Little Secrets--Claiming His Pregnant Bride

by Sarah M. Anderson

  He’d spent that on her. It was a hell of a farewell gift and, if worse came to worst, it would take care of her and Madeleine for a long time.

  But she couldn’t bear the thought of selling Seth’s gifts. She’d sold her engagement ring because she hadn’t wanted to hang on to another reminder of Roger—and she’d needed the cash. But Seth’s pendant?

  She wore it on a long chain so it nestled next to her heart. It was the only way she could keep him close.

  That, and being here at work. There were so many memories of Seth here. Hearing the door jingle and looking up to see Seth standing there, that grin on his face. She didn’t want to entirely leave those memories right now, either. It was easier to pull those memories around her like a blanket at the office. She was even gladder that she’d never had him over to her apartment. It would’ve been too much.

  She glanced at the clock—again—and slid the diamond along the chain. Seth should’ve landed in LA by now. He was probably holed up in a bar, waiting for his flight to China. Was he thinking of her? Was he wishing that she’d taken him up on his offer to ring in the New Year—just one more night together? She’d known she needed to say no to him, but now she wished she’d said yes. Because it already sucked, letting him go. What would one more night have hurt?

  The baby fluttered in her stomach, and Kate put her hand to where Madeleine was kicking. This was what she had to focus on now—impending motherhood. For all intents and purposes, she was all Madeleine had.

  No, it wasn’t exactly true. Seth had made her swear that if she needed any help, she’d contact his family. Part of Kate knew that wasn’t a good idea because, while she genuinely liked his parents and his sister, that would presume a relationship that otherwise no longer existed.

  On the other hand, it was clear from her mother’s Christmas card that there wouldn’t be a close relationship with her parents. And Kate was just coming to grips with the fact that she had a long, cold, dark three months of being extremely pregnant ahead of her.

  It wouldn’t be so bad if Madeleine were already here. The baby was going to take every little bit of energy Kate had—and probably some she didn’t have. She wouldn’t be able to dwell on Seth’s absence once Madeleine arrived.

  Kate tried diligently to focus on listings. The family she’d spoken to a few months ago was being relocated to Rapid City and anticipated moving by March. And since Kate had recently been in a vast majority of the homes currently on the market, she could with great confidence eliminate most of them.

  That was what she was supposed to be thinking about. But even in that, her thoughts turned back to Seth. He’d purchased the house that she had long wanted—but refused to furnish it without her input. The house could be such a showplace, but right now, it was little more than an exaggerated bachelor pad, stacked with boxes that had been in storage. She hoped Seth would hire a good interior decorator when he came home and make something out of that house.

  She was making another cup of tea in the small kitchen tucked behind Harold’s office when the door jingled. “It’s a zinger of a day here at Zanger,” she called over her shoulder, pouring the hot water over the tea bag. Who knew? Someone had actually come looking for a house. It was a good thing she was here. “I’ll be right with you.”

  She walked out into the main part of the office and then pulled up short so quickly that water splashed all over the place.

  She was hallucinating, because it wasn’t possible that Seth was here.

  Then he smiled and she realized that no, she couldn’t be imagining this. Seth Bolton himself stood in the doorway of the office.

  He’d come for her.

  He couldn’t have come for her.

  “Seth? What are you doing here?”

  His smile faltered a little. “I’ve been thinking,” he said, taking a hesitant step into the office.

  “But... You are supposed to be on a plane? Or in LA by now. You’re not supposed to be here.”

  “I couldn’t leave,” he said, his voice hoarse. “I couldn’t leave you.”

  The room started to swim and the next thing she knew, she was in Seth’s arms and he was lowering her down into her chair. “Breathe, babe,” he said, kneeling in front of her and holding her hands.

  “You’re not supposed to give up your job with the company for me,” she said, her voice cracking. “I would never ask you to put me before your family.”

  “You’re not asking,” he said, stroking his thumbs over the back of her hands. “Kate, I screwed up. I want to make it right and then, if you still want to be done, I’ll go.”

  He’d come back for her. She didn’t want him to leave again. She wasn’t sure she was strong enough for that.

  “We had an agreement,” she said weakly. “Fun. No strings. You’re not going to stay in Rapid City. That was the deal.”

  “I want to renegotiate the deal. I’m looking for something fun. Some strings attached. Slightly more permanently based in Rapid City. At least until Madeleine is old enough to travel.”

  At that moment, the baby chose to shift, sending flutters all over Kate’s belly. Seth cupped her stomach and leaned down to kiss it through her clothes.

  “You can’t mean this,” she said, giving up the fight against the tears. What was it about this man that always had her at her weakest?

