Loving Laney

by Evans, Harmony

  “What’s all the commotion about?” he roared, scratching at his chin. “You boys sound like two drunk roosters crowing at dawn.”

  “Wiki-what?” Steven asked, knitting his brows in confusion.

  Both of his sons roared even harder in amusement at their grandfather’s witticisms and their father’s lack of internet knowledge.

  Steven whistled through his teeth. “Listen, Wes. I know you just got back from God-knows-where and, Jameson, you’re still high on life from your honeymoon, but, boys, this is no time for jokes. Right, Laney?”

  She turned toward Gwendolyn, who was still sitting silently, a grim look on her face. Their eyes met and Laney saw that not only did her mother sense what was going on, she was very disappointed.

  Laney’s heart sank, her anger at her brothers chased away by her mother’s disapproval.

  “You’re right. This isn’t the time for jokes,” she replied quietly, never taking her eyes away from Gwen. “Especially when there’s a child at stake.”

  Her mother covered her hand with her mouth and looked like she was about to cry.

  Steven slammed his fist on a small table behind the sofa and tried to smooth out the wrinkles in the newspaper, as if by doing so he could erase the words that could destroy everything he, his father and his great-grandfather, Silas Broward, had built over the past one hundred years.

  Jameson slipped his phone back into his pocket. He and Wes looked at each other guiltily, and then at their mother, who continued to frown and say nothing. Grandpa Charles whistled low and slumped against the wall.

  And the only sound in the room was the gentle whir of the ceiling fans ten feet above their heads, as her father tried to change what could never be undone.

  “I can explain,” Laney said quietly. She stared down at the polished wood floors, barely breathing.

  Her father looked up from the wrinkled newspaper. “You better,” he replied through gritted teeth. His brows knit together and Laney could see that he was struggling not to shout. “Because we all deserve to know.”

  “Go ahead, honey,” her mother urged, her voice remarkably steady. “We’re all listening.”

  Laney took a deep breath and willed herself not to cry. She had to stay strong for herself and her baby.

  “What the paper says is true. I’m pregnant.”

  “Oh, my Lord,” Gwendoyln uttered. Her eyes slid shut at the pain she heard in her daughter’s voice.

  Steven crumpled up the paper again, this time using both fists.

  “Well. I’ll. Be. Damned.”

  Wes elbowed Jameson. “So little miss perfect finally got herself knocked up.”

  “Yeah,” Jameson snorted. “The only question I have is, who’s the baby daddy?”

  Laney whipped around on her heels and stared at her brothers in disbelief at their reaction to her uncomfortable announcement. Gwendolyn clapped her hands, the sound so loud it echoed in the high-ceilinged room.

  “Boys! I’m ashamed of you.” She spoke sharply, but somehow managed not to raise her voice. “I know this news is a huge shock to all of us, but this is my house and we’re still going to talk to each other and treat each other with respect.”

  “Well said,” Grandpa Charles asserted with a stern glare at his grandsons.

  Her brothers hung their heads in shame. “Sorry, Mama,” each muttered, one after the other.

  Laney knew that deep down, Wes and Jameson loved her. They just never realized how much their teasing could hurt, and she knew that they probably never would.

  Steven dumped the paper into a nearby trash can. “Well, Laney, should I call the lawyers and have them switch from pursuing a libel suit to chasing a paternity suit? Or are you going to tell us who the father is?”

  Laney froze. She knew that her parents had the right to know that Austin was the father of her baby. She even pursed her lips, but was unable to gather the strength to form his name. She knew it was silly, but uttering Austin’s name aloud to her family would somehow make the one night they’d spent together feel cheap. When in reality their lovemaking was anything but meaningless, at least to Laney.

  Gwendolyn stood and walked over to her daughter.

  “Let Laney speak. You’re not giving her a chance to tell us what’s going on.”

  She held out her hand and Laney took it, feeling like a little girl, wanting and needing her mother’s love. They walked over to the sofa and sat down.

  “Now, how far along are you?”

  Laney slipped her hand away, suddenly ashamed.

  “Four months. The picture in the newspaper must have been taken after my last appointment with Dr. McCreedy.”

  “Why didn’t you tell us?” Gwen put her arm around her shoulders, and Laney felt like crying again.

  “I wanted to, Mom. I really did,” she choked out, struggling to keep her emotions encased in her heart.

  “But with Wes and Lydia’s engagement, and then Jameson and Brooke’s wedding, plus everything else going on, it never seemed like the right time.”

  She looked into her mother’s eyes, pleading with her to understand. “I’m sorry you had to find out like this. I’m sorry that I brought all this trouble and—”

  Her words were cut off by the sound of the doorbell and everything stopped. Except the guilt. It reverberated throughout Laney’s body, like a harsh, recurring chime, an ache of warning.

  “Are you expecting anyone, Gwendolyn?” Steven asked.

  “No, I’m not.”

  He turned to Wes. “Get the door,” he ordered. “Whoever it is, get rid of them. We still have a lot to discuss here.”

