Sarasota Bride (13 page)

Sweat beaded across Avery’s forehead. “Sometimes they’re not accurate.”

Payton sensed his vulnerability and managed her part of the second test. They waited several minutes
in utter silence. Dylan glanced at his watch nervously, while Avery combed through her wet tangles. His hands usually sure and steady were trembling with each pass he made with the hairbrush. All the while, she thought about Helen Savon telling Avery she was pregnant right before she burned to death. Payton wasn’t stupid, she knew his pain not only stemmed from watching her die and not being able to save her, but also knowing she could have been carrying his or Dylan’s child. It was doubly bad, doubly awful.

She reached up, stilling his hand, and met his eyes in the mirror. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m just…” He shook his head and worked on a knot at her nape

“Upset.”

Dylan’s brows popped. “Upset, why would we be upset?”

Avery put the hairbrush on the counter next to the tests. “Payton…Oh, sweet Payton.” He leaned and wrapped his arms around her, one scarred and one normal, but both perfect in her eyes. “I’m trying not to get my hopes up.”

Her eyes stung. “You really want a baby…now, when we’re just starting out.”

“Not a baby, our baby.” Avery’s eyes turned glassy, and he quickly buried his face against the side of her throat.

She reached over her head and threaded her fingers through his silky, blue-black hair. “If not today, then one day soon, okay?” He nodded but stayed quiet.

A rush of breath left Dylan. “Not one day soon, but today,” he whispered in awe.

Avery’s head snapped up.

Dylan smiled exuberantly. “You, my dear, are pregnant.”

“I’m going to be a father,” Avery choked out, kissing her over and over again, until she lost her breath.

Dylan pulled her into the small hallway and wrapped his arms around her. “I know you weren’t ready for this, but we’re ready enough for you, okay?”

Avery pressed his chest against her back, his arms wrapping around Payton and Dylan. “Thank you, sweetheart, thank you so much.” Both kissed her gently, their lips and hands tender and adoring.

“Let’s get you to bed,” Dylan insisted. “I’m having a doctor come bright and early before the wedding. Your health is priority-one.”


“Yes,” Avery agreed, his voice a shocked whisper. “I don’t want her traveling without a doctor’s consent.”

“Just where are we traveling to?” Payton asked for the hundredth time. Neither of them would say where they were honeymooning and the lack of knowledge was testing her patience.

Dylan pulled back the covers and tucked her in. “Nice try.” To Avery, he said, “I’ll take the floor so your scars won’t be sore tomorrow.”

Avery nodded, kicking off his shoes and removing his shirt. He slid in next to Payton and pulled her across his chest. “I love you.”

“I love you both.”

Noah’s bed was gone, his room empty, but she couldn’t rest with Dylan sleeping on the floor. “I shouldn’t have asked you to stay. Dylan’s not going to get any sleep.”

“I’m going to stay up all night counting my blessings anyway, so it doesn’t matter.” He headed for the door. “I’ll find Libby so she’ll know the coast is clear. Do you want anything to eat or drink?”

Yeah, she really could use a bag of marshmallows and a can of diet soda. She scrunched her brow. That didn’t sound healthy. “Maybe some saltines from the pantry would stay down.”

He blew her a kiss as he disappeared through the door. Dylan made his way down the loft steps and into the main gallery. He found Libby standing in front of a painting filled with daisies and long grass. Little girls were wearing white dresses and frilly bonnets, dancing in the sun the way kids who don’t have a care in the world should, not that there were many of those lucky ones out there.

She didn’t turn to greet him, but she knew he was there. “Were you too tired to give Payton your best?” She quipped, “The plaster is still on the ceiling.”

“There’s a first time for everything.” He stepped to her side, leaning against the wall between paintings to face Libby. “Your Mom’s doing a hell of a job at The Easton Hotel.” Libby’s father was awaiting trial, but no one needed to bring that up. “We’re lucky to have her.”

Libby raised a brow. “Her pay seems way above scale. I’m wondering how you stay in business, considering your generosity.”

“She’s worth every penny.” He watched her shoulders relax. “How’s Avery’s assistant working out?”

“She’s a fantastic tenant, and she’s put long hours in to help me get ready for this fundraiser. I know you’re slipping her some extra money for that, so thank you.”

