Twice the Temptation--A twin pregnancy romance

by Silver James

  When she thrashed against him, he loosened his hold just enough so their faces could surface. Then he raised his head and looked around. Everyone else slowly surfaced as well. The wind had shifted to the north at the very last minute. They were safe.

  The cattle headed to shore, as did the crew. Leo grabbed his camera, checked it and grinned. “That was too freaking close, boys and girl.”

  “You can say that again,” one of the crew muttered.

  Leo opened his mouth and Britt cut him off. “Don’t be that guy,” she cautioned. She pulled her phone out of her hip pocket and grimaced. “Maybe a blow dryer and a week in a bag of rice will revive it. If not, I’ll just mortgage my life savings to buy a waterproof phone.”

  Cooper pulled his waterproof phone from his pocket and handed it to her. “Here, feel free to use mine.” She was reaching for it when her phone actually rang.

  “It’s a miracle,” she breathed and answered, “We’re still breathing, Ria.”

  The men wandered off to check the rig and their vehicles. The cattle stood bunched together, a little shell-shocked, which was precisely how Coop felt. They eventually wandered off to the side where there’d been no fire and nibbled any grass they could reach through the fence.

  A few of the trucks and the bulldozer had spots where the paint had bubbled from the heat. The rig itself was fine, as were the fuel tanks. He checked Britt’s truck while she talked to the TV station. It had been parked closest to the retention pond and appeared to be fine. Sirens sounded in the distance and within minutes, a line of fire engines and brush pumpers passed by on the road, lights and sirens going. Several vehicles pulled in, including a chief.

  Coop walked over to talk to the man in charge of the fire team.

  “Y’all got lucky,” the man called as he approached.

  “For sure.”

  The firefighter driving the chief looked around. “Saved the cattle too.”

  “Yup.”

  “Got enough water in the pond that we can use some to fill our tankers?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “And the bulldozer?”

  “You got that too if needed. Whatever we can do to help.”

  “Appreciate it. Sorry we didn’t get here in time to keep you from getting all wet.”

  Coop twisted the hem of his polo to wring out the excess water. “Warm day. Cold water. Nice break.”

  The chief laughed. “Y’all take any damage?”

  “Not to speak of. I make safety a priority.”

  “Smart man.”

  “I try to be.”

  The older man nodded. “I roger that. Appreciate the assistance. And if you don’t mind, I’d like to set up my command post and R and R area here. The Red Cross isn’t too far behind us.”

  “No problem. Feel free to draft my crew to help you set up.”

  Cooper’s phone rang and he checked the caller ID. His office. “I need to take this, Chief.” The man waved him off, speaking into a radio as Coop turned his back and answered just as Britt had. “We’re still breathing.”

  “Good to know.” Cord’s voice sounded amused. “But we can see that. Y’all are live on the TV. Wanna explain why Britt’s there and you’re soaking wet?”

  “We decided to have a pool party.”

  Cord was laughing out loud now. “No skinny-dipping?”

  “Dude, the only female here is Britt and I’d hate to have to shoot our crew because they saw her naked. They’re a good crew and I don’t want to train another.”

  Still chuckling, Cord asked if Cooper needed anything. “Nope. We’re good to go. Fire chief wants to use the site as his command post. Red Cross is gonna set up an R and R area. I’ve loaned them the crew to help set up.”

  “What are you gonna do?”

  “Drive the bulldozer if they need it.”

  “Sounds like fun. Stay safe out there, cuz.”

  “Absolutely, boss.”

  “And, Cooper? All kidding aside, I’m glad you’re okay and thanks for making me see the point of all the extra work. They’re a good crew and I damn sure didn’t want to tell their families that they weren’t coming home.”

  “Just doin’ my job, Cord.”

  “Well, nobody does it better.”

  They cleared the call simultaneously, Cooper feeling a little embarrassed. Ever since their accident, Cord had been as safety conscious as Coop. Still, it felt good to know his persnickety tendencies were appreciated. He tucked his phone away and headed toward the knot of official vehicles.

  Two of the firefighters leaned against their brush pumper, watching Britt. He didn’t like the glint in their eyes, or the speculative looks on their faces. As he got closer, he heard one say, “Pretty little storm chaser is all wet.”

  “Indeed she is,” the second one agreed.

  Cooper was not at all pleased they were discussing her. Britt was going to be his. Sooner or later. He glanced over at her. She wore a dark shirt so even though it was plastered to her body, it didn’t reveal much. Except it was plastered to her body and Coop had been fantasizing about her body for months now and he darn sure didn’t remember her breasts being that large nor the roundness of her belly. He blinked. And everything inside him went cold.

  Nine

  Britt continued to give spot reports until one of the regular reporters showed up to take over. In between conversations with the station and on-air time, she watched Cooper. The few times she caught him looking at her, she couldn’t decipher his expression. He looked angry but confused, with a side of narrow-eyed speculation, almost like she was some sort of criminal. What had she done wrong? Her brain jumped on its hamster wheel and she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the tinted window of her truck.

