Having Adam's Baby (Harlequin Special Edition) (15 page)

Yeah, he had.

Because last night had found him once again sleeping alone.

“Sorry about ruining your Sunday. I’m sure the last thing you wanted yesterday was to spend the day on the job site,” Dev said, as the helicopter lifted into the sky.

Adam braced one hand against the window, something he did every time the bird went airborne, but then he pulled in a deep breath and relaxed.

“I’m just glad those kids were okay.”

Liam had called the house early yesterday morning after a group of teenagers had broken into the log home still under construction for Dean Zippenella to have a party. A few too many beers later, and an unsecured inner wall had collapsed causing three teens to be trapped.

Between the Destiny fire department, the sheriff’s office and Adam’s crew, they’d gotten everyone out safely, but it’d been after dark before he’d gotten home last night.

Fay had already been asleep.

In her own bed.

Adam had no idea how long he’d stood there and watched her. When he’d finally left and gone back to his own room, he found the diamond still sitting on his bedside table.

Dammit, he loved the woman and wanted her to be his wife!

Why couldn’t she see that? Why had she turned him down?

For a long time, Adam watched the scenery go by below them, lost in his thoughts.

“Houston, I think we have a problem.” Dev’s voice came through the headset and Adam immediately picked up on the alarm in his brother’s voice.

“What is it?”

“I don’t know.” Dev’s hands deftly maneuvered over the controls. “My instrument panel is dying and we’re losing power. Fast.”

Outside the windows was nothing but miles and miles of dense forest. Adam was surprised to see that they’d been in the air for over thirty minutes already. “Can you get us back to Destiny?”

“I don’t think so.”

The helo jerked and dropped several feet. Dev cursed and tried to control the wayward machine. “If you’re a praying man, I suggest you start now,” he said.

“That’s not funny, Dev.”

“Who’s laughing?” His brother glanced at him and Adam read the seriousness of their situation in his eyes.

“Send out a distress call.”

“The radio’s dead, too.”

Adam’s mind raced through the detailed emergency situations his twenty years in the military provided. “Is there a locator beacon on this craft?”

“All my electronics are shot.” Dev fought to keep them level as they seesawed through the sky.

Adam reached for his cell phone. No service. He scanned the horizon looking for any open area to attempt a landing. “There’s nothing but trees out there, man.”

“Yeah, and we’re heading straight for them. Hang on, it’s going to be a bumpy landing.”

Chapter Fourteen

“W
hat do you mean they’ve disappeared?” Fay rose from where she’d just sat on one of the oversize leather couches in the main room of Murphy Mountain Log Homes. “People in helicopters don’t just disappear.”

“Dev and Adam flew out this morning for a trip to Jackson Hole.” Alistair Murphy stood near the fireplace. “They planned to be gone until after dinnertime.”

“I know. Adam said he wouldn’t be home until late.”

“Devlin should’ve checked in with a local airfield two hours ago,” Liam added. “He hasn’t and we can’t reach them on the radio or their cell phones.”

Fay pulled in a deep breath and looked at Elise, who was doing the same thing. She needed to stay calm, they both did. She looked at her watch. It was almost four o’clock.

“So, no one has heard from them since this morning?” she asked.

Silent nods from the rest of the Murphys were her only answers.

“So what’s next?” Elise asked. “Where do we go from here?”

“Sheriff Steele is coordinating efforts with the county, search-and-rescue units and the National Park Service,” Nolan said, joining the group with his cell phone to his ear. “We’ve still got a few hours of daylight so we’re ramping up right now.”

He paused and turned away, obviously listening to whomever he’d been speaking with on the other end of the line. “Right. Got it.”

Nolan faced them again. “We’re going to set up a command post near the east end of the Grand Tetons, about two hours from here by car on the outskirts of a town called Chapman Falls. We assume Devlin headed straight for Jackson Hole and if they had to land in the forest…”

He didn’t finish his sentence. He didn’t have to. All of them knew how difficult it was going to be to find two men in that amount of acreage.

“Bryant, you and Laurie coordinate things from here,” Liam said. “Nolan, Ric and I are going to the command post.”

“So are we,” Alistair and Elise spoke in unison as Elise got to her feet, still talking. “They’re our sons. We’re going.”

Fay stood as well. “I want to go, too.”

The arguments started right away, but Fay was determined. “Look, we’re wasting time. I’m going back to the house to get a few things. I’ll be back here in thirty minutes.”

“You boys head out and take your mother with you,” Alistair said. “Fay and I will follow.”

Silence filled the room for a moment before Elise leaned over and gave Fay a quick hug. Then everyone scattered. Fay waited until it was just her and Al alone in the room before she spoke.

