Needing Arella

by Browning, Terri Anne

  “No clue,” I lied, and her green eyes narrowed on me. For a second, it almost felt as if it were Aunt Emmie giving me that look, and I picked up my phone so I could avoid her gaze.

  I’d put my phone on silent when we’d sat down to eat. The three missed calls and texts from Jordan waiting on me made me smile. I couldn’t wait to get home and tell him our news.

  Twenty-Four

  Jordan

  I knew Arella had a busy morning, so I didn’t rush after my meeting. There was something I’d been putting off, but I knew I couldn’t do it any longer and still expect Drake Stevenson to respect me.

  He and Lana knew I was with their daughter, but as Arella had suspected, he wasn’t openly welcoming me into the family like he used to do. I needed to fix that because I knew how important her family was to my girl.

  Pulling into the Stevensons’ driveway in Santa Monica, I stepped out of my car. The garage door was open, and Drake was standing over a ’67 Corvette. It needed to be restored, and Arella told me it was a project her dad had talked about taking on in the past. Lana had bought the old classic for him as a Christmas present, and he’d slowly been working on it since then.

  Beside the car sat a pack ’n play where Nevaeh’s son was sitting up, chewing on a soft version of his grandfather’s expensive new toy. Drake had turned to look at me when I’d first pulled into the driveway, but he’d just as quickly dismissed me and gone back to his task.

  Stuffing my hands into my pockets, I walked into the garage. Had I ever been this nervous when having to make multimillion-dollar deals? No, but then again, this was probably the most important deal of my life. If this man didn’t give me his blessing, would Arella even marry me? Her parents were important to her, and I knew that her father was her ultimate hero.

  “What do you know about emission testing?” Drake asked in greeting as he stared down at the engine of his classic toy.

  “I think you don’t have to worry about that if the vehicle is a ’75 or older in this state,” I told him. “But I could be wrong.”

  “Huh,” he grunted. “That’s good, I guess.”

  Conrad spotted me and let out a loud shout. I walked over to him and crouched down. He was a drooling machine, and when he grinned, I saw the flash of a tooth that must have recently come in. “Hey there, little man. Are you helping Grandpa?”

  “G-Pop,” Drake corrected. “Since Nevi won’t let me teach him to play the guitar yet, I figured I needed to find something else we could play with while bonding.”

  Realizing there was no way to just ease into this conversation, and it didn’t look like he was going to help me out in that regard, I pushed down my nervousness and pulled the small box out of my pocket. When I held it out, he stiffened, his blue-gray eyes so much like his daughter’s becoming hooded. “I know I’ve made mistakes in the past few years. I understand why you don’t think I’m good enough. But I swear to you, I love Arella with everything inside of me. I want to spend the rest of my life making her happy.”

  He scrubbed a hand over his face, his gaze still on the ring box in my hand. “I never thought you weren’t good enough. Stupid as fuck for letting her slip through your fingers, yeah, but never not good enough.” He muttered something vicious under his breath as he turned and stomped a few feet away. “You hurt my little girl repeatedly. I gave you the benefit of the doubt countless times, telling her she just needed to give you a little more time. You were scared, I could see it. Hell, kid, I’ve been there. I let the love of my life walk away because I was too fucked up in the head to be everything she needed. When you meet the one who turns your whole world upside down but you’re not ready, you run scared. I get it.”

  He made a growling noise deep in his throat and turned to face me. “But then you kept tearing her apart. She deserves better than that, boy.”

  A knot had filled my throat, choking me, but I quickly swallowed it. “I realize that, and you’ll never know how sorry I am. Things got mixed up. Wires got crossed, and I didn’t think she cared about me in the same way. So, yeah, I ran scared. For years, because I couldn’t stand the thought that she might not love me as much as I love her. But then, someone made me realize how blind I’ve been. I want to make up all of that wasted time to her.” I opened the box, showing him the ring. “Please, sir. Give me your blessing to make all of her dreams come true.”

