Conklin's Foundation (Conklin's Trilogy #2)

by Brooke Page

  Tyler shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t mind. Your mother doesn’t intimidate me. I can close my eyes in the waiting room.”

  I smiled to myself. He would close his eyes, but my mother would worry his ear off so much that he wouldn’t be able to actually fall asleep. Hopefully my father was still in town and able to sit with my mother along with Tyler once Heather booted her out of her room when I get there.

  We asked a nurse where Heather’s room was and trudged our way through the hospital. Once we got to Heather’s room, I stopped outside and looked up at Tyler.

  “Really, Tyler, you can go home. You don’t have to deal with my crazy family at nearly 5:00am when you have hardly slept,” I said looking at his strong chest. His Northface jacket was zipped up to his chin still from the chilly air outside.

  “Becs, it’s fine. I want to be here. I will go find the waiting room, okay? Come get me when you know more,” he said smoothly, holding both of my hands.

  We still felt awkward; the visit from Margo loomed over us.

  I nodded my head as I peeked up at him. He leaned down and kissed my cheek as we heard a loud groan come from the room.

  “That’s my cue,” Tyler said uncomfortably as he backed away from me. He gave me his heart-stopping smile before he turned around to find the waiting room. I shamelessly stared at his delectable behind in his lightly faded Diesel jeans. Wow, was he fun to look at. I heard another groan and turned to enter Heather’s room.

  “Mom, I told you I don’t want the drugs!” Heather whined. Ray was sitting on the couch with his hand on his head, looking back and forth between my sister and mother with a nervous expression.

  “Heather, it will calm you down. Do you know how many babies are born with that medicine? It will be fine!”

  “NO IT WON’T MOTHER!” Heather shouted.

  “Hey, what are you at?” I asked calmly, walking in between my mother and Heather.

  “Thank God you are here, Becca,” Heather nearly wept.

  My mother rolled her eyes. “I’m trying to talk your sister into getting the epidural. She would be a lot more pleasant and a lot more comfortable if she would just give in and get one.”

  “Mom, why don’t you go get her some ice chips,” I suggested, sitting down next to Heather.

  “Good idea. Your father is wandering around the cafeteria waiting for it to open. Ray, do you need anything?” she asked sweetly.

  “No, I’m okay. Thanks though, Missy,” Ray said, moving over to the other side of Heather.

  “Where is Tyler?” my mother asked, stopping in the doorway with a puzzled look.

  “He went to find the waiting room,” I said, examining all of the IV’s and medical equipment Heather was attached to.

  “I will go find him and see if he wants to join us. I will be right back, Heather.”

  Heather closed her eyes and leaned her head towards Ray, her face turning back into a wince. I looked up at one of the machines and noticed she was having another contraction. It still amazed me everything the doctors could track with their fancy gadgets.

  “Our baby will be here soon, sweetie. Hang in there,” Ray hushed, massaging her head. Heather just grunted and kept her eyes shut.

  “How was meeting Tyler’s mom?” Heather asked as she came out of her contraction, taking a deep breath.

  “It was fine. You were right, she is pretty eccentric, but I liked her.”

  I told Heather all about the evening in between her contractions. I told her about Tyler lying about what everyone would be wearing and the dress fiasco, and Mitch walking in on us making out and feeling each other up on his bed, and even Mary’s inappropriate La Perla gift card.

  “Hah! That’s hilarious! Although, a nice matching lingerie set would look good with that $80,000 necklace,” she teased.

  I blushed while reaching for my neck, forgetting I had left it on.

  “A gift from Tyler? Along with the earrings and bracelet? Don’t think I didn’t notice your $150,000 of Cartier jewelry.” She smiled. “One hell of a Christmas present. Did it come with a ring too?”

  “Heather!”

  She laughed and smiled, causing Ray to smile as well.

  “Oh, Becca! I’m just kidding! I like how happy he makes you though,” she smiled, reaching for my hand. “I’m glad everything worked out between you two. Just make sure you give me time to lose my baby weight before the wedding, okay?”

  I rolled my eyes at her. “No weddings in my near future, I promise.” Especially with the loud thud constantly replaying in my head.

  “Did something else happen? You have that nervous scowl spread across your face now,” Heather asked inquisitively.

