Chapter Nine

Get married. Get married?

Lauren huffed and sighed and cursed her way back to Grams’s house. She’d been nervous to tell Ethan that she was pregnant. Not that she’d had any idea of what to expect, but she could firmly say that she hadn’t expected some half-assed, completely random, unthought-out marriage proposal.

Marriage didn’t solve anything. In her experience, it usually caused more problems. Wasn’t that what her parents’ marriage showed her?

Not to mention that her parents’ marriage had been a forced arrangement because—uh-oh—her mom had gotten pregnant. And they had been miserable.

She got out of the car and slammed the door. Then she paused and covered her face with her hands.

The entire bar heard her say that she was pregnant. Even now she felt her stomach turning and the nausea rising. Wasn’t it bad enough that the entire town knew she’d slept with Ethan?

She hoped that everyone bought her excuse of messing with him. She was fairly certain they had, but… Nibbling on a finger, she considered the situation. She’d know by tomorrow morning if she was in the clear. If she wasn’t, everyone would be talking about how Lauren Wallace had gotten knocked up by Ethan McAllister.

Also, Grams would throw both of them off the cliff into the ocean.

Or a worse fate: Grams would join Ethan on the marriage bandwagon, just like she’d forced Lauren’s parents to get married.

How could Grams be so progressive on some topics but a total old-fashioned crone on others? As soon as she found out about this baby, she was going to be on Lauren hard.

Already feeling protective, Lauren rubbed a hand over her stomach. Maybe this little dumpling wasn’t planned, but she was going to give it the best life ever.

“And I don’t need to be married to do that,” she said defiantly into the darkness.

She stomped into the house and quickly found both Grams and Brooke in the living room. The TV was on low in the background. Grams was sitting in her favorite chair, flipping through a magazine, while Brooke had commandeered the entire couch and coffee table, surrounded by catalogs, magazines, fabric samples, and a color wheel. No doubt still planning the big Kennebunkport wedding she’d been working on since she got here.

They both paused in their activities and looked up expectantly as Lauren trudged into the room.

“How many times in one day do you need to see that Ethan boy?” Grams said before returning to her magazine.

“You don’t even know where I went. I could have gone shopping. Or maybe I went for a drive.”

“You went to see Ethan,” Grams said without looking up. “I’m assuming you didn’t enjoy it.”

“I just went to The Thirsty Lobster for a drink,” Lauren lied. “It wasn’t a big deal.”

“Then why do you seem irritated? Your face is so pinched you’re beginning to look like a prune.”

“Thanks, Grams,” she said on a sigh.

“I’m just saying. You are at an age where you need to start paying attention to wrinkles. You might want to look into your skin care routine.”

“Grams, I’m thirty-three, not one hundred and three. I don’t have any wrinkles yet.”

She waved a finger in the air. “It’s right around the corner. I’m telling you.”

Lauren shot Brooke a look. More of a plea, really. Luckily, and for once in her life, Brooke came through.

“Hey, Grams, didn’t you say you were going to make tea?”

Grams perked up. “That’s right. I have that new flavor to try.” With that, she rose, gave Lauren one more long once-over, and walked out of the room.

Lauren collapsed onto the couch, next to Brooke.

“Watch the table linen samples,” Brooke said, pulling something out from under Lauren.

“Sorry.” Exhausted, she fell back into the cushion.

“How did it go?” Brooke asked. “I’m guessing not so great.”

Lauren threw her hands up in the air. “Well, the entire town almost found out that I’m pregnant with Ethan’s baby.”

Brooke paused, magazine hovering in midair as she stared at her sister. “Excuse me?”

Lauren filled her in on the events of the night. “I think everyone believed me about joking, but who the hell knows.”

There was a long silence that Brooke eventually broke. “What were you thinking, yelling out that you’re pregnant?”

“I told you, B. It was so loud, and I was getting so frustrated.” She ran a hand through her hair. “I just wanted to get it out. This is a lot to carry around.”

Brooke sat up straight. “You shouldn’t let people know you’re pregnant this early.”

