Dressing Owen in a Red Sox onesie and tiny dark blue pants, she talked to him and tickled his toes. “Who’s the cutest baby in the world? Oh!” She thought he smiled but knew he was still too young for such tricks. Strapping him in his car seat, she kissed him once more, picked up the diaper bag, and headed out the door. “We’re going to Daddy’s house, pumpkin. Hopefully he’ll ask us to stay. Forever.”
Luckily she found a parking spot not far from Trent’s brownstone. Parking in the Old Port on a beautiful day in May was a rare commodity. She unhitched the infant carrier from the back seat, pulled the diaper bag over her shoulder, and walked up the steps to Trent’s house. The door opened before she could knock and Katrina, dressed in a thin silk robe, greeted her with a sneer. Trent, wearing only jeans, hair still damp from a shower or a sweaty bout of sex, stood behind her.
“Oh. It’s you,” Katrina snipped. “You just had a baby.” She eyed Rayne up and down. “No skinny jeans for you for a while, huh?”
Neither one of them moved. Rayne couldn’t make her way into Trent’s house with Katrina blocking the way, and Katrina couldn’t get past Rayne and the car seat on the narrow front steps.
“Katrina, let her in.”
“Oh, sure, darling.” Katrina backed into the house as if welcoming Rayne into her territory. “We’re just finishing up here anyway.” Katrina raked her nails down Trent’s naked chest, put a key in his hand, kissed his cheek, and sauntered toward the front door. “Call me later,” she called over her shoulder.
Blood that had once been circulating through her body now pooled at her feet, making them too heavy to move, and her body felt weak without it.
“Here, let me help.” Trent took the infant carrier from her and set it by the couch. She held on to the diaper bag like a shield, covering the excess weight she carried. Katrina was supermodel thin and Rayne was…not. Her butt, once tight and round, sagged. Her hips, once narrow and petite, now widened from childbirth.
Of course he hadn’t been celibate. It had been nearly six months since they’d had sex. Trent was a sexually active man, she couldn’t expect him to wait for her, especially when he’d made it clear he had no interest in her or a relationship.
Guilt washed over his face as he attempted to take the diaper bag from her. “No, don’t touch me,” she said.
“Rayne, you’re not going to stand there all day holding the bag. You can set it down.”
“No, Owen and I are leaving. We obviously interrupted something.” She reached for the handle to the carrier but he stopped her, wrapping his large hand around her wrist.
“Damn it, Rayne. Let me explain.”
“No. No. You don’t need to explain anything.” She sniffed and turned her head. “You never said…we never…you…” A golf ball of emotion lodged in her throat, preventing any semblance of a complete thought or sentence. Unwanted tears escaped and she used her shoulder to wipe them away. Of all mornings to decide to wear mascara again.
“Sweetheart, look at me.” Trent cupped her chin in his hand and turned her head. “It’s not what it looks like.”
Rayne laughed. “Just like your lunch, huh?”
“Yeah, actually. Will you trust me, please?” She sniffed and swiped her tears with her hand. “Please? I can explain.”
“You don’t owe me any explanation. You asked me to bring Owen, and I shouldn’t have assumed you wanted to see me too. I’ll need to come back in a couple hours to feed him.”
“I wanted to see both of you. I have something to show you. I’ll be right back. Don’t leave. Please.” He kissed her cheek before turning away toward the hall to his bedroom, leaving Rayne to her tears and woeful thoughts. She caught him with his pants down. Well, they were pulled up but not buttoned. His sculpted chest taunting her, saying, you can look but you can’t touch! And she couldn’t help but notice the way his firm, round butt filled out a pair of Levis.
Before she could change her mind, Trent came around the corner wearing a Red Sox shirt that matched Owen’s. He smirked knowingly. “I bought these on the same day. Figured we’d wear them to a baseball game.”
Her heart tightened. “I don’t think he’s old enough to appreciate a game.”
“Maybe not. Better to get him accustomed to the Sox at an early age.” He picked up the diaper bag and car seat.
“Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise. Trust me, okay?” He seemed vulnerable, nervous yet excited. How she could trust him after walking in on him and Katrina she didn’t know, but she did. His sex life was no longer her business. Not that it ever was. He said he was faithful to the women he dated and as far as she knew, he had never turned to another woman while they were together.