  He shook his head, and I felt my gut twist. “She’s a strong girl. She can make most of her dreams a reality all by herself. We raised her to stand on her own, to fight for what she wants. That’s why she’s gotten so far in her career without my help.” He inhaled deeply, as if he were in pain, and slowly blew it out. “But you’re part of her dream too. And I won’t ever stand in the way of any of my babies’ happiness.” He walked back over to me and thrust out his hand. “You have my blessing, Jordan.”

  My fingers trembled as I shook his hand, my eyes stinging with tears of gratitude. “Thank you, sir.”

  His hand tightened around mine. Fuck, it hurt like hell, but I didn’t even flinch. I’d take this punishment and anything else he threw at me, as long as I got to keep Arella. Losing her was the only thing that could ever break me. “But if you ever make that girl cry again, I will chop you into tiny pieces and scatter your body from here to Vegas so that your mother won’t ever find all of you.”

  His threat made me want to grin, because it was definitely one I would be using one day if some motherfucker ever dared to make my own daughter cry. “I promise you, Drake. You’ll never have to worry about that where Arella is concerned. She loves me, and I’m not strong enough to ever let her go.”

  A throat clearing behind me had Drake stiffening and dropping his hold on my hand like it was on fire. “Angel, I was just telling the boy—”

  Lana snickered as I turned to face her. “I heard most of what you were telling the boy, Dray,” she chided, walking over to the pack ’n play to lift Conrad out. Straightening, she gave me a wink and turned back to go into the house. “And I’m sure he needs some ice for his hand.”

  “I’m good,” I told her, not even daring to shake out the throb that still lingered in my fingers.

  “Dray, baby, get our future son-in-law something to drink while I change this little one. I just called his mom to ask if he could spend the night. Looks like my guys are getting a sleepover tonight.” Lana cooed down at Conrad. “Does my little man want to spend the night cuddling with G-Mom?”

  “I want to cuddle with G-Mom,” Drake called after her, a pout on his face. “Can I cuddle with her too?”

  “Only if you get Jordan something to drink and are nice for the rest of the day,” she yelled back from the kitchen.

  “I can do that, I guess,” he grumbled. “You want tea or soda, kid?”

  “I should probably head home,” I told him as I pocketed the ring box once again. “Need to ask your daughter a pretty important question.”

  “That can wait another five minutes,” he growled at me. “Angel said I have to get you a drink or I can’t cuddle with her tonight. You’re getting the fucking drink.”

  Grinning, I followed him into the house. “Is this how it’s going to be with Arella? Am I going to have to do exactly as she requests to get cuddles from her too?”

  He released an unhappy grunt as he crossed to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of diet soda. “You’ve met her, right?”

  Lana’s soft giggle at her husband’s question reminded me of Arella’s. I hadn’t seen her all morning, and I was itching to get back to her. I needed to hear her voice, smell her skin, touch her. I didn’t like being away from her for long, but this was important. Now, I ached to be beside her again.

  To make my new future in-laws happy, I stayed long enough to finish a drink with Drake before heading back to the apartment where Arella had already texted me she was. The ache in my chest that was always there when we weren’t beside each other was pressing down on me, but I tried—and failed—not to speed to get back to her.

>   By the time I walked into our living room, I was almost gasping for each breath in my need to hold her. “Love?” I called when I didn’t see her. “Arella.”

  “In here!”

  I followed the sound of her voice into our bedroom and found her sitting in the middle of the bed. She had on one of my T-shirts that practically swallowed her, one side hanging low over her shoulder, exposing the top of her breast enticingly, with her hair pulled up into a messy but sexy knot on top of her head. As I walked in, she pushed up onto her knees and held out her arms, welcoming me with a secretive little smile that made my heart clench.

  Kicking off my shoes, I grabbed hold of her hips and jerked her against me. “Missed you so damn much,” I groaned, burying my face in her neck.

  “Babe,” she murmured with concern. “You’re shaking.”

