California Dreaming: Four Contemporary Romances (82 page)

She pulled her hand back, sipped her tea, and waited. There was more. She knew it.

He shut his eyes and put his head in his hands. “I met Lauren overseas. I knew she was married, but she told me she and her husband were separated.” He lifted his head. “Things are so intense over there. Even though you never talk about it, you know you could die at any moment.”

He took a long drink.

She let the silence linger, unable to imagine from the safety of her California kitchen the horror he must have seen.

“We were on patrol. This stuff always happens when you’re on patrol. We were on foot, trying to make nice with the locals.” His voice sounded bitter. “She stepped on an IED. It was over in an instant.”

He swallowed. “I was knocked unconscious. Didn’t know about my leg until I woke up a few days later. They got me back here. I spent close to a year in rehab in San Diego.”

He was probably unaware that a tear spilled from his eye and trickled down his cheek.

“My friend Joe went to Lauren’s funeral and met her husband who said he and Lauren had been planning a family when she returned.” He gazed steadily at Sarah. “She lied to me. I never would have been involved if I’d known.” He wiped his face. “So, I guess I have as much interest in the truth as you do.” He let out a long breath of air. “Your turn.”

She remained quiet for a few moments, taking it all in. Finally, she began. “I met Rick at a party my sophomore year of college,” she began. Hunter was quiet as she told him about her switch to UC Davis, her accidental pregnancy, and Rick’s reaction. No matter how many times she retold it, the memory still held her hostage and her fury came back strong.

“He wanted me to kill my baby!”

Hunter stood and came around to her side of the table, pulling her into his arms, drying her tears with his lips. “Cry it out,” he whispered. “Let it go, Sarah.”

She did.

Gently, he guided her from the kitchen to the living room and settled her on the couch under the crook of his arm.

Safe. I’m safe.

So is my baby.

Her sobs slowed at last and she pushed herself up. “Thank you.”

He smiled at her. “No. Thank you for insisting we talk. What we said needed to be said.” His grin broadened. “Now how about that Chinese?”

“Let me do something with my face and hair and you’re on.”

Sarah stood in front of her bathroom mirror and inspected herself. Pregnancy was rounding her face, but at least she’d lost the dark circles. Her eyes were a little red-rimmed from the tears, but nothing really noticeable.

Something else caught her eye — a ghost of a smile.

By God. I’m happy.

A lighter step took her back to the kitchen.

“Ready?” Hunter smiled. “You look good. Let’s go.”

On the way to his Jeep she gazed longingly at her car.

“I promised you that I’d take care of that and I will,” Hunter said.

But you haven’t yet.
The slightest whisper of doubt crept through her psyche.

Hunter stopped and turned her toward him. “I will. Tomorrow. Promise.” He unlocked the Jeep, helped her in, and stood by the car until she finished buckling her seat belt. Putting his hand on her thigh, he said, “Let’s give this some time before you go jumping to conclusions, okay?” His face lit up with a smile.

She had to smile back. “It will probably take me a while to trust you completely.”

He paused for a second. “Likewise.” He leaned in to kiss her again. “But we’ll get there.” He closed her door, climbed into the car, and took off down the driveway.

As Hunter headed the Jeep toward the mall area of Costanoa, Sarah said, “We need to talk about what’s left to do to get ready for Annie’s wedding. The garden is wonderful. She’s going to love it.”

“We’d better include Mandy in that conversation,” he reminded her.

“Heck, we better include Annie and John!” She laughed, her mood growing lighter by the moment.

Ten minutes later, a bowl of sweet smelling General Tso’s chicken was placed next to a steaming bowl of rice in front of her. She unwrapped the chopsticks, broke them apart, and dug in.

“What should we talk about?” she asked once she’d swallowed her first scrumptious mouthful.

“Which movie we’re going to see,” Hunter grinned at her from over a plate of steak and pepper.

“Chinese and a movie?” She put down her chopsticks. “I could seriously learn to love you.”

“That’s the plan.” He picked up a helping of steak. “That’s the plan.”

• • •

A few weeks later, Sarah stood in the driveway of the inn, notepad in hand, and looked around. The sense of pride she had in her accomplishment must have awoken the baby because she gave a firm kick to Sarah’s belly.

