Rather than comment, Callie shrugged and looked down at her menu. The dismissal of the question set the gears in Lauren’s brain in motion. The last time they’d been around alcohol at the retirement party, Callie had skipped it as well. Not to mention when she stopped by to wish her a happy birthday, she’d opted for herbal tea instead of coffee. Then this morning she’d looked pale as a ghost and tired.
“Callie, are you feeling okay?” Even as she asked the question, she suspected the answer.
Callie met her stare. “Of course, why?”
“You haven’t been yourself.”
Before Callie answered, the waiter reappeared. “Please excuse me, but the chef wants you to know that if you cannot find anything to your liking on the menu, he will prepare anything you wish.”
We are definitely not at The Davenport. Lauren clenched her fists under the table, hoping to still her nerves. The Davenport, where they’d held her mom’s retirement party, had given them a hard time when they’d asked if guests could have a choice of sides to accompany either their beef or seafood dinners. Yet here, the chef offered to prepare something special in the event they didn’t find what they desired on the menu.
Across the table, Charlie lowered her own menu and joined the conversation. “She’s right. You looked awful this morning and last night you fell asleep early.”
Dropping her eyes, Callie chewed on her bottom lip. I’m right. Lauren almost sprung to her feet to hug her friend, all thoughts of where they were gone, but she held back until Callie made it official.
“This cannot leave this table, but I’m pregnant.” A smile bright enough to light up a coal mine spread across Callie’s face. “We’re waiting until Warren and Elizabeth come back from South America to tell them.”
A strange combination of emotions rippled through Lauren’s chest. The joy and excitement made sense. After all, this was her closest friend. She loved Callie like a sister. The pain and sadness took her by surprise, and for a brief second envy surged through her as well. At one time she’d almost had a baby. Nate’s baby. The same emotions always came when a friend announced a pregnancy, yet tonight they were stronger perhaps because of her recent run-in with Nate.
Get a grip. Lauren bolted to her feet and hugged Callie as everyone else offered their congratulations.
“I’m only fourteen weeks, but I had an ultrasound last week, and the heartbeat looked strong.”
Discussion of a new baby slowed only long enough for the waiter to take everyone’s entree order then it went right back.
“I hope you don’t mind diapers because I cannot see Dylan changing one. Jake, yes, Dylan, not in a million years,” Charlie said, moving the conversation away from how Callie felt.
“She’s got a point. I’m not sure he knows what a diaper even looks like. Jake and Christopher could handle diaper duty, but Dylan . . .” Sara shook her head, her voice trailing off. “He’s going to need some help.”
Lauren agreed. If Dylan managed to change a diaper without assistance the world would probably end. Regardless, even if he didn’t, he’d make a wonderful father. What about Kevin? What kind of a father would he make? The thought rushed in, even though she’d promised herself not to think about him again till tomorrow.
If they married, children would follow. In many ways, Kevin was like Dylan. Yet while she saw Dylan struggling with certain aspects of parenthood like dirty diapers and midnight feedings, she pictured him very involved in his son’s or daughter’s life. His and Callie’s children would not only have the best money could offer, but they’d have the love and attention of both parents. Could the same be said about Kevin? If he viewed marriage as a business contract, how did he view parenthood?
Nate would be an excellent father. The thought forced aside her questions about Kevin. He may not be able to provide the same monetary security, but he’d love and protect them like no other.
“What do you think, Lauren? Can Dylan handle diaper duty?” Callie asked, humor in her voice.
Lauren’s eyes snapped up to meet Callie’s, and the look she got from her friend said it all. Callie knew exactly where her thoughts had gone. “You’ll drill it into him, chickie.” She forced humor into her voice. “I’ve seen you teach fifth graders to write multi-paragraph essays. If you can handle that, you can teach Dylan anything. He’ll be an expert diaper changer in no time.”
