by Nikki Ashton
“Hey what is it?” I laughed. “What don’t you want me to see?”
Snatching up the piece of paper, I pushed Hunter away from me, sending him stumbling backward.
“You fucker,” he cried. “Don’t you dare read that.”
“You idiot. Don’t you know that telling me not to read it is a surefire way to get me to read it.”
Hunter’s face crumpled with realization as I lifted the piece of paper and began to read it aloud.
“Ellie, my beautiful, sexy woman. You know how much I love you.” I paused and looked over to Hunter who had his head in his hands. “I can’t imagine a life without you, not ever. You’re all I think about, the only person I want to give my heart to, so that’s why I’m going to ask you…”
I scanned the rest of Hunter’s scrawl and then my eyes almost popped out of my head.
“You’re going to propose?”
“Yeah, and?” He turned away and stalked toward the barn door. “Just go, Carter. Give me the paper back and then fuck off and leave me alone.”
“I can’t believe you’re doing this,” I cried, shaking the piece of paper at him.
Hunt took a step back toward me, his hand outstretched. “That I’m going to propose?”
“Exactly that.”
“You must have had some idea. You know I damn well love her to distraction; you give me enough shit about it. Plus, we’ve been together a couple of months—”
“Yeah, a couple of months,” I yelled, throwing my arms into the air. “I’ve been with Lollipop for almost six and she’s pregnant. It should be me proposing not you. You, selfish bastard.”
Hunter leaned into my space. “Me selfish?”
“Yeah, you.”
He shook his head. “Only you could spoil this for me when you know what she means to me.”
“It’s the order of things, Hunt.” Looking down at the piece of paper I curled my lip. “You and your damn sexy words, it’s all so easy for you. Whereas me, I impregnated my girl and she dumped my ass. I came here to ask you for advice on how to get her back, but you have to spoil it by being some fucking Casanova who just clicks his fingers and gets my damn sister to marry him.”
“She hasn’t said yes, yet. I haven’t even asked her yet.”
I threw my hands into the air. “But we all know she will. Who could deny the great and wonderful Hunter Delaney?”
“Why, you selfish prick.”
The punch came before I even saw it. It wasn’t hard, we were best friends after all, but it was enough to land me in the hay and sawdust.
“What was that for?” I yelled looking up at Hunt who was looming over me.
“For being a spoiled brat.” He held his hand out to me. “Now, get up.”
Taking his hand, I allowed Hunt to pull me to my feet and growled at him. “Dick.”
“Well, takes one to know one,” he muttered.
Brushing down my jeans I glared at him and when he stared back, still looking kind of sickly, I burst out laughing.
“So, you really want to spend the rest of your life with Ellie?” I asked.
Hunter nodded and a small grin appeared on his face. “Asked your dad’s permission, got a ring and everything. So, yep, I want to spend the rest of my life with Ellie.”
“And you called me a dick.”
Hunter rolled his eyes and stooped to pick up his speech that I’d dropped on the floor. “Just don’t pressure her,” he said, folding it and pushing it into his back pocket. “Bronte. Give her space and she’ll realize what she’s missing.”
Smiling over at him I nodded. “Thanks buddy. Appreciate it.”
“Yeah well, another word of advice; do not ever mention again about calling your kid, your dog, or even the first goldfish you win at the town fair for that kid Blake. Not if you really want Bronte back and want to keep her.”
I staggered backward. “What the hell… how could… you are so out of order.”
Hunt sighed, turned and walked out of the door muttering something about me being the biggest douche on the planet.
“Well, Mani,” I muttered, picking up Bronte’s gift. “That was rude.”
Pushing my shopping cart around the food market, my mind was constantly flitting to thoughts of Carter—moreover sex with Carter. It had been weeks since I’d been sexed to perfection by him and I was starting to feel withdrawal symptoms.
Hah, wrong choice of words because not withdrawing was what had me searching the shelves for canned peaches and licorice. At two a.m. that morning I’d almost been in tears because Mom only had canned pineapple in the cupboard, and let me tell you, it was a damn poor substitute.
