Celeste away, then standing in as the best man. The maid of honor was Caleb’s sister Corrine. They’d decided they wanted a small bridal party and siblings only to stand up.

  “Yeah. It’s time now. She’s wanted this her whole life. I know she never thought she’d get it, but she’s meant to be a housewife.”

  “Do you think they will have kids right away?”

  “I know she’ll want to, but I’m not sure she can,” he said.

  Rene leaned up. “Because she had cancer?”

  “Yeah. She’s worried about it. We’ve talked, but the doctors said they don’t think there is a reason she can’t conceive. I’m sure Caleb has it all worked out to make it happen anyway he can.”

  “Do you think she will be upset over my pregnancy?”

  “No. Why do you think that?”

  She lay her head back down. “Because we didn’t plan it and it just happened, and she wants it so much and it may take time.”

  “Celeste knows what she’s getting into. And she’ll be thrilled when she finds out she’ll be an aunt.”

  “I don’t want to say anything until after their wedding,” she said suddenly.

  He hesitated and then finally said, “Okay. After that, I want to tell people. You’ll be showing by then.”

  “At a little over three months? I doubt it.”

  “With the way you put dinner away tonight, someone is bound to notice something.”

  She pinched his arm. “Hey. Junior is hungry.”

  He rested on one elbow and then placed his hand on her belly. “Junior? Maybe it’s a girl?”

  “I doubt it. With as hungry as I’ve been, it’s a boy. He’s stealing all my food. Just like his daddy.”

  He smiled and looked down at her stomach and then up to her face. “Why are you crying?”

  “I didn’t know I was. I guess I’m just emotional over it still. In a good way. I’m already in love with him.”

  “Or her,” he said. “I think I am, too. I can’t feel what you feel, but the thought of my child in you…. Yeah. I’m already in love with the baby.”

  She held her breath, waiting to see if he’d say more. That maybe he’d give some sign that he was in love with her too, but he didn’t. She tried not to be hurt over it.

  All it did was prove exactly what she thought when he said he wanted to get married and have her move in. It wasn’t because of love, but because she was pregnant.

  She wasn’t marrying anyone that didn’t love her.

  My Promise

  “Let’s go for a ride,” Rene said. The weekend was finally here, neither of them had to work, and the weather was beautiful. Not a cloud in the sky.

  She’d spent the night yesterday, stopping to get clothes after work, and told her grandmother she wouldn’t be home until Sunday night.

  For sure, she’d thought her grandmother would comment on the fact she spent Wednesday night at Cole’s, but she didn’t say anything negative. Only that she was glad to know things were okay between her and Cole, that she worried they might be fighting since Rene hadn’t spent the night with Cole in over two weeks.

  Rene had just reminded her grandmother that Cole had been working nights and rushed out the door. She’d been trying to avoid her grandmother lately. That woman always knew more than anyone wanted her to.

  “Where do you want to go?” Cole asked. “Do you want to go shopping? We can go to the mall.”

  “Shopping sounds fun, but I was hoping to go up in the chopper.”

  “No,” he said.

  “Is something wrong with it?”

  “No. It’s fine.”

  “Then why can’t we go for a ride?”

  He’d taken her up two other times and she loved it. She wanted to experience it again. It’d been almost a month now.

  “Because you’re pregnant,” he said.

  “And…”

  “You shouldn’t fly when you’re pregnant,” he argued.

  “Says who? You shouldn’t the last few months. I’m still in the first trimester.”

  “It’s not safe,” he said.

  “You’re piloting, right?”

  “Of course.”

  “Then it’s safe. I trust you. You’d never let anything happen to your child.”

  “Or you,” he said, staring at her. “I’d never let anything happen to you, either. That’s why we aren’t going in the chopper.”

  “We’ll see about that.”

  ***

  Somehow, an hour later, they were taking off from his yard. He still wasn’t sure how it happened. He was ready to take a stand that he wasn’t bringing her in the air.

  It was too risky, he’d said. But nope, she just pulled a book out and showed him all the things going on in her body. Enough that he was a little nauseated. Maybe he shouldn’t have asked for a book on it weeks ago.

