Southern Admirer (Southern Loving Book 2) (3 page)

Jasmine blew a sigh of relief when he hung up, for
a split second she thought he was calling her family.

“We’re not going to argue about this right now,”
Shane said, pulling into Porter Adventist Hospital. He stepped out the car and
handed the valet the keys to the car, Jasmine was already out of the car by the
time Shane came around to help her.

Jasmine knew she was in full labor; her
contractions were coming in harder and quicker. What happen to nine minutes
apart? Did those baby books mention the pain and discomfort besides the back
and belly? For crying out loud her legs were hurting too. Jasmine let out a
scream, as her nails dug into his arm.

A valet attendee brought them a wheelchair. The
next ten minutes everything was a blur for Shane and Jasmine. They were taken
up to labor and delivery. Shane tried his best to fill out the necessary
paperwork.

“Can you give her something for the pain?” Shane
asked, looking over at Jasmine as she writhed uncontrollably in agonizing,
excruciating pain.

“I feel like I have to poo,” Jasmine whined.

“Can you page the doctor?” one nurse said to
another. “Jasmine, you don’t have to poo, that’s the baby.”

“I think I have to poo,” Jasmine panted, with a
panicky look on her face. “If I do, I want him out,” she said, looking at
Shane. There was no way she was going to allow him to witness her using the
bathroom.

“I’m not leaving,” Shane said as he finished
registering her into the hospital.

“Okay Dad, we need you to coach your wife,” the
nurse said, looking at him.

“He’s not my husband,” Jasmine snapped at the
nurse, and instantly felt bad. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, dear.” The nurse smiled.

Shane read a few labor and delivery books on the
plane from Aruba, but he didn’t know where to start. “You need to relax, Jazz,”
he encouraged.

“Don’t tell me to freaking relax,” Jasmine
screamed. She wasn’t the type to curse, but today she was going to let loose.
“Oh damn,” she yelled as a really strong contraction hit her.

“Umm,” Shane groaned as Jasmine squeezed his hand.
Shit, where did she get that much strength?

“I need to push,” Jasmine said.

“Don’t push,” Dr. Matthew said, walking into the
room. “Let’s check her cervix.”

Shane looked at the stocky-built doctor with brown
hair. He watched him wash his hands and slip on gloves before sitting on a
stool between Jasmine’s legs.

“Jasmine, focus on me and breathe,” Shane said. He
was surprised that Jasmine followed his commands.

“Okay Jasmine, it’s show time,” Dr. Matthew said.

“Relax,” the nurse said bringing Jasmine’s legs
back.

Shane noticed that the hospital staff wasn’t
prepared for delivering the baby. If Jasmine hadn’t played around in the
bathtub, they would have arrived at the hospital in a nick of time and the good
people wouldn’t be furiously trying to arrange things to catch their baby.

“Please, I need to push,” Jasmine begged as
another contraction hit her.

“Grab her other leg,” a nurse instructed.

“Push!” Dr. Matthew said.

Dr. Matthew didn’t have to tell her twice to push.
Taking a deep breath, Jasmine bore down with everything she had. Within four
pushes, Jasmine could feel her baby expel from her body. Within seconds, she
was on her chest. There was no more pressure or discomfort.

“Freedom!” she laughed, kissing her small adorable
baby, who had a full pair of lungs.

Shane never thought he would experience this day
in his life. It brought tears to his eyes. As he looked down at his child, he saw
that she was a beautiful combination of him and Jasmine.

“She is unbelievable,” Jasmine said, looking up at
him. “Meet Shay Melody McBride.”

Shane tested the name of his lips. Melody was his
mother’s name. Without thinking, he bent down and kissed Jasmine ever so
softly. “Thank you.”

He still couldn’t believe that he was a father.
Someone’s dad. This little one depended on him. Shay had Jasmine’s button nose
and his green eyes with a hint of yellow, her hair was black and silky. Shay
could be or do anything she wanted. Shane wanted to give Shay and Jasmine
anything and everything.

When the nurse came and took Shay away, he went
with them while another nurse cleaned Jasmine up. For the first time in his
life, he was instantly in love with someone. He was going to protect her, teach
her right from wrong and most of all, he was going to be there for every
milestone.

***

Later in the evening, Shane walked into the
hospital room with dinner from a nearby restaurant. He was tempted to say look
at my girls, but he caught himself. Jasmine was sitting in bed beaming from ear
to ear. There were so many questions he had for her, but he didn’t want to
overwhelm her, both of them were still buzzing from the birth of their
daughter.

