“Get back in here!” Luc ordered.
“Stuff it asshole.” She stomped across the street to where Patty and Keen lived.
“Ainsley! We are not done in here. And you’re going to catch a cold.”
She stopped in front of Patty and Keen’s door, turned around and threw her hands up in the air. “Go away, Luc. I’m a grown woman. I can take care of myself. And if I want to catch a cold, I damn well will.”
“That’s a great way for a mother to act,” he shouted.
Oh, he did not just say that. Ready to fly at him, she stopped as another wave of nausea took her to her knees, and she retched into the ground.
Luc was there in a flash, holding up her hair, but she pulled away from him.
“Don’t touch me again,” she groaned.
He stared at her as if she had five heads with horns.
The stupid man really didn’t have a clue why she was so angry. He wanted her to get rid of her baby. She held a hand against her stomach.
The front door swung open and Patty stood with a crying infant over her shoulder. “You two going to stand in the middle of the street and scream at each other all night? Since you woke up the baby, I might have to kill someone. Just sayin.”
Patty’s face tensed. “Keen get out here and take Luc back to his place. I need to talk to Ains.”
“He just lives across the street,” Keen yelled back. “I bet he can find his own way home.”
Patty stepped back to usher Ainsley inside. As she walked through the door she heard the sounds of a basketball game on the television coming from the living room.
“Here, get him out of the cold,” Patty ordered as she handed the crying baby to Ainsley. “The other one is bound to wake up anyway. They eat as much as their dad.”
She then shut the door in Luc’s face and poked her head into the living room.
“Keen. Outside, now!!”
The television shut off and Keen ran past Ainsley, only stopping for a second to kiss the twin she held on the head.
She couldn’t make out the words, but she heard Keen speaking in a low voice. Then she heard Luc bellowing and knocking on the door.
More low voices as Keen tried to soothe the bear.
Ainsley didn’t care. He could go—
“It’s impossible to kill someone while holding a baby,” Patty interrupted her thoughts as she led her to the living room. She took the child away from Ainsley and put him back on her shoulder.
Sitting down in the glider, she rocked the child.
Ainsley dropped down on the couch across from her and took a long deep breath. The sight of mother and child made her weepy. Some day that would be her.
“Oh, hell. You’re pregnant.” Patty said.
Leaning over, she tossed a box of tissues at Ainsley.
“How did you know?” She sniffled.
“Before I even knew I was going to have the twins I’d cry if I saw a mom walking her baby in a carriage. Then Keen brought home Chinese food, which I normally love, and I threw up all over him, the food and our kitchen. Keen’s a puke wimp and he started gagging. It was one of the funniest and most disgusting nights of our life. Though we can’t even smell Chinese food any more or it gives us the dry heaves—makes us great parents since babies do such disgusting things.
“Oh, and did you know I’m part fox? I’m not a full shifter like Keen, but I could smell what had happened when you were in the middle of the street. Shifter babies are no fun when it comes to the morning sickness. But it does get better after a few weeks. And I hear six heartbeats in the room.”
Ainsley gave her a weak smile. “Part fox?” Six? That meant twins.
“Yes,” Patty said, “I’m part fox, part human.”
Ainsley relaxed a little. Humans could obviously have shifter babies or Patty wouldn’t be there. She was glad she had someone to ask about carrying a shifter baby when the time came. But right now, the news was still too new.
“How long have you known?” The baby burped on her shoulder.
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Ten or twenty minutes.”
“Huh. Not really long enough to comprehend the reality of what’s about to happen. I’d imagine with everything you’ve gone through the past month that you were a bit distracted and didn’t notice any of the early signs.”
Not trusting herself to speak, she shook her head.
“I’m guessing the idiot across the street didn’t take it too well.”
Ainsley sniffled again. “That’s an understatement.”
“I’m going to ask something and I don’t want you to get mad.”
Ainsley sighed. “It’s his. I haven’t been with anyone else in years.”
“Well. What do you want to do Ains?”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“Do you want to keep the baby or babies, if my hearing is correct?”
“Of course!” Crossing her arms across her stomach protectively, she leaned forward. She would never think about getting rid of Luc’s baby. It was possibly the only thing that was left from what little relationship they had. His reaction to her pregnancy showed he wasn’t going to let go of his past demons. But that didn’t matter. No, this child would be cherished like no other.
Her friend smiled. “No doubts about possibly giving birth to a cub?”
Ainsley chewed on her lips. “Not so much doubts as wondering what to expect. I mean, could it be an animal?”
“Don’t worry. They come out just like human babies. We are human. The shifter part lies dormant until well into adulthood. If they ever do shift. Many don’t, and live their entire lives as humans.”
There was so much she didn’t know about this, but still she felt more curiosity than fear.
The baby chose that moment to burp loudly again before snuggling into his mother’s neck.
A fresh new set of tears fell to Ainsley’s cheeks.
“Dear God, how long does this crap last,” she complained, shoving tissues to her nose.
“Oh, the fun part is after the baby comes when your body and your brain just decide to have a party without you. Forget remembering things like your name. Between the hormones, the weird pains and the exhaustion, it’s like living inside an insane asylum where you’re the only patient.”
