Having Adam's Baby (Harlequin Special Edition)

by Butler, Christyne

  “Is she okay?” Alistair asked.

  “What the hell happened?” Nolan demanded.

  “I don’t know.” Adam answered both questions at the same time. “One minute we were talking and the next her eyes closed and she dropped.”

  The two men opposite him shared a look. If one more family member shared a look with another he’d hit something. Or someone. He’d rather someone start talking. Pronto.

  “I’m going to put together a tray with a light lunch for Fay. She didn’t get a chance to eat while she was visiting Walter and Mavis,” Elise said, joining them as she too closed the door behind her. “You three leave that girl alone and let her rest.”

  “What’s going on?” Adam asked. “You mentioned the flu. Is Fay sick?”

  His mother continued on her way while his brother and father remained silent. Determined to find out how she was doing, Adam reached for the door, but his father’s hand on his shoulder stopped him.

  “Son, wait.”

  Adam turned back. “Wait for what?”

  “I don’t think you should go charging in there before we’ve had a chance to talk.”

  “About what?”

  “There’s something you should—” Nolan paused, then lowered his voice. “Over the last month or so I’ve noticed Fay hasn’t been feeling well. She says it’s a cold she can’t shake, but when I mentioned it to Dad during our weekly phone calls he said the craziest thing I’ve ever heard. Then again, seeing the two of you together—”

  “You only saw me carry her up the stairs. What the hell are you talking about?”

  His father motioned Adam to follow him away from the door and down the hall. As much as he didn’t want to, he went, his brother at his side.

  “Son, during your last visit home in April I headed for your place early, wanting to spend some one-on-one time with you before we took you to the airport. Then I saw Fay’s van in your driveway and hightailed it back home.”

  Every muscle in Adam’s body stilled, even his heart for a moment. Then it began to slam inside his chest.

  “You’ve always had a thing for her,” Nolan added.

  Adam’s gaze shot to his brother, who only shrugged and continued. “Hey, I remember you telling me what happened between you two. Down by the river? The night of your twenty-first birthday?”

  “Geez, that was years ago,” Adam said. “We were just kids.”

  “Besides, between Dad and me we’ve been through this nine times—”

  “Through what?”

  “If we didn’t know any better, your brother and I would both swear Fay is pregnant.” His father once again placed a hand on his shoulder. “What happened that night? Is it possible you’re the father?”

  Pregnant?

  His father’s soft words exploded inside Adam’s head. He braced himself, his posture ramrod straight against his father’s touch, but the detonation continued, a powerful roar that flowed outward until it reached every inch of his body.

  He’d felt this way only twice before in his life, most recently just a few short weeks ago when he’d had the harrowing experience of barely missing an IED—or improvised explosive device—that thankfully exploded after their transport of construction equipment had passed and was a few precious miles away.

  Adam tried to form the word he hadn’t spoken in five long years, but he couldn’t put the syllables together aloud. That didn’t stop the utterance from vibrating inside his head again.

  Pregnant?

  Because of the night they spent together?

  He’d insisted they use protection, both times, even after Fay had whispered something about it not being necessary as she couldn’t get…

  Fay being sick yesterday morning at his place. The way she held one hand protectively over her stomach. The paleness of her skin, the tiredness in her eyes.

  The way she pulled from his touch.

  “I know this is the last thing you expected to return home to, but if this does turn out to be true, I know you, son. You won’t turn away—” Alistair stopped when Laurie appeared at the top of the stairs balancing a food-laden tray in her hands.

  “Elise asked me to bring this up to Fay,” she said, then looked directly at her brother-in-law. “By the way, the twins took washing up for dinner to a new level. Complete with soapy water and squirt guns.”

  Nolan groaned and headed for the stairs. “I better get down there.”

  “That looks heavy,” Adam spoke before he even realized what he said. “Here, let me take it into her.”

  She released the tray to him, a quizzical look on her face. “Are you sure? Elise said something about Fay being a bit light-headed and embarrassed—”

  “I’m sure.” He forced a grin and managed to keep it there when his gaze locked with his father’s. “Don’t worry. I’ll be… It’ll be okay.”

  His father nodded and Adam turned and headed for the guest room.

  It’ll be okay?

  He had a feeling nothing was going to be okay ever again if his father and brother’s suspicions were correct.

  He knocked once and waited a moment, then entered. The first thing he noticed was that Fay had removed her shoes. One of his mother’s handmade quilts covered her, but her bare feet peeked out from the bottom edge of the patchworked material. Her toes were painted vivid neon pink.

  His gaze slowly traveled up the length of her, taking in the curves hidden beneath the blanket, pausing at where her hands rested against her stomach.

  His gut clenched, but he continued his gaze upward. Until he reached her face and found her staring back at him, her cheeks matching the bright shade on her feet.

  She scooted up higher against the pillows until she sat upright in the middle of the bed. “Adam! I wasn’t— I thought your mother—”

  “She’s busy playing grandma to Nolan’s hellions…” His voice trailed off as he realized the woman in front of him may very well be carrying another Murphy grandchild.

