Chapter Three

“What happened?” Jace asked. Breck sat on the stool beside him. Kade stepped behind the bar and handed them each a soda.

Breck weighed his words. He was good at that. Probably one of the reasons he excelled at cards. He worked things through quickly in his head and he had a killer poker face. Right now, he needed to get a feel for the situation before he let anything on. From what he could tell of Rowan so far, she’d probably kill him and he wouldn’t want to risk embarrassing her that way.

But then, it was probably a good idea if they knew he’d met her. Something like that could come back and bite him in the ass later. “I’m not sure. I think it was shock. I ran into her in Las Vegas a while back and we spoke a little. Maybe it spooked her to see me at her door. All I know is one minute we were talking and the next she went down.”

Worry lit in him again. She’d been so adamant about not going to the doctor. He should have taken her himself and not wasted as much time as he had at her house. “They’ll make sure she really goes to the hospital, right?”

Jace and Kade both laughed, but it was Kade who spoke. “Absolutely. Sidney will insist she get checked out.” He pulled up the stool from behind the counter, sat down, and crossed his arms. Breck knew that look; it was possessive, but not in a romantic way. He’d seen the way Kade looked at Sidney, but this was more the big brother or father way. The kind that cleaned a shotgun when a man came to pick up his girl for a date.

Breck bit back a groan, knowing this info probably wouldn’t sit well. This Kade guy was the last thing he needed. He already had enough trouble with women—he didn’t need a bodyguard coming down on him, too. He opened his mouth to put the guy’s concerns to rest, but Jace spoke first. “You met her in Vegas?”

Damn. Him, too? The Jace he remembered wouldn’t be the one worried about the girl—Jace would be the one who needed the warning. He looked between the two men, who both eyed him. It was on the tip of his tongue to tell them to go to hell. But then he remembered he actually had slept with her after only knowing her for a few hours. They may not know it, but they had a reason to do a lot more than question him.

“She was in town for a hospitality thing. We met and talked. If it’s any consolation, I don’t think she likes me very much.” There. Everything he said was true. He only left out a good chunk of it. Not that he should have to answer to them.

Kade looked satisfied with that answer. Jace’s eyes studied him more, though—trying to figure him out. They’d chased a lot of women together in college. The man knew he had a reason to worry. “It’s okay, we’re good. Women are the farthest thing from my mind right now.”

Actually, he was pretty sure he was cursed where they were concerned. And he definitely didn’t need any bad luck in his life.

Speaking of bad luck and women, he remembered Ace. “I have to go. My cat’s in the car.” He shook his head, realizing that sounded strange.

A group of guys walked up to the bar. When Kade went over to help them, Jace stood. “I’ll go out with you. See you later, Kade.”

They headed for the door. Everyone else around them had on jeans and long sleeved shirts, but Jace wore a suit. Breck was somewhere between the two in slacks, a button-up shirt, but no jacket.

They stuck out. Not that he cared about that.

“Those are your friends?” Breck asked, which was ridiculous since it was pretty obvious. He was hoping to confirm his guess about Kade.

“Yeah. Betsy, and Kade and Sidney. They’re getting married this summer.”

Breck nodded, a little more pleased than he should be at that.

Gray clouds had multiplied in the short time they were inside. He’d forgotten about how precarious Washington weather was. It would take some getting used to.

“Looks like it might rain,” he told Jace.

“No maybe about it. Just depends on when the sky decides to open up and give it to us.” They stopped when they reached Breck’s rental car. “How about the truth about Rowan now?”

Damn it. He should have expected this. He and Jace had spent way too much time together in college, then law school for Jace to be fooled. “You know I don’t have to answer that question.”

Jace crossed his arms. “You just did. Hell, Breck. Only you would travel to another state and accidentally end up staying with someone you’ve slept with.”

“It wasn’t like that.” Though, he guessed it kind of was, but it hadn’t felt like it with her.

“So I assume you’re not staying there? You’re welcome at my place, but…” Jace’s words hung in the air. Breck knew his friend’s grandfather was sick. That he was dying, which was why Jace had gone home in the first place. It wouldn’t do his friend any good to have Breck there getting in the way.

