Finding Gavin (Southern Boys #2) (6 page)

I heard a rustling noise to my right before he lowered his hand to the side of my head, holding a condom. For a split second, I debated about telling him he didn’t need it. But that moment was definitely not the time to tell him:
oh, by the way, I’m carrying your baby
.

I watched as he tore it open with his teeth and began rolling it over his hardness.

The moment he entered me, I bit down on his shoulder and groaned. His growl matched mine as we began to move. Wrapping my legs around his waist, I hooked them over his ass. His movements picked up and I met him thrust for thrust. I had missed this so much. Gavin was an amazing lover.

“Yes,” I cried, as he rotated his hips, grinding against my most sensitive spot. I could fill the heat rising and the tingling sensation of my impending orgasm. I was so close my legs began to tremble.

“That’s it, let it go. Let me feel it,” he whispered. “I’m so close, I wanna feel you first.”

The moment I let go, he began to pump into me hard and fast, just before his body began to tremble beneath my fingers.

He moaned out a deep rumbling growl. Wrapping me in tighter, he lowered himself, holding me close. We lay together in silence, with only the sounds of our strained breathing.

We stayed in that position for a few minutes before he pulled back. Looking down at me, he whispered, “I’ll be right back.”

I watched as he walked to the bathroom. I curled onto my side and pulled the sheets tightly against my chest. I could still feel his touch, and it was comforting.

A few moments had passed when I felt the bed dip behind me as he crawled in next to me. His hand sliding over my hip, he pulled me back against him. He wrapped me in his arms and buried his face against my neck.

“Will you stay the night with me?” he asked.

I nodded and relaxed back against his chest, listening to him breathe in and out, his breath fanning out over my shoulder.

I knew right then that I needed to tell him about the baby. I would let us both get some rest and, in the morning, I would let him in on our future. I wasn’t sure how I’d tell him, but I would.

I couldn’t wait until after seeing the doctor on Monday.

I just prayed that he wouldn’t be upset. After everything he had gone through with Nicole and still was going through, I was just adding more. I should have already told him; the minute I found out he should have been told. He deserved to know.

Chapter Eight

When I woke to find Gavin not in the bed next to me, I immediately felt lonely.

There was a note on the bedside table explaining that Bud needed his help and he had gone to the farm.

I guess my plan to tell him about the pregnancy would have to wait. Of course, the moment my feet hit the floor, the nauseated feeling set in. I was darting for the bathroom with my hand planted firmly over my lips.

There was nothing glamorous about morning sickness, I was left feeling like the living dead. All I wanted was a warm shower and my bed. Then it hit me; my car was still at Kori’s parents’ house.

My options were limited, but I needed a ride. I called Leann and, when she came to pick me up with a huge knowing smile on her face, I felt like I was on trial. She sat in the driver’s seat with a huge smile on her face, watching me out of the corner of her eye.

“What the hell are you grinning at?” I asked, and she laughed.

There I sat in her passenger seat, still wearing my dress from the wedding. My hair was piled on top of my head, and my makeup was smudged. I had made my best attempt to clean up, but really what was the point? It didn’t take a genius to figure out what I had done last night.

“You got lucky last night,” she sang out.

I just rolled my eyes and looked forward. I tried to hold back my smile, only to fail miserably.

“It’s a good look for you. I like seeing you smile. If there is anyone who deserves a little good in her life, it’s you. Getting some of Gavin does a body good, apparently.”

I whipped my head around at her comment. Leann was always so reserved. Her cheeks were reddened as what she had just said sank in. Then she shrugged her shoulders and smiled.

She dropped me off at home, because I refused to go to Kori’s parents’ house still sporting my clothes from last night. My car was at their place, but they would just think I had too much to drink and got a ride home. We would just leave it at that. There really was no need to make them think any different.

Just as I was climbing out of the car, Leann hollered out, “Hey, what do you say we take the kids to the park later? I can pick you up, and then we can go get Rhett and give Gemma a little break.”

“Yeah, that sounds good, maybe around two?” I replied. She nodded her head and smiled. “Great, I’ll call Gemma and tell her to have his things ready.”

***

“Hey, buddy, you ready to go have some fun with me?” I asked, as he lunged for me the moment I walked into the house.

Rhett was giggling as he squeezed my neck tightly. I sat him back down onto the floor and took a better look at him. He wore a cute little backpack with tractors all over it. The little dude loved tractors. Between Reed and Bud, Rhett was a cowboy in the making. He would break the hearts of many when he was old enough.