He nodded, wondering when Evan was going to give up chasing the smart and beautiful Miss Lange. “We’ve taken Payton from much of her duties, and Noah hasn’t gotten back to Sarasota. Besides, Gilda’s fundraisers are monstrous undertakings. You needed the help.”

“Yeah, I’ve been a little tired lately,” she admitted.

“By the way, we used a couple of your pregnancy tests.” His eyes dropped to her stomach and back. “Payton’s expecting.”

She pulled him in for a hug. “I thought she was acting weird because of the wedding. Congratulations.” Libby turned to make her way to the loft. “I want to tell her…”

Gently but firmly, Dylan took ahold of her upper arm. He moved in front of Libby, staring down at her with an intensity he used in the boardroom when things weren’t going his way. “Trey Easton can be the biggest jackass known to man, but in his defense — and mind you it isn’t an airtight defense — physical and emotional pain have a way of turning men into stinking bastards, particularly if they don’t fight the feeling. And instead of fighting it, Trey welcomed the pain for years, thinking it kept his head where it needed to be.”

“I know all of this.”

“Do you?” Dylan saw a mixture of fear and longing hidden in her eyes. Trey was an ornery fool for what he’d done to her, but even a bigger fool for cutting her out of his life. “Well, then, you understand how much that man loves you.”

Libby shook her head dismissively, even wearily. “No, I don’t.”

“You should.” He brought gentle fingers to her stomach. “Libby, just how far along are you?”

Chapter Fifteen

“I can’t believe today is my wedding day.” Payton smoothed her dress over her stomach. It was tight, and she couldn’t understand how. The doctor surmised she was roughly six weeks along, if her dates were accurate. He wanted to scan her but Payton hadn’t the time to go into his office on this day, the day of all days. “Can you hand me those crackers?”

Libby took a couple for herself and handed the sleeve to Payton. “Watch the lace, you’re already loaded with crumbs.” She brushed Payton’s neckline and a few slid into her cleavage.

“Oh, that’s going to be itchy all the way through the service.” She squirmed, but couldn’t stop munching.

“I have something better,” Gilda said as she burst through the room dressed in swirling Robin’s-egg-blue tulle. There was so much of the stuff floating around, Payton didn’t know where to look, so she fixed her gaze on the diamond encircled sapphire bouncing on Gilda’s breastbone. “Here, candied ginger.” She winked, her grin splitting her face. “I’m told it works wonders for whatever ails you.”

Payton kissed Gilda’s cheek. “Have they told everyone?”

She bobbed her head, her matching earrings hitting her throat. “Just about…I’m so thrilled.”

“Thank you,” Payton said, opening up the parchment scrawled with French inscription and popping one in her mouth. As it settled on her tongue, the warmth soothed her. She handed one to Libby. “Has my mother arrived?”

“Not yet, but I have,” Noah said from the doorway, his smile widening as he took in Payton wearing her bridal gown. “I’m here to counsel you on what to expect during your honeymoon.”

Gilda smacked Noah playfully and then pointed at Payton’s stomach. “You’re a little too late. I’ll go watch for your mother, darling. Libby, perhaps you could help me?”

“Sure,” Libby agreed, smoothing her hands down her torso in the same way as Payton. Both locked eyes on each other as Libby kissed Noah’s cheek and disappeared with Gilda.

“So.”

“So you look great,” Payton said, taking in his new haircut. It was shorter, but it suited his amazing looks to a tee. “I’ve never seen anyone fill out a tuxedo quite the way you do. Get over her and hug me, gorgeous man.”

His features softened as he carefully gathered her in his arms. “I don’t think brides enjoy their dresses being wrinkled, messes up the pictures.”

He still felt like home. “I don’t care. I’ve missed you.”

When he pulled back, he wiped a tear from her cheek. “I didn’t mean to make you cry, Pay.” His hand dropped to her stomach, the warmth settling through the silk of her dress. “Or is it pregnancy hormones talking?”

Payton had phoned Noah and Libby on
a three-way call the second the doctor had officially proclaimed her pregnant, sharing the good news with her best friends, though Libby already knew from last night. “It’s just me talking. I think you’re going to have to visit more.” In his ocean-blue eyes, she spied peace, even contentment. “How’s the tour coming along? Tell me all of your Florida dates so Libby and I can scream from front row center.”

He shook his head. “This is your day, not mine. Let’s talk about something other than my career,” he said, pulling her to sit on the edge of the bed. “Mom called me.”