Chapter 10
Other than her time with Callie and her family in Greenwich, Lauren had kept herself isolated from everyone since Kevin’s proposal. She hadn’t even visited her new niece. It had to stop. She needed to make a decision so she could get on with her life. However, while marriage to Kevin seemed ideal one moment, the very next it struck her as what could be the biggest mistake of her life. Of course when it did that, thoughts of Nate were involved, which triggered a whole other set of emotions. So, until she sorted everything out, she planned to keep her distance from anyone who might guess something was up. Only Callie knew the situation, and Lauren wanted it kept that way. If too many people got involved, she’d be bombarded with opinions, only making her decision more muddled and difficult.
“What do you think, JoJo?” She stretched out her legs alongside the dog on the couch. “Should we check out the evening news or watch last night’s Do You Have What It Takes?” The dog rolled over and buried her head between the pillows.
Lauren switched on the TV. “The news it is.” Grabbing the nail polish on the end table, she half watched as she applied a new coat to her fingernails and waited for her frozen dinner to heat in the microwave.
“Although details are still coming in, we do know that one FBI agent is dead and another is in critical condition after a routine interview turned deadly this afternoon.”
The nail polish slipped from her hand and landed on her jeans at the news anchor’s announcement.
“Officials have not released any names pending notification of the families, but we do know that both agents work out of the FBI office in Boston. The shooting took place in a home located in Chelsea this afternoon. There is no word on who they were interviewing at the time. We will provide you with more information once it becomes available.” The news anchor looked over at her co-anchor, who launched into the next big story of the night.
Agent dead. Another in critical condition. The words repeated over and over. Her heart jumped from her chest to her throat as she sat frozen, the light pink nail polish dripping all over her jeans. Nate. She needed to know he was okay. Ignoring the mess, she raced into the kitchen where her cell phone sat on the counter, and punched in Nate’s cell number which she’d saved in her phone after he had called her. The phone rang several times before switching over to his voice mail. She left a short “call me” message then dialed his parents’ number. Like her first phone call, it rang numerous times before Mrs. Callahan’s voice clicked on and told her to leave a message.
Who else could she call? His brother might know something, but she didn’t have his number. Her heart squeezed at the image of Nate in a hospital bed, or worse. He’s fine. He didn’t answer because he’s busy. Once he checked his messages he’d call her.
From the other room, she heard the news anchor launch back into the story, telling viewers they’d just learned that the suspect himself had been injured during a high-speed chase while attempting to flee.
“I can’t wait.” Without bothering to turn off anything, Lauren grabbed her car keys.
Exactly how she got from her house to his place, she’d never know. The drive was a blur of fear and anxiety. Somehow she managed to pull into the empty driveway near his parents’ house ten minutes later. From the outside, his parents’ house looked empty, and she saw no sign of life in the apartment over the three-car garage either.
Please be home. Please be home. The words repeated over and over as she ran across the driveway and up the stairs. When she banged on the door, a dog inside barked.
When the door opened a few heartbeats later, Lauren paused long enoug
h to realize it was Nate standing there. Then she lunged at him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“Lauren what—”
As the gut wrenching fear she’d felt mingled with sudden relief and love, she could do nothing but kiss him, cutting off whatever he’d been about to say.
Nate’s arms circled around her, and she slanted her mouth over his then tugged on his bottom lip until he opened for her. For the moment, nothing mattered but kissing him. Proving to herself that he was safe. Focused on the man and his mouth, she didn’t notice when he moved his hands up to her shoulders until he pulled her back.
“You can greet me like that anytime, sweetheart. But I think I missed something.”
Lauren opened her eyes. Nate stood before her wearing a white undershirt and jeans. A heavy five o’clock shadow covered his face, as did a smile. Heat rushed to every inch of her body at the sight of him and the memories of what they’d done as teenagers in this apartment merged.
Explain yourself. She sent the brief command to her mouth. She couldn’t blame him for being confused. One day she was telling him she needed time and the next she was attacking him at his front door.
“I saw on the news an FBI agent from Boston was killed.” She ran her hands across his shoulders and down his upper arms. “I tried calling, but you didn’t answer.” She traced his tattoo with her index finger. She needed the physical contact to reassure herself he was unharmed. “Then I tried your parents.”