Finally, finding myself in front of cans and cans of fruit, I stared at them in awe. There were three different kinds and two were on special. Pure bliss!
“Hey, Lollipop.”
Whizzing round to face Carter, my heart did a little skip. God, he looked beautiful. His hair was mussed up and flopping in his eyes, and he was wearing jeans and a navy-blue tee which stretched across his chest pretty nicely.
“You not working today?” I asked inhaling and letting out a little gasp at the same time.
Carter grinned and the way his eyes twinkled I had a feeling that he knew something I didn’t.
“Nope, not today. Lance and the new assistant are holding the fort. I’ve got some days owing so I’m taking a few of them.”
“Doing anything nice?” He looked so damn good, and smelled amazing, it worried me that the something he knew that I didn’t was another girl.
“Just chillin’.”
His eyes darted to his cart so mine followed. Inside was a box of puppy pads and a chew toy.
“What are they for?” I pointed at the contents.
“A puppy, believe it or not.” He gave a short laugh, the one I knew he gave when he thought he was in trouble. “Just for a client who has a puppy and can’t afford much.”
His gaze then darted to the left and I knew for definite he was lying to me and it left my insides feeling all mushy and my chest aching. What on earth was he hiding from me and why?
“Who’s the client?”
“Oh no one you know,” Carter replied, shoving his hand into his pocket. “They’re new to town.”
“He or she?” I demanded to know, my teeth starting to grind.
“He’s definitely a he,” he replied with a nervous cough. “It’s a guy. Yep, a guy.”
Narrowing my eyes on him, my pulse increased, and my nose tickled as tears threatened. He was most definitely hiding something, and I was scared to death that it was another woman—another woman whose arms I’d driven him in to.
“Should they really have a puppy if they don’t have the money to buy it things?”
Carter shifted his feet and glanced up the aisle. “Well, you know how it is. Anyway, I’m going to go and let you carry on with your shopping.” He leaned forward and kissed my cheek. “Let me know if there’s anything you need, okay?”
His breath whispered against my skin and I instantly felt my body go on high alert at his closeness. All the familiar feelings were there—the butterflies in my belly, the tightening of my nipples and the pulsing between my legs. God, I wanted him. I felt horny as hell for him, but it seemed I’d most definitely peed on my own grits.
“Okay,” I murmured as he pushed his cart away, leaving me thinking how sexy his ass was in his jeans.
When he disappeared my hands instinctively went to my belly and I felt bereft; alone and sad. My Carter didn’t want me any longer.
After filling my cart with canned peaches and various flavors of licorice I decided I wasn’t in the mood for any more shopping and made my way to the checkout. There was only one cashier working, Molly Callendar, who was married to Rueben, one of the six full time members of Dayton Valley’s fire crew. There were two people in front of me, one being Talia Pitt, an old school friend of Ellie’s who’d just returned to town after working and living in Boston for a couple of years. She
had never been a friend of mine, we just always clashed for some reason, probably because I was Ellie’s best friend and Talia had been desperate for the role.
She was beauty queen pretty, with long red hair and, due to their coloring, there were many people over the years who’d thought she and Carter would have been a good match—Talia included. With her curvy figure, enhanced boobs and perfectly made-up face, I would have agreed had I not been madly in love with the stupid, ginger, veterinary.
“Oh, hi,” Talia said, her eyes instantly going to my belly which was definitely showing the baby growing inside it. “I hear congratulations are in order.”
Her tone certainly didn’t sound congratulatory. It sounded a little bitchy and when she flashed me a smile that just about twitched at her lips, I knew I was right.
“Thanks,” I replied, forcing a return smile that actually showed my teeth. “It was a shock but we’re really happy about it.”
Talia’s lip curled and she then scanned me up and down. “I’m sure. Although, you’re not together I hear.”
My heart flipped over and immediately I wanted to grab a hold of her and tell her to stay away from him. I knew Talia and was well aware going after Carter would definitely be on her agenda.
