Ramsey smiled. “That sounds like Matt.”
“I just didn’t expect to be so tired afterwards.”
Ramsey’s smile slipped from his face. “Chloe, you don’t need to over-do it. You know what the nurse said.”
She placed a hand on his arm. “I’m fine, Ramsey. I just need a nap is all.”
“Promise me that you’ll get some rest. I don’t want you to work too hard.”
Chloe rolled her eyes. “I doubt that working a few hours a day is working too hard. I’ll be fine.”
Ramsey reached out and gently took her chin between his thumb and forefinger, forcing her to look at him. “I’m serious, Chloe. The nurse said you needed to be careful. If I thought for one minute that you were working simply to pay rent, I’d refuse to accept your payments.”
“I’m not working just to pay rent. I have other responsibilities, too,” she said softly.
He caressed her cheek briefly. “Just promise that you’ll be careful.”
“I promise.”
He nodded. “That’s all I can ask.”
“I think I’ll walk back over to the house with Kiera and take a nap until you’re ready to go home.”
“I’ll come over and pick you up when it’s time to go.”
“Okay,” Chloe said, smiling as she stood and brushed the crumbs from her dress.
Dropping her plate in the trash, she followed Kiera from the garage and across to the Victorian, completely oblivious to the murderous look on Michael’s face as she passed by.
Chapter Thirteen
Saturday arrived swiftly. Chloe stretched as she woke and took in the beautiful morning. The day of the party had finally arrived and she couldn’t have been more excited. She’d spent the last few days getting to know Ramsey. She wouldn’t say they were dating exactly, but things were definitely progressing nicely.
Pushing back the covers, she struggled to sit up. Her stomach seemed to grow almost daily. The baby was getting bigger and bigger and was becoming more and more active. Pushing to her feet, she selected a three-quarter sleeve white muslin dress with an aqua cardigan and matching ballet flats. Even though the party wasn’t until later in the day, she was spending the morning with Ramsey.
Chloe laid her outfit out on the bed and walked into the small bathroom. Turning on the shower, she brushed her teeth and untangled her hair. When the water was the right temperature, she undressed and stepped under the warm spray. The small shower seemed to be shrinking with her ever-growing stomach, but she enjoyed her morning showers just the same.
When she was finished, she dried off and moisturized her skin. She had already noticed faint stretch marks along her hips and the undersides of her breasts. Chloe knew that no amount of lotion would stop the small vein like marks from marring her skin, but she hoped the lotion would add the elasticity her skin needed for the changes her body was going through.
Toweling her hair dry, she combed it free of tangles. Walking into the bedroom, she slipped on her clothes and shoes. Putting on the silver hoop earrings Kiera had given her the day before, she went back into the bathroom to put on her make-up.
Chloe usually just put on mascara and lipstick, but today she decided to go all out. She put on a little blush, eye shadow, and eyeliner. Adding her customary mascara and lipstick, she pulled her damp hair back in a decorative clip and looked at her reflection in the mirror. The woman starring back at her was glowing. Chloe couldn’t believe she was looking at her own reflection.
She stepped into the bedroom and picked up her purse and cell phone. Flipping the phone open, she dialed Ramsey’s number, but she paused before hitting send. It was hard to surprise him if he knew she was coming over. It wouldn’t hurt just this one time to not call, would it? She cleared the number and closed the phone. Making a decision, she grabbed her key and headed out of the apartment.
Locking the door behind her, she held onto the railing and carefully descended the stairs. When she reached the bottom without incident, she heaved a sigh of relief. If anything had happened, she would’ve never heard the end of it from Ramsey.
Ramsey had always said she was welcome in his house anytime, but she felt strange walking in uninvited. What if he had company? She stood outside of the kitchen door uncertain. Coming to a decision, she used the key he’d given her and went inside.
“Ramsey?” she called out as she closed the door behind her.
The house was quiet, a little too quiet. His monstrous SUV was still in the driveway so she knew he was home. She only hoped he was home alone. He hadn’t been seeing anyone that she knew of, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t been taking anyone to his bed.
