A Perfect Trade (Harlequin Superromance)

by Anna Sugden - A Perfect Trade (Harlequin Superromance)

  The clock hands inched toward ten.

  Jenny moved closer to him, her fresh scent teasing his nose.

  At one minute to ten, her hand sought his. Their fingers interlocked. She turned to face him. Their gazes met.

  Unable to speak, he sent a message of reassurance with his eyes.

  Her lips curved into a tremulous smile. “I think it’s time.”

  He nodded.

  She didn’t release his hand as she dialed. They were put through to Sally immediately.

  Though Tru could hear the nurse’s voice, he couldn’t make out her words. Jenny’s expression didn’t change as she listened to Sally. His heart nearly stopped when Jenny’s grip tightened.

  Good news or bad?

  “Well?” he demanded, as she hung up.

  A beaming grin appeared. “We need to be at the clinic for eleven.”

  Her words didn’t sink in for a moment. Then elation shot through him. “It worked.”

  “We have two Grade A embryos.” Joy filled her blue eyes.

  Tru pulled Jenny close. She wrapped her arms round him, resting her head on his chest with a happy sigh. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

  “We did it.” He forced the words out through his tight throat.

  Damp seeped through his shirt. “I hope they’re tears of happiness.”

  She raised her head. “Oh, yes.”

  There was a moment of stillness, like the split second before the puck dropped. When players froze in anticipation, adrenaline forcing blood to race through their veins and nerve endings poised to explode in action.

  Then Jenny tilted her face up, as he bent his head toward her.

  Their lips met.

  His heart banged against his ribs as her tongue, bold and provocative, sought entry into his mouth. Her hands stroked up and down his back, then she twined her arms around his neck, drawing him closer.

  Their kiss deepened.

  His fingers skated over her curves, settling on her hips, holding her tight against his hardness. Jenny’s soft moan reverberated against his lips, sending tremors of desire through his body.

  A tug on the back of his polo shirt released it from his jeans. The coolness of air against his heated skin was quickly replaced by the fevered caress of Jenny’s fingertips.

  Not to be outdone, he slipped his hands beneath the edge of her blouse, delighting in the silky skin beneath.

  It wasn’t enough. He wanted to feel her against him, without any barriers. Bare skin to bare skin.

  Yet, as his fingers sought to undo her buttons, a vestige of sanity began to take hold. He needed to call a halt before they ended up doing something neither of them could handle right now. He eased his mouth from hers.

  She gave a soft whimper of complaint. Her lips sought his. Her hands held him tighter.

  “We can’t,” he said hoarsely.

  Jenny sighed. “You’re right.”

  “Not because I don’t want to,” he hurried to reassure her.

  “I know.”

  He waited for her to continue. To clarify.

  Her body clearly wanted him. But take away the emotions of what they were going through together...what then?

  When she slipped out of his arms, his stomach plummeted to the floor. “Just so you know,” she said softly, “it’s not because I don’t want to, either.”

  Her smile took his breath away.

  “We’ll get back to that, later. In the meantime, we should get to the IVF clinic.”

  “Yeah. Sure. Let’s go.”

  She was right. They could explore each other another time.

  He couldn’t wait.

  * * *

  A COUPLE OF hours later, Tru pulled back into Jenny’s drive and parked. “I can’t believe how fast that was.”

  “I warned you implantation would be an anticlimax,” she said.

  “Yeah. I expected something more...well, more.”

  As soon as they’d arrived at the clinic, Jenny had been whisked off. By the time he’d walked to her cubicle, she’d already been through the procedure and was being wheeled back in. Forty-five minutes later, they’d been sent on their way. As easy as a trip to the grocery store. Yet, during that time, so much had changed.

  Jenny was carrying his babies. Their babies.

  Wow! His heart jumped in his chest.

  “What are your plans, now this is done?” Jenny asked, as she unlocked her front door.

  He frowned. “To make you lunch while you rest on the couch and take it easy.”

  “That’s not necessary.” She put her hand on his arm. “I’ve done this before. I’ll be fine.”

  “As I keep telling you, this time I’m around to help.” He couldn’t keep the frustration from his voice.

  Was she keen to get rid of him because he’d outlived his usefulness, now that the embryos were in place?

  “You must have things you need to do,” she said.

  “I can’t think of one.” He crossed his arms over his chest.

  “You don’t have to...”

  “I know,” he interrupted. “But I’d like to.”

  When she bit her lip, he realized there might be more to her hesitation. “No pressure.”

  Jenny’s blush told him he’d guessed right. She was worried he’d want to rehash this morning’s kiss and what she’d said after. He wasn’t sure he was ready to go there right now, either. “We’ll have a relaxed dinner and a nice glass of wine. For me. You get a soft drink.”

  She laughed. “If you’re sure, that would be great.”

  “Very sure. Now, take a load off while I check the refrigerator.”

  He released a silent breath of relief as he followed her inside. Another hard-won step forward. It had taken skill, commitment and heart to win the ultimate prize in hockey. It would take all that and a whole lot of patience to win Jenny’s heart. Like the Stanley Cup, she was worth it.

  * * *

  “DO YOU FEEL any different?”

