by Jeannie Moon
“That we share with a lot of horses.”
“Wow. I’ll have to come by and see it sometime. I spent eleven years in the mounted unit.”
“Yeah?” If that didn’t take all. You never knew where you’d find common ground. “Jenna didn’t tell me.”
He chuckled. “I’m not surprised. It was a very sore spot for my little girl. Still is. She wanted to ride in the worst way, and we couldn’t afford it. Not with four kids.”
“I’ve given her a couple of lessons, she’s a natural. If you’re up, take a ride with us tomorrow; we’re going out early. I’m sure we can find you some gear.”
Rocco smiled. “Maybe. I haven’t been on a horse in twenty years.” He stopped and watched a group of horses playing in the distance. “You’re going to let your pregnant wife on a horse?”
“Did you just say the word let? Have you met her?”
Once they returned to the group, Rocco went to his wife and Nate found Jenna. She was talking to his sister Amy, who gave him a hug when he came in from the paddocks. Leah was standing nearby, scowling.
“Come on,” he said to Jenna. “Let’s go inside and get you something to eat.”
“Everything go okay?” Her face was filled with concern, but she had to see both he and her dad came back unscathed. “I mean . . .”
“I know. Everything is fine. Your dad and I had a nice talk. Now, let me feed you.”
The kitchen was very much like the one in Muttontown, including Sally, who was puttering around putting food in containers. “Now you get here. Took you long enough.”
“Hi, Sal.” He kissed her cheek.
“Are you trying to starve your bride, you evil man? Where have you been all day? And she’s carrying your baby.”
“We had ice cream.”
Jenna giggled. “You evil man. What is wrong with you?”
Sally grinned as she put food on the plates. Fried chicken, ribs, potato salad, and grilled vegetables. “I like her.”
“Yeah,” Nate said as he took a seat at the kitchen island next to his dark-haired beauty. “Me, too.”
“So,” Sally folded her arms and leveled her gaze at Jenna. “When is the baby comin’?”
“I have to go to the doctor, but I think late February, early March?”
“Good time to have a baby.”
Nate took Jenna’s hand and rubbed his thumb back and forth over the soft skin. “How’s your mom handling things?”
“Eh. She told me that I was incredibly selfish. I guess maybe I was.”
He brought her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “It was not selfish, but even if it was, it’s not on you alone.”
“How was my dad?”
“He pulled his bad cop routine, tried to provoke me into beating the shit out of him, but even though he doesn’t like how we got married, he’s okay with it. I passed the test.”
“The test?”
“They had a pissing contest.” Sally refilled their water glasses. “Who’s tougher? Who loves you more?”
“Seriously?” Jenna asked.
“He started it.” Nate took a healthy forkful of potato salad. “It’s fine. He’s also going to get your mother to back off. He said no promises with Christina. Although he did suggest sending Leah after her. The two of them could stay occupied with each other.”
“She really doesn’t like me. Amy is nice, though.”
“Amy is a sweetheart.” Just as Nate said it, everyone, and it truly was everyone, entered the kitchen. Two sets of parents, siblings, his friends, and his grandparents were all there. “Crap.”
Jenna lowered her head to Nate’s shoulder and clutched his arm. “I want to go home.”
It wasn’t a bad idea, and if he didn’t think they’d run him down, he might just take Jenna out of there. But he wouldn’t get away with it for a second. Knowing his father, at least one tire on the Maserati was already going flat.
Of course, they’d planned their attack and, not willing to take any chances, they sent in the big guns first. His grandmother—his sweet, beautiful grandmother, whom he would never deny anything—reached out and touched his shoulder.
“You guys play dirty,” he growled.
“Of course we do,” his da snapped back. “What did you expect?”
“I expected you to respect our privacy!” he shouted. Everyone in the room jumped because Nate never raised his voice. Jenna rubbed his back in a steady motion, trying to calm him down. “Jesus . . .”
