by E. E. Burke
Freckles crept over. She sniffed at Logan’s bleeding palms.
Jen grabbed hold of the dog’s collar and pulled Freckles away so she would stop trying to lick him. “You’re not okay, you’re hurt.”
“I’m fine. It’s only a few scrapes.”
“But he hit you.”
“No, I tried to jump out of the way and hit the hood. Rolled off. He wasn’t going that fast.” Logan slowly got to his feet. “I’ll be fine. Nothing broken.”
Jen lifted the twenty-pound dog and held Freckles against her shoulder with one arm. The little sycophant licked her face. Using her other hand, Jen steadied Logan. She held his elbow even after it was clear he didn’t need her help.
His tan tuxedo was torn in several places and dirty at the knees where he’d knelt on the pavement. Other than his hands, he appeared unhurt, which was a miracle.
Jen’s stomach still churned. Her mind kept replaying the moment she’d seen Logan tumbling over the car’s hood. She shuddered, feeling drained and weak. She could only imagine how he felt. “If you won’t go to the hospital, you need to get those cuts tended. Come back to the house. I’ve got hydrogen peroxide and bandages.”
The driver looked positively green. “Is there anything I can do?”
Logan shook his head.
“Pay better attention.” She flung the suggestion over her shoulder, still holding Logan’s arm as they walked together back to her house. The accident wasn’t wholly the driver’s fault, but she couldn’t help being angry and needed to direct it somewhere besides at Logan. What had he been thinking to run out in front of a car? He must’ve presumed the driver would see him and stop. He put his faith in someone undeserving.
Right. He’d put his faith in her too. And look where that had gotten him.
Her stomach remained knotted and the thickness in her throat wouldn’t go away, no matter how many times she swallowed. She’d messed this up so badly, she wouldn’t blame him if he didn’t want anything to do with her.
When she got inside the gate, she put Freckles down. “Go find a squirrel in your own yard.”
The music that came from the other side of the hedges had shifted from Mozart to metal. The party was just getting underway.
Logan hesitated. “I need to get back.”
“Yes, I know.” Skipping out on his friend would be rude and out of character for Logan, who was a thoughtful person. Yet he’d left the reception to come after her, which spoke volumes about how he felt about her. Or had felt. Could be past tense.
She eyed him, worriedly. His face looked less flushed. Actually, he was now pale. He could be hurt worse than he thought. “I wish you’d let me take you to a doctor.”
He frowned. “Jen, I’ll be all right. I’m just a little shook up.”
“Really? Well, I’m a lot ‘shook up.’ Look, I know you need to get back, but I’d feel a lot better if you would at least come inside and let me put some salve on those cuts.”
“Fine, all right.” Logan allowed her to take his arm and lead him into the house.
She indicated a stool at the breakfast bar. “Sit there while I get the first aid kit.”
He sat, as requested, but then stopped her with his arm. His gaze turned speculative. “Why did you come after me?”
Jen’s watch buzzed. Damn, she’d forgotten about the conference call. What incredibly bad timing. If she ended her conversation with Logan now, she might never get another chance. She took off the watch and dropped it into a drawer, slamming it shut.
“You were right. I’ve been making excuses to try to avoid being hurt. There haven’t been many people in my life I could depend on. Not even my parents. It’s hard for me to trust. I’m not good at it. But, I’m willing to try, because I think you’re trustworthy.”
Logan’s expression softened. He still didn’t say anything. Why should he? He’d already said what he needed to say. Now it was her turn.
“I should’ve told you before how much I admire you. You’re a man of rare insight and sensitivity, a lot smarter than I thought you were when I first met you. More patient than I deserve, and you’re a sap when it comes to dogs.” Nervous, she looked down at her clasped hands. “I guess what I’m trying to say is...”
Get a backbone, Jen. Look at him when you tell him.
With Logan sitting on the stool and her standing, they were about at the same height. She met his direct gaze. The answer would be there, in his eyes. His beautiful blue eyes.
“I think I could love you, cowboy. I know I can’t bear the thought of losing you. What do you say we give this a chance?”
Epilogue
College Station, Texas, six months later
Logan pulled the door to the bedroom closed, slowly releasing the knob to try not to make any noise. He’d hoped to be home before ten, but he’d been cramming for an exam, then got a call to assist one of the vets with an emergency. Being a first-year DVM student, he’d been fortunate to land a job at a local clinic and knew better than to say no when they asked for help.
He made his way to the bathroom, brushed his teeth in the dark, groped his way to the closet, where he undressed down to his briefs. So far so good...
The mattress sank as he crawled into bed and slipped under the covers.
“Mm.” Jen rolled over and reached across him, at the same time, drawing her knee to his hip. She rose up, and her breasts brushed against his chest, giving him a jolt. Her soft lips touched his.
“Hi, cowboy,” she murmured.
“Hey, baby.” He kissed her and smoothed his hand along her bare side. “You’re naked.”
