by Elks, Carrie
“James?”
The voice came from behind him. His brows knitted together as he tried to place it – half recognizing the tone. He turned to look at the woman standing there. Mid-twenties, dark hair, and skin so pale she looked out of place in California.
“That’s me,” he said, still trying to figure out who she was. “Can I help you?”
“I’m Caitie Russell; Deenie and Wallace’s daughter. I knew you back when I was a kid.”
Of course it was. “Oh, hi,” he said, smiling at her. “Is everything okay? Are you here for yourself?”
She blinked. “Oh no. I had to bring Lucas’s wife in. She fell. She’s…”
“Pregnant.”
“Yeah. I didn’t know if you knew.”
“I met her at my parent’s place. Ember, right? Is she okay?”
“Oh yeah, she’s fine. Lucas is with her and they’re getting ready to leave now.”
He smiled. “That’s good news. I’ll try and catch them when they’re on their way out. And how are you doing? It’s been a while.”
“About ten years, I think,” Caitie said, her eyes darting to the left. “I’ve been living in New York for most of it. I only moved back recently.”
“That’s great. I bet your mom’s pleased to have you home; it’s a long way to New York.”
Caitie smiled. “She is. And so am I.” Her eyes dipped down and she pulled at a loose thread on her sleeve. “Um, this is a really weird thing to ask, but were you at the opening of the Silver Sands Resort a couple of months ago?”
James swallowed hard. He’d tried to not think about that night. Or about the beautiful blonde he’d spent the evening with.
He ran his thumb along his jaw, feeling the roughness. “Ah, yeah. I think I did. Why?”
Caitie shifted from one foot to the other. “Well the thing is, I um…” She took a deep breath. “I think you might have spent the night with my friend.”
He could feel the blood in his cheeks heat up. “Your friend?” He blinked, trying to ignore the tug of unease in his stomach.
“Harper. Blonde hair with pink ends; looked amazing in a gold vintage dress.”
Yeah she did. She looked beautiful. The tightness in his gut rose up, curling around his chest. “Um. Yeah, I know who you’re talking about.” He had no idea what else to say, especially to a family friend. ‘Yeah, we had mind-blowing sex until the early hours and then I walked away’ didn’t seem quite right.
“She’s here,” Caitie said softly.
“What?”
“Harper. She’s here. Sitting over in the waiting area.”
He tried not to show his shock, but from the expression on Caitie’s face he failed miserably.
“She wants to talk to you. If that’s okay.”
He swallowed hard. “I have to get back to work. I have patients I need to see.”
Caitie nodded. “Of course, but this is important. And it won’t take very long, I promise. We’re leaving in a minute, but there’s something she needs to tell you.”
From the determined expression on Caitie’s face, he wasn’t going to be able to dodge this one. Slowly looking over his shoulder, his gaze fell on the bank of chairs at the far side of the entrance, filled with a group of women, all wearing dressy clothes and talking loudly. He scanned their faces, his mouth pressed together tightly, until finally he found the features he was looking for.
She was staring right at him. With her wide eyes and pale face she almost looked scared.
Dear god, was she going to tell him she had an STD?
“Okay.” He nodded at Caitie. “I can spare ten minutes.”
“Thank you,” Caitie said, following his gaze to beckon her friend over. Harper. He watched as the girl stood up, taking in her long blonde waves as they cascaded over her shoulders, and the soft pink ends he could remember all too well.
She still had that certain something about her; it was in the way she stood tall, her shoulders back, her face calm. She strode across the room with the same confident gait she’d had in the bar, and the memory of their frantic night together hit him like a cannonball, reigniting all the feelings he’d tried to forget.
God, she was beautiful. He swallowed hard, trying to ignore the desire curling in the pit of his belly.
“Harper,” Caitie said, when the girl came to a stop in front of them. “This is James. James, this is Harper.” Her lips curled into a grimace. “I’m going to leave you guys… ah, yeah… to it.”