  I didn’t want to fill her in on Tyler’s baggage. One, it wasn’t my story to tell, and two, she was in labor! She didn’t need to hear about how Tyler used to screw his old nanny and how she just happened to ring the doorbell at the worst moment ever.

  “Everything is fine,” I lied.

  “Whatever you say. That guy has it bad though. I will have to have the same conversation with him-” She quickly sucked in a breath, wincing her face. “Oh… I think this is it!” she nearly shrieked.

  Ray called the nurse as we tried to keep Heather calm through the contraction. The nurse came in and checked Heather just as my mother was coming back.

  Great timing.

  “Yep, I think we are going to need to push with the next contraction,” the nurse said, removing her plastic gloves. “Let me go get the doctor. Hang in there, Heather. Your new baby will be here before you know it!”

  Heather whimpered in fear, just as she did when she had Josie.

  “Where is Josie?” I questioned, feeling a tad guilty I just noticed Heather’s normal attachment was nowhere to be seen.

  “My parents are at our house. They were on their way up for Christmas anyway. Good timing I guess,” Ray mumbled rolling his eyes.

  I always got the feeling Ray didn’t get along with his parents. He was brought up in a money-driven family as well, but I think the lack of family life, just as Tyler’s, was more predominant in Ray’s family than in ours.

  My mother came up next to me, putting her hand on Heather’s leg. “You’re doing great, sweetie,” she encouraged. Heather gave her a small smile, the semi guilty feeling on her face, the ‘mother you drive me nuts but I still really do love you’ look.

  “Your father said to say he loves you and he knows you will do great. He wanted me to tell you how proud he is of you, too,” my mother added.

  Heather just closed her eyes, knowing the hard part was about to come.

  ~

  I sat in the corner of Heather’s room, watching how her and Ray stared with wide childlike eyes at their precious new addition.

  “Emmett Raymond,” Heather murmured as she gently rocked her new baby boy with her tooth splitting grin. Ray’s was just as wide, and his eyes were glassy with tears. He was so excited to have a boy.

  My mother stood next to me smiling. “That will be you one day.”

  I looked towards my lap. I wanted that moment badly: Tyler and me with a new baby. His eyes glistening with happiness, looking down at what we created.

  It was surprisingly easy to push the thought of Margo trying to come and seduce Tyler last night out of my mind when I looked at that innocent little baby.

  My Ty wouldn’t do that. He loved me, and I wanted to go find him.

  I stood up and excused myself quietly, Ray and Heather barely noticing I got up to leave.

  When I went into the waiting room, I saw Tyler slouched in a chair, his head tipped back on the wall, eyes closed. My father was sitting beside him looking over his iPad.

  My father smiled as I approached. “Everyone still doing okay?” my dad asked quietly. I nodded my head. Ray had come out earlier to tell everyone the good news. My dad glanced at Tyler then stood up to leave, patting my shoulder. “I’m going to go meet my grandson and call Michael,” he said, leaving me with a sleeping Tyler.


  I stood in front of Tyler as he opened his eyes. His heavy lids blinked a few times then a smile spread across his lips as he reached for my hands.

  “Everything go according to plan?” he asked, letting out a yawn.

  I nodded my head, grinning down at him.

  His eyes sparkled up at me. He stood up, pulling me in for a hug. “You are very smiley for 7:00am on Saturday.”

  I snuggled into him as close as I could. “I enjoy seeing my sister happy.”

  And thinking about getting married and having babies with Tyler was taking over my mind, leaving a permanent smile on my face. “Want to go meet him?” I asked, looking up into Tyler’s soft blue-green eyes, keeping my arms wrapped tightly around his waist.

  “Sure,” he replied, matching my smile.

  We walked with our arms around each other to the hospital room. My dad was holding Emmett with my mother sitting next to him, gazing down at her grandson.

  “Hi Tyler,” Heather greeted him contently, probably enjoying the feel of Ray running his hand through her hair.

  “Hi. Congratulations,” he said with his arm firmly around my shoulder.

  “Has his auntie had a chance to hold him yet?” my dad asked.

  “No, I was hogging him,” Heather giggled.