  His child.

  Forcing himself to move forward, Adam walked to the side of the bed and waited.

  Fay’s eyes remained focused on the tray.

  “You said you skipped lunch,” he finally said. “That’s probably why you—”

  “Yes, the availability of food where Walter is isn’t the best and Mavis didn’t want me to… Well, it’s been a long…a long day.”

  He set the tray on her lap, the contents of the glass of milk sloshing over the rim. He tightened his grip just as Fay’s hands flew up to steady the tray. Their hands collided, her touch cool as her fingers circled his wrists.

  Remaining perfectly still, Adam focused on the viselike grip Fay had on him. Knuckles whitening, she sucked in a deep breath, a shudder layered with a hiss and then a whispered sob.

  He looked at her then, watching her bite hard on her bottom lip as twin tears leaked from beneath her closed eyelids.

  “Fay, please.” His voice held a deep rasp. “Don’t cry. Not over spilled milk.”

  Another sob, this time combined with a light chuckle. “I—I can’t help it. Lately, the craziest things… A sappy commercial, a country love song on the radio, the sight of a woman holding—”

  She cut off her words, but Adam knew what she was going to say. “A woman holding a baby?”

  She jerked her head in a quick nod.

  The action caused him to sink to the bed, his hip pressed against the wooden legs of the tray, the strength in his legs suddenly gone.

  She released her hold on him then, her fingers quickly brushing across her moist cheeks. “I’m sorry. Please, just ignore me—”

  “Fay, are you pregnant?”

  Her hands stilled.

  She finally opened her ey
es and looked at him, fresh tears already replacing those she’d erased.

  “Yes.”

  “The baby’s mine?” He’d already known what her answer would be, the truth embedded deep in his heart as unquestioning as his love for his family, his land and his country. But he asked anyway.

  Her shoulders drew back, and she lifted her chin a notch in a proud motion. Dropping her hands, she returned his stare. “This baby is mine.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong.” His reply was swift, sure and absolute. “This baby is ours.”

  Chapter Four

  The strength and conviction in Adam’s statement both soothed and terrified her.

  Stark fear had enveloped her when she’d awakened in his arms and learned she’d fainted in the middle of their discussion on the stairs. As soon as his mother had ushered him from the room, Fay knew she had to get out of there, no matter how much her stomach welcomed the thought of the promised lunch.

  But then Adam had returned.

  The way he’d looked at her, his eyes warm yet filled with questions. The act of setting a tray of food down in front of her, the light teasing over spilled milk.

  Simple things that released those blasted hormones raging inside her and brought forth the never-ending supply of tears.

  How had he known to even ask her such a question?

  And shouldn’t she at least be a little upset that he’d somehow guessed her secret instead of feeling the rush of relief that filled her now that he knew about the baby?

  “Fay?”

  The low timbre of Adam’s voice made her blink. She realized she’d been staring at the simple yet colorful garden salad and buttered roll that accompanied the glass of milk on the tray.

  She was hungry.

  “Fay, we need to talk.”

  She reached for the fork. “I need to eat.”

  Adam rose from the bed without disturbing the food. With her mouth full she couldn’t ask if he was leaving.

  He wasn’t. Dragging an armless chair that looked too delicate to support his six-foot-plus frame closer to the bed, he sat again, arms folded across his chest as he watched her take another bite.

  She should be thinking of escaping, but her body’s need for nutrition seemed to have overridden everything else. The creamy dressing on the salad was hitting all the right taste buds.

  Yummy.

  Fay instinctively knew she’d be able to keep this meal down. Thank goodness. Ever since finding out Adam was back in town yesterday morning she hadn’t been able to eat anything except crackers.

  Then again today being the one Saturday a month she visited with Walter and Mavis meant she’d been feeling queasy all day anyway.

  She hated going to that nursing home. Hated the way Mavis slipped further and further into the past, retelling stories from years ago of their happy little family. The years before their son had the nerve to marry beneath him.

  Before their son had destroyed all their lives.

  Pushing aside the memories, Fay concentrated on her food. Eating slowly, she savored every bite, even though she felt like a science experiment on display, pinned by the intensity of Adam’s gaze.

  “You’re staring.”

  “I know.”

  She finished off the roll, followed by a long sip of milk. Oh, that was good. “Stop it.”

  “You’re looking better already.”

  Hmm, how should she take that remark? “Better than what?”

  One side of his mouth rose in a half grin. A light flutter crossed Fay’s insides that she quickly blamed on finally having a full stomach. “Deathly pale isn’t a good color for you.”

  She stilled, her hands falling to her lap.

  “Ah, damn, I didn’t mean—”

  Adam dropped his arms and leaned forward. Bracing his elbows on his knees, he looked like he was going to reach for her hand, but then laced his fingers together instead. “I’m sorry. That was a stupid thing to say.”

  “It’s okay.” Fay waved off his apology. She’d always been a little too much like Casper the Friendly Ghost when it came to her skin tone. “I know you didn’t— I know what you meant.”