So would he be faithful to Katrina as well?
They sat in silence as Trent drove south, staying close to the coast. She hoped his idea of a surprise wasn’t a day on the beach. Owen’s skin was too fair to be spending much time in direct sunlight and it would be years before she’d shed the forty pounds she’d gained. Standing next to thin waifs like Katrina brought her years of insecurity back.
Fifteen minutes later he wove in and out of side streets and into a gorgeous neighborhood in Rocky Harbor. He pulled into a driveway and shut off the engine. “We’re here.”
Trent’s voice sounded shaky, unsure. He slid out of the vehicle first and unlatched the infant carrier, Owen still sound asleep. Rayne got out and followed him up the path to the house.
“Who are we visiting?”
“No one.” He pulled a key out of his pocket, unlocked the door and motioned for her to go first.
The house was empty. A massive curved staircase made a bold statement in the entryway; hardwood floors gleamed throughout the living room. One large wall, painted a deep burgundy, housed a stone fireplace. Windows beckoned the warm sunlight and showed off a private wooded backyard. Rayne walked through the living room and into a state-of-the-art kitchen. Dark cherry cabinets accented by stainless steel appliances and black granite countertops.
“Wow. This is beautiful.”
“I know.”
She turned around to study Trent, unsure why he brought her here. His gaze fixated on her. His green irises a shade darker, similar to how they looked when they were making love.
“Rayne.” He stepped closer to her and stroked her cheek with the back of his knuckles. “God, you’re beautiful.”
“No, I’m frumpy and jiggly and tired. I have bags under my eyes and have—”
“The most delicious, kissable mouth. The kindest heart I’ve ever seen.” He stepped closer, their bodies nearly touching. “An intelligent mind that keeps me on my toes. And a body that’s meant for loving,” he whispered into her mouth. “I want you, Rayne. I need you.”
The air was warm but chills crept up her spine and tickled her belly. She craved him. But…Rayne shook her head and stepped back. “Katrina.”
Trent moved closer again, invading her personal space. “Is a nosy neighbor. And my real estate agent.” He picked up her hand and kissed her palm. “I had a business lunch with her a few weeks ago. I’ve been house shopping.” He picked up her other hand and gently kissed each finger. “Searching for a family home. I thought it was you at the door this morning so I didn’t think anything about not being dressed all the way. She came over to give me the key.”
“Half-naked?”
“Katrina enjoys pushing the envelope. I’ve never, ever touched her.” Trent had his faults, but he was no liar. Still, Rayne kept her guard up.
“I saw this house and thought it would be perfect. For us.”
Rayne’s breath caught and her eyes widened with uncertainty. “For you and Owen?”
Trent nodded. “He’ll have a safe neighborhood to grow up in. A nice backyard to play in. I found an awesome spot to build a treehouse.”
“Oh.” No mention of her role in this move.
Smiling, Trent moved his hands to her waist and pulled her closer to him. “Wait until you see the ma
ster bedroom,” he whispered in her ear.
“Oh.” Maybe he did want her. But in his bed or in his life? He still hadn’t said what she needed to hear.
“Come here. I have one more thing to show you.” He checked on Owen, who was still sleeping in his carrier, and pulled her through the kitchen and out to the terrace. A beautiful stone patio was adorned by lilac and rose bushes and a granite bird feeder sat in the center of a garden just beginning to flourish with a multitude of flowers.
Pulling her over to a stone bench that sat nestled between a white arbor and flowering bushes, Trent gently pushed on her shoulders until she sat. He took both her hands in his and kneeled at her feet.
“Rayne,” he said, kissing each palm again. “God, I’ve missed you. I think I’ve loved you since you cheated during our race at the lake.”
She laughed and cried at the same time. “I didn’t cheat.” Her throat tightened, nervous and anxious for what he had to say next.
Trent wiped her tears away with his thumbs and kissed her lightly on the lips. “You cheated and we both know it. And I’ll let you do it again in a heartbeat. I’ll let you have anything you want, Rayne, as long as you agree to be my wife. I love you so much, I don’t think I can go another day, hell, another hour, without you and Owen by my side.”
