04 Reilly's Wildcard

by Anne Rainey

“Bathroom?” she asked, needing to escape, if only for a few minutes.

  Silently, Reilly gestured toward the hallway. She left him to finish getting dressed. Lucy all but ran out of the room. When she located the bathroom, she flipped on the light and stared at her reflection in the mirror above the sink. Her dress was all twisted and wrinkled. Her hair was a tangled wreck and her makeup was horribly smeared. “Lovely,” she muttered. It took Lucy several minutes to go from looking nearly sexed to death to cool and composed. She left the bathroom and found her purse by the front door where she’d left it earlier.

  Reilly waited with his keys fisted in one hand, apparently ready to take her home. “I don’t want to leave it like this,” he said when he spotted her. “I’d like to see you again.”

  “I think it’s best if we don’t.” She couldn’t get past the idea that he could think she’d be the type of person to sleep with a man merely to secure a job. That his mind had gone there, even for a second, rankled. She started to tell him she could call a cab, but they were interrupted by the doorbell. “Who’s at your house this late at night?”

  He shook his head, apparently as surprised as she was. When Reilly pulled the door wide, there was a tall, dark-haired woman there. She looked up and saw Reilly, then promptly flung herself into his arms.

  Lucy stiffened. A girlfriend? He’d said he wasn’t dating anyone. As if reading her thoughts, Reilly merely shook his head and enfolded the other woman in a tight embrace.

  There was something in the way he held her. Not like a girlfriend, but more like a…sister. Lucy knew Reilly didn’t have a sister, though. Whoever the woman was, she was clearly distraught over something. Reilly made hushing sounds as he took her into the kitchen. Lucy hung back. Now was the time to make herself scarce, she realized. With his attention on the hysterical brunette, Lucy slipped out the front door. She fished her cell phone out of her purse and called a cab. She was just getting into the back of it when Reilly sprinted toward her. He stopped on the sidewalk, his hands fisted at his sides and a frown marring his brows as the car pulled away from the curb.

  Lucy held the tears back for about half a mile; then she opened the floodgates. Damn it, why didn’t she ever learn? Men were trouble. Always had been, always would be. Stupid to think Reilly might be different. But the tenderness and sensitivity Reilly had expressed when she’d talked about her dad sprang to her mind, and her heart squeezed tight.

  “I’m an idiot,” she chastised herself, knowing now she’d read more into the whole night than what was really there. Wishful thinking. Someday she’d learn. Someday.

  Reilly watched until Lucy was out of sight before he headed back into the house. He slammed the door shut and mentally called himself ten kinds of fool. Damn it, he’d fucked that up but good. She’d been a breath away from agreeing to the entire weekend too. Right up until he’d opened his big mouth. He hadn’t known Lucy long, but he didn’t think she’d be the sort of woman to use her body to get what she wanted. Deep down he’d known that, so why the hell had his head gone there when she’d mentioned the singing position at the Blackwater?

  He was too goddamn suspicious, that was why. River was always telling him that. Too untrusting with women. It was at least half the reason he’d never had a serious relationship. The idea that he might never see Lucy again was unacceptable, though. One way or another, he’d track her down and force her to listen to him. He’d do whatever it took to make her forgive him, because he wasn’t about to let her go. Not now that he’d held her in his arms.

  Reilly had gotten to know Lucy a little tonight. She’d opened up to him about her childhood. He admired her for her strength, because he, better than anyone, knew how difficult it was to overcome a dysfunctional past. Not to mention the fact that she’d sure as hell had put him in his place. The stubborn imp.

  “I’m so sorry, Reilly. Did I just screw that up for you?”

  The soft, feminine voice tore him out of his depressing thoughts, and he turned to find Jeanette Munroe, his brother River’s closest friend in the world, standing in the doorway to the kitchen. Tears had caused her mascara to smear, and her face was entirely too pale for his peace of mind. Damn, River had done a real number on her this time. He needed his ass kicked, and Reilly was just the man to do it. Jeanette had the bad judgment to fall in love with River shortly after they’d met in high school. She was sweet, a little tomboyish and a few years younger. She was also a hell of a lot more innocent than River.