“Mm, I even took my watch off.”
“No watch? You know how that turns me on.” He reached up and slid his fingers through her silky hair, cradling her head to bring her to him for another kiss, this one deeper and lasting long enough to make him hard. “I’m surprised you’re still awake.”
“I wasn’t. I woke up when you got into bed.”
“Sorry ’bout that.”
“Don’t be sorry. I intended to wait for you, but I get tired earlier these days.”
“You’re up now?” He hoped the answer would be yes.
She put her lips to his ear, giving him goose bumps when she released a soft laugh. “I think you are. Up, I mean.”
Her fingers glided over the cotton pouch holding his stiff cock. He caught a sharp breath, and released it on a groan.
“Mm, I’ve missed you. Let’s get reacquainted,” she murmured.
He couldn’t get his briefs off fast enough.
Moments later, he sank into her welcoming arms. Just when he thought making love with Jen couldn’t get any better, it did. The aftermath was just as sweet. Entwined, they kissed and stroked each other’s cooling bodies.
Over the past six months, they’d maintained a long-distance relationship. She usually flew to Texas, into Houston, close enough for him to go pick her up at the airport and bring her back to where he was in school.
Jen had insisted he follow through with his plans to go back to A&M and finish his doctorate in veterinary medicine. She’d even set up a fund to help him financially. He promised he would pay her back. She told him he already had.
He cupped his hand over the slight swell of her abdomen. She’d given him a hell of a lot more than financial support. She’d given him hope that he would have what he wanted most—a life with Jen and their baby.
Her fears hadn’t vanished overnight. She’d held onto them for so long that it was hard for her to let go. But he’d patiently peeled away the protective layers, one at a time, revealing a sweet, tenderhearted woman with a lifetime of pent-up affection locked away. He was glad he was the one who found the key.
It hadn’t been easy for him to open up and let her take his heart, but he’d done it, because that was the only way he could win her for keeps.
He dropped a kiss on the end of her cute nose. “Are you here all weekend?”
“I’m here for as long as you want me to
be.”
Logan drew back. Damn, he wished he could see her face so he’d know if she was joking. “What if I say I want you here forever?”
“I’m not sure this apartment will be big enough for the three of us forever.” Her voice held a hint of amusement.
His heart thudded harder. “Are you serious?”
“I’m serious. I took a lower job so I could work remotely.”
“A low job?” Logan wondered if he’d suddenly become hard of hearing. Jen wouldn’t settle for downward movement. Granted, she’d told him she had enough money not to worry. Whatever enough meant. But money wasn’t the entire reason she worked, wasn’t even mostly the reason. Her career was how she defined herself. She drew confidence from her success.
“Not low, more like a lateral movement, but as a sole contributor. I’ll travel if I need to see clients—until it isn’t wise for me to travel.”
Logan could hardly contain his excitement. He wanted to leap up and jump on the bed, yodel with glee. The last time she’d visited, he told her how much he missed her and wished they could find more time to be together. If she felt pressured to make this move, she might end up resenting him.
He pressed a kiss on her hair, which smelled fresh and clean and faintly of vanilla. “You told me you loved that job, and your home, and being in Atlanta.”
She cuddled closer and nuzzled his neck. “Mm, I do like Atlanta, and I did love my job. But I love being with you more.”
Logan had to swallow the lump in his throat before he could speak. She had chosen him over her career and had reshaped her life to fit his circumstances. She couldn’t have done more to show how much she loved him.
He drew her up for a kiss. “I love you.”
“I love you too. Let’s give our baby two parents who’ll always be there for him.”
Him? Was that a convenient term, or had she meant to say it? Jen was precise, exact. She always said him or her.
A sense of wonder came over him. “It’s a boy?”
She trailed kisses along his cheek. “It’s a boy,” she whispered in his ear. “And I hope he has blue eyes and sandy hair and grows up to look just like his daddy.”
Logan chuckled. “You better be glad it’s a boy. A girl wouldn’t appreciate having size thirteen feet.”
Jen sat back. “Size thirteen?” She put her hand to her mouth. In the darkness, he could make out her form, but not the expression on her face.
“Are you sick?”
“No—” She started laughing. “No wonder you’re so...so...”
Logan grabbed her and rolled her over, yet taking care not to crush her beneath his weight. Yeah, he was big. Everywhere. “I’m so good at satisfying you. That’s what you mean.”
She looped her arms around his neck and shifted so that he fit into the cradle of her hips. “Yes, you are good at that. I don’t think I could be more satisfied.”
“Let’s see if we can break the record.”
The End
From the Author
I hope you enjoyed Maybe Baby, which was conceived as part of an unprecedented multi-author Magnolias and Moonshine romance series with twenty bestselling authors.