  “Can’t do this shit anymore, love. I can’t spend so many hours without you beside me.” My hands slid down to her ass, my fingers digging into the tight muscles of each hip through the shirt. “Nearly lost my mind on the way home because I couldn’t breathe without you.”

  She combed her fingers soothingly through the hair on the back of my head. “It was only one morning, Jord. We’re rarely apart.”

  I clenched my eyes closed. “I know, but I can’t think straight when you’re away from me. I know I can’t be with you every second, twenty-four seven, that I’ll smother you if I’m not careful, but there is this weight on my chest when we aren’t together that physically hurts.”

  I felt her lips touch the side of my face. “You couldn’t ever smother me, I promise. I want to be close to you every minute of the day. Beside you is my favorite place in the world.” One of her hands left my hair and rubbed down my back before reaching behind her and taking hold of one of mine. She guided our hands around her body and placed them over her lower abdomen. “Jordan…”

  Something in her voice had my eyes snapping open, and I lifted my head. That secretive little smile was back in place on her lips, and her eyes glittered with tears. “I’ve been waiting to tell you this for over a week, but I wanted to confirm it with the doctor in case I was wrong.” Her tongue brushed over her bottom lip, but for once, she couldn’t so easily distract me. Every cell in my body suddenly felt like it was zinging with electricity. “We’re pregnant.”

  I’d thought the day Arella told me she loved me for the first time was the happiest day of my life, but every day since had been even happier than the last. Yet, this moment would be something I remembered when I was ninety and couldn’t even remember how to feed myself. I’d never forget the happy tears that made her blue-gray eyes sparkle or the pink flush to her cheeks. The way her smile was so sweet and precious that my heart felt like it could fly out of my chest as I looked down at her and realized that no man could possibly love his woman as much as I loved mine.

  My heart was in my throat, making it nearly impossible to swallow, but I forced it down. A hundred different questions filled my head, but all I could get out was, “How are you feeling? Are you okay? Do you need anything?”

  Her smile became even more brilliant. “I’m fine. I’ve had a little bit of nausea, but if anything, my appetite has only increased lately. I’m honestly surprised you haven’t noticed the five pounds I’ve put on already.”

  My hand that was still clenched at her ass flexed. “Just more of you for me to love, babe.” My hand that she was holding low against her belly stroked back and forth lovingly. “You saw the doctor today?” She nodded. “Is the baby okay?”

  “Our little nugget is perfect,” she said and moved back. Reaching under her pillow, she pulled out a few pictures and excitedly handed them over. “The doctor did an ultrasound, and our sweet little baby is already measuring ahead of schedule.” She skimmed her finger over a little black blob area on the picture. “This is him or her. I know you can’t really see much of anything, but by the next ultrasound, we will be able to make out everything.”

  All I could do was stare in awe at the glossy piece of paper. That little blob was our precious little nugget. We’d made him or her with love, and I would spend the rest of my life making sure they and their mother never questioned how much the two of them meant to me.

  Something dripped onto the picture I was holding, and it was only then that I realized I was crying. Sniffling, Arella wiped away my tears. “It’s okay, babe. I cried when I first saw our nugget too.”

  I dropped down on my ass and pulled her onto my lap, holding her back to my chest, I lifted the paper closer so we could both see it. “This is the most beautiful picture I’ve ever seen,” I whispered. “I can’t take my eyes off it.”

  “Should we wait and tell our parents?” she asked after a few minutes of us just silently sitting there looking adoringly down at our baby’s first picture. “I know some people wait until after the first trimester, but I don’t know if I can. I mean, we don’t have to tell the entire world yet, but I think it would be nice to tell the grandparents.”

  Knowing exactly how my mother was going to react to finding out she was going to be a grandmother, I couldn’t stop from grinning. “Whatever you want, love. Just tell me who you want told, and I’ll make it happen.”