Chloe swallowed down her uneasiness and continued through the house. Room after room was quiet. When she came to a closed door, she knew it was his bedroom. Glancing at the clock on the hall wall, she saw that it was nine o’clock. Surely he was awake.
“Ramsey?” she called through the door.
Pressing her hands and cheek to the door, she tried to listen for any sounds within. The room sounded as quiet as the rest of the house. Turning the knob, she quietly pushed the door open a crack and peeked inside.
A large bed dominated the middle of the room. Ramsey was still asleep, buried under a mountain of covers. Chloe’s breath caught in her throat. He looked so peaceful. She slowly backed out of the room, not wanting to disturbed him.
“What time is it?” Ramsey asked in a husky voice, eyes still shut.
Chloe gasped. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to wake you.”
Ramsey rolled over and opened his eyes. His sleepy half-lidded gaze took in her neatly coifed hair and nice outfit.
“If you’ll give me a few minutes to shower and dress, I’ll take you out for breakfast.”
“I didn’t realize you were still sleeping,” Chloe said quietly. “I wouldn’t have come over so early if I’d known…”
“Speaking of that, how exactly did you get down the stairs?”
She fidgeted and looked down at her feet. “I was really careful.”
Ramsey groaned. “You’re going to be the death of me.”
“I’ll just wait in the kitchen,” she said, backing out of the room.
“No, come here.”
Chloe hesitantly stepped further into the room. She walked to the edge of the bed and stopped, unsure what he wanted her to do.
Ramsey pushed himself into a sitting position, the covers dropping to his waist. Reaching out, he pulled her down onto the bed. “I know you probably think I’m a tyrant, Chloe, but I worry about you. If you had fallen, I wouldn’t have known.”
She tried to respond, but the feel of her hand in Ramsey’s was robbing her of her thoughts. The sight of his bare chest wasn’t helping much either.
“Chloe?”
“Hmm?”
Ramsey tipped her chin up and looked into her eyes. “Do you understand why I worry? I know we haven’t known each other very long, but I care what happens to you.”
“You do?”
He caressed her jaw. Chloe whimpered and opened her mouth. Pulling her into his arms, he deepened the kiss. The feel of her tongue sliding against his, the taste of her was driving him wild. He felt his inner wolf surging to the surface and had to tamp the beast back down. When he felt Chloe melt against him, he knew he had to put a stop to things before it was too late.
Breaking the kiss, he said, “Chloe, we should stop.”
Chloe tried to mask the hurt she felt, and she merely nodded. She wasn’t sure if he was stopping because he just wasn’t interested in her that way or if it was something else. If he didn’t want her, she didn’t know what she would do. She didn’t think she could handle rejection right now.
Ramsey caressed her cheek. “I meant that we needed to stop because I don’t want things to go further until you’re sure you want to be with me and only with me.”
She looked at him uncertainly. “I don’t understand.”
“I want you, Chloe. But if we’re together
, then I want the whole package… you, the baby… I want us to be a family.”
Chloe stared at him in wide-eyed wonder. “But we’ve only known each other for a week.”
“I know, which is why I said we needed to stop. I know it’s too soon. I wasn’t stopping because I don’t want you, Chloe. I’m stopping because I want you too much.”
Chloe looked at him in confusion. “What if I hadn’t wanted you to stop?”
Ramsey groaned. “You aren’t making this easy.”
“The last man to kiss me was Michael, and we know how that ended,” she said with a pointed look at her stomach. “I lied to myself and let myself believe that he was different. Every guy I’ve ever dated was a jerk. Is it so wrong of me to want to know what it’s like to be held by someone who actually cares?” she finished quietly.
Ramsey pulled her into his arms and held her against his chest. “Michael isn’t always a jerk, Chloe. If you want to give him a chance, he can be a good guy.”
She shook her head, not believing him. If Michael was so good, he hadn’t shown that side of himself to her, not yet anyway. All she’d seen was the bad boy who was working his way through the female population of Ashton Grove. He’d fooled her once, but not again.
