Jake broke off the kiss. He was losing his composure fast. He tugged down the zipper on her suit, only to discover that she was naked underneath.
“Goodness, woman, are you trying to kill me?” He stripped her, then took off his own clothes. He laid her down on the bed. “I thought I could wait…make this last all night, but…” He jerked open the drawer beside the bed and tore open a foil packet.
Ali laughed. “I want you, Jake. Hurry.”
He came back to her, kissing her fervently as his hand moved to her breasts, first one, then the other. Finally he drew her nipple into his mouth. She moaned and arched off the bed. He didn’t stop the sensual assault as he went to her other breast and adored it also.
“Please, Jake,” Ali cried, urging him over her.
Her own hands were busy roaming over his chest, causing his muscles to jump at her erotic touch. He shuddered as she stroked him. He nearly lost it, but refused to tell her to stop the sweet torture. He’d never felt like this before. His whole body was flooded with emotions, a burning need to give everything to this woman. He wanted to shelter and protect her, to always keep her safe, but mostly he just wanted to love her.
His breath rasped in and out of his lungs until he couldn’t take any more. He slid his hand down and pushed her legs apart, then rose over her. Ali opened willingly, and he thrust inside her. A throaty moan escaped her lips, and she wrapped her legs around his waist as he began to move.
Ali began to writhe, her body lifting to his as she whispered his name. A sweat broke out across Jake’s shoulders as he pumped slowly, drawing out the pleasure for both of them, then thrust powerfully, deeply into her. Suddenly she tensed and came apart in his arms.
Jake’s climax followed hers, and a rush of sensation took over his body, filling him with a pleasure he’d never experienced before. He groaned out her name in release, then he buried his head next to hers as the aftershocks surged through his body. Later, still gasping for air, he rolled to his side and pulled her over to lie on top of him.
“Ali,” he breathed against her ear. “It’s never been like this before.”
Ali raised her head and brushed back her hair. “I’m glad. A woman likes to think she can keep her husband happy.”
Jake hugged her again. “Oh, Ali. You more than make me happy.”
It was six o’clock on Christmas morning, and Ali was slow to get up. She hadn’t made it upstairs to her own bed until after 3:00 a.m.
A smile crossed her lips as she sat up and glanced at the sparkling engagement ring on her finger. A shiver of excitement raced through her. Jake Hawkins was going to marry Ali Pierce. It seemed impossible, but it was true. They were going to have a life together—her, Jake and Joanie. The family she’d always dreamed about, and with the man she’d always loved.
Ali felt almost giddy as she slipped her robe on and walked across the hall to the nursery, hearing her daughter’s familiar morning chatter. She stopped in surprise to find Jake at the dressing table already changing Joanie’s diaper. She leaned against the doorjamb and checked out the view of her man.
Jake was dressed in a dark T-shirt that outlined broad shoulders and muscular arms. Memories of the previous night flashed through Ali’s head, how her fingers had traced over the slick skin of his chest, then her tongue….
Her breath quickened, and her gaze moved to enjoy the firm curve of his buttocks encased in a pair of jeans, the seam in the left leg split to accommodate his plastic cast. She smiled and a warm feeling swept through her body. Jake’s bad leg hadn’t hampered his movement whatsoever.
“Say Da…da…” Jake repeated to his daughter. “Da…”
Joanie continued to chatter, but nothing sounded remotely like the word daddy.
“Looks like you’re up bright and early,” Ali said as she walked inside.
He glanced over his shoulder and smiled. “Good morning, Ali-cat. Hope you slept well,” he said, then finished the job of snapping his daughter’s pajamas.
Ali went to the changing table and wrapped her arms around his waist. “You know how I slept, since I spent most of the night beside you,” she whispered against his ear, and felt him shiver.
He picked up Joanie and turned around. “I don’t recall that we did much sleeping last night.” He tossed her that sexy grin she loved so much.
“I know.” Ali pressed her lips against his. “I like not sleeping with you.” She sighed. “You are an incredible man.”
“And you are a beautiful and incredible woman.”
