Found by Love (52 page)

"But you didn't Cru." He let out a big sigh and continued dressing me. "We have gone through too much to get to where we are right now. Yes what happened was terrible and it was devastating but we made it through it alive Cru." I remembered Jason and started shaking my head crying. "I know Jason didn't make it and it's sad and God awful what happened to him but he's the reason Grayson and I am alive. Don't tarnish his greatest shining moment by mourning him too long and missing out on what you should be thankful for having."

"I just... I feel that maybe I had misjudged him and maybe he had truly changed and maybe if I was honest with him about-"

"About what? Do you not remember the way that he talked to me on the phone when we were at Mattie's? He acted like I meant nothing and that all he had to do was twist his little finger at you and he could have you anytime he felt like it." He was right and that was only a few weeks ago. I now realize that the only reason that Jason was driving around my office was because he was probably going to try to pry his way into my life again because he knew of Grayson's existence.

"I don't want you to make me think badly of him. Not after what he did but you're right. You're right. It doesn't make me feel any better though. All that I keep thinking about is his wife, widow I guess, and how is she going to be able to support her kids. I don't even know if he had a life insurance policy. She's lost everything and I keep thanking God that it wasn't me." He pulled me into his arms and I cried for all of them. Oh I hate crying and I know it's mainly because of the extra hormones running through my body but I just can't seem to get it all out of my head.

"Will it make you feel better if you knew that Cash and I have already established a trust fund in Jason's honor? It'll be more than enough for his wife to continue paying her bills and we have already paid off her house and we also started college funds for all of the children."

"Are you serious? You both really did that?" I felt like a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders realizing that his widow didn't have to worry about how to support her children.

"Yes Cru. Cash already took care of everything this morning and I hope that it helped them to have a better Christmas in knowing that they would be alright." I started kissing him all over and stopped when I reached his hurt arm.

"Thank you. I was trying to figure out a way to do that myself but I don't have that much cash lying around in such short notice. I was going to sell the house and donate whatever I received from the sell to them." He nuzzled my neck and kissed me behind my ear.

"We had to do something baby to pay the debt that he paid to save us. Now are you going to let me give you that back rub or not?" I hadn't forgotten about it but wasn't so sure how he was going to manage it.

"How are you going to be able to do that with only one hand?" He chuckled under his breath.

"You let me worry about that. Here... Crawl up and lay down on your belly while I grab some lotion. I want you relaxed and if you fall asleep that's fine because it means I did my job." I did as I was told and shook my head to lie down and stretched out on the bed.

"I really don't deserve you ya know that?" I closed my eyes waiting for him to work his magic hoping that he started at my shoulders that have been so tense.

Oh no! I remembered something that I hadn't shown him yet and started to panic because I wanted to show him last night for Christmas Eve but had forgotten after everything that happened. I felt him sit down next to me in the bed and he raised my hair out of the way and I heard him sigh.

"Um Cru? When exactly did you go get a tattoo? I mean. That is a tattoo right? I thought you said you were afraid of needles?" I started to turn around but he pushed my head down and started reading it.

‘
Found myself by his love for me... NB'
…. Other than you, I believe that's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life. It's beautiful and definitely not as corny as the one I put on my chest. Hmmm." I hesitated and turned around and looked at him after he let go of my back.

"You really like it? I mean REALLY like it?" He grinned at me and nodded his head.

"Yeah, now I see how come you haven't been wearing your sexy pony tails lately like you normally do when we are just lazing around the house." I shook my head at him and laughed because he does think it's sexy when I wear one.

"Yeah... I was going to have the guy put
'with his love for me'
and have him write out
'nerd boy'
but I was about to pass out so I had him shorten it. Did you know that it really hurts to have a tattoo drawn on the nape of your neck? Oh my God it hurt!" He chuckled and put the lotion down and reached over and turned the lights off and crawled into bed. I turned towards him and rolled over into his arms.

"Forget the back rub. All I want to do tonight is hold the woman of my dreams and never let you go. God I love you, you crazy woman. Other than the life growing inside your belly and Grayson you couldn't have given me a better gift." I rose up and kissed him tenderly and whispered.

"I was going to show it to you last night but I honestly forgot about it after what all went down. I got it before I found out I was pregnant and I about broke Olivia's hand because it hurt so bad. Derek was the one that gave me the idea when he told me that I had finally found myself because of your love for me." He pondered what I said and then grinned really big.

"I guess this only means one thing then." He reached down and kissed me with so much heat that woke me up and definitely made me want to do more than fall asleep. When he pulled away he pulled me on top of him. "When are you going to become my bride since you've obviously branded yourself with my name?" I realized that he came to bed naked so I hurried up and tugged my shorts off.

"Tomorrow if you want but I have other things on my mind right now since you've given me an extra burst of energy.” The heat in his eyes was all I needed to feel in control and know that I had all of the power, even if it was for this one night because this man totally controls me whether he knows it or not.

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

MONTHS LATER

"Cash, you happen to be a billionaire but you sure do not know how to flaunt your money in the right direction." Olivia and I were in the living room surrounded by fans to try to keep our oversized pregnant bodies cool from no air conditioning in the house. It has taken two days for the repairmen to figure out what exactly was needed to fix it and evidently another two days to actually fix it.

"Caleb? Please tell your wife to quit yelling at me and to quit blaming me for the heat this summer. It's Mother Nature's fault, not mine!" Cash quit talking to me yesterday after I went off on him about how hot it was in the house. My gorgeous husband that put me in this condition would barely look at me but still managed to answer me when I asked him a direct question.

