Santa Baby: a Crescent Cove Romantic Comedy Collection

by Quinn, Taryn

  My wife needed to have a plan of action. Nerves fell by the wayside when she had something to do.

  I stuffed my hands into my pockets and took a deep breath of the cool night air. The canned air inside the hospital was killing me slowly. I checked my phone and gave my mom an update. She sent me a sleeping picture of my kid.

  The scrape of sneakers and a lanky guy shuffling around the side of the building, then back toward the emergency entrance made me look up. I glanced back down as he disappeared. Twenty seconds later, he returned.

  “You lost, man?”

  “What? Oh, yeah. Not sure.” He pushed a mop of curls out of his face. “I, uh, am looking for my girlfriend—well, ex-girlfriend.” He huffed out a strained laugh. “So fucked up.”

  My gut tightened. I straightened and stuffed my phone back in my pocket. “I’ve been here all night. I can at least point you in the right direction.”

  “Maternity. Shit. I can’t even believe I said that word. She said she was here.”

  I swallowed hard. “You found it.” I nodded to the doors behind me. “Who are you looking for?”

  “You probably wouldn’t know her.”

  “I’ve been in the maternity waiting room all night.” My hand fisted in my pocket. The bad vibes got louder in my head.

  “Oh. Well, then yeah, maybe.” He speared his fingers into his hair, pushing it back from his pale, emo fucking face. “Kelsey. She’s a cute ginger girl. Sweet, a little goofy.”

  The door opened behind me, but the growl that came out of me made the kid take a step back. “Whoa, dude. If you don’t know her, that’s cool.” He tried to go around me and stopped. “Kelsey, babe. I got here as soon as I could.”

  “Tommy.”

  I didn’t know that blood truly could run cold until that moment.

  Now, I knew that it was a sterling fact.

  Twenty-One

  My heart stopped.

  Literally.

  There was no way this should happen in my life. Today of all days. “Oh, God. What are you doing here, Tommy?”

  “You texted me.”

  I glanced at Dare. His face was red and the tendons in his neck were bulging. He was still wearing half of his suit. His dress shirt was half open, showing a V-neck undershirt with the tails untucked. Instead of seeming unkempt, all I could notice were the ropey muscles of his arms on display, making my ex-boyfriend look even younger and more slight.

  Tommy bounced on his heels, his Converse sneakers untied as always. He was wearing skinny jeans and a plaid shirt two sizes too big for his lanky frame.

  Seeing them side-by-side was sobering.

  My husband versus the boy I once knew. That I’d even had a moment’s sadness about Tommy breaking up with me seemed so stupid. I’d leveled up by miles.

  I rushed forward and curled my hand around Dare’s arm. He pulled back and stepped away from me.

  “Dare.”

  “What is he doing here, Kel?”

  I swallowed. “I texted him.”

  “Why?” Dare shook his head. “Today of all days? Are you kidding me right now?”

  I stepped toward him, but again, he sidestepped my touch, folding his arms. “I had to. Seeing all this happen today with the baby and then with us and our conversation in the car. I had to. It wasn’t fair that I hadn’t told him yet.”

  I glanced at Tommy.

  Tommy’s gaze pingponged between me and Dare. “I’m not sure what I’m walking into here. All you said was we had to talk and then you said you were at the hospital. Are you okay?” He looked me up and down. “Are you wearing a…” Tommy tipped his head. “Is that a wedding dress?”

  “Yes, it’s a fucking wedding dress. She’s my goddamn wife.”

  “Wife?” Tommy’s shocked eyes were almost comical.

  Almost.

  Because my husband was about to rip someone’s head off and I was pretty sure it might be mine. Okay, no, he wouldn’t. I didn’t know Dare as well as I wanted to, but there was one thing I knew. He’d never hurt me, no matter how mad he was.

  And holy crap, was he mad. I didn’t think I’d ever seen him so angry. Even the day at Macy’s, he’d been annoyed and possibly ready to throw a punch, but not like this.

  Not pop-a-blood-vessel angry.

