Reunited...with Baby

by Sara Orwig

  The necklace was in a box lined with black velvet. He’d had the jewelry appraised, insured and then put in boxes. He put the others away, carrying the velvet box with him. He wanted a present for Carl, too. He went to a storage closet and rummaged through boxes until he found the one he wanted. It was a little teddy bear that sat on a shelf in his room. His grandmother had given it to him, and his mother never would let him play with it because she was afraid he would tear it up, so it was in good shape.

  He took both presents and put them in gift bags, then tried to call Scarlett again but still got no answer. He didn’t want to think about her with Tanner.

  Luke got his travel bag to pack, when he heard the bell to the security gate. Surprised, he went to see who was at the gate. He looked at the picture on the monitor, and his heart thudded.

  The two most important faces on earth were smiling out at him. Scarlett held Carl as she rang again.

  “I’ll open the gate. Come on in.”

  He raced downstairs and to the door to open it as Scarlett walked to the door. She held Carl in her arms, and she had a small, shaggy black dog on a leash. Carl held out his arms.

  Luke wrapped them both in his embrace and kissed Scarlett while his heart pounded.

  “I feel as if I’m dreaming,” he said, looking down at her and then at Carl, who gave him a dimpled grin. “Scarlett, why are you here? You and Carl and a dog?”

  “I was trying to figure out that kiss—why you rushed into my office, kissed me like it was your last hour on earth and then rushed out for California. That isn’t exactly like you. While I was thinking, Toby called me to ask if I was going back to Tanner.”

  “Yeah, Tanner came by my office to tell me you are, but you didn’t fly out here to tell me that,” Luke said, looking intently at her. “Not with a baby and a dog. I didn’t believe him.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t because of course I’m not going back with him, I couldn’t figure out why you rushed in to kiss me like that until I learned what Tanner had said. Your kiss was the kiss of a man who wanted to stay. A man in love.”

  “Thank heavens for your brother.”

  “You kissed me as if it might be the last kiss of your life. To my way of thinking, that was the kiss of a man in love. Am I not right?”

  “You figured that out just like that.” His smile vanished.

  “Yes, I did. That kiss meant you love me. I flew out here to fight for that love. I’m not sixteen and giving up when you pack and leave Texas.”

  “That’s awesome. Tanner shocked me and when I hurt so badly, I really thought about my life. I realized I love you with all my being, a love I’ll feel for the rest of our lives. When I realized that I truly love you, I also faced another truth about myself. Instead of giving you up, I can give up the notion of having bad genes because of my parents.”

  “Luke, thank goodness.”

  “I realized that I won’t become a drunkard like my parents. I have self-control—enough for a lot of things, including resisting alcohol all the time. Mostly though, Tanner gave me such a jolt when he said you were getting back together—that was like having my heart ripped out. That’s when I realized that I was deeply, seriously in love with you.”

  “Ah, Luke,” she said.

  “That’s why I went to your office and kissed you goodbye, but flying back here, I had time to really think things through and get rid of old fears.”

  “Luke, I’m so glad that you’ve let go that idea of being like your parents. There’s one problem that’s mine—I can’t have your children. That problem isn’t going away.”

  “Carl is a super baby and I love his mom with all my heart. Scarlett, if little Carl needs a sibling, we can adopt.”

  “You really mean that, don’t you?”

  “With all my heart. I’m not doing this right, but I can’t wait a minute longer. Scarlett, will you marry me?”

  “Yes, I will. I thought you’d never ask, so I came to California to ask you.”

  “I have a plane getting ready to take me back to Texas. I’m glad we didn’t pass each other. I was coming back for you and Carl.”

  “You were coming back for me and Carl,” she repeated. “You weren’t going to leave me this time.”

  “Never, Scarlett.”

  He kissed her briefly. When he released her, he looked down at her and took Carl from her and set the bag she carried on the floor. “Hi, little guy. How do you like Silicon Valley? Scarlett, what is this little black dog?”

  “It’s a little black rescue dog. He’s almost a year old, well-trained, sweet, and he’s to make up for your old Mutt.”

  Luke laughed and shook his head. “Come inside, my darling. Are you hungry? Did you eat?”

  “I’m too excited to eat, and Carl was getting sleepy, but I think that’s gone now. Oh, my goodness, look at your house. Luke, we’ve got to get a pen for Carl or something. This is the most un-childproof house I’ve ever seen. Mercy. I’m not sure we can stay here. It’s perfect for the dog, though. Mutt Two can stay here.”

  “Oh, yes, you’ll stay here, right in my arms tonight and Carl can stay if I have to get someone to bring new furniture out here this afternoon. Or empty one of these rooms. Matter of fact, I’ll get on it right now and get us a baby bed or whatever he can sleep in. Scarlett, I don’t know much about babies.”

