"Oh, stop it." Louise patted Hannah's hand. "They're trying to make more of it than it is. Really. I went back to college last year.."
"To get a degree?" Hannah asked.
Louise nodded. "In sociology. I know you probably think it's silly at my age and all, but it's something I've wanted my whole life and I decided to just do it. Like they say in those commercials."
"I think it's great that you're studying for your degree. Why does it matter how old you are?"
"That's what I say."
Elizabeth smiled at her. "Louise being Louise, of course she didn't just take classes. She met a guy."
"Richard Wilson is a nice man and sometimes we go out for coffee after the lecture. There were several students there."
"In the beginning," Jordan said. "But since that semester ended, it's only been the two of you." He smiled at Hannah. "Your mother is involved with a much younger man."
Louise glared at him. "Eleven years isn't all that much and we're not really dating."
Nick leaned around Hannah and patted Louise's shoulder. "I'm proud of you, Mom. Teach 'em everything you know. Turnabout's fair play."
Jill pushed back her seat and tried to stand up. Her large belly made her movements awkward. Craig sprang to his feet and assisted his wife. She stepped back and grabbed the chair. "It's like trying to balance with a watermelon attached to your midsection."
Holly pushed the food around on her plate. "Please don't say that."
Sandy leaned over and hugged her. "Holly, I've had four kids. It's not that bad. And once the baby's born, you'll forget all about it."
Holly didn't look convinced.
"When is your baby due?" Nick asked.
"Around the first of October."
Louise pointed at Jill. "I'm hoping this one holds out for my birthday."
Jill groaned. "Louise, I want to. You know that. But it's two weeks away. I don't think I can make it."
"Sure you can. Just think calm, relaxing thoughts."
A bit of movement caught Hannah's attention. She saw Austin, the brothers' best friend, whispering with his wife. Then Rebecca shook her head. Elizabeth saw it, too.
"What are you two hiding?"
Rebecca glanced up. Her face was flawless, her skin pale and her eyes large. "Nothing really."
"It's not nothing," Louise said. "Out with it."
Rebecca glanced at her husband. "Well, we don't want to take away from the excitement of having Hannah finally a part of the family, but—"
Austin put his arm around her. "Rebecca's pregnant."
Spontaneous applause filled the room. "Congratulations." Travis pounded Austin on the back and kissed Rebecca's cheek.
"When?" Elizabeth asked.
"January 1," Rebecca replied. "A New Year's baby."
"I'm envious," Elizabeth said as she reached for the dirty plates. "At least you have a chance of having a boy."
Hannah looked at Nick questioningly. "Doesn't everyone have a chance of having a boy?" she asked.
He shrugged. "I thought so."
"Not in this family," Louise said. "At least, that's the rumor."
"It's not a rumor," Jordan said. "Don't you think Hannah proves it's true?"
Louise's smile faded. She looked uncomfortable. Jordan stretched his arm across the table and squeezed her hand. "Hey, it's okay. Really." He looked at Hannah. "No girls have been born into the Haynes family in four generations. In that time, the Haynes men became womanizers. They married but never loved their wives. Our father and his brothers were the worst of the lot. Everyone kept having babies, but only boys."
Elizabeth came back into the kitchen for a fresh load of dirty dishes. Hannah rose to help, but Elizabeth waved her back to her chair.
"Then I married Travis and we had a daughter," Elizabeth said, picking up the story. "Jordan decided it was because we were truly in love. Kyle and Sandy had a daughter."
"Mine is supposed to be a girl," Jill said, pointing to her belly.
Holly shrugged. "I don't know yet."
Jordan stroked her cheek. "I know."
Hannah was confused. "You really believe this?"
"Of course," Kyle said. "So you know what this means about you, Hannah?"
She stared at them. They were all staring back expectantly. Nick figured it out first. "You're the first girl child born to the family. Your parents were in love."
Hannah turned to Louise. The older woman stared at the table. "It was a long time ago. I'm not sure it matters."
Travis covered her hand with his. "Louise, we've all talked about this. We know Dad didn't love Mom. I'm sure they got married because she was pregnant. His wild ways would have caught up with him eventually. She happened to be the unlucky one. It's okay that he loved you."
Louise nodded but didn't speak. After a minute, she wiped away a tear. "You boys are good to me and I appreciate it." She sniffed. "Enough of this seriousness." She turned to Hannah. "When can I expect my first grandchild?"
Hannah couldn't have been more shocked if everyone had started taking off their clothes. She opened her mouth but couldn't think of a single thing to say.
Nick patted her hand. "We both want children, but right now Hannah and I are concentrating on our careers. In a few years, when we're where we want to be, we'll start a family."
"That sounds like a good plan," Louise said and began clearing her end of the table.
Hannah exhaled the breath she'd suddenly realized she'd been holding. Crisis averted again, thanks to Nick. She looked at him.
"What can I say? I'm good," he murmured. "I probably should have charged more."
She felt a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. She wasn't sure if she should slap him or kiss him. If she was being honest, she would have to admit that the kissing sounded a whole lot more fun.
"Do you have any hobbies?" Louise asked.
"Sure. Hannah plays the piano and she sings."
