Rachel Laine (The Women of Merryton Book 3) (33 page)

I
surveyed myself in the full-length mirror in our bedroom. “I look like a
beached whale.”

Andrew
was fixing his bowtie behind me. “Don’t say things like that, the babies will
hear you.”

“They
don’t know what I’m saying.”

He
turned me toward him, knelt down in his tux, and kissed my ever expanding
midsection. “Your mommy didn’t mean that. She meant to say how ravishing she
looks and how everyone at the ball will be jealous of her.”

I
stroked his hair. “Because five months pregnant with twins is everyone’s
dream.”

He
looked up at me with mischief in his eyes. “You made my dreams come true, giving
me two more sons.”

“You’re
still proud of yourself aren’t you?”

“Do
you know what the odds are of one sperm making it? Having two of my little guys
take the prize is amazing.”

I
rolled my eyes at my playful husband. “I love you, even if you are the mayor.”

He
stood up and kissed my cheek. “Which means we can’t be late to the mayor’s
ball. I’m going to check on Drew; my mom should be here any minute.” He looked
back at me from our bedroom door. “Don’t keep me waiting, Mrs. Turner.”

I
looked at myself again in the mirror. The blush colored full-length gown looked
good against my tan skin and dark hair, but there was no hiding I was pregnant,
and getting more so each day. I put in the diamond earrings Andrew had given me
on our first Christmas over a year and a half ago. Then I looked down at the
sparkler he gave me on the day we wed back in August, before school started. It
was becoming tight as I retained water. Dr. Singer said that was normal,
considering I was carrying twins.

I
braved heels and slipped them on. I’m sure I would regret the decision later,
but it would probably be the last time I could wear the beautiful nude pumps
until after the babies were born, hopefully sometime at the end of October or the
beginning of November.

I
walked out of our bedroom suite to find my guys watching the Bears game on the
monstrous screen Andrew had installed in the family room. Drew and I moved out
to the lake house after we married almost a year ago. I lived in a big man cave,
and I was adding more men as we went. I couldn’t be more thrilled. I loved my
sons and my husband.

Father
and son looked cozy on the overstuffed couch while yelling at the screen.

I
smiled at them both. “I’m ready.”

Andrew
hugged Drew before jumping up and joining me. He kissed my bare shoulder.
“You’re beautiful.”

“Thank
you.” I turned my attention toward Drew. “Grandma Eve is taking you out to
dinner. You can record the game and watch it later. And if you go outside, make
sure Jake doesn’t run into the lake and then jump all over Grandma again.”

Both
Drew and Andrew laughed. Poor Evelyn got the soaking of her life when she had
come over last week.

On
cue, the best mother-in-law ever arrived, and with her came yet another set of
adorable baby boy outfits. Both grandmas were in hyper buying mode. And I liked
that a lot of that buying, they did together.

I
kissed her cheek. “Hi, Mom.”

She
touched my midsection, like everyone seemed to do nowadays. “I felt a kick.”
She grinned.

“I
think they wrestle in there.”

“That
sounds about right.”

Andrew
joined us and took my hand. “Thanks for watching Drew. We will be late, so feel
free to use the guest bedroom.”

She
held up her small suitcase. “I came prepared. Stay out as long as you want to.”

“You
mean, as long as we can handle. These babies are kicking my butt.”

She
laughed. “Well, you kids have fun.”

Andrew
promptly whisked me away.

“Why
are you in such a hurry tonight?”

He
opened the door to the attached garage. “I feel like we haven’t had any alone
time in weeks.”

I
touched my belly. “We did, at least twenty some weeks ago.”

He
growled and kissed my neck. “You’re going to make us late talking like that.”

“If
you want alone time, we better do it before these babies make their appearance
into the world.”

“How
does a weekend in Ouray sound, just the two of us?”

“Perfect.”
It wasn’t too far of a drive from Merryton, but enough of a drive to feel
special.

He
led me out to the car and helped me in. I needed all the help I could get.

Andrew
picked up my hand and held it as he drove us over to the pavilion. “Do you
think the Rileys will show up?”

“Probably.”
They had been in hiding the last couple of months since Andrew won the May
mayoral election by a landslide. They were only showing up for baseball games.
Landon was out for blood since Jessie’s team had won the championship two years
in a row, but the way they were playing this year, they might not even make it
to the playoffs. “Veronica loves any excuse to show off her poor taste.”

He
laughed. “Cheyenne will at least have something to laugh at and take pictures
of.”

Poor
Cheyenne. She’d had a rough year. First, Paxton turned out to be a louse. He
dropped Cheyenne after dating for three months when Ms.
I-can’t-keep-my-clothes-on-for-photos came calling. So what if she was on the
cover of a
Sports Illustrated
swimsuit edition? Not only had Cheyenne been
enjoying the spotlight, but I really think she thought she and Paxton had
something real. He realized that a little too late when swimsuit edition found
greener pastures. He tried to come crawling back, but he’d messed with the
wrong woman.

Then
to top it off, she had been in a horrible car accident a few months ago. We’d
had a terrible spring thunderstorm and she got caught in it. She was lucky to
be alive. Her car went off the canyon road, and, by the grace of God, Aidan
happened to see it. He braved the elements and climbed down the steep rocky
incline to save her. Neither really talked about it, but both had been acting
out of character since it happened. Aidan had just started immersing himself
into Merryton society, but that night seemed to shake him. Cheyenne had lost
some of her bravado, too.

“I
don’t think Cheyenne’s planning on coming.”

Concern
registered in Andrew’s eyes. “I’m sorry I ever set her up with Paxton.”

