Having Adam's Baby (Harlequin Special Edition) (10 page)

Or maybe because he was hoping Dev would tell him that he hadn’t screwed up too badly.

That Fay would eventually talk to him again. Something she’d avoided masterfully in the last ten days.

Not that he blamed her.

“You know you’re not helping, right?” Adam said.

“Yeah, I know.” Dev’s smile disappeared. “Look, all kidding aside, I think you stepping up to the plate and trying to do the right thing for your kid is great.”

“Thanks.”

“I also think Fay is a terrific lady and you two obviously have…something going on, but she’s been through a lot. Maybe you just need to back off and show her she’s got your support, you know, for the baby, no matter what.”

“If I ever get the chance to talk to her again.” Adam dug into his pocket for his keys. “I’ve left messages she won’t return. She’s always gone or busy when I stop by the shop. And according to Peggy, she spent the long holiday weekend out of town with friends.”

“Not surprising.”

Adam agreed. Saturday had been the one-year anniversary of Scott’s death. The hurt and pain his buddy had caused both his parents and Fay still burned deep in his gut. So bad, he hadn’t even been able to visit the man’s grave again.

“Look, forget about—” Dev stopped, his attention focused over Adam’s shoulder. With the tip of his finger, he eased his shades down his nose. “Target sighted. Eleven o’clock.”

Adam looked and found Fay walking away from the next store over, a wholesaler that carried everything from televisions to toys, pushing a full cart.

He glanced at his brother. “Should I?”

Dev sighed. “You need me to write down some how-to’s and helpful hints?”

“Now who’s being an ass?” Adam tossed his keys to his brother. “If I’m not back in five minutes take my stuff home.”

“Hey! I’ve got my Jeep here.”

Adam pointed to his brother’s hand as he started around the end of his truck. “Call your latest conquest and ask her to give you a ride back to pick it up.”

Dev brightened. “Good idea.”

Keeping Fay in his sights, Adam weaved through parked cars until he reached her van just after she unlocked the sliding door. She tugged on it a few times before it finally gave way. Adam came up behind her in time to hear her soft moan.

“Fay? What is it?”

She gasped and spun around. “Adam! What are you—geez, you scared me half to death!”

“Are you okay?” He took a step closer, noticing how her forehead glistened with sweat. Today was hot, a typical Wyoming summer day. She wore a sleeveless top and shorts, shorts that drew his gaze to her incredible legs before it traveled back up to her pale face. Her outfit should’ve kept her cool. “I heard you—well, it sounded like you might be in pain.”

“I’m not.” She turned back to her loaded cart. “I’m fine.”

“Fay, please. Hear me out.”

“Oh, Adam, I don’t think we have anything more to say to each other.” She lifted a bulky bag and placed it in the van. “I’m not marrying you.”

Yes, she’d made that clear, but he wasn’t giving up. “Can I help with those?”

She shook her head, not looking at him as a second bag followed the first. “It’s just florist foam. Bulky, but not heavy. I can handle it.”

Determined to find a way to break through the wall she’d erected, Adam went with the truth. “I was wrong. Asking—hell, I practically insisted you to marry me. I’m sorry, Fay. That was really stupid.”

Her head jerked up, empathy in her gaze. “Adam, I never thought your proposal was stupid. Just unnecessary.”

Okay, he had no idea how to take that.

“I know you want to be involved with the pregnancy—”

“Not just the pregnancy.” Adam grabbed the last bag from her cart and set it inside the van with the others. “I want to be a full-time father to my child.”

“I know. You’ve made that obvious as well, which means we have a lot to talk about over the coming months.”

“I don’t think we should wait that long.”

She sighed. “Adam, that’s not what I meant, but I— Oh!” Fay latched one hand onto his arm, her nails digging into his skin as her free hand pressed against her stomach.

“What? What’s wrong?”

She shook her head, her hand moving back and forth a few times over the front of her shirt before she straightened. “It’s nothing. I’m fine. Just a twinge.”

“Fay—”

“I’ve had a few of them today. Probably brought on by stress.” She dropped her hold on him and reached for the door handle. “I’m fine.”

Adam got there first. He gently pulled her hand away and easily slid the door closed. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.” She pulled her keys from her purse. “Now, if you don’t mind, I need to get back to my shop.”

He wasn’t ready to leave her, but keeping her here in the parking lot wasn’t right. Maybe he should just let her go, take care of his groceries and then head back to town.