“Please don’t try to talk me out of going.” She laid her hands over her belly. “I would never do anything to put my child in danger, but I have to be there. I can’t lose him, Al. I just can’t.”

“Fay—”

“I love him.” She cut off whatever Adam’s father was going to say. “I am in love with your son and I was stupid not to tell him when I had the chance.”

“You’re going to get that chance, I’m going to make sure of it,” the older man said. “But I need you to promise me you’ll do your best to stay calm and if there is the slightest hint of any trouble—for you or the baby—you let me know right away.”

Relief flooded her veins. “I will, I promise.”

“Adam would never want you to put yourself or the baby in harm’s way.”

“I know that.”

“You do realize I’m going to be your shadow until my son gets back here to relieve me of my sworn duties?”

Fay smiled. “You are a good man, Alistair Murphy. Adam is very lucky to be just like you.”

“You make sure you tell him that once we’re all back together.”

* * *

Adam tugged hard on the nylon rope, making sure the tarp he’d strung between the two trees was secure. Then he looked skyward, thankful for the warm and clear summer evening, even though he expected things to get cool overnight.

“Hey, bro. You’re missing a great sunset.”

He looked down at Devlin, concerned because other than a few moans when Adam had pulled his brother from the wreckage that once was their helo, Dev had fallen into unconsciousness.

Which was probably a good thing.

Adam was sure Dev had broken both his arms and his right leg in the crash. They’d come down hard, but he credited Devlin for the fact that both of them were still alive. The helo had broken into pieces, but thankfully the survival kit stowed beneath the rear seats had landed not too far from them.

They had fire-starting materials, two sleeping bags, a signal mirror, nylon cording and a weatherproof tarp that Adam had just used to create shelter for them for tonight.

He checked his watch. It’d been almost nine hours since they’d taken off. Someone must have noticed by now they were missing and if he knew his family, a search and rescue was already underway.

His training told him the best thing to do was to stay as close to the wreckage as possible and keep his brother comfortable, no small feat seeing how he had to splint both of Dev’s arms and his leg in hopes of keeping them stable before wrapping him in one of the sleeping bags to keep him warm.

“Don’t worry, Dev. We’ve got enough water for a few days and some trail mix and granola bars. We’re going to make it through this.” Adam knelt at his brother’s side, worried when his forehead felt warm to the touch. Suddenly, Dev moaned and started moving his head.

“Hey, take it easy. You’re fine. We both are.” His brother opened his eyes and Adam read confusion and pain there. “Hey, bro. You with me? Can you hear me?”

Devlin groaned. “Damn, I hurt.”

“Well, don’t move. I mean it,” he said, putting his hand back to his brother’s forehead. “You’re busted up pretty good.”

“Where?”

Adam told him about his suspected injuries and Devlin closed his eyes.

“Just some scratches and bruises.” And thankfully no signs of post-traumatic stress. “Hey, I’ve found some ibuprofen here. Think you can get a couple down? It’s all we’ve got.”

His brother nodded, and was able to swallow a couple of the pills and a tiny bit of water. He then drifted off to sleep, leaving Adam alone to build a fire.

And think.

About Fay, about the baby and how he had to get back to them.

No more pressure, no more proposals. All he wanted was to spend the rest of his life with Fay and if she needed more time before she was ready to take things between them any further, then he’d give her all the time she needed.

That’s what people in love did. What was best for the other person, even if it wasn’t what they wanted for themselves.

He loved her.

It was as simple as that and if Fay needed—

Staring into the fire, Adam rewound everything he’d said to Fay on Saturday night. Did he really say all those things to her and not once tell her that he loved her?

“Get us home.” Adam offered up a fervent prayer to whoever might be listening. “Get us safely home and I promise that Fay will never again doubt how much I love her and how important she and the baby are to me.”

* * *

Fay had agreed that if Adam and Devlin weren’t found after forty-eight hours, she’d return to Destiny. It’d been an easy promise to make as she’d been so sure…

“Both of my sons are strong men.” Alastair leaned into the window of his wife’s car. “Adam didn’t spend twenty years in the Air Force without learning a thing or two about survival. They are going to be found. Soon.”

Fay nodded as she secured the seat belt over her hips. The command post for the search and rescue resembled a small tent city, but she and Elise had taken a room at a small motel in nearby Chapman Falls.

Not that she’d gotten much sleep in the cramped quarters over the last two nights, and she was feeling the effects. She needed to take care of their child and that meant returning home.

“You’ll call me every hour with an update?” She held tight to Alistair’s hand. “Promise?”

