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Grant checked to make sure he hadn't been spotted and lifted
his binoculars back to the pair on the beach. They were gone. Grant cursed his
luck and turned back to watching his target. The old fart was still napping.
When he'd drawn this assignment he'd thought it sounded fun, but Christopher Wylans
had proven to be a dud. The man did nothing all day. Grant had arrived on the island
a day early, placing bugs in the room, tapping the phone, and doing a sweep to
make sure they were the only ones listening in. Of course the resort didn't
know he was here. Kamaley Cay was a topnotch resort, but they couldn't match
his abilities. He'd set up camp in a protected area, not in the hammocks, but
just outside the dense tree canopy.

If he received the signal he'd assassinate Wylans here at
Kamaley Cay. At the end of this vacation, Wylans was headed to Florida. Grant
wouldn't track him there since Wylans was set to meet with Interpol and turn
over evidence linking a high ranking military leader in England to the bomb
scandal that had destroyed a school in Ireland. The evidence was false—he was
sure of it. Wylans needed the military official tied up in legal battles so he
could sneak an arsenal into Ireland.

Duff had information that Wylans had set the bomb at the
school himself and killed the kids without blinking an eye. Of course, they
never assassinated a person—no matter how scummy they were—with one source,
they always needed more than one person to corroborate the story. Duff insisted
that they had proof before he pulled the trigger, doing away with the scum
bucket. Grant prayed he received the call to kill the bastard. Wylans didn't
deserve to live.

Chapter Ten

Jamie saw Liz walk into the diner and stood to meet her. She
looked good for being so pregnant and he wondered how far along she was. He didn't
know how rude it would be to ask. "You look good."

"Oh please, I'm as big as a house."

Jamie smiled and kissed her on the cheek. "You still
look good. Glowing."

Liz smirked and looked around the diner, focusing her gaze
back on him after turning around. "If I hear that I'm glowing again I'm
going to beat the fuck out of someone."

Jamie held up his hands and took a step back. "Hey,
don't hit me. I was just saying you looked good."

"Fine, but don't tell me I'm glowing. Hell, I don't want
to be glowing. I want to be thin and hot."

"It seems wrong to think of you as hot with a baby in
that belly of yours."

She groaned. "Thanks for ruining everything." Liz
lowered to sit in the booth but her stomach was too big. She looked almost as
if she was going to burst into tears when Jamie pulled her into his arms and
held her, kissing her forehead as he led her over to a table to sit.

"Really, that booth was dirty. Let's sit over
here."

Liz patted Jamie on the arm then took a seat. "Thanks.
Nothing is working out for me."

"Tell me what happened."

Liz placed a napkin in her lap then pulled it back up,
tossing it on the table. She huffed and rolled her eyes. "Well, when two
people want to get busy the guy sticks his—"

"Liz!"

"Just egging you on. You know, now that you're gay and
all, I thought maybe you didn't know how to do it with a girl."

"I haven't forgotten, just realized what I really
wanted."

"You and me both. Cock, come, and cuddles. It's the
first two that get you into trouble and if the guy does the last one half-assed
then you know you're up shit creek without a paddle."

Jamie bit his tongue as he mulled over what she'd said.
"Yeah, I like all three. My guy is good at the cuddles part."

"Wish I'd found him first. Hell, I knew I should have
held off on the cock and come when the guy didn't want to cuddle first."
Liz glanced over Jamie's shoulder and pursed her lips. "Waitress is headed
our way. It's Amy Johnson."

"Okay."

"It's fine. Her mom works at the church. They aren't too
happy that I'm preggers."

"Liz, how are you doing?" Amy asked as she bent to
hug Liz.

"I'm good, ready for this beast to come out of my
belly."

Jamie had nothing to add to the conversation so he stared at
the menu, wondering how odd it would be to have something growing inside of his
belly. He glanced over at Liz's stomach and swore he saw it move. Jamie rolled
his eyes thinking he was being ridiculous.

"Jamie, why are you rolling your eyes?" Amy asked.

Fright filled him and he thought about running, but he really
wanted to see Liz. "Um, I—um."