Maybe Baby also gives you an introduction to my new Contemporary Romance series, Texas Hearts, coming out later this year. I loved writing Jen and Logan’s story. You’ll see them again in the first full-length novel in this new series, along with Logan’s brothers, who must come together to save their family’s ancestral ranch. The Hardts are descendants of Ross Hardt, a major character in my historical romance series, The Bride Train. You can learn more about Ross in his story, Seducing Susannah, Book 4, The Bride Train Series
Find an up-to-date listing of other titles on my website under My Books. Also, please consider posting a short review. Honest reader reviews help others decide if they’ll enjoy a book.
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Warmest Regards,
E.E. Burke
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Books By E.E. Burke
The Bride Train Series (Historical Romance)
Valentine’s Rose
Patrick’s Charm
Tempting Prudence
Seducing Susannah
American Mail-Order Brides (Historical Romance)
Victoria Bride of Kansas
Santa’s Mail-Order Bride
Audiobooks by E.E. Burke
Victoria, Bride of Kansas
Santa’s Mail Order Bride
Steam! Romance and Rails Series (Historical Romance)
Her Bodyguard
Kate’s Outlaw
A Dangerous Passion
Fugitive Hearts
Visit my website to read excerpts and find out about new projects.
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And through the blog Get Lost in a Story
Other Books in the Magnolias and Moonshine Series
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Magnolia Mystic by Lisa Kessler
Anxious in Atlanta by Kristen Osbourne
Southern Secrets by Susan Carlisle
Out-lanta by Tina DeSalvo
From Now On by Raine English
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Maybe Baby by E. E. Burke
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Heat Wave
Nerds of Paradise
By Merry Farmer
Chapter One
Atlanta, Georgia. Home. It didn’t matter that Dennis Long hadn’t lived in the burgeoning, busy city since he’d left for college when he was seventeen, or that Haskell, Wyoming was home now. Atlanta never really left a person’s blood. The sound of cicadas on hot nights, sleeping on the porch when his mom couldn’t afford to keep the air conditioning on, sweet tea after roaming around Grant Park with his buddies all afternoon, winters that teased without ever quite delivering...it was part of who he was. Those steamy streets and the humidity that turned his normally docile, brown hair curly, would always remind him of a happy childhood.
Well, an almost happy childhood. There were a few things that made his heart speed up when he thought about them. The way the kids on his block would tease him because of his height, pick him for the basketball team, then laugh at him when he tripped over his feet for one. Always being fawned over by teachers for being gifted, then called “brainiac” by the other kids as soon as those teachers’ backs were turned for another. Not to mention his complete inability to understand most people’s humor.
Oh, and her.
Angelica Jones.
“Dennis, man, where are you going?” Dennis’s old friend Leon called to him as he veered down a side aisle in the massive Georgia Tech auditorium. “Friends and Family seating is down this way.”
Dennis snorted, but scooted back out of the row of seats he had started to slide down. “I’m not family, and I don’t know if I exactly qualify as a friend.”
Leon laughed and slapped him on the back as he came close. “Come on, man. If you’re not a friend, then I don’t know who is.”
Dennis sent Leon a sideways look, but followed him down the aisle to a section near the front
of the auditorium, nearest the stage where the doctoral program graduates would be receiving their diplomas. He and Leon had been thick as thieves from the ages of ten to when Dennis left to take UC Berkeley up on their early admissions offer. Leon had been the only other kid in their Ormewood Park neighborhood who was tall enough not to make Dennis feel like the Jolly Green Giant. A fact which didn’t make Dennis feel at all easy about sitting together near the front of the audience. They were bound to block someone’s view.
“I can’t wait to see the look on Angie’s face when she spots you sitting with the rest of us,” Leon said as they edged their way down a row of seats with a “Reserved” sign on the end. “She’s going to straight-up trip when she sees you.”
That’s what I’m afraid of, Dennis worried. He had a plan, though. Angelica hadn’t seen him in more than a decade. Since then, he’d earned his masters and PhD in record time, worked on a government rocket program where he’d had top secret clearance, and had secured an important position at Paradise Space Flight, a company that was going to turn heads in the next few years. He’d grown up, worked out, lost his boyish chub, and aside from the fact that interacting with most people was a thousand times more complex than the equations he solved every day, he was well aware of the image he now presented. And if using the charm he’d learned how to fake to convince Angelica to come work for Paradise Space Flight would help, then he would turn it on as high as he could. Rubbing in how well he’d done would be icing on the cake.
At least, that was the plan.
“She knows I’m coming,” he told Leon, testing out his newfound confidence—and hoping it didn’t come off as too cocky. Although cocky might work if he was going to play up how much he’d changed. “Paradise Space Flight has been trying to recruit her for their propulsion development team for almost a year now. Nobody can figure out why she doesn’t have a job lined up already. I’ve been sent to help seal the deal.”
“You don’t say.” Leon grinned at him over his shoulder, not buying the suave act at all, as they reached the middle of the long row of seats. “You and Angie always were the two biggest brains on the block.”