“Do you?”
“Have a line of women?”
“Yes.”
“No. I mean, women are around, but I haven’t been with any of them. I haven’t been with a single woman since you.”
She actually laughed at him. “How gullible do you think I am? Am I really supposed to believe you’ve been a monk or something, Mr. Rock Star?”
That pissed him off. “Oh really, and how many men have you been with since that night?”
She looked away. “That’s beside the point.”
“Like hell it is. Tell me.”
“Fine. No one.” She made a circular motion in the air over her stomach. “Who’d want me?”
“Plenty of men.” She was beautiful and sexy as hell, and he wanted her badly. Why wouldn’t other men? Were they blind? No, they were not.
“Right. Because every man wants a woman whose belly is getting bigger every day and is sick all the time.”
He straightened in his seat. “Sick? What do you mean?”
“Morning sickness, except it’s all the time.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh.”
“Have you been seeing a doctor, taking care of yourself?”
“Yes, of course.”
He nodded. “When is the baby due?”
“Why, do you want to do the math in your head? Make sure it’s really yours?”
“No, I’d like to know the due date of my child. Look, Rayne, I’m really trying here. And I get that you’re pissed at me—really pissed—but that snarky attitude you’ve been throwing at me is getting old, okay? Can we just talk like two adults or do we need to get a mediator in the room?”
She fought it, but he saw the corner of her mouth pull up, so he went with it.
“We could get Carmen in here. We’ll call her Switzerland.”
She actually smiled. “I’m sure she’d love that. She does look like the Swiss Miss with those blonde braids.”
He pointed at her. “Yes! That’s exactly who she looks like, the chick on the hot chocolate box! I kept thinking Pippy Longstocking, but she had red hair, right?”
She giggled, and her face lit up.
He took it in. “I’ve missed you,” he admitted softly.
Her smile faded.
“I’ve thought about you a million times. Hell, every damn night,” he confessed and then asked the question he was afraid of asking. “Have you thought of me?”
She arched her brows. “You’re kidding, right? I’ve got a reminder growing in my belly.”
“Right.” It wasn’t the answer he’d hoped for, so he looked at the floor.
“Yes, Rory, I’ve thought about you.”
He looked up. Her face softened, and they stared at each other a long time. Eventually, something inside him drove him to drop to his knees at her feet. He took her hands in his. “I’m sorry about everything. Everything went wrong. I wanted things to go so differently. But, Rayne, you need to believe me when I tell you this—I’m not sorry about the baby.” He searched her face. “Are you?”
She closed her eyes. “I’ve been so hormonal, half the time I don’t know what I feel anymore, except, no, I’m not sorry about the baby. I want it, and I’m going to love it so much. I’m going to be a good mom.”
He smiled. “I know you will. I’m sure of that.”
“Will this child have a father in its life, Rory?”
Honest emotion shown in her eyes. She was letting her guard down, finally. That had to be a hard question for her to ask. Hell, it was one no woman should ever have to ask. “Yes, sweetheart. I want to be here for you and the baby, every step of the way.”
“What does that mean, exactly? How will you be here? Part time? Summers and weekends?”
“We have a lot to work out.”
There was a tap at the door. Rory stood.
It opened and a man stuck his head in. “You okay, Rayne?”
“I’m fine, Charlie.”
“Is this the guy? The father?”
He said it with such venom Rory couldn’t miss the challenge. If they were two stallions, they’d be fighting until one was driven away. Well, Rory had no intention of being driven away, not by this guy or anyone else.
“Yes, I’m the father. We’re having a private conversation about our child. Do you mind?”
The man looked to Rayne. “If you need me I’m right outside, honey.”
“She ain’t gonna need you, Charlie.” Rory shut the door in his face and locked it.
“Rory, you didn’t have to be rude to him.”
“Yeah, I did, Rayne. He needed the facts laid out for him. I just laid them out.”
“What are you talking about?”
“He needs to back off. You are not available—for him or any other guy here. Now he knows it. Soon the rest will, too.”
“You’re insane. I’m not some prize mare to be fought over.”
“Men are very basic creatures, babe. We speak to each other with very clear signals.”
“Were you marking your territory?”
“Something like that.”
“You’re unbelievable.”
“We’ve got something else to talk about.”
“What’s that?”
“The paparazzi. They’ll be showing up here. I don’t want you exposed to that.”
“How can you prevent it?”
“I can’t. But I can protect you and the baby from them, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
“How?”
“By getting you out of here. We’ll go somewhere they can’t get to you.”
She laughed. “Where’s that?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Rory, I have a business to run.”
“I’m sure someone here can handle things for awhile. They did it when you went on your road trip.”
“But that was planned.”
“Stop worrying. Okay? I’ll take care of everything.”
“How?”
“Watch me. You sit here. I’m going to make some arrangements. I’ll be back in ten minutes. Okay?”
“You just want me to sit here?”
“Yes. You and the baby could use a rest right now. I’m just asking for ten minutes, Rayne.”
She shrugged. “Okay. Ten minutes, but this is silly. I don’t know what you’re going to solve in ten minutes.”
