by Lori Foster
“Hush, sweetheart. Breathe slowly.”
She well remembered his odd combination of gentleness and command. Since she wasn’t up to killing him, she did as he told her, and even used the towels to wipe her forehead and mouth. The second she felt more collected, she leaned away from him. Propping her back against the cool tiled wall, Ray glared at him. Her hammer gouged her in the side and the tool belt made an uncomfortable lump against her back. “You could have given me some privacy.”
“So you could run off again? I don’t think so.”
“Did I look like I was up to anything other than tossing up my guts?”
He stared a moment, fought the inevitable smile. “No. You didn’t.” His words were so soft they sank right into her. “You still look pale as a ghost. What’s wrong with you? Flu?”
She couldn’t deal with this in a public toilet with her feeling like crapola and him looking as delicious as ever.
Eli’s hand touched her chin in a now familiar gesture, and he asked suspiciously, “Ray?”
She struggled to her feet, went to the sink, and rinsed out her mouth.
The heat of his body touched her spine, letting her know he was right behind her. “Ignore me all you want, babe, but I’m not leaving here without you.”
“Fine.” She used another towel to dry her mouth. “I was ready to go anyway.” She avoided looking at him as she headed out.
He carried her toolbox for her, and she was just wasted enough that she let him. They went out the back door. Dressed in a dark green tank top and carpenter jeans, the early summer air felt nice settling over her bare shoulders and warming her face. She took a moment to enjoy the fresh air before fishing her keys out of her front pocket.
Eli took them away from her. “We’ll take my truck.”
These days, her temper was on a very short fuse. She counted to ten, knew she’d puke again if she starting fighting him, and nodded. “Whatever you say, Eli.” There was still a definite bite in her tone.
“Well, now. That’s a new attitude. I think I like it.”
Ray narrowed her eyes at him as they crossed the parking lot. “Don’t press your luck.”
“We both know you’re not in fighting form, Ray, so give it a rest.” Eli opened the passenger door of a shiny black full-sized pickup.
Ray cocked her brow at him. “Pretty fancy.”
With a negligent shrug, he said, “It gets me where I’m going.” Without her assistance, he unbuckled her tool belt and put it in the back along with her toolbox, then helped Ray inside and closed her door. With the cumbersome belt gone, Ray caught herself resting both hands over her still-flat belly. It was instinctive, a damned maternal gesture or something that she’d been doing ever since finding out about the pregnancy. She quickly jerked her hands away, putting them on the seat beside her hips.
She’d imagined their reunion a hundred times, especially after she first left him, when she’d stupidly allowed herself to think he’d immediately follow her. But as the weeks had passed and she began to think he wouldn’t come after all, she tried not to think about him—without much success.
This wasn’t how she’d imagined it would be. He was calm and detached, not at all glad to see her. In fact, she wasn’t even certain why he’d bothered.
“Is there some reason for this visit, Eli? Or did you just happen to be in the neighborhood?”
He ignored her questions. “Where are we going?”
“I was going home. But without my transportation now . . .”
“I’ll go back for your truck later. Where do you live?”
Ray grudgingly gave him directions. She hadn’t had an appetite in too long to remember, but the thought of warm tea seemed just the thing to settle her stomach.
Eli didn’t say a word when Ray directed him to pull into her driveway. It wasn’t exactly a huge house, but it was spacious, a renovated farmhouse with a wide, curving porch and an upstairs balcony. Ray saw her brother’s car in the drive and wanted to sink into the floorboards. Since Matt had found out about her pregnancy, he’d been pampering her. Even though they were always considerate of each other, it wasn’t something she was used to.
Just as Eli turned off the engine, Matt stepped out of the house. Tall for his age, broad-shouldered but lean, her brother made an impressive sight. He walked down the porch steps and waited, his arms crossed over his chest, for Ray and Eli to get out.
Eli immediately took Ray’s arm again. “Company of yours?”
“My brother. Better get prepared for the inquisition. He’s a bit on the overprotective side.”
“And he let you go into Mataya?”
