The Best Man's Baby

by Victoria James

  “We always have that little piece of who we were when we were growing up inside of us. You can’t completely lose it. Those experiences have made us who we are. If we have a daughter, I want to teach her she can be anything in the world, that she can do anything. I want her to be so strong she doesn’t care what the number is on the scale. I want to spare her everything I went through.”

  He cleared his throat. “I don’t think there could be a better mother than you. I don’t think there could be a better role model than you. Every time I think I’ve figured you out, you floor me. I’ve never known anyone like you, and if you think any woman I’ve ever been with could compare to you, you’re wrong,” he said, approaching the bed, needing to close the distance between them. He needed to show her with his words, with his hands, with his lips how much she meant to him. He saw the doubt flicker across her eyes, noticed the stiffness in her shoulders.

  She opened her mouth. He cut her off.

  “Things have happened to me, and I’ve done things I’m not proud of, but if you somehow got it in your head that I didn’t look twice at you because of the way you looked you’ve got it all wrong. I’ve wanted you for a long, long time.”

  She shook her head, her eyes locked with his. He nodded with a small smile. He glanced down at her lips, the lips he couldn’t seem to ever get enough of. His stomach tightened as her eyes dropped to his lips and her mouth opened slightly.

  “What things?” she whispered.

  He felt like she was peering into his soul and for a half second he entertained telling her, but how could he tell her something no one in the world knew, not even his brothers? And how could someone who’d always done everything by the book understand some of the choices he’d made? But this wasn’t about him. This was about Claire.

  “It doesn’t matter right now. You have to believe me when I tell you no one has ever even come close to you. I have never cared about anyone as much as I care about you. And I know it looks like I’ve been with a lot of women, but there really haven’t been that many. I didn’t go to bed with each of those women you saw me with, and I don’t want you to ever compare yourself to anyone.”

  She shook her head. A hint of a smile touched her lips and Jake felt a jolt in his stomach. It was like a light switch; she smiled and he lit up.

  “I think you’re trying to be nice to me because I’m going to be the mother of your child. Do you remember the night at Ella’s first birthday party? You barely even looked at me.”

  “Red dress, stopped at your knees, clung to every sweet curve you own. And I thought the dress should have had a slit in it, but the cleavage more than made up for it,” he said gruffly, satisfied when her mouth dropped open and her face turned beet red. “I ignored you because I knew you had feelings for me.”

  “I didn’t have feelings for you. It was a sort of attraction.”

  “Fine, whatever. But if you want to know the truth, I didn’t think your father would approve,” he said, watching her face grow serious.

  “My father? My father likes you.”

  Jake shrugged. “Sure, but not as the man for his daughter.”

  “So then why did you—”

  “So then I had too much to drink at the wedding too, and I’d never held you in my arms before so it had been easier to resist you until then. But that night, there was no way I couldn’t touch you or make love to you.”

  “I think that’s an excuse.”

  “Why would I make an excuse?”

  “Because I think the real reason is I’m not the type of woman you’re used to dating.”

  He really needed some sort of map to follow Claire’s train of thought. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  She pursed her lips. “For one thing, I go to parties fully dressed.”

  He stifled his grin. This was getting interesting. “Well, you know, no one is obligating you to go fully dressed. I, for one, would be more than happy to see you half-naked.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Secondly, when I was in kindergarten I learned we keep our hands to ourselves.”

  She was referring to Amanda. “Believe me, I’d love for you to ignore that lesson…when it comes to me, of course.”

  “Every woman you’ve ever dated has been some walking Barbie doll.”

  “That’s who’s come on to me.”

  “What, you had no choice?”

  “I was never looking for a relationship. You would rather believe I’m this shallow, superficial guy than to think I can appreciate a woman for more than the way she looks.”

  “You don’t have a good track record, buddy.”

  “I spend five minutes, okay, ten minutes tops getting ready in the morning, and that includes showering. I never really gave a damn about how I looked. I’m fit because I have to be for my line of work.”

  He looked at her until he was sure he’d erased even the slightest doubt. “Did I ever tell you that you have the most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen?”

  “They’re brown, Jake,” she whispered with a heartbreaking attempt at a wry smile.

  “Yeah, like warm, dark chocolate, the kind of chocolate you want to sip and drink and drown in. I want to touch you and hold you until you have no memory of high school. I want you to know you are the only woman who has ever turned me on with just a smile, and I think you’re drop-dead sexy and smart as hell. Right now I want to be inside you, the only place I’ve ever felt whole,” he whispered, as he watched tears fill her eyes.

  She squeezed her eyes shut. Right now he didn’t care about anything other than making Claire feel good. He reached out and cupped her face with his hands, feeling her tremble beneath him. Leaning forward, he met Claire’s lips, sensing her need for him, for comfort, for security. Her hands clutched the back of his neck, drawing him in. A ripple of awareness shook him to the core at the knowledge that she had just become the most important person in his life.