"That's great," Travis said. "None of us can carry a tune."
Louise glanced at her. "Oh, honey, I wish I had a piano so I could hear you play."
Hannah choked on her response. Nick was paying her back in spades for being difficult. Like her half brothers, she couldn't carry a tune if it came in its own box. She'd never once sat down at a piano.
"It's been years," she mumbled. "I'm sure I've forgotten everything."
Nick beamed. "She has a lovely voice. Sing something."
Hannah glared at him and touched her throat. "I couldn't right after eating. Perhaps another time."
"I can't wait," he said with obvious pleasure.
Elizabeth went into the kitchen, then came back and announced that they'd just taken the last of the pies from the oven. It was going to be a few minutes while they cooled. She suggested everyone move to the living room.
Hannah used the time to escape. She excused herself and started toward the front door. Once outside, she leaned against the porch railing and stared up at the sky.
It was a beautiful, clear night. She could see familiar stars, bright points of light against black velvet. Trees thick with leaves stood like tall sentinels. She crossed her arms over her chest. Forty-eight hours ago, she didn't know any of these people existed, and now they were a part of her life. How had that happened?
An old, familiar emotion stirred deep inside. She recognized the longing. The Haynes family tempted her with their humor and their love. She wanted to step inside their circle and belong. But she'd already learned a hard truth. The people she cared for rejected her. It had happened her whole life. If she came to love them, this family would send her away, too. It was so much easier not to get involved. At least the pain of being lonely was familiar and bearable.
Footsteps on the porch made her turn. Nick joined her in the darkness. He came up behind her and tried to draw her back against him. She resisted.
"I'm not speaking to you," she said.
"Why? What did I do?"
She smiled at the outrage in his voice. The d
arkness and their positions – her in front of him – hid her expression. She kept her tone stern. "You told my family I could sing and play the piano."
"Can't you?"
"Of course not."
"Gee, Hannah, I just assumed you could. Hmm, I guess if you'd been willing to share a little personal information, this wouldn't have happened."
"I refuse to accept the blame for your stories."
He whispered against her ear. "Admit it. You like my stories almost as much as you like me."
A shiver rippled through her. She wouldn't dream of saying the words aloud, but he was right, damn him. She did like his stories and she did like him. Funny how she'd spent the past year resisting him, and when they were finally together, it wasn't so very difficult to be in his company. She enjoyed his humor and his view of the world.
Remember who and what he is, a voice in her head warned. But she didn't want to listen. Not tonight.
Still close to her ear, he murmured, "Thanks for the five bucks."
She remembered him naked. "The pleasure was all mine," she said without thinking, then would cheerfully have paid the amount a hundred times over to call the words back.
"I like your looking at me," he said. "Maybe tomorrow we can turn the tables."
"I don't think so." Her tone was frosty, but inside her the heat cranked up about twenty degrees. She didn't understand her attraction to him. He wasn't her type at all. Yet there was something about him. Something irresistible.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her back against him. This time she didn't resist. He was easy to lean on. Solid and dependable. Not two words she would have imagined associating with Nick Archer.
"I know this is overwhelming," he said, "but it will get easier."
"You think so?"
"Promise. The 'getting to know you' stage is always the worst. They're already charmed by you."
"I think you're the one doing all the charming."
He suddenly turned her toward him. Before she could protest, he drew her close and tugged on her hands until they were around his neck. "We've got an audience," he said quietly and jerked his head toward some bushes. "A few of the children. We'd better make this good."
Make what good? she started to ask, then read the answer in his eyes. She glanced toward the bushes but didn't see or hear anything. "Are you sure?"
"I saw them."
She didn't know if she believed him or not. Maybe he was lying. Maybe this was an excuse to kiss her. She hoped it was. Then she closed her eyes and gave herself up to the moment.
He kissed the way he did everything else – with an ease, grace and charm that left her breathless. His mouth possessed hers gently. A sweet caress, a soft brush of sensitive skin against sensitive skin. Her fingers clutched at the thick muscles in his shoulders. His hands held on to her waist. She wondered if he did so to keep her close or if he wanted to prevent her from running away. If she'd had any breath left, she would have told him there was nowhere else she would rather be. Fortunately for her, he didn't think to ask.
She was tall and used to feeling awkward in a man's embrace. Yet Nick made her feel petite and feminine. He kissed her as she had never been kissed before, as if he needed to woo her. His mouth moved back and forth, sending a fiery hunger along her arms and down her torso. Without meaning to, without planning it, she pressed into him, bringing their thighs and chests in contact.
His arms wrapped around her, hauling her still nearer. One hand gripped the back of her head; the other rested on her hip. She could feel the imprint of his fingers, the strength of him.
He touched the tip of his tongue to her bottom lip and she parted for him. He entered slowly, tasting her, teasing her, making her vibrate with passion. When his tongue brushed against hers, she felt the current jolt through her all the way to her toes. Her breasts began to ache, as did her thighs. Bones became liquid and she flowed against him.
They clung together as their need grew. She'd made love before, she understood about desire, but the need – the acute necessity to join with this man – surprised her. Even more startling was how much she wanted to trust him.