The older he got, the more he looked like Blake. Oh, and he was a charmer; he knew how to get his way with everyone.

“I packed some snacks, and there are some juice pouches in his bag too,” Gemma said as she hugged me in greeting. “Oh, and just in case, I tossed in a change of clothes too. I’m gonna go run some errands and then meet Julie to go over some things for next week’s events at the church.” She then gave Rhett a hug. “You be a good boy for Aunt Maria, and granny will see you a little later.”

I gathered him up and walked toward Leann’s car. Just as I was about to put Rhett into the back seat, I heard his voice. A warm feeling filled my chest, and the smile that spread out over my face did not go unnoticed by Leann.

I turned with Rhett in my arms to find Gavin walking in my direction. His shirt was hugging his chest and arms that were soaked with obvious signs of a hard day’s work. He looked real damn good all hot and sweaty. There was definitely something good about a hardworking man, with his hair all tousled and his muscles bulging. The man did things that made my girly parts ache and honestly should be illegal.

He grinned, and I think I may have whimpered at the sight of him. When he was within a foot of me, he leaned forward and kissed my cheek, just catching the edge of my mouth.

“Where are you guys off to?” he asked, as he reached out and tickled Rhett’s tummy. Rhett giggled and wiggled around in my arms. Readjusting him, I turned and placed him in the car seat. The little guy was growing so fast, and holding him for long periods of time had become a challenge.

Once I had him buckled in, I turned back to face Gavin and looked up into his gorgeous blues. “To the park. We thought it would be fun for the little ones.”

Gavin looked back toward the barn and then quickly up to the house. Before I could ask him what he was doing, he turned back to me and placed his lips against mine. What was meant to be an innocent kiss quickly changed when I swept my tongue out and grazed his lips. He groaned and pulled my body in tighter against his.

Someone clearing her throat had us pulling away quickly and looking back. Leann sat in the car, smiling like the Cheshire cat, and I could only laugh. Gavin chuckled and gave me another quick kiss.

“Am I gonna see you later tonight?” he asked.

I bit my lower lip as the memories of last night overwhelmed me. I felt my cheeks flush and my stomach flutter. Then I remembered that there were some things we need to talk about, and the lust quickly turned to nervousness.

I nodded my head. “Yeah, um, we need to talk about some things.” He wrinkled his eyebrows and looked concerned. “Don’t worry. I’ll call you when we’re done and we can make plans.”

He agreed before pulling me in for a gentle hug. Kissing me on the forehead, he slowly backed away. He winked before turning toward the barn and walking off.

I stood there like a love-sick fool, admiring him. Damn him; those thighs and that ass of his were hazardous to my hormones.

Taking in a deep breath, I walked around and got into the car.

Chapter Nine

We had been at the park for over an hour. Rhett and Leann’s daughter, Chloe were running around from one thing to the next, showing no signs of growing tired.

We had decided to take them to the kiddie park at the side of the daycare in town. It had smaller slides and swings, built more for toddlers.

Leann and I found a small patch of grass at the edge of the fence and tossed a blanket down. We were both stretched out, taking in the sun, as we watched the two children giggle and chase one another.

I began imagining what it would be like to bring my own child here—Gavin and I watching him or her play and laugh. On instinct, I brought my hand up and rested it over my stomach. A smile spread out over my face as I allowed myself to picture a little boy with dark hair and the bluest of blue eyes.

Tonight I would tell him; there was no backing out. I would just say it, and then we would see where to go from there.

I knew I was taking the chance that he might freak out. He had so many things going on in his life over the last year and a half that I feel horrible about adding even more to his long list. But he had to know, and I couldn’t wait any longer to tell him.

Leann’s voice broke through my daydream, and I turned toward her. “What?” I asked.

“I asked what was going on with you and Gavin. I know he said he didn’t want a relationship. But from what I just saw between you two, I think he may have changed his mind.” She wiggled her eyebrows up and down, and I laughed. “So did he finally wake up and see he had a chance at happiness?”

Smiling, I thought over everything she said. I debated whether I should tell her about the baby, but then I just felt bad. Kori already knew about it, but Gavin really should be the next person I tell. I don’t want him to find out about it, knowing that everyone else knew before he did.

“He has had a shitty run of luck. His ex has really made a mess of his life, and I understand where he is coming from. He is hesitant, and I don’t blame him at all.” I paused, looking out at the kids and thinking over everything between Gavin and me.

