Outside The Lines (Love Beyond Reason Book 2) (18 page)

“Hardest thing for a family to go through.” The older woman agreed.

“Happens so much these days.” Maria frowned. “He’s never found anyone else?”

Mrs. Kraus’ brow rose. “Well, not permanent, anyway.”

Maria couldn’t help the blush that rose on her neck. She had no right to be shy at this point, living as she was—uncertain in her own relationship, but this was her father-in-law they were talking about.

It made her want to look over her shoulder and make sure he wasn’t there. He did have a way of showing up unexpectedly. And he could be quite loud when he was upset.

“I think I’m going to take a nap. I feel like such a lazy bum lately, but there are parts of the day I would kill to sleep.”

“Good. You get as much sleep as you need. Soon enough you won’t be sleeping at all. If that baby is anything like his father, he’ll keep you up all hours of the night.”

“David was an ornery baby?” Maria slowed on her way toward the door. She craved knowing more about him, even little anecdotes about his babyhood.

“Oh, his poor mother. Paced the hallways, rocking him, and boy, could he squall.” She was grinning though, and her smile softened, her eyes glowed a little. “I miss those days. It’ll be nice to have a baby around here again. New life. New family…You and David. You can make it right.”

Her words felt like a challenge, one she wanted so much to win, or even just survive.

Nerves came to life in her stomach like a cloud, covering the sun. And she shivered as she made her way down the hall. So many expectations. She didn’t know if she had it in her to meet them. She couldn’t change the world.

She passed David’s office when a loud crash stopped her, her heart jumping into her throat, her pulse thumped in her veins. The murmur of voices rose then came to an abrupt halt.

“Son of a bitch!”

Maria took two hurried steps, trying to escape—what? She didn’t know, but she didn’t want whomever it was behind that door to think she was eavesdropping.

“Hey,” David spoke, and she came to an abrupt stop and turned.

Her hands shook and she took a step back. “I was just on my way upstairs. I didn’t mean to—”

“Don’t worry about it,” David said, with a frown. “It’s not the last time you’ll hear my dad yell around here.”

“Oh.”
Reality check.

“He’s going out of town for a few days, so we’ll have a break.” He spoke matter-of-factly. “I’m sorry to ditch you, but I do need to go to the office today.”

She knew it was the truth, but it felt more like he was running away from her again. Standard operating procedure, as her sister would say. Every time Mr. March appeared, things got uncomfortable and weird.

“Hey.” He sent her a pointed look and walked up to her. He cupped her face with his warm, gentle hand. “I’ll be back for dinner.”

She covered his hand with her own and then kissed his palm. “I’m okay.”

A noise down the hall drew her attention and they both turned to where Mr. March stood in the foyer. He scowled at them and huffed as he left the house, slamming the door behind him.

Maria couldn’t help be relieved that he was gone.

~*~

By the time David left work, his neck hurt from sitting at the computer all afternoon.

Usually good about getting up and moving around, he kept a baseball bat and glove in his office. But not today. He’d just wanted in and out as quickly as possible.

He pulled up into the garage, glad to see his father’s car wasn’t parked on the end.

As he got out and walked toward the door, the murmur of music came through the exterior door, pulling him forward. Into the hall, the music—something upbeat and Latino—grew louder. He followed it to the kitchen as anticipation rode the blood pumping in his veins.

He stopped short in the doorway.

Maria and Mrs. Kraus danced across the hardwood floor in front of him. Maria’s feet moved quick and sure under her, and the older woman’s barely kept up. The ache in his neck eased when he laughed. “Not bad, Mrs. Kraus.”

“It’s the salsa,” she answered as the two women did a little turn. Maria’s hips—holy mother, don’t even think about sex right now—moved to the rhythm and then her shoulders dipped and shook as she lead Mrs. Kraus into another twirly turny thing.

He rubbed a hand at the back of his neck with a smile.

Sex. Sex. Sex.

Stop thinking about sex!

“You try it!” Mrs. Kraus let go of Maria who did another twirl and landed in his arms.

“I’m not much of a dancer.”

Maria kissed him lightly, laughing. “Everyone can dance,” she said, taking both his hands and moving him over the floor.

