by D'Ann Lindun
She had to stop dreaming and face reality. Johnny was never coming back. Hoping only prolonged the agony.
“Great.” Montana forced a smile. “I’m sure the cabin will be good as new. Maybe even better. Johnny doesn’t do things halfway.”
Colleen had paused at a table where champagne flutes stood in rows. She took two and handed one to Montana. “Here’s to a happier new year.”
“Happy New Year.” Yeah, right. She couldn’t recall a more miserable time in her life.
They toasted and Montana sipped the expensive wine.
Tonight it tasted sour and her stomach churned. She frowned. Usually she loved champagne, enjoying the sparkling wine only on holidays or special occasions.
“Something wrong?” Colleen asked.
“Not at all. My stomach’s a little touchy tonight.”
“Maybe eat something.” The doorbell rang and Colleen set down her glass. “Excuse me. I need to get that.”
“Of course,” Montana murmured. Avoiding the heavily laden buffet table, where everything seemed to turn her stomach, she went in search of her friends.
In the living room, she spotted Shannon talking with Evan Marsh. Charlie and Rose boogied on the makeshift dance floor to the sounds of a local country band. Playing with them, Ryan grinned when he saw her. She gave him a quick wave and moved beside Shannon and Evan. “Hi.”
Shannon threw her arms around Montana. “You came.”
“I made it.”
“You look like hell,” Shannon said, echoing Colleen.
“Don’t hold back. Tell me what you really think.” Montana didn’t take offense because she knew Shannon meant no harm. “Hello, Evan.”
“Hi, Montana. Glad you dropped by.”
“I am, too.”
The song ended and Rose and Charlie joined their little group. Hugs and greetings were exchanged and Montana began to relax a little. Maybe she ought to get off the couch and start to live again.
She wasn’t the first person to suffer a broken heart; she wouldn’t be the last.
The band started a new song, “Cotton-Eyed Joe”, a fast-tempo tune that Montana normally loved. Before she could protest, Evan grabbed her hand and pulled her onto the dance floor. He was a great partner and they’d danced together many times, but tonight, every spin and twirl threatened to make her stomach erupt. She forced herself to smile and fought the urge to hurl all over his shiny boots.
The song couldn’t be over fast enough.
When it mercifully ended, Montana mumbled a thank you and dashed for the bathroom at the back of the house.
She’d barely slammed the door behind her and dropped to her knees in front of the toilet before she vomited.
Weak, shaky and feeling as though she’d been dragged by a team of stampeding horses, Montana stood and rinsed her mouth. Staring into the mirror, she realized she did indeed look like hell. Her skin had a pasty tone and dark circles rimmed her eyes. According to her bathroom scale, she’d lost five pounds, but she’d had a hard time buttoning her jeans tonight.
Although she didn’t want to disappoint Colleen by leaving before midnight, Montana craved cozy pajamas, a cup of tea and bed.
When she exited the bathroom, she found Shannon and Rose waiting for her.
“You okay?” Shannon asked.
“A little sick. I think I’ll go home.”
“You need a ride?” Rose put her hand on Montana’s arm. “I can drive you.”
“Of course not,” Montana said. “I’m just a little queasy.”
“From what?” Shannon eyed her closely. “You haven’t eaten since you arrived.”
Montana shrugged. “The flu, I guess.”
Shannon raised her brows. “Again? Didn’t you say you had the flu a week ago when we were going to one of the after-Christmas sales?”
“Yeah. It’s hanging on forever this year.”
Shannon exchanged a glance with Rose.
“What?” Montana looked at both of them.
“When was your last period?” Rose asked bluntly.
As the days began to add up, Montana swayed. Dear God. Could it be?
The clues hit her like a landslide—Nausea. Exhaustion. Tight pants. Swollen, sore boobs. No period for more than two months.
The earth tilted and she saw stars.
Shannon grabbed her arm, steadying her. “Don’t pass out on me.”
Slowly, her friends came back into focus. “I’m okay.”
“Is Rose right?” Shannon still held her arm. “Are you pregnant?”
Montana counted the weeks in her head again. “I think so.”
“Holy shit.” Shannon eyed her with disbelief. “How?” She waved a hand. “Never mind. I know how. Oh, hell. What are you going to do?”
Rose gave Shannon a gentle push. “Let Montana think. This is a bit of a shock.”
Shock or no shock, Montana knew exactly what she was going to do. She was going to have a baby.
Johnny’s baby.
Shannon and Rose exchanged another look.
Montana couldn’t focus on them. Her mind whirled. A baby. A family. Alone. No way to contact Johnny. Terror warred with joy.
“This is for you.” Shannon pressed something into her hands.
“What is it?”
“Look and see. Adrian sent that to me with instructions for you to open it on New Year’s Eve at midnight. This changes things. You need to open it right now.”
Montana took the sealed envelope with an unsteady hand. She removed a folded handwritten note and a ticket.
“Well?” Shannon demanded. “So, share. What is it? Is it something from Johnny?”
Montana looked up through teary eyes. “An invitation to watch him sing at the Grammys.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Johnny walked onstage at the Staples Center to thunderous applause.