He grinned. “You’d be surprised what an O’Rourke can do when he puts his mind to it. Be back soon.”
She closed her eyes, resting back. “I’ll be here.”
He left the office, closing the door quietly. As promised, Charlie was in the hall, leaning against the wall. Rory strode past him. “Come on. We need to talk.”
Charlie gave him a curious look, glanced at the office door, then followed.
Rory walked through the store, noting the closed sign was now up, and the lights were dimmed. He didn’t stop until he got to the garage area.
The overhead doors were pulled down, but the three other employees were still there, along with his brothers and Rayne’s girl squad.
He stopped and let out a whistle, motioning the guys working on the bikes to come over.
Their eyes went over his shoulder to Charlie, as if they needed to know if they should comply.
“I know you boys don’t know me, but I’m Rory O’Rourke, and these are my brothers. I’m going to cut to the chase and be as straightforward with you as I can be. Rayne’s having my baby, and I’m happy about that. I plan to be a big part of her life. The problem is, unfortunately I come with some baggage, namely Paparazzi. They found out Rayne is having my child, and they’ve grabbed onto the story. They know about this place and already have some film of her. Not sure you were aware, but it was on the news earlier this evening. Won’t be long before they descend on this place like the plague.”
“Paparazzi? You some big star or something?” one of the mechanics asked, a smirk on his face.
“Musician. I wrote a song about Rayne. It’s currently climbing
the charts, not that you boys listen to that kind of music.” He jerked his chin to the speakers in the rafters that were currently playing country.
“The point is I want to protect her the best way I can, and that means getting her away from here, at least until things die down.”
“Away from the shop?” Charlie asked, his brows shooting up. “She agreed to that?”
“Yeah, she did.” He looked at all of them, her girls included. “I’m gonna need you all to step up and take care of whatever needs taking care of in her absence. I’m asking you to do this for Rayne.”
“Yeah, sure, whatever she needs,” a guy with a beard and knit hat said, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“We can help out, too,” the blonde said. “I’m Carmen.” She stuck her hand out to Rory.
He shook it. “I remember. Thanks.”
Jameson moved to him. “Bring her back to the condo. Paparazzi can’t get to you there. The convention is over, and we’re leaving in the morning. You can use it for as long as you need, brother.”
Rory’s brows shot up. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
“Thanks, Jamie. That would be perfect. That place is like Fort Knox.” Rory turned to the girls. “She’s gonna want to fight me on this, and I sure could use your support. It’s my fault she’s got to deal with all this, and I just want to take care of her.”
The girl with the pink bob came forward. “We’re with you.”
He nodded. “Appreciate it.”
“What do you need?” she asked.
“Someone needs to go to her place and get some of her things—enough for a couple of weeks, maybe longer.” He turned to the men. “You guys need to work out a schedule to cover this place and pick up the slack while she’s gone. You managed when she took that road trip; I’m sure you’ll manage now. Any questions?”
“Any questions?” Charlie’s mouth dropped. “Yeah, a hell of a lot.”
Rory nodded. “Then you and me need to step outside.”
The girl’s all got big eyed and looked at each other.
“No problem.” Charlie led the way out a side door. He rounded on Rory the moment they were through the door. “Who the hell do you think—?”
Rory cut him off with a right hook to the jaw.
Charlie staggered back a few steps and fell to his back on the uneven ground. “Goddamn, you son of a bitch!” he growled, wiping his mouth and coming up with blood from his split lip.
Rory stood over him. “She’s mine, Charlie. Just making that clear. You want what’s best for her then you’ll step up and do what you can to help her. I get you care about her, but I’m the father of her child, and I’ll be the one she turns to from now on. Got it?”
Charlie smiled. “I always knew there was a chance the father would show up one day. I guess I kind of hoped it wouldn’t happen.”
Rory nodded. “I get that. I do. She’s worth it, and I get that you would want her, maybe even thought it might work out between you two, but that is over starting now.”
Charlie moved his jaw around. “Where’d you learn to punch like that?”
“My brother owns a boxing gym. He taught me well.”
“I guess he did.”
Rory held his hand out. “We good?”
“Yeah, we’re good.” Charlie took it, and Rory yanked him to his feet.
“She’s gonna need all the friends she can get, Charlie.”
He nodded. “I’ll be that for her.”
Rory slung his arm around him, and they headed toward the door. “Glad we worked that out.”
Chapter Twenty-three
The elevator stopped, and Rayne clutched her overnight bag. She had no idea what to expect when the doors slid open. The lobby had been sleek and sophisticated. She knew places in this building must go for a mint. And judging by the size of the elevator, which now held eight people—Rory, his brothers, and her girls—who she had insisted come up and see where they were taking her—the condo would probably be spacious as well.
There was a quiet ding as the doors slid open. The hallway looked like it belonged inside a mansion; it was wide and decorated with fine art and beautiful marble floors.
Rory shifted her larger bag to one hand and held the elevator doors open. “To the left.”
She stepped out and turned, the group following her. Jameson moved to the front and opened the large set of double doors.