“How are you feeling?” he asked, putting the food
on the table.

“Deliriously happy.” She smiled, looking down at
Shay, who nursed from her breast. “Shane, I really was going to tell you.”

“I don’t want to fuss, especially with the baby
around,” he said, washing his hands. “I’ll hold the baby while you eat.”

Jasmine handed the baby to Shane. She smiled as he
walked over to the rocking chair. She laughed when she realized he was taking
baby steps to the chair. “When was the last time you held a baby?”

Taking the food out the bag, she placed it on
table. Shane remembered that she loved Outback Steakhouse; she had grilled
chicken Caesar salad and a Blooming Onion. Jasmine could have kissed him. She
hadn’t been able to eat a Blooming Onion since becoming pregnant.

“My brother, Jonathan, and his wife, Liz, had Reba
five years ago,” he said, smiling as he looked at Shay. “But this time it’s
different.”

“Because she is yours?” she asked.

“Yes,” he said, looking at her. “Eat.”

Jasmine huffed and ate her food in silence. Every
now and then, she would look up to see Shane talking to their daughter. There
was no emotional connection between them, it was only physical. Except for that
one moment during Shay’s birth, Shane’s lips touched hers and there was this
jolt of electricity when he kissed her. But there could be nothing between
them; his heart would always belong to another.

Shane stared at a sleepy Shay, he inhaled her
sweet, new baby scent. There were so many emotions running through him. He was
stunned, thrilled and most importantly, Shane was freaked out. Fear was running
through his veins like a virus. He didn’t know the first thing about raising a
baby. He was clueless. He looked over at Jasmine, who was sleeping peacefully.
Shane knew that when shit hit the fan regarding Jasmine’s pregnancy and that he
was the father, he would have a price to pay and his friendship with Benjamin
would be on the line.

***

It’d been three days since Shay was born and two
days since they’d been home. The baby book made her believe that coming home
with the baby was going to be a piece of cake, but that was a lie. What
happened to the crying, dirty diapers, and sleeping? But everything was worth
it when she looked inside Shay’s eyes. It was crazy hard, but she was lucky to
have Shane. Jasmine stared at the alarm clock on the nightstand and looked over
at Shay sleeping in the bassinet. She was sleep deprived, she haven’t had a
good night sleep since they’d brought Shay home. There were times when she
would watch Shay sleep for hours and now all she wanted was to get in a few
hours of sleep.

“Wahhhhhhhhh!!”

Jasmine shot up out of bed and threw the covers
off her and picked Shay up.

“What’s wrong?” Shane asked, running into the
room. His green eyes were tired, and he hadn’t shaved in three days.

“I think Shay’s hungry,” she said. Jasmine made a
few shushing noises and pulled her breast out. Normally she would be
embarrassed or shy, but Shane had seen her in her worst and plus he saw her
pocketbook
.

“Here let me,” Shane said, taking the baby from
her. He gently patted her on the back with hopes of putting the baby back to
sleep.

“I don’t think I was mentally and emotionally
prepared for this,” Jasmine sighed. Tears started rolling down her cheek; she
tried to stop herself from crying but couldn’t stop.

“What’s wrong?” Shane asked, looking at her
strangely.

“I can’t do this anymore,” she cried. “Nothing I
do is right.”

Shane laid a sleeping baby back in its bassinet.
“Jasmine, we’re new at this and learning as we go. I wouldn’t expect you to
know everything right now at this moment.” He caressed the side of her face.
“Do…you think it would be easier if we contacted your mother, she could help
and teach you a few tricks of the trade.”

“I’m not ready to tell them,” she said through
clenched teeth.

Shane stood up and walked away from her. He headed
toward the door before he turned around and stared at her. “I’m not going to
keep Shay a secret. Having a baby is a joyful experience, not something you
should keep in shame. I have plenty of family who would love to meet our
daughter, Shay Melody McBride.” With that said, Shane walked out the door.

Jasmine could tell by the sound of his voice that
she was on borrowed time with him and he would spill the beans with and without
her approval. Getting out of bed, she checked on Shay, before grabbing the baby
monitor and walking out the room. Walking out the room, she saw Shane standing
there wearing only briefs.

Clearing her voice, she focused on the picture
hanging on the wall instead of gawking at the half-naked man standing the
kitchen drinking milk.

“How long are you going to be here?” she asked,
with a hand on her hip.

“I’m on vacation, honey. I have two weeks left and
I plan on spending every waking minute with my daughter.” He winked at her.

“Shay is our daughter,” she corrected. “What do
you want? Do we need to discuss visitation? I do not want any child support
from you.” She leaned against the wall and folded her arm against her chest. “I
don’t need you.”

