Having Adam's Baby (Harlequin Special Edition) (6 page)

Because he remained standing outside the van and it would’ve been rude not to, she rolled down the driver’s-side window.

“You sure you’re feeling well enough to drive?” he asked.

“I’m fine.”

His features relaxed when she pulled on her seat belt. “Drive safe.”

“I’m sure you’re as stunned by this news as I was. We’ll talk in a day or two.” A quick twist of the key and the engine turned over. Thankfully. “I just need a little time to make some decisions.”

* * *

Make some decisions.

Adam stood in the gravel parking lot, watching the woman pregnant with his child drive away. He stood there, even after that ratty old van of hers disappeared around the curve in the road. Fay’s parting words echoed inside his head until they meshed with a long-ago, locked-away memory.

The words of another woman, about another baby.

It’s my decision. It’s my body. I never wanted this.

He and Julia had married too fast after dating too little, and before they’d even reached their two-year anniversary, he found a positive home pregnancy test in the trash. After managing to hold out three days, waiting for her to share the news, he’d finally asked. He was so overjoyed when she nodded yes, he’d mistaken her tears for happy ones.

Then her stunning pronouncement, his attempts at soothing her fears, calming her doubts, pleading that turned into anger as he finally understood the decision she’d already made without him.

A decision that was taken out of their hands less than a week later, and just like that, his marriage was over.

“So, were we right?”

Adam’s heart seized and he spun, his hands reaching for the M16 assault rifle he no longer carried with him everywhere.

His brother’s shocked expression stopped him.

Dropping his hands, Adam pulled in a shaky breath. “Sorry. That was…stupid. You just surprised me.”

“Yeah, I figured that out pretty quick.” Nolan shoved his hands into his pockets, his mouth drawn into a frown before he continued. “Mom and Dad sent me to see if you and Fay were joining us. Since you’re standing out here alone I’m guessing she ate and split?”

Adam sighed, knowing his brother must’ve seen the tray in the living room. “Yeah, she had to get back to the shop.”

“And?”

Answering his brother with a quick nod, Adam turned and headed back inside.

“She didn’t stay very long. Don’t you two have a few things to talk about?” Nolan asked as they walked past the offices and through the great room, stopping long enough for Adam to grab the lap tray of dirty dishes. “Adam?”

Ignoring his brother’s question when he heard voices coming from the kitchen, Adam stopped. “You haven’t said anything about Fay to anyone else, have you? Other than Dad?”

“No, but you know the folks, they share everything. I’m sure he told Mom what he told me. The question now is what are you going to do about it?”

“Right now? Nothing.”

“Huh?”

Adam pulled in a deep breath, willing the tension in his shoulders and chest to ease, but that same dread he’d felt years ago stayed with him. “Yes, Fay and I need to talk, to make some decisions, but she had to get back to work.”

“Are you going over to see her later tonight?”

“I don’t know.” He hadn’t planned on it. Fay had asked for a couple of days, but waiting that long to talk to her, hell, just to see her again, was going to be impossible.

What if she did something rash before he got a chance to have his say? Could he hold out until morning? The shop was closed on Sundays. “Look, I’d appreciate it if you kept this to yourself. I really have no idea what we’re going to do next or where we go from here.”

“Sure, I can keep a secret, but news like this isn’t going to stay quiet for long. Not in a town this small.”

Adam nodded in agreement, remembering how his mother had started to mention something about Fay when it came to the town’s infamous rumor mill.

“Is there something else going on with Fay?” he asked. “I mean, other than what I just found out.”

Nolan started to speak but was stopped from answering by the appearance of his daughter.

“Dad! Luke and Logan farted in the pool. Again.” Abby’s face screwed up in a glower as if she could smell the offending odor from here. “How am I going to have friends over? I can’t believe they’re turning thirteen in a few months.”

Wrapping an arm around his daughter, Nolan gave her a quick kiss on the forehead as the three of them entered the kitchen. “Come on, we’ll tag team ’em.”

“Like I’m getting in that water? No way!”

Nolan headed outside with his daughter, passing Elise as she entered carrying a plate heaping with a juicy steak. Its tangy, mouthwatering smell caused Adam’s stomach to growl in appreciation.

She smiled and motioned for her son to set down the tray. “Let’s trade. You eat and I’ll take care of that.”