With a deep breath, he glanced for the hundredth time at the third row center aisle where he’d arranged for Montana to sit.
She’s here.
Her smile outshone the lights and the short gold dress she wore instantly had him hard as Colorado granite.
Damn. She was fucking gorgeous. Every woman here paled in comparison. Celebs, fans, groupies, press. Not one of them held a candle to his Montana-girl.
His heart thudded a wild rhythm.
He cleared his throat. “I just want to say this song is for someone special who’s here tonight.”
Tabitha picked up the beat.
Until we met I could not forget
How much it hurts to love
Being with you is
like touching a thousand stars
Until I met you
I don't think I knew
what being in love was like
Before now it was all untrue
Until you
My world was only
a gray blur
Your voice is music to my ears
and I'm losing all doubt
that it wouldn't work out
I never felt it this way
Until you oh, until you
Montana girl
It's never felt this right
When you hold me in your arms
The moon is smiling down on us
As I fall for you tonight
Until you
My world was
only a gray blur
Your voice is music to my ears
and I'm losing all doubt
that it wouldn't work out
I never felt it this way
Until you oh, until you
my Montana girl
As he sang, he walked down the stairs toward Montana. When he reached her, he knelt on one knee and looked straight into her wide gray eyes. He sang from his heart, from his soul. For the woman he loved.
She stared at him like a deer in headlights, but love shone from the depths of her gray eyes.
His heart felt like exploding.
When the last note faded away, the crowd erupt
ed, then hushed in expectation when he continued to kneel.
“As some of you may have heard, I went to Colorado—” he held up a hand to silence thunderous applause “—where I met a girl I fell in love with.” He reached in his pocket and withdrew a pear-shaped diamond that reminded him of the Colorado Mountains. “Will you marry me, Montana?”
She stared at him for a moment and his heart stuttered.
“Yes.” Tears filled her eyes. “Absolutely.”
He did what he’d wanted to do for the last three months and captured her mouth in a fast, hard kiss then slid the rock on her finger.
Applause rocked the building so hard he thought the roof might collapse.
“I’ll see you backstage,” he whispered in her ear.
“I’ll be there.”
Feeling like he owned the world, Johnny carried his guitar backstage. Had Montana just accepted his proposal?
Adrian had gone to get her and escort her through the throng, because they figured it would be easier to make it through the crowd than if Johnny went. He couldn’t wait to get Montana alone.
His cock lifted against his jeans.
Friends and acquaintances spoke to him, congratulated him, slapped him on the back, but he didn’t know if he responded. His heart pounded so hard he could hardly hear over its erratic beat.
Someone touched his elbow and his heart jumped. Montana?
“Hi, Cowboy.”
Teal.
“Hey.” His voice held little enthusiasm. But not even she could spoil his happiness. He had the woman he wanted. Where was she? Come on, Montana.
“Very romantic gesture out there,” she said. “A lot different than when you said, ‘Hey you want to get hitched?’ to me.”
He sighed. “What’s your point, Teal?”
She shrugged. “Just wanted to offer my congratulations.”
Right.
Hiding his skepticism, he simply said, “Thanks.”
She stepped back and spread her arms wide. “Aren’t you going to congratulate me back?”
For the first time, he noticed the way her turquoise dress stretched over her swollen belly. “Are you knocked up?”
“Yes. Can you believe it?”
“Congrats.” He forced a smile. “Keifer’s?”
Her face clouded. “Of course. No matter what you might think, I love him. I wish you’d forgive us.”
Hating them had cost him too much. Or maybe it was his newfound happiness that made them no longer matter. “How’s Keifer?”
“Wonderful! He’s talking to some executives at Atlanta Records about producing an album for us next year.”
“Great.” He tried to force enthusiasm into his voice. Keifer was a great singer and an even better guitar player. Anyone would be lucky to sign him. Teal’s voice wasn’t bad either. He made a lightning-fast decision. “You know what, Teal? I’m going to send you your CD. Call it a baby gift.”
Her face lit up, and with a delighted squeal, she launched herself into his arms and pressed her goo-covered lips to his. He pulled away, resisting the urge to wipe his mouth with the back of his hand.
Over Teal’s shoulder, he saw Montana staring at them.
Horror, then disappointment, flashed in her gray eyes. Almost an identical expression to the one she’d worn the last time they’d seen each other.
Obviously she’d jumped to the wrong conclusion. He had to fix this before she ran away. He gently moved Teal aside. “Excuse me. My lawyer will be in touch about the CD.”
He strode toward Montana with determined steps.
She gazed at him with wide eyes. “Johnny, was that her kissing you? Teal?”
Fuck! He had to fix this immediately.
“It was. She wanted to congratulate me for choosing the right woman.” He chuckled without humor. “For a moment there I thought she was going to accuse me of knocking her up. It’d be just like her to pull some shit like that, but she claims Keifer as the proud sperm donor.”
Montana flinched as though he’d hit her. She wet her lips. “Johnny—”
“Forget her, Montana. I have.”
She twisted the enormous diamond on her finger. “I need to talk to you...”