She wanted his hands everywhere. She wanted him naked, as he had been before. She wanted to touch him, feel him inside of her. She wanted him to take her to a place of surrender, to shatter her into oblivion and then reassemble her whole.
He broke their kiss and placed his mouth on her neck. Her breathing was rapid and shallow, as was his. They generated enough heat and energy to create a tropical storm. The hand on her hip slipped lower to cup her derriere. The one on the back of her head kneaded her scalp and played with her long braid.
As she arched against him, she inhaled a prayer of thanks that he was leaving the next day. She would never be able to hold on to her control if he stayed.
"I think they're gone," he said, his words muffled against her ski.
"The imaginary children?"
He smiled at her. "They were real."
She let her hands slide down his arms, then she stepped back. "As real as my piano playing?" He started to speak, but she placed her index finger over his mouth. "It doesn't matter," she told him. "I don't mind."
She should mind, but she didn't. He was breaking down barriers and she couldn't make him stop. At least by tomorrow she would be safe. After all, what damage could he do from a few hundred miles away?
* * *
Chapter 8
« ^ »
Hannah felt as if she'd been asked in to explain her behavior to the principal. As she entered Jordan's living room the next day, she found her four brothers and Louise waiting for her. Austin wasn't there, which increased the feeling of being sent to the office for some transgression. After all, he was nearly family and if he wasn't here…
She swallowed hard. They'd found out about Nick and were going to confront her. Perhaps it was better to get it out in the open now.
Craig saw her first, rose to his feet and motioned for her to enter the room. "Don't look so scared," he said and took her arm, leading her to the sofa. Louise sat at one end, Travis at the other. "This isn't the Spanish Inquisition," he continued. "We expect you have some questions about what happened in the past and about us. Talking about these things is difficult at first, but easier in the long run. We've had a lifetime of secrets and we don't want to keep them anymore. Not from you. You're our sister."
She stared up into his brown eyes. Eyes the same shape as her own. He was tall and good-looking, with a warm, kind smile. She wanted to throw herself at him and have him hold her until all the little hurts went away. What would it have been like to grow up with Craig as her big brother? She had a feeling it would have been wonderful.
"I…" She raised her hands, palms up. "This isn't about Nick?"
"Nick?" Louise asked. "No. But if you'd be more comfortable with him here, we'll understand."
"We figured just the five of us would be less intimidating," Travis said, also coming to his feet. Like the rest of his brothers, he was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. The casual clothing emphasized his strength and muscular build. "Maybe we should go get Nick to even out the numbers."
Hannah shook her head. Whatever they wanted, it obviously wasn't to confront her about her pretend marriage. "That's fine. I wasn't sure at first, but I think I can manage on my own."
"Have a seat," Craig said.
She slipped past Louise and settled on the center sofa cushion. Travis was on her other side. Kyle and Jordan had pulled wing chairs close and Craig sat down on the coffee table in front of the sofa.
He rested his elbows on his knees. "I'm not sure where to begin." He glanced at Louise.
The older woman nodded. "I'll go first." She angled toward Hannah. "Earl – your father – doesn't know about you."
Hannah was surprised to feel a rush of disappointment. "Why?"
"We don't talk anymore. It's been years. Since before he retired and moved to Florida." Louise's blue eyes darkened with concern. "I wasn't sur
e what to say to him. You would have … complicated things. It's selfish of me, I know."
Hannah stared at her for a long time. She turned her attention to each of her brothers. No one would meet her gaze.
For a moment, she wondered what they were hiding, then the truth burst through and lit up her mind like a floodlight. "You think he's not going to care about me."
"That's not true," Louise said quickly.
Craig shook his head. "Louise, we discussed this before you ever wrote to Hannah."
"I know." Her voice was small. She cleared her throat, then continued. "I'm not sure what Earl will think about you. I don't want you hurt by him. He's not the most sensitive man."
Hannah hadn't realized she was hoping to meet her father until the chance was taken away from her.
"We all thought it was best to wait," Travis said. "Give yourself a couple of weeks to come to terms with all of this. When you're ready to get in touch with Earl, we'll be happy to give you his phone number and smooth the way."
"I'll call if that's what you want," Louise said.
"I'm overwhelmed," Hannah admitted. "I hadn't thought about getting in touch with him until now. I don't know what to think." She touched Louise's hand. "You loved him."
"That was a long time ago. He wasn't someone I could depend on."
"None of us could," Craig said bitterly. "My father used to brag that he spent every night in his own bed. The fact that he'd been with other women before he got to that bed didn't matter to him."
Kyle shifted in his chair. "Obviously we're not sorry he's gone."
"You've never tried to reconcile with him?" she asked. For her, it was inconceivable that a child would want to be apart from a parent. She'd spent so many years alone, praying for someone to come along who would care about her.
"He was violent," Jordan said simply.
Hannah repressed a shiver. She'd spent a few weeks at a foster home like that. What she remembered the most was being afraid all the time. Each breath had been thick with the fear that the next blow could come at any moment.
"How did you four turn out to be so normal? You're all married, with great wives and happy kids. Someone must have done something right."
HUSBAND BY THE HOUR Page 10
