Ride Baby Ride

by Vivian Arend

  Beside him Katy wiggled. She’d been awfully quiet for most of the meal. Partly because it was impossible to get a word in edgewise. Mostly, though, he suspected she was nervous about sharing her news.

  He understood the sensation. There was a huge knot in his belly. “Definitely sticking around Rocky. I made nice coin during my stint, but the oil fields are no place to work full time.”

  The older man nodded. “You going to keep on at the shop with us then?”

  “Yes, sir. No use in taking business from you—there’s not enough work for two shops.”

  Talk turned to more business items for a bit. Familiar and easy, and Gage’s mind drifted.

  The massive round table they were gathered around had been one of the first places in Rocky Mountain House Gage had truly felt welcome. His foster parents had meant well, and they’d been the best of the lot he’d ever had, but a caring couple in their late sixties couldn’t fill the holes in a fifteen-year-old’s heart. Couldn’t give the acceptance and real family feeling he’d gotten when Clay had brought him home to the Thompson dinner table.

  Back then Meg Thompson had still been alive. She’d taken one look at Gage before hugging him tight then shoving fresh baking and an enormous list of chores on him and Clay.

  The inclusion on the work list had meant more than the food and hugs. Belonging included sweat equity—Gage had known that instinctively.

  He’d sat down at that first dinner with the four Thompson boys and ten-year-old Katy, and he’d felt at home for the first time since his own mother had been violently stolen from his life.

  Beside him Katy had a definite case of ants in the pants, fidgeting like crazy until he wondered that none of the guys were noticing her strange behaviour. Gage laid a hand on her thigh out of sight of the others. Casual-like. Just a light pressure to let her know he was there for her.

  Her entire body tightened, and she darted a glance around the table to see if anyone was watching.

  Everyone else was far too interested in their conversation and their plates to spot anything. He leaned over slightly to whisper by her ear. “You know they love you to pieces. It’s going to be just fine, Katybug.”

  His use of her nickname made her lips twitch. But even more importantly, to his delight she snuck her hand over his, linking their fingers together and squeezing tightly in response.

  The sudden silence alerted him. All attention had turned their direction. Food and drink forgotten as five sets of dark eyes bore into him and Katy.

  “You two got something on your mind over there?” Clay’s question buzzed angrily in Gage’s ears.

  It was rather amazing how much disapproval could be put into such simple words.

  Katy took a deep breath, but before she could speak Gage decided what the hell. He’d sooner be skinned for the whole disaster, no matter what she’d said before.

  “Not a secret,” Gage announced. “We’re dating.”

  Other than her quick gasp of shock, there was no response to his comment. Not for a full five seconds. Then an uproar of noise hit from all sides.

  “The hell?”

  “Since when?”

  “Are you serious?”

  Over all the questions and cussing lay a deep, heavy rumble, starting low then increasing in volume until Mr. Thompson’s laugh broke through. He waved his sons off.

  “Calm yourself, boys. You really surprised by this?” He clicked his tongue. “Never thought I’d raised a pack of dullards. I saw this coming from a mile away.”

  Katy gave Gage a dirty look before facing her father. “What’s that mean?”

  The older man shrugged. “Means I’d seen you two making calf eyes at each other when you thought no one was looking. About time you came to your senses.”

  Clay stumbled to vertical, glaring daggers at Gage. “Bullshit. You can’t be dating Katy.”

  Gage stood to meet him eye to eye across the table. “Not your decision.”

  “She’s still recovering from the accident. She doesn’t need to get involved with anyone.”

  A stream of very creative swearing burst free from a most unexpected source. Gage waited cautiously until Clay looked away before also turning toward Katy.

  She’d stood as well, her much shorter status very clear as everyone loomed over her from where they’d all risen to their feet around the table. The vile language spewing from her mouth stuttered to a stop as she whipped out her finger and stuck it in her oldest brother’s face.