  He looked up at her, so handsome and perfect and here. “I never knew my father. He ran out on my mom before I was even born and I thought... I thought I was restless. That I needed to see the world—and that was because of him. But I don’t think I’m restless. I just think I hadn’t found a reason to stay in one place.”

  “Don’t say that,” she begged. “Don’t break my heart, Seth. I can’t take it.”

  “I couldn’t take it, either—so I won’t.”

  “I won’t let you do this. I will not let you give up the family business for me. I’m not...”

  His gaze sharpened. “You are worth it, Kate. And you know what? I’m a Bolton and if there’s one thing I know about Boltons, it’s that family is everything. Kate, you are my everything. What kind of man would I be if I didn’t fight for you?”

  She threw her arms around his neck and buried her face against his cheek. “No one has ever fought for me before,” she wept. “I just don’t want you to regret it.”

  “Have a little faith in me,” he said, his voice shaking. “And have faith in yourself. Do you love me?”

  “Of course I do,” she sobbed. “How could I not?”

  “Then marry me, Kate. And not in some big lavish ceremony with a crazy dress that has petticoats and corsets and ruffles and strings. We can get married at the courthouse, for all I care. It’s not the wedding that counts—it’s you. You’re my everything, Kate, you and Madeleine. Let me be your family. It doesn’t mean I won’t do stupid things like nearly flying halfway across the world when I belong right here. That means I will fight for you, for us. Every day of my life, so help me God.”

  “But your job...”

  He leaned back and gave her a cocky look. “I’m a partner in the firm. It’s not like they can fire me. And besides, it’ll work out. It might be a little messy, but I’ll fight for what I want. I don’t have to prove myself to them. I just have to prove myself to you.” He swallowed. “If you’ll have me?”

  “Yes,” she said, pulling him into a kiss. “God, yes, Seth. I couldn’t even think with you being gone.”

  The baby shifted again, harder this time—demanding attention, no doubt. Kate gasped as Seth rubbed her belly. “I couldn’t miss this. She will always be my daughter, from the very first moment.”

  This was everything she’d ever wanted. She wasn’t perfect, not by a long shot—but Seth understood who she was and loved her anyway. She cupped his cheek with her hand. “Seth?”

  “Yeah?” He turned hi
s head and pressed a kiss against her palm.

  “You were right.”

  His eyes darkened as she ran her hands through his hair. “Oh? About what?”

  “You’re good for me,” she replied, leaning forward to brush her lips against his. “Very, very good for me.”

  He grinned against her mouth. “Babe,” he all but growled, pulling her into his embrace, “I’m just getting started.”

  Epilogue

  “You don’t think she’ll run, do you?”

  Seth shot Bobby a dirty look as the judge cleared his throat. “Shall we begin?”

  Jack Roy began to strum his guitar as Julie walked into the judge’s chambers, strewing rose petals before her. Davey walked next to his cousin, intensely focused on the rings he was carrying. Clara, Eliza and Connie giggled while their mothers shushed them.

  Billy smacked Bobby on the arm and Ben made a noise of warning deep in his throat. Seth ignored them all because just then, Kate walked through the double doors, holding a sleeping Madeleine in her arms instead of a bouquet.

  Seth’s heart clenched at the sight of his family. Not that he hadn’t seen them this morning—he’d gotten up with Madeleine at two so Kate could sleep.

  But his aunt Stella had worked her magic, designing a simple cream wedding gown that clung to Kate’s ample chest and flowed softly away from the waist. Compared to the monstrosity that Kate had almost gotten married in the first time, Seth was thrilled to realize this dress wouldn’t require three lady’s maids to remove.

  Madeleine wore a similar outfit, although her fabric had been dyed with the faintest pink. Seth couldn’t see his daughter’s feet because the dress flowed well past Madeleine’s legs.

  “Beautiful,” Billy whispered, sounding almost wheezy about it.

  “Mine,” Seth replied.

  “I’m proud of you, son,” Billy went on, his voice low enough that no one else could hear him. “I knew you’d do the right thing.”

  The last six months had been a whirlwind of change. Kate had moved into their home and Seth had given her free rein to decorate it as she saw fit. Madeleine had come two weeks early, healthy and beautiful. Seth had been with Kate for the entire twenty-two hours of labor.

  He’d personally hired a man he’d worked with in LA who, it turned out, spoke semi-fluent Mandarin to spearhead the Shanghai showroom.

  And Seth? He’d stayed in Rapid City, overseeing the museum expansion.

  Expanding his family.

  Today, not only would Kate become his wife, but Madeleine would legally be his daughter. He and Kate had debated getting hitched immediately—Seth’s preference—but Kate had decided she wanted to wait until Madeleine could be a part of the ceremony.