“I wasn’t trying to let people know anything. Are you even listening to me?” She was starting to feel as frustrated as she had in the loud bar.

“I’d wait until you’re past the first three months. The risk of miscarriage is highest in the first trimester,” Brooke added.

Gee, thanks, sister. “You think I don’t know that? Of course I know that. I didn’t mean for anyone but Ethan to hear me.” Lauren crossed her arms over her chest.

Brooke put her color wheel to the side. “I’m sorry, L. On a different note, and more importantly, how did Ethan take the news?”

Lauren rolled her eyes as dramatically as she could muster, which was hard because her exhaustion increased by a hundred. “Ethan? I don’t want to talk about Ethan McAllister.” She drew on all her strength and sat up straight. “Let me tell you about Ethan McAllister and how he reacted.”

She barely registered Brooke’s chuckle at her quick turnabout.

“At first, he was great. Comforting and supportive. Of course, he was really surprised by the news.”

“That’s to be expected,” Brooke said.

“Right.” Lauren took a deep breath. “Then, the jerk is all ‘we should get married.’ Married!” She threw her hands into the air.

“It’s always nice when two people who are going to raise a child together can actually be together.”

Lauren stifled the urge to throw something at her sister—her very old-fashioned sister. Were she and Ethan living in some other century?

“I don’t even know where I’m going to be living,” Lauren said.

Brooke pushed her shoulders back and tilted her head. “You’re not staying here in Seaside Cove?” As if realizing she’d said something wrong, she quickly shut her mouth and sat back.

Lauren narrowed her eyes. “I only found out I was pregnant this morning. I have no idea what I’m going to do or where I’m going to live. If I do go back to Arlington, I’ll need to get a bigger place. If I stay here, I’ll need to find my own space.”

“You can always stay here. There’s plenty of room,” Brooke said.

Yeah, Lauren could only imagine that scenario. With the amount of criticizing Grams did with her now, she couldn’t fathom what adding a baby to the mix would do. You’re putting that diaper on wrong. Hold the baby this way.

“My point is that I have a lot to think about at the moment. But I know this. I’m not marrying Ethan or anyone else.” She chewed on her lip. “I can’t believe he suggested marriage,” she grumbled under her breath.

“He was probably just trying to help,” Brooke said kindly.

Lauren rolled her shoulders, irritation once again rising up from the pit of her stomach. Then she stood.

“Where are you going?” Brooke asked.

“I need some tea. Or chocolate. Or ice cream. Or cookies. Or all of the above.”

She made her way to the kitchen, with Brooke following her. “I’ve been working for hours. I want some ice cream, too,” Brooke said, opening the freezer and rummaging around. “I know I saw some mint chocolate chip in here.”

“Hand me a spoon,” Grams said from the kitchen table, “and I’ll tell you where I hide the really good stuff.”

While Grams got out the “good stuff,” which was composed of various forms of ice cream and a huge jar of cookies, Lauren made a cup of tea. Her thoughts continued to bounce around from memories of seeing pregnant on the little stick upstairs to screaming her big news in front of half the town to telling Ethan to receiving the worst marriage proposal ever.

Wrapped up in her own thoughts and concerns, she didn’t notice Grams watching her.

“Why are you drinking tea?” Grams asked.

“Because I wanted some,” Lauren countered.

Grams pointed at her. “You drink coffee.”

Shit. Why did she have the most observant grandmother on the planet? The woman couldn’t let one thing go, either. “I drink tea, too, sometimes. I had some when you made it earlier.”

“Not usually. Not unless I make it for you. You’re a coffee person.”

“I’m both.” She wasn’t.

“Since when?” Grams narrowed her eyes.

“Since…since…” Don’t say I’m pregnant. Don’t say I’m pregnant.

Brooke pushed the ice cream toward Lauren. “Since I told her about a study I read that detailed the value of drinking hot tea at night to help you lose weight.”

Grams turned on Brooke. “Why are you so obsessed with weight? Doesn’t that loser fiancé of yours tell you how beautiful you are?”