  “The accident happened two months ago. I. Bumped. My. Head. That’s it. I didn’t have a lobotomy or revert to childhood. I’ve had enough of you wrapping me in cotton and refusing to let me do anything on my own. Yes, I have gaps in my memory, and yes, dealing with that is a pain in the ass. But you, Clay”—she glared around the table to take in all her brothers—“all of you, are even bigger pains. I did not break my brain, or my body. My sex drive did not vanish out the broken window, and I will not allow you, or anyone else, decide what will or won’t happen in my life.”

  Gage wasn’t sure the mention of sex was the wisest idea as eyes narrowed further, and fists were clenched. Only he couldn’t worry about that because she’d spun her fury toward him.

  “And you! You’re the biggest pain of them all. I told you I wanted to do this myself. You agreed, and now you just leap in and do exactly the opposite of what I asked for? Damn you.” Katy stepped back from the table, her eyes full of fire as she planted her feet wide and crossed her arms. “Gage and I are not going out,” she stated clearly.

  Oh, shit. She was more upset by his taking control than he’d expected. He reached for her, but she twisted from his grasp.

  “Forget it, Gage. We might be seeing more of each other in the future if you get your head out of your ass, but the only reason will be because you might be the father of my baby.”

  “What?”

  The question exploded from five male throats at the same moment.

  Katy lifted her chin, cheeks red, her chest heaving. “Yes. I’m pregnant. No, I’m not sure who the father is, although Gage insists he could be. It’s either him or Simon, and that’s all I’m going to say about this tonight because I’m sick of all of you. Good night.”

  She twirled on her heel and stomped from the room, the door slamming shut after her. Gage wavered between running after her and staying to explain to the guys.

  He never saw it coming. The fist that connected with his jaw made stars burst before his eyes, and he stumbled backward before landing on the floor, five very angry faces staring down at him.

  “Shall we bury him alive in the back forty?” Mitch asked, wiggling his fingers to shake out the blow he’d delivered.

  “Hang him in the garage. We can use the welder’s torch and skin him first.”

  Gage shoved aside the anger inside that wanted to flare like a torch. “Let me explain, dammit.”

  Clay dragged a hand over his head then gestured his brothers aside. He extended his hand to Gage.

  Gage eyed it with distrust.

  His friend snorted. “Look, you surprised us all, but I’m not going to beat you any further, and neither will the others.”

  “Speak for yourself,” Len drawled. “What the hell is going on, Gage?”

  “Boys, let him up.” Keith Thompson pushed through his sons to cast an unreadable stare upon Gage.

  Gage accepted his friend’s help and was dragged to his feet. His hand rose instinctively to his face to cup his stinging jaw. “I can explain.”

  He gave the best short version he could. All the while their disapproval weighed down on him.

  “Dammit, Gage.” Clay paced away. “And now you’ve gone and put her back up. Idiot.”

  “Thanks for telling me something I didn’t know.”

  Len looked disappointed. “Does this mean we’re not killing him and hiding the body?”

  Mitch rested a hand on his shoulder. “Not today, but there’s still hope for tomorrow.”

  And with that
, Gage sighed in relief. He was going to be forgiven, at least by the guys. Katy, on the other hand, was another issue. He’d have to watch his balls around her for the next while.

  They all settled around the table, a little uneasy. More awkward than he’d ever felt with the family.

  “So, now what?” Len asked.

  “That one is easy,” Keith Thompson answered. “Now Gage finds a way to convince Katy they’re a couple. If she’s going to have a baby, she needs all the support she can get.”

  “So you’d better find a way to convince Katy she wants you in her life, or else,” Clay snapped.

  Clay’s ultimatum pissed Gage off all over.

  “There’s nothing I want more.” The secret seed of fear inside was shoved down and ignored as Gage went nose to nose with his stubborn best friend. “Did you not listen to what I said about sending you an email, you stupid ass? Did you not hear the part about how I’m the one who came to her before she even told me about the baby?”

  “Easy words to say when none of it can be proved.”

  “Still say we take him outside and work him over,” Len muttered.