He turned to the woman next to Caitie and felt a jolt of recognition. That smooth skin, those pretty eyes, the hair that no matter how many times he’d tried he couldn’t quite forget about.
“Hi, Harper.” She was smaller than he remembered, the top of her head only reaching his shoulders. He had to drop his gaze to look at her.
“Hi.” She licked her lips, pulling the bottom one between her teeth. “James. Or Frank. Whatever.” She smiled, and it was the same as the first time. Full of sunshine and warmth.
He laughed in spite of himself, feeling his body relax as Caitie walked back to the waiting area. His blood felt warm at being alone with Harper. “James will do. Are you okay?”
Harper nodded. “Yeah, I’m good.”
“No STDs?”
It was her turn to laugh, her lips pulling up and her eyes crinkling. “What? Is that what Caitie told you?”
He shook his head. “I just saw the nervous expression on your face and guessed.”
“I don’t have any STDs. But there’s something I need to talk to you about. Is there somewhere private we could talk?”
“We have a break room. It should be empty about now.”
“That sounds perfect.” She nodded.
“I’m sorry I walked out that night,” he said when he closed the break room door behind them. “I don’t usually do that kind of thing.”
“Walk out after a night of amazing sex?” She raised an eyebrow.
“I meant having the amazing sex in the first place. But yeah, I don’t usually walk out without a word either.” He shook his head. “It was an asshole thing to do. The least I could have done was taken you to breakfast.”
“Don’t worry. Breakfast was included with the room. And it isn’t your midnight ghosting I wanted to talk about.”
“It isn’t?”
“Nope.” She glanced at the door, as if to make extra sure it was closed. “Look, this is embarrassing and not at all how I imagined spending my day. I’d assumed I’d never see you again, and I was okay with that. Or as okay as you can be after waking up to an empty bed.” She took a deep breath. “So anyway, the thing is, I didn’t give you an STD that night, but you did give me something.”
“You think I gave you an STD?” He shook his head. “I couldn’t have.” She was the first person he’d had sex with in three years. “You’ve got the wrong guy.”
“I haven’t.” She pulled her lip between her teeth, her gaze meeting his. “It wasn’t an STD you gave me, James. It was a few extra sperm; I’m pregnant.”
7
“That’s not possible,” James said, her words echoed around in his ears as he tried to deny their truth. “You can’t be pregnant. We used a condom.”
“That’s what I thought. But the tests don’t lie. Nor does the morning sickness. Or the heartbeat I heard at my doctor’s appointment. I’m definitely knocked up.”
“Are you sure it’s mine?” he asked.
She blinked and nodded her head. “I’m sure. You’re the only guy I’ve slept with in months. It can’t be anybody else’s.”
He blew out a mouthful of air. “So you’re what, two and a half months along?”
“Eleven weeks. But they calculate it from your last period, so even though it hasn’t been eleven weeks since we were together…” She’d rushed out before her voice cracked and her words fell short.
“Of course. I know that.” He had to bite down his anger. It wasn’t her fault, but… damn. “Are you planning on keeping it?”
/>
She rubbed the back of her neck, and for the first time he could see vulnerability creep in. “Yes I’m keeping it. Her. I’m keeping her.”
“Her? How can you know it’s a girl if you’re only eleven weeks?”
She swallowed, her throat undulating. He could remember the way her skin felt against his lips. Soft, tender, and so damn smooth. She smiled, her gaze dipping down to her belly. “I don’t actually know, but this baby feels like a her.”
It was as though reality had run into the room and slapped him hard in the face. Almost three months pregnant. Jesus.
“You live in L.A., right?” he asked her, raking his hands through his hair. “What are you doing down here?”
“I moved here when I found out I was pregnant. I need the support of my friends who live here.” She cleared her throat. “Look, I know it’s a surprise. It was to me, too. But I thought you had the right to know; I don’t expect any help, or for you to become father of the year.” A short laugh. “I don’t even know you. But whether you like it or not, this baby is coming, and it’s going to be a part of you, too.”