“Trent.” She sniffed and leaned in to kiss him but he pulled back.
“Wait. There are conditions.”
“Your job.” She pulled back as well. If he didn’t love her unconditionally then there would be no marriage.
“I talked to my agent. I’ll have to travel some. You and Owen can come with me when I do. I’m not going to do the show. It wasn’t for me anyway. The hair, the lights, the staging aren’t my style, but I’m going to do the traveling gig. My contract states I only have to do fifteen bakery visits a year. We have a pretty wide window of when to get them done, and the rest of the time we’ll be home, here in Maine, or vacationing across the country. Together.”
He brought her hands to his mouth and kissed her knuckles, his emerald eyes never leaving her face. “I want us to be a family. You, me, Owen, and a slew more babies. If you don’t like this house we can look somewhere else. It has four bedrooms but we can add on, finish off the basement. Do whatever you’d like. I don’t want to lose you, Rayne. Ever. I love you so much. And it doesn’t scare me. What scares me is that I’ll miss Owen’s first smile. First step. That you won’t be next to me each night, draped over my body every morning. Be with me forever. Do the coffee and toast thing. Please, please. Marry me.”
“More babies?” There was no bead of sweat above his lip, quiver in his hands, or nervous twitch in his eye like the first time he proposed. Rayne threw herself at Trent, knocking him backward, kissing him deeply, passionately, and without any hesitation. “I have no idea what you mean about the coffee and toast thing, but I’m game. I love you, Trent Kipson. Forever. I want you. I want this house. And I want to make love to you every day and have a houseful of little Kipsons.”
Their tongues mated, their bodies molded to each other’s, filling each other with the love and passion they both missed and needed so much.
It was in fact, the icing on the cake.
Epilogue
Rayne
Rayne looked around her living room and smiled. This. This is what she’d dreamed of for so many years. A room full of friends and family making memories and starting traditions to pass on for generations.
Trent and Brian had finished up the Thanksgiving dishes and were arguing with Claire and Sage about the rules in charades. The men had turned down the volume of the football game and agreed to play one round if they got out of the next round of diaper duty. Faith made her way around the living room passing blocks to Owen, who sat in Thyme’s lap.
Thyme had finally found her calling and had taken a job as a nanny to an adorable little five-year-old girl. Maybe now her sister would settle down and start making goals and plans for her future.
“You can’t mouth the words, cheater. You’re supposed to act them out.” Sage shook her head and took a sip from her wine glass.
“I didn’t say anything and besides, you can’t make up rules as we go.” Trent crossed his arms over his chest and deferred to Rayne. “Your sister’s a sore loser. Must run in the family.”
“I’m not a sore loser. Sage is, though.” Rayne ignored her sister’s scowl and tickled Owen’s feet.
“I say we put Sage and Trent on the same team,” Brian suggested after pulling Claire onto his lap as a shield.
“You’re just as bad,” Claire said as she lightly smacked her husband’s chest. “You and Trent are just trying to get out of playing so you can go back to your football game.”
The game of charades had gotten a little out of control after the fourth round. They’d agreed on movie titles and the men chose movies like Terminator, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and The Hangover, while the women put in words and phrases like Cinderella, Pretty Woman, Bridesmaids, and Magic Mike.
Of course when it was the men’s turn they twisted every movie title into something erotic. Watching Brian prance around like a hooker brought them to tears and Trent twirled like he wore a princess gown, getting so dizzy that he nearly took out their wedding photo on the mantel.
Their wedding was a small and intimate backyard affair and she wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. For the longest time she’d dreamed of a big fancy wedding dress with hundreds of guests watching her walk down the aisle of a church, the long train and veil trailing behind, an elaborate white bouquet of flowers in hand. She didn’t dream of the man at the altar, but the wedding itself. When Rayne finally fell in love for real, she realized it wasn’t the experience but the man standing next to her, vowing to love and cherish her forever, that mattered the most.
