A Baby and a Betrothal

by Michelle Major

  “Friends,” she repeated, drawing him back to the moment.

  “If that’s all you’ll give me.” He cleared his throat, doing multiplication facts in his head to keep his heated thoughts in check.

  She tilted her head, pulled her hair over one shoulder as if deciding whether she could trust him. He knew the answer to that but wasn’t about to share it with her.

  “I need your help,” she said after a moment.

  “Anything.” He stepped forward. “What is it? Founder’s Day? The bakery? Something at your house?”

  “Slow down, Noah,” she said with a small smile.

  Something in him fizzed and popped at the sight of that smile. He ran one hand through his hair, needing to pull it together.

  “I’d like you to teach me to swim.”

  His brain tried to compute that request. “You know how to swim. I’ve seen you at the hot springs.”

  She shook her head. “In open water. I haven’t been to the reservoir since I freaked out during the triathlon my dad signed me up for when I was twelve.”

  “Why now?” He braced himself for her answer, confident he wasn’t going to like it.

  “Matt invited me out on his boat for the Fourth of July. A group of his friends is going to Hidden Canyon.”

  He bit back the irritating urge to growl at the mention of the other man’s name. “He’s a swim coach, right? Why not have him teach you?”

  “What if I panic again? My stomach feels sick just thinking about going in the water. I don’t want him to see me like that.”

  “But it’s okay if I see you like that?”

  “We’re just friends,” she said softly.

  “You want me to help you overcome your fear so you can go out with another guy?”

  She looked at him for a moment then shook her head. “Never mind. I’ll deal with it on my own.” She turned and headed toward her car, dust from the gravel driveway swirling behind her.

  “Katie, wait.” When she didn’t stop, Noah cursed and ran after her, his hand slamming against the driver’s-side door as she reached for the handle. “I’ll help you. Of course I’ll take you swimming.”

  “Forget it. I shouldn’t have asked you. It’s stupid anyway. It’s not as if I’m going to hide who I am from him forever. I don’t even own a bathing suit.”

  “Let me help you with this.” He crouched down so they were at eye level. “Please.”

  She met his gaze then pressed a hand to her eyes. “I feel like I’m going to throw up.”

  “You won’t throw up.” He took her hand in his, gently peeling it away from her face. “We can get you through this.”

  Her gaze turned hopeful. “I want to be the fun girl. The one who can hang out with a guy’s friends. The one you call for a good time.”

  Noah kept a smile plastered on his face, although the thought of some other guy having a “good time” with Katie just about sliced him open. “I have one condition.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Seriously?”

  He nodded. “Your bathing suit needs to be one piece. The one you wear on July Fourth, anyway. With me, I’d recommend a string bikini.”

  “Right,” she said, choking out a laugh. “Can you see me in a string bikini?”

  “I’m picturing it right now,” Noah whispered then groaned when she bit down on her bottom lip. “Definitely a string bikini with me.”

  “But only you?”

  He shrugged, tried to look nonchalant. “I’m thinking of you. Everyone goes cliff jumping at Hidden Canyon Reservoir over the Fourth. You don’t want to lose your top in front of all those partyers.”

  “Oh, no.” She slapped her hand back over her eyes. “I forgot about the cliff jumping.”

  “You don’t have to—”

  “And get left on shore serving snacks when they return?” She shook her head. “I’m tired of being the town’s mother hen. I’m going to jump off the highest rock out there.” She swallowed, hitched a breath. “Or the second-highest.”

  “That’s a girl.” Noah couldn’t help himself. He reached out a finger and touched the bit of icing dried to her skin. “I can get time off next Tuesday. It’s supposed to be warm. We can go then when it won’t be crowded.”

  “Okay. Thank you.” She fingered the base of her throat. “I’m covered in frosting. What a mess.”

  “You’re beautiful,” he answered.

  She swayed closer and for an instant he thought she might kiss him. Damn, he wanted her to. Instead she blinked and pulled back.

  “I’ll see you next week.”

  Removing his hand from her door, he balled it into a fist at his side as she got in her car and drove away. He tried to tell himself this was progress, although helping her win the affection of another man was hardly a step in the right direction. But it would allow him more time with her, which had to count for something.

  Katie didn’t need to become more adventurous or change in any way as far as Noah was concerned. She was perfect exactly the way she was. He only wished it hadn’t taken him so long to realize it.

  Chapter Nine

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” Jase asked him two days later.

  “Absolutely. Hand me that microphone stand.” Noah was in the park at the center of town. It was a block wide with picnic tables and a covered patio area on one side and an open expanse of grass and a playground on the other. He was helping Jase set up the temporary stage for the concert that would take place tonight. The Founder’s Day committee had organized it as a teaser for the big festival, to get both locals and tourists vacationing in the area excited about the upcoming event.

  “Thanks, man. I know you’re juggling a lot between your mom and work. It means a ton that you’d come out to help.”

  Noah didn’t answer, just lifted an amplifier into place.

  “Katie’s more involved with the committee this year.”