“I’m not going to take any chances with this baby. He has a horrible temper, Ramsey.”
“You’re going to meet a lot of people tonight, Chloe. A lot of them are good guys. Single guys. If you still think I’m your guy after tonight, then we’ll talk.”
She lifted her head from his chest and smiled. “You mean it?”
“About the guys or the talk?”
“The talk.”
He nodded. “Now get out of here so I can shower and dress. Then we’ll go feed you and the baby.”
Chloe leaned down and kissed him once more before getting off the bed. She sashayed out of the room and closed the door behind her, leaving Ramsey shaking his head. Just knowing that he wanted her lifted her spirits. But did he want her enough? He wanted to wait until after the party to talk, but if he truly wanted her, wouldn’t want to claim her before she met the rest of the guys? Or was he simply doing what he thought was best for her? If that was the case, he was even more wonderful than she’d first thought.
Chapter Fourteen
Later that night, Ramsey ushered Chloe into the backyard of the Victorian. Paper lanterns hung overhead, candles decorated tabletops, and jasmine bloomed around the yard.
“Everything looks so romantic,” Chloe said as she took everything in.
“Kiera definitely outdid herself,” Ramsey agreed.
Over half of the pack was already present. Several of the single males openly leered at Chloe, pregnant stomach and all. Ramey held back a growl and wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her close to his side. When she smiled up at him, he leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to her lips.
“What was that for?” Chloe asked.
“I couldn’t help myself,” he answered. “You looked too beautiful in the moonlight and candlelight.”
“I know you said you wanted me to wait until tonight was over to make a decision, but would you mind if I stayed by your side tonight?”
Ramsey smiled at her. “I’d like that, but I doubt that Kiera will let you.”
“I take it she’ll make me mingle and will introduce me to everyone here tonight?”
“Of course,” he said.
Chloe sighed. “I guess it could be worse.”
No sooner had the words left Chloe’s mouth than a loud noise came from across the yard. She looked over and saw Michael heading their way, and he didn’t look happy to see her with Ramsey. Her stomach knotted, and she clutched Ramsey’s arm.
“Ramsey, I can’t do this tonight. I can’t deal with him.”
“Come on. Let’s go sit by Kiera and Gabriel.”
She nodded and let him guide her over to a table. After she was seated, she saw that Michael was once again heading her way. She tensed waiting for the confrontation she knew was coming.
“Well, if it isn’t the mother of my child,” Michael said.
Chloe could feel a blush creeping up her neck. “What do you want Michael?”
“I can’t come by and say ‘hi’?”
“You know the doctor said it was best if you stayed away from me,” she answered.
He smiled. “I seem to remember a time when you didn’t want me to stay away. Matter of fact, it wasn’t that long ago that we talked about starting over. Whatever happened to that?”
“That was before the new and improved you.”
“So you’re just going to jump into bed with the first guy that comes along? Seems hypocritical of you. You’ll sleep with Ramsey, but not with me?”
Chloe gasped. “What I do or don’t do is no concern of yours! Besides, you aren’t exactly one to talk! You’ve slept with almost every woman in the city. Before too long, you’ll have to branch out to the surrounding areas or change your policy of visiting the same bed more than once,” she snapped.
Beside her, Kiera clapped. “Well said, Chloe.”
“Stay out of it, Kiera,” Michael growled at his sister-in-law.
“Remember your place,” Gabriel said, standing beside his wife.
“Well now, bro, not all of us have been lucky enough to find our mate and have her realize who she is… or what we are. Maybe if mine had recognized me, I wouldn’t be the way I am now. Maybe all I need is for Chloe to give me that second chance. If she hadn’t moved in with Ramsey, none of this would’ve happened.”
“Enough!” Gabriel barked. “I think it’s time for you to leave.”
“Afraid I’ll let the secret out? She’ll have to learn it sooner or later.”
“Michael, one more word and it will be the last you’re able to utter for a week.”