“Okay.” He started to back away, forcing his feet to move. “Drive safe.”

She nodded and faced the driver’s-side door. “You, too—Adam!”

Fay fell forward against the van, her hand again pressed against her belly. Three steps and he pulled her into his arms. “I’ve got you. What’s going on?”

She shook her head, her breaths coming in short gasps. “I don’t know. I thought it was just— Oh, goodness!”

Afraid she might collapse, Adam grabbed her keys and lifted her into his arms. He moved around the front of the van and seconds later had her buckled into the passenger seat. Hopping in behind the wheel, he reached for his cell phone and shoved the key into the ignition.

“I need…to call Liz.”

“Already on it.” He punched the code that linked him to the doctor’s office. He then put the phone into the cup holder after activating the speaker button. He was just pulling out of the parking lot when the front desk put him through to Dr. Smith.

“Fay, sweetie, I know you’re scared,” the doctor’s voice was calm as she spoke, “but I need to know what kind of pains you’re having.”

“Sharp, jabbing.” Adam fought to keep his eyes on the traffic but he saw Fay bite hard on her bottom lip, her eyes closed tight as she struggled to answer. “They don’t last long, but there’s a dull ache…everywhere.”

“Are you spotting at all?”

Adam’s heart seized in his chest as a rush of wrenching terror took hold.

No, not that. Not again.

Fay shook her head. “I don’t think so. I felt something…a stitch in my side last night when I missed a step on the stairs heading up to my apartment, but it went away. This…this is different.”

“Adam, I’m at the hospital in Laramie. How soon can you get here?”

He pressed on the gas pedal, inching the speedometer higher. “We’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

“I’ll meet the two of you in the emergency room.”

Chapter Nine

“T
he final diagnosis is officially called a partial placental abruption.” Liz’s smile was confident and her fingers cool when she clasped Fay’s hand. “Which I know sounds very scary, but you and the baby are just fine.”

Fay sank into the pillows at her back, relief flooding her. “What exactly does that mean?”

“It means the placenta suffered a very small detachment from the uterus. We didn’t spot it during the first ultrasound, either because of the length or because the separation occurred in the last week or so. That’s why I did the trans-vaginal ultrasound today.”

“And I shouldn’t worry?”

“From the location of the separation, I don’t believe it will detach any further. There’s every chance it’ll heal all on its own.”

Fay closed her eyes and breathed what felt like her first true breath in the last two hours. Huddling in the passenger seat, trying to fight off the blinding terror that something was wrong with the baby had taken every ounce of strength she had.

Adam’s surprise appearance in the parking lot had been unnerving at first, mainly because the sight of him in jeans, a faded T-shirt from Blue Creek Saloon, a popular bar in Destiny, and cowboy boots had her heart pounding wildly in her chest.

Angry at herself for reacting that way, she’d been snippy with him, but thank goodness he’d been there for her, for the baby. She’d needed his solid presence to help calm her. She’d needed him to get her here.

“Adam!” Her eyes flew open. She lifted up on one shoulder, and gripped Liz’s hand. “Have you told him yet that I’m— That everything’s okay?”

“I’m heading there right now.” Liz smiled. “The last time I stopped by the E.R. cubicle he was pacing like a caged animal at the zoo. I think a few of the nursing students are either half in love with him or scared to death.”

Fay relaxed. “Yes, he was really worried about the baby.”

“And about you.” Liz pulled from Fay’s touch and made a notation in the folder she held. “You know, if my opinion counts for anything, I really like the guy.”

Fay lay back down, releasing a puff of breath that lifted the curls from her forehead. “Yes, you mentioned that a few times over the weekend.”

“More importantly, I think you like him, too.”

Bunching the light cotton blanket in her fists, Fay struggled to keep her voice light as she stared at the ceiling. “Adam and I have been friends a long time.”

“More than friends. At least for one night.”

“Liz, we’ve talked about this between pints of ice cream and a marathon of classic movie musicals. It was just one night.”

“Hmm, so you keep saying.” Her friend waved off her words. “Okay, like I said, both you and the baby are fine, but you do need to take it easy. Let someone else do the heavy lifting around the shop from now on. No prolonged standing and try to limit the number of trips up and down your stairs to once or twice a day.”

“Do you know what caused the separation?”