Let’s get out of here.” He paused. “Unless you want to meet everyone…?” He glanced around.” I saw Dillon and Shiloh somewhere. Maura, too.”
“Let’s leave.”
His heart did a few flips. “You sure?”
“I came here to see you. Nothing else matters.”
Her simple answer thrilled him. He took her hand. “Let’s boogie.”
When they exited the event center, the press and paparazzi crowded close, trying to get a picture or a quote, thrusting cameras and microphones in their faces. Bodyguards held the crowd back, but the bloodsuckers shoved and pushed to get close.
Montana turned her body in to his, letting him shield her from the onslaught.
His protective instincts came out. She wasn’t used to this shit. “Get the fuck back.”
Like rifle shots, questions fired at them.
“Who are you?” one reporter asked. “Was Cowboy’s song tonight about you?”
“Cowboy, is this your fiancée?”
“Is your new record going to be country?”
Someone shoved a camera into Montana’s face, the light blinding her, and she stumbled. Johnny tightened his hold on her and resisted the urge to punch the dickhead right in the face.
Montana looked stricken, both hands pressed to her stomach.
“You okay?”
“Yeah.” She sounded shaken. He’d rarely seen her show fear, only when she’d almost fallen on the Hanging Bridge, but the press had rattled her. He wanted to kick his own ass for letting them get to her.
Finally they reached his limo and climbed into the back seat. Johnny motioned for the driver to go, wishing the guy would run over a few of the fucking slime on the way.
He couldn’t wait to get Montana alone.
His gaze hungrily roamed her body.
For the first time, he noticed the way her tits popped out of her gold dress. He didn’t remember them quite as big, but she probably had on one of those push-up numbers. His gaze lowered. Her hands were still folded over her stomach. It had been plank flat the last time he saw her. It seemed a little rounded.
Holy fuck!
The truth hit him like a landslide.
They hadn’t used condoms. Because he was used to chicks who knew the score, he’d automatically assumed she was on something. He’d never asked.
He should have.
He was going to be a father.
A sudden, inexplicable joy filled him.
After the way he’d just stuck his size eleven boot in his mouth, how was he going to make Montana believe his happiness was genuine? Damn. He scrubbed his face with both hands. He was a songwriter. Someone who knew how to use words.
“Montana-girl.” He edged closer. “Come here.”
She inched his way, her gaze on the floor of the limo.
He lifted her right hand and placed it on his thigh, then laid his palm where her hand had rested on her abdomen,.
“I’m a jackass sometimes, but if you’re carrying my kid like I’m guessing you are, then I’m the luckiest man alive.”
When she looked his way, he read the truth in her eyes. “Yes,” she whispered. “But I can’t say I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?” With a whoop, he gathered her in his arms. “This is the best news ever.”
“But you just said—”
He shut her up with a kiss.
~*~
Montana wandered out onto Johnny’s deck and rested her hands on the rail.
The moon shimmered on the waves of the Pacific. Beautiful. Foreign. Nothing like home.
A moonbeam bounced off the enormous diamond on her left hand. She touched the glossy surface, almost unable to believe the events of the night. Johnny had proposed to her on national TV. Had Shannon and Rose seen? They must be screaming
their heads off right now. She’d call them tomorrow. Right now she had to let it sink in. Let everything become reality.
Johnny walked behind her and brushed the hair from her neck. His breath warmed her ear. “Is this real? Or am I dreaming again?”
A shiver skipped up and down her spine. “I’m real. Our baby is real.”
“I am so fucking lucky.” He circled her waist and placed his hands on her belly. “To have a woman like you. And a kid, too. Damn.”
“You mean it?”
He turned her around. “I’ve never meant anything more in my whole life.”
“Teal—”
“Is in the past. She’s happy. I’m happy. End of story. I had her in my life to know what I didn’t need. And to recognize what I did when I found it.”
“Am I what you want, Johnny?” Montana held her breath.
“I never wanted anyone more, baby.” He knelt in front of her and kissed her belly. “Him, too.”
“Him?” Laughter gurgled out of her. “It’s too soon to know the sex.”
“Him, her.” He kissed her slightly rounded stomach again. “Either. Both. I don’t care.”
The thought of twins swayed Montana. To go from no family to possibly having two babies to love rocked her.
Her laughter disappeared when he slid his hands down her hips to her legs. He spread his fingers and rested his thumbs on her inner thighs. She trembled, steadying herself by bracing her hands on his shoulders.
“Johnny,” she said on a sigh. “Make love to me.”
He stood and took her hand. “Come with me.”
“Okay.” She giggled. “But at least kiss me first.”
He shot her a shocked look. Then he laughed. “Smart ass.”
In Johnny’s bedroom, Montana caught a glimpse of dark blood-red bedspread and a mahogany headboard before his kisses made her forget everything else.
When he didn’t remove her dress fast enough to suit her, she reached around and slid down her zipper. She dragged the straps from her shoulders. Soft as a summer rain, the expensive garment fell to the floor.
Montana knew she should care, should pick it up. But right now all she wanted was Johnny inside her.
She squirmed, wanting him to make love to her all night long, forever.
