A Baby and a Betrothal

by Michelle Major

  “You hit so hard your life vest came off,” he all but shouted. “Wait until I tell my friends that story. They won’t believe it from the cupcake lady.”

  “Austin, enough.” Natalie’s tone was firm but gentle.

  “Sorry.” He looked at Katie, sheepish. “No offense.”

  “None taken.” She ran two fingers over her cheek. It hurt but not as badly now. “I was wearing one of the larger life vests because Lelia’s so tiny she needed the woman’s size. I thought I’d tightened it enough, but it must have slipped over my head on impact.”

  “Impact,” Noah growled, sounding disgusted. “What the hell was he thinking taking you on that kind of ride?”

  “Don’t make this a big deal, Noah.” Katie lifted her chin. “I mean it.”

  He opened his mouth to respond, but at that moment Matt’s boat came closer. The guys on the boat were cheering with shouts of “Awesome, Katie,” “Sweet dismount” and “You nailed it.”

  “You want to swim over and we’ll get you back in the boat?” Matt called. Lelia stood next to him, grinning from ear to ear. It made Katie feel like an even bigger wimp.

  She sucked in a breath as Noah snapped, “You’re an ass—”

  “We’re heading to shore,” Liam said, cutting off Noah midsentence. “We’ll meet you over there.”

  Matt nodded, still smiling as Liam motored away.

  Natalie reached out to take Katie’s hand. “You’re sure you—”

  “Please don’t say anything,” Katie said, glancing from Natalie to Noah. “None of them knew I was nervous on the water.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Noah yelled over the roar of the engine. “He shouldn’t have been driving that fast.”

  Katie agreed, but she wasn’t going to fuel Noah’s anger by admitting it.

  The ride across the reservoir to the grassy shore below the parking lot and picnic area lasted only a few minutes. In that time, Katie took stock of what had happened. She blamed herself for letting Matt and his friends convince her to get on the tube in the first place. She liked Matt, but the more time she spent with him, the more she realized he was an adrenaline junkie like her father. As much as she wanted to fit in with him and his friends, someone like Lelia had much more in common with them. Most of the talk on the boat today had centered around the best spots around Crimson for mountain biking and rock climbing, both sports Lelia had been eager to try. Other than another inner-tube ride, Katie could think of nothing she’d want to do less.

  “I need a bathroom break,” Natalie said as they pulled into a space between two smaller boats.

  Noah hopped into the water, hauling the boat to shore with the rope Liam tossed him. As muscles bunched in his arms and across his shoulders, Katie’s mouth went dry and she dropped her head into her hands. She was pathetic.

  Austin jumped into the water, too, leaving Natalie and her alone in the boat.

  “Why were you guys out there?” she asked, lifting her gaze. “Liam normally hates crowds. A holiday weekend on the lake can’t be his idea of a good time.”

  “Noah was worried about you.”

  “Why? Didn’t he think I could handle it?”

  “From what I could tell, it’s because he cares about you.” Natalie shook her head, one side of her mouth curving. “I’ve never seen him like that. He had us motoring all over the lake to find you.” She held up a hand when Katie would have argued. “Not because he didn’t think you could handle yourself. He wanted to look after you. Like a friend, but it was more. A lot more.”

  Katie sighed, looked at Noah standing on the bank talking to Liam and Austin. “This was the summer I was going to get over him, Nat. There’s no future there.”

  “Are you sure? People change. Sometimes they only need to open their eyes to what’s in front of them.” She gave Katie’s shoulder a squeeze. “I think the combination of seeing you with another guy then hurtling across the lake may have done that for our buddy Noah.”

  Katie thought about that. Yes, she’d vowed to move past her feelings for him. She wanted more from life than he was willing to give her, and the frustration at her unrequited love was beginning to take a toll on their friendship. But what if Natalie was right? Had she given up too soon? Or was he only interested in her because suddenly she was out of reach?