  When it was all said and done, and he read about the changes to come with her, she looked at him and said, “So you see, flying is fine. Let me enjoy something I like before I get to the point where I just want to lie on the couch and beg you to get me ice cream.”

  “Don’t think I’m going to fall for this all the time,” he said to her once they were in the air.

  “Fall for what?” she asked sweetly.

  “You know what. You played on my emotions.”

  “I didn’t know it would work,” she said, smiling.

  “It did. It won’t always.”

  “I’ll remember that. Junior will be happy though. Don’t you want him to have a love of flying like his father?”

  “You’re doing it again,” he said, smiling at her.

  She smirked back and laughed.

  They flew around for an hour, just relaxing in the air, looking at the lake and mountains below. It soothed her and she needed that right now. It was getting tiresome keeping this secret and holding it all in. She was terrified people were going to see right through to everything going on with her.

  She was trying not to stress about this pregnancy either, but it was hard. Between starting her new job and having to tell them she’d be missing work, and thinking about telling her parents and Nick, and seeing the disappointment in their eyes, she had been driving herself insane the last few weeks.

  Having Cole hover over her wasn’t helping, but at least he wasn’t looking at her like it was her fault.

  No, lately he’d been so sweet and caring. Loving, even, but she wasn’t letting her mind go there. It wasn’t the time or the place. There were too many other things to focus on.

  After he landed the chopper, they went in the house and grabbed a few drinks. “Thanks,” she told him.

  “You’re welcome. I worry, I know that, but it seems the ride calmed you. What’s going on with you lately?”

  He knew her better than she would have preferred and she wasn’t sure what to make of that.

  “Just thinking of things. Sometimes my mind wanders.”

  “Mine too,” he said.

  “What are you thinking of?”

  “I thought you didn’t want to talk about the baby much this weekend,” he reminded her.

  She sighed. “I guess it’s hard to avoid it.”

  “True. If you want to know the truth, I’m just thinking how we’re going to make this all work when the baby comes.”

  “Meaning the living situation?” she asked.

  “Yeah, but I know you don’t want to talk about it.”

  “I don’t want to talk about it now. And I said no for right now. That doesn’t mean no, months from now.”

  “Really?”

  “Really.” She wasn’t going to be stupid about it. She was keeping an open mind. “It wouldn’t be fair to keep you from your child, and I won’t be giving my child up for any nights.”

  �
�Our child,” he said. “And no, I don’t want to give up any more time than my job dictates. We have to work that out as we get closer, but I’ll back off for now. I’ll make a promise to you.”

  “What’s that promise?”

  “I won’t bring it up again about having you move in. Don’t answer me. I’m going to ask you one last time and you aren’t going to answer. When you’re ready to say yes, just say yes. That’s it. I won’t ask after this. Will you move in with me?”

  She started to open her mouth, then stopped. Thought for a second, and finally said, “It’s completely open?”

  “Yes. But I’d like to at least have it resolved before the baby comes,” he said, lifting his eyebrow.

  “It will be. That’s my promise to you.”

  She figured by then she’d have a better grasp on things and could move forward.

  “So what is bothering you then? Where is your mind wandering to?”

  She shrugged her shoulders and bit her tongue. She didn’t want to sound like a whiner to him. Instead, she got up to get something to eat. “I’m hungry. Do you want something?”

  He reached out and stopped her. “Rene. You won’t starve. You had an apple, and a yogurt before we left. That was after the huge sandwich and chips you had for lunch. Answer my question.”

  She didn’t see any way out of this, and she didn’t want to be accused of playing on his emotions again by saying the baby was hungry.

  “Everything. My body, how fat I’m going to get, how long before someone figures it out, my job and if I’ll lose it, how my parents are going to react, how disappointed people are going to be in me. You name it, it’s all happening in my mind lately.”

  She felt her eyes start to fill up again. She didn’t remember ever crying this much before, but it seemed like that was all she did. In private. Where no one could see or hear her.

  “I don’t think you have it in you to get fat, so no worries there. If you do, you do. You have to eat for the baby, and care for yourself, so get over it,” he said. “It’s not like you aren’t eating healthy. Even I see that. You’re smart enough to not go overboard, but if you do, it happens.”