  I straightened my shoulders and stalked up to my husband, ignoring Tommy’s wide open mouth. “Yes, I texted him. But I didn’t think he was coming here.” I lifted my hands to cup Dare’s face and he flinched.

  Part of me wanted to back up and flee. God, I hated any sort of conflict. Things between us were still so tenuous. So very unsure. But he deserved more. And knowing a little about his past, I knew I owed it to him to never ever lie. And for him to know he was the one who mattered most.

  Even if I was spilling the beans about my—no, our—baby. I’d been saying our baby for days now because it was true. It was ours regardless of the actual DNA strands doing their thing inside my body.

  “Dare, I had to tell him about the baby.”

  “Baby?” Tommy took two giant steps back.

  Dare frowned at me, his beautiful blue eyes hard and flat. I smoothed my fingers through his beard. “It was right to tell him. But it doesn’t matter. You said that to me. It doesn’t matter because it’s our baby. We’re going to raise it and make a family. And maybe even have more babies.”

  Just a few minutes ago, I was so scared to have this child. Truly and utterly terrified to endure that kind of pain, but I was positive I’d do it again for him. It didn’t matter to me if this was Dare’s baby by blood, it was his in love. But if he wanted another one, I’d certainly give it to him.

  The knowledge of it should have put me on my knees.

  It was too fast.

  Everything about me and Dare was too fast, but God, I loved him. And even now I knew it was only going to get stronger.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t say anything. I didn’t think he’d show up here. I just thought we’d go and talk about it. That we could go together even.”

  Maybe I hadn’t really thought that far, but saying it didn’t make it any less true. I’d impulsively texted Tommy that I had to talk to him about something, but I hadn’t done it maliciously. “I’d never go behind your back.” I touched my forehead to Dare’s chin. I didn’t quite reach him in the flats I’d changed into.

  The anger seemed to drain out of him slowly. His arms came around me until he was crushing me against his chest.

  “Dammit, Kel.”

  “I know. I’m sorry. I swear it. I was just overwhelmed with the baby stuff in there and then us getting married.”

  “I thought you wanted to marry me.”

  “I do, but not like this. Not like it was a checklist. And I know I should have said something, but you’re being so supportive and wonderful. I don’t want you to feel like you’re trapped—”

  “I’m not feeling trapped. I just don’t want you to leave.”

  “What?” I pulled back.

  He gripped the folds of my dress at my hips. “I couldn’t bear it if you left. I wanted to marry you fast so you’d be mine.”

  The tears came faster than I could blink them away. “Why would you…” I closed my eyes. God, I was so stupid. The conversation in the car came back to me. Both of them. “I’m never going anywhere,” I whispered.

  “Guys? I mean this is all very interesting. And actually, wow, Kelsey. You hooked up with him really fast.”

  I dashed away my tears, but I couldn’t help but smile. “I did. Crazy how it happened.”

  Tommy jammed his hands into his pockets. Well, as much as he could into his skinny jeans. More like just his fingertips. It was a rare man who could pull off the skinny jeans look, and Tommy just looked like he was trying too hard to be young and carefree. “Now, what’s this about a baby?”

  I blew out a breath. “I’m pregnant.”

  Tommy paled. “And you think it’s mine?”

  “I honestly don’t know. We had that night after Grann
y Flo’s funeral.”

  “Oh.” He scratched his head. “Yeah, wow. I mean, we used a condom and stuff. I thought you were on the pill?”

  I shook my head. “I hadn’t gotten my full time job yet, so I didn’t have insurance. And we’d broken up way before that.”

  “Shit. I mean…you know. Just I don’t know what to say.”

  “You don’t have to say shit.” Dare’s voice was more rumbly than usual.

  Actually, it was about as close to a growl as I’d ever heard. I patted his chest. “What Dare means is we don’t expect anything from you. I just didn’t want to keep it from you.”

  “Yeah. I get that. And thanks, I guess. I mean, if it’s mine I’ll step up if you want. I didn’t really ever want kids, but if it’s mine, I’ll do what’s right.”

