Not According to Plan

by A. m Madden

  I glanced over at the Tracey and asked, “Does she have hair? Can I take off her cap?”

  “She does. Go ahead and see.”

  I gently removed the tiny knit cap, revealing a small patch of dark brown hair. Tears instantly swelled before I placed a small kiss on her head, inhaling her intoxicating scent.

  “Do you have your phone with you?”

  With care, I retrieved my phone, tapped in the password, and handed it to Tracey.

  “Smile, Daddy,” she said, clicking the screen to take a few pictures. Mia shifted and squirmed, causing me to stiffen with fear of dropping her as my muscles locked into place.

  Tracey chuckled at my rigid position. “She won’t break, Max.”

  Regardless, I kept a cautious eye on Mia, only relaxing a bit when no further movement came. She laid contently in my arms, completely at ease with the fact that I had no experience in holding a newborn. The notion my daughter was the first seemed ridiculous but simultaneously seemed monumental in meaning.

  When I slowly began rocking us back and forth, Mia’s eyes fluttered a few times. Knowing I needed to get it off my chest, I quietly said, “I’m really sorry I missed you coming into the world. I promise to be here for you from this day on, my little girl.” Placing a soft kiss on her warm forehead, I impatiently swiped away a tear that rolled down my face before adding, “I’ll never disappoint you again.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Jade

  The minute Max walked into the waiting room, his eyes landed on me. Seeing such honest emotion on his face brought a lump to my throat. He came right toward me and pulled me into his arms, squeezing me hard.

  “Oh, Jade. She’s so gorgeous.” Pulling back, his emerald green eyes seared right through me. “I want you to meet her.”

  “I’d love to, but are you sure Tracey is up for a visitor so soon?”

  “She actually suggested it.” A slight pause came before he added, “No pressure, though. If you want to wait, we can come back later.”

  “No. I want to meet her now.”

  He responded with a brilliant smile and gripped my hand. “Thank you for being here,” he said softly.

  “No thanks needed.”

  Max led me down the hall before stopping at the door. A pretty black woman sat beside a handsome man. The two made a gorgeous couple, and as we walked closer, it was obvious that he was crazy about her. With his head bent toward hers, he had been speaking directly in her ear when he noticed us and waved.

  “Hey,” Tracey said, noticing us as well. “Come in.”

  “Hey, guys,” Max said. “This is Jade Easton.”

  “Hi,” I said with a wave.

  “It’s so great to meet you, Jade. This is my fiancé, Tristan Shatner.”

  Tristan stood and came around the bed to greet us, extending a hand toward me. “Really nice to finally meet you.”

  “Same here.”

  He then turned to Max and planted a firm clap on his shoulder. “I emailed you the video.”

  “Great. I can’t wait to watch it.” Max then looked down at me and said, “Come meet my daughter.” I squeezed his hand tighter when he led us toward the bassinet with the sweetest little baby lying in it. “This is Mia.”

  Releasing his hand, I covered my mouth before whispering, “Oh my gosh, hi, Mia.” Mesmerized, I stared down at a perfect angel swaddled in pink. A sweet little knit cap sat on the top of her adorable head, rosy cheeks that beckoned to be nibbled on, and the cutest button nose caused an ache to reach out and snatch her in my arms. “Tracey, she’s beautiful.”

  “I know,” she said with a giggle. As Tracey stared at her daughter with so much love, I felt like an intruder standing there. Tears blurred my vision over wanting this more than I thought I did.

  Tracey’s cell rang, and she announced, “Excuse me for a minute.”

  As she answered the call, I tracked Max washing and drying his hands before heading back to Mia and lifting her. While in his arms, he kissed the top of her head and came closer to where I stood in awe.

  “Mia, this is Jade…” He paused and then looked at me. “She’s someone who is very important to me.”

  Seeing Max with his daughter in his arms emotionally leveled me. I smiled through my tears, yearning to see that look on his face again once he met our baby.