  Unfortunately, River was totally oblivious to Jeanette’s feelings. To him they were best buds and always would be. He’d always sworn that nothing else would ever happen between them. Jeanette deserved better, River had once told him. It was bullshit, and everybody but River knew it. Jeanette was good for him. She made him smile when no one else could. Damn if River would get that through his thick skull, though.

  Reilly strode across the room and took her in his arms. “Of course not. My big mouth is to blame here, but what else is new?”

  She patted him on the back. “You Jennings men do have a knack for saying all the wrong things.”

  He pulled back and took her hand, then led her into the kitchen. “Have a seat,” he offered as he pulled out a chair for her. “I’ll get us a couple of beers, and you can tell me all about my idiot twin.”

  After Jeanette sat, Reilly went to the refrigerator and took out a couple of light beers. He grabbed the bottle opener from the counter and popped the tops, then handed her one. He leaned against the counter and took a swig. God, he needed that. When he looked at Jeanette, Lucy’s half-empty mug of coffee caught his eye, and his gut clenched. Like a video playing in his mind, Reilly remembered the way Lucy had come undone for him. She’d been magnificent, every inch of her. He had to figure out a way to get her to talk to him, because he wasn’t through with her, not by a long shot.

  He shook his head and took another drink, then turned his concentration to Jeanette. “So, tell me what River’s done this time.”

  “I walked in on him with another woman.” She squeezed her eyes tight and muttered, “A redhead with huge boobs. Of course, he always likes his women stacked.” She looked down at her own chest and frowned. “Maybe I should get a boob job. Maybe then he’d notice me.”

  Reilly tsked. “No, sweetie, your looks aren’t the problem here. You’re gorgeous just the way you are.”

  She threw her hands in the air. “Then what is it? I’m about ready to throw in the towel. I’ve kept the torch burning for too long as it is. I’m not getting any younger here!”

  “You know as well as I do that River’s past is the culprit. He’s messed up from everything he went through when he was in foster care. The abuse. Hell, he hasn’t even told me all of it.” Reilly sighed as pain for his twin lanced through him. “If I could go back and change it, I would in a heartbeat. I’d keep River from ever meeting that abusive piece of shit, Larry Briggs.” He moved across the room and sat in the chair nearest Jeanette. “But I can’t. And until River deals with it, he’ll never be able to move on.”

  Jeanette’s voice broke when she said, “You should’ve seen it, Reilly. When I walked in and caught them—naked and going at it like rabbits on the couch, no less—I lost it. I told him he was a jerk and that I was done being his friend.”

  Reilly couldn’t imagine River taking that lying down. His twin would never let Jeanette walk out of his life. River might not be willing to be more than friends, but losing her entirely would break him. “What did he say?”

  “Well, after he put on his damn pants, he chased me out the door. He couldn’t figure out why I was so upset.” She threw her hands in the air. “Can you believe that?” She cursed. “He’s so dense, I swear.”

  “We’re in agreement there, but don’t give up on him, sweetie. You’re good for him. He just needs a swift kick in the ass, that’s all.”

  “And a wakeup call, if you ask me,” she gritted out as she took another drink of her beer.

  “So, give him one.
” Reilly’s mind spun with the possibilities.

  “Huh?” Jeanette stood and dropped the empty bottle in the trash and took out two more. “What do you mean?”

  Reilly grabbed one and shrugged. “Maybe it’s time you show him another side of Jeanette Munroe.” He looked her over, noting the baggy jeans and sweatshirt. Her hair was pulled up into a high, messy ponytail. She looked all of eighteen, young and innocent, which was at least half the reason River steered clear of anything physical with Jeanette. “Show him a…softer side.”

  She glanced down at herself, then looked back over at him. “I’m not soft?”

  Uh-oh, dangerous ground. “I just mean maybe you should sex it up a little.” He pointed to her jeans. “Short skirt, tight shirt. Wear your hair down for a change. Prove to my idiot brother that you aren’t just a buddy. Show him that you’re a gorgeous woman, with a woman’s needs.”