His pager buzzed in his pocket. Out of habit, he pulled it out and glanced down. A message to call the reception desk flashed up.
“Is that a pager?” Harper asked. “I didn’t know anybody still used those; I thought they disappeared with rotary phones and conscription.”
He smiled in spite of himself. “Most hospitals still use them, they’re more reliable than cell phones.” He slid it back into his pocket. “Sorry, force of habit.”
“It’s okay. You’re working. It must be important if they paged.”
“I’m waiting for some history to come through for a patient in the ER. Hopefully this is it.”
“I should go anyway,” Harper said, her eyes meeting his once more. “Caitie will be wondering where I am. It’s been a hell of a day. Thanks for talking to me. I just thought you should know.”
She turned to leave, her cascades of hair undulating with the movement. The pink and blonde caught the light from the overhead fluorescents, shining brightly.
“Wait!” he called out, reaching for her arm. His fingers slowly closed over her bicep. Her skin was so damn soft. The touch sent a shot of pleasure through his body. “Where can I find you? Where are you staying at?”
She turned, her eyes wide, her full lips parted. “I’m staying with Caitie and her boyfriend while I get settled. After that, I’m hoping to find a place of my own.”
He swallowed hard. The mixture of emotions flowing through him were making him dizzy. Shock, regret… and a nagging deep down in his gut that he needed to see her again. And soon.
“Let me get your number.” He reached for his phone right as his pager buzzed a second time. He grimaced, his eyes meeting hers. Without saying a word, she took the device from him and keyed her number in, passing it back so he could slide it into his pocket. “Maybe we can meet some time and talk?”
“Yeah, sure.” Harper nodded.
“I’ve got some days off next week. Would that work?”
The door to the break room opened and a nurse walked in. “There you are,” she said to James. “The charge nurse has been trying to get ahold of you. She has your patient’s doctor on the line. They’re waiting to speak to you.”
“I’ll go,” Harper said softly. “I hope your patient is okay.” She gave him the ghost of a smile. “Thanks again for talking with me.”
This time she really left, and he watched her for a moment, taking in her confident stride, her strong posture, and sexy-as-hell body.
A body that had his baby inside it.
His baby. Damn.
* * *
“Ow!” Harper pulled her finger away from the needle and slid it between her lips, tasting the bead of blood escaping from the tiny puncture wound. She was used to stabbing herself on needles and pins by now – it was an occupational hazard – but she still marveled at how much a tiny prick could hurt.
And of course the thought made her want to giggle.
She’d been home from the hospital for four hours, but instead of resting like Caitie had insisted, she’d managed to finish the last of that week’s Etsy orders. Five custom-made fifties-style dresses, each of which she had charged over two hundred dollars for. Taking away the cost of the materials, that was a profit of seven hundred dollars that week. Not bad, but nowhere near what she needed to make to be able to afford her own place, or buy all the baby things she’d need.
Plus there was the small matter of sleep. Each dress took around ten hours to make, and where she could cope with the long days right now, she was sensible enough to realize that as she got closer to her due date, exhaustion would be sure to kick in. And after the baby arrived she’d be even worse.
She needed a job; preferably one with medical benefits. Because right now she was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
There was a rap at the door.
“Come in,” she called out. A second later, Caitie pushed it open and stepped into what used to be her spare room and what now comprised Harper’s bedroom and workroom combined. “Hey,” Harper greeted her friend. “How’s Ember?”
Caitie sat down on Harper’s unmade bed, curling her legs up beneath her and leaning her back on the wall. “She’s fine. We managed to clear up the Beach Club and get all her gifts to her house, but she was already asleep when we got there.” She picked up a remnant of fabric Harper hadn’t yet thrown out, sliding the satin between her fingers. “How are you doing?” she asked. “I haven’t had a chance to talk to you since the hospital.”