As Grams went on and on, and on some more, Lauren could only hold back a tear. Stupid hormones. Her sister really did her a solid. “Thank you,” she mouthed to Brooke.

“Lauren! Lauren Wallace!” someone shouted from outside.

She dropped the spoon she’d been using to stir her tea. “What is that?”

“Lauren, this one’s for you,” came a man’s voice.

All of a sudden, from somewhere in the front yard, someone began singing. Loudly. It only took Lauren a second to realize it was Ethan, and he was belting out “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers.

Why was Ethan here singing?

Well, “singing” was probably too kind of a word. Bellowing might be more appropriate. Or squawking maybe. Or…

What was it called when cats were in heat?

“Awww, he’s serenading you,” Brooke said, clasping her hands together with stars in her eyes.

Lauren pushed her tea away. “Ohmigod, I hate this song. I know every woman on the planet loves it, but it just grates on my nerves.”

“Oops,” Gabby said, rushing into the kitchen and making a contrite face. “I couldn’t remember if it was you or Brooke who hated it. But I love it. It’s so romantic.”

“You told him to serenade her?” Brooke asked, amusement in her voice.

“I thought it would be sweet. Besides, you can’t ignore someone standing outside your house, singing at the top of their lungs.”

Grams snorted. “You say singing; I say shrieking.”

Yes, shrieking. That’s what Ethan was doing.

“The boy’s not going to win American Idol any time soon.”

“He wouldn’t even make it past the first round.” Brooke’s eyes widened as Ethan hit a particularly bad, very loud note. “But the gesture is still sweet. It’s the thought that counts, right?”

Lauren eyed her youngest sister. “How did you… Why did you?” She grumbled. “Why are you helping Ethan?”

Gabby offered a good-natured shrug. “Someone had to.” She gave Lauren a little shove. “Go out there.”

“No. You go out there.” She pointed at her sister. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”

A big grin spread across Gabby’s face. “I am. That’s why I helped.” Gabby threw her arms around Lauren, just like she used to do when she was a little girl. She had to know that Lauren could never be mad at her when she did that, which just made her evil. “I walked down to the bar to check on you, and I saw you drive away all mad and stuff. You’re my big sister, and I had to help.”

“Lonely rivers flow,” Ethan bellowed, er, sang. His voice was getting louder by the second. “To the sea, to the sea. To the open arms of the seaaaaa, yeahhhhhhhhh.”

“For the love of god,” Brooke said. “Wow. I thought you had a bad voice,” she said to Lauren.

“Hey!”

“Sadly, it’s true,” Gabby added. She leaned in so Grams couldn’t hear. “That baby has no chance of joining a chorus.”

Ethan’s voice cracked on the next note, but he kept going.

“Christ, Lauren, go talk to the boy,” Grams said. “I didn’t raise you to be rude.”

“You didn’t raise me to settle for less than I deserve, either,” she countered.

Grams narrowed her eyes. “Are you psychic all of a sudden? You don’t even know what that boy wants to say. Go hear him out. If he decides to be an ass, then let me know and I’ll turn the hose on him.”

“Also, it would be really great if he stopped singing,” Brooke added. “He won’t do that until you go out there.”

“I thought you were all, ‘It’s so sweet and romantic and blah, blah, blah.’”

Brooke blushed. “It is. But my ears are starting to bleed. And anyway, I need to call Lucas.”

Always about Brooke.

“Fine,” she grumbled begrudgingly. “But give us a little privacy, please.”

“No problem,” Gabby said with a grin. “We’ll just listen in discreetly from a distance. You won’t even know we’re eavesdropping.”

It was near impossible to get mad at Gabby. Her intentions were always well-meaning. “That’s all I ask.”

When Lauren walked onto the porch, she found Ethan kneeling on the ground right below the railing. His arms were opened wide, a huge bouquet of red roses surrounded by lush greenery and perky white baby’s breath in one hand. He continued singing the wretched song, but he smiled as he saw her emerge from the house.

Lauren crossed the porch quickly. She leaned against the banister. “Ethan, shhhh.” They were so lucky they didn’t have any neighbors who lived close.