I
squeezed his hand. “It’s not your fault, and I don’t think that’s what’s
bothering her.”

“Then
what?”

“I
think she’s still having nightmares about the accident, and something is going
on with her and Aidan.”

“Are
they in a relationship?”

“I
have a feeling that they’re fighting one.”

“Have
you seen them together?”

“No,
but I’ve seen the way he looks at her, and how she tries to avoid it, but he
does the same thing when she studies him.”

“I’m
sure they’ll figure it out. Remember how you tried to run from me?”

I
touched my midsection. “I was obviously unsuccessful.”

He
kissed my hand. “Best chase of my life.”

We
were one of the first to arrive, but Andrew worked the small crowd. I still
couldn’t believe I was married to the mayor.

My
parents weren’t too far behind us. My dad was still coming around. I was sure
it had something to do with the two little grandsons I was growing inside of
me. Ever since he found out I was pregnant, he had made more of an effort with
Andrew. And I think a little part of him was proud that his son-in-law was the
mayor.

Both
my parents greeted me with a kiss on the cheek and a pat for my middle. I had
never been touched so much in my life, and I wasn’t only talking about Andrew.

“You
look beautiful, honey,” my mom said.

“You
do, too. I’m glad you went with the red gown.”

“The
two prettiest women in town belong to me,” Dad bragged. “Let’s get you off your
feet.” Dad was overly concerned about my health. I couldn’t blame him, considering
how Sydney had died, but I was being monitored carefully, and so far,
everything was going according to plan.

All
my favorite couples arrived next, the Summers, Coles, and Parkers. My friends
all looked stunning standing next to their handsome husbands. I swore Taylor
never aged. I was hoping Cheyenne would have changed her mind and come, but she
never walked through the door. They all joined me at my table and my parents
made a beeline for the older generation table with their friends. We all
exchanged the customary ‘you look so good and how are you feeling’ commentary
while we waited for dinner to arrive.

“Is
it wrong that I’m practically giddy that Andrew beat Landon?” Jessie asked.

“Isn’t
everyone?” Taylor added.

I
smiled. “It’s all right.”

The
table erupted in laughter.

I
still wasn’t sure about his new title. I was happy to report, though, that the
Denver media had to eat crow. They had been so sure Andrew would never break
into politics again.

“Has
anyone talked to Cheyenne today?” Abby asked. “She wouldn’t answer my calls.”

We
all shook our heads. And in walked the Rileys. Veronica’s outfit did not
disappoint. The black feather boa against the skin-tight white dress was over
the top.

“Take
a picture for Cheyenne,” Jessie instructed Abby.

Sweet
Abby was usually against that sort of thing, but she made an exception for our
missing friend.

I
was also missing my husband, who was making his rounds and schmoozing. He was
good at it. He didn’t even make it to our table for dinner. It wasn’t until the
band began to play that he made his way to find me.

“Excuse
me,” he interrupted Easton’s harrowing tale of saving a little girl that had
swallowed a quarter and held out his hand to me. “I fear I’ve been ignoring my
wife.”

I
didn’t hesitate, I took his waiting hand and he helped me up. He led us out
onto the dance floor. There he pulled me close, well as close as I could get in
my current state.

“I’m
sorry,” he whispered in my ear. “I’ve been catching glances of you all night,
wishing I was with you.”

“Uh-huh.
I think you like this mayor gig.”

He
spun me around. “You are my main attraction.”

I
rested my head on his shoulder. “How did a nice girl like me ever end up
married to a baseball player and a politician?”

He
kissed my head. “Consider yourself lucky.”

I
looked up into his smiling eyes. The ones that said he wished we were alone.
“Believe me, I do.”

Sneak Peek – Coming 2017

Cheyenne

The Women of Merryton: Book Four

I
sat up straight in bed and held my chest. My heart was pounding, trying to make
its way out.
It was only a dream,
I reminded myself, except it wasn’t.
The only difference was that when I went off the cliff this time, I got to wake
up in the comfort of my bed, instead of in a rushing river. I shouldn’t be
alive. I wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for him.

He
consumed my dreams more than the raging water.

I
pulled my knees up to my chest and ran my hands down the length of my smooth
legs. The seven-inch scar down my left shin was another glaring reminder of the
accident. This was stupid. I was better than this. I needed to run, even if my
doctor advised against it. What did they know, anyway? They, along with
everyone else in this town, were trying to diagnose me. If I heard the words ‘post
traumatic’ one more time, I might have to go off on someone.

I
fought through the ache of stretching my legs before I took off on my jog. That
pain I could deal with. I took off at a slow pace. I made myself run my usual
route near the creek. I kept my earbuds in, though, to drown out the sound of
the water. I ran as far away on the path as possible from the stream. I just
needed some time, but I would conquer that demon, and I didn’t need any shrink
to help me do it.

It
felt good to run. I needed to clear my head. I needed to get back on my A game.
I needed the old Cheyenne, the one who didn’t care what anyone thought of her.
Why
do I care what Aidan thinks of me?

I
stopped and caught my breath. Being out of commission for so long was winding
me. I bent over, and one of my earbuds popped out. The sound of water trickling
brought me back to that moment. The moment right after Aidan pulled me from my
car. The water was rushing in all around me, and I couldn’t get my seatbelt
loose. How he did, I don’t know. What I do know is how safe I felt in his arms
on the rocky riverbank. He hardly said a word to me, but he held me tight and
stroked my hair. If it wasn’t for him, I probably would have … I would have …

I
threw my earbud back in. I needed to quit thinking about him and what almost
happened.

I
survived. And I was done with men.