“Teamed up or ganged up?” Carrie smiled. “No, I know.”
“Then, spill.”
Carrie sucked in a breath. “Jocelyn, I’m pregnant.”
Her boss looked stunned, her mouth agape and her brows high. “Pregnant?” she asked in a low voice.
“Yes.” Carrie blew out a breath. “Oh, it feels good to let that secret out.”
“I take it Chase knows? Um, it is his right?”
That made Carrie smile a little bit. “Yes. And yes, he does know.”
Jocelyn snapped her fingers. “That’s why you’re afraid.”
“Afraid?” Carrie squared her shoulders. “Afraid of what?”
“He said he loves you and you ran screaming.”
“Not screaming, but yes. What’s your point?”
“Do you think he’s lying?”
“No,” Carrie answered quickly. “From what I know of Chase, he tells the truth.”
“That’s my impression, too. Almost to his own regret, according to what he’s said about his childhood.”
Carrie thought for a minute. His relationship with his brother and father, with Billy, was strained by his own admission. It made sense that his truthfulness could have been a dual-edged sword.
“Then he really loves me?”
“I don’t think that’s the real question, Carrie. Do you?”
Carrie nibbled her lower lip, her mind whirring. “I could love him, Jocelyn. He’s sweet and hot and the father of my baby.”
“Then what are you going to do?”
“What can I do? We haven’t even talked since he brought me home Sunday night.”
“So you don’t have his number?”
“I have his number. I just don’t know what I would say.”
Jocelyn held up her hands. “Hey, that’s all on you.” Her eyes strayed to Carrie’s midsection and then back to her face. “Don’t you think you owe it to that little nugget of yours to figure it out and fast?”
“I do.”
Jocelyn came behind the counter and gave her a hug. Carrie squeezed her eyes shut, one tear leaking through her lashes. Collecting herself, she wiped at her eye and stepped back. A quick glance around the shop showed her they were alone at least. That was one small consolation.
“Let me know if I have to find another girl to run the shop?”
Carrie stared at her for a beat. “What?”
“If what I think is going to happen happens, you’ll join Shannon up there in Cypress Corners.”
“I don’t know about that.”
Jocelyn patted her arm. “Honey, I do. You’ll want to be where your heart is. Apparently it’s wherever your cowboy, sorry rancher, is.”
Jocelyn returned to the spa and Carrie started her evening shut-down. As she let the routine soothe her, her mind worked. She did love Chase. He was outrageous and sweet, and so earnest she had to face the fact that he always meant what he said. He’d told her as much, hadn’t he? Then why couldn’t she give him the benefit of the doubt?
Leaving Eucalyptus, she headed through the lobby with a new purpose. She was going to tell Chase that she loved him and that was that. Her stomach in knots, she paused outside his door. She could hear the low rumble of his voice, a rough laugh reached her. Oh, no. He wasn’t alone?
Shoving aside the memory about Doug’s betrayal, she rapped on the door anyway. The door opened to reveal Chase, shirtless and holding his phone to his ear.
“Okay, man. I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.” He ended the call and looked at her. “Red?”
“Chase, I love you.” She winced. What the heck was wrong with her? “I mean, can we talk?”
A smile replaced the surprise on his face as he ushered her into the room. “You love me?”
“I do. I’m sorry to interrupt.”
“What, this?” He held up his phone. “I was just telling Billy that I would be bringing Dominic’s sample back to Cypress tomorrow.”
“Then, you’re alone?”
He closed the door, the smile never leaving his face. “Who would I be with, Carrie? You’re the only one I want.”
Tears filled her eyes, and this time she didn’t bother brushing them away. “I was silly to run off, Chase.”
“And I was stupid to blurt out the truth like that.”
“It is the truth.” She was sure of that now. “You love me.”
“I do.”
“Then Jocelyn was right.”
“Jocelyn, your boss?”
Carrie gave a nod. “She’ll have to find somebody else to run the spa shop, Chase. I’m going to be up in Cypress with you.”
He let out a whoop and grabbed her to him. “Red, I promise to never give you the chance to regret this.”
“And I promise to give you the family you’ve always wanted.”
His eyes sparkled. “You know me. Damn, you really know me.”
“I love you.”
He held her closer still, and she realized that her heart was right to give him this chance. To give him her heart.
He would keep it, and their baby safe forever.
Acknowledgment
I want to thank Roxanne St. Claire for creating the wonderful world of Barefoot Bay, and for giving me the chance to play in it one more. It has been so much fun writing in this world, and her support and encouragement has made this such an incredible experience. Thank you, thank you!
About the Author
JoMarie DeGioia has been making up stories for as long as she can remember, and has spent years giving voice to the characters in her head. She’s known Mickey Mouse from the “inside,” has been a copyeditor for her town’s newspaper, and a bookseller. She writes Historical and Contemporary Romances, along with Young and New Adult Fantasy stories. She divides her time between Central Florida and New England.
Barefoot Bay: Giving Chase (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Cypress Corners Book 8) Page 8
