Autumn's Hope (Cowboy Seasons) (21 page)

“Yes,
he is. You look so amazing with little Jonas in your arms. You’re so big and
he’s so tiny.”

“Little
Jonas?” His mouth dropped.

“We
can call him Joe.” Her eyes crinkled in amusement.

A
lump formed in his throat and his eyes burned. “When did you decide on the
name?”

“The
day you put the sign up on my restaurant. Jonas for a boy and Joann for a
girl.” She laughed. “I still can’t believe we’re married. We could have waited,
but I’m glad we did it. Thank God for Summer and her numerous contacts. I’ve
never seen such a speedy wedding ceremony, complete with a tux for you and
Holden and a beautiful brides maid dress for her.”

“And
Joe’s mom in a hospital gown not quite tied up in the back.” Jonas laughed.

She
blushed. “All that matters is that we did it and we now have a son.”

His
heart squeezed when she said, ‘we.’ “We’ll have to wait a bit on the wedding
dance.”

“Not
too long though, I hope.” She stared into his eyes and her intent certainly wasn’t
dancing.

The
usual dread and anguish didn’t hit him. Maybe, just maybe, he trusted her
enough to let her see his scars. He winked at her and instantly regretted it.
His gut clenched. He wasn’t ready. What if she turned away in disgust?

She
must have read the worry on his face. “Jonas, it’ll be your decision. I’m sorry
I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I do plan to sleep in the same bed as
you. I need your arms around me.”

Joe
began to fuss and he quickly handed the baby over to Autumn. “That’s doable.”

“Okay,
sounds like a good plan. Now go home and get that crib put together. Diapers,
we need diapers and oh good grief, we need a lot of things.”

“You
are adorable, love. I have Summer on the shopping end and I wanted to put the
crib together myself. Holden offered but I don’t know, it’s something I wanted
to do for my son.” The love shining in her eyes warmed his whole body.

“Go,
cowboy, before you make me cry.”

Jonas
leaned over and kissed her on the lips. It was the sweetest kiss ever. He
stroked Joe’s cheek with his thumb, smiled at Autumn and left.

He
got into his truck and sat there enjoying the inner glow and happiness rushing
through his body. He never thought he’d have a family. Hope was always there
but he believed it to be false hope. It was amazing how he already loved his
son with a fierceness he hadn’t imagined.

His
cell phone rang and he answered it.

“It’s
Richard. Listen Dee Ann just showed up and she’s up in Autumn’s apartment. I
didn’t let on that anything was wrong. I wanted to talk to you first.”

“Just
play it cool, Richard. Ask her about her investment, maybe she’ll spill some
more info but be cautious. By the way Autumn would love a visit from you.”

“I’ve
missed her these past weeks. How are they?”

“Autumn
and little Jonas are doing well.”

“Congrats,
Jonas. I’ll keep you updated.”

“Thanks,
Richard.”

Jonas
hung up and shook his head. She had balls coming back. What story would she
spin as her excuse for leaving? He had a few calls to make when he got home and
a crib to put together. He wanted everything ready for Autumn and Joe when they
came home.

* * * *

Autumn
was overjoyed when Jonas arrived with the car seat for Joe. They were releasing
her and the baby and she couldn’t wait to go. Jonas was her home, he lived in
her heart. Yesterday he put the crib together and now he was taking her home.

It
felt as though she’d blinked and her whole life changed for the better. All of
her worries and doubts were one by one erased and it was all due to Jonas.
There was something sexy about her rough looking cowboy holding their son.
Butterflies filled her stomach watching them together. Her heart was so filled
with love she thought it might burst.

She
carried the baby while he wheeled the chair down to the front door of the
hospital. “I’ll get the car. Don’t move.”

Autumn
waited and didn’t see the truck. Finally, a minivan pulled up and to her
surprise, Jonas got out of the driver’s side. Her brow furrowed as she watched
him come toward her. “What the heck?”

Jonas
blushed. “I thought it more appropriate for a family.”

Her
lips twitched and she bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing. He appeared so
earnest and she couldn’t laugh at him. “Well what are we waiting for? I want to
show Joe his new home.”

He
put Joe in the car seat like an expert and treated her like fragile glass,
helping her into the van. It felt nice to be pampered. She’d be sleep deprived
from here on out she bet.

Watching
the scenery go by her, many blessing came to her and the two biggest ones were
with her right now. “Where did you get the van? You didn’t trade in your truck
did you?”

“Heaven
forbid. I bought this a week ago and it was ready for me last night.”

They
pulled up the drive and all the trucks and cars came into view. “Company?”

“Folks
wanted to see Joe. Listen, before we go in you should know that Dee Ann is
here. Wait, before you get mad it’s all a plan to incriminate her. We have to
act naturally. But since you two weren’t on the best of terms you won’t have to
do much, just don’t mention anything we already know. Can you do that?”

“Will
it help to put her in the slammer?”

Jonas’
lips twitched. “Yes, love, the slammer it is.”

“Then
I will gladly play along, Jonas, as long as she does not touch our child.”

He
gave her a slow sexy grin. “That’s my girl.”

Summer
ran from the house and opened the side door on the van. “Let me get him!”

Jonas
swung Autumn’s door open and he swept her up into his powerful arms. “I can
walk.”

“I
know,” he whispered as he kept walking.

Summer
entered first with the baby, then Jonas carried her over the threshold. The
significance wasn’t lost on her and her eyes
teared
.
“I love you,” she told him.

As
soon as he set her down, she was inundated with hugs and well wishes. She’d
made so many friends, it amazed her. She kept a sharp eye on Joe and was
pleased that Jonas wouldn’t allow anyone but Summer hold him.

Finally,
she was face to face with Dee Ann. She gave what she hoped was her best blank
stare. “I didn’t know you were in town.”