“Says the woman who was crying in her room only a
minute ago,” he laughed. Shane walked across the room and stood in front of
her. “Grow up and stop thinking about yourself, you didn’t get pregnant on your
own, but you concocted this scheme to keep your pregnancy from me and people
who love you.”

“It’s my body,” she spat.

“Shay is my child and I put that baby in your
belly,” he yelled, pinning her against the wall.

“Yeah,” she laughed hysterically. “You did put
that baby in my stomach, but you also called out Sarah’s name while doing it.”

“I did not.” He backed away from Jasmine. His face
became red with embarrassment.

“Yes you did.” She turned around to go back to her
room. “Shay is our child that we created together,” Jasmine said, before going
back into her room and closed the door.

Shane watched the door close. Was Jasmine going to
allow a slip of the tongue keep a rift between them? They didn’t even love each
other, they had no future together except for Shay. He sat there on the sofa as
embarrassment started to sink in. He didn’t realize the mistake of calling her
Sarah until now. Shane knew he could blame it on the alcohol or just a simple
brain slip. Running his hand down his face, he stared at the ceiling.

Getting up from the sofa, he went to Jasmine’s
bedroom. She laid in bed pretending to be asleep, he crept to the bassinet and
took a peek at his baby girl, who was perfectly swaddled in a blanket. Sighing,
Shane turned and looked at Jasmine, she was a beauty sprawled across the bed.
“I know you’re not
a
sleep.” When
she opened her mouth to say something, he put his finger to her lips. “Just
listen, I will not deny that I still have an emotional bond to the woman I
loved since Jr. High. It was a big oops that her name was mentioned during the
throws of our lovemaking. I’m sorry.”

“I know you’re suffering from the loss of Sarah,”
she whispered.

“Sarah is always on my mind and will always be,”
he said softly.

“Okay,” Jasmine leaned forward and kissed his
forehead. “We will have to be the best of friends for eighteen-years,” she
said, and turned her back to him. Jasmine knew that her crush that she’d hidden
from Shane for so long would be just that; a silly crush that she had on the
man since the day Benjamin brought him to their house to introduce his new
partner on the force.

Chapter Two

Shane needed advice and the only person besides
Benjamin he could talk to was his cousin, Austin McBride. Walking outside, he
sat on the patio and enjoyed the chirping of red robins in a nearby tree, there
wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

“Hey cousin,” Shane said when his cousin timbered
voice came over the phone.

“Ranger McBride, what’s up?”

“Do you remember Jasmine St. Clair?”

“Jasmine St. Clair……Your partner’s baby sister,
the cute sassy chick?”

“Yeah. Her.” Shane rolled his eyes. A few years
ago Austin tried to tell him that little Jasmine had a crush on him. He turned
around and peered into the sliding glass door at the girls were Jazz was
sitting there breastfeeding Shay. “Well…. Nine months ago I kind of slept with
her and we had a baby together.”

Silence.

“What the hell?” Austin laughed. “A baby?”

“Yes,” Shane grumbled, when the laughter subsided.
“I have a daughter, Shay Melody McBride.” His voice was full of pride.

“Oh, shit man,” Austin said, getting serious.
“Send me a picture of my baby cousin.”

“I think we can safely say that you’re Uncle
Austin,” Shane laughed. “I need you to keep this under wraps, she hasn’t told
anyone that she was pregnant.”

“Are you freaking kidding me?” Austin shouted.
“How the hell are you supposed to keep a baby a secret?”

“We’re going to tell the family in a couple of
days,” Shane said.

“Don’t forget to invite Farrah and me,” Austin
said. “I’ll make sure we will bring the popcorn.”

Shane knew Austin had a point, the shit was about
to hit the fan. Hopefully, a baby could temper the argument that was coming
their way. “How is Farrah?” he asked.

“Farrah is great, but the morning sickness is
not,” Austin replied.

Just by Austin mentioning morning sickness, Shane
realized how much he missed without being at Jasmine’s side. He thought back to
the vacation in Aruba with Farrah, how her stomach was in the beginning stages
of swelling and witnessing her vomiting early in the morning. Shane wasn’t
there for Jasmine for doctor appointments, or bringing her ginger ale and
crackers.

“Did you hear me? I asked how were ya’ll going to
work out the whole co-parenting,” Austin said a little louder.

“What am I’m supposed to do? There’s no way I can
make a grown ass woman move across a state,” Shane mumbled. He didn’t want to
miss anything in Shay’s life, but he didn’t know how to please the stubborn
lion in the other room.

