Sam opened the door. Drawing himself up to his full height, Sam stepped into the hall and glowered at Sean. "What do you want?"
With a cynical laugh, Sean shook his head. "Man, you just don't quit, do you? I want to see how Talia's doing. I don't know why I even let myself think you might cut me even a little slack." He closed his eyes and ground out through clenched teeth, "May I see Talia, please?"
Sam looked like he might disagree when Helen walked out of the room behind him.
"Hi, Sean, Talia has a room full of visitors at the moment. Will you go with me and get some coffee and maybe it will clear out a little bit," Helen asked him, putting a hand on his forearm as she stepped between Sean and her husband.
He didn't want coffee and started to argue when she added, "Please."
At his reluctant nod, she gave Sam a pointed glare before leading Sean down the hallway to the elevators. Once they made it to the little coffee shop downstairs, Sean paid for their coffee and followed Helen to a corner table that afforded them a little privacy.
"You know this is hard on Sam, don't you? Seeing his daughter grow up, date. Knowing that she's not a little girl any more—he's struggling with that. And you, well, even you have to admit that you aren't what a parent wants for their child."
Sean stared down into his coffee cup, the little stirrer in his hand making ripples across the surface of the dark liquid. "Doesn't her choice matter? Is nothing I've done over the last six years worthy of consideration? I can't change my past, Helen. I didn't have the support that Talia, Zane, and Karly had. I made mistakes."
Reaching across the small table, Helen squeezed his hand. "I know you didn't have a good upbringing. I don't think you're a bad guy, Sean. I really don't. And I know you've treated my daughter well. I tried to respect her choice in dating you. I didn't interfere, even when I knew she was staying with you. I wasn't happy about that, mind you. But I didn't say anything. Sam, he's going to be harder to convince."
He'd thought Helen liked him, not just tolerated him. Damn, that hurt. Well, he still wasn't going to let that stop him from getting Talia back, if she'd have him.
Looking up at Helen then, he whispered, "I love her, you know. I tried to walk away because it was what was best for her. I've been miserable."
"She's been miserable too. For the record, I'm on your side, if that's what Talia wants."
Sean snorted, but didn't reply. He sat in silence, waiting for Helen to finish her coffee. His, he tossed away untouched before making his way back upstairs to see Talia. He hadn't been this nervous about talking to a girl in years.
Chapter Forty-nine
Lying in a hospital bed, Talia listened to Caleb drone on and on about how sorry he was for every mistake he made during their relationship. When he'd heard that she'd been hurt, he just had to come apologize to her. He'd brought her a huge bouquet of the ugliest flowers she'd ever seen. She hated carnations. If he'd listened to her at all when they'd dated, he'd know that.
He told her he'd been seeing a counselor and learning anger management skills. She'd told him ten minutes ago she was glad for him. Glad he'd made the changes he needed in his life, not that she would ever trust him again. He said he didn't expect her to, that ship had sailed, but now he wouldn't shut the hell up about it. Her head was pounding. She wanted to know where her mom went. Someone knocked and her dad had gone out with her mom right behind him. Her dad came back in looking pissed, but her mom had yet to return.
"Isn't that right, Talia?" She was brought out of her thoughts at the sound of her name.
"I'm sorry, Dad, what was that? I'm afraid I drifted off a little." She flashed him a weak smile, hoping he'd take the hint and clear the room for her.
"I was telling Caleb we should have him over for dinner one night soon. Now that he has his anger issues under control, and all." Apparently, her dad would never be on her side again. She could see the hopeful glint in his eyes. Damn, after everything he still preferred Caleb.
"Uh… if that's what you want, Dad. But Caleb and I will not be dating again," Talia stated firmly as she gave her dad her best I mean business look. She looked over at the door when it swung open, and her mother walked in with Sean right behind her. By the little uptick of Sean's lips, they heard her declaration.
He came. Oh God, he came. She had never been so happy to see anyone in her life.