“We’re okay… I think. It was a hell of a shock, but she’s letting me stay.” Which he wanted, probably more than he should. She was too tempting. He remembered the look of her pale, creamy skin and the way it felt beneath his hands. This wasn’t a good idea at all.

Jace took a moment before he spoke. He was almost as good at that as Breck was. “I don’t want her hurt. She’s a good friend. The kind who’s looking for forever and deserves it.”

Breck sighed. He’d had a feeling that was the case. “Like I told you on the phone, I’m just looking for a little R and R. I wasn’t joking when I said I’m done with women. Hell, Jace. The last woman I spent time with stole my cat and the first woman to spark any interest in me in a long damn time fainted when she saw me. I’m pretty sure that says something.” Add to all that the fact that he traveled half the time. That wasn’t something most women wanted in a man.

Jace’s eyebrows lifted, Breck assumed because he’d admitted to being interested in Rowan. “You know me, man. I like to have fun. We’ve had a lot of it together, but it’s never serious for me. The women I’m with all know that, but…” He shrugged. “I’m thinking it’s time I take a little break.”

“A settling down kind of break?”

“Hell no.” Not that. Never again.

“All right. If you change your mind, just don’t do it with her. Actually, with anyone I’m friends with, okay?”

A little jolt went through him at his friend’s warning. Still, Breck nodded. He knew he wouldn’t be changing his mind. “Do me a favor and don’t mention you know. I don’t want to embarrass her.”

“Piss her off, you mean,” Jace said with a smile. “You didn’t even have to say it, though. I wouldn’t bring anything up to her.”

Thunder cracked above them.

“Want to go grab a bite to eat somewhere? Rain will be here any second,” Jace said.

Breck felt a smile spread across his face. “Nah. Houdini said I was welcome to go back.” He might not be interested in a relationship, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t have a little fun with her. The truth was, he liked what he knew of her. She was interesting and he couldn’t remember the last time he’d had the pure kind of fun he’d had with her in Vegas—even before they’d gone up to the room. Maybe turning over a new leaf included making a few friends, too. Or at least giving her hell. That would be a lot of fun.

…

Rowan couldn’t stop wringing her hands. Her feet didn’t touch the floor as she sat on the bed in the hospital room, so she couldn’t bounce her leg. She still wasn’t able to stop moving, so she let her feet swing. If the doctor didn’t come back soon, she’d freak out.

“Hello, Ms. McKinley.” The female doctor pulled the curtain closed.

“Hey.” Her throat was so dry, it was almost hard to speak.

“We got your lab work back. The nurse mentioned you didn’t think it was a possibility, but the pregnancy test came back positive.”

“Excuse me?” She couldn’t have heard her right. Maybe she’d hit her head harder than she thought.

“You’re pregnant, Ms. McKinley.”

Oh God. Her life was a chick flick. “How…how did this happen?”

She didn’t realize she’d spoken aloud until the doctor replied, “Birth control is never a hundred percent effective. You’re not on the pill and condoms aren’t fool proof.”

Rowan buried her face in her hands. Holy crap. She got pregnant from a one-night stand with a guy named Wilder—in Vegas—and now her doctor was giving her a health lesson like she’d slept through sex ed. Or hid in the broom closet with a boy.

She was totally a slut! Okay. Maybe not a slut. Men did this kind of thing all the time and she was all for equal rights. It’s just that those rights usually came into effect when she was talking to one of her girlfriends about her life—not her own.

“Can you tell me again?” she stupidly asked.

“Birth control—”

“No!” She had that one down. Or she thought she had. “I’m really pregnant?”

It wasn’t that she didn’t want kids. She did. More than anything. It was just that she’d always expected the husband to come first. Or at least a boyfriend and not some guy— “Holy shit.”

“Excuse me?” her doctor asked.

Rowan waved her hand. “Sorry.” Wilder…Breck. Whatever his name was. He planned to stay with her. To live in her house for six weeks—and she was carrying his baby. Hell, she was still confused on his name and he was going to be the father of her baby! How did she get herself into this mess?