  Chapter Nine

  Jake picked up the last of his belongings before giving the area a once-over. He was on the second floor of their current condo project. Because he’d shifted some of the crew to the town house project, he was needed here. The building was still in the framing stage and without walls yet. It had an unobstructed view of Red River and the surrounding countryside. He had been heading up this project from the beginning, but that was about to change. While he was busy making his own business plans, he never stopped to reflect on how much he was going to miss working with his team, with his brother.

  Clouds had started to roll in and he could practically taste the thunderstorms on the horizon. It was an abnormally hot spring day, and Jake had long since torn off his shirt and tucked it into the back pocket of his jeans.

  There was just a handful of workers still around. Friday afternoon before a long weekend, with record-breaking heat, made for a hell of a lot of excuses for people to leave early. He glanced down at his watch. He’d have to leave soon himself because he was supposed to meet Claire at Holly and Quinn’s for dinner.

  A low whistle from the man working beside him made him lift his head, pulling him from his thoughts. Jake glanced at the employee who had become a friend over the years. “What’s wrong?” Jake called out.

  “Nothing’s wrong. Just some nice eye candy for a hot day,” Marcus said, wiping his sweating brow with his shirt and nudging his chin toward a female figure walking through the muddy construction site. Jake’s eyes narrowed, his stomach twisting painfully—he’d recognize that form anywhere. It was the one beside him at night, every night for the past week.

  What the hell was Claire thinking? She was walking across the muddy, dangerous construction site in three-inch heels and a clingy sundress-type thing that seemed to highlight every sweet curve of her body.

  “Jake!” He heard Claire yell up to him. He gave her a terse wave and then ran down the stairs to where she was standing like a pinup model at the bottom of the work site.

  “I have some exciting news and I thought we could drive over to Ho
lly and Quinn’s together,” she said as he stood in front of her moments later.

  She wiped a strand of hair that had fallen out of her hair clip and he had to flex his hand not to reach out and run his fingers through it. He’d barely heard what she’d said. The spring rain that had been threatening all day finally decided to break free of the dense, heavy clouds, and raindrops started falling on them.

  “Let’s go. And next time you want to come here, tell me first. It’s no place for a pregnant woman,” Jake said, grabbing her hand and tugging her toward the car. Or trying to. She wasn’t budging.

  “Well that’s the most sexist remark—”

  He bit back the curse that was on the tip of his tongue. He was in for it. His one reckless comment was about to cost him at least five minutes of arguing with her.

  “I’m not trying to be sexist,” he said through clenched teeth as the rain picked up and her already clingy dress became downright indecent. What he wanted to do was take her the hell out of here, back to his place, peel off the wet fabric…

  “Are you telling me you don’t have any women employees on your construction crew?” His eyes darted from her outraged expression to her chest. Since she had plunked her hands on her hips in typical Claire-arguing stance, the scooped neckline of her dress gaped open. He could see the pale-pink lace bra she was wearing underneath and he knew for a fact she looked even better without the sexy lingerie on. It took all his self-control not to undress her right now. Then he remembered where they were and shot a glance over his shoulder. He tried to button the white cardigan that didn’t look as though it was supposed to be buttoned.

  She swatted his hands away with an irritated noise.

  “What is wrong with you?”

  “It’s raining, you’re not dressed in any protective gear, and you shouldn’t be standing out here.”

  “Why? You’re out here.”

  Jake ran his fingers through his hair, resisting the urge to pull it out. He had never met someone so contradictory. “It’s raining and you’re pregnant—”

  “I really don’t see the correlation.”

  “If you don’t get into the car, I am going to pick you up—”

  “I swear to God, if you pick me up in public, in front of all these men, I will never speak to you again.”

  Jake stood glowering down at her and wondered how it was possible she could look so hot and be so completely irritating at the same time. He knew she meant what she said, and he knew he’d never be able to live down hauling her out of here. With a frustrated sigh he grabbed her hand and led her out to the parking lot.

  “Stop walking so fast, one of my heels is going to get caught in this mud. Besides, you didn’t even ask me what my news was. You wanted me to be open. This is me making a concerted effort to tell you things.”

  He stopped walking abruptly as the rain pummeled down harder on them. She was actually volunteering information about herself, involving him, just as he’d asked.

  Claire was fishing though her purse, oblivious to what he was thinking. “And I know, you’re probably going to insist on driving my car.”

  “I have no problems with you driving us,” Jake said, almost laughing. “What did you want to tell me?”

  “I’m not selling my business. I’m keeping it.”

  He went completely still. The night of their first argument, the charts, the plans, played through his mind. And now, without speaking the words, she was telling him she was trusting him enough to have a role in their lives. He knew he needed to do the same. He was a hypocrite if he didn’t, but he needed to find a way to let her in as well.

  “Thank you,” he whispered hoarsely.

  “For what?”

  “For trusting me.” She turned to look at him, her eyes drifted over his bare chest, and he saw the exact moment her expression went from irritated to aroused. And then when she did the little flick that her tongue always did when she was turned on, he took her hand that was holding the keys and tugged her over to him, his other hand on her waist.