Adam didn’t need to be told twice. He sat at the center island, taking the plate and silverware out of his mother’s hands.

“Do you want another beer to go with that?” she asked.

He shook his head. No, he needed to keep his mind clear. “How about iced tea or lemonade instead?”

“Coming right up.”

“And how about some information?”

He cut into the steak and placed a large piece in his mouth, muffling the moan that threatened to escape as soon as the tender meat touched his tongue.

Damn, it’d been a long time since he’s had a meal like this.

He chewed, swallowed and cut another piece. “You were about to share what the local gossips were saying about Fay before she showed up.”

His mother glanced out the large sliding glass doors at the rest of the family before joining Adam at the counter. Placing the tall glass of lemonade in front of him, she leaned closer. “I’ll share if you will. Am I going to be a grandmother again?”

Adam couldn’t stop his grin.

His mother gave a little squeal of joy and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. “Oh, that is so wonderful!”

“Even though we’ve sort of gone about it the wrong way?”

“There is never anything wrong about a new life coming into this world,” Elise said, grabbing his hand and giving it a quick squeeze. “It’s about time you and Fay found some happiness in your lives. Why not with each other?”

If only it were that easy.

Adam straightened and took a quick swallow to cool his dry throat. “There isn’t anything between Fay and me.”

“You mean besides a child,” his mother pointed out. “You know, I remember the three of you always running around together back in high school and college. You, Scott and Fay. Even back then I could see—”

“That was a long time ago.” Adam pushed the pasta salad around on his plate. “Things, and people, change.”

“And not always for the better. If only half of what was being said about that girl was true, poor Fay has been through so much. Not to mention the Coggens. All thanks to Scott, rest his soul.”

Dread filled Adam’s gut, taking away any thought of food. “What exactly has been going on around here this past year?”

Chapter Five

A
dam walked slowly in the peace and quiet of the early morning. The harmonious sound of voices raised in song drifted from the white clapboard church he’d just slipped out of as the first Sunday service of the day was ending.

Arriving late, he’d sat alone in the very last pew and allowed the calm words of the preacher and the familiar hymns from his childhood to flow over him.

And he prayed.

He prayed for those still fighting overseas, those who’d returned safely and for the loved ones of those never coming home, at least not the way they’d planned. Like Scott and Carl, the two members of his unit killed during this last tour.

His last tour.

Stetson in hand, Adam soon reached the Coggen family plot in the far corner of the neighboring cemetery. He kept walking until he stood before his best friend’s grave.

He didn’t know what to say or if he had the right to say anything at all. Was it true? Had his buddy really screwed up so badly before he’d shipped out that his family was still paying for those mistakes a year after his death?

Stunned by what his mother shared with him yesterday, and the stories his father had added as they’d walked along the lake at sunset, he could only shake his head.

Scott’s family had always been high on the town’s pecking order when it came to money. While his friend had balked at working for his father right after college, eventually Scott started as a manager at the Laramie location of Coggen Motors, one of six dealerships located all over Wyoming, and worked his way up.

Now the entire business belonged to someone else.

Scott and Fay had built a fancy home on the other side of town on land given to them by Scott’s parents who’d lived right next door. Only Fay had sold the house back in January, not long after Walter’s stroke.

Something didn’t add up.

Fay should’ve received a one-time death gratuity when Scott was killed. Not that it was a lot of money, but it would’ve helped. Not to mention she should be getting a monthly payment for survivors of deceased veterans. And what about the group life insurance every serviceman had?

If things were as bad financially for her as it sounded, how was she going to handle adding a baby to the mix?

His baby.

Not that he planned on money being an issue for her. No, he fully intended on taking financial responsibility for his child.

The enormity of what exactly that would entail stuck hard in his gut. Like dive bombers fixated on the same target, so many emotions came at him from all sides.

Anger, pain, guilt, grief. All mixed with the joyful news of the baby.

A joy he wasn’t sure he deserved.

“I’m going to take care of her,” he vowed, standing in the hushed silence. “I have no idea how, but I promise you that much.”

A shaft of sunlight broke through the trees, landing on the smooth granite marker. He’d blinked hard, slapped his hat on his head and headed for his pickup truck.

Pulling away as the church started to empty, Adam drove to the local bakery. Moments later he turned off Main Street and pulled to a stop in the parking lot behind The Sudz Bucket, a do-it-yourself laundry, Ursula’s Updos, the local beauty parlor and Fay’s Flower Shop.

