Taking Chances (53 page)

“He’s
possessive. That can be dangerous.”

I made a pfft
sound and smirked at him, “Possessive? Hardly. He knew I didn’t like you in
that way, so he made sure to keep you the hell off me, which I really
appreciated. If you want to take that as possessive, be my guest. But he had
every right to at least punch you that night, and he didn’t do anything other
than keep you away. And you know what? He knew I was in love with Chase too,
and without even confronting Chase, he quietly stepped back so we could be
together. I’m pretty sure that’s the exact opposite of a possessive man.”

“Seriously?”

I nodded and
smiled at his taken aback expression.

He thought for
a few minutes and finally blurted out, “Did you have to marry a damn saint
Blaze?”

“Saint, huh? I
thought he was a possessive ticking time bomb?”

“Well, it was
supposed to help my argument.” He winked and laughed softly.

“Oh, Carter.
What am I going to do with you?”

“Love me?”

“Uh…no.” I laughed
at his playfully hurt expression, “Nice try though.” When our laughter quieted,
I said in a soft voice, “He really is amazing Carter.”

“I know.” The
corner of his mouth tilted up in a sad smile, “I wish it were me Blaze. I’ll
always wish it was me instead of him. But I know he’s good for you and your
baby.”

“Babies.”

“What? You’re
pregnant again?” His face was pained through his smile for me, “Well damn. I
guess I really don’t have a shot with you now.”

I knew he was
joking, but I stayed serious, “You need to find someone who is good for you
too. I know she’s out there somewhere.”

“But all I see
is you. For the last three years, all I’ve seen was you Blaze.”

“You have to
stop. You need to know that it’s never going to happen between us, and start
living your life for you. And not a life where you wait for something to
separate Brandon and me, because that will never happen. Get out there, date
some girls, and find the one that was meant for you. I
do
love you
Carter, but it’s never been the way you want it. So find someone that you love,
and loves you the way Brandon and I love each other.”

“Maybe one day
I will.” He said doubtfully.

“I hope you
do.” I yawned and got off the couch, wrapping the blanket tighter around me,
“Now get out of my house so I can go back to sleep with my husband or
I’ll
kick
your ass.”

“Puh-lease.
Preggos aren’t supposed to kick ass. Isn’t it bad for the baby or something?”

“Well fine,
then I’ll let Brandon do it.”

“Alright,
alright. I’m leaving!” He hugged me close, and kept me in his arms a little too
long for comfort, “I really am glad you’re happy Blaze. Believe it or not,
that’s all I really want for you.”

“I want that
for you too.”

“Maybe
someday.” Kissing the top of my head, he released me and grabbed the doorknob.
“Will I get to see you again soon?”

“We’re having
Liam’s birthday party Saturday at two.”

He smiled and
chuckled, “Birthday party, alright sounds good.”

“Kate will be
there.”

“Yeah?” His
eyes flashed and his smile changed into something I’d seen thousands of times
from Chase and Brandon, “I uh – I got her number. Would that bother you if I
called her?”

“Why else do
you think I’d invite you to a family party?”

His eyes
unfocused for a minute, when they came back to me, he grimaced, “Blaze…”

“Don’t Carter.
If you have no interest in Kate, that’s fine and don’t feel forced to come on
Saturday. But you need to start moving on.”

“I do. Like
her, I mean. She was great to hang out with, she’s really funny and gorgeous.
But – never mind. You’re right. I’ll be here Saturday.” With one last longing
glance, he half waved and opened the door, “Night Blaze.”

“Bye.” I shut
the door behind him with a tired sigh and went about shutting off the lights.
When I turned toward the hall, Brandon was leaning against the wall in nothing
but a pair of dark boxer briefs. Dear Lord my husband is sexy.

“Once again, I
have to give him credit, the guy has got serious balls for bashing me in my own
house.” His smile was wide as he pulled me into his arms.

“He’s
ridiculous. Sorry if we were too loud, I didn’t know who was at the door and
when I saw it was him I figured I’d let you keep sleeping.”

“You didn’t
wake me up, my stomach did. I haven’t eaten since you left.”

“Brandon!”