“Nathaniel?” Grandma again. They were relentless. “Why don’t you two just tell us all about it?”
In his head, he was wondering if they really wanted to hear about how he and Jenna couldn’t keep their hands off each other, because what he felt for her he didn’t know if he could put into words. He didn’t know if he wanted to. Those feelings were for her and her alone, and he couldn’t believe his family had reduced themselves to this kind of meddling.
“What do you want to know?” Jenna spoke before he had a chance to tell the lot of them to take a hike.
Kim approached cautiously. “Everything just happened so fast. That’s all. We’re worried.”
“Well, it’s a little late for that, isn’t it?” Jenna’s eyes locked on his for a split second. In their depths he saw love, faith, and determination. He had to trust her with this.
She continued without giving Kim a chance to answer. “Look, we met ten months ago when you and Owen first got together. Everything just clicked at your wedding. Nate is the kindest, most generous man I’ve ever met. He’s good to the bone. Smart, resourceful, loyal. I can tell you that this—interrogation—hurts him. He’s given the lot of you his time, his friendship, and his love. And you question him like he doesn’t know what he’s doing.”
Jenna hopped off the stool and walked toward Kim. “No one questioned you, or Owen, about your relationship. Based on his telling, he fell in love with you a year before you ever really ‘met’. Why do all of you get to ask questions about our relationship? We’re not teenagers who need guidance.” She turned to both sets of parents. “None of you should say anything. One pair of you eloped, and the other pair had a ‘premature baby’ who weighed eight pounds.” Her mother’s eyes bulged. Christina’s quick arrival after their marriage was never discussed. But all the meddling and snide comments meant all bets were off.
“Nate’s never been impulsive. He’s methodical to a fault,” Leah interjected. “That’s all changed. I want to know what you did to my brother. What are you holding over him other than your pregnancy?”
“Leah!” His grandmother was officially horrified, and everyone else was equally shocked—they wanted information, but no one would ever sling mud like that. That was the last straw for Jenna; she headed for the door. Nate got up to go with her, but before he walked out he went over to his sister. “That was out of line, Leah. If you can’t be civil, don’t say anything. Back. Off.” He shot a look at everyone in the room. “All of you, back the hell off.”
He was regretting coming back to the States already. The stress couldn’t be good for Jenna. Walking outside, he saw her immediately. She was on the far side of the patio, curled into a large wicker chaise lounge. There was a fire going in the outdoor hearth and the sun was just below the horizon, allowing the light from a few bright stars to shine in the sky. He heard some neighing from the stable, and he wished they were back at the farm in Brookville.
Every time Nate saw Jenna, his breath caught a little. It wasn’t just the physical reaction to her beauty, it was her. Her vision, her intelligence, her humor, her ability to understand him, her vulnerability made her so much more than a pretty face. But her sweetness, her willingness to give of herself, is what stole Nate’s heart. That his family was lashing out, especially his sister, was unforgivable.
He was planning on making the best of the barbe
cue tomorrow, but now, if Jenna wanted to go, they were out of there. He wasn’t going to wait around for another ambush. Not when it chased away her inner light.
Giving her a nudge, he sat on the chaise and stretched out his legs. She immediately curled against him and he wrapped his arms around her. “I really don’t like your sister,” Jenna said quietly.
“I don’t like her, either, right now. I don’t like any of them.”
“What kind of information do they want? We’re married, we’re pregnant. I don’t understand.”
“I don’t know.” And Nate didn’t. There was no logical response.
Jenna picked up her head and faced him. “Leah asked what I did to you. What does that mean? It’s not like I cast some spell. I . . . I . . .”
Not wanting her to get more upset, Nate pulled Jenna in and held tight. “She was out of line. You’ve done nothing except make me happy.”
“Why has everyone gone crazy? This should not be a federal case.”
“It shouldn’t. That’s why we’re going to leave. Neither of us should have to deal with this.”