  No one spoke, but if they had, it wouldn’t have broken the thick net of tension in the room. When Wes returned a minute or so later, all eyes were on their guest: Austin Johns.

  What was he doing in Granger?

  “Look what the tumbleweed rolled in,” joked Wes, glad to have a break from his sister’s latest drama.

  Laney’s mouth parted at the sight of him. He wore neatly pressed khakis, a light blue button-down shirt and a very unfriendly frown.

  Her eyes traced his lips and she distinctly remembered how they felt upon her skin, erupting the same passion that stirred within her now.

  Laney noticed right away that he avoided looking at her, even though where she was sitting with her mother was directly opposite him. In fact, he seemed to be looking right through her.

  I might as well be invisible, she thought.

  In a way, it was good, and she quickly tried to think of a plan to escape this uncomfortable scene without arousing suspicion.

  Laney straightened her body ever-so-slightly, so that her mother would not notice, even though inside, she wished she could flatten herself like a cartoon character and slide beneath the seat cushions.

  Gwendolyn rose and went to greet him. “Austin! What a pleasant surprise.”

  Austin swept his Stetson from his head and bowed. “Hello, Mrs. Broward.”

  He turned and stuck out his hand. “Mr. Broward. I’m so sorry to disturb you on a Sunday afternoon, sir.”

  “Austin,” Steven said, returning the gesture brusquely. His eyes slanted distractedly toward the trash container and then back again. “What can we do for you?”

  “Are you here to discuss your horses?” Gwendolyn asked. “I hear you purchased a new foal. I’d love to hear more.”

  Austin smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I have, and he’s a beautiful animal. As much as I’d like to, I’m not here to talk about my recent acquisitions.”

  He turned toward Laney and her heart beat faster, yet his dark eyes regarded her with muted interest, as if she were no more than a mannequin in a department store window.

  “Instead I was wondering if I might have a private word with Laney.
”

  Even though his eyes were on her, the question seemed as though it was addressed to her parents, as if she were a child.

  Laney felt her stomach burn at Austin’s arrogance. Didn’t she have any say in the matter?

  Anxiety sluiced through her insides. What could he possibly want to talk about?

  She hadn’t seen him since New Year’s Eve. Though she’d dreamed about him frequently, she wasn’t sure she wanted to see the father of her baby, or be alone with him.

  He deserves to know.

  Laney pushed the thought to the back of her mind.

  Not now. Not here!

  Steven crossed his arms and twisted his chin toward his wife. Gwendolyn shrugged, as baffled as her husband.

  Austin was businesslike and professional, just as he normally was, yet the tone of his voice and his polite yet distant manner seemed imbued with deeper purpose.

  They could count on two fingers the times when Austin had been at the Granger homestead and had not wanted to talk about horses. Both were after he had suffered some unfortunate losses in his stables. He’d come to Gwendolyn and Steven, fellow ranchers and horse breeders, not so much for advice, but for comfort.

  This third time was different and they both knew it, but they had no idea why.

  After an awkward pause, Gwendolyn spoke first. “Well, if it’s okay with Laney...”

  “It’s fine, Mama,” Laney told her mother firmly, even though it wasn’t.

  She stood, her knees wobbling a bit. The spring mini-dress she wore wasn’t form-fitting. It had tiny pink roses on a black background that hid any pudginess around her middle. But she still had to resist the urge to run her hand across her abdomen to check if she was showing.

  Her father sat down in a wide leather chair. “Make it quick,” he grumbled, sounding defeated. “Remember, we’re in the middle of a family meeting and we all have a lot more to discuss.”

  Laney avoided looking at her older brothers, still upset by their teasing. “I’m sure we won’t be long,” she replied as she walked out of the room.

  Only as long as it took to make sure that Austin stayed out of her and her baby’s life.

  * * *

  Austin watched Laney’s slender frame carefully as she led him to another part of the house. He had to hand it to her—she certainly didn’t look pregnant.

  Her dress, which fell midthigh, swished across her long, bare legs. He let the memories flow back and he felt himself go hard, remembering their feverish lovemaking. How her thighs had locked around his torso, as he’d charged like a train roaring through the night, as if she’d wanted him to stay there forever. And he would have, had she not let him go.

  Austin was glad Laney couldn’t look at his face right now and see how much he still wanted her. Being this close after so many months apart was like seeing a mirage in the desert. Thirsty with a lust he’d tamped down for months, he welcomed the sight of her, despite the fact that he was angry.

  Maybe it’s not true.

  Austin wedged the paper even farther under his arm. That’s what he was here to find out, and he wasn’t going to let his attraction to her distract him from finding out the truth.

  He didn’t know if the Browards had seen the headline yet. When he’d read it that morning, he was so shocked that he nearly choked on his protein shake. He had to talk to Laney before they did. His whole future depended on it.

  “Where are we headed?”

  Laney tossed her long brown hair over her shoulder. “To the library. It’s in another wing of the house. We’re almost there.”

  “No worries,” he responded. It gave him more time to enjoy the view, as she moved down the hall with athletic grace.