“I couldn’t. I
couldn’t do anything Harper. All I could do or think about was finding you and
hating myself for pushing you away.”

“I was being
rash,” I whispered into his chest, “I shouldn’t have left, it was immature and
hateful. I just thought if you would put yourself in a position where we could
lose you, I wanted you to know what it felt like to have us gone.”

His breath
caught in his throat and his arms tightened around me.

“I’m so sorry
baby, but I also needed you to have time to figure out if you would rather have
a life without us. Because that’s what it felt like you wanted when you made
your mind up. And so, of course, I made it worse by trying to hurt you back,
instead of talking it out with you.”

“Don’t
apologize. Don’t leave me again, but don’t apologize.”

“I’m –”

“Nope.” He
pressed his lips against my own, and spoke around our kiss, “No more
sorrys
.”

I grumbled but
leaned up onto the balls of my feet to deepen the kiss until his stomach growled,
“Okay. Food. What do you want?”

“Uh –” He
raised his hands above his head to stretch and my eyes hungrily raked over his
long toned body, “you if you keep looking at me like that.”

Grinning, I
placed a soft kiss right below his chest, but pulled away before I got lost in
his body, “You need actual food first, how does Chinese sound?”

His stomach
growled again in response and he led me into the kitchen to find the take out
menu. I scowled at Brandon when he sat me back on the counter, but ordered our
food and handed him the phone when I was done.

“They’ll be
here within thirty minutes.”

“Half an hour?”
He mused and his eyes heated as he scooted me forward so my bottom was barely
on the edge of the counter. My breaths came quicker when he pressed himself
against me and moved the collar of his shirt I was wearing to nibble his way
from my neck to shoulder. Catching the band of his boxer briefs with my toe, I
pushed down and a sound that warmed my body escaped his chest, “That should be
enough time.”

“
D
id you get
that?” I asked Aubrey as Liam smashed his cake onto his face.

“Oh yeah.” She
brought her expensive camera back to her face and leaned her body back as she
continued to take shots of him.

Aubrey really
was amazing with that camera. Brandon, Liam and I had visited his mom yesterday
and Aubrey had been over for dinner. She showed me a lot of her pictures and
when I sent a couple dozen to Bree she called and begged Aubrey to shoot her
wedding. It was the first time she was going to get paid for what she loved to
do, and with all her shyness she just blushed fiercely with a huge smile on her
face. When I’d gotten a minute alone with her, I asked if she would take pregnancy
photos when I got big again and she looked like I’d just offered her the moon.
She is so sweet, and I hope she and Jeremy stay together. They’re absolutely
perfect for each other.

Brandon wrapped
his arm around me and discreetly brushed his hand over my stomach. I was only
twelve weeks and I was already showing enough to know my bump was a baby…not a
big meal. Hell, it wasn’t even a bump, my whole stomach was already rounding. We’d
seen Dr. Lowdry yesterday, and she said it was normal to show quickly after
your first pregnancy. Apparently something about your body already knowing what
was going to happen, so it responded quicker. All that did was make me frown,
I’d been massive by the time Liam was born, if I already had a ridiculously defined
baby bump that decided to pop up out of nowhere this last Thursday, I could only
imagine what I would look like by the time I delivered this one. So I’d worn a
loose shirt last night and today since the parents were still in the dark. We
could have told them Monday, but everyone’s emotions were so all over the place
with Brandon’s fight and my disappearing act, that we decided it was best to
continue with our plan to wait until today.

“Girl.” He
whispered softly in my ear as he caressed my belly again.

I turned to
plant a kiss on his cheek and whispered back, “Boy.”

Liam screeched
and spoke gibberish before shoving more cake in his mouth and hair. Everyone
laughed with him and Brandon kissed my neck before going to pick Liam up out of
his high chair and bring him over to the sink. That boy was covered in cake and
frosting. I took his onesie off and rinsed it off in the sink so all the food
was go down the drain instead of the washer, then helped Brandon attempt to
wipe him down. We gave up not even two minutes later and Brandon rushed to give
him a bath and put him in new clothes. I smiled at my guys when they walked
back out, Brandon with a huge smile taking small steps behind Liam who was
speed crawling back toward me.