He cupped her cheek with his hand and trailed a thumb over her jaw. “I needed a shower when I got home. I spent the afternoon searching a house that wasn’t fit for animals to live in, never mind a person.”
Lauren tipped her face toward his hand. His gentle caress both calmed and aroused her at the same time. “When they didn’t answer either, I came here. I needed to know you were okay. That I hadn’t lost you again.”
Nate bent his head toward her, his intent obvious on his face.
“I can’t lose you again,” Lauren said, sounding breathless.
He wrapped both arms around her, crushing her against his chest. “You won’t. Promise.”
Lauren got no opportunity to respond before he locked his mouth on hers again. Years of bottled up passion and emotion exploded between them. As his tongue explored and tasted, Nate’s hands slipped under her shirt. When he slid his hand under her bra to cup her breast, her legs wobbled and she leaned into his hand.
Her own hands grabbed at his undershirt pulling it out of his jeans so she could feel the skin underneath. When she trailed her fingers up his spine, he groaned then picked her up. Instantly she wrapped her legs around his waist causing his erection to press intimately against her.
Lauren pulled back for air and met Nate’s heated gaze.
“God, I’ve missed you, Lauren.” Nate’s words came out on a ragged breath.
The same words sat on her lips, as did I love you. Rather than say them, however, Lauren leaned in to show him. And although she didn’t think it possible, their kiss became more intense. As they kissed and touched, their passion escalated toward the stars. Unwrapping her legs, she slid down him when they entered his bedroom then grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head. Nate didn’t hesitate and followed suit. His undershirt hit the bedroom floor as he kicked the door closed with his bare foot. Then as one they landed on his bed, tugging off the rest of each other’s clothes.
“I love you.” The words slipped out of her mouth just as he entered her. She didn’t have time to register what that meant as her brain turned off and her body took over.
***
His day had started off shitty and it’d gone downhill fast from there. But this made up for all of it. Nate placed a kiss on the top of Lauren’s head as she slept with her cheek resting on his chest. Nothing had prepared him for Lauren’s reaction that night. Since their last conversation, he’d made himself stay away, trying to give her the space and time she’d asked for. Doing so nearly killed him. Now it no longer mattered.
As if to reassure himself that he wasn’t dreaming, he ran a hand down her arm. Beneath his fingers, her skin felt like warm satin. For the first time in years, contentment washed through him. I love you. Her words played over and over in his heart. So many times when he’d been out on the front lines he’d feared he’d never hear her say that to him again. And maybe he’d had no right to hope for that. But damn, now that she was back next to him, he wasn’t going to let her go.
Next to him, Lauren’s body moved. “I’m sorry, I fell asleep. How long have I been out?”
“Don’t worry.” He enjoyed holding her in his arms and just looking at her. “You only slept for about ten minutes.”
She moved next to him again, this time pulling herself into an upright position. With deliberate movements, she tucked the sheet around her chest, her eyes glued to the far wall. “I didn’t intend for that to happen tonight.” She kept her face turned away from him, but he still saw the pink hue in her cheeks.
“I know that, sweetheart.” He sat up, too.
“But I’m not sorry it did.” Lauren looked over at him a small frown on her face. “I love you, Nate. Always have, but . . . “ She paused and took a deep breath. “Are you really here for good? If we try this again, I need to know you won’t up and leave again in six months.”
“I still have obligations to the Marines as a reservist, and they could call me up to active duty again, but this is home now. I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart.”
Lauren sat in silence, her eyes moving over his face. What could she see? Did she see the regret? Or the love he felt? Could she see the wisp of fear that lurked inside him whenever he contemplated her rejection?
She looked away again and began a careful inspection of her half-painted fingernails. “Last weekend Kevin asked me to marry him.”
Kevin. On too many occasions, he’d pictured them together like this, and each time it left him with an urge to rip Kevin’s head from his body. Her words just then caused the same reaction. “What did you say?” Nothing could stop the hard tone from entering his voice. Her left hand remained empty, but that meant nothing.