  Hadn’t he read somewhere that women got wider when they were carrying a baby? Laney appeared to be the same size and beautiful shape that she’d been on New Year’s Eve. Of course, he’d have to feel her to find out and he wouldn’t have any problem doing that experiment. Austin wasn’t the type to beg. However, if that’s what it took to be with Laney again, he just might.

  Seconds later, they arrived and he waited while Laney opened the mahogany double doors.

  He stepped inside the room. It was wall-to-wall books, but he was willing to bet that none of them contained the secret to winning this woman’s heart.

  She eased the doors shut, turned and crossed her arms. “What are you doing in Granger?” Her words tumbled out of her mouth, as if she were in a rush. She hadn’t even bothered to offer him a seat.

  But Austin had all the time in the world.

  He took the paper from under his arm and unfolded it. He’d only brought the front page. It was the only section that mattered.

  Austin held the newspaper in front of him and watched her stare at it without blinking. And when her brown eyes moved to his face, he ignored the pull of desire.

  Then he pointed at her belly. It was time to stop being polite. It was time for answers.

  “It’s mine, isn’t it?”

  “You can’t possibly believe—”

  He strode up to her and held the paper next to his ear.

  “Just answer the question, Laney.”

  She turned away from him, refusing to look at it. “You’re being ridiculous. How can you believe that trash?”

  “It’s mine, isn’t it,” he repeated in a clipped voice. “How far along are you?”

  She swiveled around and folded her arms at her chest.

  “Wow, Austin. You don’t say hi or ‘How do you do,’” she said coolly. “You just storm into my life with a question that’s out of context and quite frankly, none of your business.”

  He tossed the paper down on the leather couch. It immediately slid to the floor, the headline mocking them both. Even so, both were prideful and neither of them moved to pick up the newspaper.

  His eyes flitted down to her stomach and immediately back up to her face.

  “Let me paint a picture for you. New Year’s Eve. You and me. In my bed. Banging each other like it was Armageddon outside and we were the last two people on earth. Is that enough context for you?”

  Her eyes flickered with subdued rage. “How dare you! Is that all that night was to you? You screwing me like an oversexed frat boy?”

  She spun around and his groin tightened as he watched her walk away.

  God, no, he wanted to yell. One night with her had changed his whole life, but he knew she wasn’t ready to hear that yet, much like he wasn’t quite ready to completely believe it himself.

  He hadn’t touched another woman since, even though he’d had plenty of opportunities. Abstinence wasn’t his strong suit and he still wasn’t completely used to it. But a man could change, for the right woman, and that’s what he was here to find out.

  There’s still so much I don’t know about her.

  “Now, I’m going to ask you one more time. Is the baby mine?”

  He tightened his jaw and waited. After a few moments, he strode over to where she stood by the window and touched her elbow.

  She twisted away roughly, as if her skin were on fire.

  “Four months,” she hissed.

  His mouth dropped open. “Wh-what?”

  For once, he was able to push the sensual memories of Laney out of his mind, so he could do the math.

  “Four months,” she repeated more curtly. “That’s the answer to your question.”

  Austin stared at her, stomach roiling, his mind almost numb with shock. He was glad he’d skipped lunch.

  “So it is mine.”

  His voice sounded garbled in his ears, as if his words were spoken underwater.

  Laney tilted her chin up. “Correction,” she asserted. “It’s mine. This baby doesn’t concern you.”

  If her defiant tone was mea
nt to let him off the hook, it backfired. Instead, it only served to anger him.

  He squared his hands on his hips. “What are you talking about, Laney? I’m the father.”

  Her eyes crept over his body, as if she still couldn’t believe it was true, making him contemplate the gravity of that one word:

  Father.

  That one word led to a world of diapers and daycare and sleepless nights. It also led to Laney.

  Her shoulders slumped in defeat. “This wasn’t supposed to happen, okay? I was protected. You were protected.”

  She stared at him and shook her head, before facing the window and closing her eyes. Austin wondered what was going through her mind. Had she thought about him since?

  That night, neither of them was drunk. They were both fully cognizant of what they wanted and what they were doing.

  Austin hadn’t bothered to ask if she were on birth control, he’d just used a condom as he always did. It was just the right thing to do.

  But something must have gone wrong.

  He thought back to the utter veracity of their coupling. It was like he’d lost his mind or something and she’d kept urging him to go faster and faster, and plunge deeper and deeper. Willingly he’d complied. All night and far into the morning until she’d said goodbye and he’d never heard from her again.

  He swallowed hard as his desire for her once again swept through him. How he longed to place his hands on her bare legs, lift her dress and—

  Austin cleared his throat and forced himself to concentrate. “It wasn’t supposed to happen, but it did. The question now is—what are we going to do about it?”

  She glanced back over her shoulder. “We aren’t going to do anything. I’m not holding you to any obligation here. It happened. Let’s just leave it at that, okay?”

  He arched a brow at Laney’s tone, hardly believing that she could be so casual about this situation. His question was a sensible one. Not only that, unlike the college frat boy that she obviously thought he was, it was responsible.

  He stared at her. “Does your family know?”