  Her clothes were wet, though drying. Except her cotton Henley was plastered to her body. Really plastered. Her added curves were visible to anyone who looked. And Cooper had been looking. A lot. She reminded her lungs to work. This was bad. If he guessed before she told him... Or maybe he’d just think that she was seeing someone else. Yes. That was the ticket. If he thought she had a boyfriend, then he would never think he was the father and she wouldn’t have to tell him, except...she’d be lying. And while she might be a lot of things, a liar was not one of them. She had to tell him. But not here and definitely not now.

  A gust of wind blew through and it chilled her. Goose bumps rose on her arms and she shivered. She searched the back seat of her truck and found the go bag she’d stuffed in there earlier in the fall. Digging through it, she found dry jeans, a shirt and more important, underwear. All she had to do now was find a place to change. Straightening, she surveyed the rig site. A metal building that looked like some sort of office sat next to the rig. If she was lucky, it might have indoor plumbing too.

  Cooper was the last person she wanted to talk to so she watched to see which of the BarEx crew she should ask. An older man seemed to be giving instructions so she waited to approach him until Cooper was busy with the fire chief.

  “Um, hi,” she said to the man’s back. He turned around and smiled.

  “What can I do you for, darlin’?”

  “Is that building like an office or something?”

  “Or something. Whatcha need?”

  “A place to change clothes and maybe use the...uh...facilities?”

  He managed not to smile but she caught the twinkle in his eyes. “Door’s open, and there’s a lock on it. Help yourself.”

  She flashed him a smile of thanks and jogged over. She checked Cooper’s location to make sure he wasn’t looking at her. He was still busy with the chief so she ducked inside and locked the door.

  Britt ran into a problem when she tried to button and zip up the jeans. She muttered several four-letter words before stretching out with her back on the desk and just managed to get the darn things fastened. She had to
roll off the desk because she couldn’t sit up while breathing and at that point in time, breathing was of utmost importance. The jeans were uncomfortable and she considered popping both the button and the zipper and just keeping her shirttails out to cover up. Except as sure as she did that, someone would notice. Like Cooper. That man didn’t miss a trick.

  After a few moments, she got her breath back and decided she’d be fine so long as she didn’t have to sit down. Sitting and breathing would be completely incompatible. She shouldn’t have put off her shopping trip. And it was time to address the proverbial elephant in the room. She had to tell Cooper, the sooner the better.

  * * *

  Cooper covertly watched Britt. He didn’t want to think what he was thinking. The odds were hardly favorable but given the file on Chance’s desk concerning Susan Maddox’s paternity accusation and the court-ordered DNA tests, he couldn’t keep his thoughts from going there. Maybe she’d just put on weight. That was entirely possible. It wasn’t like she was a true on-air personality who had some sort of contract clause that decreed she wear a size five or something. And she definitely hadn’t been built like a runway model last August. But now? Not that he didn’t appreciate the curves. He definitely did, yet something was different about her.

  It took some maneuvering before he stood next to Leo. He opened the conversation with what he considered safe territory. “Tackle, right?”

  “Nope. Tackle, left.”

  He laughed. “Good one. I thought I recognized you.”

  “Not many do anymore.”

  “How long have you been on TV?”

  It was the cameraman’s turn to laugh. “Not exactly on the tube. I was a communications major. Thought I’d do sportscasting if I couldn’t go pro. Then I heard my voice.” He let out a booming laugh. “Yeah...no. Not to mention I hate wearing a tie. So I grabbed a camera.”

  “You been with Britt long?”

  A bushy black eyebrow rose. “A while.”

  Cooper considered his next question carefully but Leo beat him to it. “If you’re interested, I can save you the trouble. She’ll shut you down like she does every other guy. That little gal hasn’t gone on a date in the two years I’ve known her.”

  Which was a good news/bad news situation as far as Coop was concerned. Because she’d been with him. Several times. Two and two kept coming up four and he got a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. “Yeah...well. I’ll just have to change her mind about that.”

  * * *

  Britt stared out the windshield. This was so not a good idea. Why she’d ever agreed to meet Cooper for a late dinner was beyond her. She was tired and her hair still smelled faintly of smoke. Today’s fire had been exhausting to cover.

  “You’re going to regret this,” she muttered. She did not want to confide in him. Not that she wouldn’t. The man had a right to know. She didn’t see his truck in the Mexican restaurant’s parking lot. Wondering why he’d suggested this place, she continued to just sit there. She’d wanted to eat here for ages but never had. Now, her stomach was turning somersaults and she wasn’t sure she’d be able to sample the food.

  She’d dreaded this moment from the instant that stupid pregnancy test showed a plus sign. Britt didn’t have to wonder who the father was. There’d been only one. She snorted and rolled her eyes at her reflection in the rearview mirror. Wasn’t that the tag line to some old TV show about immortal highlanders?

  Someone tapped on her window. Britt squealed and recoiled. Then she recognized Cooper’s face peering in at her.

  “You okay, Girl Wonder?”

  “I’m fine.” Okay, that came out snippier than it should have, but he had startled her. “Just waiting on you to get here.”

  “I’ve been here.”

  She looked around the parking lot again. “Where’s your truck?”

  “At home. I brought my Expedition.”