  We ended up staying at the hospital for hours. Tracey was fantastic, and I immediately took a liking to her. I met her parents, taken aback and a bit envious when they not only supported Tracey and Max unconditionally, but took the news of my baby without a hitch.

  Tracey and I exchanged numbers, and she offered that I should call her whenever I needed pregnancy advice. She invited me to visit once my baby was born to have a spa day together. I, in turn, invited her to New York to do the same whenever she needed a break.

  But between traveling, rushing to the hospital, and spending most of the day there, by the time we made it back to Max’s apartment, I could barely keep my eyes open. Max ordered in a simple dinner, helped me change into my pajamas, and literally put me to bed. I fell asleep the moment my head hit the pillow.

  What felt like five minutes later, while rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I stretched, enjoying Max’s luxurious sheets beneath me and the spectacular view before me. Bedding that felt like sleeping on a cloud, combined with the sound of rolling waves beyond his window, had me sleeping like a baby and waking with a new sense of calm. Having his strong arms wrapped around me all night may have been another reason for my current state of tranquility.

  When my sleep haziness cleared, I focused on Max lying beside me.

  “Good morning. Happy Thanksgiving.”

  “Happy Thanksgiving, beautiful,” he replied, placing a sweet kiss on my forehead. “Did you sleep well?”

  “I really did.”

  “You were out cold, except for the deep rumbling. I think my neighbors might have heard you snoring.”

  “Oh no, did I really snore?”

  He kissed my nose and laughed. “It’s normal. That book I bought says it’s because your nasal passages are swollen.”

  I gaped at him.

  “What?”

  “I didn’t know you bought that book.”

  He shrugged. “It’s interesting.” Before I knew what happened, Max twisted us until I was on my back while he hovered over me. My libido snapped to attention when he slipped his hand beneath my pajama top to rest on my belly. I watched his green eyes rove over my body before setting on mine in that—oh, fuck—kind of way he had about him.

  With a sly smirk, he bent his head and placed a tender kiss on each satin-covered nipple. One hand gripped my hip tightly as the other skimmed a feather-light touch over my belly. A smile spread over his face when he licked the fabric covering one hardened nub, and I moaned. He moved his large warm hand down my body and cupped my satin shorts intimately. “Do you know what else the book says?”

  “What?” I asked on an exhale.

  Despite my question, he took his time to answer. I waited as he tortured me with his fingertip. “Your body is making more estrogen, which results in an increased sex drive.”

  “Is that right?” I asked, breathlessly. I knew what the book said. It wasn’t coincidence I’d been embarrassingly dizzy with desire for him, so much so I literally pounced on him the last few times we’d been together.

  “Yep.” He kissed my forehead, and instead of helping the onslaught of heat that settled in my crotch, heat that he was responsible for, he climbed out of bed and walked toward the door.

  “Where are you going?” I asked, my voice squeaky from lust. Meanwhile, my eyes devoured his body in nothing but black boxer briefs that molded over him like a second skin.

  “We have a busy day. You need to have breakfast first. I don’t want you engaging in anything strenuous on an empty stomach.”
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  “But…”

  “And then,” he interrupted with a pointed finger, “we’ll have slow, hot sex, before we head out for the gym.”

  Well, okay, then. As he strolled out of his room, like he hadn’t a care in the world, he left me stunned and beyond horny.

  A few minutes later, the smell of bacon wafting into the bedroom had my stomach growling fiercely. I reached for my phone. Rarely would I sleep past eight or nine on my weekends, so seeing it was after ten on a Thursday shocked me. No wonder I felt starved.

  Slipping out of bed, I made a quick bathroom visit before making my way to his kitchen only to be stopped in my tracks. The sound of Max singing softly drifted toward me. I held my breath, deciphering the song as our Karaoke selection the night we met.

  I watched his muscular body move with grace, the black knit fabric of his briefs becoming an enabler to my ogling pleasure.