Knots formed in her stomach anew, readying to hear what the bitch had said to Noah this time. “Let it out.”

“She told me that she never knew how to deal with my father, that they’d lost their love years before I was even born.” He walked to an arched window and flicked open the plantation shutter. “I asked her why she couldn’t be bothered with me.”

“And what was her excuse?”

“That if she had life to do all over again, she wouldn’t have gotten hooked on drugs.”

A gasp left Payton before she could stop it. Neither of them was ever told Noah’s mom was a user. “You’re shitting me.”

“No.”

“Was…did my Dad use, too?”

“I ask her that, wondering the same thing.” Sunlight shimmered over his golden hair, and for a second, he appeared otherworldly, oddly untouchable. “Apparently, she hid her problem from your Dad for almost six months, before he found out.”

“So that’s why they ruined two families to be together and then broke up months later?”

“Yeah. Mom thought it was in my best interest to stay away from me. She figured I’d be better off without her, since she couldn’t seem to kick her habit.”

“Noah, I think that was a selfless decision on her part. If your father wasn’t going to take her back, she did the right thing staying away if she wasn’t going to quit the drugs. You were a mess growing up, and you didn’t need her adding to your drama.”

“She still feels the same way. Mom said I turned out just fine without her, and that…” He closed his eyes, his chin trembling, but he didn’t shed a tear. “And that…my father should be proud of the way I turned into a man.”

She knew he was working on his demons. “She’s right.”

He faced her, shoving his hands in his pockets and shifting on his feet. “I’m not going to be proud of myself unless I can truly move on from Mom.”

“Okay, are you going to talk to a professional?” She nodded, thinking about her estranged relationship with her father. “Maybe I should go with you.”

He shook his head no. “For me, it’s simpler than that. I’m going to forgive her and start from there.”

Payton stood. “You can forgive so easily, after all of this time?”

“I never said it was going to be easy, but my music career isn’t the only thing that’s turning my life around. I’ve been empty for so long, I need to find a way to relate to women better, properly. The first step in that is mending my relationship with Mom.”

“I think you’re a very smart man.” Hearing the music growing louder downstairs, she said. “I also think that’s our cue.” He offered her his arm and she took it. “I predict good things for you in the near horizon, Noah Wyatt, very good things.”

He kissed her forehead and lowered her veil. “And it all starts by giving you away.”

***

“You look as radiant as Payton,” Libby praised Payton’s mom.

“Thank you, Lib,” she said, squeezing Libby’s hands gently in hers. “I’ll admit my daughter committing herself to two men raised my hackles for a while.” She looked around at the small gathering of Eastons inside Gilda’s botanical wonderland — a place Gilda affectionately called her sunroom. “But I finally found my true happiness.” Her eyes caught those of her new boyfriend as he made his way across the floor with two glasses of wine. “And what kind of person would I be to say Payton shouldn’t be happy, too?”

“You’re going to be one hell of a grandmother.” Libby kissed her cheek.

“I’ll have your baby to dote on, too.” She returned the kiss, winking at Libby. “Don’t ever think family is only joined by blood.”

Libby’s lip trembled. “Thank you.”

“May I have this dance?”

Libby turned to find Drake Easton holding out his hand for her. To say his black tuxedo set off his midnight hair perfectly was an understatement. He was positively gorgeous, and under any other circumstances, he would have done wonders for her dried-up libido. “Of course, thank you.” She smiled her goodbye to Payton’s mom and allowed Drake to escort her near the string quartet.

“The wedding seemed to go off without a hitch.”

“Yes, I think so.” She placed her hand in his, stepping into the rhythm of an old-fashioned waltz. Just like Drake, Libby had been taught the finer dances in life to blend in with what her parents considered the cream of society, and he was a remarkably good partner. “We’re you expecting trouble?”

He laughed, his fingertips pressing lightly into her lower back as they swirled around the cake table. “We still haven’t located Dylan’s half brother Miles, so I guess I expect trouble lurking in every shadow. Today of all days, Dylan, Payton, and Avery deserve this slice of heaven.”

Libby looked over his shoulder, watching as Payton left Dylan’s arms only to dance with Avery. “Speaking of slice,” she said as they passed the towering wedding cake that could feed three hundred instead of the fifty who were gathered here, “I wouldn’t mind a bite of that.”

