Intertwined Hearts Series (4 book collection): (Intertwined Hearts, An Exceptional Twist, Tangled Paths & Grafted Vines)

by Kimi Flores

  Sitting up, he swung his legs over the side of the bed. “You still not gonna tell me?”

  With a sly smile, I answered. “I think you’ll appreciate it more if you’re surprised. Well, not that the news will surprise you, but you know what I mean.” I slipped on my sandals and leaned over for another quick kiss. “Heading out.”

  “Perfect because I have a little surprise for you too.” He snickered.

  I looked at him suspiciously. “Wait. What? You can’t tell me that right before I walk out the door.”

  He got up from the bed, pursing his lips and raising his shoulders. “You have a surprise for me. I might be able to be persuaded to tell you mine, though.” His eyebrows wiggled up and down.

  Yeah, I knew exactly how he’d be willing to part with his information. “I’ll wait,” I laughed, giving him one final peck on his lips.

  He threw his hands up. “Dammit. How the hell do I keep striking out? Am I already losing my touch?” He lowered his chin then peeked up at me.

  “How about I promise you won’t strike out later?” My lashes fluttered and I playfully shook my ass.

  Standing in the doorway, he pouted. “Fine.”

  My eyes rolled back on their own. “Josh, a pouting man isn’t sexy.” I started to walk down the stairs when he called my attention back.

  “What about a man who knows how to dance?” Popping his hips a few times, he gave me a suggestive look.

  I just chuckled. “Time for me to go.” He doesn’t need to know that it won’t take much more to convince me to stay a little longer. My hand ran along the banister as I walked down the stairs.

  He trailed behind, leaping over the back of the couch and stretched out. “I’ll be waiting for you.” Then the eye wiggle made a return appearance.

  Sighing, I fought the urge to stay a little longer and blew a kiss instead as I made my way out the front door.

  The way my hormones are raging, if he keeps looking at me like that, I won’t leave the house at all during this pregnancy.

  ⁂

  Josh

  Zachary held the ladder that was leaning against the tall, mature oak tree. “So what’s up with all the lights? You’re not supposed to decorate until the day after Thanksgiving, not the day before. I bet you’re going to turn into one of those people who puts up your Christmas lights the day after Halloween. That should be illegal, by the way.”

  Trying not to get tangled in the wires, I looked down from the top rung. “Nah, I just thought I’d surprise Bri. This’ll be our first Christmas together, and I wanted to make it special. They never decorated when she was a kid.”

  He stared in disbelief. “Are you serious? With the way you described her family's house, I’d think her mom would’ve blinged the crap out of it. Just to show up the neighbors.” He squinted, looking up.

  “Apparently not.” Doesn’t matter how fancy the house is. Not every house is a home.

  “So, um, how ya doing with the whole baby thing? When you first told me about it, you seemed happy. But now that it’s sunk in, how are you really feeling? Ready to be a dad?” The concern on my cousin’s face was unmistakable.

  I knew somewhere in the background, he had to be thinking about his own past, including when his mother had abandoned him as an adolescent. He’d always told me that not every person is cut out to be a parent.

  I stepped down the ladder onto the dirt covered ground, unable to hide my feelings as I beamed. “Honestly, Zach, I’ve never been happier. I didn’t plan for this—Bri, the baby. Hopefully at some point, a marriage.” I shrugged. “It all came out of left field, but damn am I glad it did.”

  He seemed proud as he clapped my back. “Glad to hear that because between everyone around you guys, that is going to be one spoiled kid.”

  “Trust me,” I chuckled, “I know. Between my mom, Leah, Dani, Abby and all the guys, will I even get to see my own kid?”

  I glanced toward the house to make sure the workers I’d hired to install the additional lights were okay. “Estas bien?” I yelled one of the few phrases I knew in Spanish to make sure they were doing alright. With a bunch of thumbs up, I looked to the foreman, Jesse, the only one who spoke English. “Think we’re going to finish on time?”

  “Yes,” Jesse snorted loudly. “Have I ever left you hanging?”