  She glanced up as Matt’s boat pulled in at the end of the line of boats docked below the picnic area. One of his friends was driving now, and Matt climbed off the front to beach the boat and tether it to a tree stump. She closed her eyes so she wouldn’t be tempted to compare him to Noah. Matt was handsome, but her body didn’t react to him like it had to Noah moments ago.

  “That won’t end well.”

  Katie blinked at Natalie’s words. As Matt finished knotting the rope, Noah was stalking toward him, every muscle in his body radiating anger.

  She scrambled forward, holding the towel around her waist as she threw her legs over the side of the boat. She made her way up the shoreline, picking her way over the rocks that dug into her bare feet.

  “You’re a reckless idiot,” Noah yelled, pushing Matt in the chest.

  The other man, several inches shorter than Noah, stumbled back, the easy smile disappearing from his face. “What the hell was that for?” He took two steps toward Noah.

  “For putting those women in danger. You were driving like an idiot with them on the tube behind you.”

  “Who are you, the coast guard?” Matt came forward until his chest almost touched Noah’s. “We were having fun, Grandpa.”

  Noah’s head snapped back as if Matt had actually hit him. In his circle of friends, Noah was the life of the party. Katie knew he cultivated and protected that image like a coveted prize.

  “Fun?” Noah all but spit the word in Matt’s face. “You almost killed Katie.”

  Matt’s expression registered shock then anger. “She was having a good time.”

  “She’s afraid of the water,” Noah ground out.

  Katie was right behind them but stopped as the group took in Noah’s words. Again embarrassment rolled through her. “I’m fine,” she said tightly, unwilling to look at Matt’s friends on the boat. She kept her gaze fixed on him and Noah.

  “Is that true?” Matt backed up from Noah a few steps. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

  “It’s not...” She trailed off. How could she deny something so much a part of her, even if she didn’t want it to be? “I was having fun.”

  Noah cursed under his breath. “Are you joking?” He turned fully toward her, blocking Matt’s view with his body. “That was the opposite of fun for you.”

  “I wanted to get on that inner tube, Noah. No one forced me.”

  “He shouldn’t have been driving like that.”

  “I’m sorry,” Matt said behind him. “Katie, you should have signaled me to slow down.”

  “I thought it was great,” Lelia called from the boat.

  Katie narrowed her eyes at the woman.

  “Sorry,” Lelia muttered. “But I did.”

  “You’re enough,” Noah whispered, pitching his voice low enough that she was the only one who could hear him. “Just the way you are, Katie. You don’t need to try this hard.”

  His words cut across her, turned her insides to liquid and fire. All she’d wanted in life was to be enough for someone. Without having to try. She’d always had to try, as if she was inherently lacking as a person. She’d told herself she was turning over a new leaf, but it felt as if she’d traded one mask for a different guise. She’d wanted to move off the sidelines so badly that she’d pitched herself headfirst into becoming someone she was never meant to be.

  “Okay,” Matt said, stepping around Noah. “Now we know that you’re not one for adventure.” His voice was kind, but there was a note of disappointment
in it she couldn’t miss. He held out a hand to her. “Let’s have lunch. Then you can keep the boat steady while the rest of us cliff jump.”

  On the boat, Lelia clapped her hands.

  Noah snorted and bent so he was looking into her eyes, his gaze intense. “You’re not going back out there with him,” he said softly.

  She bit down on her lip, glanced at Matt. “I came with them, Noah. I don’t want anyone to think that ride rattled me.”

  “Who cares what they think?” he shot back.

  “I do.”

  He straightened and turned on his heel. “Liam, I’m done for the day. I’ll catch you back in town,” he called and stomped off, heading up the hill.

  Matt rubbed his hand along her upper arm. “Damn, that was intense. Makes me want a beer.” When she only stared, he dropped his hand. “You brought lunch, right?”

  She nodded. “In the cooler on the boat.”

  “Great.” He chucked her on the shoulder. “That was a massive crash,” he said with a boyish grin.

