Nobody's Baby

by Carol Burnside

  “Ooh, that was mean.” She threw a baby carrot and hit him in the chest, a smile lurking about her mouth.

  Rio caught it on the bounce and popped it in his mouth, making her laugh.

  “Zach used to do that, except when it came to green peppers. He hates green peppers.” She looked away and shook her head.

  “And Zach is ...?”

  “My oldest brother.” She hitched one shoulder. “We’re sort of not speaking right now.”

  “Life is short. You should call him and make nice.”

  Her gaze locked on his with understanding. “I hear you, but enough about me. We’re supposed to be sharing here. Your turn.”

  “Nah. I’ve spewed enough on that subject.”

  “Not really. You expressed some frustrations, but I sensed there’s something deeper than that driving them.”

  Her probing made him antsy again, so he pushed away from the table and began clearing the dishes and leftovers away. “It’s not like we expected to find solutions. We’re just voicing concerns.”

  “Maybe so, but if you change your mind, I’ve done a ton of babysitting in the past. I might be able to calm some of your apprehensions. Better take advantage of my sage advice while I’m still around.”

  Well, hell.

  Rio halted in the process of returning the vegetable tray to the fridge as the truth of what she’d said hit him. Until now, he’d avoided thinking about how it would be after the baby arrived. All this flirty friendship and getting to know each other, while making the present decidedly more pleasant, was going exactly nowhere. In a few short weeks, Kate would be out of his life for good.

  Except it didn’t feel like a good thing in the least.

  * * * * *

  The theater inside Hawthorne House wasn’t huge but was perfect for family viewing, with two rows of four leather recliners arranged stadium style. The walls had been painted a deep plum with dark charcoal woodwork. The acoustical tiled ceiling was charcoal as well, but the real star in the room was the huge screen which took up most of the front wall.

  “Wow. I had no idea this was down here, or that this house had a basement for that matter,” Kate said once Rio had lowered her to stand on her own. She re-tied her robe to occupy her hands because every time he lifted her into his arms, she got all flustered and jittery and her feminine muscles clenched in a way that had nothing to do with pregnancy. Damn hormones.

  “Most houses in this area of the country have a basement.”

  “Yes, but for some reason I never envisioned one of this magnitude having anything so normal. Then again, this is no musty storage room, is it?”

  Margaret caught her comment and smiled as she came through the doorway, her matching gown and robe set fluttering over fuzzy slippers. “James loved this room and was quite the movie buff. I think you’ll find there’s a sizable library of films to choose from. Check out Allie’s selection of chick flicks, Kate.”

  A groan came from Rio, who’d come to the pajama party in gray sweats that made his eyes shine like silver. According to his mom, he probably didn’t own sleepwear. The thought made Kate a little too warm, though it was a few degrees cooler in this part of the house.

  “Let me guess.” The humor in his eyes belied Rio’s hands-on-hips stance. “I’m outnumbered and we’re picking the movie by democratic vote.”

  “You got that right.” Margaret’s smile smacked of smug before she turned and winked at Kate. “Come on, Kate, let’s take advantage of our majority.”

  “Kate needs to sit and put her feet up.”

  “Bug off, buster,” Kate shot back at Rio without thinking, using the casual lingo she often used around her brothers. “I’m not an invalid. I can stand long enough to pick out a movie.”

  Rio made a humorous show of backing off and settled into the nearest recliner with a chuckle.

  One thorough look at the films Margaret was busy pulling from Allie’s collection, and Kate saw a problem. While they were also wonderful romances, Return to Me, Ghost, Steel Magnolias, Sleepless in Seattle and The Notebook all had someone dying or recently deceased in them. Even in You’ve Got Mail, the bookstore had passed to Meg Ryan’s character because of her mother’s death. She grabbed a James Bond flick before Margaret realized the same thing. “Hey, what about an action film with eye candy for everyone?”

  “Ooh. Daniel Craig, buff and shirtless.” Margaret’s eyes took on a predatory gleam. “Good call, my dear. Mind you, he’s not Sean Connery, but he’ll do.”