  Tru’s words reminded Jenny of when Harry had asked the same question. She rubbed her hand over her chest, trying to ease the ache there.

  Harry still hadn’t woken up, but the doctors were cautiously optimistic. His vital signs seemed to react to visitors, suggesting he was closer to consciousness than previously.

  Jenny had continued to stop by every day. Each time she entered his room, she hoped he’d be awake and complaining about being stuck in the hospital. Sometimes his eyelids flickered while she was talking to him—especially when she’d told him about her IVF—but nothing had enticed him to open his eyes yet.

  “Jenny?” Tru’s concerned voice broke into her thinking.

  She glanced up at him from her seat at the kitchen table. “I’m okay. Your question brought back sad memories.”

  Tru came to sit beside her. “I’m sorry. I’d forgotten Harry’s stroke was the same day as your last implantation.”

  “Perhaps the embryos taking will be the trigger to wake him up,” she said wistfully.

  “I’m sure he’ll come round as soon as you say ‘pregnant.’”

  “I hope so. The longer he’s unconscious, the more I worry that he’ll never recover.”

  “That would suit his kids, no doubt.”

  “Irving, for sure. He’s relishing his role as the boss. Makes me glad I’m not working there anymore. Felicia, though, seems to have really changed. She’s much nicer, even makes a point of meeting me at the hospital so we can visit her father together. She asks my advice on how Harry would like things taken care of. Makes me feel like I’m still part of his life.” Jenny sighed heavily.

  “You are. Have some faith. Harry will wake up and everything will be fine. In the meantime, let’
s focus on you. So, do you feel any different?”

  Jenny sipped her lemonade. If she told him the truth, he’d think she was crazy. Then again, after this morning, he probably thought that anyway. She’d laid one heck of a fiery lip-lock on him. Not that Tru had been a passive participant. He’d matched her lick for lick, breath for breath.

  Her body hadn’t been able to get enough of him—his touch, his taste, his heat. She was beginning to think her heart couldn’t, either.

  “I do feel different,” she admitted. “I feel...complete.”

  “Was it like that before?” Tru asked gently.

  Jenny swallowed hard and nodded; the pain from her miscarriage still sharp. “The signs all pointed to me being pregnant. Until that last day.” She took another sip of lemonade.

  “You don’t have to talk about it, if it’s too painful.” His deep voice soothed, as the warmth from his body comforted her.

  She shook her head. “You should know. It could happen again.”

  Tru reached for her hand. She let his fingers link with hers. The simple touch gave her strength, but her voice trembled as she told him about the cramps and the bleeding. “I knew something was wrong, but I hoped I could weather the storm. I couldn’t.”

  There was a moment of silence, heavy with emotion.

  He squeezed her fingers. “It’ll be different this time.” His voice was gravelly.

  “Different may not mean success.”

  “Doesn’t mean failure, either. You can’t think negatively. We assume...no, believe it will work this time.”

  No amount of positive thought would make a difference, otherwise fertility treatment would work every time. But she didn’t need to live under a black cloud, either. A sunnier attitude would definitely help the next couple of weeks pass more pleasantly.

  “You’re right.” She nodded firmly. “This will work.”

  He squeezed her fingers again, approvingly. “Can you really feel Gretzky and Orr?”

  A surprised laugh escaped her. “Who?”

  “Our embryos. We should name them after hockey greats.”

  “Why not Richard and Vezina? Or Crosby and Ovechkin?”

  Tru snorted. “The last two are too recent. Besides, you don’t expect me to name them after the competition. Richard was a fantastic goal scorer and Vezina a great goaltender, but a little before our time.”

  “Fair enough. How about Granato and Rheaume?”

  “They’re girls.” His lip curled like a schoolboy’s.

  “There’s a fifty-fifty chance of the embryos being girls. Nature’s funny like that.”

  “I guess you’re right.”

  “Would it matter?” She wouldn’t have thought he’d care what sex his kids were.

  “Nope. Happy and healthy is all that matters. Do you have a preference?”

  “Like you—happy and healthy.”

  “Then that’s what you need to visualize.”

  Those chubby-cheeked, green-eyed babies popped into her head again. She became aware of Tru’s thumb gently rubbing the back of her hand. Little fizzes of pleasure skipped along her skin. She’d like to blame it on hormones, but she couldn’t lie to herself.

  It was Tru. She was falling for him again.

  Not the best decision in the world. Nor the best timing. But then, nothing in her life ever seemed to happen according to the best schedule.

  What was the worst that could happen? They got together for a while, then broke up. She’d lived through that once and survived. She could do it again. It wouldn’t affect their plans for the babies. His visits to see their children would be uncomfortable, but then they would have been anyway.

  But what if she and Tru didn’t split up? What if they stayed together, got married and played happy family for real? Her heart thunked. Now, that was a whole different ball game. For her, for her babies.

  “What are you thinking about?” Tru gently captured her chin and tilted her face up.

  She couldn’t tell him the truth. “Wondering what the future might hold for Biscuit and Basket,” she improvised.

  He laughed. “You’re naming our babies after a puck and a goal net?”

  “At least they’re gender-neutral names.”