  Katie looked between Matt’s boat to where Liam’s was tethered five feet away. Natalie raised her eyebrows, her silent question clear to Katie.

  “I’m not going back on the boat with you.” She spoke the words out loud and saw Natalie nod in approval.

  Matt shrugged. “Suit yourself. Can we still keep the food?”

  “Sure.”

  “Katie, do you want me to come with you?” Lelia spoke from the deck of the boat.

  “No, you stay.” She smiled. “Have fun and take tomorrow off. I’ll see you at the bakery on Tuesday.”

  The young woman squealed with delight. “Really? Tomorrow off? You’re the best boss ever.”

  The best boss, the best friend, the best committee chair. As long as it meant putting other people’s needs in front of her own, Katie was a veritable expert.

  But what about what she wanted? If she had to admit the truth, she was so unused to taking care of her own needs, she barely registered having any. Her eyes drifted to the parking lot above the reservoir.

  “Take these,” Natalie said behind her, and Katie whirled, unaware of her friend’s approach. Natalie handed her a pair of slip-on sandals. “They’ll make getting up the hill a lot easier.”

  Katie dropped the shoes to the ground and slipped her feet into them. “I’m sorry this day was so much trouble for you guys.” She hitched her head toward Liam and Austin, who were busy tying a lure to the end of a fishing pole.

  “This has been a great day,” Natalie told her with a smile. “You have no idea how much I enjoyed watching Noah Crawford make a fool of himself over a woman.” She winked. “Especially when that woman was you.”

  “He didn’t—”

  Natalie interrupted her with a wave of one hand. “Go on, before you miss him. Austin isn’t going to leave the boat until we take him to the cliffs.”

  “Thanks, Nat.” Katie gave her friend a quick hug and turned.

  “And, Katie?”

  She glanced over her shoulder.

  “That landing will go down in history. It was epic.”

  Epic. That word had never been linked to her before, and Katie found that, despite the aches and pains that went with it, she kind of liked being epic. Even if it was an epic fail. With a laugh, she headed for the top of the hill.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Noah sat in the parking lot, trying to get a handle on himself. His truck had been parked in the sun all day, and the temperature inside was almost stifling. He welcomed the heavy air and the bead of sweat that rolled between his shoulder blades. He hit the automatic door lock, as if that would keep him from dashing back down the hill to pluck Katie out of the boat with Matt and his adult-frat-boy friends.

  It was none of his business. The rational part of him knew that, but logic had disappeared the moment Noah thought Katie was in danger. Hearing her downplay the incident to Matt left Noah feeling like an overprotective geezer. Hell, he and Liam had done way more dangerous things over the years—on the water, on the slopes. The group mentality dumbed down their common sense to preteen-boy levels. But never Katie. Even over summer breaks, she’d been the responsible one, always making sure her friends got home safe. Maybe that was why he’d overlooked her for so long. He’d been so intent on acting out as a way to numb the regret and sadness he felt over his father’s death. Katie, with her stability and sweetness, had been practically invisible to him.

  Now she was all he could see. All he could feel. He wanted to share every tiny thing that happened in his day, to make up for lost time in discovering all the hidden-away pieces of her. But he was a bad bet, and he didn’t blame her for rejecting him. It was payback long overdue. If nothing else, he’d take it like a man.

  With a heavy sigh, he turned the key in the ignition as a knock sounded on the passenger-side window. Katie stared in at him, peering through the glass.

  He rolled down the window then wiped the back of his hand across his forehead.

  “I just wanted to say thank you.” Her chest rose and fell as if she was having trouble catching her breath. He could barely tear his gaze away from the slight swell of her breasts peeking out from the low V-neck of the bathing-suit top. “For rescuing me. For being there when I needed you.”

  “You didn’t need me,” he answered, shaking his head. “You would have been fine. You were swimming toward the life vest when I got to you. I overreacted, and I’m sorry.” He laughed, but the sound was bitter. “Again. I know you can take care of yourself.”