"Are you hard of hearing, boy? Sam told you to stay away from his daughter. What do you think you're doing here?" Caleb's dad said before Sam could even open his mouth.
Raising an eyebrow at the other man, Sean walked over to Talia's bed and sat down on the edge beside her. His big weight shifted the mattress and she tilted toward him. She wiggled to sit up a little better. Damn, she looked a mess—she just knew it. Why hadn't she cleaned up a little more?
"How're you feeling, sweetheart?" He cupped her face with a gentle hand.
She leaned in to his touch, her heart pounding. She wasn't in danger now. Was he here to rekindle their relationship? Her heart would break anew if he rejected her again.
"She's not your sweetheart," her dad growled from behind Sean. "The two of you broke up, remember?"
Turning his body to face her dad, Sean returned in the same tone, "Talia will always be my sweetheart. Whether you like it or not, it's a fact. You can't change it."
When his gaze returned to her, Sean smiled down, his eyes questioning.
"I'm better than earlier. My head still hurts a good bit. When I get up, I'm dizzy. They said that's a side effect of hitting my head."
"Your dad told the paramedics that you were sick and dizzy before you hit your head though. You tell them that? Is everything okay with you?" She could hear the concern in his voice. Her heart fluttered knowing he still cared. It would make it easier when she told him.
"I'd really like it if you would step away from my daughter. Again, you two broke up. You'd think a concept that simple would be able to sink in. Even to someone like you," Sam snapped again as he laid a heavy hand on Sean's shoulder, squeezing tightly.
"Do you want me to leave, sweetheart?" Sean asked Talia quietly, seeming to ignore the pressure her dad applied to his collarbone.
"No, I actually have something I need to talk to you about." Looking around the room, she asked if they would mind leaving so that she could have a little privacy to talk with Sean. Her dad was not at all happy about it. In fact, her mother had to practically drag her dad out of the room while she gave her daughter a soft smile. Talia smiled back at her mom, knowing her mom already guessed her secret. Her dad glared daggers at Sean the entire way, muttering under his breath. When she looked back at Sean, the little smile on his lips gave her more hope than she'd had since they'd broken up.
Chapter Fifty
When the door closed behind her father, Sean bent down and brushed his lips across Talia's. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tight. Sean groaned when her tongue brushed against his lips in attempts to deepen the kiss. Though he ached to continue, he forced himself to pull back and end the kiss.
"Sweetheart, you're in no shape for us to get carried away right now. I don't want to hurt you. There will be plenty of time for kissing if you want to after you get out of here. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
He laid his forehead against hers. "I thought I was doing the right thing in letting you go after what your dad said that night. I know how close you are to him and I didn't want to mess that up. Then I see you sick and you get hurt. I can't take that anymore. I love you. I don't want to be without you anymore. Please give me another chance. I swear to you that I will not fuck it up this time."
Talia's eyes filled with tears as he poured his heart out to her. Smiling up at him, she said in a broken voice, "I love you, Sean. I never stopped. I would like us to try again too. And don't worry about my dad. If he decides to step out of my life that is his choice."
His lips were on hers then. Holding her as if she was made of spun glass, he rocked his lips against hers with soft,
gentle motions. Ending the embrace after a moment, he slid onto the bed beside her and pulled her up to snuggle into his side, taking care not to pull at her IV.
"So, be honest with me. How are you feeling?" His voice came out muffled where he had hidden his face in her hair.
"Well, I've been better, that's for sure," she said with a chuckle. "I want to ask you something. Why did you tell the EMTs right in front of my dad you thought I was pregnant? He's been on about that all morning."
"Uh, well, I thought it might explain why you were sick and dizzy. They needed to know, in case you were. I should've taken more care to keep it private, but hell, your dad already knew you'd spent the night with me at least once. And I was freaking scared. You looked so pale..."
When she didn't say anything for a moment, he leaned his head over to look at her better. The look on her face said she was waiting for him to make a connection.
"Is there something you need to tell me, sweetheart?" he finally choked out. Damn, was she saying what he thought she was saying?
"You were right."
