A Pregnancy, a Party & a Proposal

by Teresa Carpenter

  “Thank you.” He pressed his forehead to hers. Tension drained from him. “Most of the time I can bury the memories. But being back has brought up a lot of those old emotions. It doesn’t help that the gossip continues.”

  “Do you ever see Camilla?”

  “No.” A simple yet harsh statement. “I rarely come to the neighborhood.”

  “You shouldn’t let the past keep you away. Mamó is so happy to have you at the house. A few stray comments amongst friends are nothing to some of the stuff I’ve seen in the tabloids. If you were around more the gossip would fade away from natural attrition—which would be good, because you’re going to want to visit Mamó when you find a real fiancée.”

  Okay, that was too much. She stepped back. No doubt Camilla’s escapades would dwindle when news of Ray’s impending fatherhood got around.

  Should Lauren tell him now?

  No. It wasn’t the right time. She didn’t want him associating her news with the loss he had suffered in the past.

  “I’m not interested in another fiancée.”

  An arm at her waist didn’t let her go far. Long fingers traced the keyhole in her bodice. “Did I tell you how lovely you look tonight?”

  “You did.” And the desire in his eyes had repeated the message over and over throughout the night.

  She’d wanted to make him notice her, and she had succeeded, all right. To the point it had almost backfired on her. The searing weight of his gaze had followed her all night, and her body had responded with heightened awareness until she could barely concentrate. There she had stood, rubbing elbows with the rich and powerful, and she’d struggled to put together coherent sentences. Fortunately the fact that a friend of the mayor’s wife had heard of By Arrangement had caught her attention and grounded her in the conversation so she didn’t actually embarrass herself.

  The desire was back in his eyes now, burning brighter than ever, making her nerves tingle and her body heat. She much preferred seeing passion over pain in his sea-blue eyes. And, oh, he smelled good.

  She missed being held by him. So, with luxury surrounding her, New York lit up at her feet, and a hard man pulling her close, she surrendered her control.

  Rising on her toes, she kissed the hard line of his jaw. “Are you just going to look? Or do you plan to do something about it?”

  CHAPTER TEN

  RAY NEEDED NO further urging. He swept her into his arms and carried her to his room. Towards his bed. Oh, yeah. Satisfaction roared through him.

  The thought of Lauren in his bed touched off something primitive in him.

  Probably because it had taken so long to get her there. From the very beginning their sexual encounters had been steamy, exciting and clandestine. They were like flint and paper—sparking off each other until antagonism flashed to passion and they rushed to find the first private space available.

  He’d never had better sex.

  And it should have been enough.

  He wasn’t a possessive man when it came to women. Generally he preferred to keep things as unencumbered as possible, going to a hotel or to her place. He didn’t trust easily. Women were a pleasure, not a commitment.

  Rehashing his past had been like opening a vein: painful and potentially hazardous. What good could come of it? None, in his regard. He never talked about himself. Yet he’d felt compelled to share with Lauren. Bringing her to New York had probably been a mistake. Their closeness gave a false impression of intimacy.

  Tonight he didn’t care. He couldn’t get too close.

  Setting her on her feet, he sought out the side zipper he’d spied during his frequent perusals of her throughout the night.

  His hadn’t been the only eyes on her during the reception. The attention she’d drawn had caused a low level animosity to burn under his skin.

  She was his, damn it. Yet he’d also been proud to be with her. Smart, beautiful, poised—she was the total package.

  He kissed her, hard and deep, then stepped back. “Take this off for me.”

  A shy smile greeted his request—unusual for the confident woman he knew her to be—but her delicate fingers went to the alluring blue straps that had tantalized him all night. Enchanted, he perched on the edge of the bed, prepared to enjoy her performance.

  With a flick of her fingers the straps were loosened. A shimmy of her hips and the cobalt fabric pooled at her feet.

  Sweet, merciful angels.

  He sucked in a breath. It lodged in the back of his throat. She stood in nothing more than a black lace thong and mile-high shoes so sexy they made her pretty legs look like they reached clear to heaven.

  Being in her arms was as close as he’d probably ever get.

  “You should breathe,” she advised him, her confidence fully restored.

  She walked to him, all creamy skin and soft curves. Wedging herself between his spread knees, she started undoing buttons.

  “Your turn.”

  “I’ve never seen anything more beautiful than you.” He urged her down to him, kissed her lips, her chin, the side of her neck, working his way to luscious bounty.

  She hugged his head to her and he felt her mouth against his hair. In that moment he felt cherished. She always brought intensity to their encounters. This was different—slower, softer.

  They were different—no longer acquaintances scratching a passionate itch. She’d met his family, they’d traded secrets, slept together without making love; it was more than he’d had with anyone since leaving New York.

  And it was more than he wanted to think about. Time to stop thinking and start touching.

  Lying back, he took her with him and then rolled over so she lay beneath him, flushed and dewy-eyed.

  “You’re not usually so shy.” She linked her arms around his neck and smiled at him. “This is going to be difficult to accomplish unless you remove these clothes.”

  “I don’t want to stop touching you.”