  “You’ll learn,” she said, still looking around.

  “You’re really going to marry me?” he asked and he looked at his phone.

  “Yes, I am. I don’t know if we’ll have to see each other on weekends. I’d like to stay in Royal and keep my practice, so this may be a long-distance marriage.”

  He slipped his arm around her waist. “No way, my sweet. I’m ahead of you because I’ve been thinking about it.”

  “How about this,” he said, wrapping his arms around her waist while Carl sat on the floor playing with a toy Scarlett had given him. “We live on my ranch and we’ll have a house in Dallas, too. I’ll open a West-Tech office—”

  She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. “Yes, yes, yes. You’d do that for me? I love you, Luke. I’ve loved you all my life.”

  “I love you, Scarlett, and I’ve loved you all my life, too.”

  “We have a lot of lovin’ to make up for.”

  “That we do.” He winked. “And I’ll get a baby bed in the next hour.”

  “You can’t get a baby bed in an hour.”

  He quirked a brow. “Wanna bet?”

  “Okay. I’ll bet you one two-hour session of hot sex that you can’t have a baby bed bought, delivered, set up, and sheets washed, dried and ready in two hours from now.”

  “You’re on. Watch what money can do. I’ll get the sheets washed first.” He made calls, and when he finished, he turned to her. “Now, I’ll show you my big bedroom, which we can share, and we’ll put Carl in the next adjoining room in my suite. And, by the way, you’re the first woman to stay in this house. That makes you extra special.”

  Her eyes sparkled with happiness. “I am extra special. I’m marrying an incredibly wonderful man.”

  He grinned and tugged her into his arms. They heard Carl making little noises and looked around. He sat holding his arms up, and Scarlett laughed as Luke scooped up Carl to hold him, too, as he kissed her. “We’ll be a happy family, Luke,” she said, certain they would be and that there would be at least one more child in their family.

  Luke took the 1eash off the dog and pet it. The dog leaned against Luke’s knee and wagged its tail. Luke looked at Scarlett. “Mutt Two. He’s a good dog, Scarlett.” Luke stood and walked to her to take Carl in his arms. He held Carl with one arm and put the other around Scarlett. “C’mon, Mutt Two,” he called over his shoulder and looked down at Scarlett. “I love you, and I need to make up for a lot of lost time with you. I love you with all my heart.”

>   “I’ve always loved you with all my heart,” she said, smiling at him. “Life will be good, Luke.”

  “It will now,” he said, smiling back at her, and her heart pounded with joy because soon she would marry the man she had always loved.

  * * * * *

  Don’t miss a single installment of the

  TEXAS CATTLEMAN’S CLUB: THE IMPOSTOR miniseries.

  Will the scandal of the century lead to love for these rich ranchers?

  THE RANCHER’S BABY by New York Times

  bestselling author Maisey Yates

  RICH RANCHER’S REDEMPTION by

  USA TODAY bestselling author Maureen Child

  A CONVENIENT TEXAS WEDDING

  by Sheri WhiteFeather

  EXPECTING A SCANDAL by Joanne Rock

  REUNITED...WITH BABY by USA TODAY

  bestselling author Sara Orwig

  THE NANNY PROPOSAL by Joss Wood

  SECRET TWINS FOR THE TEXAN

  by Karen Booth

  LONE STAR SECRETS by Cat Schield

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  The Twin Birthright

  by Catherine Mann

  One

  Some women dreamed of giving birth in a hospital, husband holding her hand.

  Some visualized delivering at home, man of her dreams breathing alongside.

  No one fantasized about bringing a new life into the world in an SUV, in a snowstorm, with her ex-fiancé playing “catch the baby.” Or in Naomi Steele’s case, babies. Plural. Two of them. The first of which was due to make an appearance with the next...

  “Push! Push, Naomi, push,” Royce Miller’s soft, deep voice radiated confidence in the confines of his Suburban, heater blasting inside, snow pelting the vehicle outside.

  “I am pushing, damn it. I’ve been pushing.” Because there wasn’t any need to wait. No help was on the way. Cell phone reception was almost nil on a deserted highway north of Anchorage, Alaska. Sporadic bursts of connectivity offered only minimal reassurance that anyone had heard their pleas for rescue when she’d gone into labor a month early.

  Even if help could make it to them through this Alaska blizzard.

  The seats of the SUV had been flattened, blankets under her, an emergency kit including first aid spread out beside her. Thank goodness he’d kept his vehicle well stocked in the event of being stranded in a storm. But then of course he had. He was always analytical, organized, the brilliant scientist and professor who planned for any—and every—contingency.

