“Why?”
“Because you are not driving in those conditions on your own.”
She stared back at him; his strong chin was stubbornly stuck out as if he defied her to say no.
“Okay…eight a.m. Breakfast at seven-thirty.”
“I’ll be there.”
Something told her that anything Ethan Thompson promised he stood by it.
****
“So much for gratitude” Ethan mumbled as he dredged across the two feet of snow, his shoes leaving him totally unprepared for the cold weather. He climbed the steps to the front door to go and get the final box. This was the fourth one and he wondered what on earth she had inside them.
“Hey.” He stood in front of Belle, her green hat sat snugly, hiding her red hair, the creamy colour of her complexion Marred only by the flush of her cheeks from the cold outside.
“What?”
He grabbed the box from her. “No way, Belle.”
“It’s as light as a feather,” she told him her lips pursed in disdain.
“You’re pregnant. What if you slipped?”
He thought she was going to argue but she bit her lip. “I’m sorry, you’re right. It’s not just me, it’s us now. I’m responsible for another human life.” She rested her hand over her thick parka then rubbed it over her tiny bump.
Ethan balanced the box under his arm and put his hand over hers. “We are responsible,” he told her. “You’re not alone.” He couldn’t believe that growing inside her was something so perfect, so utterly amazing it made his heart beat fast just thinking about it. Damn how freaking incredible.
If she thought for one minute he was going to let her do this on her own she had no idea who she was dealing with.
Belle pushed him to one side. “Come on, dreamer, let’s get these boxes delivered before Santa Claus is here.” Belle strode towards her estate car, her furry boots leaving little imprints of the path she had taken.
Ethan followed her down with a smile on his face; he should have been feeling blue. Here it was Christmas Eve, and he was as far away from home as he could get ,but for him this year was l the start of his family. A new era of Thompsons.
Of course he would love it if Belle would come home with him. He hadn’t completely put that idea to one side. His mom was going to be elated when he told her. She’d been on at them all, saying she was getting too old to be a Gran.
“I would have driven.” Ethan shoved the final box inside the car and slammed the door shut, and then got into the passenger side.
Belle started the engine up while he put his seat belt on. “Are you kidding me, you all drive on the wrong side of the road. I’m pregnant and I wouldn’t be able to stand the shock.”
The laughter rumbled up in Ethan’s chest and he chuckled. “I hate to tell you but I did drive all the way from Manchester without any help from you at all.”
“Yeah, well that was a rental car. You’re not getting your hands on my Bertha.”
“Bertha?” he asked with a frown.
“Yeah, Bertha my trusty old wagon.” She banged her hand on the steering wheel and expertly drove down the small lane that led onto the main road.
“You named your car?” His voice was full of disbelief.
“When my Gran bought her we both decided she looked like a Bertha.”
He shook his head, a smile on his face. Every minute he was with Belle he learned something new about her life.
They drove into a small town and parked in a side street. Everywhere was covered in snow. Belle jumped out and knocked on the door of a small house. Ethan opened the boot of the car and pulled out some of the boxes. “Hey Lily, I’ve got some food and gifts for you.”
“Belle, you spoil us.” A blonde woman stood at the door.
“Never.”
“Come on in, I see you’ve got some muscle helping you.” She nodded towards Ethan as she winked at Belle.
Belle turned and made eye contact with him. “Yes he’s just a pain in the butt but he’s handy at the lifting.” She chuckled as they followed the blonde woman inside.
Ethan carried all the boxes inside to the kitchen.
“Hey Ethan, come and meet Lily,” Belle said.
The woman looked older now that he was close up. She had a nice smile but her eyes told a different story, they were full of pain.
“It’s nice to meet you, Ethan.”
“The pleasure is mine.” He grasped her outstretched hand.
“American?”
He nodded. “Yes ma’am, North Carolina, up in the mountains.”
“I just love your accent,” she said.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“Oh my God, Belle, he’s delicious.”
Belle laughed. “Take no notice of Lily she falls in and out of love at the drop of a hat.”
He laughed. “Ma’am I appreciate the complement.”
“Stop, Ethan or we will have to pick her up of the floor.” Belle smiled and walked towards the boxes. “Let’s get these unpacked before the kids come in.”
Lily started opening them. “Belle you’re so good to us. The women and children are sure going to love all of this.”
“It’s nothing.”
He watched Belle’s cheeks redden, and knew she was embarrassed by the fuss.
There was so much food, and all the gifts were wrapped and tagged. Ethan realised in that moment that he was so lucky to have what he had. There were so many people out there struggling and he hadn’t really realised how much he took for granted. Belle had shown him that it didn’t take much to help another person out, to be kind and caring. Damn, if he didn’t fall deeper in love with her than he already was. All he had to do now was convince her that he was for real.
Chapter 5
“Merry Christmas, Lily.” Belle stepped towards her car muttering under her breath. She couldn’t believe the stupid thing Ethan had just done…she was furious.