  “Emily might have mentioned that,” Noah admitted. He saw Jase shake his head. “But that’s not why I’m here.”

  His friend laughed. “Uh-huh.”

  “It’s not the only reason I’m here,” Noah amended. “I hate being in that house.”

  Jase continued setting up the stage but asked, “Is everything okay with your mom?”

  “Yes. She’s amazing. As always. Made me promise I’d move the bed back upstairs tomorrow. She has a date next week with one of her doctors.”

  “She’s led a pretty solitary life since your dad died.”

  “I didn’t realize that until I came back to stay. Don’t get me wrong, it’s been good to see her and Emily. Em and I were close as kids, you know? Really close. I thought I understood her. Since she’s come back I can’t figure out what the hell she thinks about anything. She’s so overwhelmed with Davey and her divorce but won’t open up.”

  “Some things take time.”

  “I guess Katie’s asked her to help with the baking competition—coordinating judges or something like that.”

  “Maybe that will help.” Jase turned to him, unlooping a microphone cord as he spoke. “Is that why you hate being in the house—because of Emily and her son?”

  “No,” Noah answered quickly. “Not at all. I like the kid, actually. He’s quirky but in an interesting way. Tater adores him.” Noah ran a hand through his hair. “If I was anyplace else with them, maybe it would be different. It’s that house. The memories there. How I failed my father. All the mistakes I made.”

  “I doubt your mother sees it that way.”

  “She’s my mom. Of course she’ll support me no matter what.”

  “That’s no guarantee,” Jase said softly.

  “Damn. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s old news. Just don’t take her love for granted.”

/>   Now Noah felt like an even bigger jerk. Jase’s mother had deserted her family when Jase was only eight. He’d grown up with only an alcoholic father to parent him.

  “I get it, and I love my mom and Em. But I can’t stand being reminded of how much I wasn’t around when Dad needed me.”

  “You’re here now.”

  “Funny,” Noah said with a chuckle. “That’s exactly what Katie said.”

  “She’s smart.” Jase unrolled a colorful Oriental rug across the wood of the stage floor.

  “Smart enough to be done with me.” Noah blew out a breath. “I can’t let that happen, Jase.”

  “Why now?” his friend asked. “Katie’s been a part of your life forever. She’s put up with you for years and suddenly you realize she was worth looking at all this time.”

  “Yes.” Noah helped straighten the rug then leaned back on his heels. “I mean no. I don’t understand it. All I know is now that I’ve seen her—really seen her—I can’t give her up.”

  “She’s coming to the concert with Matt Davis.”

  “You know that for sure?” Noah let out a string of curses. “I thought since she was on the committee she’d be here working.”

  “Making her easy pickings for you?”

  “Why are you giving me a hard time? You’ve got to be on my side.”

  “I am on your side.” Jase jumped off the stage onto the grass. “You think you failed your father and that belief has haunted you for over a decade. If you hurt Katie, it’s going to be just as bad. For both of you. Don’t go down that path.”

  “But I need her,” Noah whispered. “I want her even if I don’t deserve her.”

  “Be careful and be sure.” Jase glanced to the pavilion end of the park, where people were gathered in front of the barbecue food truck parked near the sidewalk. “We have a few more things to unload before everyone heads this way.”

  Noah nodded. “Put me to work. Whatever my motivations for being here, I’m definitely cheap labor.”

  “Bless you for that.” Jase smiled and led the way to his truck.

  Noah worked without a break for the next two hours. He helped set up the four-piece bluegrass band’s instruments and moved trash and recycling cans around the perimeter of the lawn. He saw quite a few people he knew and found it was good to catch up with most of them. The universal sentiment seemed to be that he was the golden child for coming back to Crimson to help take care of his mom. He tried to downplay it as much as he could since his first instinct was to clarify how much he had to make up for from his father’s illness. By the time the concert started, he was wrung out emotionally and ready to retreat to the back of the stage to watch the show. It was out of character since he never walked away from a party. Being around other people was the best way he knew to avoid dealing with his own thoughts. But tonight he craved a little solitude.

  As he moved through the crowd, he saw Katie along with Matt Davis and another couple laying a blanket across the grass. The same picnic basket she’d brought to the hospital was tucked under her arm. She wore a lemon yellow shirt with thin straps and a pair of tight jeans and platform-heeled sandals. She looked fresh and beautiful, like sunshine come to life.

  He slapped his hand against his forehead as Matt draped a sweater over her shoulders. No matter how warm it got during the day, the temperature in the mountains almost always cooled by at least fifteen degrees in the evening.

  Noah hated the idea of another man touching her, even in such an innocent way, but he couldn’t stop it. All he could do was stick it out, something he’d never excelled at, and hope that she would understand his feelings were real.

  * * *

  “Stop staring at me.” Katie planted her feet on the grass and crossed her arms over her chest as she glared at Noah. Feeling his gaze on her was making it hard to remember she was on a date with another man this evening.

  He sat alone behind the stage, his face obscured by shadows. “How’s the date going?” he asked gently, not bothering to get up or face her. Darkness had fallen completely over the town, and the music coming from the stage was loud and boisterous.