“How’s my
birthday boy?” I scrunched my nose at him when he did the same with his
somewhat toothy grin.

“Not taking a nap
anytime soon, that’s for sure.” Brandon grumbled, but with his dimpled smile
and bright eyes I knew he was anything but frustrated. He’d let Liam get away
with no naps if he could.

Liam turned and
dipped all the way to the side as he reached for someone else, making me almost
lose my hold on him and I rolled my eyes as I gave him over to Carter. Of
course Liam would be in love with Carter. Since he’d shown up this afternoon,
it was the only person he wanted to be with. If I had any doubt that Carter wouldn’t
give Kate a chance, that was quickly demolished when they each saw the other
hold Liam. Kate had swooned and an hour later Carter’s eyes had taken on a
dazed heat when Kate had scooped him up and kissed Liam resulting in a fit of
laughter from my son. It wasn’t ten minutes later that Carter asked if he could
take Kate on a date this evening.

Opening
presents was the cutest, and longest process of the day. Each present took
about three minutes to open and then we’d go through the process of getting him
to stop eating the wrapping and tissue paper so he could start on the next
present. By the end I was exhausted but blissfully happy, and getting more
excited by the second now that the extended family was starting to head out.
We’d been picking up and cleaning as the party went, so thankfully we were
ready to relax with our family by the time Carter and Kate left together.

“What’d he
say?” I asked Brandon as I watched Liam play with a big dump truck.

“He asked if I
would be okay with him dating my cousin.”

My eyes
widened, “He asked
you
that?”

“Right? I told
him it wasn’t my place to say whether or not he could and that she could make
her own decisions. So he says, ‘I know, but I know you’re not my biggest fan.
And I don’t want to piss you off more than I already have.’”

“Oh. That’s
thoughtful, I guess. What’d you say?”

Brandon
shrugged and laughed when Liam didn’t understand how the truck had gotten away
from him, “I said as long as he treats her well, I didn’t have a problem with
it.”

Huh. Brandon
really is too nice and forgiving of people.

“I may have
also said that if it kept him from going after you...” he trailed off.

I hugged his
waist and smiled into his chest. “That sounds more like you, but that’s why I
love you. I’m all grimy and covered in cake, I’m going to change really quick.”

“Put on a tight
shirt.”

“Is that how
you want to tell them? Just show them?”

He smiled and
looked back to make sure no one was near us, “Just act like nothing’s
different, see how long it takes them. I think it’d be fun Mrs. Taylor, don’t
you?”

“I have to
agree with you Mr. Taylor. I’ll be right back.”

Changing into a
bright blue racer-back stretchy tank, and a clean pair of jeans, I made my way
back to the living room and tried to wipe the smile off my face.

“You look amazing
Harper.” Brandon pulled me into his arms again and kissed my neck softly. “I’m
sorry, I know you get self-conscious, but you pregnant is a breathtaking sight.”

I grabbed each
side of his face, and pulled him down to me as I stood on my toes, “Thank you.”
I kissed him quickly twice, barely pulling away to look in his eyes, “I love
you.”

“And I love
you.” Our next kiss was anything but quick.

“Okay you two,
get a room.” Dad called from one of the couches.

Blushing, I
leaned around Brandon’s side and grinned through my embarrassment at our
audience. Liam had crawled over to us and pulled himself up on my leg, gripping
my pants with one hand and reaching relentlessly with the other. I pulled him
up and settled him on my hip before making my way to a chair. Mom, Dad and
Carrie were making fun of me and Brandon so they didn’t even notice when I
walked by them. I frowned but sat down, knowing it wouldn’t be much longer
before someone noticed.

I was wrong.

It took another
hour and a half.

Brandon had
even taken Liam from me so he wouldn’t be blocking my stomach, I had gotten up
numerous times to get and refill drinks, as well as to go to the bathroom. It
took Bree commenting on the color of my shirt for Carrie to gasp and Mom to
jump up and literally squeal.

“Oh my God! Oh
my God, are you pregnant?! Please tell us you’re pregnant!” Mom rushed over and
placed her hands on my rounding stomach.