“There’s really no way to tell as there was no direct trauma like a car accident or a fall. We’ve also ruled out the usual possible causes like high blood pressure or smoking. I do plan to monitor you closely for the remainder of the pregnancy, but for now you need to slow down and keep stress to a minimum.”

Fay nodded, taking all of her friend’s advice to heart.

“I know you’ve been under a lot of pressure for a long time, but too much is not good for anyone, especially a pregnant lady. Job stress, life stress, family stress. Perhaps it’s time to rethink a few things. To let go and move on.”

Fay nodded again. Letting go was another topic they’d talked about during their long weekend at Liz’s cottage on a lake just outside of Cheyenne.

After Adam’s shocking proposal of marriage the week before and the way she’d blurted out her financial troubles, Fay had wanted nothing more than to get away. Adding the guilt that’d swamped her over how happy she’d been sitting in his living room the night before hadn’t helped her tumultuous emotions either. So she’d closed the shop for the holiday and had Peggy take over for the long weekend.

Liz had gone with her to visit Walter and Mavis on the anniversary of Scott’s death, but Fay could only listen to Mavis extol the virtues of their son for so long. The more she spent her days sitting at Walter’s bedside, the more the woman faded into the past, revisiting stories from Scott’s years in high school and college.

Except for that afternoon, spending a few days with Liz had been fun and relaxing. It’d felt good to share all the craziness that’d been going on since Adam’s return, even if Liz kept pointing out how terrific she thought Adam was after meeting him. They’d read fashion magazines, given each other manicures and enjoyed some much needed girl time.

“If you have any more pain or spotting, call me right away.” Liz’s voice cut into her thoughts. “Oh, and just in case the opportunity arises, forget it. You’re on pelvic rest for the next couple of weeks, too.”

“Pelvic rest?”

Her friend leaned closer, her voice a staged whisper. “No sex.”

“Liz!”

“Hey, I’ve seen the way that guy downstairs looks at you.”

Fay shook her head. “That’s your overactive imagination at work. Adam is only worried about the bab—”

A commotion out in the hall drew both Fay and Liz’s attention. Liz started for the door after they heard a nurse say, “I’m sorry, sir, but you can’t go in there.”

“Yes, I can.”

Three words, spoken slow, low and all male.

Adam.

Liz grinned as she opened the partially closed door just as Adam’s large hand pressed up against it. “I see you couldn’t wait any longer. I apologize, but the E.R. was my next stop.”

“How is she?” he asked, stepping inside.

“I’m fine.” Fay sat up in bed, tossing back the blanket until she remembered she was wearing nothing but a flimsy hospital gown. She dragged the cotton material back over her lap. “See?”

He crossed the room, his heated gaze covering her from head to toe and back again. “Really? You’re okay? The both of you? I know I seem to keep asking you that, but you really had me scared there for a while.”

Swallowing hard past the lump in her throat, Fay nodded. “We’re both just fine, and ready to get out of here.”

His shoulders relaxed. Adam turned to Liz. “I can take her home now?”

“Of course.” Liz closed her folder. “Remember what I said, Fay. I’ll have my office call with a follow-up appointment.”

Fay watched her friend leave the room, biting back the urge to call her back. Suddenly, the idea of being alone with Adam was…unsettling.

“Do they know what caused the pain?”

She quickly relayed what Liz had told her. Adam listened intently, his only reaction a step closer to the bed. So close, she had to stop swinging her feet or else she’d come in contact with his jean-clad legs.

Again.

“You probably want some privacy to dress,” he said, after she finished talking. “I’ll wait out in the hall.”

She put a hand on his arm—his skin was warm to her touch—and stopped him from leaving. “Thank you, Adam. For bringing me here. For being so calm and patient with me.”

Adam cupped the back of her head with one hand, leaned down and placed a quick kiss at her temple. “You have no idea… .” His voice was rough as he spoke, his lips moving in her hair. “I’m just glad that nothing happened…to either of you.”

Unable to respond verbally, Fay could only nod. He released her and walked away. Watching him leave the room, she forced herself not to touch the spot where he’d kissed her.

After dressing quickly, she exited the room to find Adam and Liz off to one side in a deep conversation. Fay refused to admit how disconcerting it was to see them standing there together, and focused on signing her release papers.

“All set?”

She turned and only Adam was there. “Yes. Let’s go home.”

They walked out to the parking lot together, Adam’s hand warm and solid against her lower back. She climbed into the passenger side of the vehicle and soon they pulled out of the hospital’s parking lot.