  “Mom, please.” Rio made a sound of disgust but popped up to switch on the rear projector and get the movie started. “Secret agent with a fast car and faster women works for me. Don’t care who plays him, 007 is the man.”

  The sister of two 007 fans, Kate had seen this one at least three times. She took a seat, pushed a button to lift her feet and sighed as Rio dimmed the lights. Man, she had to be careful not to get too comfortable with all this. She hadn’t expected to feel at home here, but Margaret and Rio were such down-to-earth people that her reservations were fleeing faster than rats on a sinking ship.

  Reclined, content and with her tummy full, Kate fell asleep almost as soon as the movie started. She woke to warm lips pressed against her forehead followed by the quiet murmur of a deep, male voice. “Ah, Kate. This is pretty seductive stuff you’re throwing at me. I sure as hell never thought I’d be attracted to a pregnant lady.”

  It took her a second to digest what Rio was saying, then her pulse drummed a rapid tattoo. The faint scent of stir fry and warm, male skin filled her nostrils as she fought to keep her breathing shallow.

  She was in Rio’s arms. Again. But they weren’t moving.

  Parting her eyelids to mere slits, Kate recognized the plush comforter on her bed. Should she pretend to wake up? Before she could decide, Rio whispered, “You smell good.”

  It had been such a long while since she’d had honest male attention that Kate couldn’t hold back the smile that bubbled up inside. She tilted her head back so she could see him, looked up through drowsy eyes and murmured, “Thank you.” Her breath hitched at the passion in his gaze. “It’s been forever since I’ve heard such things.”

  “It’s been some time since I’ve wanted to say them. For both our sakes, you shouldn’t look at me like that.”

  She watched his mouth form the words, then lifted her gaze to his again. A warm flood of emotion covered any internal cautions. “Like what?”

  “Like you want me to do this.” Rio tightened his arm behind her, bringing her toward him. He leaned in, closer and closer.

  Kate had plenty of time to recognize his intent and put a stop to it. Instead, she stared at his mouth in fascination. Her lungs demanded more oxygen, yet her chest rose and fell deeper than before and her pulse pounded in her ears. Her body was the junkie, and Rio the drug.

  Her eyelids were drifting shut when her cargo fluttered awake inside her, bringing into rude focus exactly why this was a bad idea. She pushed against Rio’s chest to stop the forward movement and buried her face in his neck. “This is a really bad idea.”

  “Yeah, you’re probably right.”

  A strong pulse in his neck jerked against her forehead, letting her know he’d been affected by their near miss too. Oh, man. What if the baby hadn’t moved until after they’d kissed? Then she’d know what Rio’s kiss felt like, and she wouldn’t have to wonder.

  Kate sat up and grabbed her stomach as the little guy jabbed beneath her ribcage.

  Rio’s hand covered hers, concern in his eyes. “What is it?”

  Kate removed her hand, letting him feel for himself the strength of his nephew through her gown.

  His eyes widened. “Damn. That has to hurt.”

  “Not really. It was just unexpected.”

  His gaze flicked to her lips and back up to meet hers. “You’re sure?”

  Whether his question concerned the quickening within her or her previous comment that this was a bad idea, the answer was the same. “Yes
.”

  He rubbed the spot where the pain had occurred, his knuckle accidentally brushing the underside of her breast.

  Kate sucked in a breath as a fierce jolt of need shot through her.

  Rio’s lips parted, an apology in his eyes, but something in hers must’ve silenced him. He hooked a hand around her nape, tilted her chin up and settled his mouth soft and firm over hers.

  For a second neither of them moved. Kate couldn’t say which of them changed that circumstance, but the kiss caught fire. Her breasts ached for more of his touch. She turned into him, clutching at his shoulders with insistent fingers and mashing her nipples against him. They were ultra sensitive, and it wasn’t enough. She wanted to feel his big hands weighing, his strong fingers plucking.

  His rigid length pressed against her hip. A low keening sound pushed past her lips.

  His hand slid from her neck and covered one breast. She gasped against his mouth, breaking the consuming kiss.

