by Rhian Cahill
Tris didn’t want to leave.
He wanted to call in sick.
Call around and see if someone else could cover his shift.
But he wouldn’t.
She’d promised him she wouldn’t leave the house. The snow was already coming down and it was supposed to continue into tomorrow and Monday with the biggest dump happening tomorrow afternoon.
He’d checked everything. The windows and doors were secure. The furnace working perfectly. She had a small room heater he’d purchased yesterday just in case. Cupboards and fridge were full.
No more stalling. He had to go or he’d be late for shift change.
Bending over he planted a kiss on Cov’s temple.
“Hmm…”
“Shh, go back to sleep. I’m leaving for work. I’ll call you later.”
“Okay,” she murmured sleepily before snuggling down under the bedding.
God, he really didn’t want to go. More than anything he wanted to crawl back under the covers with her. Wanted to stay wrapped up in the quilt, their legs tangled together, holding her close.
They had so much to talk about. They should have talked yesterday but by some mutually—telepathically—agreed upon decision they’d spent the day hanging out instead. Like they used to back in LA. Well, except for his ‘yelling’ for her to take it easy as the doctor ordered.
After their second trip to the clinic and the mind-blowing sight of their babies inside her, she’d spent a couple of hours with the women at Books and Bitches and when he’d brought her home, he could see how much the time out had done to improve her mood.
The numerous naps she’d taken during the day had probably helped too. Since that first slightly elevated reading her blood pressure had remained within range, which had eased his mind.
Last night he’d picked up some food from Della’s before picking her up at Lindsey’s. The news of Cov’s arrival had spread along the grapevine and everyone, even residents he hadn’t met yet, stopped by to congratulate him.
A few had even asked when the wedding was, but he’d deflected those questions and gotten out of Della’s the second he could.
They’d returned home and eaten a late dinner together curled up on the couch. Over dinner they’d talked more about the town and the people, especially the women she’d met at Lindsey’s.
He’d promised her a trip to The Lodge for dinner later next week and a tour of the whole area if weather permitted. By the time they’d eaten their fill and cleaned up, Covington was dragging her feet and barely keeping her eyes open.
By nine-thirty Cov had been lights out, snuggled up to his side.
Tristan had carried her to bed, stripped down to his boxers, and crawled in beside her. The last thing he remembered before his alarm catapulted him out of sleep was holding Cov in his arms, her warm breath fanning over his chest.
If he thought walking away from her all those months ago was hard, it had nothing on leaving her now. Maybe it was because she’d gladly welcome him back into bed this time.
Or maybe it was because he finally knew what was at stake.
He might have to leave her to go to work but he’d never willingly turn his back on her again.
“Go to work. You’ll be late. I’ll be fine. Stop staring.”
Tris chuckled. “Sorry.”
“No, you’re not.” Eyes still closed, she smiled. “Go.”
He bent over and kissed her. On the mouth this time. “I’ll call you later.”
“Bye.”
Another quick peck and he turned away and forced himself to leave.
He’d organized a lift so Cov would have his truck in case of an emergency, but he had extracted her agreement that she wouldn’t leave the house unless she absolutely had to.
Even then he’d made her promise to call him first. If he could organize whatever she felt the need to go out for without her actually going out, he would.
In spite of his tardiness, when he closed the front door behind him, Devlin sat in his truck next door, waiting. Jogging over, he opened the passenger door and jumped in.
“Hey,” he said, and got a grunt in reply.
He laughed as Dev put the truck in reverse and hit the accelerator.
“Shut up,” his friend mumbled with no real venom.
“Rough night?”
“Not everyone has a hot chick in their bed.”
“Hey.”
“What? You denying Covington is hot?” Dev asked.
“No. But she’s not some chick.”
“Nope. According to the rumor mill, she’s carrying your chicks.”
“Seriously? What the hell did you have for breakfast? Whatever it was, it’s disagreeing with you,” Tris said, his words laced with the anger suddenly burning through his veins.
“Take it easy. I’m only telling you what’s flying around. It made it all the way to my mother in Florida. Damn woman was on the phone at five this morning asking why the hell I hadn’t found myself a lovely girl to settle down with like that nice young man Tristan has.” Dev shook his head. “I swear, all she talks about lately is how old she is and if I don’t get moving, she’ll be dead by the time I make her a grandmother.”
Tris swallowed. “Sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry about. I was only stirring you up. Plus it’s not like this is the first time my mother has gotten on my case about finding a lovely girl to settle down with.”
They were quiet for a few seconds, but as the station house came into view, Devlin broke the silence.
“So are we happy or—”
“Happy.” Tris turned to face his friend as they pulled into a parking spot. “I’d be even happier if she’d marry me.”
“You’ve asked?”
“Yes. No. Sort of.”
Devlin sat in stunned silence for a moment then burst out laughing. By the time he’d caught his breath, Tris was out of the truck and halfway to the door. Glancing over as Dev moved beside him, he wondered if he could escape the third degree he was sure was coming.
“Okay. So I’m a little confused. Did you or didn’t you ask her to marry you?”