  I peered up at Dare and stroked his beard with the back of my hand before stepping out of his hold. I turned to Tommy. “I appreciate it. And if the baby is yours, I’d be more than happy to let you be part of his or her life. If that’s what you want.”

  “I wouldn’t want to get between you guys if you’re doing the family thing. Maybe if I thought about it more or something, but…” He shrugged. “It would be okay with me if you wanted to take care of everything. I’m not trying to get out of taking care of it or anything, but you know…”

  I reached back for Dare’s hand. “I found a place that will do a blood test. It’s a paternity test. Takes a while to get the results.” I cleared my throat. “Regardless of the test, I want Dare to help me raise the baby.”

  Tommy gave me a tight smile. “It’s probably best. I’m not really dad material.”

  No, he really wasn’t. Dare was the perfect guy for me and for our baby. In so many ways. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. Looks like you’ve got yourself a great guy. Wow—married, huh?”

  I took a step back to Dare. “Yeah.” I laced our fingers more tightly together. “Crazy, but amazing.”

  Tommy nodded toward the parking lot. “I’m gonna go.” He cleared his throat. “So, just text me the info for the blood test or whatever.”

  “I will.”

  With an awkward little wave, he took off at a near run.

  Shaking my head, I smiled faintly. Amazing how a few months could change your perspective so much. I definitely didn’t regret my breakup with Tommy now. It was probably the best thing that had ever happened to me.

  No, that was falling in love with Dare and making a family with him.

  I glanced at my husband. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Tommy move so fast in my life.”

  “Like his ass is on fire,” Dare muttered. He hauled me into his arms and his mouth came down hard on mine. “Not me. You’re fucking stuck with me, Mrs. Kramer. Can we get out of here yet?”

  “I was coming out to tell you Sage had the baby.”

  “Thank fuck.”

  “Dare.”

  “Sorry. We’ve been here a long damn time. Not exactly the place I was looking to spend my honeymoon.”

  “No, I don’t suppose it was. I really am sorry about this whole thing—” He kissed me again, with more than a bit of pent-up frustration.

  “I don’t want to talk about that emo kid. I want you under me so I can show you how excited I am to be your husband.”

  I swallowed. “Is that right?” I stared at his neck, not quite able to look him in the eyes. “I was wondering if you still wanted me like that.”

  “What? Of course I do. I can’t keep my damn hands off you.”

  I nodded. “It’s not like we don’t have sex or anything, but you know. Not like we did at first.”

  “What?” He sighed. “What are you talking about? Every time I look at you, I want to get you naked.”

  “It’s good you still want to have sex with me, but it’s different.”

  “Of course it’s different. I’m not banging some girl I don’t know anymore.”

  “Well, maybe I want to be banged.”

  “What?”

  I didn’t know how to explain it. Was I really so wrong about everything about us? “I want all that passion. I was so afraid you didn’t see me as a woman anymore. Just someone you had to deal with out of duty.”

  “Oh, for fuck’s sake, Kel. I can’t stop thinking about you. Please tell me I can take you home and show you. I’m way better at that than words. Because believe me, after tonight, you’ll have no doubts.”

  I swallowed hard, darting a glance back at the hospital. All of a sudden, I was having trouble speaking without fidgeting. Laying it all on the line was so hard. “It’s a girl. Sage had a girl. I think her name is going to be Star. Not sure how that got by Oliver, but it did. I’m sure there’s one hell of a story behind her name.”

  “Great.” Dare took my hand and headed into the hospital. This time, Dare’s ass was the one on fire and so was mine. Or maybe it was my panties. “Can’t wait to hear the story another day. Right now, we’re getting our stuff and I’m taking my wife home for a proper honeymoon fuck.”

  God, that sounded amazing.

  Saying goodbye to everyone took much longer than I could stand. We both tried to get out of conversations, our gaze drifting to each other with way more steam than should be happening in a baby ward. And just when I thought we were finally in the home stretch—I even had my purse and jacket in hand—the nurse came out to tell us we could see the baby.

  I couldn’t not go look.

  I could feel the matching frustration in Dare as we walked hand-in-hand to the viewing room. There were only a handful of babies. All little bundles swaddled tight in pink and blue blankets. A few were fussing, but most were sleeping.