  Kate’s eyes flew open, her gaze meeting his, smoldering hot. Oh, hell. She’d been acting like the sex-starved, hormone-driven woman she was. What had she done? “Rio,” she whispered. “I’m sor —”

  “Don’t say it, because I’m not. Not even a little bit. You’re … amazing.” His voice was a low rumble she could feel in her chest. “I can give you what you need, Kate. Let me.”

  “We can’t. The contract says —”

  “Shh.” He sipped at her lips as he lifted her off his lap and pulled her down across the bed. “Not that. Let me pleasure you. I can’t stand the thought of leaving you needy, knowing I started this.”

  He followed that startling offer with more kisses and nibbles along her jaw. Shoving her robe aside, he closed one hand over her breast. The first squeeze arched her back off the bed, and she no longer remembered why this shouldn’t happen. Covering his hand with her own, she pressed into his palm.

  Rio responded to her encouragement with masterful fingers, creating magic as he plucked and rolled her nipples while kissing her and ravishing her neck and earlobes.

  Need built in her with such a fierce intensity, Kate had to bite down on her bottom lip to keep from voicing her frustration. Just when she thought she’d scream if she couldn’t find release, Rio slid a hand up her thigh, under her gown and cupped her.

  She was writhing now, need lifting her hips, searching for friction.

  “Easy. I’ve got you, babe.” He pulled her panties to the side, plunged two fingers inside as his thumb pressed against the little throbbing nerve center above her entrance. A second later, his mouth nibbled at her breast through the thin silky fabric.

  It was all too much. Lights flashed against the backs of her eyelids as she gasped for air and her body rippled with pleasure. Again and again her inner muscles clutched at his fingers.

  “That’s it. Ride it out.” Rio didn’t ease up when she thought surely she would die from the overload of sensation, but shifted his fingers to her nerve center and rubbed against it. The tremors ebbed with the change, then amazingly began to build in strength. The delicious friction he created sent her over again. Rapture bordering on pain rippled through her with more force than she’d ever experienced.

  When cognizant thought finally returned and her ears quit buzzing, Kate became aware of Rio kissing her with little tender sips between murmured reassurances. He adjusted the hem of her gown back into place.

  Her heart squeezed with the knowledge that this could never be. What had she done?

  “Rio,” she sighed his name, needing to hear it, wishing she had words of appreciation for what he’d done. Then she opened her eyes and saw his struggle.

  He’d given her everything and took nothing for himself. “Oh, Rio.”

  He shook his head.

  She squeezed her eyes shut as his lips met her forehead for a long moment. In a rush of movement, he pushed off the bed and left her, the door stopping short of closing all the way.

  Chapter Six

  Kate heard the tap-tap of Margaret’s heels on the upstairs landing from her perch on the living room sofa. Because the press somehow caught wind of Margaret’s travel plans, she insisted a bodyguard and no one else would escort her to the airport.

  “Are you sure this is what you want, Mom? I don’t mind seeing you off.” Rio’s deep voice carried from upstairs, stirring Kate’s blood with memories of his touch.

  “I know, dear, but it’s not necessary. To tell you the truth, I feel like a celebrity having paid security as my escort. So let me enjoy my little fantasy. Now, if you’ll carry these bags to the car, I’ll go say my goodbyes to Kate and be right out to smudge your cheek with my lipstick.”

  Rio chuckled. “Sounds like a plan.”

  Anticipating Margaret’s arrival, Kate discarded her magazine and brushed a crumb from breakfast off her coral pink shirt. It seemed everything landed on the little shelf her belly made these days. At least the pregnancy finally allowed her to experience decent-sized boobs, though she wouldn’t want them to stay quite this endowed. They’d be a nuisance while running, but if they retained a smidge more fullness than before she wouldn’t mind.

  “Oh, don’t frown so at your stomach,” Margaret instructed as she approached through an archway, a bemused expression on her face. “I know how you feel, but this will all be over soon and it will be flat again.”

  “Unfortunately, so will my chest,” Kate spoke before she realized Rio was passing behind Margaret in the hallway. He turned a surprised laugh into a cough, nearly dropping a cosmetic case in the process.