Joanie started making impatient noises.
“Maybe we better take this one downstairs and feed her.”
Jake kissed Ali’s ear. “I know what I’d rather do.”
This time Ali shivered. “Maybe later.” She looked into his dark eyes and saw his desire. “Definitely later.”
“I like how you think, lady.”
Ali tugged at his arm. “C’mon. I want to see what Santa left. Right, Joanie?”
All three went downstairs and found Gran June in the kitchen making breakfast. She turned from the stove as Ali came across the room and kissed her. “Merry Christmas, Gran.”
The older woman returned the kiss. “Merry Christmas, honey.” She went to her grandchild and kissed her, then reached up and planted one on Jake’s cheek. “Now sit down and we’ll have some breakfast before we open the presents.”
Jake put Joanie in the high chair, then pulled Ali next to his side. “We’ll eat, but first there is something that we’d like to tell you.”
Ali felt her heart race. What if Gran didn’t accept the idea?
“Ali and I are getting married,” Jake announced.
A slow smile crossed Gran June’s mouth as Ali showed off her diamond ring. “Well, it’s about time,” she said, giving hugs all around. “When is the event going to take place?”
Ali gasped. “Oh, gosh. We hadn’t talked about setting a date.”
“Soon,” Jake said. “Definitely soon.”
Ali wanted to be Mrs. Jake Hawkins as soon as possible, too. “How about right after you get the cast off?”
Jake stared down at his booted foot. “You know, Ali, I’ll more than likely be limping for a long time.” His forehead creased in worry. “Maybe always. Will that bother you?”
Ali saw the questioning look in his eyes. “It doesn’t matter, Jake.” Didn’t he realize that she loved him so much that nothing as trivial as a limp could ever change that? She felt the tears well in her eyes, remembering the sight of him in a coma. “We almost lost you, Jake. A slight limp isn’t going to stop this wedding.”
Jake took her into his arms and kissed her. “I don’t know how I got so lucky to find you.”
Ali swallowed hard, wondering if he would ever come to love her someday. “I’ve been here all the time.”
When everyone finished breakfast, they started into the living room just as the doorbell rang. Ali opened the door to find Cliff carrying an armload of gifts.
“Oh, my, a man bearing gifts. Something a woman can’t resist.”
“I hope you don’t mind, but I wanted to stop by to see Joanie open her presents.”
“Of course. Come in,” Ali said as she guided Cliff into the room where Joanie had already begun tearing open packages.
When the little one spotted her grandfather, she crawled toward him. Cliff got down on the floor, and then handed her more presents to unwrap. He gave one to everyone else in the room.
Ali went to the tree and reached for the gift that she had bought for Jake. Nervously she gave it to him.
He ripped it open to find a beautiful antique frame with a recent photo of her and Joanie. “You had this done for me?”
Ali nodded. “You’re really hard to buy for.” She handed him another package.
“You didn’t have to get me anything, Ali.” He opened a new wallet complete with a different picture of them.
She blushed. “I kind of went with a theme here.”
“I love it all.” He
leaned closer. “But the best present you’ve given me was agreeing to be my wife.”
“Oh, Jake.” She kissed him tenderly, then whispered, “I think you should tell your father that we’re engaged.”
Jake didn’t look happy, but he relented. “Dad, Ali and I have something to tell you.”
Cliff raised an eyebrow. “What’s that, son?”
“We’re getting married.”
Ali raised her hand and showed off her new engagement ring.
Cliff smiled. “This is great.” He got up, shook his son’s hand and hugged Ali. “Welcome to the family.”
Just then they heard the front door open. Everyone turned around.
“Who’s there?” Gran June called out.
Ali gasped as she saw who rushed into the room.
“Surprise, everyone. It’s me, Darcie. I’m home.”
Chapter Eleven
Total silence swept the room. All except for the loud drumming of Ali’s heart as she watched her twin sister make a grand entrance.
Darcie Pierce was dressed in a jade-colored business suit. Her skin was flawless underneath perfectly applied makeup. Her hair was cut in a sophisticated style that touched just below her chin.