  “The kids will be scarred for life.”

  “I’ll give them proper names when they’re born.”

  Tru cleared his throat. “Uh, could I help you choose their names?”

  Even a week ago, she’d have bristled at his request, despite his humble tone. They were her babies. Now it didn’t seem such a big question. “The final decision is still mine?”

  “For sure.”

  “Okay. As long as you don’t insist on Wayne. I really don’t like that name.”

  “Me neither.” His voice resonated with gratitude.

  She yawned as the emotions of the day suddenly caught up to her. “The excitement has worn me out.”

  Tru released her hand and got to his feet. “I should go.”

  “Thank you for lunch.” She followed him into the hallway. “And for being there today.”

  “My pleasure.”

  It had been her pleasure, too. “About this morning...”

  He placed his forefinger across her lips, halting her words. “Let’s take this one step at a time.” His lips curved in a wry smile. “It’s not like we can really act on the...heat...between us until the critical date has passed.”

  Jenny couldn’t help a twinge of disappointment that he was able to push his attraction for her aside so easily. Perhaps she’d misread the signals. “Okay,” she said with forced brightness. “That sounds sensible.”

  “Of course, just because we can’t eat the whole meal, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t enjoy the appetizers.”

  Her heart thunked against her ribs. “It doesn’t?”

  “Uh-uh.”

  His head tilted toward hers. His finger traced the outline of her mouth.

  When she moistened her lips, she caught his fingertip with the tip of her tongue.

  His green eyes darkened; the only warning before he swooped to take advantage of her parted lips.

  There was no hesitation or teasing. He demanded and devoured. She met and matched every move, every touch, every taste. Her breath rasped in her lungs. The echo of her pounding pulse roared in her head.

  She wound her arms around his neck as he tightened his embrace. Breast to chest, thigh to thigh. Despite their clothing, heat seared everywhere they touched.

  It was too much, yet not enough.

  Vaguely, she was aware they had to stop. She didn’t want to, but this couldn’t continue to its natural conclusion. Not today.

  Tru must have had the same thought, because he wrenched his mouth from hers.

  She mewled her protest. His guttural, answering groan made her lower belly tighten. Spreading her fingers through his thick, dark hair, she pulled his head back toward hers. He succumbed for several moments, with a hungry kiss that weakened her knees.

  All too soon, he softened his lips, then lifted his head with a regretful sigh. He didn’t loosen his hold, instead pressed her head against his heaving chest. His chin rested on the top of her head. Her arms slipped down, over his shoulders, to wrap around his waist. Her fingers curled around the waistband of his jeans.

  Minute after minute, they stood together; the sound of their breathing heavy and uneven in the still hallway. Neither of them moving, except for the gentle, circular caress of Tru’s hands on her back.

  Gradually, her heart rate slowed, as did the deep thump-thumps beneath her ear.

  She lifted her head and met his slumberous gaze. “That was some appetizer.” Her husky voice made the words sound like a sultry invitation.

  “Yeah.” Tru grinned. “Makes you want to sk
ip straight to dessert, huh?”

  Jenny laughed and, blushing, disentangled herself from his arms. “All these food references. Anyone would think you were still hungry.”

  “I am. But not for food.” He stroked a finger down her hot cheek, then tapped it lightly against her swollen lips.

  The intense look in his eyes made her swallow hard. “I think I’m going to enjoy taking things one step at a time.”

  “Me, too.” He laughed. “If it doesn’t kill me first.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  “I’LL MISS YOU.”

  Jenny’s husky words over the phone made Tru’s body harden instantly. He’d hoped the intense workout he’d just put himself through would have prevented any reaction.

  Not a chance. “I’m sure you ladies will have fun without me.”

  Jenny was having a pampering night with Maggie and Tracy. He’d encouraged her friends to organize a fun evening, knowing tomorrow was the big day—pregnancy test day.

  Even though the signs were encouraging, he’d thought Jenny needed the distraction. Sure, he could have spent the evening keeping her very pleasurably occupied, but he’d wanted to do something special for her. So he’d left her giggling with her friends over nail polish, face masks and a movie about male strippers.

  “What have you and Jake got planned? There’s not even a game you can watch.”

  The Sharks had snatched the Stanley Cup from the Penguins, in Game 7, last week. He and Jenny had watched San Jose come from behind to tie the game in the dying seconds of regulation, then beat the defending champs in double overtime.

  The postgame celebration they’d had on Jenny’s sofa was more private than what the boys in teal had, but no less enthusiastic or passionate.

  Damn it—could he get any harder?

  He coughed. “Beers, baseball and pizza. What more could a guy want?”

  Jenny’s sassy laugh answered that question for him.

  His aching body agreed. “Yeah, other than that.”

  “You’ll be here tomorrow morning?” she asked anxiously.

  “Bright and early. Now, go have a good time.”

  “I’ll do my best.”

  Once he’d hung up, Tru stripped off his sweaty gear, tossed it in the laundry hamper and stepped into the shower. As he soaped himself, with the hot water pounding his tired muscles, he thanked God, the Fates, karma, kismet and anything else that might have helped him get this second chance with Jenny.