  Kate blushed so hot she was amazed her hair didn’t turn red. “Ah. Whoo. Well, that was awkward.”

  Almost as awkward as having Rio come get her for breakfast this morning after what they’d done.

  Grinning, Margaret sank into the cushion beside her. With her came a delicate drift of rich perfume and motherly comfort, if such a thing had a scent. “Kate, you can’t know what a breath of fresh air you are. I’m glad you were here so we could get to know you better. Sometimes I think if things were different ...” She caught herself and shook her head. “Listen to me going on.”

  “If things were different how?”

  “Never mind, dear. It doesn’t matter.” She took a deep breath as if fortifying herself. “What I really meant to say before I go was thank you, for what you did to help my son and daughter-in-law realize their dream of becoming a family.”

  She stopped on a little indrawn breath and swallowed, her eyes bright and damp.

  Kate nodded and looked away from the raw pain on the older woman’s face, unable to speak around the lump in her throat.

  “They were never happier than in these last few months and that’s because of you.” Margaret’s voice was little more than a whisper now as she struggled for composure.

  “It was my privilege.” Her heart breaking for the older woman, Kate embraced Margaret. They clung to one another for some time before Margaret straightened and dug into her handbag for a tissue.

  Kate reflected on the truth of her response. Yes, she’d had goals in mind before agreeing to be a surrogate and those goals required the exchange of monies, but she’d gotten so much more. Friendships, the joy of a baby’s movement from within, the certainty that the course she’d chosen was the right one for her, even if she’d had to struggle with her emotional attachment at times. There was also the satisfaction from knowing she was doing something that would have deep, lasting impact on several lives. How could that not be a privilege?

  “Mom, you coming?” Rio asked as he entered the room. Seeing the tissue and reddened eyes, he approached his mother’s side with a concerned frown.

  She stood and squeezed his hand. “I’m fine, dear. Kate and I were just having a girl moment, weren’t we?”

  Kate cleared her throat and pushed to her feet. “Absolutely. Thank you for your hospitality, Margaret. We’ll call you at the first sign of labor.”

  Margaret embraced her again, this one more of a casual farewell before being
rushed out the door. Kate crossed to the window, intending to wave goodbye, but lowered her hand when Rio gathered his mom to him and her shoulders began to shake.

  It was a private moment that made Kate take a step back from the window. But Rio’s expression stilled her from further retreat. With brows drawn, eyes closed and his lips in a straight line, his face was a mask of suppressed emotion as he offered comfort.

  Who comforted him?

  It was a question she’d wondered about her father in the years after his death. Now that she thought about it, Rio was like her father in some ways. Both were strong men and assumed responsibility beyond that which might be expected of them. Because his expression made her want to be the person he looked to for solace, she turned away.

  Her empty cup sat on the end table, so she carried it to the kitchen, brewed another cup of herbal tea and sipped it while waiting for Rio. He didn’t come inside until long after the car doors slammed and Kate had finished her drink. Then he hurried straight to the office upstairs and closed the door.

  Grief was a strange companion, each person dealing with it in different ways and with varying degrees of intensity. Today, it seemed to have settled in at Hawthorne House and cast a pall over the entire structure.

  Between the emotional upheaval and her cargo feeling heavier than usual, Kate needed a nap. Since the stairs were forbidden and Rio hadn’t yet appeared, she pulled a plush throw off the sofa arm and lay down to rest. The quiet house was perfect for napping, yet no position she tried was comfortable. Lying flat made her back ache. Left side, she could swear the baby’s head was pressing into her bladder. Right side, she was turned facing into the sofa cushions and hung off the other side. With a huff of frustration, she sat up, stuffed a pillow under her lower back and pulled out the recliner to elevate her feet. Finally comfortable, she was wide awake with the sudden realization that she hadn’t felt the baby move all day.

  * * * * *

  A keen sense of loss kept Rio largely subdued throughout the noon meal, so it took him a while to notice that Kate wasn’t eating and kept rubbing her belly.