  “How long have you known…” He paused and swallowed, his gaze steady, but with a hint of uncertainty. “About the pregnancy?”

  Her fingers shook as she reached for the chilled dish of fresh strawberries. Grabbing a small one, she held it to her lips, debating if she should use the tasty-looking dessert as a stalling technique.

  She wasn’t ready for this conversation, but like so many other events that had happened over the past year, she needed to once again step up and face things, face Adam, head-on.

  Besides, the man deserved an answer.

  “Almost a week now.”

  Surprise filled his eyes. “That’s all?”

  She took a bite, the juice a little sweet, a little tart on her tongue. “I’ve been fighting a cold off and on since February,” she answered after a quick swallow. “I thought I’d finally got over it back in April, but then the tiredness and upset stomach started again a few weeks ago.”

  “But you’re okay?” His gaze quickly traveled the length of her, and Fay’s body heated beneath the lightweight quilt. “You’re both okay?”

  He was the first one to ask about the health of her baby—their baby—and the waterworks threatened again. She blinked hard and nodded, reaching for another berry, pausing to dip it in the remains of the salad dressing before she took a bite.

  Hmm, not bad. She repeated the action just to be sure. Yep, that tasted pretty good.

  “You do realize that’s ranch dressing you’re using?”

  Fay nodded and found herself smiling at the baffled expression on Adam’s face. “I’d prefer whipped cream, but this works, too.”

  His dark brown eyes heated for a moment, then it was gone. No, that couldn’t be right. Except for that crazy night they’d spent together two months ago, Adam had never looked at her that way.

  That wasn’t exactly true.

  Fay concentrated on eating another ranch-dipped berry, her mind racing with the memory of another time, years ago.

  She’d been out riding her bike when she’d found him celebrating his birthday down near the bend of the Blue Creek River, a favorite spot over the years of the high school crowd for swimming and parties. That night it’d been just him, a six-pack and the Murphy family dog, whose name she couldn’t remember.

  What she did remember was how they’d talked.

  About their unknown futures, how far away high school seemed now that they were both in college, laughing over the day they’d met. She’d been pleasantly surprised when Adam revealed how he wished he’d asked her out on a date before his best friend had.

  Then she’d shared the packaged cupcakes she’d kept hidden in her purse, sang him an off-key version of “Happy Birthday” and impulsively leaned over to give him a kiss on the cheek.

  A kiss that missed when he turned his head.

  Their lips collided. And stayed. The kiss deepened, his arms encircling her, her going willingly when he gently laid her down in the sweet summer grass.

  Minutes later, a group of kids raced by, hollering out car windows, and they’d sprung apart. Adam blamed the beer, Fay blamed herself. Both swore it was no big deal and promised never to mention it again.

  Her face heated for the second time today.

  Not only at the memory of the secret pleasure and embarrassment she’d felt all those years ago, but for how much she enjoyed being in his company right now.

  How could that be? After the anger and blame she’d carried deep inside all these months?

  “Fay? Are you all right?” Adam leaned in closer. “You look a little flus
hed.”

  “I’m fine.” The berries were gone. She’d finished them off while lost in the past. Placing the bowl back on the tray, she moved it, and the quilt, off her lap. “I really need to get going.”

  He straightened. “I think we still have a few things to discuss.”

  “Can’t we do this later?” She swung her legs off the bed and slipped on her shoes. “Your family must be holding dinner for you.”

  He stood when she did. Fay would’ve taken a step away, but the bed pressed against the back of her knees. Even though she was in heels, he towered over her. Her gaze locked on the tanned skin displayed by the open collar of his shirt.

  Oh, the tingling sensations from yesterday were back. It was definitely time to leave. “Peggy’s been alone all day at the shop. I have to get back to close up.”

  “Who’s Peggy?”

  “My part-time help, Peggy Katz.” She sidestepped away from him and reached for her purse on a nearby dresser. “She’s been working for me since last fall.”

  “Ah, the pretty blonde with the great smile?”

  She paused in her search for her keys, ignoring the flare of…of whatever was inside her that hated how he perfectly described her employee. “Yes, that’s her. I didn’t know you knew each other.”

  “We don’t. Devlin mentioned her a few times in his emails.”

  Ah, yes. His playboy brother had been hanging around the shop more and more recently. “She’s newly divorced.”

  “Yeah, Dev mentioned that, too.”

  Of course he did. Fay shook her head. She was going to have to sit the young woman down for a friendly chat when it came to getting involved with the Murphy brothers.

  Yeah, like you’re one to talk.

  But she wasn’t involved with Adam Murphy.

  No, just having his baby.

  Fay blocked out her irritating inner voice that sounded a bit too much like her employee who, despite the ten years that separated them, seemed wise beyond her years. She headed for the door. “I really do need to get back to the shop.”

  “I’ll go with you.” He lifted the tray from the bed with one hand and smoothed the quilt back into place with the other. “I think my family will understand me leaving. Considering the circumstances.”