  She had her own analytical side as an attorney, but was more known for her flair for the dramatic, which had served her well in the courtroom more than once.

  Royce knelt on the floor, his muscular body wedged in, but he still managed to look comfortable. At ease. In control.

  Pain ripped through her, her whole body locked in one big muscle spasm beyond anything she’d read about or heard about in child birthing classes. She understood intellectually that a couple of pushes wouldn’t get the job done, especially for a first-time mom, but she was so done. Ready to quit. Close to tears and burning to scream, but she didn’t want to put any additional burden on Royce when he had to be afraid, in spite of his calm demeanor.

  Beads of sweat rolled down his face.

  And she knew she wasn’t going to get any relief with this contraction. Disappointment stung even as the pain eased. She exhaled and sagged back. Taking the moment to store up every kernel of energy as best she could.

  Light from outside grew dimmer with the ending day and thick storm. Their car lights provided minimal illumination. Royce had hung two flashlights with bungie cords. She didn’t want to think about what would happen if this took too long and they ran out of gasoline.

  After months on bed rest for her blood pressure, Naomi had been released by the doctor today. Once they’d finished the appointment, all she’d wanted was a simple afternoon drive and to celebrate a less restricted final month of her pregnancy. She was sure about their due date, since hers had been an in vitro fertilization, with a donor sperm. When she’d made the decision, she’d been worried her chance to be a mother was passing her by; that was before she met eccentric research scientist Royce Miller. Their relationship had been doomed from the start. She’d been just over two months pregnant and it had been too easy for him to use her babies as a substitute for his unresolved past.

  Royce patted her knee with his broad hand. “Are you warm enough?” The wind howled, nearly drowning out his words. “I’ve got my coat ready for the babies, but I can give you my shirt.”

  She knew those beads of sweat on his forehead had nothing to do with the temperature in the vehicle.

  “I’m fine, really.” Even if she had been cold—which she wasn’t because currently her body was on fire with pain—she couldn’t take anything more from Royce. He’d given up so much of his life for her, even after they’d ended their engagement. He’d seemed to feel obligated to stay by her side until the babies were born. Every day since the breakup had been bittersweet torture. Being with him filled her with regret, sadness but—ultimately—resolve.

  And she’d needed that resolve to stand her ground—she’d made the right decision in ending things—and stand up to this silently stubborn man. He’d steadfastly continued to show up with his own agenda.

  Like insisting on driving her to the doctor’s office today even though she had over a dozen family members who would have stepped in to help. After the smooth-as-silk OB visit, Royce hadn’t driven far and the weather report had been clear as a bell. They’d been doing everything right—

  Another contraction hit her hard and fast, with minimal buildup to warn her. She held back the urge to shout, and forced even breaths in and out—well, as even as possible. The distant sound of Royce counting to ten grounded her until, finally, the contraction subsided and she could relax again.

  He was always so careful and precise. Unlike her reckless self. They’d broken up twice, and the second time had stuck. Well, stuck in that they stopped sleeping together and any mention of the love they’d once shared was off-limits.

  And like karma laughing in her face at supposed boundaries, here she was, stuck in a snowstorm with him, just like the day they’d met nearly six months ago. Theirs had
been a whirlwind romance, with an engagement that had ended nearly as quickly as it had begun.

  They were just too different. They wanted different things.

  At first, they’d struggled with her need to prove her strength and independence, a by-product of her teenage battle with cancer. His overprotective ways had been stifling. But eventually they’d found a balance in that. Even so, in the end, there’d been another, larger problem lurking, one core to their personalities. Something they couldn’t change.

  He was a brilliant, reclusive man who thrived on his work, but battled emotional insecurity, searching for a “replacement” family. She was an extrovert who flourished in the courtroom and in the company of her big, boisterous family. She’d nearly gone stir-crazy in their secluded cabin. And he’d been climbing the walls when they’d tried living in the city. She couldn’t bear to see him lose what made him so special in the first place. They’d had to admit they were just too different.

  And he was an admirable man. That ripped at her most of all. Still, she’d tried to push him away, but no matter what she’d said and done, he wouldn’t go. His stubbornness only solidified her opinion that any emotion he’d invested in their time together was all about the babies.

  He had insisted on staying in touch during her pregnancy, helping, even though the babies weren’t his biological children. Seeing him was beyond difficult. Her heart broke over and over again. But given that he consulted for her family’s oil business, there was no avoiding each other completely. They had to learn to coexist peacefully.

  She just hadn’t expected that coexisting to include him parked between her bent knees delivering her twins—

  Another pain gripped her, and as hard as she tried to force those breaths in and out, panic built. “I’m scared,” she gasped, fighting against the pain, which only made it worse. “What if something’s wrong? We’re out in the middle of nowhere—”