“Is this pregnancy something you’re wanting, Ms. McKinley? I know it’s a surprise—”

“No!” Rowan cut her off. She might not know what the hell she was doing, but she knew she’d be keeping this baby. She’d make sure it felt like the most loved, wanted baby in the world. “I’m keeping it. I…” She suddenly felt like she could pass out again, but this time, it was like she knew what was happening. Rowan took a couple deep breaths to calm herself. “I fainted. Is…?”

“Everything seems to be fine. Your levels are all where they should be.”

When wetness dripped onto her lap, Rowan realized she was crying. Thank God. All she could think was thank God her baby was okay. My baby. Yes, she’d only known about the baby for a few minutes, but suddenly, she didn’t want anything in the world as much as she wanted this child. No, it wasn’t planned and no, she didn’t know much about the father, but she had a life inside her. She damn well planned to take care of that life. Her baby.

Growing up with three rowdy brothers, it was easy to get forgotten or left behind. Rowan would never let this baby feel that way. And she knew she could do it. If anything, growing up fading into the background taught her how to be independent.

But she was still scared as hell.

A baby? Did she know anything in the world about being a mom?

“Are you okay? Do you have a boyfriend or someone you’d like the nurse to call?”

She shook her head at the doctor, unable to remember her name. More tears started to come. Geez. Did hormones affect her this early? She was never much of a crier. “No husband or boyfriend.” Rowan wiped her eyes and sat up straighter.

The doctor gave her a smile. “To ease your mind, we’re going to pull the portable ultrasound machine in. We won’t be able to see much, but I think it will make the both of us feel better.”

Yes. She definitely wanted that. “Thank you.”

A few minutes later another woman wheeled a machine into the room. Rowan leaned back on the bed, not looking forward to this part. Apparently this early on, they need to do an internal ultrasound.

Soon the screen came to life and she saw…well, what looked like a bunch of fuzz, with a little circle in the middle of it. Still, she knew what that circle was. It was hers. A little person who she could love and hold, who would always know he or she was the most important being in her world.

Oh my God. I’m going to be a mom.

Holy hormones. Her eyes were leaking again. “That’s it, right? That little quarter in the middle?”

“Yes, it is. That’s your baby.” The doctor looked over at her and grinned. “Do you have a doctor you might want for prenatal care?”

“No. I…have no idea. I’ll call someone the second I get home.”

“It’s okay,” her doctor actually grabbed her hand and Rowan’s tension eased. “You’re going to do fine. We’ll give you a couple referrals, but you’re welcome to call whomever you want. If you have a family doctor, maybe ask his or her opinion. You want to make sure it’s a good fit.” She winked. “You’re carrying precious cargo in there and you need to trust your physician.” The doctor stood.

This was just too huge. She had no idea how to pick a doctor for her baby’s care.

“Everything looks fine, but take it easy for the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours, okay?”

Rowan put a hand on her belly. “I will. Thank you, Dr. Robinson.” She’d do whatever she needed to make sure her baby was okay. It was her responsibility as a parent.

A parent. Rowan…a single mom. And then there was Wilder…Breck. Would he want to be a father? Did she want him to be her baby’s dad? She didn’t even know the guy. But they’d be getting to know each other much better. They had to.

She felt nauseous. Everything in her life was about to change.

“You’re really starting to scare me, Freckles. What did the doctor say?” Sidney bit her lip as she drove.

Freckles. Would her child have them one day? She used to hate hers when she was younger. Sidney would rave about them, though, and that had made them not so bad. Sidney and Kade started calling her Freckles after that. Her two oldest friends in the world. Who would be that to her child?

“Hello? Now you’re scaring me even more. You’re totally spacing out over there.”

That made two of them. Yes, excitement thrummed through her, but there was a healthy dose of fear lacing it. She could do this. She would do anything for this baby, but damn…she’d just opened Destiny Knocks. She had to let Breck stay with her just because she needed the business. Breck. A stranger. Her baby’s dad.

“Rowan?” Betsy put a hand on her shoulder from the backseat. She was a Shamrock Falls transplant, but she fit in with Rowan and Sidney. She was a good friend.

“I’m turning around. We’re going back to the hospital. Something isn’t right with you, Row.”

Okay, so she should probably say something, but what? She’d been okay in the ER, but now things were a little more real for her. She’d seen the quarter on the screen and now she felt shaky. Was that a good sign? Maybe they should go back to the hospital. Just to be on the safe side.