  The four-piece bluegrass band had driven over from Breckenridge to play this concert. Their songs ranged from slow ballads to livelier tunes like the one they were playing now. If she tilted her head, Katie could see the crowd in front of the stage, many of them on their feet dancing and swaying to the beat. The lights strung across the green gave the whole scene a warm glow.

  But the heat she’d felt had been from Noah’s gaze on her. She’d seen him when her group had first settled on the grass but had expected him to join Jase and his other friends once the concert started. Instead, he’d remained alone—something Noah never did.

  “The date would be going a lot better if I wasn’t being watched.” She took a step forward, wanting to see him. She couldn’t explain the reason. “Why are you back here by yourself anyway? Jase is out there with Josh, Sara and a whole group of your friends.”

  “I’m not in the mood for a big group tonight.” He stood, turned to face the stage but didn’t step out of the shadows. “You weren’t dancing.”

  “Matt isn’t much of a dancer.”

  “But you love it. Do you want me to ask you to dance, Bug?”

  Oh, yes. Her body ached for him to twirl her into his arms. “No,” she said through clenched teeth. “Why are you watching me?”

  “Because you’re beautiful,” he answered simply.

  Katie felt a current race through her, as if her whole body was electric. She tingled from head to toe, a sensation she seemed to feel only with Noah. It was dangerous, exciting and she should hate it. Instead, it drew her to him and away from her plan, her date and her idea of what life should look like.

  “I’m trying to move on.”

  “I should let you go?”

  She sighed. “You never had me in the first place.”

  “Didn’t I?” He moved suddenly, reaching for her. He took hold of her arm, pulled her in front of him. He wrapped his arms around her, pressed her back to his chest. His breath tickled her ear as he spoke against her skin. “Because when I see you with him, all I can think is mine.”

  “I’m not,” she argued, but her voice was breathless and she loved the feel of his body against hers. The band started a slower song, the guitar and fiddle playing a mournful tune as the singer sang words of longing for a lost love. Goose bumps rose along Katie’s bare arms as Noah pressed a kiss on her shoulder.

  “You need your sweater,” he whispered, wrapping his arms more tightly around her, enveloping her in his heat. He swayed with her, almost dancing but more intimate. Just the two of them, moving together.

  God, she was a slut. No, that wasn’t true. She only wanted to be when it came to Noah. Her willpower faded along with the chill she felt from the cool night air as he turned her in his arms and kissed her. His mouth molded to hers and every ounce of intelligence she possessed disappeared. She didn’t care that it was wrong or that she would be hurt in the end. All that mattered was this moment and the man making her senseless with his touch.

  “This is wrong,” she whispered, pulling away as far as he’d let her. “You don’t want me.”

  He laughed, the sound vibrating against her skin as he ran his lips over her jaw. “I want you so much, Katie.”

  The sound of applause from the front of the stage brought her back to reality. “No.” She took two steps away, trying to get her breath, her emotions and her heart under control. “Not the way I’m looking for. You’ve said so yourself.”

  “Maybe I can change. For you.”

  She wanted to trust him, but what if it didn’t work out? Katie knew what it was like to be rejected by the people you cared about most in the world. She’d spent most of her adult life overcoming the pain of not being the person her
parents wanted her to be. With Noah it could be even more heartbreaking.

  “We won’t know unless you give me a chance.”

  She’d loved him almost half her life, but it was easier to love in secret than risk him seeing all the things she’d hidden about herself from the world. Her doubts, her fears, her moments of anger and pettiness.

  Noah had the same perfect image of her as most people in town. The one she’d cultivated through the years, but which now weighed her down with its limits. That was why she was trying to start fresh with someone like Matt—a man who had no preconceived notions about her. She could be anyone she wanted with him—wild, impetuous, or selfish when it suited her. Although nothing about him brought out her wild side like Noah did.

  She wanted someone to see her as real, more than the supportive friend or generous local shop owner. Yet Katie didn’t know who she was without those labels. What if she peeled back her layers for Noah and he didn’t like the person she was underneath?

  That would do more than break her heart. It would crush her soul.

  “I’ve got to go,” she said. “Matt and the others will be waiting for me.”

  “Katie...” Noah’s voice was strained, as if he was holding back so much of what he wanted to say.

  “I don’t want to ruin our friendship,” she told him. “It’s too important to me.”

  She turned and fled, unable to look at him for one more second without launching herself into his arms.

  * * *

  The next several days Katie spent in the kitchen at the bakery, tweaking the new recipe for her parents’ superfood bar and finishing up orders for several events taking place in Aspen over the weekend.

  She had just enough time to deliver a final round of cupcakes before hurrying back to Crimson for a Founder’s Day Festival committee meeting. As much as she wanted to help out Olivia, what Katie really needed was to take a nap. As she drove along the highway that ran between the two towns, her eyes drifted shut for one brief moment—or so it felt—and she almost swerved across the median. Between her work on the festival, late nights at the bakery and losing sleep over thoughts about Noah, Katie was exhausted. Maybe she should pull back a bit.