The Baby Twins (Babies & Bachelors USA)

by Laura Marie Altom

  When she closed her eyes, Brady was shamefully relieved. He didn’t feel qualified to even comment on how painful losing her husband must’ve been.

  He sat on the edge of the bed, swiping his hands through his hair. What had he done? In kissing Steph again, he’d opened a Pandora’s box he wasn’t sure how—or, even if he wanted—to close. Their date had been his idea, but faced with all of her reminders of Michael, Brady was starting to feel like Steph’s consolation prize. Hell, yeah, he wanted her in every way a man could, but he also wanted self-respect. Before taking things further, he needed her promise that she wasn’t just using him as a stand-in for the man she truly wanted.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Having fun?” Brady asked Lola late Christmas morning. She sat cross-legged in front of the crackling fire with the twins as her audience. Though Stephanie’s house wasn’t anywhere near as fancy as the one in which Lola had grown up, she looked content putting on a show with her new Barbie dolls, animatedly telling Melanie and Michaela the proper way to brush hair.

  “Yup,” she said, flashing him a huge smile. “I like having little sisters. I’ve never been this close to babies before. They’re mini-people. Only they can’t do anything but pee and poo and burp and stuff. But they’re still cool. I wish I could keep them.”

  “They’d probably miss their mom.” He sat on the brick hearth, stroking her long brown hair.

  “I know. And if I stayed here, I’d miss my mom, but my friend Becky has two moms, and she really loves both.”

  Michaela grabbed a Barbie shoe and crammed it in her mouth.

  “No!” Lola took it from her. “Bad baby. You can’t eat high heels, or they’ll give you a stomachache.” Rolling her eyes, she said to Brady, “It’s very hard work watching them all the time.”

  “I’ll bet.” It was funny how back in Seattle, Lola seemed in so many ways as if she was growing up too fast. Yet since being here, she’d reverted back to his sweet little girl. “Would you like having two moms?”

  “Sure. If I got to see you more. I like Uncle Vince, but you’re my favorite.”

  Was it wrong that her declaration made him happy?

  “What are you two up to?” Stephanie strolled in from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a lacy white apron. She’d been cooking up a storm in anticipation of her sister’s visit. Cakes and a ham and all of the trimmings.

  Standing, hands on her hips, Lola said, “I’ve been trying to teach the babies how to be beauty parlor ladies, but they keep eating all of the brushes.”

  “Thank you for taking such good care of them,” Stephanie said. “Want your dad to take over so you can help me in the kitchen?”

  “I’d like to,” she said, “but Dad’s not as good as me at teaching babies.”

  “Hey,” Brady protested, “I did all right with you, didn’t I?”

  “Come on,” Stephanie said, holding out her hand to his daughter. “I need help mashing the potatoes.”

  “That sounds fun,” Lola said, abandoning her dolls and wide-eyed pupils to play in the kitchen instead.

  Seeing Lola hand in hand with the woman who’d grown to mean so much did strange things to Brady’s heart. His late-night worries over Steph still being hung up on Michael now seemed stupid.

  “OKAY, SO HE’S CUTE, charming and funny, and Lola’s a doll,” Lisa whispered, having dragged Steph into the nursery while her current boyfriend, Kent, and Brady cleaned up after dinner. The babies had long since been tucked into their cribs and Lola had crashed on the living-room sofa while valiantly trying to stay awake through her new Disney DVD. “So what’s the catch? Something’s got to be wrong with him.”

  “Nope. Perfect through and through.”

  “Now I know something’s up.” Hand beneath Stephanie’s chin, she said, “You’re glowing. Everything in me is screaming to watch out for you, but maybe I’m wrong, and for once you do know what you’re doing.”

  “For once?” Cocking an eyebrow, Stephanie asked, “So if I’m such a loser when it comes to love, how come I’ve only been with two men, while—”

  “You and Brady have…” Waving her hand, Lisa said, “…you know?”

  Lips pressed into a stern line, Stephanie said, “Not that it’s any of your business, but no, Brady and I haven’t made love. But when we do, it’s going to be amazing.” If their kisses had been anything to judge by, being wholly with him would be extraordinary. How blessed she was to have found him. “So what’s up with you and Kent?”

