by Marie Force
“Hey.” He took off his boots, Stetson, and leather coat in the mudroom. “The roads are a mess. Sorry I’m so late.”
“It’s okay.”
“Did you try to call?”
“No.”
“Oh, good. I was afraid you were worried. My phone is dead. I just took it off the charger this morning, so I might need a new one.”
“I’ll get you one tomorrow if you want.”
“If you have time.” His nose was cold when he kissed her cheek. “Something smells amazing. What’d you make?”
“Lamb.”
“Mmmm, my favorite.”
“I know.”
“Want me to set the table?”
“Already did it,” she said, gesturing toward the dining room.
He peeked into the room. “Wow, Grandma Sally’s china and everything. What’s the occasion?”
She shrugged. “No occasion.”
After Susannah had lit the candles on the table and poured him a glass of wine, they sat down to eat. “How is it?” she asked.
“Fabulous. Your cooking was number two on the list of things I missed the most about you when we were separated.”
Amused, she took a sip of her ice water. “Do I need to ask what number one was?”
He shot her a withering look that made her laugh. “I feel bad drinking wine in front of you.”
“Go right ahead. It doesn’t appeal to me at the moment.”
He looked at her with concern. “Are you feeling sick?”
“Kind of queasy today,” she said, pushing the food around on her plate. She wasn’t sure if it was the pregnancy or the tension between them that was causing it.
“Did you call Pam?”
She shook her head. “It’s normal.”
“You didn’t have it before, with Justin.”
“I think I got lucky.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
Touched by his genuine concern, she squeezed his arm. “I’m fine. What were you up to today?”
His expression changed to one of distaste. “I had a meeting at the T.V. station.”
“I gather it didn’t go well?”
He shrugged. “I hate going in there. They treat me like I’m an idiot.”
“What do you mean?”
“They kind of talk down to me like I’m too dumb to understand the business side of the station. It’s irritating.”
“You own the place. Shouldn’t they be sucking up to you?”
“You would think.”
“That makes me mad.”
He chuckled. “Me, too. I think I’m going to find an asshole who wants to buy a T.V. station.”
Susannah laughed. “That would serve them right. Don’t forget—you’re Ryan Sanderson. You can do—or not do—anything you want. Let your management people run the station, and don’t bother yourself with it.”
“Good point. I was just trying to show some interest. Anyway, how was your day?”
“Kind of quiet.” She didn’t think that he needed to hear she had spent most of the day on the phone canceling what was left of her wedding to Henry. “But I got a few more calls from people who were thrilled I gave Betsy James the what-for at the ball. You’ll also be glad to know they loved the way you picked me up and took me out of there. They found it very sexy.”
His dimpled grin lit up his face.
“That went straight to your fat head, didn’t it?”
“Of course it did. I guess all this approval means we can safely show our faces in polite society again.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I still say we lay low until someone else causes a bigger scandal than I did.”
“Good plan.”
“I talked to my mother today, too. She actually asked about you.”
“Get out of here,” he said, shocked.
“I’m not kidding,” she said, appreciating his reaction. She was desperate to do anything she could to please him. “She really did.”
“Well, it’s something. I’ll take it.”
The lights flickered again.
“We might be in for another night in front of the fire,” she said.
“That’d be fine with me.”
Her smile was small and sad as she remembered the night they had slept by the fire at the cabin—and most likely conceived the child she was carrying.
He brushed his thumb over her hand. “Why so sad, baby? We’re doing all right, aren’t we?”
She shrugged. “I guess. But I feel like we’re trying too hard. Even when we’re doing what we always did, it is in the room with us.”
“At least we’re trying.”
“I wish I had something to blackmail you with,” she said.
He laughed. “What do you mean?”
“Well, when you were in my shoes—groveling to right some terrible wrongs—you had my wedding with Henry to hold over my head. You had a way to force me to deal with you. I don’t have anything like that.”
His eyes softened as he brought her hand to his lips. “You really have no idea what you have over me, do you?”
He was right, she had no idea.
“Everything, Susie. You. That’s what you could threaten to take away from me.”
“So if I tell you I’m going to leave that’ll scare you into getting over what I did to you?”
“Maybe.”
She stood up.
“Where are you going?”
“To pack.”
He tossed his head back and laughed as he reached out to bring her onto his lap. “You’re not going anywhere.”
Her eyes filled. “I want you back, Ry.”
“I’m right here, baby.”
“But you’re not.”
“Yes, I am.”
“I wanted to call you. When you were late, I was worried. I was worried sick, actually, but I was afraid to call you.”
“Why? That’s crazy. You can call me any time you want to. You know that.”
“I didn’t want you to think I was checking up on you.”
“Susie.” He gave her a playful little shake. “I want you checking up on me. It shows me you love me.”
“I was afraid it would also show you...”