“I think we paid our dues. How about dessert? I have a pumpkin cheesecake, lemon meringue pie, and a German chocolate cream pie,” Trent said when he could finally stand up straight. “And yours will come later.” He winked at Rayne before placing a kiss on her neck and whispering in her ear. “I’m going to start right here.” He nibbled on her earlobe. “And work my way…very slowly…down your body, licking up every drop of blackberry sauce until you’re screaming my name.”
“Seriously. You two are like freaking rabbits,” Sage whined before heading for the kitchen.
“I prefer the Energizer Bunny.” Trent shrugged.
Rayne shivered and turned her head so she could gaze into his eyes and smiled mischievously. “I believe it’s my turn to go first tonight, Kipson. And I don’t plan on leaving an inch of your body untouched,” she said softly.
Trent’s smile matched hers as he leaned in to kiss her mouth. His lips tasted like the pumpkin cheesecake he snuck in when he thought no one was looking. He growled playfully before heading to the kitchen.
Rayne had lost the weight she’d gained while pregnant, but her body shape had changed, and she didn’t mind one bit. Stretch marks and a little extra skin were worth it if she could hold and look at Owen every day for the rest of her life. Even so, she passed on dessert, still not having a sweet tooth.
Only when Trent made his blackberry vodka sauce and brought it to the bedroom. He’d whispered in her ear during dinner that he’d done just that. Brian and Claire went hand-in-hand to get their desserts as well, leaving Rayne, Thyme, and the babies alone.
“How are things going with the Davenports?” Rayne asked, picking up the rubber keys Owen dropped and handing them to Thyme.
“Awesome. Maddie is adorable. And so smart. I really like being her nanny.” Thyme kissed the top of Faith’s head when she offered Thyme a book. “Want a story?”
“You’re a natural with kids.”
“They’re non-judgmental.”
“Sage doesn’t mean all the things she says.”
Thyme shrugged and expertly lifted Faith on to the couch next to her. Rayne knew her sisters loved each other but they had an unusual way of showing it.
Thyme seemed to act more frivolous around Sage just to piss her off and Sage constantly cut Thyme down for not having a solid career.
“I know, but she’s kinda right. Sometimes. If you ever tell her I said that, I’ll totally deny it. So, I’ve been thinking…maybe I can take some classes in early childhood development or education or something. I don’t think I want to be a teacher. Maybe run a daycare or preschool. Kids are fun.”
“And a lot of work.” It would be just like Thyme to start something and not finish it. She was an excellent babysitter. However, working with children all day could be taxing. Rayne was exhausted every minute of the day and she only had one baby.
Thyme started to read the board book to Faith, but the toddler took it away after two pages and slid off the couch again. She didn’t like to sit still for too long, similar to Thyme. “I have the patience for them. Probably because I’m used to dealing with Sage.”
“True.” Rayne laughed. “I’m proud of you. You’ve been a huge help to me and I know Claire and Brian have been impressed when you’ve watched Faith. The Davenports are as well, I’m sure.”
“They’re an amazing family. And so are you and Trent and Owen. I’m really proud of you, Rayne. You got what you’ve always dreamed of.”
“I did, didn’t I?” Rayne reached for Owen and cradled him to her chest. “I love my boys more than anything in the world.” She’d never get tired of the smell of her baby, watching him discover something new every day. The toothless grins he greeted her with every morning. Trent had been hinting around at having another, and while she loved the idea, she wanted to wait until Owen was at least one. In the meantime, they were having fun practicing. “What is it that you dream for, Thyme?” Lost in her bliss, she nearly missed her sister’s sad smile. “What’s wrong?”
Thyme shrugged. “Nothing. I’m going to grab some pumpkin cheesecake before it’s all gone.” Thyme kissed the top of Owen’s head and disappeared into the other room before Rayne could ask anything else.
Something troubled her sister. She’d gone from pure enjoyment playing with the two children to a far-off distant place. After things settled down with the holidays she’d have a heart-to-heart with her sister and help her work on her dreams as well. In the meantime, Rayne wouldn’t let a moment escape her, enjoying every toothless grin and giggle of Owen’s, traveling with Trent while he worked, and waking up with him every morning wrapped in his arms knowing she was truly loved.
Sweet on You (The Wilde Sisters #1) Page 20