With a smile that started small, he reached his hand out to cup the gentle swell of her belly. By the time his hand actually reached her stomach, the smile crossed his entire face. "Really? I'm going to be a daddy. Are you serious?"
At her nod, he kissed her again. Breaking off the kiss with a small cry, he buried his face against her throat. Hot tears soaked through the thin fabric of her hospital gown. His big shoulders heaved as he tried not to sob. She was having his baby. He was going to have a family. And he'd almost messed this up royally.
"Sean, are you upset?" she asked, sounding on the verge of tears.
"Upset? Why would I be upset? I told you how much I wanted kids. I'd hoped we would be married and you chose to be pregnant when we started our family, but no, I'm not at all upset about it," he told her as he wiped the tears from his face. "Never—ever—think that I don't want this child, and you, in my life."
She snuggled into his embrace once more. "You wanted us to get married?"
With a laugh, he squeezed her up against him. "Why else would I let you help me pick out a house? Silly girl, I love you. When you referred to the library as ours, and that house as ours… do you know I went that next day after I put in the offer and bought you a ring?"
"What? You bought me a ring?" Talia was flabbergasted; her mouth hung open in shock.
Sean fumbled around with his hand in his pocket and showed her the fire opal ring he had looped through his key ring. "Yeah, I was waiting for the right time to ask you. But then, well, everything went south. You said you weren't a huge diamond fan, so I didn't get you a diamond."
After he finally got the ring off his keys, he slipped it on her finger.
"I still can't believe that you bought our house." Talia nudged him. "It will be perfect for the baby to grow up in, won't it?" she asked as she stared down at the ring he'd put on her finger.
"It's been so hard being there without you," Sean murmured against her lips as he swiped his lips over hers again. "I guess since your dad didn't come at me with a weapon, he doesn't know about the baby?"
Laughing, Talia nodded that the pregnancy had not yet been officially confirmed to him. "Maybe we should let him know we are back together for now, and then spring the baby news later?"
"No, let's get it over with. Like ripping off a Band-Aid, it's best to be quick about it. Besides if we do it here, there's medical care if he strokes out. Or for me if he stabs me."
He pulled her in for more snuggles and some soft kisses. "So, you are going to marry me, right? You deserve a fancy proposal with me on bended knee at the beach, or maybe Garden Falls, but I want to know that you'll be my wife, now. After all that's happened, I need to know now."
He'd die if she said no. He'd wanted to marry her before, but having lived without her the past several weeks and knowing she was carrying his child only made him want her more. How would he live without her?
Talia ran her hand up his fresh-shaven jaw. "Of course I'll marry you. I love you, you big old goof. I don't care about a fancy proposal, only that it is happening and true."
Sean tightened his arms around her, holding her firm to his chest before his lips covered hers once more. Slipping his tongue in her mouth, he groaned when the door clicked open and he would have to stop. Talia didn't want to end the kiss though, and followed as he tried to retreat.
"I guess you two are back together," Karly called from the doorway.
Sam and Helen stood in the doorway in front of her; a vein in Sam's forehead throbbed ominously. Sean extracted himself from Talia's hold and stood to face the angry man. Fists clenching, the older man strode forward until he was chest to chest with Sean.
"I told you to stay away. I will not have my daughter dating a man like you. If you continue to see her, I'm done with her."
"I won't walk away from her again. That was the biggest mistake that I've ever made in my life. And there's no way I'm screwing this up again," he calmly told the twitching ball of rage that stood in front of him.
"How much? What will it take to get you to leave town? A hundred k? Will that do it?"
Ignoring the gasps of both Talia and her mother, Sean grabbed Sam by his shirt collar and brought them nearly to eye level. "I cannot be bought. There is not enough money in this world to get me to leave them. I love your daughter. And whenever she'll have me, I plan to marry her."
He shook the older man to emphasize his point. "So you can get on board with that, or you can walk away. If you cut Talia out of your life, you aren't hurting me, just yourself and your daughter. So that threat won't work on me anymore. I'm not responsible for your choices, only my own. And I'll be damned if I walk away from the woman I love, and our child, for you or any other man."