“We’re just taking some time to get used to everything, but all’s good.” It was my turn to give a barely there smile. “I’m going over there after I’ve finished here, as a matter of fact.”
“Good that you’re still friends,” Talia replied, emphasizing friends like it was a dirty word.
About to open my mouth, I stopped when the conveyor belt began to move, and Talia’s items moved closer to Molly and the checkout.
“Well,” Talia said, turning away from me. “Great catching up.”
With her back to me my fingers twitched at the sight of her lustrous hair falling down her back. It was the most gorgeous auburn color, a little lighter than Carter’s, and it was so full and bouncy I wanted to grab a hold of it and pull her back onto her ass.
Instead, I decided my time would be much better spent, loading my goods onto the conveyor belt. However, when I reached into the cart, Molly’s voice stopped me.
“Hey, Bronte sweetie, don’t bother getting them out.”
I looked up and frowned at her. “Sorry.”
“Don’t get them out. Carter has arranged to pay for them and asked Dewey if we could deliver them to your house for you.” She gave me the brightest smile and laid a hand against her heart. “He’s so cute how he doesn’t want you lifting anything.”
“W-what?” I asked, glancing down at the twenty or so cans of peaches.
“He’s gonna pay for them sweetie, and Dewey’s gonna get Robbie to deliver them later.”
She nodded over to the little office which was on a platform and looked over the three checkout desks. When I looked over, Dewey, the manager, gave me a wave.
“Just push your cart over to the office and we’ll ring it up later. That okay, sweetie?” Molly beamed while my heart felt fuller than it had in a long while.
“He did that for me?” I whispered.
Talia, still in front of me, sighed. “Any chance we can move this along.”
When I looked at her, there were most definitely hints of the green-eyed monster looking back at me. ‘Well, tough titties,’ I thought. Carter did that for me. Me and his baby. I’d be damned if I’d let anyone else muscle in on him, least of all Talia Pitt.
Looking back to Dewey, I saw he was beckoning me over with a huge grin on his face. I maneuvered my cart around Talia, accidently clipping her butt as I did.
“Thanks, Molly. See you again soon.”
“Bye sweetie, you take care now.”
As I waved bye to Molly, I didn’t miss the fact that Talia was looking less than happy, and it made a girl’s heart sing.
Taking a huge breath, I knocked on Carter’s door, feeling apprehensive about visiting with him. It’d been a real nice gesture with my groceries, but I hadn’t forgotten how strange he’d acted over the puppy things in his cart. He was definitely hiding something from me.
“Just a minute,” Carter called from behind the closed door.
Biting my top lip, I waited anxiously for the door to be swung open.
“Lollipop,” he exclaimed. “You’re here.” He glanced over his shoulder and moved into the hallway, pulling the door to almost closed behind him. “This is a surprise.”
“I, erm, well I just wanted to say thank you for the groceries. It was a real kind thing to do.”
Carter’s face softened and a hand came up to take a hold of a lock of my hair. “Anything for you, Lollipop,” he whispered. He smiled and raked his eyes over my face and hair. “God, I love your hair this color, but you know I kinda miss the blonde.”
“Yeah? This has to stay for now. I can’t dye it, so it’ll have to grow out.”
“You know, that’s only the first trimester,” Carter offered. “I read in my book that there’s no real danger after that. You’re three weeks into your second trimester, so you’d be safe.”
“I don’t know,” I shrugged. “I’d rather be safe than sorry.”
Carter opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by a high-pitched bark coming from behind the door.
“What was that?” I asked, trying to look over his shoulder through the gap in the doorway.
Carter’s face blanched. “No-nothing,” he stammered.
Yap, yap.
There it was again. “Carter, do you have a dog in there?” I pressed on his shoulder with the palm of my hand. He pushed back, but I was determined. “Seriously, let me in.”
I pushed again and this time Carter sighed heavily and moved to one side. “It was supposed to be a surprise, once I’d got him house trained.”