  Well, crud. Of course he’d have more than one vehicle. “If you have an Expedition, why did you drive your truck to the gala?”

  “Company branding.”

  “What?”

  “Are you getting out or what? We can talk inside. I have a cold drink and hot queso in there waiting.”

  “Or what,” she muttered under her breath, reluctant to open the door and get out. Still, it was time.

  Inside the restaurant, he held her chair. She sank into it, gave her drink order to the waitress, and eyed the basket of tortilla chips, salsa, queso and relish. Her stomach rumbled. Good to know that she could eat. She reached for the chips and when the waitress returned with her iced tea, Britt ordered hot tortillas—a mix of corn and flour.

  As she plowed through the chips, then the tortillas, she framed what she was going to say in her mind. Cooper sat across from her, watching with an amused look and occasionally getting brave enough to snatch a chip. Once their food arrived, she debated whether to wait until after dinner. Okay, until after she had a sopapilla. Those little pillows of fried bread drenched in honey were a favorite dessert. Too bad Cooper beat her to the punch.

  “When are you due?”

  She choked on the bite of enchilada she’d just put in her mouth, barely managing to chew, swallow and grab a gulp of tea before staring at him, eyes wide. She stalled, hoping she’d heard wrong. “Beg pardon?”

  “When’s your due date?”

  Yeah. She’d heard him correctly. She took another sip then dabbed at her lips with her napkin before meeting his gaze. “First week in June.” She watched him make the calculations in his head and decided to distract him. “How did you know I’m pregnant?”

  Okay, it was fairly obvious—loose clothing, noticeable baby bump that was more like a small hill than a bump. He studied her, all traces of amusement gone.

  “Who’s the father?”

  She glanced around the restaurant. No one was seated nearby to overhear her. That excuse to avoid the topic wasn’t available. She lifted a shoulder in a negligent shrug as she lifted her chin in stubborn pride. “You.”

  “What do you want?”

  Now that surprised her. No argument. No denial. No pleading. Just direct and to the point. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all. “Nothing.”

  That made him blink. He leaned his elbows on the table, framing his plate of beef fajitas. “Nothing?”

  “You got it. I don’t want your money or anything else from you.” She leaned forward and dropped her voice conspiratorially. “I’m guessing the condom broke or something. Since you’re the one who can’t keep your little cowboy wrangled in your jeans, you should check the best-if-used-by dates on those things.”

  Britt hoped that by going on the offensive, she’d put Cooper off. She couldn’t decipher his expression, and deep down, she wanted to poke at him to get a response. Some other woman might be having his baby. She definitely was. And his lack of reaction bothered her. A lot. He continued to watch her and she made a mental note never to play strip poker with the guy.

  “I’m a big girl. I knew what I was doing and accept the responsibility.” She put down her fork and leaned back. “I’m not trying to trap you, Cooper. We had fun together. We got caught. I’m dealing with it.”

  He continued to stare and she wondered what was going through his head.

  “Sounds like you have it all figured out.” His voice sounded flat. “And since you have, I’m curious as to why you decided to involve me at all.”

  Did he really just say that to her? “Because you’re the father! You have a right to know.” She rubbed at her forehead, hoping to stave off the headache forming behind her eyes. “Look. Bad timing, given that other situation.”

  “That other situation? You mean the woman trying to scam me out of child support for a baby that isn’t mine?”

  “So you say.”

  “I do say. And the DNA test will prove it. In the meantime, I have a solution t
o this situation.”

  The next words out of his mouth sent her into a tailspin.

  “We’ll get married.”

  She almost choked again. “No!” Now she leaned on the table and they were almost nose-to-nose. “You want to pay child support? Awesome. But I am not marrying you just because I’m pregnant.”

  “Why not?”

  “What do you mean why not? Because...just...no. I don’t love you.” But you could. She shushed that voice in her head, all the while wondering why that was her first argument. “I barely know you. Granted, the sex is off the charts but that is not a good basis for a marriage.”

  He broke first—sort of. He didn’t lose her gaze as he seemed to relax, leaning back into his chair. He raised a rolled tortilla filled with fajita meat and grilled onions and peppers to his mouth. Biting it, he continued to hold her eyes as he chewed, then swallowed. “Why didn’t you do something about it when you found out?”

  It was her turn to blink, surprised. Several things came to mind but it was the truth that tumbled out, much to her chagrin. “Because it’s your baby too.” She closed her eyes and rubbed her temple. “What I mean is, I wouldn’t have done something like that without contacting you first. Granted most men would totally agree to the procedure—”

  “I wouldn’t have.”

  She slowly closed her mouth. He kept talking.

  “I still want to marry you.”

  “I’m still confused. That accuser at the gala—”

  “Is lying through his teeth. I’d never seen his sister before she arrived at my cousin’s office with her brother and their attorney. Do you have any idea how many paternity suits my family gets hit with?”

  “How do you know I’m not lying?”

  “Because I know. I was there. I’m the one who discovered that the condom broke but by the time I got out of the bathroom, you’d already disappeared. Again. I assumed you were on some form of birth control. Guess you weren’t.”