Easing himself off the chaise, he pulled Jenna to her feet and started toward the house, only to be met by his father. For once, Da looked sheepish. He never fully admitted to being wrong, but the expression on his face told Nate he was probably as close as he was going to get.
“Don’t leave. Please, Nathaniel.”
“And why should I continue to let Jenna be subjected to this bullshit? You want to tell me that?”
“You shouldn’t, and it’s a testament to the man you are that you’re not going to allow anyone to insult your wife.”
No kidding he wasn’t going to let anyone insult her. He was on the verge of punching something, he was so fucking pissed. “This is no one’s business, Da. No one but mine and Jenna’s.”
“I know. You’re right. But you two are members of families. There’s a big picture here.”
Stuffing his hands in his pockets, Da was trying to explain why everyone had gone off the deep end. “Your mother feels a little left out. Yours too, Jenna. A marriage is the kind of thing that’s celebrated with the people you love. You two went off and did it on your own.”
He was trying to appreciate his father’s point, and he could see it was rolling around in Jenna’s head as well. “We didn’t mean to make anyone feel that way,” she said. “We wanted some time to think about all the changes we were facing. To make a plan. Getting married made sense to us. We’re in this for the long haul.”
“I understand. I do.” Da’s hand settled on Jenna’s cheek. “I couldn’t be happier for my son or our family that you’re with us. And that there’s going to be a grandbaby, well, that’s gone and put us all over the moon.”
“I’m glad you’re happy, Mr. Bayard.” Maybe there was hope.
“Oh, darlin’, no more Mr. Bayard. You call me Da. You’re family now, and I’m sorry we didn’t make you feel welcome straight away.”
Jenna nodded and Nate saw a small smile tick the corner of her mouth.
“Da,” Nate said. “Leah has to stop.”
“Yeah, well. She’s a tough one, your sister. I can’t get her to do anything. If I say the sky is blue, she’ll tell me about how the carbon footprint of the farm is going to turn it gray. I don’t know how she grew to be so contrary. She wasn’t always like this.”
Nate had an idea, but he wasn’t about to share it with his father.
“Why don’t you two go to the guest house and get settled in. Tomorrow’s a long day. If you want to meet me at the barn around six, Nate, I could use a hand.”
“Sure, Da.” Nate wasn’t too thrilled about leaving Jenna in a comfy bed that early in the morning, but he wasn’t going to let his father handle the work on his own.
Jenna slipped her hand into Nate’s, but before they left, she stood on her toes and kissed his father on the cheek. “Goodnight, Da,” she whispered.
His father grinned, knowing he’d won her over. For now anyway. Nate still didn’t know how tomorrow was going to go.
Chapter Thirteen
He should be honest.
—#10, Jenna’s Boyfriend List
There was nothing quite as sexy as waking up on a warm summer morning with your husband’s arms wrapped around you and his erection pressing into your backside. Moving ever so slightly, she heard Nate groan, which meant he was awake or having quite a wonderful dream.
She wiggled again. He groaned again. “Jenna, don’t do that.”
“Why?”
“Because I have to get up and get down to the barn.” It took no effort for him to roll her onto her back and hover over her. He tried to be menacing, but it did no good. He was too sweet, too adorable, even when he pulled her nightshirt over her head in a show of husbandly force.
All she could do was giggle.
Nate pushed her hair to the side and nibbled at her ear and neck, moving down and closing his mouth over one breast, and then another. “Still think this is funny?”
She arched into him. “Hilarious.”
“Really? I guess I have some work to do.” It was delicious, slow, and sexy, and then he took it up a notch, stroking her already wet folds with his finger.
“Ohhh.” That was her moaning. Yes, it was.
“You started it,” Nate teased.
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“Liar. You’re not sorry. I’m not, either. But I’m going to finish you off, Beautiful, you ready?”
“Mhmm.” Was she ever.