Rushing inside, I gasped with delight when the cutest little black and gold fluffy bundle came running to me. Her ears were long, but she had a short nose and cute button eyes.
“Oh, my God,” I gasped. “She’s gorgeous. What is she?”
“She is he,” Carter replied, getting down onto the floor with me. “Definitely a Golden Retriever and not real sure of the other; possibly a Coonhound.”
Picking up the little bundle, I could see where he was coming from.
“He’s beautiful, babe. What’s his name?” I looked over to Carter, my eyes shining—damn hormones.
Carter’s head dropped and a little blush came to his face. “You can change it, if you want,” he replied.
“Tell me,” I urged.
He took a deep breath and his eyes met mine again. “Mani.”
It was only a name, but my heart felt full to bursting with love for the gorgeous redhead in front of me. “You named him Mani? Oh my God, Carter, thank you so much.” I flung myself at him, peppering kisses over his face. “He’s gorgeous and he has the best name ever. I love the real Mani and I love this Mani too.” I paused from kissing him, a thought hitting me in the head like a sledgehammer. “He is for me, isn’t he?”
Carter’s face softened. “Oh course, he’s for you, Lollipop. I just wanted to have him all ready and trained before I gave him to you.” He looked down at Mani and rubbed behind his ears. “It was to show you I could be responsible. If I could take care of a puppy, I could take care of a baby.”
I began to laugh and stroked a hand down his cheek. “Thank you, it’s a beautiful idea and I love him.” I took in a deep breath. “And I love you too.”
My lips parted, waiting for Carter to pounce but he just sat there looking at me. Love shone from his eyes, but the lust I was used to wasn’t there. They were so void of it I was pretty sure I could’ve danced around naked with my hoo-hah lit up by fairy lights and he still wouldn’t have made a move.
“Anyway,” I sighed, feeling a little awkward. “I just wanted to say thank you for the groceries, and Mani of course.”
“My absolute pleasure, Lollipop. You’ll visit him, right. Until he’s ready to come home with you, because I don’t w
ant you to have to do anything. No stress or worry, okay.”
There was no hint that we might both be Mani’s human parents together, here in Carter’s apartment, and that hurt me. Problem was it was my own fault. I’d been the one to push him away and now I’d seen the light, it appeared that he’d got bored of waiting.
“Hey,” Carter said. “I have an idea. Why don’t you stay and visit with Mani? We can order takeout from the café and watch a movie. What do you say?”
Looking from him to Mani, I nodded. “That would be great. I’d like that.”
“Excellent.”
A couple of hours later after eating Delphine’s lasagna, we curled up on the sofa and watched the Secret Life of Pets for about the fourth time. We both laughed at the antics of Max and his pals but all the time my heart felt heavy that Carter didn’t want me any longer and the realization that I’d been a complete idiot.
“Happy birthday, my baby.” Mom squeezed my cheeks together and kissed me. “I can’t believe you’re twenty-seven. I still remember pushing you out and hearing that cute little scream of yours. Although, you do know you ruined me down there. Your dad said it looked like—”
“Mom, please,” I groaned, interrupting her. “I don’t want to have to think about your… well, just please don’t.”
Dad started to laugh, dropping his head back. “You remember honey, how he came out covered in shit.” He turned to me. “Typical of you, you couldn’t damn well wait. Just like now, when you gotta shit, you gotta shit.”
“How did I not know that?” Ellie cried, clinking her beer bottle with Hunter’s. “That’s such good shit to have on him.”
“Hah, quite literally.” Hunter joined in with my dad’s laughter. “Oh, you are so going to wish I didn’t know that.”
Throwing a glare at my best friend, I touched my ring finger and raised my brows. “Hey, Ellie,” I called. I knew it was a dirty trick, but that fucker was not using my birth against me.
“Yeah.”
Hunter narrowed his eyes on me and turned to my sister. “We probably shouldn’t mention the poop thing again. He couldn’t help it.”