Silence filled the van’s interior as she watched Adam drive, noticing how his hands clenched the steering wheel so tight the ridge of his knuckles were white.

He turned to look at her just then, saw she was staring at his hands and relaxed his fingers.

“I guess we both need to learn not to be so uptight,” he said.

Fay tensed, waiting for the lecture, sure that Liz had shared her list of “not-to-do’s” with Adam.

All her life, that’s what men did, lecture.

First her father, who never said anything in a few words, not when he believed the more he spoke, the more he drove his point home. A trait he’d passed on to his sons as the twins had often preached to her while growing up. There were even times when Scott had a hard time letting go of a topic, even after making his opinion clear.

Despite Liz’s assurances, Fay was still trying to convince herself she wasn’t to blame for what happened today. Did Adam believe that as well?

“Fay, I was… I’d like you to think—to consider—” Adam paused and pulled in a deep breath before he continued. “What would you say if I asked you to move into my place?”

Stunned, Fay could only stare as Adam kept his focus on the turnoff. They crossed into the outskirts of Destiny.

“I’m not talking marriage. I know that topic is closed,” he added quickly, “but we both know you need to take it easy for the baby’s sake. I’m sure you’re already thinking of ways to do that around the shop, but my concern is you being home alone at night. In case something happens again. I’d offer the master bedroom, but I know you won’t take it. The guest room is a good size and it’s all done up, you know, with matching curtains and blankets and stuff.”

That got her to smile. “I know. I’m the one who decorated it. All you had was a naked bed and your desk.”

His gaze shot in her direction for a quick moment. “Ah, yeah, well, I can move my desk into the third room and you can bring anything you want with you. Heck, I’ll move your bed if you want.”

“Adam—”

“I’ve been putting in long days at work, coming home to basically shower, grab some food and fall into bed. You’d have the place to yourself.” Adam pulled into the parking area behind her shop, taking the space reserved for her van, and shut off the engine.

His hands gripped the wheel again. “We both know what Destiny is like when it comes to gossip, but I’m worried about you, about the baby. I personally don’t give a damn about what people will say or think.”

Fay’s throat swelled. “That’s easy for you to say. You haven’t been the topic of whispered conversations and pitying looks.”

“You know what I think?” Adam turned in the seat and faced her. “You never deserved any of what happened to you in the last year. Instead of blaming someone else or running away, you stepped up and made things right, things that weren’t your fault. That’s something to be proud of.”

But she had blamed someone.

She’d blamed Adam for convincing Scott to follow in his hero’s footsteps and join the military. At least that’s what she’d always believed, what she’d clung to during those terrifying months. How wrong she’d been to lay the blame for Scott’s behavior squarely on Adam’s shoulders.

“You’ve kept your business sound and God only knows what would’ve happened to the Coggens if you weren’t here for them. It’s time for someone to step up and take care of you. Please, I’m asking you to let me do that.”

Fay wanted to be resentful of his take charge attitude, but how could she when, despite his persuasive argument, Adam was allowing her to make the final decision?

* * *

Tying the waistband string that kept her pajama pants resting just below her hip bones, Fay turned to the left, then the right, studying herself in the mirror. She lifted the cotton top higher to just below her breasts, the fingers of her other hand dancing lightly over her stomach.

Yep, Liz had been right.

Her once flat belly was gone, replaced with a tiny mound. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t noticed until her friend mentioned the transformation at the hospital tonight. “Well, little one, I hope your mama hasn’t just done the craziest thing.”

“Maybe so, but it’s the right thing.”

Fay looked up, and yanked down her top after seeing Adam’s reflection in the mirror from where he stood in the doorway of the guest bedroom.

He’d made himself scarce as soon as they’d arrived and he placed her suitcases on the queen-size bed.

After she’d told him yes while still sitting in her van outside her apartment, it’d taken a few minutes to convince him she could climb the stairs on her own power. What worked in her favor was saying she wanted to pack a few things in order to move into his place tonight.

Following behind, he’d made sure she got inside before he headed to Doucette’s to pick up a couple of sandwiches for dinner. While he was gone, she’d packed some clothes and toiletries, added a few books and a couple of treasured mementos, including the ultrasound image of the baby she’d placed in a simple silver frame. A box of plants had gone down to her shop on their way out after they’d finished eating. It’d been dark by the time they pulled into his driveway.