  And right in the middle was baby Hamilton.

  “She’s perfect.”

  Dare moved behind me, his arms around my middle, the flat of his hand over my still flat stomach. “Soon, that’ll be us with a little one getting toasty warm.”

  I giggled as I pressed my hand to the glass. “Do you want a boy or a girl?”

  “The right answer is whichever is healthy. But if I end up with a girl who looks like you, I may end up in jail. There’s no way I’ll survive it.”

  I turned in his arms and linked my fingers at the back of his neck. “I probably shouldn’t love that answer so much, but I do. Take me home.”

  “About time.”

  We practically raced down the hallway. We caught sight of Ally in a small alcove and we both froze, but we didn’t have to worry. She was too busy with Seth to bother with us.

  Evidently, seeing a baby revved them up too.

  Dare and I grabbed our bags and finally made it out the door. It was nearly two in the morning. A few nurses were standing along the edge of the parking lot, smoking cigarettes. I was too wrapped up in thoughts of Dare to care who saw us.

  I pushed him up against the car door and went on my toes to meet his mouth.

  He seemed to have the same problem as I did because there was no reining in the lava-level kisses between us. He pressed his cock into my belly. “I only slowed myself down because I want you too much, Kel. It’s not duty between us. I promise you.”

  I wanted to climb him. To mount him and rub against him until the ache went away. Until I could feel every part of him around me and inside of me. Until there was nothing safe about us.

  I’d had safe before. I wanted the wild that I could only find with Dare.

  He reached behind his back for the latch of the door and maneuvered me into the car with his hot breath on my neck and my skirt and slip riding up around my ass. He pressed himself against the lacy white panties and garter I’d worn under my dress.

  I’d been hoping to show him I was still sexy—not just a mom-to-be.

  Dare gripped my hips. “You’ve been wearing this under your dress all day?”

  I nodded. “I wanted you to want me.” I hated how tremulous my voice was, but I wasn’t going to hide how I felt anymore.

  He pushed my hair aside and dropped his mouth to my neck
. He nipped at the skin there. “I do. So goddamn much.” He put me in the seat and instead of pulling my dress down he hiked it higher. “Fuck. So beautiful. So much mine.” He lowered his head between my thighs for a quick second. He dragged my panties aside and swiped his tongue along my slit. “I’ll start you off and you’ll finish before we get home.”

  The hint of a growl made my thighs shudder. Actually, it made everything shudder.

  He slipped two fingers inside of me and I arched up on the seat, his name more moan than words. He covered my mouth with his as he flicked his thumb over my clit and pumped into me. I could taste myself on his tongue and it made it even hotter as he pushed me up and held me right on the edge of release.

  “Shh,” he said against my mouth. “Don’t want the nurses to know I’m finger-fucking my wife, do you?”

  “Maybe I do.”

  His lips tilted into that smirk I remembered from the day he delivered a pizza to my door. From the bar, the first time we flirted, and finally, a new one to add to my memories.

  My husband making out with me in the car because he was so hot for me.

  “I’ll remember that.” He drew his fingers out of me, then pulled my hand down between my legs. “Now you.” He guided my middle finger inside slowly then pulled it free and sucked it clean with a hard pull ending in a bite. “Again.” Then he stood up and closed the door.

  I collapsed against the seat, my legs splayed open. God, he was going to kill me.

  He got in the driver side and leaned over. “Don’t forget to buckle up.” He drew it tight across my hips until I was strapped into the seat. He slid the shoulder strap between my breasts then flicked a fingertip over my rigid nipple. “For safety.”

  Yep. I was a dead woman.

  He gunned the engine, checked his mirrors, and pulled his own seatbelt on. “You have about thirteen minutes to come twice.”

  “Twice?”

  He threw a look at me. “Twice, Mrs. Kramer.”

  I shivered. Okay, maybe I’d like this game. Maybe two of us could play. I couldn’t move much thanks to the seatbelt, but the dash lights would give him a good show. And it was exciting enough that I wanted to give him a show too.