“He’s only eighteen, Eli. I’m thirty-one. Do you really think I’d let anyone, even my brother, tell me what to do?”
“One can always hope.”
With that last comment, Eli started forward, towing Ray with him. She tried to give Matt a silent message to mind his own business, but he kept his attention fixed on Eli. He stood in front of the steps, blocking the entrance to the house. Ray saw that Eli was only a tiny bit taller than Matt.
She tried for a casual smile. “Matt, you’re home early today.”
His gaze flickered to her face, then away again. “I fixed lunch for you. Soup. And before you tell me you’re not hungry, remember what the doctor said about keeping up your strength.”
Frustration rose the minute Matt mentioned the doctor. Now the questions would start, and she had no doubt he’d done it on purpose. The brat.
Eli stared down at her, one brow raised in honest concern. “You’ve been to the doctor? Just how sick are you, Ray?”
Matt spoke up. “Oh, she’s not exactly sick.”
Eli ignored him. “Ray?”
“It’s nothing. An upset stomach.”
Matt snorted, then reached out to take her arm. “You look like hell, Ray. Come inside and I’ll get you some tea. Lunch will be ready in a few minutes.”
Neither overbearing male seemed inclined to release her. Eli had one arm and Matt the other. They stared at each other in belligerent silence. Ray, never accused of being a diplomat, tried to think of some way to avoid a clash of wills, when suddenly her stomach settled the problem for her.
“Oh no, not again.”
Matt said, “Out of her way,” and hurriedly shoved Eli aside.
Ray dashed into the house—and she knew, there’d be no avoiding the truth now.
Appalled, Eli watched as Ray fled away. Again. Seeing her so pale and weak had already scared him. But for her to be this sick . . . He started after her.
Matt stopped him from following. “She’ll be all right. But I can guarantee she won’t appreciate you chasing on her heels.”
“But . . .”
“No one wants an audience for what she’s going to do.”
Eli grudgingly agreed. “I suppose you’re right.” Then he started up the steps, saying, “She should be in the damned bed, resting. She had no business going into work.” Without waiting for an invitation, Eli entered her home.
Matt didn’t object. “She’s stubborn.”
“No kidding.”
Eli looked around with curiosity. The house was sparsely furnished, antiquated and charming. It showed off Ray’s considerable talents as a carpenter, just as Buddy had predicted. The house was neat as a pin, finished with crown molding, wooden floors, elaborate trim, and a lot of love.
It showed Ray’s softer side—a side she’d probably deny—and he liked that.
Matt pointed to the kitchen. “You can wait in here for Ray. She’ll be out in a minute.”
“I don’t know about that. She’s been avoiding me.”
“You don’t say? And I thought it was the other way around.”
“No.”
At his one-word denial, Matt relaxed. “She won’t avoid you this time. She’s too afraid I’ll start blabbing if she leaves me alone in here with you.”
“Blabbing about what?”
“Not yet.” Matt turned awa
y, and Eli followed him into the large country kitchen where an oval pine table and four chairs sat. The smell of homemade soup filled the air. Eli straddled the chair, watching Matt as he lifted the lid off a large pot on the stove.
“You’re Ray’s brother?”
“That’s right.” Matt turned and stuck out his hand. “Matt Vereker. I think I’ve already figured out who you are.”
Eli took Matt’s hand. “Is that right?”
“Yeah.” His grin was wide and engaging. “You’re the brave soul who wants to get closer to Ray. Right?”
“Ray talked about me?”
“Oh yeah. She talked. Didn’t really say much though, just gave a few, er, necessary explanations.”
“Why do I get the feeling you’re trying not to laugh?”
Matt’s cough sounded like a snicker. “I’ll bet she was plenty surprised to see you after all this time, huh?”
“She shouldn’t have been.” Eli was already enjoying Ray’s brother. He was as forthcoming as Ray, but with a more jovial persona. “I told her I wouldn’t let her go.”
Ray walked back in and slumped into a chair opposite Eli. The tank top she wore was snug on her breasts, making them appear fuller than Eli remembered. The soft, well-worn carpenter jeans hung on her hips, though, as if she’d lost weight. No matter the changes, she looked so damn good to him. Keeping his hands off her and sitting politely at her table was a challenge.