Rory clasped her hand in his and led her inside. Her eyes traveled around as her boots clicked on the gleaming stone floor. There was a bar, a pit group, a fireplace, and hallways that led to other parts.
Rory had told her on the way up that the condo took up half the 41st floor and that there were six bedrooms. Six bedrooms. Who would need so many?
“Wow, this place is amazing,” Sasha said.
“Look at that view, Rayne,” Carmen said, nodding toward the floor to ceiling windows that took up the expanse of the huge corner living room.
Jameson looked over at Rory. “I’ll let you work out the sleeping arrangements.”
Rayne’s eyes shifted to Rory. He’d promised her a room of her own.
“This way.” He led her down a hall and opened a door on the left. “Will this do?”
She followed him in. The room was gorgeously appointed with thick carpets, a large bed, and a small balcony out a set of French doors.
He set her bag down and took hers from her hand as well. He motioned to some doors. “There’s a bathroom in here and a walk-in closet.”
“This place is amazing.”
“Come on, let’s get you something to eat before my baby starves.”
“Before your baby mama starves,” she corrected.
They walked back down the hall, making a turn and coming out in a huge kitchen. The guys were already there. Jameson had some local restaurant menus scattered on the big island.
“How about Shaeffer’s? They have amazing steaks.”
“Sounds good to me,” Liam agreed.
***
An hour later they were sitting around a large dining table eating amazing food. Everyone but Rayne and Rory had wine.
She was so thrilled that, for once, the aroma of cooked food didn’t make her want to heave.
“So, tell me about this ride you ladies took.” Jameson said.
“It was phenomenal. Just women, and the rides were gorgeous—winding roads through the desert views. And it was fun just getting to be with our tribe, ya know? Women like us who love to ride,” Carmen said.
Jameson nodded. “Sounds amazing. Got any pictures?”
Carmen took her phone out, pulled up her photos, and passed it around the table for everyone to see.
They steered clear of talking about Daniel, and Rayne wondered if Rory had warned them off the subject. With the baby’s due date close to the one-year anniversary of his death, she was reminded of him often. It would be a happy time, but a sad time, too.
Plates were empty and bellies were full when Jameson opened a second bottle of wine. “Let’s move this out to the balcony. We’ll start a fire.”
“A fire on the balcony? This place is amazing!” Sasha stood.
They moved through the living area and out the large sliding doors. There were comfortable couches and chairs in a corner with a gas fireplace in the wall, tucked out of the wind. Jameson flicked a switch, and it flared to life with a whoosh. The city lights of Denver sparkled around them.
Rory took Rayne’s hand and led her over to the couch closest to the warmth of the fire. The girls moved to the railing to look out.
“This view is incredible!” Jenna turned back at Rayne.
“I’ll take your word for it,” she replied.
Rory looked at her. “Does being up this high bother you?”
“A little.”
“Do you want to go back inside? We can.”
“No, this is fine over here by the wall. As long as I’m not by the edge.”
Jameson sat. “This would
be the perfect time for a cigar. But since there are ladies present, I’ll refrain.”
Rayne smiled. “I’m sure Sasha would smoke one with you.”
“You’re not smoking around my unborn kid,” Rory said.
“Relax, I wasn’t going to.”
“It’s beautiful up here.” Rayne curled her feet under her in the corner spot.
Rory went inside and returned with a fur throw. He tucked it around her. “Better?”
“Yes, thank you.” He was being so sweet and attentive; she was finding it hard to maintain her cold demeanor toward him.
The rest of them finally drifted over and sat.
“Do you come to Denver often?” Carmen asked Jameson.
“Not as often as I thought I would when I bought this place.”
Max looked over at Rayne. “How’d your tattoo heal up? Good, I hope.”
She twisted and pulled her off-the-shoulder sweater down, showing him. Rory leaned forward to study the rose and the name Daniel below.
“It’s nice.” His eyes met hers, and she pulled her shirt back up.
Max grinned. “I do good work.”
She returned his grin. “Yes, you do. Thank you.”
Rory shook his head. “I can’t believe you stopped at Brothers Ink on your way through. Hell, if I’d only called there, maybe they would have told me Max had a beautiful girl in his chair with long lavender hair. I’d have jumped on the bike and ridden back. I could still kick myself for not chasing you down the interstate that day.”
Rayne shrugged. “Spilt milk.” Her eyes connected with his. “You’re here now, right?”
“Right.” He smiled, and the corners of his eyes crinkled when he did. She couldn’t tear her eyes away. His face lit up when he was happy.
“Would you like some tea or hot chocolate? You’re not allowed to have coffee, right?”
Her shoulders sagged. “Do you have any idea how hard that is?”
“Giving up coffee? I’ll bet.”
She lifted her hand, palm up. “Bad enough I have to give up drinking wine with the girls—”
“And Mimosas and Bloody Mary’s…” Sasha added with a grin, sipping her wine.
“Yes, those, too. But coffee—ugh! It’s the worst.”
“I feel for you,” Rory put in.
“Guess this is a bad time to tell you my wife owns a coffee shop,” Liam said, smiling around the rim of his wine glass.
Rory Page 13