  She jumped to her knees and turned to face me. “We should do it in a cute way. When Violet told her parents she was pregnant, she got them presents. Uncle Shane’s read, “My grandpa rocks harder than yours” or something like that. But I think we should do something that is inclusive to both your parents and mine. Maybe we could have dinner together, and I can get cupcakes with chocolate nameplates on them. Ours can say Mommy and Daddy, and theirs can say grandmother-to-be…” Her nose scrunched up. “Or is that too cheesy? Why are you smiling at me like that?”

  I cupped the back of her head and pulled her in for a gentle kiss. “Because you are, without a doubt, the most amazing, most beautiful woman in the world.” I kissed the tip of her nose. “You own my heart, Arella. I never knew happiness like this existed until you became mine.”

  “Jordan,” she breathed, tears filling her eyes. “Don’t make me cry.”

  Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out the little ring box, opened it, and held it out to her. I’d wanted to do this in a more romantic way, but I didn’t think I could wait another second to ask her and put that ring on her finger. “When I asked your father to give me his blessing earlier today, I promised him I would never make you cry again. Please don’t make me break that promise, love.”

  She gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. “You…you really asked for his blessing?”

  “I told you I would,” I reminded her.

  “Yeah, but…” Dropping her hand, she shook her head, her eyes going to the oval diamond engagement ring glittering brightly in the light. I’d bought the ring while I was in Italy the last time and kept it in my pocket to remind myself why I was working so hard to get back to Arella. “He actually gave you his blessing?”

  “He didn’t want to at first,” I told her honestly. “But then he said that I was part of your dreams and he couldn’t stand in the way of making them come true.”

  “Oh God,” she sobbed. “This is real?”

  “Baby, please don’t cry.” I could feel the pressure returning to my chest, making it hard to breathe again. “Do you not want to marry me? I-if you want to wait, we can.”

  “No, no, no,” she whimpered, shaking her head and causing her tears to drip onto the bed.

  My vision blurred as tears filled my eyes. “No, you don’t want to wait? Or no, you don’t want to…” I couldn’t even speak the words. They felt like razor blades in my throat, and with each inhale, they shredded something vital.

  Suddenly, she was back in my lap, her legs straddling my hips as she cupped each side of my face in her soft hands. “Jordan, look at me.”

  I blinked back the wetness from my eyes so I could see her beautiful face. Her own tears hadn’t dried yet, but she was smiling. That had to be a good sign.

  Please, fuck, p
lease let it be a good sign.

  “I love you so much it hurts,” she murmured softly. “Of course I’ll marry you. And no, I really don’t want to wait. I want to get married straightaway. Like, before I develop a baby bump. I don’t want to look fat in my wedding dress.”

  The relief of having the weight disappear off my chest was so intense that I saw spots for a moment. Finally able to draw a deep enough breath, I crushed my mouth against hers in a kiss that branded us both.

  Twenty-Five

  Arella

  I figured telling our parents about the upcoming wedding and our pregnancy news all at the same time was the best. That way, no one’s feelings would be hurt if we told one set of parentals before the other.

  I had Elliot set up a private room at one of my favorite restaurants and then went in to speak to the chef personally to tell him what I wanted to do to surprise the grandparents. It didn’t take more than a few bats of my lashes to talk him into doing a special dessert for my little bitty dinner party. That probably wasn’t the only reason, as I suspected my doting fiancé had made a call beforehand to grease the man’s palms in order to get me what I wanted, but I was going to pretend it was my own doing.

  Afterward, I rushed home so I could get ready for our big surprise dinner. Jordan was taking a meeting with a team of producers from a different studio, and I’d already given Elliot the rest of the day off, so it was only me in the back of the SUV on the way home.

  My bodyguard pulled into the garage and drove straight for my usual parking place. I was so excited about dinner that I didn’t even think about his rule that I stay in the vehicle until he made sure the surrounding area was safe and he opened the door for me. Humming to myself, I stepped out into the garage and took two steps toward the elevator.

  That was as far as I got before a hand clamped over my mouth from behind and I was jerked back against someone. I screamed into the person’s palm, realizing from the size of it that it was a man’s.