No escape. “I suggested we get married before I found out the babies were mine. We haven’t talked about it since.”
Devlin stopped. “You offered marriage thinking she was carrying someone else’s kids?”
Tris shrugged.
“Jesus. You’re in love with her.”
“Of course I am.”
“She’s the reason you came here. You were running.” Dev narrowed his eyes, clenched his fists at his sides, and took a half step forward. “You didn’t take off when she told you she was pregnant, did you?”
“Really? You’re asking me that?”
“Right, right. I forgot who I was talking to. You’re that guy who’s mooned over another man’s woman…oh shit. It’s her. It’s Covington.” Dev slapped his forehead. “Why didn’t I put the pieces together sooner? Fuck. Does Gavin know?”
“I have no idea. Haven’t spoken to him in weeks and Cov hasn’t said.”
“You need to clear that up.”
“That’s the least of what I need to clear up. He’s out of the picture and has been since the day I—”
“Are you two girls planning to work today or spend it gossiping in the driveway?” Chief Murdock yelled from the front door.
“Shit. I need coffee.” Devlin bumped shoulders as he passed. “C’mon, my shout.”
“Really?” Tris asked as he followed.
“Hell, no. It’s the rookie’s job to fetch the coffee, right, Chief?”
Chief Josh Murdock smiled. “Normally I’d say yes, but I have it on good authority you’re about to come into some money.”
Tris groaned. He knew what the chief was talking about. His workmates might have thought they were being stealthy, but he’d known about the betting pool the first day it had opened. And Cov had confirmed it after Dana had revealed details at book club last night.
He didn’t like
that he’d been the subject of conjecture, but it was nothing less than he expected. Although he was used to being in on the betting, not the subject of it.
“Don’t worry, Harding. They’ve started a new pool.”
“Don’t tell me.” He held up a hand. “I don’t want to know.”
“Oh, I think you’ll want in on this one.”
Tris eyed his boss’s smug grin. “Okay. Fine. What is it?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
Tris shook his head.
“They’re betting on how long it’ll take you to get your woman in front of a preacher.”
Tris groaned. “Even I can’t predict that.”
“Here’s some advice.” Chief clapped him on the back as he passed. “Don’t be a dumbass and hide how you feel. When it comes to the woman you love, leave the macho bullshit at the door and tell her you love her. There’s no weakness in letting her know you can’t imagine living without her.”
“And if she doesn’t feel the same way?” Tris asked.
Chief smiled. “Tristan, the woman packed up her shit and drove across the country for you. Does that sound like someone who doesn’t feel the same way?”
“She’s pregnant with twins. Mine. She needs help.”
“Yes, she does, but she could have gotten help without upending her life.”
“But—”
“Harding!”
Tristan spun to find Dana glaring at him, hands on her hips. “She dropped everything and drove thousands of miles to find you.”
“I know.” And he did. He got that Cov had made a huge sacrifice by giving up her life in LA. “But that doesn’t mean she loves me.”
Dana rolled her eyes. “Fine. Be a dumbass. But don’t blame me when you let the best thing in your life slip through your fingers.”
“Son.” Chief gripped his shoulder and squeezed. “Love, true love, is a wonderful thing. It’s complicated and messy and most of the time hard work. But it should also be unconditional. If your love depends on hers or you can’t trust her with how you feel, then maybe you don’t love her like you think.”
With another squeeze to the shoulder, the chief left Tristan standing there to ponder what he should do. He knew how he felt, knew he loved Cov, had loved her for months.
Could he tell her without needing to know how she felt? Did her feelings change his? Was he scared of a bruised ego?
It had taken a beating at her hands before. Was that why he kept holding back?
He’d held back for months because she was with someone else.
Could he stand back and let this opportunity pass him by?
What did he have to lose?
As things stood now, they were going to be parents together. Whether they were together or not, they would have that bond for life.
Could he live the rest of his days with only that connection?
No!
He wanted Cov.
He wanted their children.
He wanted it all.
He wanted to be a family in every sense of the word.
Now he just had to work out how to make that happen.
Chapter 15
Covington watched the snow coming down outside as the day slowly awakened and wondered if it was safe to venture out there yet. She’d never seen snow before coming to Winter Lake, and the way the flakes fluttered to the ground intrigued her.
Of course she’d promised Tris she wouldn’t leave the house until he returned, and so far she’d stuck to that.
She glanced at the clock. Only a few hours until he was home.
She’d begun counting down from the minute he’d kissed her goodbye Saturday morning. She thought their early morning exchange had been a dream until he’d called her midmorning.
They’d been texting and calling for the last two days, and in two hours and fifteen minutes, give or take a few, he’d be walking through the door.
She couldn’t remember ever anticipating Gavin’s arrival this much. Not even in the early days of their relationship had she watched the clock or held her breath.
The last two days had given her a lot of time to think, to contemplate, to sort out what she wanted. For herself and the babies. For her and Tristan as a couple.
More than anything, she wanted to see if they could be a family. She thought he had feelings for her, she definitely had them for him, and the babies weren’t in question. She loved her two little peanuts more than she’d ever thought possible. And she figured their daddy would love them just as much.