Matt immediately handed her a cup of hot tea. “Feeling better?”
Ray nodded as she sipped at her tea. Her hair looked lank, her cheeks pale, and Eli wanted to haul her into his lap and kiss her silly.
“You boys been getting acquainted?”
“Sure thing.” Matt put his hand on her shoulder, then tilted his head toward Eli. “I was just about to ask what the hell took him so long.”
“Matt!”
Matt pressed her back into her chair. “Under the circumstances, it’s a damn good question, don’t you think?”
Ray tipped her head back to narrow her eyes at her brother. “Don’t you start,” she said through stiff lips, “or you can just leave the room. Which probably isn’t a bad idea, anyway.”
Matt gave her a “yeah right” look. “Ain’t gonna happen, Ray.” He lifted his gaze to Eli. “I’m not sure yet that I trust him. Any guy who would—”
Ray lurched to her feet. “That’s enough, Matt.”
Confused by the undercurrents and by what wasn’t being said, Eli also stood. “If you children can put off this little family squabble for a few minutes, I’d like to talk to Ray. Alone.”
Matt again folded his arms over his chest, though now there was no real menace in the act. In fact, he looked highly amused at his sister’s agitation. “I need to serve her lunch. She won’t eat unless I force her to.”
Incredulous, Eli stared at Ray. “She won’t eat?” No wonder she looked skinnier. “And here I thought she was a bottomless pit.”
“That was before.”
Eli looked between brother and sister. One was smiling, one was furious, and the static in the air nearly had his hair standing on end. “Before what?”
Ray threw up her hands. “Well, I can see I’m not needed in this conversation. When you and my nosy brother get everything straightened out, let me know. In the meantime, I think I’ll just go take a nap.”
Eli drew himself up. “Take a nap?”
Ray didn’t bother answering him. She stomped from the room, looking too wrung out and defeated and put upon.
Eli watched her go with a horrible, sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach and a vice around his heart. Had she caught something awful in Mataya? She’d only downed half her tea. She looked weak, didn’t argue, and . . .He swung his gaze around to Matt.
“She sleeps a lot these days,” Matt explained. “And she’s emotional to boot. If I didn’t love her so much, I’d probably strangle her.”
“Emotional?”
“Yeah.” Matt Vereker, a younger, masculine version of Ray, gave an ear-to-ear grin. “Pregnant women are like that, you know.”
“Preg—” The bottom dropped out of his stomach. Eli fumbled for the chair behind him, then fell into it hard. His head swam. She wasn’t seriously ill. “She’s . . . ?”
“If you can’t even say it, how the hell do you think Ray feels?”
He shook his head, then said, “Emotional?”
The grin widened. “Very. And sore and tired, and as you already saw, full of morning sickness that doesn’t confine itself to the morning.” Matt grew serious. “I’ve never seen her like this. She can deal with anything. She doesn’t bat an eyelash when that damn agency contacts her, handles any weapon with ease, and could teach the local law enforcement a thing or two about hand-to-hand combat. But this has laid her low. If you hurt her—”
“I’m going to marry her.” Eli shook his head, trying to take it in. “I was going to marry her before I knew, it was just a matter of convincing her. But this ought to help things along.”
Matt appeared pleased by Eli’s statement, then said, “You don’t really know Ray if you think that. And I wasn’t kidding about the emotional part. If you thought she was temperamental before, try getting on her nerves now.”
Eli waved all that away. With a small, very pleased smile, he whispered in awe, “Pregnant.” And then, thinking of how violently ill she’d been, he winced. “Poor Ray.”
“Poor you. You’re the one who put her in this condition, and she remembers that every time she pukes—which is pretty damn often.”
“I can handle her.”
Matt shook his head, laughing. “She did say you were brave.”
Feeling steadier by the moment, Eli came to his feet again, started out of the kitchen, and realized he didn’t know which room was hers. Standing at the bottom of the stairs, he shouted, “Ray,” loud enough to rattle the windowpanes.
