Growing Love (Brookfield) (6 page)

A light knock sounded on the door. Diane hopped up and grinned. She opened the door and practically jumped into his arms.

“Wow, I didn’t think you’d be that happy to see me.”

She stepped back and straightened her clothes.
This was awkward. How did she explain this. Though it
had
felt good to have his arms around her again. “Matt, what are you doing here?”

He cocked an eyebrow.
“Obviously I wasn’t who you were happy to see.”

“Tom’s
supposed to be coming.”

“Can I come in?”
he asked nervously.

Was that a good idea? “I don’t know.”

“I promise not to get you upset.”

“Okay.” She motioned for him to
enter. She might as well see what he wanted. “This won’t take long, will it?”

Matt glanced at her. “No.”

They sat down on opposite couches but still by each other in the living room. Maybe she should move over a cushion. Diane knew she needed to keep the tension down. But something about this man got her blood pumping. Whether it was hopping in the sack or getting in an argument, she stayed all hot and bothered around him.

“Your sister told me I’m the cause of your stress.”

So that was why he’d been leaving her alone. She was going to kill Alyssa, or was she?

“I don’t want you having this baby early because of me.” He paused. “Or more likely, I don’t want to be the one blamed. If you want, I’ll go away until after you have our son. Just as long as I’m not the one who is blamed
if the baby is colicky or something like that. I can’t be the cause of every problem.”

The cause of problems? Where had he gotten this idea from? “Matt, no one blames you—”

“Yes, you and your sister do. Hell, Cody might too. But at least he talks to me to find out my side. All I get from Alyssa is to go away until the baby arrives. As though the problems in this pregnancy were caused by me.” He took a deep breath and continued, “I don’t mean to come here and argue, but I’m tired of being a doormat.”

She hated that he felt that way.
“You’re not.”

He snickered. “You just don’t see it. I don’t want to fight or see you get upset. Each time I’ve talked to you ha
s landed you with contractions. But I’m trying. I really am. If you’d let me, I’d be so much more.” His eyes were dark with passion and she knew what he meant. “But I understand you’re with Tom.”

“I’m—”

“Don’t apologize. I let you go. One of my biggest mistakes.”

Diane didn’t even realize she was standing or
know how she got onto the same couch with Matt. But her lips found his and when they touched, all was right again. They stayed still a moment with just their lips touching. God, she wanted this man. But as she wrapped a hand around his neck to deepen the kiss, she felt him resist. She pulled back and gazed into his eyes.

“Why did you do that?” he asked.

She sat frozen, staring at him. “I, uh. I don’t know.”

“We can’t do that.”

Matt was telling her no. He’d told her he wanted her. And she’d kissed him. Now he was telling her he couldn’t do this. Wow, she was really confused. She wiped her hands across her pants before she stood and paced a little. Her cheeks burned from embarrassment. This man was going to drive her insane.

“Please, sit.”
He patted the couch.

“No. I’m not going to sit down. I’m sick and tired of everyone telling me to sit down. Everyone thinks they know what I need or want. But they don’t.” She placed her hands on her hips. “Maybe I want you too.”

“What about Tom?”

“What about me?” Tom appeared. “Sorry, I knocked
, but no one came. And I heard a bit of a heated discussion going on.”

“You’re here, finally.” Diane smiled as she crossed the room to hug him.

“I am. What’s going on?”

Matt stood. “I’m leaving. I came by to tell Diane I’d leave her alone until after the bab
y. I’m the source of her stress and I don’t want to be the cause of an early delivery. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be on my way.”

Tom tried to stop him.
“Don’t leave because I’m here. I’d like it if you stuck around.”

“I’ll pass.”

Diane didn’t want Matt to go, but she couldn’t bring herself to tell him not to leave either. She’d tried to kiss him and he’d rejected her.

The door practically slammed as Matt departed.

Tom stepped back from her and crossed his arms. “I take it you haven’t told him the truth yet?”

“Not exactly.”

“When are you going to? I can’t believe no one has told him. How did you get your family to agree?”

She shrugged.
“They want what’s best for me. And I’m not sure Matt is.”

Tom raked a hand through his soft
blond curls. “Eventually you’re going to have to tell him that you and I aren’t an item.”

“I know.”

“You can’t keep using me.” Tom reached out and clasped her hand. “We’ve both got to move on with our lives and find the happiness we both need.”

She pulled him to her and wrapped her arms around his waist
as best she could with her growing bump. Her head rested on his shoulder. She wasn’t ready to give Tom up yet. He was like her security blanket. He made her feel safe and warm. It wasn’t difficult with him.

Chapter Seven

Matt needed to get out and have some fun. For months he’d been depressed. He had let this thing with Diane rule his life. But he couldn’t anymore. She wanted him to leave her alone until the baby came. A part of him didn’t believe it though. Why had she kissed him? He hadn’t expected that.

And the look on her face when he hadn’t let it go any f
urther. Imagine if Tom had walked in on it. Matt had done some crappy things in life. He hadn’t always been faithful, but he liked to think he’d changed. So there was no way he could do that to Tom.