“What?”
“That I don’t trust you.” She took a deep breath. “I guess it doesn’t matter because your phone was dead anyway.”
The lights flickered again, but this time the power went out, leaving them with only the candlelight.
“Susannah, baby, listen to me.” He turned her chin, so she was looking at him. “If you’re worried, or scared, or nauseous, or lonely, call me. I don’t care where I am or what I’m doing, I’ll always want to talk to you. And I promise I won’t ever think you’re checking up on me. Deal?”
Touched, she shook the hand he held out to her. “Deal.”
“Feel better?”
She nodded and tipped her head to touch her lips to his. What she had meant to be a quick kiss took a passionate turn when he wove his fingers into her hair and dragged his tongue over her bottom lip.
After several long, hot kisses, he stood up to carry her into the den where he settled her on the sofa and stretched out next to her.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, wanting to resume the kiss.
“Susie,” he sighed against her lips. “I love you so much. Don’t go to the trouble of blackmailing me, okay? You can have whatever you want.”
“The only thing I want is you—all of you.”
“You have me.”
“Good, because I’m having a craving.”
He raised an amused eyebrow. “Anything I can help with?”
She nodded. “In fact, you’re the only one who can help.”
“This sounds serious.”
“It’s a matter of life and death,” she said, unbuttoning his shirt. “Are you up to the task?”
He flexed his hips, pushing his erection into the V of her legs. “What do you think?”
She giggle
d. “It seems you’re well prepared for this mission.”
He was still laughing when he captured her mouth in a kiss that was both passionate and reassuring.
In that moment, she finally began to believe they were going to be okay.
Chapter 28
Susannah stood in the middle of the empty yellow room and opened her heart to the storm of emotions that came with venturing in there for the first time since they had lost Justin. If she closed her eyes, she could still picture the nursery she had so lovingly put together for him with yellow ducks and gingham curtains. Tears spilled down her cheeks, but she did nothing to stop them, knowing they were a necessary part of this final act of saying goodbye to the son she had lost.
For two long years, his place had remained sealed off from her home and her heart, but someday soon another baby would come home to this room. That baby would come home. She felt it with a certainty she couldn’t explain and didn’t question.
Fear had blossomed into hope over the last two weeks. And tonight, on the eve of what would have been her wedding to Henry, she was filled with the peace she had craved and finally found with Ryan. She was right where she belonged with his child thriving inside of her, waiting to be born to two parents who wanted him—or her—more than they wanted anything else.
Clutched in her hand was the tiny Mavericks jersey she had bought for the baby. She had come in here tonight to find a place to put it until it was needed. Squatting down in front of the window, she raised the lid on the built-in seat and tucked the jersey away inside. She closed the seat and rested her cheek against it, as if to seal the deal she had made with fate. If she bought only that one thing, maybe, just maybe...
“Susie? What are you doing, baby?” Ryan asked from the doorway.
She wiped her face and turned to him with a smile. “Just putting something away. Did you get all your football stuff unpacked?”
He came in to help her up. “Right back where it belongs.”
“There’s no escaping now,” she joked. “Your bachelor pad is history.”
Leaning in to kiss her, he said, “Good riddance. Are you sure you’re okay?”
She nodded. “I haven’t been in here since...”
“Never?”
“No.”
He held her for a long, quiet moment. “I have a present for you.”
“You do?” She frisked him. “Where?”
He laughed and led her from the room. “Downstairs.”
“I heard you playing earlier,” she said as she closed the door behind her. “Was that Enrique Iglesias?” She made a face. “Not your usual thing.”
“There’s a funny story behind that,” he said with a grin as they went downstairs. “After we beat Atlanta, we were partying in the hotel bar and this lounge lizard type was performing. He did ‘Hero,’ and the whole team sang along at the top of their lungs like idiots. The guy was thrilled. I really think he had no idea we were making fun of him. So over the next week, I learned the song and played it for the guys on the plane after the Houston game. They went nuts, and it sort of became our anthem this season.”
“That’s hilarious.”
“There’s another reason why I learned it.”
“What’s that?”
He led her into the den. “If I tell you, you can’t tell the guys,” he said in all seriousness.
“I won’t,” she said, mimicking his grave expression. “I promise.”
“You know how he says she takes his breath away?”
Susannah nodded.
“Well, that reminded me of you,” he said with a shy smile. “Because you take my breath away.”
“Ry...That’s so sweet. Will you play it for me?”
“After you open your present,” he said, gesturing to a small, flat package on the coffee table.
She picked it up and shook it. “What is it?”
“Open it,” he said with exasperation.
“Remind you of anyone you know?”
“Susannah...”
She tore off the paper and found plane tickets and a brochure for a resort in Barbados. “Oh, Ry, this is fabulous! It’s just what we need.”
“There’s more. Flip it open.”