“I promise, but I’m going to call Elise because you’re supposed to head straight to bed,” Al said.

Fay nodded. The family had enough to worry about here as the search for Adam and Devlin continued, they didn’t need to add her to their list. “I promise. Straight to bed after a house call from my doctor.”

She had called Liz on the way to the command post and they’d spoken often over the last few days. Fay had heard the relief in her friend’s voice each time she assured her she was feeling fine, but was glad when Liz had said she’d stop by and check on her once Fay got back to town.

“Okay, let’s go.”

By nightfall, Fay was back home and trying to rest as she waited for word. Both she and the baby were fine, although Liz had an emergency delivery and had to head back to Laramie.

Fay wanted to be back in her bed, and knew Elise felt the same way. She promised she would be fine and would call if there were any issues.

Everyone in town knew about the search for Adam and Devlin, with many of the same men who’d been here just last weekend to work on the barn volunteering to take part.

“He’s going to come home to us,” Fay said as she stroked Shadow’s soft fur. “To all of us.”

The dog had been overjoyed to see her after spending a couple of days with Nolan’s children, but Fay could tell the animal missed Adam. The two of them crawled beneath the covers on his king-size bed and she checked in with Elise.

Still no word.

Rolling to her side, Fay spotted the velvet box still sitting on the bedside table. She reached for it, cradling it in her palm for a long moment before she opened it.

The beauty of the ring took her breath away. Again. She couldn’t believe Adam had gotten such an amazing gift for her. Lifting it gently from the satin tufting, she held it up, marveling at how it sparkled in the light. She then slowly slid it onto the third finger of her left hand. A little loose, but it would fit perfectly by the time she was ready to give birth next year.

Lying back against the pillows, she stared at the ring until her eyes grew heavy. She couldn’t wait to show Adam how much she wanted to wear his ring, how she wanted another chance to answer his question. There were issues they needed to deal with, specifically financial assistance for Mavis, but they would find a way. If they just got the chance…

“I knew that ring was meant for you the moment I saw it.”

Fay gasped, her eyes flying open at the sound of Adam’s voice, and there he was, sitting right next to her on the bed. She flew into his arms, tears welling in her eyes the moment she felt his strong embrace.

“Oh! You’re home! You’re safe!” She pressed her hands to his shoulders, his back, testing to see if he was really real. “I’m not dreaming. Please tell me I’m not dreaming!”

“Shh, sweetheart, yes, it’s me.”

Adam held her close, but she pulled back. She had to see his face, to touch, to make sure. Fay trailed her fingers through his hair and over his jaw, staring into the dark brown eyes she’d come to love in just a few weeks.

It was then she realized bright sunlight streamed through the windows.

“What time is it? When did you get here?” The questions fell from her lips. “How did they find you? Is Dev with you? Are you both okay?”

Adam grinned. “It’s Thursday afternoon, just now, skilled searchers who knew what they were doing and yes, other than needing a long, hot shower and some food, I’m just fine.”

Fay quickly processed his answers, realized he’d left out the one about his brother. “Devlin? Please tell me he’s okay.”

The smile faded from Adam’s face. “He was banged up pretty bad in the crash. They med-flighted him straight to the hospital in Cheyenne. He broke both his arms and his leg. They needed to get him into surgery right away.”

“Oh, Adam!”

“The EMTs who checked him out said they thought he’ll be fine…over time. Dev’s young and he’s got that stubborn Irish steak in him.” His smile returned. “Runs in the family, I think.”

“If that’s true, I think I’m a Murphy, too.”

“There’s nothing I want more than for you to have my name, to be my wife.” Adam’s tone grew serious as he drew her hands away from his neck, holding them tightly in his own. “All I could think about while I was stuck out in the wilderness was how stupid I was to push you, how you needed to find your own way to whatever it is we’re building here. You need time, Fay, and I’m willing to give you all the time in the world.”

“Adam, I—”

“I love you.” He rushed over her words. “I think I have, in my own way, for a long time. These last few weeks…my feelings for you, for the baby, have only grown stronger and more certain. My only mistake was not telling you exactly how I felt the moment I realized what it was, but now that I do I plan to tell you often—”

“Wait!” Fay laughed and pulled one hand free, gently laying it across his lips, stopping his speech. “I love you, too, and I don’t need any more time to know the most important thing to me is you, us and this baby. I want to be your wife, I want us to be a family.”

She gently brushed her fingers over his bottom lip, loving how his eyes darkened at her touch. “So, if you’ll do me the honor of becoming my husband…”

“Are you asking me to marry you?”