  “I saw that look,” he said with a muffled laugh against her smooth throat.

  “What look?”

  “That’s the ‘Jake, please make love to me right here, right now’ look,” he said, smiling against her mouth, effectively sealing what was sure to be a denial. “I wish we weren’t in a parking lot right now,” he whispered as she willingly molded her body against his. She let out a little moan as his hands wandered over her curves, reminding him why they needed to get out of here.

  “Your place is closer,” Claire whispered into his neck, her hands on his bare chest making him suck in his breath. He groaned out loud, using every ounce of self-control not to start feasting on her right then and there.

  …

  “Do I look okay?” Claire whispered in his ear. Jake had no idea how the softest, most innocent whisper could set off such a chain reaction throughout his body. He looked over at her.

  “You look hot,” he whispered in her ear, smiling as her skin flushed.

  “No, what I meant was does it look like we’ve been…” She wiggled her eyebrows and made a rolling motion with her hands. He leaned forward to grab his beer.

  “Oh yeah, Claire, we both look as though we’ve been thoroughly—”

  “Uh, sorry to interrupt your party for two, but we’ve been sitting here watching you guys whispering for ten minutes.” The sound of Quinn’s deep voice made Jake snap his head up. He looked around the table. Everyone had an amused expression on their face. They had arrived at Holly and Quinn’s a half hour ago and were just sitting down to eat dinner. They had stopped at Claire’s house so she could change, and then driven back to the construction site so he could pick up his bike.

  His brothers had taken one glance at them when they’d stepped into the house and had given him a knowing look. Now he was trying, quite unsuccessfully, to keep up with the conversation when the only thing he felt like doing was being in bed with Claire.

  “What was that, Quinn?” Jake drawled as he took a sip of beer.

  “I said, I know I’ve asked you before, but maybe now that you’re about to be a father you might rethink my offer to be a partner in Manning Construction.”

  Jake put the beer down slowly, completely caught off guard. Why did Quinn have to bring this up tonight? He felt Claire’s curious stare. Everyone except her knew where this was going. Why couldn’t his brother take no for an answer? He knew he should tell him why there would never be any way he could partner with Manning and Son Construction Company.

  Jake loved his job. He loved being able to build. He loved working with his hands. He loved creating. And he hoped one day he could pass that on to his kids, but it wasn’t enough anymore. He needed to prove to Claire and to his kids that he was his own man, capable of being a success, without help from anyone.

  This morning, ownership of W.W. Custom Homes had been signed over to him. There was no going back. There was no rethinking it. He knew deep down in his gut this was the only way he would feel like he wasn’t some pathetic freeloader. He had his own company now. He would have his own legacy to pass on to his child. He was going to have to tell Quinn, but in private when he could explain.

  The cold, sweating beer on the table in front of him reminded him of the time ticking by. He tried to look casual as he leaned across the table to grab the bottle of ketchup. He squirted it on his already-cold hamburger, trying to look as though he didn’t have a care in the world.

  “Jake, sign on as a partner at Manning and Son.”

  Quinn’s voice didn’t permeate. Instead, he heard another man, another voice, another time. Jake, you will never own a part of Manning and Son. It’s not yours. You have no right to that company, got it?

  He felt Claire’s smooth, soft hand clasp his, triggering a heat wave through his body. Nothing like her touch to take him out of the abyss of the past and into the here and now. He squeezed her hand gently, not looking at her, knowing her eyes would be filled with questi
ons.

  Every night since she’d told him about her youth, he’d been tempted to just tell her everything. After making love to her, they would fall asleep together, and then at some point in the night, he’d wake up. In those quiet hours of the night, with Claire resting peacefully in his arms, he’d relive everything. What his life had really been like. What even his siblings didn’t know about him. The hurt, the pain, the lies. He wanted to tell her what really happened, why he left after his parents had died. Why he was the way he was. Why he was doing this. He wanted to tell her everything, but he couldn’t shake the fear that she would look at him differently, the way his parents had seen him.

  He looked his brother squarely in the eyes. “Nope, told you before, I don’t want to be a partner,” he answered finally, squirting an obscene amount of ketchup onto his burger.

  “What if I told you I’m not buying that anymore?”

  Jake placed the bottle of ketchup down slowly, staring at his brother, not flinching. He knew that look. He knew by the way his brother leaned forward, he knew by the frown that creased his forehead, he wasn’t going to drop it. Quinn was stubborn, but he could meet him head-on.

  Jake shrugged, trying to keep cool, trying to make it look as though this issue didn’t cut, even though every time Quinn brought it up it cut deeper and deeper.

  “This is your company, Quinn.”

  “It’s just as much yours—”

  Jake shook his head. “No, buddy, you’re wrong. What’s the name of this company?” He gripped the armrests hard as he waited for Quinn to answer, finding it harder and harder not to get riled up.

  Quinn groaned loudly. “That again. Dad started the company after I was born. I was the only son at the time. Big deal, we’ll change it.”

  “Nope. If Dad had wanted it to be Manning and Sons, he would have changed it himself.”