Ethan finished the verse and gave a little bow. Then he stretched his arm out, offering the bouquet of flowers, which were gorgeous—not that Lauren would say that at the moment. She stayed put, not moving toward him or accepting his gift.

Ethan’s arm dropped. “I can sense you’re still mad.”

“Ya think?”

“I’m very intuitive,” Ethan said with a crooked grin.

“What are you doing here?” she hissed. Lauren couldn’t help but glance over her shoulder. “Grams is here.”

“So? I’m here because you’re here.”

Her heart let out a little flutter. Damn heart.

Ethan took a tentative step closer. “Lauren, I know that I didn’t react the right way when you told me about the baby. I’m sorry.”

She snuck a quick gaze at the house before waving her hands. “Shh, keep it down. Grams doesn’t know yet.”

“Oh.” He gave her a look but, to his credit, didn’t question her. “I just want you to know that I’m excited,” he said softly. He stepped onto the first step leading to the porch.

She shifted, suddenly intrigued. She met him halfway, moving toward the same spot.

“Don’t get me wrong,” he continued. “I was shocked to hear the news, but I’m happy. Really. The more I think about it, the more excited I get.”

She paused as the wind coming off the ocean below blew her hair around her face, cooling off her suddenly warm cheeks. “You made me feel like you were trying to force me into something that neither of us wants.”

He nodded slowly. “I understand. Proposing was an impulsive thing to do.”

Her breath caught. Impulsive. That was the problem, wasn’t it? Lauren kept too many lists and organized too many things. She didn’t have room in her life for the spontaneous. She was running a very successful business singlehandedly. She hadn’t gotten to this point by doing things on a whim. And Ethan was the opposite of all that. He was…well, he was just impulsive. In everything he did.

“We’re not even dating,” she said. “Hell, we’re not even hooking up anymore.”

“Not for my lack of trying.” Ethan climbed the next step. “I never really thought about having a kid, but now that one’s on the way, I know I want to be part of its life. I want to. I know that the same way I know I need air to breathe.”

His words carried an honorable meaning. But more, she felt the emotion behind them.

“And you don’t think we need to get married?”

“Not any time soon.”

She had to ask the next question. “What if I do decide to go back to Virginia permanently?”

“We’ll make it work.”

He was saying all the right things, but still, her mind drifted back to her parents’ many fights. More than the fighting, she recalled the aftermath. Her mother sitting in the kitchen—the same kitchen that was right behind her now. With tears in her eyes, her mom would talk to Grams after her father had stormed out.

“He never says the right things.”

What if he had? What if her father hadn’t been so rash? Would they have stayed together?

Ethan extended his arm, presenting the bouquet of flowers again. Lauren took her time about it. She had to make him sweat just a little bit more. Finally, she smiled and accepted the roses, dipping her head to take in the sweet, floral scent.

“These are beautiful. Thank you.”

“I learned something tonight,” Ethan said.

“What’s that?”

“Always listen to Gabby. She suggested the flowers and the singing.”

Lauren let out a mirthless chuckle. “You might want to rethink that.” At his raised brow, she scrunched up her nose and continued. “I kind of hate that song.”

He frowned. “Well, damn.”

She raised her hand, linking fingers with his. “But I did love the gesture. No one’s ever sung to me before. And flowers are always a good move.”

He relaxed. “You’ll have to provide me with a list of your favorite romantic songs for future serenading purposes.”

“I can do that. It will even be alphabetized and sorted by both song and artist.”

He grinned. “I have no doubt.” He squeezed her hand and then pulled her in for a sweet, soft kiss. “Lauren…we’re having a baby.”

A baby. Wow. Of course, she knew that, but hearing him say it was like hearing it for the first time. It felt more real now. She was going to be a mom, and Ethan was the dad. And none of this had been in her plans, but she couldn’t just set it aside and deal with it later, when it fit better into her schedule.

She didn’t like the uncertain feeling that swirled around her. All of a sudden, there were so many things in her life that she had no control over. That was not how she operated.