Inside was an engraved card that said, “A Renewal: Ryan & Susannah Sanderson, Sunset on March 21.”
“I thought it would be cool to renew our vows on the beach, just the two of us, before your summer semester starts and before the baby comes.”
“You set this all up?” she asked, astounded.
He nodded. “I think it’s important we do it, don’t you?”
“Yes,” she said, reaching for him. “It’s really important. Thank you for arranging it.”
“Is it okay that it’ll just be us? I mean, if you want to invite your family—”
“No. It should be just us.” She rested against his chest. “Thank you, Ry.”
He brushed his lips over her hair. “You’re welcome.”
Shifting so she could see him, she added, “Not just for this. For coming back, for taking a stand, for fighting for us, for being the guy I need you to be. For all of it.”
“If you’d told me the night I first came home that one day you’d be thanking me for it...”
She chuckled softly. “I shouldn’t tell you this, but...”
“What?”
“I can’t.”
He tickled her, making her squeal with laughter. “Tell me,” he said, threatening to tickle her some more.
“Okay, okay.” She took a deep breath. “I was secretly thrilled to see you.”
He laughed. “Must have been very secretly, because you could’ve fooled me.”
“Oh, don’t get me wrong. I was mad at you, too. It was just like you to pull something like that.”
“I believe you just thanked me for pulling ‘something like that.’”
“Shut up.”
He grinned. “Make me.”
“I thought you were going to play for me.”
“You really want to hear that song?”
She nodded.
“You seriously can’t ever tell the guys. They’ll abuse the shit out of me if they think I used it to score with you.”
“Are you?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
He reached for his guitar. “What?”
“Using it to score with me?”
“Well, yeah. Why else would I sing such a fruity song?”
She laughed until there were tears in her eyes. “Don’t worry. Your secret will be safe with me.”
“Don’t look at me, or I’ll laugh,” he said as he played the first few notes.
Susannah was surprised when her eyes filled as she listened to him. Both his guitar playing and his singing were amazing.
The doorbell rang, surprising them.
“Hold that thought,” Ryan said, leaning over to kiss her before he got up.
He swung open the door to find two men in suits on the front porch.
“Good evening, Mr. Sanderson,” the older of the two said as they flashed their badges. “I’m Detective Cooper, and this is my partner, Detective Ortiz. May we come in for a minute?”
Startled, Ryan stepped aside to admit them. “What can I do for you?”
Susannah came out of the den and stopped short when she saw the two men. “What’s going on?”
“This is my wife, Susannah.”
“Ma’am,” Cooper said before he turned back to Ryan. “Is there somewhere we could speak privately?”
Ryan put his arm around Susannah. “Right here is fine.”
The cops exchanged glances.
“Do you know a Misty Carmichael?” Ortiz asked.
“No, should I?” Ryan asked.
“She claims to know you.”
“I’ve never heard that name before in my life. Have you, Susie?”
“No,” Susannah said. “What’s this all about?”
“We were contacted earlier today by Ms. Carmichael’s father. His daughter, who’s si
x months pregnant, has named you as the baby’s father.”
Ryan gasped. “What?”
Susannah recoiled in shock.
Ryan tightened his grip on her.
“We’d like you to come downtown with us to sort this out,” Cooper said.
“There’s nothing to sort out!” Ryan cried. “I don’t know her! And if there’s a woman claiming I fathered her child, why are you guys involved?”
“She’s sixteen years old,” Ortiz said.
“Oh my God,” Susannah whispered. “Oh, God.”
“Am I being charged with something?” Ryan asked as his cheeks flushed with distress.
“Not at this time,” Cooper said. “Right now, we’re asking you to cooperate with our investigation by coming with us.”
“I don’t see why we can’t sort it out right here.”
“Normally, we’d do our best to accommodate you, Mr. Sanderson. We’re well aware of your standing in this community. However, Mr. Carmichael is a good friend of the mayor’s, and we’ve been instructed to handle this by the book.”
“Great,” Ryan said, his jaw clenched with tension. He turned to Susannah. “Call Chuck, and tell him to meet me at the station.”
She snapped out of her daze and nodded. “I’ll be right behind you.”
“Stay here, Susie. I’ll be right back when they find out I had nothing to do with this.”
“I can’t just sit here! You can’t ask me to do that.”
“I don’t want you anywhere near this.”
Something about his expression filled her with fear, which must have shown on her face, because he looked away from her.
“Mr. Sanderson?” Cooper said. “Grab a coat.”
They escorted him—thankfully without handcuffs—from the house a minute later. Susannah was paralyzed as she watched them go. The car pulled out of the driveway and was out of sight before she forced herself to move, feeling like she was wading through quicksand. Her hands shook as she rifled through the papers on Ryan’s desk and finally found the home phone number for the attorney he had told her to call.