The air seemed to still around him before Ray shouted back, “Stop that damned bellowing,” from a door at the top of the stairs.
Eli took the steps two at a time. He couldn’t wait to hold her, to tell her how he really felt, to touch her and kiss her and—given she was sick, a lot of that might have to wait. But not all.
He flung her door open, but held onto the knob for support. Knowing Ray would have his baby made his knees weak and expanded every tender, loving thing he felt for her.
Ray stared at him, her expression antagonistic. He remembered what Matt said about this throwing her, and quickly collected himself. She needed his reassurance and support to help her accept the inevitable.
He stepped into the room and quietly closed the door behind him.
Ray sat up and hugged a pillow to her stomach. Still scowling, she said, “You look so damned determined.” And then, softly: “I missed that look.”
That she’d admit to missing anything about him gave Eli hope. “You’re pregnant.”
Her chin jutted forward. “Surprise, surprise.” Taking two steps to tower over her, Eli gently grasped her by the upper arms and lifted her from the bed. “When did you plan to tell me, Ray?
“Tell you? How did you expect me to do that? I don’t have your resources. I couldn’t track you down, and you sure as hell didn’t follow like you said you—”
Despite her scowl, she looked hurt, and Eli decided the questions could wait.
Kissing her could not.
He leaned forward—and Matt swung the door open.
“Here’s your tea, Ray.”
Eli knew he only wanted to check on his sister, and he admired that. But at the same time Matt spoke, a feral growl sounded, and before Eli could turn to face the snarling threat, he got hit in the backside with a ball of fur brandishing sharp teeth. The dog—Ray’s pet, he assumed—was latched onto his backside.
Eli lost his balance as he twisted around, but since he still held onto Ray, they both stumbled. The room was filled with sudden curses, barks, and shouted warnings.
And as if the day hadn’t he
ld enough surprises, Ray fainted.
Despite the toothy dog clinging tenaciously to the seat of his pants, Eli managed to catch her just before she slid to the carpeting. Matt tried to work himself closer to see Ray’s face, and struggled to hold onto the dog’s small, stout body at the same time.
Eli’s own worry was immense. “Move so I can get her on the bed. And get that damned mutt off my ass.”
The dog snarled and jerked and shivered, making Matt’s job more difficult.
Very gently, his eyes never leaving her pale face, Eli placed Ray on the soft coverlet. She didn’t stir. One small-boned wrist dangled off the side of the mattress, making her look almost frail when Eli knew her to be anything but.
He heard Matt commanding the dog to let loose, but it refused to listen. The stubborn animal swung jerkily back and forth, his teeth deeply snared in the material of Eli’s jeans, only narrowly missing actual flesh. It might have been humorous if Eli wasn’t so worried about Ray.
Impatiently, he reached back and pried the dog’s jaws loose. It yelped in surprise, giving Eli his release. Giving the dog the full force of his intimidating stare, Eli commanded in a stern tone, “Stay.”
The dog stilled, perked his ears, whimpered, and then sat. His tongue lolled out and his head tilted to the side. He peered toward Eli, awaiting further instruction.
Matt was amazed. “That dog doesn’t obey anyone except Ray. How did you do that?”
Eli bent over Ray, his hand gently cupping her cheek. “I’ve spent some time with your sister. I had to learn quickly to assert myself.”
Matt chuckled, then peered over Eli’s shoulder. “I can’t believe she keeled over like that. But then, pregnancy does funny things to women. At least, that’s what Ray keeps telling me. She’s been really weird.”
“Has she ever fainted before?”
“Are you kidding? Ray faint?” He snorted. “I shouldn’t be surprised, though. She has a terrible time keeping anything down and she doesn’t sleep well. She’s always tired but still insists on working. And like I said earlier, she’s in permanent PMS mode.” He leaned back and crossed his arms. “I wouldn’t say this if she could hear me, but I think she’s afraid.”
Eli made no comment to that. To him, Ray lived her life in fear, and the worst fear of all was that someone might know.