  Zachary and I always hit Jesse up when we had jobs that needed to get done quickly. He was a hard worker and didn’t accept less from his crew. I only wished I knew Spanish. The crew was always laughing and telling jokes. Whenever Jesse interpreted, something was just lost in the translation.

  Grabbing onto the ladder, I moved to the next tree. “Can you believe Brad still makes fun of us because we work alongside the hired help?”

  Zach rolled his eyes, tsking. “That’s because my dad taught us right. No reason we can’t get our hands dirty. Brad’s been in Brentwood too long. Your dad should’ve dumped him at the vineyard for a couple of summers too.”

  Something hit me. My uncle had guided me, teaching me things I wouldn’t have ever known otherwise. Maybe I could do the same for others, use my experience to mentor child actors about to make the same dumb ass mistakes I had. It’s easy to hide things from people close to you, who trust you, just like I’d done to my father. But there was no way they could fool someone who’s already been down that shitty road.

  While thoughts of my past and family ran rampant through my head, it dawned on me that my uncle might be by himself at the vineyard. “Hey, who’s with Uncle Joel today anyway? You haven’t left him alone in a long time.”

  “Dani’s there with him.” A grin appeared on his mouth as he shook his head slightly.

  I backhanded his chest. “What’s up with you two? You always lite up when you say her name.”

  “It’s nothing like that.” He looked down at the ground in an attempt to cover his emotions, but he wasn’t fooling anyone but himself. There was no doubt in my mind that he had feelings for Dani. “She’s just really good with dad. He’s fallen in love with her, you know. I think he fakes being sick just so she’ll come out and check up on him.” He laughed. “Dad’s definitely got more game than me. He’s still charming women more than half his age.”

  I eyed my cousin. “I have a feeling he’s not the only one who doesn’t mind her coming over.”

  Shrugging his shoulders, he admitted, “It’s not terrible having her around. But like I said, she’s there for Dad and that’s the way it’s gotta be.”

  “Whatever you say, man.” I heard a honk at the gate before a large white work truck pulled up.

  Zachary jerked his head toward the truck. “Who’s that?”

  “Another surprise for, Bri. Come on, lemme show you.” The two of us walked toward the husky guy with a beer belly who just exited the truck.

  She may not be ready to say ‘I do’, but I want everyone to know this ranch is our little slice of heaven.

  ⁂

  Bri

  I strolled through the Danish restaurant on my way back to the table from the bathroom. The place was packed, it seemed like everyone in Santa Barbara was eating here today. Apparently, since it was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, nobody was interested in cooking.

  After shopping most of the day, Leah, Abby, and I took advantage of the California fall weather, choosing to sit on the patio.

  “Why didn’t I notice a week ago that I was going to the bathroom so much?” I pulled my chair out and sat down. The bright blue umbrella shaded most of the setting sun, but a cool breeze was starting to blow.

  Abby took a final bite of her fruit, while nine-and-a-half-month old Max lay sleeping in her other arm. “Because it hits you overnight. One day you're fine. The next you're like Niagara Falls.”

  “I still can’t believe those bras we saw today,” Leah complained. “What’s with that flappy thing? I don’t need a quick escape hatch. My husband will wear out the clasp before the baby’s even here.” We all giggled.

  “When the time comes,
you’ll appreciate those, as well as the panties that come above your big preggo belly.” Abby took a sip of her drink, looking around at the other patrons. She was the shyest girl in our group, and it was funny to hear her talking about this kind of stuff in public.

  “Oh hell no. I am not getting those.” Leah shook her head. “I know you don’t mind big ass chonies, but there is no way. I hate them and Stefen would have a heart attack. I’ll stick with the bigger, cute bras I bought and my normal panties, thank you very much.”

  Abby gave Leah a knowing smile. “Yeah. We’ll see.”

  My nose scrunched up. “Sometimes I wish you guys weren’t married to my brother and cousin. It makes listening to this stuff really difficult.”

  They started to giggle, and Leah added, “Hey, I can really make you feel uncomfortable if you want.”

  I grimaced. “Uh, no thank you. Moving on.” A server approached the table and asked if we wanted refills of our lemonade as he picked up a few of the empty plates. I sighed and answered, “Sure, why not. When you’re pregnant, you don’t buy a drink, you rent it for like five minutes.”

