His Hotcakes Baby (13 page)

“And I told you, I will not be bullied
into marriage!”

She scooted slowly to the edge of the
bed and huffed irritably about the annoying author who just had no bloody
idea.  He should put to practice what he wrote about.  Chase threw his hands in
the air.  He needed to start taking lessons on reading between the lines of
what damn women meant!  He always was one step ahead of all the women he’s had,
except with Mackenzie.  With her, he had no bloody clue!

“How would you know?  You said you’ve
never read any of my books!”  he threw after her with annoyance rife in his
voice.

She appeared back in the doorway and
snapped at him.

“Well, I’ve been so damn bored for the
past two weeks with nothing to do, I read your damn stupid books!”  She huffed
and spun back into the bathroom.

“Stu … she still calls my books
stupid!  My books sell millions across the globe! Two out of three are turned
into movies.  That hardly qualifies as stupid!”

“Vain too!  Seems you are starting to
miss all your groupies and fawning women!”

He gaped at the entrance into the
en-suite bathroom.

“Where the hell did that come from,
Mackenzie?”  Her only response was a muffled grunt and he pushed upright
against the headboard.

Jeez!  What happened to the happy and
smiling woman he had in his arms a few seconds ago?

Chase nearly swallowed his tongue when
she walked back into the room, naked with wet hair.  She sat down in front of
the dressing table to dry her hair.  It did not even take a minute before Chase
stormed to the bathroom, his dick as hard as a rock.  The sight of her bobbing
and jiggling breasts as she lifted her arms in the air to brush her hair with
her fingers, shot all the blood from his brain south, all into his dick.  He
stood under an ice cold shower cursing his body’s inability to resist this
tempting woman.

By the time he walked back into the
room, she was dressed and managed to take his breath away once again.  She was
dressed in long, flowing loose fitting, peach chiffon type dress, that was
gathered around her neck with a broad band covered with sprinkles of crystals. 
Her face was beautifully made up with bronze and brown eye shadows, turning her
eyes smoky and a deep green.  Her hair was taken back and tied in a loose knot
at the side of her head with a few lose tendrils hanging down her neck.  She
wore peach colored thongs on her feet, also covered in crystals.

“You look absolutely beautiful.  Thank
you, honey.”

“For what?”

“Giving our son my father’s names.”

She smiled. Her recent irritation with
him forgotten. She skimmed her eyes down his length and took a deep breath.  He
looked like a model directly out of a fashion magazine with sand colored pants,
sneakers and a loose fitting white shirt with only the top three buttons loose.
His hair was carelessly tossed back from his forehead and he sported a scruffy
beard.  Since he realized it drove her crazy when he grazed her nipples with
his beard, he kept it scruffy.  It only made him more attractive and she bit
her lips.

“It was the only option, Babe.  It is
nearly eight thirty, so you, my love, had better have breakfast quickly.  You
must have them off and around the back of the island before the others arrive.”

His heart missed a beat when she
called him her love.  He stole a quick kiss and winked at her.

“Anything you demand, honey!”

“Gmphf!  Until I actually do, yes!”

He chuckled and they both hurried
through breakfast.  Mackenzie sighed with relief when she stood watching the
speed boat disappear around the side of the island.  The plan was that they had
to go and collect Zach who spent the night on Rudder Cay Island with Aiden. 
They would search for an hour or two before finding a note saying that they
went to Billy’s house on Cave Cay.  Another hour or so of searching would lead
them to the opposite side of the island where they would find them snorkeling. 
They would pretend they did not realize how late it was, apologizing
profusely.  Chase would then bring them back and they would all get dressed …
this time in their proper wedding gear.

Billy and Gaby were both annoyed by
the time they got back to Chase’s home.  However, they could not be angry at
Zachary.  He was in such a happy mood about their marriage and could not stop
smiling all the way back.

Gaby walked into her room and gasped. 
She walked towards the dress lying on her bed.  It was a close replica to the
dress she always dreamed of wearing on her wedding day.  There was only one
person who knew …

“You better get dressed, Gabs.  The
pastor is already waiting.”

“You … the dress … what pastor?”  Gaby
turned to Mackenzie hovering in the door.

“Did you really think I would let you
get married in some cold office?  This is your special day.  Granted it is not
perfect, but it is as close as we could manage within two days.”