“Since I spoke to James, you mean?” Harper said, a half-smile curling her lips.
“I can’t believe it was James. I should have known from your description. Dark hair, blue eyes.” Caitie shook her head. “All this time we thought he was just some stranger. Instead it’s a guy I’ve known since I was a baby.” She raised her eyebrows at Harper. “How did he take it?”
“About as well as you could expect. He looked shocked.” Harper grimaced at the memory. “But that’s understandable. I was pretty shocked myself when I found out.” She leaned her head on her upturned palm, her elbow resting on her sewing desk. “He wanted to know how it happened, how far along I am, whether he was definitely the father.” She shrugged. “The usual.”
“There’s a usual?” Caitie asked. “Who knew? So what happens next?”
“I don’t know. He was paged and had to leave to see a patient. He said he would call later when he has a day off, but I’m not banking on it. I mean it’s not like he wants this baby; he hadn’t planned it or anything.”
“Neither did you, but you want it.”
A smile tugged at Harper’s lips. “I do.” If she could just work out how she could take care of both of them, her life would be complete. “Even if it came as a shock at the start.”
“Maybe James will be the same,” Caitie suggested. “He could come around like you have.”
“Maybe. But if he doesn’t, it’s okay. He didn’t look like he was overjoyed at the idea of being a daddy. Not that I can blame him. The poor guy didn’t expect to see me again, and now here I am with the biggest shock of his life. That kind of thing takes some getting used to.”
“James is a good guy. I can tell you that much. He’ll want to talk to you about it. Support you. I know him and his family; he wouldn’t walk away from something like this.”
“I guess it’s up to him whether he wants to be part of the baby’s life.” Harper touched her stomach, feeling the gentle swell. “I’d like him to be involved, of course. But if he’s not into babies, I understand.”
“Of course he’s into babies. He had his own once.”
Harper pulled her head up, her mouth turning dry. “What? He has children? He never mentioned them.”
Caitie’s face drained of blood, making her already-pale skin look almost ethereal. “You don’t know about Sara and Jacob?” she asked, her bottom lip dropping open. She shook her head. “Of cours
e you wouldn’t. Why would you?”
“Who’s Sara?”
“She’s James’s wife.” Caitie bit her lip.
“He was married?” Harper’s eyes widened. “Or is he still married? Ugh, please tell me he isn’t? Because I’ll hate myself.”
“He isn’t.” Caitie looked down at the fabric she was twisting between her fingers. “Sara and Jacob died in a car crash about three years ago. Jacob was only a year old. Mom told me about it. It was horrific.”
It was as though a cold downpour of water had washed all over her. His baby died? Harper’s heart ached at the thought of it.
“I should have told you.” Caitie shook her head. “But I didn’t think it through. Didn’t think that you really didn’t know who he was or anything about his history. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. You didn’t know it was him until we were in the hospital today. And I didn’t know either.”
Harper tried to reconcile the sexy, confident, funny guy she’d slept with all those weeks ago with a man who’d lost his wife and child three years earlier.
Caitie inhaled deeply, offering her friend a rueful smile. “Poor you, and poor James. It feels like every time you solve one problem another pops up.”
“I guess it’s good preparation for parenthood. With the sleepless nights and constant anxiety I already feel like a mom.”
Caitie stood and slid her arms around Harper, hugging her tightly. “It’s going to be okay,” she told her. “You’ve got me and Breck, and Ember and Lucas, not to mention Brooke and Ally and Nate and Aiden. Try not to worry so much. It’s not good for the baby.”
Harper hugged her back. “And now I’ll worry about that, too,” she joked.
“So let’s take your mind off it. Let’s go make some popcorn and watch a chick flick in the living room. That’ll make everything okay.”
Harper looked at the half-finished dress she’d narrowly avoided bleeding on. She really should finish it and get it sent out tomorrow, but the lure of sitting with her best friend and losing herself in a movie was too strong.