  “I don’t know. He’s okay, but definitely not marriage material.”

  “Then why are you with him?”

  “He’s fun. I’m not ready to settle down.” Folding a tiny T-shirt Stephanie had left in a basket on the chair, she said, “Sometimes I think you were born married.”

  “What if I was?” Stephanie folded towels.

  Leaning against the doorjamb, twirling her hair, Lisa said, “Lola’s a cutie. The spitting image of her dad.”

  “She told me her mom called me a floozy.”

  “Ouch.” Lisa gave her a hug. “Want me to tear her hair out for you?”

  Half-smiling, Stephanie said, “Sounds like a plan.”

  “Speaking of which, what happens if you and Brady get serious? You prepared to take on another child?”

  Without hesitation, Stephanie surprised even her self by saying, “Yes.”

  “IT’S BEEN A PERFECT DAY.” After saying goodbye to Lisa and Kent, Brady met Stephanie alongside the glowing Christmas tree. He wrapped his arms around her waist. “Thank you.”

  “My pleasure.” She returned his hug. Looking to Lola, who was still passed out on the sofa, she asked, “Want to stay here tonight? I’d hate to wake her.”

  “Sounds nice. It’s cold outside.”

  “Let me warm you,” she teased, running her hands up his back. Her touch felt so good. Like much-needed balm.

  “I almost forgot. I have one more present for you.”

  “Mmm…I like gifts. Is it big or small?”

  Wrinkling her nose, she said on her way to the hall closet, “Sort of in-between. And before you get too excited, it’s not that big of a deal. Just something I snagged in an online auction that I thought you might like to have.”

  “I’m intrigued.” He followed her, admiring her walk. The way her hips gently swayed. She had a lushness about her that had him constantly wanting to touch.

  “You should be,” she said with a hint of sass while presenting him with a sky-blue gift-wrapped box. “It’s not every day you get a present like this. Come on.” Taking him by the hand, she drew him into her room, shutting the door.

  “I’m liking this already,” he said in his best bad-boy tone.

  Landing a light smack to his chest, she told him to behave before sitting on the rumpled bed. “Well? Aren’t you going to open it?”

  “Nothing personal, but I’m kind of enjoying myself just standing here, looking at you.”

  She flushed and looked down.

  “What? Don’t believe me?” Joining her on the bed, he cupped her cheeks, brushing her lower lip with his thumb. He kissed her. Slow and sweet, with all of the wanting he’d held in for so long. She tasted of pecan pie and hot chocolate with mint. Of the dream he’d secretly carried of finding someone who cared for him the way he cared for others.

  He might’ve started the kiss, but she deepened it, making him crazy with soft mews.

  Her tongue stroking his was his undoing.

  Easing her back on the bed, he set her present aside, choosing instead to take her as his gift. Moonlight cast her in an ethereal glow, transforming her winter-pale skin and wild curls into the stuff of dreams. Kissing her throat, her collarbone, only made him want more. Undoing the buttons on her chaste, green silk blouse revealed a red scrap of a bra complete with rhinestones and sequins.

  “Ho, ho, ho,” he teased, hard as a freaking rock. “Did you plan to seduce me?”

  “Maybe.” Licking her lips, she admitted, “I know I�
��ve thought a lot about it.”

  “Sure this is what you want?” he asked, skimming his hand along her bare abdomen. She nodded.

  “I don’t have a condom.”

  Laughing, she said, “Wow. Hadn’t even thought of that. I sure don’t have one.”

  “Talk about putting on the brakes.” Sitting back on his haunches, he swiped his fingers through his hair. “I feel like I’m in one of those old Road Runner cartoons, and just got blown to bits by TNT.”

  “It’ll be okay,” she said, tugging him back down.

  For the first time in his life, he didn’t give a damn about the consequences. Hell, he didn’t think for a second she had any disease, meaning the worst that could happen was them making a baby. As much as she’d come to mean to him, he was all for it.

  “I want you,” he said, burying his face in her hair.

  “Then what’s stopping us?”