“Oh Mack!  You are the best niece any
person could ever ask for!  I don’t know how to thank you!”

“You found your heart, Gabs, just be
happy!”

“Oh yes!  I can’t wait for our lives
to start!”

“Where are you going to stay?”

“Billy owns a house in Coral Gable in
Miami.  There is a good private school and the best of it all.  It is close to
you!”

“That is wonderful.  Now, I know it is
customary for a bride to be late, but I have a sneaky suspicion that Billy would
come and look for you.  We better hurry!”

It was a beautiful and poignant
ceremony, with tears flowing from beginning to end.  Anne cried when Gaby
hugged her and assured her she carried no hard feelings.  The bride and groom
wrote their own vows and it was beautiful, full of love and promises of forever
after. Zachary pulled everyone’s heartstrings with his own speech.

“At long last I have my Mom and Dad
together.  I have always prayed for us to be a family.  To have a Dad to
protect us, to hold my Mom when she cried so often in her sleep and soothe her
when she has a migraine … she gets them often Dad.  And to always be there for
Christmas and birthdays.  Families should be together for Christmas and
Birthdays!  Now, I have a Grandmother too and we are a family!”

The rest of the day was spent
celebrating the loving couple’s marriage.  They could not keep their hands from
each other and were seen kissing each other continuously.  They left around
sunset to spend the night at Billy’s house on Cave Cay where after they were
going for a week long cruise for a short honeymoon.

“Mack and Chase, I do not know how to
thank you for what you have done for us here today.  It was the most beautiful
wedding.  Thank you for creating this memory for us, such a lasting and
beautiful one we would always cherish within our hearts.”

Chase
kicked the chair and then cursed when his toe throbbed painfully.  He forgot he
was barefoot!  He glowered after Mackenzie stomping away, still bluntly refusing
to marry him and he was furious.

Aiden watched him with a grin, which
he swallowed quickly when Chase glared at him.

“I am glad you find it funny!  It is
your nephew that will be born outside of wedlock!”

“Ehm … just to get some clarity,
Chase.  I have only heard you demanding her to marry you.  I know my sister
pretty well and demanding … well, let’s just say, her shackles rise in
retaliation pretty quick.”

“What are you saying?”

“Have you tried asking her if she
would marry you?”

Chase scowled at him.  Of course he
hasn’t.  He knew she would say no!  Then he dropped his chin on his chest in
defeat.  Aiden chuckled.

“You’re scared she will say no!”

“Something like that yes.”

“Trust me, Chase.  Remember what she
said the day Aunt Gaby arrived here and your marriage came up?”

Chase frowned.

“She said … not unless I’m asked, I
won’t!  Damn!  I was so angry it never even registered!”

He spun around and started after
Mackenzie.  Aiden shook his head.

“I know you are the great author, Hawk
Carter, but you write thrillers, Chase.  Slow down there for a moment.  She
might be seven months pregnant, but she is still a romantic deep at heart.  The
wedding she planned for Gaby and Billy is proof of that.  If you run in there
now and blurt out the question, she is prone to say no.”

“Bloody hell, Aiden.  I don’t have
time for romance!  Carter’s birth is around the corner!”

“Tsk … setting a romantic stage to pop
the question does not take days!  Do you even have a ring?”

“I am fetching it tomorrow.”

“You had one made?”

“Of course!  It represents our future,
so it has to be special, not a commercial ring everyone wears!”

“And you are adamant to get married
before the end of the month which is three weeks away.  I sincerely trust you
did not plan getting married at court.”

“No.  My Mom and Sister has been busy
with the arrangements for the past month already.”

“Just a fair warning, maybe future
brother in law, you better give her something to do as well, otherwise her
maybe yes, will turn into a no very easily.”

“Why can’t she be like all the other
women I’ve known?”

“You mean brainless and only
interested in your money and fame? Yes and no women?”

“Lord, please not!  Very well Aiden. 
What do we do?”

“Don’t ask me!  I am still a kid! 
You’re the grown-up.  Think of something!”

“With your sister, that is easier said
than done and she is twice as bad with her hormones being all over the place
for the past two months!”

Billy and Gaby walked onto the patio
at that moment, having just returned from their short honeymoon.  Billy looked
around and was clearly disappointed that Zachary was not with them. The next
moment though, he came charging from the kitchen with an excited shriek.