  “Shut up, all of you.” Mr. Thompson didn’t shout. Didn’t storm, but his intensely spoken comment quelled all four of his sons. “Stop poking at Gage. He knows what he did was wrong, and if my baby girl is going to have a man in her life, I like Gage a hell of a lot more than Simon.”

  Warmth rushed him at the man’s words of acceptance. “Thank you, sir.”

  Keith turned toward him with ice in the depths of his grey eyes. “You hurt her again, though, and I’ll shoot you myself.”

  Ahh, family. Gage straightened up and wondered if he was going to survive.

  Remembering the expression of fury in Katy’s eyes, he just might be better off dealing with the guys.

  9

  “You want a baby shower before or after the kid is born?”

  Katy pulled herself alert. She was only a moment away from sliding into a puddle of relaxation in the overstuffed easy chair, tired from her week and everything that had been going on. “There’s a choice?”

  Janey had plopped herself on the floor to apply a new layer of polish to Katy’s toes. “Sure. I have two cousins, and one did it one way, and one did it the other. It’s really up to you.”

  Tamara Coleman laughed. “How about both? Any reason to party is a good one.”

  Outside the snowdrifts were growing in height daily, but inside the room was warm, music playing softly in the background. Finger foods covered the table. Pitchers of both alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks stood at the ready as the six women sprawled comfortably, relaxing after a long workweek.

  Instead of Friday night at the pub, Janey had suggested a girls’ home spa. The laid-back evening was so much better than fighting the noise and the crowds. Katy was in heaven.

  Lisa Coleman, who had been one of Katy’s classmates in school, examined her sparkly nails critically. “It’s easier to buy stuff after the baby is born, but then you also tend to get a ton of all blue or all pink outfits.”

  “Skipping away from the baby talk for a minute.” Tamara leaned forward on her elbows. “Tell me to butt out if you’re not sharing, but what’s this I hear about Gage Jenick basically camping out in your front yard?”

  Katy wasn’t sure if she was pissed off or pleased with his relentless attention. “I laid down the law about two weeks ago, and ever since he’s been trying to get back in my good books.”

  “Is it working?”

  Janey snorted. “Gage has not yet perfected the art of the grovel, we’ll just put it that way.”

  “Hmm.” Shannon and Liz, two more of Katy’s friends, exchanged glances. “A good grovel is always nice,” Shannon admitted.

  “Followed by make-up sex, right?” Liz grinned. “So, what’s he not doing right? Not being determined enough?”

  Katy stopped to think for a minute. Gage had been persistent—that much was in his favour. “I don’t think he understands what he did wrong in the first place.”

  “Of course he doesn’t.” Tamara grabbed a pitcher and topped up her drink. “He’s a guy. The words ‘I was wrong’ kind of stick in their throats and end up coming out as ‘Get over it, little woman, I know best.’”

  A snort escaped before Katy could stop it. “Yeah, that’s about the entire story.”

  “So, all he needs to do is say he was wrong?” Janey tilted her head to the side. “I would have thought this situation required more than that.”

  “Oh, ‘I was wrong’ would be the first step,” Katy agreed. “But until he figures out that this is my life, I’m not letting him back in. It’s bad enough with my brothers wanting to make decisions for me.”

  “And you don’t need another big brother, right?” Lisa winked at her. “I know you probably hate getting asked, but how are you feeling?”

  “Much better,” Katy admitted happily. “Morning sickness is done. Lots of energy. I haven’t got back my memory, but I have progressed in my math beyond two plus two is four.”

  “Hmm, too bad you have no memory of sexing it up with Gage.” Shannon waggled her brows. “I bet he’s got some moves.”

  “I bet he’s not the only one out of the guys at the garage with moves.” Janey’s heavy sigh of frustration set the entire room laughing. “What?”

  “Len turn you down again?” Liz asked.

  Janey pouted. “This isn’t supposed to be about me, but yes. Damn stupid sex-on-a-stick stubborn ass. I wonder if he’s getting some on the side that helps him hold out against my charms?”