She put a hand on Ethan’s chest. “We should come up with some rules.”

“Here we go.” He grinned again and leaned against the railing.

Lauren didn’t care if Ethan or anyone else made fun of her. Rules helped keep things running smoothly. They eliminated chaos and ambiguity. Maybe if her mom had set some rules, her early childhood would have been a little calmer. Maybe her dad would have said the right things, the things that her mom had needed to hear, and he would have stuck around a little longer.

“You know, just to make sure we’re on the same page,” she explained.

Ethan took a deep breath. “Okay. Hit me with some rules.”

“Well, if we’re having this baby together, I think we should agree that any discussion of marriage is off the table unless we’re talking about true love.”

“What you’re saying is that marriage should not be offered as a quick fix to a problem.”

“Exactly.”

“What about the sex?”

Her insides did a little dance. In spite of everything going on at the moment, Lauren had to admit that she’d been thinking of Ethan every day. All she had to do was close her eyes and she could see his impressive body hovering over hers.

From his touches to his kisses, not to mention the way his skillful hands had moved over every inch of her body, she practically salivated every time she remembered their night together. She’d be crazy not to want a repeat.

She was somewhat surprised that he was being so blunt, but given the state of her condition, she supposed they were past subtleties.

“I was going to finally accept your offer for dinner. But, well, yeah, um, we could do it again.”

He chuckled loudly. “I meant the sex of the baby. You know, finding out what it is before it’s born.”

Her cheeks heated up instantly. “Right. That sex. Well, I don’t know. Do you want to find out early?”

“I can wait. It’s not all that long. Kind of a fun surprise.”

A surprise, right. Some people liked surprises, she reminded herself. Of course, she wasn’t one of those people. After all, if they didn’t find out the sex, she wouldn’t be able to plan to the fullest extent.

“Do you care if we have a girl or boy?” she asked.

He shrugged. “Not really. As long as the little munchkin is healthy. But I hope the baby has your dimples.” Lightly, he dragged a fingertip over the place where her dimples usually showed up. “And your striking blue eyes.” He placed a soft kiss on one eyelid, then the other.

She sucked in a breath. He was charming her.

“What about you?” she asked, her voice coming out a bit breathlessly. “Which of your features do you think the baby will have?”

“I hope they have my height. We don’t want another Smurf.”

She slapped him in the chest, making him laugh. “Hey! I can’t help that I am height-challenged.”

Ethan grinned. “I like your lack of height. It makes you fit right where I want you.”

With that, he grabbed her and tugged her toward him. His arms came around her, and she found herself being cocooned within Ethan’s strong embrace. Her head fit perfectly under his chin.

Lauren took a moment to inhale his scent. It was a musky, manly aroma. She wasn’t sure if it was his soap or shampoo, or maybe he was wearing some faint cologne. Whatever it was had begun mixing with the salty sea air from the ocean as the wind picked up, blowing her hair around her face. Ethan ran a hand over it, smoothing it down.

With a soft finger, he tilted her chin up and looked deeply into her eyes. “See, we fit together.”

Then he kissed her. His mouth captured hers, and she wasted no time in kissing him back. If nothing else, Ethan was an outstanding kisser.

He pulled back only slightly. “We may not have planned any of this, but we do fit.”

She opened her mouth to protest. She wasn’t even sure why. Lauren just felt like she needed to disagree. Only, he didn’t give her a chance to. He pressed his lips to hers again. Featherlight kisses, a whisper across her lips, eliciting the most delicious butterflies in her belly. She heard a sigh, then realized it had come from her. As she sank into the kiss, her arms came up and around his neck. She could smell the roses that she was still holding with one hand.

Ethan brought his arms around her waist, sliding his hands up her back as he deepened the kiss. Her mouth yielded to his, allowing his tongue to enter and meeting it beat for beat.

Dizzy when they pulled apart, she looked into his eyes. “Wow,” she whispered.

“I don’t want you to worry about anything,” he whispered back. “We’re going to figure everything out.”

“That is oddly comforting,” she said. Even though she couldn’t imagine how they’d do it.