  “Excellent argument. But it doesn’t solve our problem.”

  “We have all night, Dynamite, a soft bed, and no need to rush. Short of being evacuated, I plan to make love to you all night long.”

  “All night? You are feeling frisky.”

  “I’ve spent the last few nights with this lovely little tush tucked up next to me. But because of your rules I couldn’t do anything but hold you.” He surged to his feet and stripped off his clothes. In less than a minute he’d joined her back in bed. “Until now. Frisky? Oh, yeah.”

  “So...oh...you’re saying...uh...you cheated?”

  Lauren arched under Ray’s talented touch. He knew all her hot buttons and stroked them to maximum effect. True to his promise he took his time, building sensation on sensation, his touch in equal parts tender and demanding.

  He smiled against her cheek. “Every chance I got.”

  He did something with his fingers that stole her ability to speak.

  She tried to reciprocate, but all she could do was surrender to his erotic assault. She understood that he sought to escape the demons he’d revealed earlier. It had hurt to see him struggle through his vulnerability tonight, but no sign of it remained as he urged her with mouth, hands and body to mind-blowing responsiveness.

  He bit her earlobe, nuzzled behind her ear, sending tingles sparking over heightened nerves. Yesss. She happily sacrificed her body to help him through the night.

  * * *

  Lauren lay with Ray curled around her and stared out the wide picture window into the predawn sky. Even at this height she saw lights in surrounding buildings, heard sirens and other city chatter. New York really never stopped.

  And neither did her mind.

  True to his word, Ray had pleasured her well into the night. Her body was boneless with satisfaction. And still Ray’s story kept repeating i
n her head. What a tragic introduction to adulthood. How did someone do that to a person?

  She rubbed her belly.

  How did someone use another life with such capriciousness, such cruelty? It was unconscionable. And it made her question her own decision to withhold news of their child from Ray.

  No doubt he’d be upset.

  And he had every right to be.

  She might be carrying the baby, but he or she was as much a part of Ray as Lauren. It shamed her to remember how easily she’d dismissed his interest in the child because she hadn’t wanted to deal with her child’s father. How arrogant of her to think he wouldn’t want to be a part of his child’s life simply because he had a demanding career and a high-profile lifestyle.

  He said he loved kids, and the confidence and care with which he’d handled young Lulu proved his claim. Most men were afraid to hold a child that young. Not Ray. He had reached for her with genuine affection.

  Suddenly she longed for the day he held their child.

  The time to tell him had come.

  In fact she worried that she should have told him last night, but she stood by her decision to wait—to give him distance from the misery he’d relived. She couldn’t prevent the past from rising up when she told him he was going to be a father, but she could make sure he was in a better frame of mind.

  Today they would tour the city. They’d be playing tourist, but Ray would also be working. She’d be careful to give him his space, to watch his mood. And when the time was right she’d share her precious news.

  * * *

  A helicopter! Lauren wavered between being thrilled and terrified. Dressed in jeans and a black sweater under the red leather jacket, she let Ray strap her into her seat. Once he’d settled in his own seat, and they both had headphones on, she reached for his hand.

  “Don’t let go,” she implored him, not caring if the mayor’s aide heard from his seat up-front.

  “I won’t.” He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles.

  “What are you looking for today?”

  “I’m doing a futuristic police procedural. The story is set fifty years in the future. I’ll be looking at parts of the city with modern elements.”

  “Oh.”

  Well, boo. She’d hoped to see more than just architecture. So much for playing tourist. Still, it would be fun to see some of the other boroughs. And they were flying. Surely she’d catch a glimpse of something interesting.

  “Can we at least fly by the Statue of Liberty?”

  He squeezed her fingers. “We’re starting with the statue. What would a film in New York be without a shot of the famous landmark? Don’t worry. You’ll see plenty of sights.”

  The helicopter lifted off, the world dropping away beneath her. Lauren clutched Ray’s hand. They were leaving from the roof of their hotel, so they already had some elevation. For a moment the surrounding buildings seemed too close, but as the helicopter gained height they grew smaller.

  Her breath caught. The panoramic view stunned her senses with the sheer vastness of the city. She waited for the vertigo, but it never came. The wristband the pilot had given her must be working.

  “We have to land at Ellis Island.” The mayor’s aide, Felton Smith, a balding Asian American, addressed them through their headsets. “Helicopter landings are restricted at Liberty Island. A National Park representative will be there to greet us and take us over to the statue.”

  “National Park?” Lauren asked. “So it’s not run by New York?”

  “No,” Felton confirmed. “Coolidge declared the statue a national monument in 1924, and in 1933 Franklin Roosevelt transferred jurisdiction to the National Park Services. You probably aren’t going to want to film right on the island. Unless it’s integral to the plot, the view is better from a distance.”

  Ray nodded. “We’ll probably replicate the parts we need at the studio, but I like authenticity and it’s been years since I’ve been to see the statue.”

  Within minutes the helicopter began to descend on Ellis Island. Having the earth rise to meet them got to Lauren, so she closed her eyes, taking comfort in Ray’s hold on her hand. The bump of their landing was so skilled she barely felt it.