“Since when do you get off organising my life?” Belle hissed as the cold snowflakes hit her heated skin cooling her flaming cheeks. The sound of Santa’s bells ringing could be heard. Normally it was a sound that made her smile but at this moment she was spitting flames she was so mad. Ethan told Lily that they were getting married and the squeals coming from her friend was still ringing in her ears.
“Are you totally out of your mind?” She stared at him as soon as the door closed behind them.
“No, I’m perfectly sane.” He held her arm and walked her around to the passenger side of the car, opening the door for her to climb inside.
Belle crossed her arms in front of her. “I am not getting in that car until you explain to me what the hell is going on.” She widened her eyes waiting for him to reply.
“Belle.”
“Yes,” she answered as the snowflakes came down around them landing on his hair making it almost white. His cheeks were smoothly shaved and the cold had given them a ruddy glow.
He sighed. “Get in the car before Lily comes down from the window she is looking out of, to see what is going on.”
Belle looked behind her and indeed her friend was grinning at the window like a Cheshire cat. Damn. She waved before stepping into the car and leaning back on the old leather seats so cold she shivered.
Ethan braced his arm on the top of the car as he bent his head to look directly at her. She could see from his eyes that he was irate. He stood close and his cologne permeated the air around her and she felt the warmth of his breath as he spoke. Belle was cross with herself as her body became a traitor to her thoughts as his nearness teased her senses to distraction.
“I told you before, you’re carrying my child, and I don’t intend for you to do this on your own.”
Belle was about to reply when a beeping horn made her jump. Someone wanted to pass on the narrow road and her open door was blocking the way. With a curse, Ethan slammed the door shut and he had climbed into the driver’s side and had the car started before she even realised that he was driving.
T
en minutes later they pulled up outside her house. The silence in the car was as frosty as the air outside. She opened the door before he had chance to come around and open it for her. He followed her to the front entrance and for a split second, she wanted to be juvenile and slam it in his face but she just knew that in doing that it even that wouldn’t deter him.
Neither of them spoke as he followed her into the kitchen. Belle knew if she did she would end up shouting at him. Focussing on picking the kettle up and filling it while keeping her mouth tightly closed took a will power that surprised her.
Belle braced herself for battle, it was clear he was not going to let her get on with things the way she wanted to. The plans she had made for her life with a baby had not involved the father. They had not involved him. Belle reached up to the cupboard to take out two mugs and couldn’t help but make more noise than necessary.
Her body tensed with frustration at the thought of her private life slipping away from her, and she didn’t like it one bit.
“You and I need to get married. I will not let this child grow up without a father.”
“What about love and respect? Where in your happy family’s equation is that written?” Belle felt a tremor creep up her spine. A marriage, without love. What kind of life would that be for a child to grow up in and what about other children? She wanted more than one? Marriage was for life.
“We can have those things, Belle…we have a connection, we can make work.”
“How?” she frowned running her fingers through her hair and then smoothing it back down. “Our lives are so different. For God’s sake, Ethan, you live on the other side of the world. How is that ever going to work?” She could hear her voice begin to rise trying to make him see sense.
“Look, Belle I would never make you do anything you don’t want.” He moved toward her and stood leaning against the table top. “But you must see that it would be a lot easier if we do this together. Have you any idea how hard it would be to try and look after a baby and run this business on your own? I want to help.” He reached out and undid the buttons of her coat and laid his hand on to her growing bump. “This is my child too.”
She breathed in; the warmth of his touch was powerful and even more so because their baby lay beneath where his hands lay.
“It took two of us to make this child and it will take two of us to look after him...her.” He said.
“One parent families manage very well; my Gran brought me up singlehanded and ran this business. Are you saying she did a bad job?”
“No, of course not I’m saying that. She didn’t have a choice…you do.”
“What about if you meet someone you want to marry…someone you fall in love with? What then? Because I don’t believe in divorce?”
“Neither do I. Belle, we have a strong connection that’s why we’re in this position now, there’s chemistry between us. The minute I come near you, I can feel it. We can build on that.”
Belle felt her heart beat painfully fast, and swallowed down sudden nausea.. He wasn’t going to back down but then she knew that he wouldn’t he was that kind of guy. Perhaps unconsciously she was aware that if she had tried to find him he would have insisted on being a part of her life.
“Come and sit down.” He took her hand “You’ve gone deathly white, are you okay?”
She nodded and sat in the chair he pulled out. He turned and took a bottle of water from the refrigerator and unscrewed the top for her. Her mind was racing with the conversation they were having. The weight of the last hour was weighing heavily on her slumped shoulders.
“Here, sip some of this.”
Damn why did he have to be so nice? How could she hate someone who cared about her welfare? The ice cold liquid was cool against her lips relieving the dryness of her throat.
“Come on, you need to take a nap.”
She looked up at him as he pulled her to her feet.
“Don’t be ridiculous I’ve got too much to do.” She looked at her watch “It’s only just after eleven.”
He took hold of her hand and proceeded to walk through the hallway and upstairs with her. She should have said something more, but truth be told the whole morning had exhausted her and a small nap would help her get through the rest of the day. It was Christmas Eve and she needed to prepare for Christmas Day especially now that Ethan was staying.