“Well, I see that you have the option, you could
move your ass to Denver, but cousin, must I remind you that you always wanted
to be a Texas Ranger,” Austin reminded him.

“I know,” Shane said as he stared off into the
distance.

“What are you going to do about Jasmine?” Austin
asked.

“What do you mean?”

“That girl’s been in love with you since the day
you walked into her life. Have you ever noticed the way she looks at you?”
Austin asked him. “I mean the goo-goo eyes, shit Ray Charles could see the girl
had a major crush on you.”

“No,” Shane shook his head. He never really paid
attention to Jasmine like that. She was the annoying little sister that got in
so much trouble to the point he and Benjamin were bailing her out of sticky
situations all the time.

“I remembered the way Jasmine was looking at you,
like a glass of water on a hot, sunny day. Boy was she trying to quench that
thirst.”

“Shut up,” Shane said. He thought back to the time
when Benjamin used to teased Jasmine that she would get all tongue-tied when he
came around. At that time, Shane didn’t think anything of it, but now he was
wondering if nine months ago, did Jasmine see an opening for herself to act
upon that crush.

“I say the hell with it if you’re asking me,
Jasmine is single and you’re definitely single. Maybe you guys should date or
something and become this one big happy family.”

“Well, thank God I wasn’t asking you,” Shane
replied.

“Well, I guess you can try out your parenting
skills from afar.”

“How is Farrah, are you back in her good graces?”
Shane said, trying to change the subject. A few months ago his cousin had to
choose between marrying a woman who was absolutely wrong for him, but was
convenient or marrying the woman who was his better half and soul mate. Austin
McBride choose wisely, he picked Farrah Rue; the kind, loving, chef from New
Orleans.

“We’re working on our relationship; I’m hoping that
she will accept my proposal in a few weeks.”

Shane could hear the happiness in his cousin’s
voice. “Don’t break her heart, or you’re going to have to answer to me.”

“It’s fitting how I have to answer to you dear
cousin, but then again you’re going to answer to Benjamin St. Clair
eventually,” Austin laughed.

“Okay, I get it,” Shane mumbled. “On that note,
I’m hanging up.”

“Bring Jasmine back home to Texas, you still have
the cottage on McBride ranch,” Austin said before hanging up.

Shane sat there for a minute thinking about
McBride ranch. That was the only place that felt like home. He could picture
Shay running around the pastures when she got older. He was happy that he grew
up on McBride ranch; it made him strong, and resilient with good work ethic. Yeah,
he was a hick and grew up in the country, but that’s what made him. Shane
wanted to his child or children to experience his roots.

Having just put Shay down in her Moses bassinet,
Jasmine sat on the sofa. Somehow she managed to feed and put Shay to sleep, and
with a few minutes to herself, she was able to shower and do her hair. For the
past two weeks, she’d been lurking around the house like a mad woman with nappy
hair. She felt rejuvenated.

The door opened to the patio and in walked Shane,
she’d known him for eleven years and the look on his handsome face told her he
had something to say and she wasn’t going to like it.

“Jazz, we need to talk,” Shane said, sitting on
the other side of the sectional.

Closing her magazine, she looked up at him. “What
do you have to tell me? I’d rather you just tell me everything at once.”

“Last night you asked me what I wanted.” He paused
and clasped his fingers together. “I’m telling you right now that I want to be
a full-time father. McBride men don’t walk away from family or
responsibilities.”

“It never crossed my mind that you would settle
for being part-time,” Jasmine muttered. “I live in Denver and you live in
Texas, I will not quit my job to satisfy your needs.” Picking up the magazine,
she flipped through the pages and started to read.

Shane’s face became red, it was taking all his
self-control not to get up and snatch the magazine from her. “I need Shay in my
life, compromising is the only solution for us.”

“I live in Denver,” Jasmine shrugged, and went
back to reading.

That was it. Shane stood up and snatched the
magazine from her hands. “I’ll be damned if I’ll be a weekend-only father, I
will be there for nightly feedings and seeing my child every day.”

“Shay wouldn’t know if we were in Texas or Denver.
You can leave for Texas anytime you want to Shane, I’m not holding any shackles
on your feet,” Jasmine sneered. She got up from the sofa and walked into the
kitchen to fix herself a cold glass of water.

Shane felt like pulling his hair out. It’s like
what he was telling Jazz was going through one ear and out the other. One thing
Jazz forgot was that Shane wasn’t going to allow her to make decisions that
would affect them all. Instead of going back and forth with her, he reached
into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone.