“Mom … Dad!  You’re back!”

He jumped from a meter away into
Billy’s arms who caught him against his chest and hugged him tight.  Zach
grabbed Gaby around her neck and pulled her within his embrace as well.

“We thought you were only coming back
tomorrow?”

“That was the plan, but I missed this
little guy too much.”

“Where is Mack?”

“Sulking in her room.  She got annoyed
with Chase again.”

Gaby shook her head and excused
herself to go and look for her.

Chase slapped Billy on his back in
greeting.

“I’m glad you’re back early.  I need
your advice.”

Aiden and Zach jumped in the pool and
the two of them sat down.

“What’s up?”

“I … ehm … “

“What?  The famous writer is at a loss
for words?”

“Okay!  I’ve just never had to worry
about romancing women!  Now I am at a loss how to … ahum … ask the question
properly.”

Billy laughed so hard he nearly
toppled the chair over.  Chase glared at him, not impressed with his enjoyment
to his dilemma.

“It’s not funny, Billy!  Carter’s
birth is around the corner and she still refuses.  Aiden pointed out to me it
is because I demand she marry me and I guess he is right.”

“And you think just asking her without
a proper declaration of love is going to get her to say yes?”

“What declaration of love?”

“I am afraid, my dear nephew, Mack is
not the type of woman who will marry purely for the sake of giving her child a
name.  She wants the happy ever after.”

“Who says we won’t have that?”

“Hmm … not ready to admit to those
feelings as yet, I see.”

“What feelings?  I want my child to
bear my name and I desire and lust after his mother.  I don’t see that changing
for a long time.  Don’t confuse that with other … emotions.”

“Oh … I’m not!  I’m just not sure you
aren’t. Is that how you plan on explaining your reason for asking her?”

“Damn!  Why do you all have to make
this so complicated?  I just need some ideas on a romantic setting and stuff like
that. I already had a ring made which I am fetching tomorrow.  I want to ask
her then and get it over with.  We need to get married within two weeks!”

“You had a special ring made for her?”

“Yes.”

“That, Chase in itself is a romantic
gesture.  As long as the reason why you chose a specific stone or setting
accommodates the placing of it on her finger.  Give me until the morning.  I’m
sure between Bree and me we will come up with something.”

He noticed the heated look in his
nephew’s eyes and followed his gaze.  He smiled when he noticed his wife and
Mack walking over to join them.  Chase might not know it and can deny it all he
wants, he was totally bowled over by this woman.

Mackenzie aimed for a chair next to
Chase.  She shrieked when he grabbed her hand and drew her onto his lap.  She
slapped at his hands that wrapped around her belly.

“Chase!  I told you before we do not
have a lap-sit-type of relationship!  Let me up.”

“Oh, I don’t know, hotcakes.  I
distinctly remember a lap-sit-type conversation we had no so long ago in my …
Ouch!”

“You are sorely trying my patience,
Chase Paxton!  Let me up!  No!  Stop it!”

Chase chuckled, still nuzzling her
neck.  Her wiggling caused his shaft to rise slowly against her legs and she
glared at him over her shoulder.

“Only if you give me a kiss.”

“We are in other people’s presence!”

“They’re family.  Please, hotcakes! 
It’s been days since you’ve allow …”

She turned and slammed her lips so
fast on his that Billy and Gaby chuckled at Chase’s manipulation.  Gaby’s chuckles
turned to laughter when she noticed Mack giving Chase a kiss so passionate and
hot, his hands clamped tighter and tighter around her hips.

Mackenzie shrieked when he rose with
her in his arms and started walking inside.

“Chase, what are you doing?  Put me
down!”

“After that kiss, what do you think?”

“You are crazy!  I am too heavy and
you will hurt your back!”

“You are still as light as a feather,
little dove.   Stop wiggling!”

“Chase Paxton put me down!  I only
gave you what you asked for.”

“Yes, but with everyone here, I
expected a chaste kiss, not a hot sizzler like you gave me!”

“Chase shhh!  Everyone can hear you! 
Babe stop!”

“Hm hmm. You made a promise, now you
have to deliver.”

“I did not … Chase … no!”   Her shriek
turned into a giggle and then full laughter. Chase’s growl turned it back into
a shriek.