And for the last six months Fay’s home as well.

Adam honestly hadn’t planned on stopping by her apartment this morning. Just like he hadn’t planned to stop by the church or Scott’s grave.

Then he’d spotted the display of doughnuts back at the bakery and remembered how he and Fay had shared a preference for the simple glazed ones. Before he could talk himself out of it, he’d grabbed a variety, just in case her taste had changed, and here he was.

He pried off the lid to his coffee and took a sip from the steaming cup before glancing at his watch. Almost nine-thirty. Too early to walk the double flights of outside stairs and knock on her door?

Fay had asked yesterday for time to think. Said she had decisions to make. He wanted—he needed—to know the most basic decision of all.

Did she want the baby?

He shook his head, tossing aside the stupid question.

She had claimed the child as hers when he’d asked about the pregnancy. Still…he had to be sure. For whatever reason, she and Scott never had children during their marriage.

Was that Scott’s idea or hers? If it was hers, how did she feel about getting pregnant now?

How did she feel that he was the father of her child?

Stop driving yourself crazy and go knock on the door.
He took another sip.

What was he waiting for? An engraved invitation?

Forget it, pal. The lady couldn’t get away from you fast enough yesterday.

And yeah, that stung a bit, too.

The rumbling of his stomach had him flipping open the box of doughnuts on the seat next to him and grabbing one. Gone in four bites. He reached for another.

As he brought it to his lips, Adam got the strangest feeling he was being watched. Looking out the side window, he found himself under the scrutiny of a mutt sitting on his haunches in the empty parking space next to his truck.

Scruffy looking, the dog’s matted fur was more gray than white except for the large circle of black that covered one side of his face from the ear, over one eye and down along his snout.

“Well, where did you come from?” He rolled down the window, the action and his words causing the dog’s tail to thump wildly against the pavement. “What? You think you’re going to get some of my breakfast?”

Damn if the dog didn’t nod his head.

Adam’s mouth rose into a grin for the first time that day as he tossed the pastry toward the mutt. It was gone in a flash. He reached for an old-fashioned plain doughnut instead of a glazed one this time and it disappeared as quickly as the first.

“Sorry, the rest are spoken for.” Adam looked up in time to see movement behind the partially closed curtains hanging in the large picture window on the second floor.

He grabbed the doughnuts and his coffee and got out of the truck, pausing to put on his hat. “You better head home now.”

The dog got up on all four paws and offered a full-bodied shake that started at his head and traveled to the other end, a move that revealed no collar or the jangle of tags.

Great, a stray. Or maybe his identification had gotten loose and fallen off. “Sorry, bud, either way, I’ve got enough on my plate as it is.”

Adam headed across the parking lot, the dog close on his heels. His own fault, he never should’ve fed him. Maybe if he ignored the mutt, he’d go away.

Taking the stairs two at a time, he soon stood at Fay’s entryway, eyeing the patriotic wreath dressed with red, white and blue flowers through the outer screen door.

He wasn’t alone.

“Go on, get out of here.” Adam kept his voice low as he nudged the dog’s back end gently with the toe of his boot. “No wingman needed this time.”

The creature just sat there looking at him before he cocked his head toward the door.

Go on and knock, the shiny brown eyes seemed to say.

“Don’t rush me,” he whispered. “This isn’t easy, you know.”

The dog responded with a couple of sharp barks and seconds later the door sprung open.

“What’s going on—” Fay’s sleepy eyes widened. “Adam?”

Her hands flew to her fresh-from-bed mussed curls, quickly gathering the long strands into a messy ponytail. The jerky movements, arms raised and elbows askew, caused the silky robe she wore to gape from her collarbone to her knees.

Just enough for Adam to catch a glimpse of smooth skin, the sweet outer swells of her breasts and lacy green panties.

Whoa, ten-hut and standing tall.

A light breeze crossed the back of his neck and shoulders. Seconds later, the cool air touched her skin.

Everywhere.

Fay looked down, gasped and gathered the edges of her robe in her fists.

Adam felt the imaginary slap to the back of his head as sure as if his mother had been standing right there.

Forcing his gaze from Fay, he looked instead at the dog who returned his stare. He could’ve sworn one bushy eyebrow rose in a mocking salute.