“Ouch!” Sarah laughed and put a hand on her stomach. “At least I can still keep you contained, you imp. After you’re born I see I’m going to have another full time job.”

Everything had come together because people she knew had pitched in. Paul and Hunter had done a lot of the heavy lifting, plumbing and construction. Sarah smiled.
Man jobs.
Paul had even provided the know-how to get her car running after Hunter ran into problems with the electrical system the squirrels had chewed through.

Mandy had kept everyone fed and happy while Daisy let people know they were appreciated.

Alicia had proven to be a genius a decorating. Watching her grow rounder and rounder had made Sarah nervous. Would her own baby get that big? How was it ever going to get born?

Her phone rang and she flipped it open.

“It’s a boy!” Elizabeth exclaimed. “Alicia’s baby is a boy!”

“When did she have it?”

“Last night around seven. Oh, she’s so happy, Sarah. It’s so great you guys are having your babies together.”

Sarah smiled. “Is she getting visitors?”

“Yes. I’m going right now. Want me to pick you up?”

“Thanks, Mom, but I’m going to wait a bit. I need to do a walk-through of the inn and see what’s left to do before the first guests arrive in a few weeks.”

“How exciting! Are you having a ribbon-cutting?”

“No. This is a soft opening to work out the kinks. I figured I’d do an official opening in June after Annie’s wedding.” Sarah sat down on a garden bench Hunter had found and carted home.

“Sounds good. I always knew you were a smart businesswoman.”

Sarah rolled her eyes. “Yeah, Mom.”

“Okay. I’ll give your love to Alicia. Make sure you go see her — okay? The baby’s a nephew of some sort to you.”

Sarah chuckled. “See you Sunday for dinner.”

“Will Hunter be coming with you?”

“Of course.” Sarah grinned. The more she was around Hunter, the more she realized how different he was from the rest of the men in her life. She wrapped up the conversation and closed the phone.

With Daisy at her side Sarah began her walk around the property, beginning with the garden. By the time she finished she had five pages of notes, but most of them were little things.

She was ready to open.

The baby kicked her approval.

“We did it, little girl,” Sarah told her belly. “We did it.”

After lunch she took her nap. When she awoke, she pulled Alicia’s present from its hiding place, made sure Daisy had enough water, and locked the door behind her. She was just about to get into the car when Hunter pulled into the driveway.

“Where are you going?” He got out of the Jeep, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her. “You look very pretty, by the way.”

She grinned up at him in mock horror. “By the way?”

He groaned. “You know what I mean. You always look pretty.”

“Yeah, especially when I’ve been up all night because the baby won’t let me sleep. Speaking of babies, Alicia had hers and I’m off to the hospital.

“Give me a chance to change my shirt and I’ll drive you.”

“Hunter,” Sarah complained to his retreating back, “you don’t have to be so protective.” Then she became distracted by his broad shoulders and narrow hips.
Damn.
A
sense of longing overwhelmed her, and she tamped it down with a struggle.

She was pregnant with another man’s child.

Sex was going to have to wait.

Hunter trotted out and her libido gave her one more zing. His hair was beginning to grow out and the wraparound sunglasses made him look like a supermodel.

“Stop staring,” he said when he got back to the car.

She laughed. “Fat chance.”

He helped her into the Jeep and stood until she buckled in before he went around to the driver’s side.

She was really going to need to talk to him about being overprotective.

Twenty minutes later, they were staring at babies through a glass window. “Oh, look! There he is!” Sarah beamed as she pointed to a small sleeping bundle with a blue and white cap on his head.

“I keep forgetting how small they are,” Hunter said.

“Lots of experience?”

“I had to assist in deliveries overseas a few times. Couldn’t really help, of course, because I was a man, but I got to deal with the baby if it was a boy.”

“You’re full of surprises.” Sarah stared for a few more moments, her hand resting on her stomach. “Let’s go see Alicia.”

They found the hospital room without any trouble. Alicia was propped up in the bed, surrounded by flowers and teddy bears. “Our mothers left about ten minutes ago,” she said as she and Sarah hugged. “They’re exhausting.”

“Oh?” Sarah raised her eyebrows.

“Who knew two people could have that much advice? Wait, you’ll see.”