“Hey, sexy.” A redhead
in what had to be the world’s tiniest skirt sauntered up to him at the bar.

The guys at work had told him about this place. Guave’s. Apparently the women were easy here.
He wasn’t sure he wanted to take one home, but he needed some sort of distraction from his current life.

He winked. “How are you?”

“Much better once I get a drink.”

Ah, she wanted him to buy one. He shrugged and turned to the bartender. “Get this lady whatever she wants and add it to my tab.”

“Oooh, thank you.” She caressed his arm, already very touchy-feely with him. “My name’s Marge.”

“I’m Matt. Nice to meet you, Marge.”

She climbed up on the barstool, making sure to open her legs wide to give him a glimpse of the goods underneath her leather mini-skirt. All he saw was skin. Was she going commando? Matt resisted a grunt as his mind began to wander. Maybe he should take Marge home. Get to know her a little more intimately. That would certainly get his mind off Diane.

“Tell me about yourself,” Marge said as the bartender sent her over a shot of tequila.

He hoped it wasn’t the expensive stuff. “Not much to tell. I work construction.”

“You must have nice
, calloused hands then.” She leaned forward, exposing her breasts in the tight white V-neck shirt.

This was a slam dunk. This woman wanted sex. “What do you do?”

“I do whatever you want me to.”

Damn. He glanced around. This woman was awfully forward.

“Come here often?” she asked.

“No, it’s my first time actually.”

She grinned then licked her bright red lips. “A first-timer. I promise, once you get a taste of the women here, you’ll be back often.”

An alarm went off inside Matt.
Something wasn’t right. He looked around again and noticed several other women dressed as the woman who was talking to him. Was this one of those bars where hookers roamed?

“So, uh…” God, could he say it? “What are the prices?”

Marge giggled quietly. “Depends on what you want.”

There was no way he was paying for a hooker. In fact, he was pretty sure he was going to kill the guys on Monday. He turned toward the bartender. “I’d like to close out my tab.”

He handed the bartender his credit card and after he signed for it, he stood. Marge did as well. She laced her arm with his.

“You’re not coming with me,” he said.

“I’m not?”

He smirked.
“I don’t pay for sex.”

“Then why are you here?” Her tone
was less friendly.

“Guess I ended up at the wrong place.” He pulled his arm away from Marge. “You k
now what? You’re a pretty woman. You could do so much more than sell your body.”

She snorted. “Maybe so. But it’s men who are willing to pay whatever just to get my ruby
-red lips around their cock that keep my bills paid.”

He cringed but believed her. Without another word, he walked out of the bar. He’d rath
er go home and pleasure himself than pay for it. The guys at work would be getting an earful from him.  He might have been on a dry spell lately, but he wasn’t that desperate.

*
* *

“I’m so tired of everyone thinking they know what’s best for me. I want to go home.” Diane glared at Tom. “I don’t want to sit in my sister
’s apartment all day. I’m beginning to feel like a burden to everyone. It seems like everyone has to cater to me and contrary to what some might think, I hate it.”

Tom rubbed her cheek in a comforting way.
“Stay here. I think you should stay in Brookfield.”

“I won’t have you though.”

He sighed and gazed into her eyes. “You can’t rely on me all the time. We just talked about this. I’m still here for you. And if you want me to be the baby’s father, I will. However, I think you need to give Matt a chance.”

Matt. She was sick to death of him and his name.

“He wants to make this work. I can tell,” Tom said sincerely.

Being with Matt again scared her.
“I don’t know.”

“You’re not even giving it a chance. I hate to say it, but you’re going to push him away for good.”

She stared at Tom. Not that she was angry with him, but because he was speaking the truth. It was complicated with Matt. He made her feel things she’d never felt before. “I’d rather just deal with him after the baby is here.”

“That’s a
little ways away. What if Matt happens to meet someone in that time?”

Meet someone? What the heck was Tom talking about?

“After all, he thinks you and I are an item.” He raised an eyebrow.

Diane sighed
and guilt formed in her chest. “I didn’t want him thinking he could weasel his way back in to a relationship with me easily. But it doesn’t matter anyway. He doesn’t want me like that.”

“The longer you keep it from him, the
angrier he’s going to be.”

She glanced at the ceiling. Tom was right. “I kissed him.”

“What?”

She looked at him. “Right before you arrived. He ended it, telling me we couldn’t do that.”

Tom stared at her with disbelief. “You two really need to get your act together. You’re about to be parents.”

“Duh.” She rolled her eyes. She hated fighting with Tom. It didn’t happen often, but when it did, he always gave her his honest opinion. Later she’d thank him—maybe. “Like I didn’t know that.”

He scooted closer to her and clasped her hand in his. “I love you. You know that. But I want to see you happy. You’re miserable. You’ve been that way ever since Matt left.”

“I’m not miserable.”

Tom chuckled. “I can’t tell you what to do, obviously. But I think if you leave Brookfield, it’ll be a mistake. You don’t have to be with Matt just because you’re here.”

She knew she didn’t, but she had a hard time around him.
She wanted more. Wanted to kiss him, touch him, all those things she was trying to deny herself.