"Child," Sam whispered as Sean set him down on his feet once more. "You aren't serious. Talia, you're pregnant?"
"I am. They confirmed it last night. That's what I needed time to talk to Sean about. He deserved to be the first to know," Talia answered.
Sam didn't say anything, he just scowled at Sean.
"Why do you hate me so much? Did I wrong you in a past life? Or hell, in this one?"
"You remind me of someone I used to know. Someone I hated. You're nothing more than a bartender. What kind of life could you ever provide for my daughter? A tiny apartment on the wrong side of town, a rundown old house…she deserves better."
"So-o-o-o," Sean drawled, "You hate me, not on my own merits, but because of someone who offended you years ago. Yeah, that's fair." He pursed his lips in thought before continuing, "And yeah my apartment was small and not in the nicest area. I'll give you that one. But did you ever think maybe I had reasons for living there? Rent was cheap. It let me get the loan on my club paid off. Gave me a chance to get a little money put back toward buying a house. Which I just did. In fact, you were there recently. So, yeah, maybe it's not as nice as your place, and it's not on the lake, but it's getting to be nice. And you can't say that neighborhood is a bad area of town."
"Wait, you own the club?" Sam asked in a disbelieving tone.
"Yes, sir, for the last four years."
"How the hell did that happen?"
"The previous owner let me buy him out and held the loan. Let me go ahead and make the changes I wanted to the place."
"You seem very passionate about the club," Helen interrupted. "It seems you enjoy it?"
"I do actually. I loved being a bartender, even if it was in a crappy bar. When Bob said he wanted to retire, I talked him into letting me buy it. He was pretty iffy about it. He was selling a bar to a twenty-five-year-old ex-con after all." Sean laughed, soft and low. "I think most people would be a little cautious about it. About me."
"Hmmpph. I still don't think you're good enough to marry my daughter," Sam grumbled and pushed at Sean's chest.
"You can get bent if you don't like it. I won't give her up again."
"I can get bent? Excuse me! I didn't give you perm
ission to date my daughter, and you sure as hell won't marry her." Sam shoved Sean again and again, trying to push the bigger man toward the door.
Well, this was going about as expected.
Sean looked down at the angry older man and said, "I love her. I gave her up once, and it was awful. She ended up hurt. It will not happen again. You can accept it, or not. I don't see any other options for you. She's your daughter. I know you don't want to cut her out of your life"—he looked back at Talia—"and I know she doesn't want that either."
Helen rose, stepping between the men with a hand on each of their chests. "You two are starting to look like a pair of dogs fighting over an old bone. Sam, he's her choice, accept it. You don't get to choose for her, any more than my father chose for me. He didn't think you were worthy of me either. He did, however, give you the chance to prove him wrong. Reluctantly, I might add. She's having his baby; your opinion doesn't matter now. He's part of her life, and that's that."
She paused for a moment before turning to Sean, and poked him in the chest. "And you need to give him time to accept this. And don't say things like my husband can 'get bent'. Haven't you learned by now that will just get him riled up again?"
Sean started chuckling. His deep laugh filled the room and when her mom's soft laughter joined him, Talia lost her composure and started laughing as well.
"I apologize, but I do have to ask, how would you suggest I phrase things so as not to rile him up?" Before Helen could speak though, he had an idea. "Pardon me, kind sir, please will you allow me the privilege of marrying your lovely daughter? Even though you hate me, I would give my life to protect her," Sean dramatized, giving a slight bow as he addressed Talia's father once more.
Helen smacked his shoulder for that one, which caused Sam to snort in amusement. Seeing the older man relax a little, he took his exaggerated politeness a step further and dropped to his knees, hands folded in a pleading manner. "Please, oh loving father, she is my heart's one desire. I could not bear to be parted from her again. Dull and meaningless are the descriptions of my life without her in it."
Sean's Sweetheart Page 17