Hunter sat in the guest chair while she and Alicia chatted. Sarah could feel his eyes on her and wondered what he was thinking.

“You’re going to be a good mom,” was all he said when she asked on the way home.

“Thanks. It means a lot.” Sarah gazed toward the bay which was glistening as the sun arced west. She loved this view in the late afternoon, a half circle of undulating blue rimmed by white sands. Picnics, swimming lessons, and kite flying stretched ahead of her and her baby. She glanced at the man next to her. There’d be room for Hunter, too.

He looked back and smiled, but let her be quiet with her dreams and plans.

Accepting silence was a gift between two people, one Rick had never given her. As they pulled into the driveway, she noticed that something was off. A few seconds later she realized what it was.

Rick’s car was parked in the driveway.

Hunter spotted the secondhand BMW in the driveway, but Sarah’s safety was his first concern. He drove to his parking spot and put the Jeep into park.

Sarah unclipped the seatbelt with an angry twist and leapt out.

What the hell is she doing?

Hunter’s pulse increased and he unlocked the glove box, but left it shut. Pushing the door open, he stepped out.

Sarah stalked over to her ex-boyfriend and stabbed her finger at his chest.

“I told you to leave me alone! We’re over!”

“It’s my baby!” Rick screamed back. “You’re not raising it with him!” Rick gestured wildly toward Hunter.

The ex sounded out of control.

Hunter stiffened and made his way around to the passenger side of the car. He knew Sarah wanted to handle this, but if anything happened to her or the baby he’d never forgive himself.

He’d eliminate Rick before he let that happen.

“Take it up in court,” Sarah said, her voice calmer, but still loud enough to carry across the yard. “Now, get off my property.”

“I’m not leaving until you agree that you belong with me, not some gimpy vet.”

Hunter kept his temper under check.

Barely.

Then Rick grabbed Sarah’s arms.

Hunter flung open the passenger door, yanked the gun out of the glove box, and took a deep breath. Leaning on the hood of the car to steady himself, he took aim and clicked off the safety. “Let her go.”

“I will when — ” Rick looked up and dropped Sarah’s arms. “Shit, man!” He held up his hands. “Don’t shoot me. It’s a lover’s quarrel, that’s all.” He returned his gaze to Sarah. “Tell him, Sarah. Tell him to put the gun away.”

Hunter kept his emotions in check. “Move away from her.”

He had a clear shot. Squeezing off a round would be no problem.

“Hunter.” Sarah’s voice was calm.

Without taking his eyes from Rick, he used his peripheral vision to establish Sarah’s location. “You okay?”

“I’m fine, Hunter. Why don’t you put the gun away.”

“What’s wrong with him?” Rick whined. “He’s over-reacting. Is he going to go crazy like those soldiers you see on the news?”

“Shut up, Rick.” Sarah turned back to Rick. “If you say one more word, I swear I’ll kill you myself.”

Rick opened his mouth, guppied for a few seconds, and then shut it.

Sarah turned back to Hunter.

It was like watching a slow motion video.

“I’m going to walk toward you, Hunter. Okay?”

His eyes flicked between Sarah and Rick, but he nodded.

“Hunter, it’s going to be okay. Rick’s going to leave and not bother us again. We’re safe.”

No one moved.

“I know you want to protect me, but I’m okay right now.” Sarah walked closer and he turned his focus to her.

She was beautiful. Strong and determined and beautiful.

He glanced back at Rick.

The man hadn’t moved.

Good.

“Hunter, I don’t think you need the gun.”

Examine the situation, the therapist had told him. You’re not in the war anymore. Make sure you’re not using wartime behavior in peace. Focus on something or someone.

He stared at Sarah’s lovely face as she walked toward him. She was so courageous, but he’d never let anyone hurt her again.

Suddenly, he realized if Rick tried anything, Hunter would be better off using his fists. He’d bet the little pissant hadn’t ever learned to fight.

He clicked on the safety and laid the gun on the hood.

“Thanks, Hunter.” Sarah reached him.

They stared into each other’s eyes for a few moments before he opened his arms and took her in.

“Sarah.” He became aware of the wetness on his face as his tears trickled into her hair. “I was afraid I would lose you.”