Leaning over, she placed her head on his shoulder. “You’re the best friend a girl could ask for.”

“You’re the craziest friend I ever met.” He kissed the top of her head. “You’re going to be a great mother.”

A small tear formed. She hoped so. “I guess I might talk to Connor about leasing this p
lace from him. It’s time to start setting up the nursery.”

“And pick a name.”

* * *

Meet me at Brookfield M
eadows Park in twenty. – Diane

Matt stared at the message. He hadn’t expected to hear from Diane again until after the baby. Typically when she made a decision, she stuck to it. Perhaps she was leaving and wanted to say bye.

He rubbed his temple. He wasn’t sure he could let her walk away again. It had taken every ounce of control not to take that kiss further. If it hadn’t been for Tom, he would’ve been no gentleman. He’d have taken her.

Matt quickly found his shoes and decided to go ahead and start walking toward the park. Maybe on the way he’d stop and get her a treat. No, no
, he wouldn’t. She’d made it clear…sorta. Frankly he wasn’t sure where her head was. That damn kiss. He’d been pretty certain she didn’t want him, until then. Women. He’d never understand.

When he arrived
at the park, she was already there sitting on a bench with her feet up next to her. She hadn’t seen him yet. She stared up into the trees, her blond hair tied back. The wind lightly blew and her ponytail swayed.

As he got closer, she must have heard the crunch of his shoes on the gravel. She turned her face slowly to him and gave him a small smile. She started to move her legs off the bench, but he held his hand up to stop her. There was enough room for him.

“How are you?” He sat down.

“Better than I have been in awhile.”

This was good news. “I’m happy to hear that.”

She took a deep breath
. “I’m not leaving Brookfield.”

Thank God!
This was a miracle. “You’re not?”

She shook her head. “I’m going to stay and raise the baby here.”

He knew his face was a big ol’ grin. He couldn’t contain how happy that made him.

“We should try to be friends,” she said softly.

Right about now he’d take anything if it meant he would be in his child’s life. “Friends. We can do that.”

She chuckled. “I’m not so sure, but we’ll give it a go.”

“I respect that you’re with Tom now. It’s why I didn’t let the kiss keep going. You would’ve regretted it. And we can’t keep getting on the same roller coaster.”

She was silent
and looked away, back toward the tall oak trees.

“Are you still on bed
rest?”

“Light activity. Sit as much as I can and of course, keep my stress down. But if I’m going
to be taking over Connor’s lease, I’m going to have to start working soon.”

“Not until after the baby.” She needed money. Was that why she’d called him here? At first he felt angry, but then he remembered she carried his child and he was going to be forking over money monthly soon anyway. “Let me help.”

She raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t ask you here for money.”

“I know.” Though he didn’t fully. “But you’re carrying
our son, who will need a roof over his head. I can help. Really.”

“Thank you. Hopefully I won’t need it.”

“Have you talked to Connor and Alyssa yet to see what the rent is?”

“
He’s at the leasing office right now actually.”

They sat quietly for a few moments. The silence between them was good. They weren’t fighting. It was nice getting along. He couldn’t remember when they’d ever gotten along. They
were usually fighting or having sex.

“What’s that goofy smile for?” she asked.

“I was just thinking.”

“About?”

He smiled at her. “This is our first conversation without arguing.”

“That’s a start toward a friendship.”

She was right and he was happy.

Diane yawned. “This cool air makes me want to curl up in a hammock and nap.”

“It is nice weather. The fall usually is. A nice break before all the snow. Maybe we can get you a hammock for the patio.”

“I doubt my big butt could get out of it though.”

“You’re beautiful pregnant. I hope you know that.”

Her gaze met his. His heart raced. This was the moment he
wanted to kiss her. It would feel like he was moving in slow motion, until finally, their lips would touch and it would be like fireworks going off. No one had ever made him feel the way she did when they kissed.

She broke the spell.
“I should be going. Connor should be back from the leasing office soon. They wanted me to meet them at The Reading Corner.”

“Want me to walk you?”

He expected her to say no, but then she nodded. They were on the right track—finally. He wasn’t going to do anything to mess this up.

*
* *

Diane’s hand ached. She wanted to feel his warm hand in hers. Feel their arms sway back and forth as they strolled up the sidewalk toward her sister
’s shop. But instead, they kept at least a foot of distance between them.

She had the perfect opportunity to tell him that she and Tom weren’t an item. But they’d been getting along and it was so nice. She didn’t want to spoil it. Maybe it was better he didn’t know. At least then they could really work on a friendship. They needed that for the baby, more than anything else.

She knew they had to do this together. They’d be a team, somehow. And Matt had seemed to really mature these last few months.

At The Reading Corner, she stopped and turned to him. “Thanks.”

“No problem.”

“I’ll be in touch soon.”

The door opened and Alyssa poked her head out. “I was beginning to worry about you.”

“I’m fine.”
Like usual.

“Come in. We need to talk.”
Alyssa’s tone made Diane nervous.

“I’ll let
you go deal with whatever it is.” Matt turned to leave.

“Come on i
n too, Matt. You might be able to help.”