Jasmine stop drinking her glass of water and look
at him. “What are you doing?” she asked.

“I’m calling your mama, I think it’s time for me
to inform her that we had a baby together.” He showed her his phone, Dena’s
number showed up on the display screen.

“Let’s make a deal,” she said softly.

“I’m listening.”

Jasmine walked over and snatched the phone from
him. “I’ll take a six month leave from work, but I doubt they will hold my job
for me.”

“I will help you get on at the news station in Dallas,”
he replied. “I have a few favors that I can call in.”

“Fine,” she said through clenched teeth. “You will
pay my mortgage here.”

“Okay,” he said, without batting an eye. “I have a
request.”

“You always have a request,” she groaned.

“You will live on the McBride ranch with me.” He
noticed how Jasmine’s eyes became huge. “The cottage has four bedrooms and
three baths,” he said in a rush.

“Okay,” she laughed uneasily. “Is that it?”

“We will have a baby party or shower to celebrate
Shay’s birth.” He paused and looked at her. “I think the party should be held a
week after we arrive in Dallas.”

“Is that it?” she asked.

Shane bounced his head from side to side. “Yep,
that’s it for now.”

“Alright.” Jasmine sat back down on the sofa and
peeked over at Shay, it was amazing that something so small and precious came
from her. “When are we leaving?”

“At the end of the week, Austin is going to allow
us to use his private jet,” Shane said.

Jasmine turned and looked at him slowly. “Damn,
Shane I know you’re a quick thinker but it’s hard for me to believe that you
thought this out all within five minutes. How long have you been thinking about
me moving back to Texas?”

“Since the hospital or maybe it was on my long
plane ride from Aruba to here.” His eyes bore into hers. “You know you need
me.”

“I don’t need you,” she said with a smile on her
face.

“That’s what you think,” Shane replied. He stood
up and started to whistle quietly, walking up the stairs.

“Uh, I can’t stand him,” Jasmine said. She didn’t
understand how she could allow him to get underneath her skin.

***

When Jasmine found out that she was pregnant, it
was her choice that she wouldn’t involve Shane and her family. It’s like she
could hear their condescending voices in her head.

“You made the worst mistake in your life?”

“How are you going to raise this child?”

“Who is the father?”

Jasmine didn’t want to hear any of that. So she
did what she thought was the easiest way out by not telling anyone about her pregnancy.
Something that Shane said a few nights ago, about having her mother there to
help her with Shay, maybe her mother could have prepared her for bringing a
baby home for the first time instead of using Google for everything.

A tear slowly rolled her face. Her hormones were
still all over the place, she could cry at the drop of a dime and she could a
roaring bitch a moment later. She wanted her mother’s advice even her
sister-in-law, Stacy’s, advice would be great right now. It was nice to have
Shane around, but she needed someone who understood what she was going through.
With her and Shane it was like the blind leading the blind. Even though the
provided that comfort, reassurance and presence it was nothing like having Mom
there.

“Are you crying again?” Shane asked coming out the
bedroom.

“No,” she lied, and looked away from him.

He came and sat down next to her on the bed. Did
he have to smell so good? Shane smelled like crisp jasmine, sage and rosewood. His
scent was intoxicating and making her light-headed.

“Look at me, Jazz.” When she didn’t listen, he
turned her head to face him.

Jazz stared into his deep green eyes; she feared
she could get lost in them. She couldn’t focus on what she wanted to say, his
scent was driving her crazy. “Our families will be mad….mainly at me.” She
shuddered just thinking her parents’ and brothers’ reactions.

“I think Shay will erase some of the animosity
that will be emitting from our families,” Shane said.

“Let me guess, because you had sex with baby
Jasmine St. Clair, who might I add is twenty-five years old and is a grown ass
woman,” she said proudly.

“You’re still a baby,” he laughed. “Benjamin is
going to ring my neck like a chicken.”

“We’re grown,” Jasmine shrugged. “Had sex and made
a baby. It’s our business and no one else’s what we did and didn’t do.”

“Say that one more time,” Shane said, looking at
her with amusement in his eyes.

“It’s our business.” She stuttered and moved away
from him. “I’m going to bed,” she said, hoping that he got the drift and go
back to the living room.

“I was thinking…” he started to say. “That I could
sleep in here, so I can be closer to Shay.”

For the past few days, they’d been sharing the bed
since they brought Shay home from the hospital. But this time it was different.
She was noticing certain things about him; the way he smiled and watched her
when he didn’t thinking she was paying attention to him. “I don’t think it’s a
good idea.”