  “Truth?” He glanced at her nightstand. At her shrine to her late husband. “Honor. You told me Michael gave you his blessing to start a new life, but he wouldn’t want you sleeping around without a commitment.”

  “So?” Resting on her elbows, her breasts straining at the red satin bra, she said, “What are you waiting for? Make an honest woman of me.”

  Taken aback by her suggestion, it took a second for her words to even sink in. By then, he’d stood, working off excess energy by pacing the room. “L-like in marriage? You seriously feel you’re over Michael and would want to marry me?”

  “Duh. You literally saved my life. Before meeting you, every day was a struggle. Now, they’re a gift. You’ve not only transformed me, but everything I thought to be true.”

  Forehead furrowed, he said, “I don’t even know what that means.”

  “Simple.” Stepping up behind him, she said, “When Michael died, I thought my life was over. I want to repay the favor by turning right back around to rescue you. I know it sounds crazy and we’re probably rushing into something best given more thought, but I don’t care. Lisa’s all the time worrying about me but for once, I’m doing what my heart says instead of my head. Marry me, Brady. You mean everything to me, and I want to mean the same to you.”

  “You already do.” Spinning to face her, he kissed her long and hard. And when he’d finally had his fill, he scooped her into his arms, carrying her back to the bed. Making love to her in the sweetest way he knew.

  “GOOD MORNING, SLEEPYHEAD.”

  Stephanie was slow to wake, only to find herself using Brady’s shoulder for a pillow. “I thought last night had been a dream.”

  “Oh—it was. Those red satin panties are forever burned into my brain.”

  “Is that a good thing?” she asked with a shy smile.

  He answered with a kiss. “A very good thing.”

  From behind the closed bedroom door came double wails. “That, on the other hand,” he said, easing out from under her with a good-natured groan, “sounds like a not-so-good thing.”

  “I never sleep this late,” she said, covering a yawn while pulling the sheet over her bare breasts. She also wasn’t in the habit of waking up next to a naked man! “The girls are probably starving. All three of them.”

  “Should we make breakfast or go out?” Because Stephanie had closed her shop for two days after Christmas, she had time for either.

  “We’ve got so many leftovers,” the thrifty side of her pointed out, “we should probably stay home.”

  “There’s our answer.” He pulled on the jeans he’d abandoned on the floor. Remembering that moment made her hot all over—not to mention the sight of his well-toned derriere. “Going out it is. You exhausted me last night, and I could use a waffle.”

  “Brady! You shouldn’t say things like that.”

  “Waffle?” After leaning down to grace her with a kiss that told her in no uncertain terms how much he cared, he winked. “I’ve always liked that word. Now, let me get the munchkins rounded up, and you grab a quick shower or do whatever mysterious things women have to do to get out of the house in a hurry.”

  An hour later, seated at the insanely crowded IHOP out by the highway, Stephanie felt as if she were living a dream. With her two girls in high chairs, gobbing at pieces of blueberry pancakes—without sticky syrup—and Lola seated alongside her with a platter of what looked to be more whipped cream than pancake extravaganza, she felt inordinately blessed. Glancing up to see Brady seated across from her, flashing his most sexy grin, threw her over the top.

  Refusing to cry on such a happy day, she asked, “Feeling brave enough to drive into Little Rock to hit a mall?”

  “Yeah!” Lola cried. “I love the mall.”

  With a good-natured groan, Brady said, “Guess I’d better get used to being outnumbered, huh?”

  “Looks that way,” Stephanie said, “unless you’re having second thoughts?”

  “Not a one.” Under his breath for only her to hear, he added, “I can’t wait to marry you.”

  Her giant kid ears working overtime, Lola asked, “What’re you whispering about, Dad?”

  “I was going to wait to tell you, but now seems as good a time as any.” Taking his daughter’s hand, and then Stephanie’s, he said, “Last night, after you conked out on the sofa, Stephanie and I had a grown-up talk, and—”

  “Did you kiss?” the girl asked with her loaded fork to smiling lips.

  Reddening, Brady cleared his throat. “Maybe once, but the main thing we did was make what I think is a pretty great decision that also involves you.”