Billy glanced at Gaby, kissing the
palm of her hand.

“And then he needs advice from me on
how to be romantic when he asks her to marry him.”

“I thought they’re getting married in
two or three weeks?”

“Yes, but Chase has only demanded she
marry him and she keeps refusing.  Now he intends on asking her. And he had a
ring specifically made for her.”

“I’m impressed.  They do suit each
other, don’t you think?  So, what advice did you give him?”

“I said you and I will think about it
and see what we can come up with He wants to ask her tomorrow, after he fetched
the ring.”

Chase came stalking out of the house
and dived directly into the pool. Mackenzie walking towards them with a flushed
face.  Billy and Gaby chuckled when Mackenzie grunted.

“It’s not funny!  He is nothing but a
gigolo!”

“Maybe so, but he is now your gigolo
only.  I have never seen him so attentive to a woman.  Never.  Not even when
we’ve been to Nassau and Miami.  He does not even notice the flirty and
seductive looks the women throw his way since you moved here.”

“Only because he knows I will castrate
him!”

“Funny how possessive you are about
him, but refuse to marry him, don’t you think?”

Essie arrived, saving her from trying
to defend herself, with a plate she was holding a distance away from her,
grumbling indignantly as she handed the plate to Mackenzie.

“I swear I have never heard of any
pregnant woman having the type of cravings you have!”

“Aah, thanks Essie!  Oh … you forgot
the pistachio ice cream!”

Essie groaned and her mouth quivered,
but she left to fetch the ice cream.  There is not a flavor Mackenzie has not
made them buy.  Every time a different one. 

Mackenzie shrieked.  Chase splashed
drops of water over her when he leaned over and kissed her in her neck.  He
wrinkled his nose and looked down at the plate in front of her.

“Good Lord, woman!  What the devil is
that?”

“A snack.”

“You are not seriously going to eat
that?”

“Of course I am.”

“What is it, Macks?  Gaby tried to see
what it was, but there were too many components.

“Oh, it is Banana loaf with cream
cheese, caramelized onions, and cucumber, papaya and tuna chunks with melted
mozzarella cheese. Of course, topped with pistachio ice cream.  Hmm … heaven!”

The silence around the table and the
expressions on everyone’s faces did not faze Mackenzie.  Zachary gaped at her
with horror on his face.

“Macks!  How can you torture little C
like that?  Remember, everything you eat, he eats!”

“Well, he is the one placing the orders!”

The expression on Chase’s face caught
her eye and she smiled wickedly.

“Come on Daddy, you have to suffer
with me.  I threw up for a full three months and you just smiled through it
all.”

“What do you mean I have to suffer
with you?” 

He looked at her with serious
reservation in his eyes.  She held out a forkful of the concoction and her
smile broadened.

“Come on Babe … open wide!”

He leaned back, horrified and looked
at the glob of ice cream melting on top of the concoction.

“Ehm … I don’t think so, hotcakes.”

“Chase … I am waaaaaiting.”

“Yes Uncle Chase … and Macks haaates
it to wait!”  Zach offered his advice

Chase groaned and opened his mouth and
closed his eyes. Everyone chuckled when he sat with bulging cheeks, his face
going red.

“Chew, Babe. Good boy!”

He was still forcing the gross mixture
of tastes down his throat when he grabbed the beer Billy just handed to him and
drowned it in one gulp.  He scowled at Mackenzie.

“That was cruel, hotcakes!  Be
warned.  Once Carter is borne, you will eat it again! Just so you realize
exactly what it tastes like!”

She leaned over and kissed him lingeringly
on his lips.

“You are such a grouch!  I hope you
realize you will be in the delivery room with me.  I will not suffer alone!”

“Nothing will keep me away.  But I
told you, you will have a caesarian.  I will not allow you to suffer when there
is an alternative.”

“I am giving birth naturally.”

“You are not!”

“Babe, I will take the epidural.  I’ll
hardly feel anything.”

“No.  I will not budge on this!”

“Ahum … do you two ever agree on
anything?”

“Take it from me, love, hardly ever!” 
Billy laughed and winked at Gaby.

“Not true … we are in total harmony
when we make love.”

“Chase!”

Chase looked at her with innocence
oozing from him, chuckling at her flushing face.