  A park ranger in a crisp green uniform stepped forward to greet them. Ranger Paceco had graying brown hair and a military demeanor. After introductions, he gave a curt nod.

  “Ms. Randall, Mr. Donovan—welcome to Ellis Island. How can I be of service today?”

  Ray explained his mission as they walked toward a pier where several boats were moored.

  Ranger Paceco stopped next to a speedboat. “Let’s take you over. We’ll give you the full tour.”

  Lauren looked longingly over her shoulder at the huge brick building housing so much American history. “Will we have time to take a peek inside when we come back?”

  Ray wrapped an arm around her waist. “We’ll see if we can find some time.” He glanced significantly at the mayor’s aide, who looked down at his tablet with a frown.

  The speedboat made short work of the trip between islands. It seemed longer because of the cold. Lauren snuggled next to Ray on the bench seat, thankful for his body heat and the red leather coat.

  From the shelter of his arm she watched the statue grow bigger and bigger, until she towered over their approach, a symbol of welcome and freedom. She was awe-inspiring. Lauren could only imagine how emotional it would have been to see her at the end of a cramped ocean voyage—the embodiment of a new beginning.

  The manicured grounds were immaculate—a sign of the respect and pride the rangers took in their care of the lady. The stairs spiraling upward seemed never-ending. But, oh, the view was worth it.

  The ranger gave them ten minutes to themselves. Ray whipped out his camera and started shooting, climbing right up to the glass.

  No way was she leaning forward to look down. Her heart was already pumping out adrenaline. But she could still see the city in the distance. And New Jersey on the other side. Spectacular. She took a few pictures with her phone.

  She admitted to being a homebody. She liked the comfort of having her things around her. Yet standing in a piece of history, with the world literally spread out before her, she acknowledged the appeal of traveling. Especially when you got VIP treatment.

  Thinking of Ray, she sought him out. Her heart jumped into her throat when she saw him pressed right up against the glass, filming straight down.

  “Ray.” She took a step toward him, then stopped.

  She wanted to leap across the space, wrap herself around his leg, and demand he come down from there. But the element of adventure was so much a part of him. She couldn’t hold him back by placing her fears on him.

  To ground herself she wrapped an arm around a newel post and eyed him anxiously.

  “Just a minute more, Dynamite.” His balance shifted as he bent even further forward.

  “Ohmigoodness.”

  The man had a death wish. If he didn’t fall to his death, she’d do it for him. She might anyway. And suddenly the world was spinning—not because he was falling, but because she was. Falling hard. For him.

  She loved this crazy, thoughtful, manipulative, brilliant, stubborn, funny man.

  Seeing him poised on the brink of a two-hundred-foot fall shot that knowledge home like nothing else. And—oh, goodness—the enormity of the emotion dwarfed all previous relationships. Including that dork in college. His name wouldn’t even come to mind.

  Ray filled her to the exclusion of everything else.

  “Hey.” Suddenly he stood in front of her, lifting her face to him. “I’m fine. With the glass, there’s no chance of falling.”

  “Tell that to my racing heart.” She wrapped her arms around herself.

  “It’s perfectly safe.” He held his camera
out to her. “And I got an incredible shot.”

  She didn’t bother to look. “Oh, that’s all right, then.”

  She pushed past him toward the stairs. He’d just become her whole world and he was doing things like testing the weight factor of the glass in the crown of the Statue of Liberty. He was going to get himself killed before he met his child.

  His child. Oh, heavens. She had to tell him. To wait another moment just seemed wrong. Except for the ever-vigilant Felton Smith and Ranger Paceco. You didn’t tell the man you loved he was going to be a father in front of an audience.

  “Hey, hey, hey.” He caught up to her, swung her into his arms. “I’m sorry.” He kissed her softly. “It’s so amazing I got carried away.” He tucked his camera in his backpack. “Here, come with me. Let me show you what I see.”

  He climbed up next to the glass and held out his hand.

  She shook her head. “I don’t think I can.”

  “I’ll have you.”

  He caught the hand she’d instinctively raised to meet his and pulled her up next to him. Vertigo rose, but he wrapped both arms around her. His firmness and strength surrounded her.

  “Okay?” he whispered in her ear.

  She nodded, her body tense in his grasp. “Don’t let go.”

  “I won’t.” Holding her close, he pointed. “That’s Queens. And over there is Manhattan. See the spire? That’s our hotel.”

  Cradled in his arms, she listened as he brought his world to life for her. Slowly she relaxed against him, enjoying his enthusiasm. He told her about his movie and she saw the wonder of his vision through his eyes.

  Paceco finally signaled it was time to go.

  Ray carefully helped her down. “Maybe it’ll cheer you up to hear that Felton has made time to visit Ellis.”

  She blinked up at him. She always focused on his need for control, but the truth was he could also be incredibly giving. He was sacrificing part of his siting agenda to let her play tourist. And the timing would work out perfectly. When they got to Ellis Island she’d pull him aside. As soon as she had him alone she’d give him the news.