“He has never made promises to me. He didn’t set out to use me, or anything like that. I mean he told me before our very first kiss that he couldn’t offer me more. I took it all on, thinking I could handle it.” Looking back over to meet Leann’s gaze, I shrugged. “Turns out I couldn’t. I was hooked after the first kiss, and I’ve just been waiting for him to want more.”

“It kind of looked like the wait was over.” She smiled.

I smiled in return. “God, I hope so, because it has been killing me. It was so hard to pretend daily that I didn’t want more. I really just hope I’m not setting myself up for a train wreck, ya know.”

“Yeah,” she whispered. “Ben was a hard one to crack too. I had always thought he was so cute back in school, but he was one of those guys you admired from afar. If you got too close to those guys, you were sure to get crushed. It was hard to watch him with other girls.”

She paused for just a moment before continuing. “When I moved away, I dated. There was never that spark, though, the one you long to feel. Yeah, I liked guys, but I never felt the undeniable attraction.” A smile spread out over her lips, as if she were remembering something great.

“I came back to visit my grandma for a few weeks, and, um, well, I ran into Ben at the store. One thing led to another, and, well, let’s just say I felt sparks, among other things.” Her cheeks flushed, and I laughed.

“So here we are, married, with a daughter. I never thought I would have it, especially with Ben. He was always a ladies’ man. I wouldn’t change a thing about the way it all played out. We both had to go out in the world for a bit and experience life. We found our way back to one another, though. I found my forever when I least expected it, and you will too.”

***

After a few hours of playing and snacks, we gathered up the little ones. They were less than ready to go, but it had been a long afternoon.

Walking toward the car, I felt a sharp stabbing pain in my abdomen. It was so intense that it had me hunching over and holding on to my stomach. I grunted and dropped Rhett’s bag to the ground.

Leann quickly rushed to my side and placed her hand on my back. “Maria, are you okay?”

All I could do was shake my head. Gritting my teeth, I slouched down to the ground, as tears formed in my eyes from the pain.

“Oh my god, do I need to call someone? Can you get up? I can take you to the hospital.” Fear was evident in her voice as she gathered up Chloe and Rhett and placed them in the car as quickly as possible.

She helped me from the ground, and I leaned on her as she guided me to the car. The moment I sat down, I felt a wetness pool in my panties. Panic set in immediately and I began crying. “Please take me to the hospital,” I whispered in between sobs.

The next ten minutes were filled with Leann making phone calls. She called Ben to have him come and get Chloe. She said she refused to leave my side. She didn’t want me to be alone, and I was thankful for that.

She then attempted to call Gemma, but the call went unanswered. Calling Ben back, she directed him to swing by Bud’s and let him know that they would need to get Rhett.

Everything was a blur; all I could do was hold on to my stomach and pray with everything inside me that my baby would be okay.

Things happened very quickly from the moment we walked into the emergency room entrance. I was taken to the back, and the examination took place quickly. Questions were asked, one after another. All I could do was nod or shake my head. I felt lost.

“I’m pregnant,” I told the nurse who was helping me undress. She looked back at me with saddened eyes. Nodding her head, she relayed the message to the other nurse beside her.

I focused on a sign, pinned to the wall at the end of the bed. It was some sort of rating system. It asked how you would rate your pain. It had numbers, and next to them was an explanation of the comparable level of pain. I focused on the highest number. Nowhere on the list did it say excruciating or heartbreaking. There was no explanation for what I was feeling.

I wasn’t dumb; I knew what was happening. The moment the nurse helped me to remove my pants and I found the blood in my panties, I knew. I was losing my baby. I was losing the child that Gavin and I had created together. My heart was breaking with every second that passed.

When the sonogram machine was wheeled into the room, followed by the doctor, I met her eyes. She tried to appear hopeful, but I could see it; she already knew what she was going to find.

Silence filled the room as she lowered the wand to my lower stomach. The minutes felt like hours, as I waited for confirmation of what I already knew.

“The baby.” I paused, taking in a deep breath before I tried to speak again. “I lost the baby, didn’t I?”

She could only nod her head as she took my hand in hers. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. This sometimes happens, and there is nothing you could have done to change it. We’ll have to schedule a procedure. Is there someone I can call to be with you?”

His voice filled the room and my chest tightened. “Maria?”

The doctor turned as I looked past her. Gavin stood in the doorway, bracing himself on the edge. My tears fell heavily as he took a step in my direction.

“Baby?”

“What baby?” he asked.