As if to sooth him, Lauren placed a hand on his forearm. “I told him I needed to think about it.”
It annoyed him that she hadn’t said no outright, not that it mattered any longer. She was in his bed right now, not Kevin’s. “Why don’t you call him now and give him your answer?”
“Kevin’s a nice guy, and I should tell him in person. He deserves that much. I’ll handle it soon. Promise.”
She leaned over and kissed him before he could argue. Kevin no longer existed as far as he was concerned. Only Lauren and the pleasure they found in each other’s arms mattered as she leaned into him.
Nails scratched at the bedroom door. “Either your dog wants in the room or she needs to go out.” Lauren’s hand wandered across his chest and he reached for it, holding it captive with his.
“She needs to go out. Maggie’s happy on the couch. She wouldn’t want to come in here.” He wished she only wanted in the bedroom. Then he could ignore the scratching. “Don’t move.” Planting a quick kiss on her lips, he swung his feet onto the floor. Without searching for his briefs, he tugged on his jeans. “You need anything while I’m up?” If he had to disturb their time together in his bed, he might as well make it count.
“All set.” She shifted in bed causing her hair to fall forward covering her breasts.
With his hand poised on the doorknob, he considered going back to the bed and moving the hair away. Another scratch at the door killed that idea.
Maggie was a well-trained dog, despite the fact she’d been abandoned, and took care of whatever needs she had quickly. After a short pit stop in the kitchen for a glass of water, Nate returned to his room expecting Lauren to be right where he left her.
“I told you not to move.” He attempted to tease, but in reality disappointment punched him in the gut. Lauren sat on the edge of the bed in the process of clippin
g her bra. She’d already pulled on her jeans.
She walked around him toward her shirt on the floor. “It’s almost nine o’clock. I have to work tomorrow, Nate.” Her head disappeared for a minute inside her top then popped out. “As it is, I haven’t looked over my lesson plans for tomorrow.”
He had an early morning himself. He needed to be in Weymouth by three in the morning for an arrest. Even with that obscene hour hanging over his head, he didn’t want her to go. After fifteen years, he could once again touch her, kiss her, hold her. He wasn’t ready to give that up today. “Can’t you do it in the morning? Leave here early, stop home and do whatever you need to.” They wouldn’t have any time together in the morning, but at least she’d be next to him when he woke up.
“I’d feel rushed. Besides, JoJo is at home. She’ll need to go out soon.”
He had no good argument for that reasoning. “Tomorrow night then. Come by after work with your dog and spend the night.” He pulled her close again.
“Maybe.”
Prepared with a protest, he started to speak, but Lauren placed a finger over his lips and silenced him.
“I need to end things with Kevin. Let him know I made my decision and give him back his ring. I’ll call him tomorrow and see if we can meet up. If he can’t do it tomorrow night, I’ll come here. Sound fair?”
“Tell him over the phone. You can get the ring back to him later.” What difference did it make if she told him over the phone or in person? The end result was the same.
She rolled her eyes at him. “Would you want news like that over the phone? Never mind, don’t answer that. If I don’t see you tomorrow, then I promise I’ll see you on Friday.”
She placed a feather-light kiss on his lips and his mind momentarily stopped its search for a sound argument. “I don’t plan on letting you out of my sight this weekend.” Or my bed.
***
Did she have an answer for him? Already a week had slipped by since his proposal. Perhaps he’d been overly optimistic, but he’d expected an answer by now. In all honesty, he’d thought she would agree the day he’d asked. During their phone call days earlier, she’d only said they needed to talk face-to-face. She’d given him no hints during the brief phone conversation Thursday afternoon. Well, nothing other than to sound annoyed that he couldn’t meet with her until Saturday afternoon. He’d tried to explain that several key projects required his attention. Whether or not she understood was anyone’s guess. In the end she’d sounded resigned to the fact. Briefly, he’d considered rearranging his Friday schedule so they could meet sooner. But if they married, she needed to learn business came first, followed by family and friends.
The Billionaire's Best Friend (The Sherbrookes of Newport) Page 13