  A slow grin spread across her face. “Bait, you mean.”

  “Yeah.” Reilly bobbed his eyebrows. “But sexy bait.”

  “You know, I like the way you think.” She tapped her lips with an index finger and asked, “Why couldn’t I have fallen for you instead?”

  Reilly snorted. “Because I’d be putty in your hands and we both know it. Let’s face it, sweetie, you like a challenge.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Your brother is challenging, that’s for sure. He challenges my sanity on a daily basis.”

  Reilly stood, plucked the beer out of her hand and placed it on the counter. “Now that we’ve plotted my brother’s downfall, you better get your butt to bed.”

  “It’s late, sorry.” She took her keys out of her sweatshirt pocket and headed for the door.

  Reilly snagged her hood in his hand and brought her to a halt. “Where do you think you’re going?”

  She turned, aiming a scowl at him. “Home, where else?”

  “You’re a total lightweight, girlie, and you drank both of those beers way too fast.” He pointed to the other room and said, “You’re staying in the guestroom.”

  She shrugged and dropped her keys back into her pocket. “Suits me just fine. I’m too tired to drive anyway.”

  He gave her ponytail a playful tug and said, “Sweet dreams.”

  She nodded and started out of the room, then stopped suddenly and turned. “Thanks, Reilly. I really needed a friend tonight.”

  He winked. “Always, sweetie.”

  She smiled, then walked away. Now, if only he could get his own love life on the right track, he’d be in business, but something told him that Lucy was going to give him trouble. A whole lot of trouble.

  Chapter Four

  Present day…

  Lucy stared at the little plastic stick in her hand, willing it to change. But it didn’t. The little plus sign wasn’t going away. It was the second test she’d taken.

  She was pregnant. Reilly Jennings was about to be a father.

  The first thing she needed to do was tell him. This was one meeting she wanted to avoid like the plague. Damn.

  “My first and only one-night stand and I end up pregnant?” She glanced over and saw the empty bottle of antibiotics sitting on the counter. She picked it up, and a sick feeling took hold in the pit of her stomach. She’d had to take them for a tooth infection. Right about the same time she’d met Reilly. Antibiotics could sometimes interfere with birth control pills, right? Lucy remembered the dentist saying something about that at the time. She hadn’t paid much attention because she hadn’t been dating anyone then. “Crap,” she grumbled.

  She wanted to shout to the heavens at the unfairness of it. Fat lot of good that would do. “A baby. Whoa. I can’t be a mother! I can barely take care of myself. What do I know about babies?”

  As if it was a sign from heaven, the phone rang, giving her a temporary reprieve. She ran out of the bathroom and bounded across her bed to answer it on the third ring. “Hello?”

  “Lucy? Is that you? You sound out of breath.”

  Her sister’s soft voice came over the line. “Annabelle, it’s so good to hear from you.”

  “Same here. I miss you, sis. How’s things?”

  She thought of the two pregnancy tests but couldn’t quite bring herself to mention them. “Good. Um, things are good. You? The army treating you well?”

  “Yep, everything’s good. I just, well, I had some news I wanted to share.”

  Lucy knew that uneasy tone all too well. Annabelle got that particular uncertainty in her voice only when she had something big to tell her. She’d been the same way when she’d announced she was going to enlist. “Spill it, kid.”

  “I’m, uh, engaged. I’m getting married.”

  “Married?” Her little sister was getting married? Was it even possible? An image of Annabelle in pigtails running through the house screaming about a big, hairy monster under her bed sprang to Lucy’s mind. God, she suddenly felt really old.

  “Yeah, married.” Silence came over the line, and then, “Did we get cut off?”

  “Oh yeah. I’m here.” Then she realized she had to say something. “Damn, girl, you don’t mess around, do you? Congratulations!”

  Annabelle laughed, and Lucy heard a man’s voice in the background. “Justin says hello.” She laughed at something else, then said, “He says he can’t wait to meet you.”

  “Justin? I take it he’s military too?”

  “Yep. We went through boot camp at the same time. We’ve known each other for a while now. I think you’re going to like him, Lucy.”