Ainsley laughed. “You make it sound like such a precious and lovely thing giving birth.”
Patty winked at her. “They snuggle into your neck and none of the rest of it matters. Even when they’re crying so loud it splits your eardrum, you just look at them with wonder. You created that little being. It’s the only thing that keeps you on this side of sane. That, and old reruns of Mister Rogers Neighborhood.”
Confused, Ainsley frowned.
“The babies love his voice even though they are only a few weeks old,” she said. “We all do. I caught Keen singing, ‘It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood’ just the other day. I still don’t like that puppet king guy. I didn’t trust him when I was a kid and I still don’t. Too full of himself.” Patty laughed.
“Is this some kind of show for babies I need to know about?”
“You never saw Mister Rogers? What kind of parents do you have? Ooops. Sorry. Keen told me about them and your brother. Leave it to me to stick my foot in it.”
Even though her family hadn’t been that close, she had always known they loved her in their way. Now she was sick that they’d never see their grandchild. Tears welled again, and she blinked them back.
“Hand me the remote,” Patty said as she stood up. The basketball game flashed back on and then she pushed a few buttons. A kindly gentleman in a cardigan started singing about penguins. It was so sweet and gentle, soon she was drawn into the magic of it all.
Yep, she was definitely going to have to get all of the Mr. Rogers episodes.
“You’re welcome to stay here for as long as you want,” Patty said. “We have a guest room, though it’s kind of loud around here sometimes.”
“You are the b
est, but it’s time for me to make my next move. I’ve lived in limbo long enough. I left my cell phone across the street. Do you have one I can borrow? I just need to make one call and I’ll be out of your hair in a couple of hours.”
…
“What do you mean she’s gone?” Luc bellowed when Ian returned from Patty and Keen’s house where Luc had sent him to get an update on Ainsley.
No, it wasn’t true. Ian had confused what he’d heard. There was no way for her to leave. They’d had a damn blizzard the night before. And her purse and all her things were still upstairs.
“Calm down old bear. Yelling isn’t going to do anything but make me twitchy.” Ian scratched the back of his neck, a clear signal he was upset.
This was a shock to them both. Ian lost his new friend and Luc had lost— he wasn’t sure what to call Ainsley.
His soul?
Luc grunted as he sat down on a bar stool and put his head in his hands. The woman carrying his child had left. Just like that. She didn’t even bother to say goodbye.
That’s the way she wanted to play it. Fine. It was probably best for all involved. They knew from the beginning this was a temporary situation. The baby was a just a complication.
He should be grateful she was gone. And yet…
Luc would do what was right. He regretted his reflex response to Ainsley’s condition. He’d support his child, even though there was a chance she wouldn’t touch his money. She could put it in a trust for the baby to use for college. At least one day his child would know he’d tried…in the only way he was equipped to.
Perhaps he should have been calmer when he realized what happened. Shouldn’t have said those hurtful things. Things he didn’t actually mean to say. But she might as well have hit him with a baseball bat.
Of all the things he thought she might say being pregnant was last on the list. How was he supposed to act?
Before he knew it, he was in the kitchen mixing up a bunch of brownies.
“I don’t suppose she left an address where we could send her things,” Luc said without looking up from the mixing bowl.
Ian cleared is throat and sat down on the stool on the other side of the steel table. “Patty didn’t say. Evidently, a helicopter showed up about four this morning, pretty much as soon as the storm lifted.”
“Huh.” Luc’s hand hit the side of the bowl so hard with the spatula that he cracked it. “Dammit.” Scraping the batter out of the bowl into another he stirred. This time he broke the spatula. Throwing it away, he grabbed another one.
Ian’s eyebrow shot up but one angry look from Luc and his friend turned back to thumbing through the motorcycle magazine he had on the counter.
“Guess I better get a lawyer or something,” Luc dumped the batter into a large baking pan and stuck it in the oven.
“Why’s that?” Ian asked. He followed behind Luc, taking out the brownies and setting the knob to pre-heat.
“Child support. I mean, she’s one of the wealthiest women in the world but I’m going to do my part. That’s my—well I have a responsibility in this too. I put it all on her but I was wrong about that. Takes two people to make a baby. Well, unless you’re doing one of those tube things that are so popular today. But I’m willing to support the child.”
“Big of you,” Ian said as he gently took the large butcher knife Luc was trying to stir an empty bowl with and stuck it in a drawer.
“No need for the sarcasm. I admit I didn’t handle the situation very well. She knows I have a temper and I never have done well with surprises. The baby will be better off with the kind of life she can give it.”
“Whatever you say.” Ian picked up the towel Luc left a little too close to the burner. A lit burner with nothing on it.
Wasn’t he doing something?
He stared at the pan of brownies on the stove. “I thought I put those in the oven.”
Ian moved in front of him.
“Sit down before you kill us all by blowing up something, you idiot.”
“What the hell has gotten into you?” Luc grumbled, but he sat down.
“For a smart guy, you’re making the biggest mistake of your life, Luc. That woman is perfect for you. She’s carrying your child, from what Patty said, maybe more than one baby. Children, you and I know you want more than your own life. Grow a pair and admit it. You fucked up!”