  Sensing my presence, he turned and stared directly into my eyes. It was so damn easy to get lost in those bottle green depths. He stalked toward me, his piercing gaze altering enough to make me wonder what caused the shift. Before I could spend another second wondering, or ask him, Max leaned in and kissed me like he hadn’t seen me in days.

  My pulse raced when his warm tongue slipped into my mouth. Just as the kiss progressed, he ripped himself away with a grunt and fire blazing in his green eyes.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked breathlessly.

  “Having you here…” He scrubbed a hand through his hair, and for the life of me, I couldn’t imagine what he was thinking. One minute he looked like he could devour me whole, and the next he looked like my presence caused him anxiety.

  Just as I was about to insist that he tell me what was wrong, he held my face tenderly and pressed his forehead to mine. “Jade…I love you.”

  “What?” I whispered, clearly not expecting him to say that.

  “I love you,” he repeated. Those words forced a white-hot surge of emotion to travel through me. They had my heart pounding in the best of ways. They had the same effect on my libido as if his hands found their way under my pajamas and began fondling me. From head to toe, there wasn’t a cell in my body that he hadn’t affected with that admission.

  There was so much I wanted to say in return. Max just professed his feelings, yet I couldn’t seem to get my mouth to work.

  For weeks, I had this incessant urge to open up and admit what my own feelings were. But each time, fear of taking that leap of faith and it not working out stopped me.

  “What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?” he asked when I continued to stare at him in awe.

  “Max, sharing how you feel means so much to me.” He watched me intently as I contemplated how much to admit to. But honesty was important to him, and he deserved the truth. It was time for me to finally admit the same. Because I did love him, and I had for a while now. “I love you, too, Max.”

  “I know you do,” he teased before kissing me. The kiss was a confirmation of his words, purposeful and confident. And when he pulled back slightly, the adoration on his face may have knocked the wind from my lungs, but it didn’t squelch any trepidation I carried.

  “But…”

  “No buts. Not now,” he insisted.

  I listened and stopped myself from asking if our love would be enough.

  Once he accomplished what he promised—feeding me and then making love to me—Max and I visited Mia at the hospital before he took me to see his gym. Just as I had been when I saw his apartment, I followed him through the space in complete awe.

  “Max, this is spectacular.” His New York location wasn’t something to sneeze at, but this, with its beachfront views and modern architecture, was absolutely stunning.

  “Thank you. My business partner and I wanted our members to feel like they were working out while on vacation. An escape.”

  “Well, mission accomplished. Being on the second floor feels like I’m on a cruise ship.” Every machine pointed toward the glass wall facing the beach. “Truly amazing.”

  He came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. “I’m so glad you saw it. It’ll feel like you’re here with me on the day we open.”

  I turned to face him. “I’ll be here in spirit,” I said before lifting up to softly kiss his lips.

  “We have to go. My family will be arriving soon.”

  “Okay.”

  On the avenue where his gym was located, there were so many stores that sold Miami-esque clothing and souvenirs. One in particular sold trendy beachy items, including a huge collection of hats. Always wanting one, I eyed a big white floppy sunhat with a red ribbon and stopped to put it on.

  “Can I pull this off?” I asked with a smirk.

  “You sure can.” He removed the hat and then wordlessly went into the store to purchase it.

  “You’re ridiculous,” I said with an incredulous smile. “I didn’t mean for you to buy it.”

  “A souvenir of your trip to Miami.”

  “Thank you.” I kissed him sweetly.

  “Next time you visit, we’ll be sure to sit on the beach, and you’ll wear your hat.”

  “Deal,” I agreed, wondering when the next time I would be visiting.

  But it was Thanksgiving, and as we resumed our trek back to his place, all I wanted was to enjoy his company. No more than ten minutes later, we were in his apartment. I took a few minutes to FaceTime my family, becoming emotional when my niece and nephew got on the call and more so when my dad did as well. He asked me to extend his wishes for a good day to Max, which I took as a good sign. Still, the tension hung heavily between us.