Drake raised a knowing brow, his tiger’s gaze sharp on her. “We just enjoyed a multiple-course dinner, and you’re already hungry?”

She flushed. “What woman doesn’t love wedding cake? We’re taught to dream of it during our childhood.” Payton had chosen a simple vanilla confection, white cake and white icing, the four tiers draped with fresh magnolias from Dylan’s estate. It was a subtle masterpiece that had Libby’s mouth drooling in anticipation.

Drake not so subtly changed the subject. “Most women would have dreamed to be in your shoes.”


“How so?”

He stared down at her, and a warm flush spread across her cheeks. “You refused a significant amount of money, though it would have been far easier on you if you had accepted it. And you insisted your father face his sins, setting an example for your cowering mother. Who are you, Elizabeth Bailey?”

A woman who had to be strong for the children she was about to bring into this selfish world. “I wanted me back. I didn’t exactly lose my family, and I still have the firehouse. Money is coming in slowly, but it is coming in.” But the world would seem rather flat and lifeless if it weren’t for her pregnancy allowing her hope.

“Well, there’s a slight rift in your plans,” he said gently. “You should not bring your baby into this world a bastard.”

She stiffened in Drake’s arms, wanting to march over to Dylan and give him the thrashing of his lifetime for having such a big mouth. “I’ve been threatened enough in my life, thank you.”

“Darling, I’m not threatening you.” He sighed. “I’m not…I didn’t expect to do this so soon, if at all. I’d committed myself to bachelorhood, but I’m proposing…”

She gasped. “Wait a minute.”

“Hush, now.” He smiled brightly, glancing around to see if anyone noticed. “I
want
to marry you.”

“For the sake of my child,” she said, understanding that he was trying to do the right thing by her and the baby. And his old-fashioned gesture softened her heart.

“The baby is Trey’s, isn’t it?” He pressed.

She may not be ready for all of this, but she would never, ever lie about her children’s father. “Of course, the children belong to Trey.”

His eyes sparkled gold in the candlelight. “Twins?”

“The doctor picked up two heartbeats.” Her stomach took a nosedive. “Did Dylan also tell Trey?”

“No, he didn’t, but I’ll be honest with you. If Trey doesn’t learn of your pregnancy by the day’s end, Dylan will tell him.”

“I guess it’s unavoidable, huh?”

“Yes, but stop worrying. I’m very willing to take all your worries away.” Drake kissed her forehead, lingering. “Although we don’t love one another romantically, we’ll work on it. And I’ll be faithful to you, whether you’re able to travel with me on long trips or not. I won’t stray from sacred marriage vows, so you won’t have to sit home with the kids wondering.”

“Why would you do that for kids who aren’t even yours?”

“Let’s just say that everyone has ghosts lurking in their pasts, okay?” He kissed the corner of her mouth. “You would be easy for me to fall for, Libby. What’s not to love about you? Given time, you might learn to love me half as much as you love Trey.”

Tears sprung in her eyes. “Thank you…um. I never realized what an amazing man you are.” She eyed the doors leading to Gilda’s rose garden. “I don’t want to put a damper on Payton’s wedding day.” She wiped her cheeks hastily. “I’ll take a walk and calm down.”

“This way, there’s a nice breeze off the ocean tonight.”

When he led her to the doors, she removed his hand from hers. “I need a few minutes to gather myself, alone.”

He nodded in understanding. “You’re not accepting my offer?”

“No, you deserve to find your special someone. I’m honored, though. You have no idea how much.” She patted his arm. “You think that maybe you could be an uncle? I stink at baseball and basketball.” A weary laugh left her lips. “In fact, I think anything involving a ball and a set of rules isn’t my forte.”

He reached inside his jacket and pulled out a paper, pressing it in her hand. “I’ll be the best damned uncle those babies could hope for, but if you change your mind about marrying me…”

“I won’t forget your generous offer,” she assured him. “I’ll see you when they cut that damn cake.”

“Okay.” He kissed her again and went inside.

She walked onto the brick terrace and followed a cozy path winding between gold Hibiscus blooms, soft ferns, and yellow roses. Libby knew she could never take Drake up on his generous albeit old-fashioned offer. His heart was in the right place, but his heart deserved to find its true love. And his true love wasn’t Libby. She opened the paper in her hand and read the familiar scrawl twice.
Meet me in our old spot.