They stopped outside her bedroom door and he opened it. Belle entered and turned to shut the door.
“Thank you.” On impulse she reached up and kissed his cheek. It was smooth and soft and her body tingled at the thought of lingering just so she could smell him, his scent was warm and musky with hints of cedar. It was a scent that was embedded inside her memory.
He smiled. “That was nice.” He put his hand up to where her lips had been.
“Yes, well don’t get used to it.” She pushed the door shut but there was a smile on her face. He was so nice to have around but at what cost? This was her home, the only place she’d known all her life…to leave it all behind? Blinking away the tears as she shrugged out of her coat her weary body lay beneath the quilt cover her Gran had made for her sixteenth birthday. Huddling up into a foetal position her hand automatically lay on her tummy and the other hand beneath her ear and thought nice happy thoughts of previous Christmases with a woman she’d loved her whole life.
****
Ethan had busied himself doing some work on his laptop and speaking with his family. He would miss them; this was the first Christmas he’d been away. But it was worth it.
Belle and their baby would be his family; he was hoping to persuade her to come home with him for the New Year celebrations although at the moment that was looking very unlikely. Perhaps they could work out some sort of schedule where they spent half the year here and the other half at Pine Tree Valley.
It was going to be difficult, and he hadn’t completely convinced Belle that getting married would work. But he would, he was already in love with her so he was halfway there.
He could do it. He could make her love him and if he couldn’t then at least they could be friends. It had worked in marriages before…being in love wasn’t everything, was it? A strong family environment and a happy home for their child…children because he wanted more than one. Ethan had always wanted a large family.
He’d made some soup for lunch. He grinned—well he’d opened a tin. He was just about to go and wake her up when he opened the kitchen door and walked smack into Belle.
“Whoa, sweetheart,” he said as he reached for her waist and steadied her. “What’s the hurry?”
Belle threw her whole body against him and for a second he was taken aback.
“I wanted you to feel.”
“Feel what?”
She took his hand, lifted her sweater and placed it on her belly. “Feel this.”
As his palm touched the warm skin he felt her hold her breath. And then, a small movement like a muscle twitch. Then he felt it again harder almost like a small hand or foot thumping against the skin. His own heart punched against his ribs…it was the most incredible thing he’d ever felt in his life.
“Is this the first time you’ve felt him move?”
She nodded, “Him?” her voice teased.
He flashed a sheepish smile. “Or her, I don’t mind.”
Ethan looked at Belle, his hand staying against her satin-soft skin.” Does it hurt you?”
“No.” She covered his hands with hers. “It feels like a butterfly flapping its wings against my stomach.”
“Truly amazing…unbelievably exciting. I ‘m so glad I was here to feel it.”
“Thank you,” she said breathless from her obvious delight.
His brows joined with confusion. “For what?”
She looked back up at him keeping her gaze steady. “You stayed and helped me with the gifts and food this morning, and you put up with Lily’s remarks about your accent and making a pass at you every time you turned around.”
He laughed. “
She was a bit full on but that’s okay I figured it was a front, something to hide behind.”
“You’re so observant. She does it to keep people or rather, men at a distance.”
“I guessed as much.”
He looked down at her smiling face, the joy so apparent in her expression as her hand covered his. It was a long charged moment and finally he couldn’t resist. He dipped his head and kissed those soft lips.
The kiss was everything he remembered about her, sweet, hot and so very tempting. Months of searching and days of restrained desire tipped out equally from them both in a kiss that reaffirmed his love for her.
“Wow,” she whispered when they finally pulled apart. “I forgot how potent you were.”
He turned her so that her back was against the wall and he caged her in, his body completely covering her tiny frame. Huge green eyes stared up at him and he gently smoothed the frown that furrowed her brow with his fingers.
“I've wanted to kiss you since the first moment I saw you and a thousand times since. Every time you move your lips. Every time your scent fills the air that I breathe.” He took a deep breath as he tried to find the words that would tell her how much he cared for her, and not just the baby they had created. “Whenever your body touches mine I want to make love with you, each and every single minute that passed and I didn't know where you were... all I could think about was you. Kiss me, Belle. Let me feel your lips against mine.”
He felt his heartbeat thump against his ribs, never had he felt like this with any other woman. He’d known the moment he set eyes on her that she would be special…he just knew that he wanted to be part of her life.
With her head thrown back and her neck offered up to him, he couldn’t resist raining kisses upon her soft, silky skin until she moaned with desire.
“Ethan,” she whispered as her skin flushed when her eyes made contact with his.
“What, sweetheart.”
“I want us to…I want us to make love.”
His hands gripped her hips as he breathed in her scent, filling his lungs with the temptation that was Belle. He wanted to bring her closer to him but she was already against him. Ethan closed his eyes for a second, he wanted her to climb inside his body and keep her close to him forever. God he wanted her so much.
A baby for Christmas (Season of Romance Book 1) Page 4