“Look,
Autumn, I was rude to you the last time I saw you. I was a sore loser and it
was obvious that Jonas preferred you. Forgive me?” Her smile was sickeningly
sweet.

“Sure.
I need to find my family.” She stepped around Dee Ann and a large weight lifted
off her shoulders. That was done, now hopefully she could enjoy her friends.

Jonas
made her sit down and they surprised her with a combination wedding/baby
shower. It was great fun, yet exhausting and she was glad that they soon left.
Contentment washed over her while she watched Joe sleep and Jonas sat next to
her, his arm around her.

“You
need to rest. Your room is ready.”

Her
heart squeezed, she had hoped that they’d share a room. Her bubble of happiness
burst. “My room? I thought—”

He
cut her off with a deep searing kiss. “I’m sorry I meant our room.”

He
helped her up and led her into his—their room. Jonas pulled back the covers and
waited for her to slide in before he tucked her in and kissed her again.

“You’ll
wake me when they baby wakes?”

The
happiness reflected in his eyes was as deep and as wide as her own. “Of course,
love.”

The
door closed and she lay there trying to embrace her happiness, love and
blessings. She couldn’t have hoped for so much. Exhausted, she fell asleep.

What
seemed like a second later, Jonas stood by the side of the bed with a crying
Joe in his arms saying, “There, there.”

She
pushed herself up into a sitting position and held her arms out. Jonas placed
the baby into her arms. “He’s so beautiful.”

“That’s
because he takes after his mama.”

“You
sweet-talker you.” She unbuttoned her gown and Joe instantly latched onto her
nipple. Glancing up she saw the look of awe on Jonas’ face. “He’s a good
eater.”

He
blushed. “Maybe I shouldn’t watch.”

“No,
don’t go. Come sit on the bed next to me. You’re my husband and his daddy.
Don’t be embarrassed. I’m sure you’ve see breasts before.”

“Well,
of course,” he stuttered. He sat on the bed close to her.

“You’ve
seen them before, besides, they are all alike just different sizes.”

“No,
they aren’t and none as beautiful as yours.”

“You
know just what to say.”

“Just
telling the truth.” His phone rang. “
Gotta
go for a
bit. Will you be all right or should I call Summer?

“We’ll
be fine. Anything I should worry about?”

He
kissed her long and hard. “Nope. I’ll be back as soon as possible.”

They
didn’t make men any finer than her husband.

Two
hours later, Jonas tried to sneak into the house. He opened the door so slowly
that, he didn’t even glance up as he closed it soundlessly. Autumn’s lips
twitched as she watched him.

He
turned and his eyes widened when he saw her. “What are you doing out of bed?”

“I’m
perfectly fine. I don’t need bed rest. I just need to take it easy.”

“Are
you sure?”

“Come,
sit next to me. I want to know what’s going on.” She patted the the couch cushion
in invitation.

Jonas
smiled and plopped down next to her, then rubbed his hands over his face. “A
lot has been going on and under my nose. Bob was caught lurking in Colt’s barn.
I’ve known him since we were kids and I trusted him.” He sat straighter and
gazed at her. “You didn’t like him, did you?”

“I
think I told you, he kept undressing me with his eyes and he made a few
suggestive comments.”

Jonas
nodded. “I’m sorry, love. Damn, I should have paid more attention. Colt caught
him and held him at gunpoint until Sheriff Brown showed up. They found a gas
can on the property, not too far from the barn.”

“You’re
kidding!”

“I
wish I were. He’s the one who hurt the horses and caused so much damage. I’m
sick about it. But scum is scum, he ratted out Dee Ann before the sheriff even
showed up.”

She
began to stoke his arm. “I’m sorry, Jonas.”

“I
thought I was a good judge of character, but both Bob and Dee Ann fooled me.”

“Did
they catch Dee Ann?”

“I
got a call on my way here that they had her in custody. I don’t know if she’ll
even see jail time. I guess she made Bob all kinds of promises, and he fell for
it.”

“Just
like Richard. I thought she was sweet at first too. Don’t beat yourself up,
Jonas, you are a good judge of character.” She brushed the back of her hand
against his jaw and smiled into his eyes. “You have me.”

He
turned his head and kissed her hand, then pressed his lips against hers. His
kisses always left her wanting. She hoped that when the doctor gave her the
okay—well, she hoped but it would have to be his decision. Her love for him had
no bounds and if he couldn’t, it would have to be fine.

“Sounds
like Joe is up, I’ll get him.” Jonas stood up.

“He’ll
need changing. I’d better do it.”

“I
know how. I watched many videos on the computer.”

“On
how to change a diaper?”

Jonas
turned red. “Yes, that and other baby things. I want to be a good father.”

“Jonas
Barnes, you make my heart smile.”

* * * *

Sleeping
next to her every night was heaven and hell. Jonas watched her breastfeed, just
as he’d done for over a month and he never tired of watching her. He was on to
her antics but God help him, he loved every minute of her campaign to get him
naked.

The
first few weeks were bad enough with her delectable rear-end pushing and
squirming up against him at night. There were times he had to grit his teeth
and many times when he’d stood under the cold spray of water.

He
even tried to think of her as a mother and not a sexy goddess that graced his
bed. It was a no go. Lately, she’d begun to wear smaller nightgowns. She
tempted him and she knew it, he could see it in her smile. Last night was the
kicker; she wore a silky, sexy, almost see-through confection and his resolve
held by a thread. As much as he wanted to be with her, he couldn’t take the
chance of rejection.

“Could
you hand me one of those cloth diapers?” He could tell by the tilt of her lips she
was up to something.

“Sure.”
He got out of bed and grabbed one from the stack on the bureau. He handed it to
her and sat back down.