  “Everything okay?” Max asked when I appeared.

  “Yes. They all wished us a Happy Thanksgiving.” At seeing his sad smile, I changed the subject. “What can I do to help?”

  “Nothing. It’s all taken care of.” Max had catered the entire meal, but needing to keep busy, I insisted on helping him by setting the table and plating the appetizers.

  To say I was a bit anxious to spend Thanksgiving with them would be an understatement. In all honesty, they were thrust into our relationship with no warning whatsoever. I didn’t blame Monica for her concerns; I just hoped to ease them a bit. It was bad enough that my father wasn’t completely on board with this situation. Maybe I could fix that circumstance with Max’s mom.

  When the door buzzed, I suddenly froze in my tracks, and Max chuckled. “Relax, baby,” he said before pecking my check and moving toward the intercom to grant them access.

  His brothers were the first to arrive. Brad greeted me in his normal rollicking way. The more time I spent with him, the more I felt he and Amy were a perfect fit. My only concern would be their lack of inhibitions and their disregard for consequences. Nate was so very different, reserved and taciturn in his demeanor. One quality all three brothers did possess was unmistakable charisma. They could probably charm a crocodile out of eating them if they had to.

  While Max was busy getting his brothers’ beers, Monica and Mitch arrived. The moment they walked through the door, she pulled me aside to have a little chat, pretty much beating me to the punch.

  “Mom,” Max scolded as she tugged me toward his bedroom.

  “Oh hush,” she responded with a flippant wave of her hand. “I won’t harm a hair on her head.”

  “My money is on Jade,” I heard Brad say before she sequestered us in Max’s bedroom with a firm click of the door.

  “Jade, thank you for being here for him when Mia was born.”

  “You don’t have to thank me. He means a lot to me.”

  “I can see that. And I can see how very happy he is. I’ve never seen my son this way, and it thrills me. I’m glad he met you, and I look forward to welcoming my second grandchild and getting to know you.” After our difficult start, her words warmed me, touched me more than she could
know. And as if my baby needed to second what Monica said, an intense fluttering rippled inside my belly.

  She looked at me with a smile and extended her hand. “Let’s start over. I’m Monica Hoover.”

  “I’m Jade Easton. It’s nice to meet you,” I said, accepting her hand and then accepting her hug.

  When she pulled away, her gaze dropped to my belly. “Look how adorable you look. How have you been feeling?”

  “Good. Now that the morning sickness is over, I feel more like myself. Though I do tire easily.”

  “That’s expected. You be sure to rest when you need to. Nothing matters but you and that baby you’re carrying.”

  “I’ll try,” I promised.

  Monica nodded and smiled warmly. “I know you have a mother and a sister, but if you need anything, I’m here for you.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate that.”

  After another genuine smile, she rubbed her hands over my arms. “Okay. Let’s get out there before they start placing bets.”

  All male eyes focused on us when we reappeared. “All good?” Max asked, his eyes bouncing between his mother and me.

  “Of course, darling,” his mother said, patting his chest while shaking her head. His eyes connected with mine for reassurance, and I gave it with a smile and a wink.

  The dynamics between Monica and her boys was hilarious. I had to admit by the time we finished our meal, which we all agreed wasn’t all that tasty, my anxiety vanished.

  I could envision Max’s family melding with mine so vividly, I wondered if the day would ever come where we would be sharing holidays or gathering for barbecues. Any doubts I held obviously had to do with just the tension our unconventional situation created.

  Stranger things have happened.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Max

  I didn’t want her to leave in the morning. Our time together went by way too quickly, and I already ached for her even though she was still right there.

  There were so many more things I wanted to show her, do with her. But come this time tomorrow, she’d be back in New York, and I needed to stay in Miami to get ready for the grand opening in six weeks.