But then, pregnant women were supposed to feel strange, right? Which meant she needed to chill out and open her mouth so Sidney didn’t bring her back to the hospital. And man, did she need to get this off her chest.

“I slept with Wilder.”

“What?” Sidney shrieked.

“He’s only been in town a couple hours!” Betsy added from the backseat, then she gasped as though she hadn’t meant to say it. Honestly, it always shocked Rowan too, when the quiet woman said something like that.

So she started to laugh.

Once she started, she couldn’t stop. They were huge, belly laughs that made her stomach cramp. Oh! She wondered if her baby could feel that and it made her laugh even harder.

“Definitely going back to the hospital.” Sidney made a left turn.

Finally, Rowan was able to calm down enough to gasp out. “No.” More laughing. “Pull over.” And then the giggles took hold even stronger. By the time Sidney drove into the department store parking lot, she was in tears again.

“Oh, sweetie. What’s wrong?” Sidney reached for her, but Rowan was getting out of the car. If she was going to do this—tell them what happened—she needed air.

Betsy and Sidney were right behind her. Rowan leaned against her friend’s new Honda, lights overhead making it so they could see each other. She took deep breaths to try and calm herself down. They both stood in front of her waiting, worry creasing their eyes.

When she relaxed enough, she said, “Remember that hospitality convention I went to?”

The way Sidney’s eyes popped wider, Rowan knew she was catching on. “Yeah.”

“Well, I was in the bar, right? I was bummed because my brother was there on business and we were supposed to meet up, but he canceled on me. I haven’t seen him since Mom’s funeral! None of my brothers, actually, but Thomas was in the same city as me. Anyway, this guy sits down and starts talking to me. Actually, he was pretty annoying at first. He’s sort of cocky, but you saw him at Lucky’s—kind of hard not to listen when a guy like that talks to you.”

Darn it. She was getting distracted. Plus, she didn’t want to think of Wilder—ugh! Breck. “After a while, he wasn’t so bad, though. He could still be knocked down a few pegs, but we ate dinner and any time his head got too big, I told him where he could stick it. I’m not kidding you guys, we talked for hours. This one—”

“Freckles! Get to the point.” Sidney crossed her arms.

Point. Yes, she had one and she needed to get to it. “Finally I was too tired to talk anymore so I told him I needed to call it a night. He agreed and said he was going to his room too. So we go to push the button and guess what floor he was on?

“I don’t know what happened next. One minute we were standing there and the next we were kissing and then we’re in his room. I know, it’s ridiculous and dangerous and everything else, but we were safe!”

But she was pregnant. Better rephrase. “We used protection and afterward he passed out. So I snuck away and then today he shows up at Destiny Knocks. Just shows up, but he’s Jace’s friend and he’d arranged to stay with me—not knowing who I was, of course. I mean, I don’t even know the guy, but he’s there and I pass out and the nurse asked if I could be pregnant—”

“What?” Sidney screamed.

“Oh my God!” Betsy added.

Rowan pushed off the car and started pacing. “I know. I can’t even believe it. I’m pregnant.” Rowan reached back to steady herself on the car, scared she might pass out again. “I’m having a baby with Vegas Guy and he’s staying at my house. And he’s so smug! And the biggest flirt in the world and…” Where was she going with this? “So yeah…that’s it. I’m pregnant by a gorgeous, cocky guy who I A) Don’t know and B) is staying at my B and B and C) could be an ax murderer. Or a drug dealer. I’m still not even sure exactly what his name is!”

And she was obviously going crazy, too. She didn’t usually have freak-outs like this. Though she’d never been pregnant by an ax-murdering, drug dealer before either.

“You’re having a baby?”

Rowan stopped pacing at the sound of intense emotion in Sidney’s voice. She looked over at her friend, who had a tear-streaked face and a smile. She shifted to look at Betsy, who had brought her hands up to cover her mouth but looked happy, too.

Suddenly, the rest of it didn’t matter.

Again.

“Yes. I’m having a baby!”

And then the three of them were hugging and jumping and all crying together, right there in the parking lot of the Shamrock Falls Shopping Center.