  “Like what?” The girl’s smile faded. “You’re not moving even further away, are you?”

  “Not a chance. I asked Stephanie to marry us. And she said, yes.”

  “That’s a relief.” Blowing out a gush of air, Lola’s grin grew to epic proportions. “I thought you were moving to Mongolinoa, or something. But if you’re just getting married, then we have lots to do.”

  “Really?” he asked, “like what?”

  “Well…I don’t know how Stephanie said she’d marry you without a ring, Dad, but while we get a cake and flowers and a white horse for me and her to ride down the aisle, you have to get her a super big gigantic diamond.”

  “I DON’T NEED THIS TO MARRY you,” Stephanie protested at a glitzy mall jewelry store. The size of the rock he’d slipped onto her finger was obscene. Gorgeous. But way too big. Even if it did sparkle like rainbows and fairy dust and make her feel like a princess being swept off to a castle.

  “Yes, you do,” Lola said from her post behind the twins’ stroller. “My friend Becky said her mom won’t marry anyone who gives her a crappy ring. It’s the most important start to any relationship.”

  Scowling, Brady asked, “Remember the talk we had about you not listening to everything Becky says?”

  “Yeah,” Lola said with a big nod, “but it’s okay this time, ’cause she knows everything about love.”

  Lips still pressed into a stern line, he said, “We’ll discuss that later.”

  “Is this the one you’d like?” the salesclerk asked. Her gray eyes shone almost as brightly as the stone. No doubt the college-aged girl stood to gain a hefty commission.

  “It’s beautiful,” Stephanie said, “but too much. Let’s look at smaller diamonds.”

  “She wants that big square one, Dad.”

  “I agree,” Brady said. To the clerk, he added, “Could I please have it gift wrapped?”

  “Absolutely.” She held out her hand to Stephanie. “Ma’am? The ring?”

  “I have to give it back?”

  “Yes,” Lola and her dad said at the same time.

  “Dad has to ask you to marry him better now that he has a ring. Like he’ll rent a football stadium or stick the ring in cake, or maybe even hire ballerinas to swirl around and—”

  “Whoa,” he said to their self-appointed wedding planner with a ruffle to her hair. “Slow down. I’m not really the fancy proposal type.”

  “You better start.” Hands on her hips, Lola n
oted, “If you don’t ask Stephanie in a really super great way, she’ll say no, and then we won’t get any more of her cookies.”

  “In that case,” he teased while Stephanie handed over her ring, “I might need to step up my game, because I really like Steph’s cookies.”

  His loaded double entendre earned him a swat from the bride-to-be.

  THAT NIGHT, AFTER ALL of the girls had crashed—Lola on a comfy pallet in the twins’ room, since they were having a sleepover—Brady finally got Stephanie to himself.

  “It’s been a long day,” he said, snagging her around her waist to draw her onto his lap. He sat on the sofa, the only light coming from the Christmas tree and glowing fire. “Tired?”

  She nodded. “But in a good way. Lola’s awesome. I don’t know what you’ve been worried about. She adores you.”

  “The feeling’s mutual. I’m just worried that once she returns to Seattle, everything will go back to the way it was. You know, with her constantly being sassy, and giving me lots of angsty, preteen looks.”

  “She’ll be fine,” Stephanie assured. “And I was thinking, what if you filed for joint custody? It might be best if she stays in school in Seattle, but how amazing would it be if she spent her summers with us?”

  “Have I mentioned how great you are?” Throat swelling with emotion, he had a tough time believing how sudden all of this had come about, but at the same time, how right it felt. As if he and Stephanie had been meant to find each other.

  “Not lately,” she teased, “but I’m always happy to hear all about it.”

  He kissed the tip of her cute, perky nose. “Then you’re in luck, because every day we’re together, I’m going to ramble on and—”

  She hushed him by pressing her lips to his. “Rather than discussing the glory that is me, I’d much rather make this dream official. Where’s my ring?”

  He burst out laughing. “That’s my girl. Always a straight shooter.”

  “It’s your fault,” she rationalized. “If you hadn’t bought me such a gorgeous bauble, I wouldn’t want to be wearing it.”