  The young waiter did not seem amused, but Leah and Abby snickered along with me.

  Once he left, I asked Leah, “So when are you due anyway?”

  “We go to the doctor on Tuesday, but if my calculations are right I think I’m just over four weeks.” She beamed. “What about you? Did you say you got pregnant in Catalina?”

  Puckering my lips, I nodded. “Yup. I’m a little over six weeks now.”

  “Well, thanks to you guys my husband’s been begging me to have another one.” Abby laid Max in his stroller. “This little guy is still attached to my boob twenty-four seven, and Caleb wants to knock me up again.”

  Leah wiggled her index finger at Abby. “It’s not thanks to us. You told me months ago he was trying to get you pregnant again.”

  Lifting her eyebrows, Abby sneered at Leah. “Yeah, well it’s worse now. He found out how hard it is to get pregnant when you’re nursing, and he’s counting down the days for me to stop. He’s talked about having a large family ever since the honeymoon. I think it has something to do with the fact that he was an only child.”

  Even though Stefen, Caleb and I grew up together and I may possibly be his half-sister he probably was lonely at times.

  Leah’s sassy words pulled me out of those thoughts. “I don’t think that’s the only reason, Abby. I’m sure he wants those big chichis back, all for himself,” Leah laughed out loud.

  I was going to have to get over the fact that these women were doing the same things with my brother and cousin that I was doing with Josh. “Are all men obsessed with boobs?”

  They both nodded and Leah added, “Yeah, pretty much.”

  Thinking about it, I grasped how much had changed in such a short amount of time. It was only about five months ago that I’d sat at Leah’s dining room table, believing I’d never connect to Leah and Abby this way, since I wasn’t married and didn’t have kids. Now I was in the middle of their conversation, able to participate.

  This is so unreal.

  I realized I hadn’t told the girls something. “So,” I breathed out, interlacing my fingers on the table. “Josh asked me to marry him.”

  Leah choked on her water, then used her napkin to dab her mouth. “What? Why didn’t you say that sooner?”

  Looking at my hand, Abby asked, “I don’t see a ring. What did you tell him?”

  Tilting my head, I scrunched my nose. “I told him I needed time. There was too much coming at me at once.”

  “Do you love him?” Leah asked point blank.

  “Yes. I want to marry him and I even know how I want to tell him. I’m just afraid of jumping into it. I know he loves me too, but I can’t help but think about the fact that an hour before we found out we were pregnant, there were no thoughts of marriage. We’d just moved in together. I don’t want him to marry me right now, just because of the baby.”

  Abby sat back in her chair, running her finger across her lips like she was contemplating something. “Let me ask you a question. Now that you’re pregnant, don’t you feel an even deeper connection with him?”

  Overwhelming emotions flooded me, and for the first time I was seeing things with a clarity that wasn’t overshadowed by fear, insecurities, and regrets. Yes, I loved him. Yes, I felt a deeper connection to him, as surely as if I were curled up in his arms right now. I was finally allowing myself to be happy and move on with my life. “Yeah. I do,” I answered, my throat a little thick.

  Abby bit her lip, hesitant. “How do you think he feels? He made that baby with you.” My eyes glossed over, and Abby added, “I love you, Bri, but Josh deserves a real answer. If you’re planning on marrying him at some point, he needs to know that.”

  I nodded, swiping my napkin under my eyes. “You’re right.”

  Leah sat, her mouth gaping open. “Damn, Abby. Don’t hold back on her or anything.”

  “I wasn’t trying to be mean,” Abby justified, eyes back on me. “I just hate seeing you put your life on hold out of fear. God knows I’ve done that too many times to count, but what you end up with is just wasted time.” She looked at me with sympathetic eyes.

  “You’re right,” I mumbled again. “I’m not considering Josh’s feelings.” Sniffing, I played with the napkin in my hands. “I’ll talk to him tonight.”

  Max started to cry. Before Abby had a chance to get him, I reached into the stroller and picked him up. “Man, he’s heavy, Abby. How much does he weigh?” I sat back, cradling him in my arms.