  “And everyone else in town while I’m at it?” she said, humor in her voice.

  His gaze snapped to hers. “I hate that you wore a bikini today.”

  She looked down at herself then back at him, her eyes suddenly dancing. “It’s a tankini and about an inch of skin is showing between the top and bottom.”

  “It’s an access thing,” he said irritably but couldn’t help his smile as she laughed so hard she snorted. He’d bet Matt Davis never made her snort, and the feeling of accomplishment was ridiculous. But the thought of another man having access to Katie’s body, to the vibrant passion he knew she hid under her placid, sweet surface, made his temper flare again. “What is this, Katie? What are you doing up here when the fun is down on the lake?”

  She straightened her shoulders, as if steadying herself or drawing courage. “Unlock the car, Noah,” she whispered.

  Something had changed in her tone, and his pulse leaped in response. He flicked the button for the lock but didn’t watch as she climbed in next to him. He kept his eyes straight out the front of the truck, but he was all too aware of her. Even after a dip in the reservoir, Katie smelled delicious. This time the scent of vanilla was mixed with suntan lotion. The combination made him immediately hard.

  He put his hands on the steering wheel, not trusting himself to resist reaching for her.

  “You told me to choose,” she said softly. “I choose you.”

  He felt dizzy, as if every one of his secret desires was being handed to him on a platter and he didn’t know which to select first. He turned to her now, his hands still on the wheel. He didn’t want to ruin this moment, to push her too far. More than anything, he didn’t want to hurt her by being his usual self.

  “Say it again.” He kept his voice calm, his expression neutral, but Katie smiled.

  She folded her legs underneath her on the leather seat and leaned over the console. Cupping his face with her hands, she swayed closer until her lips were almost grazing his and he sucked in her breath each time he inhaled. It was sweeter than he’d ever imagined. Her eyes held his as she spoke against his mouth. “I choose us.” She brushed her lips against his, gentle and almost tentative, as if she expected him to push her away.

  That was the last thing on Noah’s mind. He took hold of her waist and
hauled her fully onto his lap, pressing her to his bare chest. His hands moved up and down her back as he deepened the kiss, sweeping his tongue into her mouth, groaning as she met his passion. Her nails dug into the muscles under his shoulder blades and he welcomed the sensation, which only heightened his own pleasure in the moment. This was what he’d wanted—for so much longer than he’d realized.

  A loud wolf whistle split the air and someone banged hard on the hood of his truck. “Get a room,” whoever it was called as the sound of laughter spilled into the truck.

  Katie still clung to him, giggling against his throat. He tipped up her chin, her lips wet and swollen from his kisses. He wanted to take her, right here in the cab of his truck, in broad daylight. He felt like a teenager again, light and carefree, his only concern the fastest way to get her naked.

  The thought made him grin. “I’m going to take you home now.” His grin widened as she frowned. “I’m coming in with you. I’m going to stay with you, Katie. All night long.”

  “Oh.” She breathed out the one syllable, then climbed back into the passenger seat. After fastening her seat belt, she slunk down low, her face cradled in her hands.

  “What are you doing?” he asked as he drove out of the parking lot and onto the county highway toward town.

  She lifted her head once they were on the open road. “People saw us...you know...making out. What if they recognized me? Or you? Or the two of us together?”

  “I don’t care who knows it’s you and me.” He reached for her hand, tugged it away from her face and laced their fingers together. “I want everyone to know you’re mine, Katie. Because you are now. I’ll kiss you all over the damn town if that’s what it takes. In fact, there are lots of things I can think of for us to try.” Then, her hand in his, he proceeded to tell her all the wicked things he wanted to do to her and with her—in Crimson, in the forest, in every room of her house.

  It was the longest hour of his life.

  * * *

  By the time Noah parked the truck crooked against the curb in front of her house, Katie felt dizzy with need. All the way home, he’d whispered the details of what he wanted to do to her as his thumb traced a light circle on the back of her hand, and it was driving her crazy.