Michael smirked and walked away.
Chloe looked at Gabriel and then at Ramsey. “What’s going on?”
Ramsey looked to the alpha, not sure what to say. He couldn’t tell the pack’s secret without permission, but Michael had a point – Chloe did need to know.
“There’s a family secret you’ll need to know if you decide to stick around, but it isn’t something you need to worry about right now. Tonight was supposed to be a celebration. Leave it to Michael to ruin it,” Gabriel muttered.
“He’s only ruined it if we let him,” Chloe said, even though talk of secrets had left her feeling rattled. Whatever it was, it didn’t sound good. What had she gotten herself into?
Ramsey reached out and took her hand. “Chloe’s right. We can stop the party now and let Michael win, or we can continue where we left off.”
Gabriel nodded. “Ramsey’s right. I say we continue with the party.”
Several of the pack members came over to be introduced to Chloe. Some of the bolder single males asked her to dance, but she declined them all. When one in particular didn’t seem inclined to take no for an answer, she leaned closer to Ramsey.
“I believe she said no, James,” Ramsey said in a calm voice, his arm going around Chloe.
“The last time I checked she might be pregnant, but she wasn’t claimed by anyone,” James said.
Gabriel decided to intervene. He knew Ramsey would fight for Chloe, but he didn’t want it to come to that. “Back down, James. You were warned before you came here tonight.”
James glanced at the alpha and inclined his head briefly before backing away. He melted into the crowd and disappeared from sight as quickly as he had arrived.
Chloe trembled next to Ramsey. Wondering for the second time that night what she’d gotten herself into. First Michael and now James. Tempers seemed to run hot around the Andrews family. “What’s wrong with him?” she asked.
Ramsey shook his head. “James has a tendency to think he’s god’s gift to women.”
“Like Michael?” she asked.
“Something like that.”
“Lucky me. It seems I’m still attracting the same type of guys I always have
,” she said with a frown.
“Not quite,” Ramsey said with a grin.
“Well, except for you,” Chloe amended. “You seem to be an anomaly in my dating sphere though.”
“So, this is a date?” he asked quietly.
Chloe felt a blush stain her cheeks. “I’d like for it to be.”
He laced his fingers with hers. “Then it’s a date.”
Another commotion broke out across the yard. This time a couple was heading their way. The man couldn’t be any other but Michael’s and Gabriel’s other brother, Cole, and his wife.
“Cole, Marin, I’d like you to meet, Chloe. Chloe, this is my brother Cole and his wife, Marin,” Gabriel said when they had reached the table.
Chloe stood with some assistance from Ramsey. “It’s nice to meet both of you. I’ve heard a little about you from Michael.”
Cole looked around. “Where is he anyway? I can’t imagine my brother letting you out of his sight for a second,” he said with a grin.
Chloe looked at Gabriel uneasily. As the eldest of the siblings, she hoped he would jump in and save her. How did she tell Cole that his twin wasn’t acting in a very favorable way toward her right now, that her doctor had said he needed to keep his distance for the well-being of their unborn child? It seemed that Cole was out of the loop.
“I think you two need to have a seat,” Gabriel said.
Cole gave him a perplexed look, but sat down just the same.
“What’s going on?” Cole asked.
“Michael hasn’t been acting like himself lately. The doctor has recommended that he and Chloe spend very little time together,” Gabriel said.
Both of Cole’s eyebrows shot up, but he remained quiet and let his brother talk.
“He spends most of his time yelling at Chloe and even grabbed her arm. Hunter made a comment about getting to know Chloe the other day and Michael pinned him by the throat. And tonight he tried to start a fight with her, knowing that she could lose the baby if she didn’t stay calm,” Gabriel said.
Cole shook his head. It was obvious to him that his brother was in self-destruct mode. He just didn’t know why. “I’m sorry he’s been such an ass to you, Chloe. I promise that isn’t the Michael we know. If you think it would help, I’d be happy to talk to him. There has to be something going on with him, some logical reason for his behavior.”
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