He watched her feet, which happened to be bare. Toes painted a dark red.

Sex. Sex. Sex.

I’m not thinking about sex.

Liar. He lifted his gaze to her face, her pretty brown eyes, and found her grinning at him and wagging those eye brows. Like she knew what he was thinking—the little devil.

He focused on the actual dance moves as she talked him through it, ignored her hands on his hips, trying to get him to do something, he wasn’t sure a man should be able to do with hips—cha, cha, cha, or something. And he laughed at himself when he could finally do the steps without stepping on her feet.

The song ended, and Maria clapped. “
Excelente
! Before long, you’ll both be experts.”

Mrs. Kraus stood at the counter, leaning over it with her chin cupped in her hand. “That was wonderful,” she said with a dreamy look in her eye that made David roll his eyes.

“I’m starving,” he added, for good measure. “What’s for dinner?”

But he stopped Maria when she moved to help, and pulled her back into his arms. He kissed her, hoping she understood.

There hadn’t been this kind of life in his home for too long.

She grinned…

And grabbed his rear.

He chuckled.

She totally understood.

17

This was as official as it got. Having a baby. Marrying this woman who seemed almost too perfect. Seeing his mother by choice. He’d ignored her for so long, never being available when she called, her emails conveniently lost in cyberspace…

But you read them, asshole!

Colleen, showing up in his driveway last fall before he’d left for California had shocked the hell out of him. He’d done his best to shove her existence from his mind, but after so many years, time had changed something in him.

Raphe had been right. He needed to get over it.

Now that he was about to be a father—

Holy shit. A father.
He hadn’t said that out loud yet, either. Had he always been such a feels-burying douche, hiding his head in the sand? As if keeping silent would make the feels go away.

But he’d been ignoring the issue of his mother over the past few weeks, partly because of Maria. What if she freaked out? What if she objected to his mom’s lifestyle?

Could he lose her?

No. Maria wasn’t like that, and she wouldn’t leave him. Besides, maybe she knew… she had been spending more time with his mom. More time than he had in the last ten years.

He drove them past the town sign into Englewood where his mom’s practice was located. Englewood wasn’t as wealthy as Lynnbrook, and it showed in the faded storefronts and the cracked sidewalks that were still mostly covered with snow. No white picket fences here. The town itself lacked luster.

But, David knew from his clients that Englewood was still a decent town with hardworking individuals. And it had a Walmart as well, which people from Lynnbrook tended to frequent, even if they wouldn’t admit it.

He smiled at Maria and pulled into the small clinic, the two-story brick home that had three windows across the front and a porch. He remembered talk about it opening, how his mom’s goal had been to create a home-like setting.

Yeah, the woman who’d left her family. What a joke.

But, he had to be fair to Maria. He was throwing her in the middle of his mess.

“Uh, so…there’s something I might need to tell you. Actually, maybe I don’t, but maybe I should. Hell—I don’t know. It’s not like it’s going to matter in there, but still… Shit,” he finished.

Maria paused before opening the door and turned to look at him. She smiled and it stole another little piece of his heart from his chest. “Well, that’s a lot of words for you.”

He chuckled, nervously. “Um, yeah, well, my mom is a lesbian.”

“What?” Her frown was merely confusion. Or that’s what he told himself.

“She left my dad and me when I was nine.”

Again with that frown. “But she should have had rights. She might have taken you with her—” Maria cut herself off. “Oh, poor Colleen. Your dad was an ass, wasn’t he?”

David’s laugh turned to a snort of relief. “Probably…” His hand went to the back of his neck and he quickly recognized the nervous tick and dropped his hand back down. “Actually, I don’t know much of the real story. I’ve always blamed her.”

“But now it’s different,” she said for him, taking it all to the bottom line.

“Yeah. Actually.” He glanced her way, loved seeing her profile next to him. “She’s been sending me letters since I was eighteen.”

“You saved them.”

Heat rose on his neck as he lifted a brow. “Do I seem like the sentimental type?”

Shaking her head no, she took his hand and ran her fingers over his palm. “I found them, actually. And I’m sorry I read one. It was open. It was uncalled for, and I meant to tell you. Really I did. I felt horrible. But then I forgot. And— I’m sorry.”