"You'd better say more than uh. This girl is having your
baby."

Jamie felt as if his whole life flashed in front of his eyes.
He sucked in a breath and choked. Liz patted him on the back and Amy rushed
away, saying she'd be back with some water.

When he could finally breathe he looked Liz straight in the
eyes, his expression severe. "What the hell. I'm the father?"

"I'm sorry. I had to tell them something."

Amy came back with the glass of water and he thanked her. His
head spun as he took a sip. Shit, this was a fucking nightmare. How the hell
could he face these people?

Amy took their orders and left the area. He turned to Liz,
trying to hold his anger back. "I am not the father of that baby," he
hissed trying to keep his voice calm.

She grabbed his hand, holding on tight. "I know, but the
other night she was going on and on about me being pregnant and alone and then
her mother started in on me. Amy isn't so bad, but her mother is terrible. She
was going to hold a prayer meeting for me. I needed to tell them something so I
threw you under the bus."

Jamie pursed his lips then breathed out slowly. "So who
the heck is the father?"

Liz toyed with the napkin on the table. "You don't know
him. Hell, I don't know him. I drove into Houston one evening and partied. The
guy was hot and I was drunk. We had sex and then six weeks later I was throwing
up everything."

"Who is the guy?" Jamie didn't know who he was more
pissed at, the bastard who'd left her in a lurch or her for saying he was the
daddy.

She bit her lip and glanced around, her brows pinching
together before she sighed. "See, that's the thing. I have no clue."

"Liz!"

"What, I was lonely and wanted a guy. I got a bit too
drunk—"

"He didn't rape you, did he?"

She rolled her eyes. "If he did then I would have said
that. It's less embarrassing than the truth that I dropped my drawers for a
total stranger just hoping to feel something other than desperation for one
night."

Jamie squeezed her hand. "What are you going to
do?"

"I was going to get an abortion but Amy and her bible
group talked me out of it. Did you know how cute a baby is when it's inside of
you?"

"No."

"Well damn it, they are adorable. I couldn’t do that
once I knew what he looked like."

"Is it a boy?"

Liz smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "I don't have
insurance so I don't know."

"What the hell are you going to do?"

"Well, that's the thing. I was going to give the baby up
for adoption but the couple is splitting up and they don't want the baby."

"So now what?"

"I guess I'll hand it over to CPS the day—you know, when
he's born. It sucks though, could you imagine. I wish someone responsible could
take him."

"Don't do that." Jamie's head swam as he thought
about what he was going to say next. His throat closed and he dropped Liz's
hand before clenching his fists, trying to stop the words he knew he had to
say. "I'll take him."

"Jamie? It's a big responsibility." Liz looked up
and saw Amy walking toward them with their food. She stopped talking until Amy left
the area. "I can't make you take him."

His eyes burned and he realized he really wanted the kid.
That's one reason he never acknowledged his true desires about men. He wanted
kids. Kip was going to flip. "Honestly, I want him, her—the baby. I want
the baby."

"Really?"

"Yeah, but let me digest it before we tell anyone else.
I need to talk to a few people and I need to figure things out."

Tears leaked out of Liz's eyes and rolled down her face. It
felt as if a rock had settled in his stomach, leaving him wondering if he'd
made a mistake. How the hell could he take care of a baby, but how could he not
take care of this one. Already, the feelings were overwhelming him when he
thought about being a father. It was everything he'd ever wanted.

"Give me one day and we'll get back together to make
sure we feel the same and that you don't have any issues with it. You know I'm
gay. I mean sure, I'm attracted to girls in a basic way, but I don't see myself
with a girl long-term. I like guys."

"I don't care, Jamie. You're a nice guy. Who you sleep
with doesn't matter."

*~*~*

Lane left Gresh sleeping in their bungalow and headed to the
restaurant to grab a sandwich. The island was beautiful. They would need to
come back when Gresh felt better. He passed a cute couple on the walkway and
they exchanged hellos as they passed. The woman was petite and Lane glanced
over his shoulder after he walked by, looking the man over. He was built and
looked good in his board shorts. He imagined what their kids would look like.