  Seth caught the eye of his future in-laws. Kate’s dad was scowling, but he’d put on a boutonniere and he was here, so that was something. Kate’s mom was dabbing at her eyes. Seth hoped that for Kate’s sake, they could have a cordial relationship, if not a close one.

  Then Seth turned his attention back to his bride.

  The judge, it turned out, was an old riding buddy of Billy’s. He’d been happy to combine a wedding and an adoption.

  Kate made her way up to Seth and handed Madeleine off to Jenny. Then, before their families, God and the state of South Dakota, he married his bride and adopted his daughter.

  He was a Bolton and this was his family. By God, he would do anything for them. They were the right thing. They always would be.

  * * * * *

  If you liked this story of pregnancy and passion, pick up PRIDE AND PREGNANCY by Sarah M. Anderson!

  And if you enjoyed Seth’s story, don’t miss the other novels in THE BOLTON BROTHERS series:

  STRADDLING THE LINE

  BRINGING HOME THE BACHELOR

  EXPECTING A BOLTON BABY

  All available now from Harlequin Desire!

  ***

  Don’t miss the next LITTLE SECRETS story THE BABY MERGER by Yvonne Lindsay

  Available September 2017!

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  Keep reading for an excerpt from FROM TEMPTATION TO TWINS by Barbara Dunlop.

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  From Temptation to Twins

  by Barbara Dunlop

  One

  Here Comes Trouble

  The man all but filled the open doorway of the dilapidated Whiskey Bay Crab Shack. His feet were planted apart, his broad shoulders squared and his no-nonsense chin was tipped up in a challenge.

  “Is this supposed to be a joke?” he asked, his deep voice booming through the old brick building.

  Jules Parker recognized him right away. She’d expected their paths would cross, but she hadn’t expected open hostility—interesting. She hopped down from where she was kneeling on the dusty old bar and stripped off her leather work gloves.

  “I don’t know, Caleb,” she answered as she sauntered toward him, tucking the gloves into the back pocket of her faded jeans. “Is there something funny about dismantling shelves?”

  He squinted at her. “You’re Juliet Parker?”

  “You don’t recognize me?”

  He held out a level hand, moving it up and down, judging the distance to the ground. “Last time I saw you, you were—”

  “Fifteen years old.”

  “Shorter. And you had freckles.”

  She couldn’t help but smile at that. “Okay.”

  That was nine years ago. Did he think she wouldn’t have changed?

  His gray eyes hardened. “What are you doing?”

  She pointed over her shoulder with her thumb. “Like I said, dismantling the bar shelves.”

  “I mean, what are you doing here?”

  “In Whiskey Bay?” She and her younger sister, Melissa, had arrived yesterday, having planned their return for over a year.

  “In the Crab Shack.”

  “I own the Crab Shack.” At least, she owned half of the Crab Shack. Melissa was her partner.

  He pulled a piece of paper from his back pocket, brandishing it in his fist. “You extended the business license.”

  “Uh-huh.” The fact clearly upset him, though she wasn’t sure why.

  “And you e
xtended the noncompete clause.”

  “Uh-huh,” she said again. The noncompete was part of the original license. Everything had been extended.

  He took a step forward, all but looming over her, and she was reminded of why she’d had a schoolgirl crush on him. He was all male then, and he was all male now—hot, sexy and incredibly good-looking.

  “What is it you want?” he asked in that low, gravelly voice.

  She didn’t understand the question, but she wasn’t about to back down. She squared her shoulders. “How do you mean?”

  “Are you playing stupid?”

  “I’m not playing at anything. What’s your game, Caleb? Because I’ve got work to do here.”

  He glared at her for a couple of beats. “Do you want money? Is that it? Are you looking for a payout?”

  She took a stab at answering. “The Crab Shack’s not for sale. We’re reopening.”

  The Whiskey Bay Crab Shack was her grandfather’s legacy. It was hers and Melissa’s dream, and also her deathbed promise to the grandpa she adored. Her father hated the idea of the family returning to Whiskey Bay, but Jules wasn’t thinking about that today.

  Caleb’s gaze covered the room, seeming to dismiss it. “We both know that’s not happening.”

  “We do?”

  “You’re starting to annoy me, Juliet.”

  “It’s Jules. And you’re starting to annoy me, too.” His voice rose in obvious frustration. “Are you telling me it’s not about this?”

  She looked to where he was pointing out the window.

  “What?” she asked, confused.

  “This.” He headed out the door.

  Curious, she followed and saw the Whiskey Bay Marina. It looked much as it always had, although the caliber of vessel berthed there had gone up. The pier was lined with sleek, modern yachts. Beyond the marina, in what had always been raw land, there were two semitrailers with a front-end loader and a bulldozer, plus a couple of pickup trucks.