“Oh,” he laughed. “Okay.” But having her hands on him wasn’t okay right now. It made him want to take her, right here, in the car, in the parking lot. He brushed his thumb over her lip, floored that his past mattered so much to her.

He rubbed a thumb over that bottom lip again.

Her hand came up and gripped his wrist; his hand cupped her neck, felt the hot beat of her blood. She was so beautiful. He watched her eyes carefully, saw the slight tightening of her pupils as he leaned in and took her lips with his own in a slow, languid caress.

All the uncertainty fled in an instant as the spark of her arousal dragged him in. Her mouth opened to his, and he delved in, wishing each touch could tighten the bond he wanted to deny.

Her tongue bandied with his, left trails of heat across the roof of his mouth.

The lifeblood pumping through her incited him.

He’d never had anyone like her—not in his life, not in his home…hell, not in his car. He was stiff with wanting her, and when her palm came down and rested on his thigh, he groaned. Her hand slid higher, as if she knew exactly what she was doing. He dragged her into his lap so she straddled him. The soft skin of her forearms brushed against his ears as he sucked her tongue into his mouth and drove his hands up under her shirt.

Her hips moved over him and the jolt of lust that zapped through his veins threw him from the moment. He broke from her tempting, hot mouth and took a deep breath. “Stop.”

She was breathing just as hard as he was when she rested her forehead on his. “Doctor’s appointment.”

He smoothed her hair back with hands that trembled. “Right.”

“I like kissing you, David March.”

His laugh came, surprising him and relaxing him. That was her doing, too.

Gently, he kissed her again and then reluctantly let her go when she slid back over to her side. “We’ll finish this, Maria.”

“I hope so.” She got out before him, and he gave himself a few more seconds to cool off before getting out and following her across the parking lot. Maria took his hand as they approached the front porch. A very pregnant woman sat with her hands resting on the giant bulge of her stomach on a swing off to the right. David quickly looked away.
Holy moly. Was Maria going to get that big?

“Hello.” Maria waved to the woman as David held the door for her. He helped her off with her coat and hung it on the row of hooks on the wall inside the entryway.

Maria moved forward to the desk. She was speaking quietly with the receptionist.

David took a moment to look at her from behind. She was gorgeous. Her hair shone, hanging down her back, slightly curled at the ends. Her rear—damn, that rear. A quick glance around proved Maria could possibly, most likely did, have the finest ass in the room.

“David?” Maria was standing in front of him, her head tilted to one side, a small smile on her lips. “You want to sit?”

There were several available chairs—an eclectic collection. Some big and soft, a few straight-backed and even a set of wingback antiques with claw foot legs. She took one of the straight backs against the wall across from the desk, and he sat next to her.

“By the way,” she started. “Don’t be upset, but Dr. Pelts is out delivering a baby. We’re seeing your mother.”

***

A nurse showed them back.

David stood in the corner as the nurse took Maria’s blood pressure and explained what was going to happen.

“I’ve done this before,” she told the nurse, taking the gown.

“Oh!” The nurse’s smile grew. “This is your second baby?”

“No!” The surprise on Maria’s face made David smile. “I mean, I had a doctor at home in California who I saw at eight weeks. And I’m a nurse.”

“Well, get changed then, and the doctor will be in in a minute.”

She left and silence filled the room.

He wasn’t ready.

For this. A baby.

“You okay, David?”

He looked at her, rubbed a hand over his chest, and blew out a breath. “That obvious?”

“No.” She started taking off her clothes—soft, pink cotton t-shirt first. Her hair fell around her shoulders and covered the good parts. “Maybe I just know you. And I know it’s still hard when your mom gets involved.”

“Actually, it’s getting easier.”

She grinned, and the movement made her hair shift—but not enough. Inwardly, he rolled his eyes. He might as well be a horny teenager. He couldn’t stop thinking about Maria and getting her beneath him again.

The gown went over her shoulders, and she slipped off her boots and jeans then hoisted herself up to the table. Her cute little feet dangled above the short step at the foot of the table.