They were adopting but he wondered what a baby would look
like if one of them were the father. He'd want Gresh to donate the sperm. But
they'd talked in depth about adopting.

After grabbing a sandwich, Lane headed to the other side of
the island, twisting through unused paths. At one point he came upon a sign
that warned him away, stating that the path was for employees only but he
decided to venture forth and play dumb, asking for forgiveness if someone
caught him.

Lane walked for about twenty minutes, paying attention to the
slant of the sun and the direction he was traveling. Living on the ranch had
helped him develop an excellent sense of direction. The island's beauty
awakened his senses, letting some of the pain and anguish of the last few
months leak away. He was sad Riley was gone, but he was happy with Gresh.
Looking back, he could see how toxic his and Riley's relationship had turned.

From the beginning Riley had wanted him, doing almost
anything to get him. Riley had never respected his relationship with Gresh but
Gresh had always respected Lane. Even when they fought, Gresh didn't pull
punches.

Lane came around a bend in the path and spied a camouflage
tent. He stopped and the hair on his neck stood on end. Something wasn't right.
Lane took two steps back and turned, walking the path he'd come down, trying to
get as far away from the tent as possible. Something was off and he wondered if
he should tell one of the employees.

He started jogging and ran into a man dressed like the
employees in khaki shorts and a white shirt. The man looked startled, his
nostrils flared before he spoke. "Excuse me sir, this area is for
employees only."

"Oh, sorry. I got lost." Lane passed the employee
then stopped, feeling guilty about not mentioning the tent. "Um, I know
I'm not supposed to be back here, but I found a tent set up in the hammocks. It
didn't look like it belonged. I'm not sure if it's a safety issue or not."

The guy's eyes narrowed and Lane wondered if he'd made a
mistake saying anything. Lane took a step back, and was about to turn away when
the guy smiled. "It's okay, one of our fishermen sleeps out there some
nights. He likes to get up early for the fresh catches."

"Oh."

"It's not a safety issue. Kamaley Cay is the safest
resort in the Bahamas. I assure you that you are in no danger staying at Kamaley."

"Thanks, I feel better."

Lane spun and raced up the path, the eerie feeling leaving
him cold. He found the main path and turned toward his bungalow. After a few
seconds he spied Gresh and relief raced through him. He raced forward, throwing
himself in Gresh's arms. "It's good to see you."

"Lane, are you okay?"

Lane shivered and snuggled close to his lover. "Yeah, I
just missed you so much. Are you hungry?"

"A bit."

"Come on, let's get you some food."

They walked in silence to the restaurant, Gresh holding
Lane's hand. Lane saw the cute couple he'd passed earlier and sighed.

"That's a bit sigh," Gresh said.

"Yeah, I was thinking about a baby."

"Really?"

"I'm looking forward to adopting."

"Same here. I think we can really look into finding an
agency that will work with us once we get home."

Lane stopped walking and Gresh did too, turning to face Lane.
He searched Gresh's eyes, wondering if they were ready for this. "Are you
really ready? I mean I know you said you were, I just want to be sure before we
start the process."

"I feel good. I know kids are a lot of work, but we can
do this. We'll make adjustments and figure it out. I want this."

"Thank you. I think we're both ready." Lane wrapped
his arms around Gresh, holding him tightly.

"We're good together. We'll be good at raising a
kid."

They would be good a raising a kid. Lane just hoped that
Gresh could handle the physical strain. He was walking better every day and his
brain was working faster, his speech almost at regular speed. They could find a
nanny to help out in the beginning, someone they trusted. Then there were the
guys at the ranch, surely some of them would be willing to help and Cookie
could be counted on. He knew this would be a good thing for them all.

Chapter Eleven

Grant cursed, slamming his fist into the tree. The operation
was ruined all because of some nosey tourist. Didn't anyone respect signs
warning people away? He'd almost choked when he saw that cute bottom boy
walking up the path. Fuck, his dick had gone tight just thinking of the
afternoon he'd seen the guy and his partner on the beach. The man was even
better looking up close. He didn't top much, but he'd have no trouble doing
that guy.