"Cru, you know that Cash is doing everything that he can to get the air back on. Do you need another fan Sweetheart?" It's really hard to stay mad at him when he does everything he can to make me comfortable. He looked over at Olivia who didn't look very lady like in her sun dress by the way she was sprawled out with her legs spread. She was fanning between her legs with a magazine which was quite comical if you knew Olivia. For the first time in days I laughed so hard it made my stomach hurt.

"Don't laugh at me Claud! It's not funny at all! I'm so miserable. Oh I wish this baby was ready to come out already! I'm a week past my due date for goodness sakes!" It was the month of August and we usually have nice summers with the temperature never getting over 80 degrees but the one time that Olivia and I are pregnant TOGETHER we are getting almost 100 degree temps.

"I'm sorry but you look like a little girl that has never worn a dress before and is showing all of her business to the little boys at recess. It's a good thing the boys aren't here and are at summer camp because I don't know how they'd be able to handle this little situation that you've got going on right now." I was pointing between her legs and stopped immediately. If looks could kill I would definitely be dead by the death stare that she is giving me.

"Leave my wife alone Claud. You haven't been a jolly person to be around either." I rose up in my seat and pointed my finger at Cash who was reading the paper at the bar.

"Oh that's what it takes for you to talk to me directly oh mighty one? I have to be mean to your wife? I'll tell you what, get the air conditioner guys on the phone. I bet a little 5 minute conversation with me will light a fire under their asses!" Caleb brought Olivia and I another glass of ice water. Carmen would usually take care of us but we sent her crying yesterday after the heat got to us so she has left us to the men while she took care of Eden and the twins.

"Here Olivia, maybe this will help." She grabbed the water out of his hands and had it all drank before he handed me mine. I reached for mine and about fell out of the couch as a pain hit me hard.

"Owww.  That really hurt!" Caleb leaned down next to me with a scared look on his face.

"Baby? Are you okay? Is it the baby?"

"Claudia! I swear to God if you go into labor before me knowing that you have 2 weeks left and I'm overdue I'm going to-" A loud swoosh between my legs shut her up and I looked down and saw that I had soaked the couch and floor in front of me. "Son of a bitch this isn't fair! Not fair at all!" Olivia started bawling at the realization that my water had just broke and Cash sat down next to her to comfort her while he pulled his phone out.

"Is that? Is that? Is that what I think it is? Cru? Did your water just break? Oh my God! We have to get you to the hospital!" I nodded my head at Caleb and he helped me stand up as more fluids dripped out of me. I've never felt grosser in my life! Ugh! When I had Grayson the doctor broke my water and I was in a sterile environment and this was a whole different experience for me.

"Lucas? Yeah we have one in labor here. Is the car ready? No. It's not Olivia, its Claudia. I know. Yes their bags are already down here. Yeah. I'll tell them." He looked over at Caleb and I. "He's pulling the car around and will come get your bags in a minute." I looked at Olivia and she was finally calming down as she smiled at me.

"I'm sorry for being mad. It's still not fair but I'm excited for you. At least one of us is getting to enjoy some air conditioning, even if it's in a hospital." Cash received the death stare this time.

"Olivia? Please come with us. I want you to be there when your niece is born. At least we won't be delivering at the same time. I was hoping you were going to be first so that I could be there and you be there with me. Come with us. Please?" Caleb was at the door with Lucas and he handed him our bags and then walked back over to me to help me up the steps. She hesitated and looked at Cash to see what he wanted to do.

"Honey, if that's what you want to do we might as well ride with them. I'll have Lucas crank up the AC. Is that what you want to do?" She nodded her head and Cash headed towards the closet where Olivia and I kept our bags packed.

"Cash? Why are you getting my bags too?" He chuckled and grinned.

"Because Caleb and I have a wager going on about which one of you has your baby first. My money is still on you Liv. Even if her water just broke you're the fastest person in the world at delivering babies. If I hear one grunt from you I'm finding you a bed. You could still have our baby before she does." He had a point because I already had it in my head that I was in for a long labor after having been in labor with Grayson for a full 24 hours. She could go into labor in the limo and we could have a new arrival before we even get there.

"For the record I could care less about the bet but this is one that Cash really thinks he's going to win." Caleb looked like he was afraid I was going to be mad but I really thought it was funny.

"So what's the bet?" We are all finally heading towards the limo and Caleb helped me get in. I didn't notice all of the towels that he took out of the house to lay in the seat for me but was thankful for not worrying about the seats.

"Whoever delivers their baby first doesn't have to buy diapers for a whole year because the loser has to pay for them." It sounded like a reasonable bet but I started laughing.

"So let me get this straight Cash. You're still buying diapers for the twins’ right? So... if I deliver first it'll be like you're buying diapers for ANOTHER set of twins. That's enough incentive to make me want to start pushing now." Olivia snickered as well as Caleb and Cash just stared me down.

"I'm going to win this bet Claud." He leaned closer to Olivia and whispered something into her ear while putting his hand high up on her thigh. By the flushed look on her face I knew exactly what he had to have said to her.

"Ewwww, you guys are disgusting and wouldn't that in a way be considered cheating?" They both jumped and looked at me and Olivia shyly answered.

"I could care less about their stupid bet but I'm ready for this baby girl to be born no matter what I have to do. I'm miserable Claud. Can't you understand that?" Of course I could understand and was only joking.