  “Mrs. Palmer and her five sisters,” Liz drawled.

  Janey guffawed noisily, and things kind of went downhill for a while after that. Katy listened to the dirt talk and smiled as her girlfriends went to town about the guys they’d been seeing, or hadn’t been seeing lately.

  The Coleman sisters grinned at each other. “So basically no one in this room has gotten any action lately, except Katy, who can’t remember how hot it was.”

  “Shut up.” Teasingly said as Katy offered a smile. “This is the Immaculate Conception over here, and don’t you forget it.”

  “I can’t believe sex with Gage wasn’t memorable enough to stay in your brain no matter what. I mean, do you think he’s got a teeny penis or something, and your mind is trying to wipe that out?”

  “Not the size of the equipment, it’s how well they use it,” Liz quipped innocently, batting her lashes at the laughter that rose from the other women. “Well, that’s what they say, right?”

  “Who says? The guys with little dicks?” Tamara shook her head. “No, I doubt Gage is lacking penis power. Unless he’s shoving socks into his jock strap, the guy’s got the goods.”

  Like a barometer, Katy’s cheeks had responded to the chatter. She didn’t really want to speculate on Gage’s…equipment. “Sorry. Memory loss doesn’t pick and choose to save the juicier tidbits for repeat consumption. We’ll have to stick with ‘I don’t remember’ on this one.”

  “You know who has a tiny dick,” Shannon muttered, staring into her third margarita.

  Liz poked her. “Who?”

  Shannon blinked then looked pointedly across the room. “Tamara’s on-and-off-again beau from the hospital.”

  “Right.” Tamara rolled her eyes. “Where did you hear that?”

  “From you.” Shannon smiled evilly. “You sent me an email with a bunch of forwards on it, and one of the old messages mentioned Dr. Tom should look into a penis enhancer.”

  “Oh shit.” Tamara dropped her head into her hands while the room exploded with laughter. “Please tell me you deleted it.”

  “It’s the Internet,” Shannon groaned like a zombie. “It’s forever. It will come back to haunt you…”

  Tamara winced, then glanced around the room conspiratorially. “He does have a tiny dick.”

  Laughter exploded, and Katy relaxed back into her happy haze of food and friends.

  It wasn’t the size of Gage’s e
quipment that interested her—well, okay, not completely. But if she remembered the act, she’d know for sure who was involved in making the baby in her belly. She slipped her hands over the slight bulge beginning to show and wished again for a miracle, like total recall.

  It didn’t come, but the friendship and warmth around her helped. Helped a lot.

  Outside of the house and around the corner, Gage leaned on the wall. Tucked out of sight, he was bundled from head to toe in his thickest winter gear. The walkie-talkie he held to his ear alternatively answered his questions and made him blush.

  Damn. And he’d thought guys talked shit.

  A light buzzing sound registered in time for him to pull the speaker farther from his ear and not be deafened.

  “You there, Gage?” Janey whispered.

  He clicked on the speaker button. “Yeah.”

  “You hear what Katy wants from you?”

  He couldn’t resist. “Before or after she finds out the size of my package?”

  Janey snorted then muffled her laughter. “Stop that. I’m in the bathroom. I’m going to turn off the walkie-talkie now if you have enough intel to get things straightened out between you and Katy.”

  “I think I do.” A real apology. He could do that. “Thank you for setting this up for me.”

  “Hey, Katy does like you. A lot. But you pissed her off so hard. Don’t do it again.”

  “I’ll try not to.” He resisted laughing. Being called up on the carpet by Janey was like being lectured to by a small, self-contained whirlwind.

  “Don’t fuck with me, Gage.” Janey’s voice tightened. “I went out on a limb for you here because I think you and Katy would be good together. But if you hurt her, I’ll hunt you down and give you pain. Worse pain than the Thompson boys would ever dream of.”

  What was it with everyone in his life threatening him when he already wanted to do the right thing? “I just want to be there for her,” Gage insisted.