Without any other warning, Jenna felt him ease between her legs at the same time he laced his fingers with hers, bringing her arms over her head. She felt completely under his power, vulnerable, but totally and completely safe. Protected. Loved.
His body teased hers just before Nate slipped inside, joining them. He was gentle and patient. Moving slowly, carefully, like she might break, Jenna’s husband made slow, sweet love to her as the sun came up and she heard the horses tittering for their breakfast.
Sex with Nate could be hard and hot, steamy to the point of bursting, but this time, it was about being close—being one. Warm and loving, his mouth stayed near her ear and neck, kissing and nibbling at will, and Jenna melted into the sensations.
“My beautiful wife, I love you. I love you.” His voice, deep and sure, made her believe everything was going to be all right.
More deliberate with his movements, Nate brought them closer and closer until the climax took them both in a wave of pleasure. It wasn’t explosive or wild, but deep, warm, and perfect—just like their feelings for each other.
She missed him when he left her body, but stretching, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close. Staring up at his handsome face, his eyes looked green today, probably reflecting the morning light and the acres of meadows outside. He dropped a kiss on her lips. “I’m going to shower and get out there before Da comes looking for me. You sleep. There’s food downstairs for when you get hungry, unless Owen and Jason get there first.” Right. Owen and Kim; Jason and Meg and their kids—were sharing the guest house with them, something she’d forgotten about until Nate reminded her. “If that happens, you’ll have to go to the main house and Sally will make something for you.”
“Okay. That sounds good. I like Sally.”
“She likes you, too.”
“I love you,” she cooed. Lord, was it legal to be this happy?
Another kiss and a smile. “I love you, too.”
With that he was off to his shower, and Jenna started to feel like today could actually be a good day.
***
Nate walked into the feed barn, found a pair of gloves, and followed his father’s voice.
“Eh, morning. You’re late. Something hold you in bed?”
Nate felt himself grin as he thought of the soft, sweet-smelling w
oman he left a little while ago. “I’m not talking about this with you, Da.”
“You don’t have to. You’re looking rather pleased with yourself. That’s quite enough.”
“The lads in the next barn have watered and fed all the horses. There’s a big boy in the third stall whose feet need some attention. Had an abscess.”
Nate nodded and started out when his father clamped a hand on his shoulder. “I am happy for you son. She’s a lovely girl, and I know you love her.”
“I do, Da. It happened fast with the baby, but I’m glad we didn’t wait.”
“I can’t believe you’re going to be a father.”
“Me, either. And it’s gotten me thinking about things.”
His father was latching the feed bin so some resourceful pony didn’t eat more than he was supposed to. “What things in particular?”
“I think I’m going to leave Reliance.” There. He said it to someone who had a stake in his plans. Nate felt like he’d just jumped off a cliff.
“Interesting.” His father picked up an old bridle and fiddled with the straps. “What would you do? Based on what you told me about your finances, you could retire now, but I don’t think that’s where you’re going with this.”
“I’d like to focus on Kylemore. It’s what matters to me.” He went to the open barn door and looked out at the acres and acres of pasture. “I don’t want the pace that Reliance would require. It was never my dream.”
“Have you talked to Jenna about this?”
He nodded. “She’s supportive, but worried Jason, Owen, and Harper will blame her if I leave. She’s not wrong to worry. There could be a lot of bad blood.”
“Do Jason and Owen have any idea what you’re planning?”
“Nope. I’ve mentioned it in passing, but I’m guessing they don’t think I have the nerve.”
His father belly laughed. “I can’t believe those boys, after all these years, haven’t realized you have nerves of steel.”
“That’s part of the problem. I love them like brothers, but I’m tired of the assumptions. The expectations about where I fit in. The company’s getting bigger, Owen is the one at the helm, and he’s intense. Everything is a crisis. Me? I don’t see things that way, but when he’s got a full head of steam, I eat antacids like candy. They need a CFO who’s about the pressure. I’m not.”