“Well, isn’t anyone going to say anything?” Darcie pouted.
Ali was jolted out of her daze and jumped up. She followed her grandmother and hurried to greet her sister.
Gran June hugged her other granddaughter. “Why didn’t you tell us that you were coming home?”
“I didn’t know, Gran,” Darcie said. “I only found out just an hour before I caught the red-eye out of New York.”
With a plastered-on smile, Ali stepped up. “Hello, Darcie.”
“Hi, sis.” Darcie returned the hug, but was distracted by Jake on the sofa. They eyed each other for what seemed like an eternity, then finally Darcie said, “Hello, Jake.”
Jake stood. “Hi, Darcie,” he answered in a cool tone.
“I’m sorry about your accident.” Her gaze drifted to his leg. Darcie crossed the room and sat down on the sofa next to Jake. She reached out and touched his arm. “Ali said you were doing just fine, though.”
He nodded. “My cast will be coming off in a few weeks.”
Darcie’s attention lingered on Jake, and Ali could see there was something still between them. Old memories flashed in Ali’s head. She recalled seeing the same looks exchanged many times over the years. How could she forget Jake and Darcie had a history together?
Suddenly Joanie began making noises from her spot on the floor, causing Darcie to notice her. “Oh, my gosh. This must be little Joanie.”
Ali’s heart began to pound in panic. Before she could stop her, Darcie went to the child. For once, Joanie played shy and started to fuss, then crawled to her mother.
Ali hurriedly picked up her daughter, and explained, “Joanie’s had a busy morning. I’ll make her a bottle and get her cleaned up so she can visit with you.” Ali had to struggle to keep the trembling out of her voice. “And we can visit, too. It’s been a long time.”
“Too long,” Darcie agreed as her gaze went to Jake. Ali’s heart sank. Suddenly Ali felt as if her whole world were suddenly falling apart. Darcie was back. Was she going to assert a claim on Jake?
An hour later, Ali had run out of excuses to stay upstairs and came down with Joanie. Her daughter had been bathed and dressed in her new red velvet dress, white tights and black patent leather shoes. A red bow adorned her short dark hair.
Ali had also taken extra care with picking out her own outfit, choosing her black wool slacks and hunter green sweater. She’d taken the time to French braid her hair and put on small pearl earrings.
She went into the kitchen and found Gran June and Cliff seated at the table, drinking coffee. She glanced around nervously, relieved to see they were alone. She walked to the playpen, set Joanie down in the middle of her toys, then turned and glanced out the window at the half inch of fresh snow on the ground. The sky was a clear blue, and the sun was already warming things up. A perfect Christmas day. Ali’s heart sank, and she felt near tears. It wasn’t perfect for her.
She looked at her grandmother. “Where’s Darcie?” she asked, suspecting she didn’t want to know the answer.
Gran June got up from the table and went to Ali. “Darcie and Jake had to face each other sooner or later. It’s best they finish the business between them, so everyone can move on.”
But were they going to move on together? Ali didn’t want to spend the day wondering if Jake and Darcie could have something still between them.
“I know, Gran. But why did Darcie have to come back today?” Ali said angrily. “Things were so perfect.”
“Then it shouldn’t matter that Darcie’s here.”
Ali knew that should be true, but Darcie had been notorious for making trouble—and getting her way.
The scraping of the kitchen chair reminded Ali that Cliff was in the room.
“I think I’ll be leaving. I needed to drop off some presents.” He smiled. “But I’ll be back for dinner.” He hugged Gran June, then walked over to Ali. “Trust your love for my son. Things will work out, Ali.”
She nodded, but didn’t share his optimism. “Thanks, Cliff. And thanks for the presents.”
“You’re welcome.” He said his goodbyes, then saw himself out.
Ali looked to her grandmother and started to speak when Joanie pulled herself up to a standing position by holding on to the side of the playpen. She cried for her mother.
Ali went and picked her up. “What will I say about Joanie?”