  “My baby sister is getting married. God, I can’t believe it.” Tears stung her eyes. “Are you happy? He damn well better make you happy.”

  She heard Annabelle sigh. “I’m happier than I’ve ever been. It’s too much sometimes. I have to pinch myself to make sure it’s not all a dream.”

  “It’s real, Anna, and nobody deserves it more than you.”

  “Thanks,” she replied. “I love you so much.”

  “Don’t get all sappy on me. Christ, you know I hate that messy emotional stuff.”

  Annabelle laughed. “I know, but I just felt like saying it.”

  “I love you too,” Lucy said, her voice breaking a little. “When will I see you? Do you have any leave time coming up?”

  “I need to go, sis, but I have two days of leave coming up. I’m coming home, but then Justin wants me to meet his folks. I’m afraid I’m only going to be home for a day, because we’ll be heading up to his parents’ house in Michigan.”

  “I totally understand. I’ll take whatever time I can get with you.”

  After they settled on the details, they said their good-byes, and Lucy was left staring at the two pregnancy tests that confirmed her doom. Okay, not doom exactly, but what was she supposed to do now? Telling Reilly she was pregnant was bound to be a big bowl of cherries, considering she’d done her level best to steer clear of the man ever since their one night together.

  After her narrow escape from his house, he’d come knocking. And calling. Several times. As hard as it’d been, she’d stubbornly ignored him at every turn. Eventually, he’d given up. Her stomach knotted as she thought of how badly she’d wanted him not to give up.

  Now Lucy was going to have to search him out and explain he was about to be the father of her child. Most likely he wouldn’t want anything to do with the baby. Just like the mother.

  Crushing down on the sadness that threatened to destroy her, Lucy slipped the little pregnancy sticks in the drawer below the sink and went back to getting ready for work. She loved her job as a copy editor, but there were days, like today, when she’d really rather stay home and stew. She didn’t feel like dealing with the stack of work waiting for her at the office. She didn’t feel like smiling and making small talk. She just wanted to wallow in self-pity. Probably a good thing she didn’t have that option.

  She slipped into a pair of black slacks and white blouse, then pulled her hair into a bun. After checking herself in the mirror one more time, Lucy left the bath
room. Maybe sinking herself into work would get her to forget about babies and frustrating Jennings men.

  “And maybe hell really will freeze over,” she muttered.

  God, he missed her. Reilly had tried everything to get back in Lucy’s good graces, to no avail. Why he bothered, he had no idea. Never in his life had he been so obsessed with a woman. He kept imagining the way she’d looked, sprawled out on his kitchen floor, moaning in ecstasy with his cock embedded deep inside her. And just like that, his dick swelled and hardened. He had to shift around in his seat just so his dick didn’t feel strangled. Reilly wanted to curse, but he knew it wouldn’t do a bit of good.

  “What’s wrong with me?” He wasn’t the type of guy to pine away for a woman. Still, when he’d attempted to move on, to get over Lucy by taking another woman out, he’d only ended up more frustrated. His dick hadn’t wanted the cute blonde. It wanted to be back inside Lucy, where it was all snug and warm.

  “Shit,” he bit out and started to add the numbers all over again. At first he’d loved the idea of helping to run the restaurant. A night owl by nature, Reilly loved the fast-paced revelry that the Blackwater provided to their customers. But, he’d never counted on there being so much damn paperwork involved. He hadn’t realized how much went into keeping the restaurant afloat and staying in the black. How his dad had done it all those years was beyond him. Ever since Chet Jennings had passed away, Reilly’s mom had taken over the daily running of the restaurant. But when things had started to go south and she’d gotten in over her head, Reilly and his brothers had stepped in to help. They’d remodeled and expanded to the point where the restaurant was bringing in a nice profit for the first time in way too long.

  Still, as Reilly finished tallying the previous night’s profits, he did see the appeal in being a part of the family business. Of course, he liked his other businesses too, and he’d fought hard to be his own boss, setting his own hours and not having to answer to anyone but himself. It worked for him, which was why he was content to have a small part in the restaurant.