“You nervous?” he asked her, wondering what she was thinking.

“No. She’s just going to do a quick check up. You’ll get to hear the baby’s heartbeat.”

“Really?” David stepped closer. He brushed a stray hair from her face. “You know what?”

She shook her head.

“As long as you’re with me, I don’t care about anything else.”

The roll of her eyes and her laugh was enough to make his heart pound. She gave him a little shove. “Whatever,” she said, but he could tell she liked the idea. “Go back to your corner, charmer.”

She helped him relax so that when the door opened and his mother walked through, he maintained his calm, collected façade. The more he saw of her, the easier it got. She wasn’t the monster he remembered, not coldhearted, either. Of course, she wanted something, and most people were nice when they wanted something.

Her kindness, the smile that was slightly reserved, she shared with everyone, though. And her light green eyes were lit with anticipation and…he thought, maybe, excitement. Her eyes were like his own. Light enough to charm a leprechaun, she’d always said.

“You must be my little, lucky leprechaun, Davey.”

“No, Mom! I’m a Power Ranger!”

His brain scrambled for reality as his mind took him back, way back to a time he’d left buried. A time of sweet ninja moves and secret power sources. The time before life had blown up in his face.

“Hi. Maria.” His mother hugged Maria. “I’m so glad you came in to see me. I heard about the influenza from Mrs. Kraus. How are you feeling?”

“Fine. Just a little tired.”

And then
Colleen
turned to him. “David.” She held out her hand as if he should shake it, and a part of him couldn’t get his arm to cooperate. His heart pounded as he forced his hand to obey and take hers. “Mom.”

That wasn’t the word he intended to use, but it just came out, and a tad snarky at that. He reminded himself that he was an adult now.”

“Well, let’s get right to it,” his mom said, all business.

She could have no idea how meaningful it was that she didn’t want to get all heart-to-heart in here. When it came right down to it, that’s what he’d always thought would happen if they’d been stuck in a room for more than thirty minutes.

“Why don’t you give me the date of your last menstrual cycle? We’ll start over with your charting, and later, I’ll send the release forms to your doctor in California.”

“October eighth.”

The week after they’d met, when he’d been fascinated by her. He’d seen her at the diner, arguing with Lucas. And at first, he’d thought they were an item, but it became clear, as he eavesdropped, that they were siblings.

Colleen pulled a little circular chart from her pocket and turned the inside sleeve. “Just about twelve weeks along. As you probably know, there’s always some discrepancy on the due date. No need to rush anything, no need to be worried.”

David looked from his mom to Maria. He was catching most of what they said, yet at the same time he felt horribly inept. He needed a book.

“Are you taking pre-natal vitamins?”

Pre-natal vitamins? Was she taking them?

“Yes, well… let’s say about seventy percent of the time.” Maria glanced his way, a slight blush on her cheeks. “I forget sometimes.”

David frowned.

“Great. Why don’t you lie back, and we’ll have a listen.” Colleen pulled a flat surface from under the table to lengthen it. “You going to stand there frowning the whole time,
Dad
, or would you like to stand next to your wife?”

Hesitant, he came to stand beside Maria, and she took his hand as the doctor laid a blanket over her lap and then lifted the gown to reveal her stomach. His hand went out to touch it. It looked so smooth, so soft, and the baby bump fit in the palm of his hand.

Maria laid her hand on top of his, and he turned his hand over to take it.

Colleen pulled a small device from her pocket. Like a radio with a microphone on it. She squeezed gel on the top of the microphone and set it on Maria’s belly.

Immediately, the sound of a heart beat filled the room. “That beat is Maria.”

His hand tightened on hers as he watched the little sonar move over the baby bump. He held his breath, not even realizing, not even knowing how badly he’d wanted to feel connected.

“There it is!” His mom grinned and turned up the volume.

“Oh.” Maria spoke first. She was so beautiful, lying there on the table. Her eyes bright with wonder. “It’s perfect.”

“It’s so fast,” he whispered. That was his baby in there. His. Holy shit. What the hell did he know about babies? Nothing. Failure was likely. He cleared his throat and, finding her eyes on him, tried to smile.