“Honey, if you and Jake are to have a future together, you have to stop running from your sister. Darcie’s coming home is probably the best thing that could have happened. Your sister should have been told about Joanie a long time ago.”
“Why?” Ali asked defensively. “Darcie’s the one who ran off to New York. Never once did she come home in the last nineteen months. She didn’t try to find out about Jake, or about his accident.” Ali felt her voice tremble. “And now she decides to show up, thinking…” She looked at her grandmother. “She must be coming back to Jake. But why now?”
Gran June reached out and stroked Ali’s cheek. “Oh, honey. You don’t know that. Besides, if you and Jake truly love each other, your sister coming back isn’t going to change anything, no matter what she had in mind.”
Ali blinked at tears. She refused to cry. “That’s just the problem, Gran. Jake doesn’t love me. He’s marrying me because of Joanie.” Ali turned abruptly and walked out. She couldn’t bear to be the recipient of Gran’s pity.
In the living room, Ali put Joanie down to play with her new toys, then sat on the sofa and stared at the huge decorated tree. The smell of pine filled the air, and the lights still sparkled as they had last night when Jake had held her in his arms and asked her to marry him. Later, when he’d made sweet love to her, he’d promised they’d have a wonderful life. Together.
Why did it suddenly feel as if it had all been a dream? And why did she feel so damn guilty, as though Boyfriend Stealer were imprinted across her forehead in scarlet letters? Ali stared down at her diamond ring. The dream had been shattered when Darcie had walked through the door.
She hugged herself protectively as she watched her daughter play contentedly with her colorful blocks, and gave in to her misery. “Oh, Jake. Darcie is going to hate us both.” Her grandmother was right. She should have told Darcie—and Jake—about Joanie a long time ago.
Suddenly the front door opened, and Jake’s and Darcie’s voices echoed through the hall. Swallowing her panic, Ali stood as the two walked into the room. They were both smiling, and their faces were flushed from the cold.
Her sister pulled off her gloves, stuck them in her pockets, then slipped off her coat. Jake took it from her and hung it on the hook in the hall.
“Oh, Ali. Jake’s been filling me in on what’s been going on the past few months.” Darcie’s eyebrow raised. “He said you came to the
hospital every day.”
Ali shot Jake a look as he stood leaning on his cane. She knew immediately that he hadn’t told Darcie about Joanie.
It didn’t matter, though, since their daughter handled the matter herself. The ten-month-old crawled over to Jake and pulled herself up by grabbing his pant leg, then raised her tiny hand, crying to be picked up.
“Da…da…da,” her soft voice cried.
Both Ali and Darcie jerked their attention toward Jake as he reached down and swung Joanie up into his arm.
Jake’s eyes lit up with joy. “Did you hear that, Ali? She said, ‘Dada.’”
Darcie smiled. “Isn’t that cute. Joanie thinks you’re her father.”
Dead silence reigned.
Suddenly Darcie tensed, her gaze darting back and forth between Jake and her niece. She was seeing the resemblance, too.
“Darcie,” Jake said softly. “Joanie calls me Dad because I’m her father.”
Ali watched as her sister’s face suddenly went pale. Her twin’s throat worked nervously, but no words came out.
Finally Darcie managed to choke out, “But that…can’t be. You and Ali…” She swung around to Ali, and her green eyes flared in anger. “You. You went to bed with my man?”
Jake moved to Ali’s side. “No, Darcie. Ali did nothing wrong. You and I were no longer together. Remember, you walked out on our wedding.”
Darcie turned back to Jake. “But I wrote you a letter and explained.”
“If you did, I never got it.” Jake shook his head. “But, Darcie, I deserved more than a letter. You owed me the courtesy of speaking to me in person.”
“So because I didn’t come and apologize,” Darcie said, “you went to my sister and used her as my replacement?”
Ali felt as if a knife pierced her chest. It was all she could do not to cry.
Jake raised a hand. “I didn’t use Ali as anyone’s replacement. You left me, Darcie, then I discovered Ali. But nothing happened between us while you and I were together.”
Baby, Our Baby! Page 16