  My dad looked up at me with a grin. “Here Becs, give your new nephew a hold.”

  I unwrapped my arms from Tyler and walked over to my father, picking up Emmett with ease. He was so little and soft, his skin freshly pink while his lips were pouted perfectly as he slept. His little chest was rising and falling in his peaceful slumber as he was cozily wrapped in a hospital blanket.

  I gazed down at him, mesmerized by God’s beautiful gift to my sister and brother -in-law.

  Tyler was still on the other side of the room, so I walked over beside him to show off my new nephew.

  “He is so tiny,” he awed, peeking over my shoulder.

  “Isn’t he adorable?” I cooed. “Do you want to hold him?”

  Tyler stiffened, his eyebrows furrowing. “You seem to be doing just fine. I wouldn’t want to wake him up,” Tyler said trying not to sound uneasy.

  I ignored his reaction and soaked in my new nephew for as long as I could.

  “Not ready for a baby yet Tyler?” my mother had to ask, spoiling my moment with Emmett.

  I walked over to Heather, handing over her son, afraid to look at Tyler or anyone else in the room.

  “Becca sure is ready for a baby,” Heather laughed, cooing Emmett.

  I shot Heather a murderous look. My family sure knew how to ruin a moment.

  ~

  We drove home around 8:00am, both of us beat.

  “You have not stopped grinning since you came out of Heather’s hospital room,” Tyler said, reaching for my hand on the way to his condo.

  I shrugged my shoulders.

  “You like babies, don’t you?” he asked with a smile.

  “Yeah, he was pretty cute,” I sighed. “One day I will have one.”

  “Yeah?” he grinned, nipping my finger with his teeth. I couldn’t help but hear a trace of fear with how his voice semi cracked.

  “Ouch…what?” I half laughed.

  He kissed the pad of my finger better. “Nothing. What do you want to do the rest of the weekend?” Tyler asked.

  “Honestly, I wouldn’t mind going back to sleep. I will have to call your mother and tell her we can’t go shopping since we came back home, unless you were planning on going back to Chicago?”

  Tyler shook his head no, giving me an ‘are you crazy’ look.

  I rolled my eyes at him, and he nipped my finger again, causing me to giggle. I was becoming slap happy from the lack of sleep.

  “I would be happy to sleep all day with you if you’ll have me,” he flirted.

  “I assumed since we were going to your house,” I teased back.

  I leaned my head back on the headrest, happy to be able to crawl into Tyler’s bed and happy to have Emmett’s birth be a huge distraction away from Margo’s appearance. Seeing that little baby made me so happy that I realized I needed to believe Tyler and trust him. We would never get anywhere if I didn’t trust him. He was always out of town, and the thought of Margo knocking on his door only came my mind a few times, but it never haunted me. He loved me, and I needed to erase the sound of Tyler’s doorbell ringing from my head.

  Chapter 16

  I put on one of Tyler’s cozy Michigan t-shirts after my shower, which I took by myself while he made us breakfast. I was thankful for the alone time. Mainly because I was too tired, and I didn’t feel like being fondled under the water for a half hour.

  “I made you an omelet.” Tyler placed a tray on the bed then proceeded to take off his shirt.

  “Thank you,” I said, sitting on the bed after pulling on pink comfy cotton shorts.

  “I wish you would have waited for me to take a shower,” he pouted while undoing his jeans and sliding them off, revealing his delectable body in his sexy-as-hell Under Armour boxer briefs.

  I shrugged my shoulders and started to eat the omelet. “Sorry, I just really wanted a shower.”

  He gave me an unsure look, debating whether he wanted to say something. Instead, he walked into the bathroom and started the shower.

  I devoured my omelet, feeling guilty for eating it so fast. I was going to have to go to the gym today. I hadn’t been since Monday, and almost a week had passed. After I slept, I would hit the gym hard. No excuses.

  “Was it good?” Tyler smirked, walking out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. His tan skin was glistening from the water. He went to his dresser drawer, dropped his towel without hesitation and pulled on a clean pair of Under Armour boxers. Did he have any other kinds? My eyes were still wide when he turned around to look at me sitting against the headboard, sliding the tray off to the end table.