Ian growled, his fangs popping out from the intensity of his statement.
They stopped and stared at one another.
Luc was around the corner and had his hand on his friend’s shoulders. “It’s okay, breathe. Remember what makes you a man. You are one of the greatest men I know,” Luc said. “Remember that your humanity is what makes you—”
“Oh, shut it bear.” Ian took a deep breath. “I’m okay. I was just mad.” Ian held up a hand. “Thank you for being here for me. But I’m so angry with you I could rip your bloody throat out,” Ian snarled, his brogue growing heavy.
Luc turned away from his friend and headed for the back door.
“I fucked up,” Luc said as he opened to door. “And I’m afraid there’s no way in hell I’ll be able to fix it.”
Ian turned off the burner and the oven.
“Let’s take a walk.” Ian suggested. “Between the two of us we have at least half a brain. We’ll figure out something.”
Luc wasn’t sure about that. His world felt as though it crumbled around him.
Ainsley was gone.
Chapter Fifteen
“Do not cave,” Patty instructed over her cell. “Play it cool. Be pleasant, if you lose your temper, he’ll know you still care.” As Ainsley sat in her three-story townhouse about a block away from Luc’s bar in Clarksville, she waited for her assistant to show Luc up to the second floor where she’d added the offices. Over the last two months, she’d made more decisions than she had her entire life.
Everything she did, she did for the children inside of her. Marco, her second in command from her galleries in L.A., and one of the few friends outside of Clarksville she could trust, had flown across country to help her move mountains. The only thing that mattered was keeping her babies safe. She couldn’t do that in Manhattan or Los Angeles. Even with the bad guys behind bars, she wasn’t fully sure how far their influence might reach.
With technology, she could live anywhere in the world and still oversee her galleries, as well as keep in touch with the board of directors running her father’s many interests. Her father had always said one should surround himself with only the best, and he’d done that. After that first month, which was complete hell, she’d managed to get a handle on all that was hers. She wanted a strong financial basis for her children.
And she’d accomplished that.
She thought about living in L.A. or New York, but the mountains of Montana would be a better place to raise children. The air was clean and they wouldn’t have to worry constantly about security. Even though the immediate threat was over, there would always be people in the world who wanted to take advantage of her, and of her children.
She tried to tell herself this was the real reason she was back in Clarksville, but it wasn’t true.
She took a deep breath.
“I do still care though,” she said nervously as she hung up the phone.
A knock jarred her nerves further. She turned away from the door, preferring to face the blizzard outside than to see the father of her child enter the room.
But Luc’s reflection in the window sent her senses reeling. The stupid bear wore a suit. The crisp white shirt and black pin striped looked phenomenal on him. He’d shaved and cut his beautiful hair. It was no longer shoulder length. With his new businessman’s cut he could have passed for any broker on Wall Street. It was the first time she’d seen his face without some form of whiskers. As beautiful as he was, she missed the rugged man she’d fallen for.
She straightened her shoulders before turning to face him.
“Hello Luc,” she gave him a smile that didn
’t quite make it to her eyes. She almost put out her hand for a courtesy shake, but knew she would melt at his touch.
Waving to the couch, she said, “Please, take a seat.”
I can do this. Deep breaths.
Luc’s gaze never left her face as he stood just inside the door. “You look beautiful,” he said. It wasn’t so much the compliment as the reverent way he said it that nearly did her in.
NO. You can’t give in. This is the only way you’re ever going to know if he wants you because he thinks it’s duty, or if he wants you because he loves you.
For the two months she’d been away from Clarksville, she’d prayed it was the latter. It wasn’t like he hadn’t tried to get in touch with her. He’d come to New York several times, but she’d made certain she was busy.
But she knew her babies would be safe in a town full of shifters who could smell, see and hear trouble long before it arrived. So she was here, praying for a miracle. He didn’t know about the twins, but with his super bear hearing and sniffer, he’d figure it out.
Luc waited for her to sit before taking the couch across from her.
Disappointment that he didn’t sit closer filled her with grief. But she planted the smile she gave everyone these days on her face.
“Mr. Dixon, your lawyer, said you had matters you wished to discuss in private.” She lifted her chin slightly so she could meet his eyes.
Big mistake. The desire always just below the surface with the bear, was there in his eyes. Well, at least he wanted her body. Such as it was these days. She ate all the time, and her belly grew fast, but she’d lost several pounds. Not so much that the doctors were worried, but enough that they’d given her a special diet to make sure the babies received the nutrients needed for healthy growth.
She swallowed hard, and then dropped her eyes to stare at her fingernails.
“Yes, thanks for taking the time to see me.” He cleared his throat. “I—”
They were interrupted by the door swinging open.
“Miss—”
Marco strode in with some flowers and kissed her cheek. “Wait, is that him?”
He nodded toward Luc.
She rolled her eyes. The last thing she needed was Marco making trouble. He’d been furious with Luc for not accepting the twins right away.
Lions, Tigers, and Sexy Bears, Oh My! Page 12