“You’re actually taking credit for that?” he mumbled. “Okay, maybe you’re good for something after all.”

A quick glance back found Fay straightening her robe, knotting it tightly at her waist. He bit back a groan as she smoothed her hands down over her curves, pressing the material even closer to her body and allowing him to see its natural response to the breeze.

Forcing his gaze upward until he met hers straight on, he cleared his throat. Twice.

“Good morning, Fay.”

* * *

Was it her imagination or had Adam’s voice dropped a few octaves? Fay shivered and blamed it on the cool morning despite the way her skin flamed hot with embarrassment.

She’d been heading for the bath, but the need for a cup of hot tea had called to her and she’d taken a side trip to the kitchen instead, wearing next to nothing beneath her bathrobe.

A fact Adam was well aware of as his dark gaze roamed again from her crazy curls to her bare toes.

Taking a step backward, she angled her body behind the open door. “What are you doing here?” she asked through the screen.

The last thing she’d expected to find when she’d heard a dog barking on her landing was Adam, with said dog, holding a square box sporting the dragonfly logo of Doucette’s Bakery.

When she’d said yesterday afternoon she needed more time, she figured he understood that meant more than one day. Not twenty-four hours had gone by and here he stood, looking very much like the rancher she’d always known he wanted to be in a starched, button-down shirt, jeans, Stetson and boots.

“What part of ‘a few days’ did you not understand?”

“I didn’t plan on coming here this morning.”

“And yet, here you are. How did you know where to find me?” Realization dawned. “Oh, wait. Your family.”

“The instruction book for that newfangled java machine you put in my kitchen is longer than a Louis L’Amour Western,” he said, ignoring her comment while lifting both the coffee cup and the box in his hands. “I needed coffee and I brought breakfast. If you’re hungry.”

This time she noticed the aroma of freshly made doughnuts as it wafted through the screen door, winning over her annoyance at being the main topic of discussion with his family. She hated to admit it, but she was famished despite a 4:00 a.m. snack of sliced apple wedges smeared with peanut butter while watching old reruns of
I Love Lucy
.

The filthy mutt sitting next to Adam lifted his snout in the air as if he too could smell the delicious pastries. “Who’s your friend?”

“I have no idea. He followed me from the parking lot. You stay out here,” Adam spoke to the dog, and then reached for the door handle, his hand pausing at the latch on the screen door. “Is it okay if I come in?”

Fay bit down hard on her bottom lip. Did she want him in her home? No, but what would people think if Adam Murphy was seen standing outside her door this early on a Sunday morning?

Hadn’t she already given the locals enough to blabber about?

“Fine, come in.”

Fay moved farther back as Adam stepped into her small kitchen, his tall stature completely filling the room. He started to close the inner door behind him, but the dog let out a sharp yelp.

“Knock it off.” He shot the warning over one shoulder, then moved to shut the door again when the dog once more voiced his displeasure.

An expression of frustration crossed Adam’s face, and Fay fought a smile. “You sure he’s not yours? He doesn’t seem to want you out of his sight.”

“Stay quiet or no more doughnuts,” he said to the dog.

His admonition was met with a low whimper.

“Oh, for goodness sakes leave the door open,” Fay said the same moment as the timer on microwave dinged. Thankful for a reason to turn away, she took out the steaming mug of water, added a tea bag and stirred.

Adam did as she said, but when he moved to stand at the L-shaped counter that separated her tiny kitchen from the equally tiny eating nook, she moved to the far side, putting the counter between them.

“I didn’t know if glazed were still your favorites, so I grabbed a few choices.” He slid the box across the counter, but stayed on the kitchen side.

Ignoring the flutter in her chest over the fact the man remembered which pastry she liked best, Fay flipped open the box and lifted out a sugarcoated one. “Yes, they are. Hmm, looks like you’ve already had a few yourself.”

“Me and the mutt.” Adam jerked a thumb over his shoulder.

“You know, if you feed them, they’ll stay with you forever.”

Adam’s eyebrow rose and Fay realized she was just seconds away from taking a bite of the breakfast staple he’d brought for her. Taking that bite anyway, she grabbed her mug and started walking backward.

“I think I should get out of this robe—ah, get dressed,” she mumbled around a mouthful of food, then forced herself to swallow before continuing, “As much as I appreciate the gesture, I need to get started on my day.”