  She sighed. “A few weeks ago he was twenty pounds. He eats nonstop so I’m surprised he isn’t bigger.”

  Leah’s phone chirped with an incoming message. She looked down and smiled.

  “Please don’t tell us my brother is sexting you while we’re sitting at the table.” I moved Max to my other arm. Damn, he really is heavy. I’m gonna have to build up my mama arms.

  “Not this message—” Leah looked up, flustered. “I mean, um, no this is from my mom. She’s driving down from Sacramento with my step-father early tomorrow morning so they’ll be at the Vineyard in time to eat with us. Then they’re driving down to Alhambra to see Elena.” Leah sneered at the mention of her oldest sister’s name. From what Abby had told me, she wasn’t very nice.

  “I thought Elena was moving to Arizona with that guy,” Abby said, looking up at the umbrella flapping as a strong breeze hit.

  Leah rolled her eyes. “Honestly, if it wasn’t for my niece and nephew, I wouldn’t pay any attention to what she was doing. But I guess that guy left her, and my mom and Sal have been supporting her ever since.” Clearly bugged by the situation, she added, “Anyway, I’m just glad I get to see Mom and Sal tomorrow. Now that they live up north, I haven’t seen them since my wedding.”

  Picking up on Leah’s diversion, I asked, “What about Dani? Will she be there? I’ve been trying to get ahold of her, but she never answers. She working a lot?”

  Leah sat back, quiet.

  Tilting her head, Abby asked, “Do you know something, Leah? Should we be worried?”

  Leah played with her bottom lip. “Not sure about the worry part yet. I’m keeping an eye on her, but I haven’t seen her this withdrawn since my dad passed away when we were teens. I know she feels left out when it comes to the three of us, but I’m not sure how to help with that. She’s been taking care of Joel lately. I think she almost looks at him like a father figure. Zach says she’s there almost every day.”

  A sense of guilt hit me. “Well, now I feel like shit. She’s been down the road from me this whole time and I didn’t know.” I’ve been so focused on my life, I did what I said I wouldn’t— ignored her.

  “Don’t feel bad,” Leah insisted. “I know her. She doesn't want any of us to feel sorry for her.” Her words said one thing, but her face was still concerned.

  “I’ll keep an eye on her too,” I offered. “Maybe casually drop by the vineyard if I know she
’s there.” I picked up my cell to look at the time. “I’m gonna head out, guys. We have a big day tomorrow, and I still have a forty-minute drive ahead of me.”

  Standing up and yawning, I set off a domino effect of yawns between the three of us. Max even got in on the action before I handed him back to Abby. “Leah, you guys are still okay picking up my dad at the airport, right?”

  She stretched. “Yep. He comes in right before we head out, so we can get him for sure.”

  I looked at Abby and pleaded, “Please tell me we won’t be this tired after the babies are born.”

  Abby patted my shoulder. “I cannot tell a lie, so I won’t answer that question.”

  So much for that hope.

  I said my goodbyes, and hugged them, waving as I walked away. Strolling to my car, I couldn't believe how amazing my life was. After being so miserable for so many years, I now had the life I never would have dreamed of.

  I got into my car, fastening my seat belt, then looked up at the sky through my windshield. The sun was still setting, and it was a perfect night to lower the top on my convertible, but that would have to wait until after my call.

  Listening to the ringing through my hands-free speakers, I stared out toward the ocean in front of the parking lot.

  “Hey, baby. You on your way home yet?”

  God, he has a sexy voice. “Yeah, I’m about to leave Santa Barbara. I’m parked, looking at the most romantic sunset and needed to hear your voice first.”

  He groaned softly. “Do you have any idea what that does to me? You need to get home soon so we can enjoy that sunset together.”

  “It’ll be gone by then.” I giggled, tracing the car manufacturer’s logo on the steering wheel with my finger. “What sort of trouble have you gotten into today?”

  “You know me, you can’t leave me unsupervised. I do, however, have plans for later that’ll require your attention,” he countered in a seductive tone, sending chills of anticipation down my spine.

  I began to overheat, picturing what he had in mind. “Well, now I really can’t wait to get home.” Pausing for a second, I added, “I also have an answer to your question.”