But did he love her too?
Could they go from friends to lovers and keep both relationships? Keep them growing, thriving?
Snuggling under the blanket, she watched the snow flutter past the window. It was brighter today than yesterday. And the weatherman said the storm had moved on and the snow would stop completely by early afternoon.
Hopefully, she could convince Tris to take her out before it quit falling. She wanted to turn her face up to the sky and feel the wet flakes on her cheeks. Taste it on her tongue.
It seemed like a childish desire but she didn’t care. She planned to channel her inner child so she’d be prepared to give her babies the best childhood she could. Closing her eyes, she imagined the three—no, four—of them outside, building snowmen and making snow angels.
Her eyes stung. They’d be a family. One she’d only just come to accept she wanted with all her heart. It was what she’d been looking for when she’d said yes to Gavin. Except he hadn’t been the right man to give it to her.
They never would have been happy, probably wouldn’t have made it to their first anniversary if she’d managed to convince herself to walk down the aisle.
She found it all too easy to imagine walking toward Tris. If she were honest, she’d have to restrain herself from running down that imaginary aisle. He’d offered to marry her before he’d known the babies were his. She’d said no. Did she have the right to change her mind?
It was a woman’s prerogative, right? Changing her mind.
Rolling over, she tried to picture how Tristan would look when she told him she’d thought about his proposal and yes, she’d marry him.
The sooner the better.
Smiling, her mind drifted from one scene to another, their wedding, in the snow draped gazebo she’d seen by the frozen lake when Tris had given her a quick tour of Winter Lake the other day.
The moment the doctor handed them their babies. Toddlers playing in the yard, their pudgy legs pumping hard as they chased butterflies in the summer.
It was all so easy to imagine, to dream about…
A loud bang startled her enough that she kicked the blanket off her legs, threw her arms out in defense. Her gaze shot to the clock.
Seven-twenty.
She must have fallen asleep.
Somebody thumped the front door several times.
It couldn’t be Tris. He didn’t finish until seven-thirty and he had a key.
So who the hell was banging on the door like the hounds of hell were on their heels?
Scrambling to her feet, Covington shuffled across the living room in her borrowed socks. “I’m coming. Hold your horses. I’m coming,” she muttered.
Going to her toes, she peered through the peephole. Eyes widening, breath catching in her lungs, she sank back down on her heels.
“Open up, you bastard!” Bang! Bang! Bang! “I know you’re in there, Tristan. Your truck’s parked in the damn drive. Open the fucking door.”
Gavin?
Gavin was banging on Tristan’s door?
What the hell was he doing in Winter Lake?
Had he followed her?
Why would he follow her?
No, wait.
He was yelling for Tris, not her.
But what could he possibly want with Tris?
“Open the door, asshole. You think you could knock up my fiancée without me finding out?”
“Ex-fiancée.” She hadn’t meant to say the word out loud never mind yell
it, but she couldn’t help it. The fact Gavin felt he still had a claim on her pissed her off.
A heavy silence hung for a moment before Gavin said, “Covington?”, his voice laced with confusion.
“Shit.” This time she whispered. Not that it made a difference now.
“Open the door, Covington.” The handle jiggled. “Let me in, Love Bunny.”
Love Bunny? Really? Love Bunny? Was he nuts?
The last time she’d seen him, he was staggering drunk and she’d made it perfectly clear that anything between them was over and she’d moved on. Of course she hadn’t revealed the identity of the man who’d gotten her pregnant, but she’d made sure Gavin knew she was ecstatically happy and wanted nothing more to do with him.
Except he was here. On Tristan’s doorstep calling her Love Bunny in that whiny way he thought was cute.
And she had no idea what to do. She thought she’d put Gavin and that time of her life in the past.
She was so damn tired of the drama.
So tired.
The urge to hide, to bury herself beneath the blanket on the couch and cry had her sniffling, her eyes and nose stinging.
Why had her life turned into a soap opera?
Chapter 16
Tris spotted the strange car in his driveway at the same time Devlin did.
“Expecting company?” his friend asked.
“No.” He shook his head and focused on the house. His gaze zeroed in on the man standing at his front door, fist raised against the wood. “Shit. Gavin.”
“What? Where?” Dev’s gaze bounced from the road to the house and back again as he navigated the slick road. “I didn’t see him.”
“He’s at the door.”
“She let him in?” The truck slowed.
“No. I think he’s knocking. He either just arrived or she’s not opening the door.” Tris unbuckled his seatbelt, ready to jump out the second Devlin stopped. “Shit. Stop the truck. Stop the truck!”
He had no idea what Gavin was doing here, but seeing him pick up a potted plant and throw it against the door didn’t bode well.
Dev pulled up behind what had to be Gavin’s rental. “Go,” his friend urged. “I’ll call the cops.”
Tristan’s heart beat triple time as he sprinted through the snow. The path wasn’t shoveled so it was slow going but he made it to the porch just as Gavin lifted another pot. Tris lunged. Wrapped his arms around Gavin’s middle and crash-tackled him against the door.