  With a full on Conklin grin, he crawled on the bed, slowly creeping up my legs until we were face to face. He gave me Eskimo kisses, grin still in place. “Are you blushing for a reason other than ogling my body?”

  “I wasn’t ogling,” I lied, trying to match his grin. It was impossible, only the ever charming Conklin could pull it off.

  “Mmhmm,” he murmured, starting to kiss me.

  Just as our kissing started to deepen, Tyler’s phone rang.

  What is it with phones always interrupting us?

  He ignored it, pulling me down so I was lying flat on my back, lifting his hand up my shirt while moving his mouth down to my neck.

  I put my hands in his hair, enjoying how his tongue and hands were caressing each spot on my body with the same rhythm.

  His phone rang again, and I pulled on his hair, making him look up at me.

  “What?” he asked confused. I cocked my head at him, while raising a brow. “Becca, just ignore it,” he half groaned, beginning to kiss my neck again.

  The problem was, I couldn’t ignore it. I was too paranoid with whom it would be, even though I vowed to attempt to forget last night. His lips weren’t as inviting on the third ring.

  “Answer your phone, Tyler,” I said sternly, tugging his hair again.

  Tyler grumbled and stood, reaching into his jeans pocket on the floor for his phone.

  “Nathan, what the hell do you want? It’s not even 9:00am yet!” he barked.

  Tyler paced his room while he talked.

  “Yeah, we aren’t shopping today. Sorry. We had to come back to Grand Rapids.”

  He paused for a moment then rolled his eyes and continued pacing.

  “Well, that’s too bad. We aren’t coming back to Chicago. Mom will be fine--Nathan, I don’t need any more clothes. Just pick some out for me then. You never agree with anything I choose anyway.”

  He took a seat on the bed next to me, putting his hand on my thigh.

  “Becca’s sister had her baby this morning, that’s why we had to rush back. Yeah, okay--” He pulled the phone away from his mouth. “Nathan says congrat
s.”

  I smiled, “Tell him thank you, and I’m sorry we bailed on shopping.”

  Tyler nodded and passed on my message.

  “You are going to be back here for the big meeting on Monday, right?” Tyler asked.

  Meeting? What big meeting?

  “All right, good. Yeah, we can meet in your office at 9:00am beforehand to go over everything.” Tyler glanced at me with a wicked smile. “No, I haven’t told her yet… I haven’t decided if I’m going to or let it be a surprise.”

  I gave him a confused look. Now he was going to have to let me in on his little secret.

  “All right, we haven’t slept all night…no…get your mind out of the gutter! Yeah, talk to you later.” Tyler hung up the phone and laid down beside me, nuzzling his head into the crook of my neck like a little boy. “My family is the worst cock block ever,” he murmured against my neck.

  I smiled, enjoying the slight tickle from his unshaven face on my neck.

  “What are you not telling me about Monday?” I asked, running my hand through his hair.

  I heard a content sigh come out of his mouth as I moved my hand down his neck and around his shoulders, making a path with my fingers.

  “It’s not a surprise if I tell you,” he taunted into my neck. I felt his nose run up to my ear, trailing a warm breeze of his intoxicating breath along my skin. Once his mouth found my ear he whispered, “You will have to wait until Monday like everyone else.”

  “That’s no fair,” I whined, closing my eyes and enjoying his tongue darting out to trace my earlobe.

  “Such is life,” he sighed dramatically, moving suddenly to pin me on my back underneath him.

  ~

  We didn’t talk about Margo once the rest of the weekend. I was thankful. It helped to try and erase her visit from my mind. I was going to believe him and try to erase that awful thud noise from my memory.

  Saturday and Sunday were both very low key. I visited Heather and Emmett a few times while Tyler worked from home, but mainly we were tangled in his sheets catching up on sleep, and for once, actually sleeping. I managed to hit the gym both days. Tyler even tagged along on Sunday. It was very enjoyable sneaking peeks at him while he worked out. He could use a row machine like a champ. I happened to place myself on a treadmill with a perfect view of his back and shoulders and part of his arms. I was happy he chose to wear a t-shirt that had the sleeves cut off and was torn down the sides so I could catch glimpses of his abs and his strong biceps. Watching his muscles work on that row machine was all kinds of turn-ons.