Just a Kiss in the Moonlight: Georgia Moon Romance Book 2 (22 page)

T
aylin felt
as if time stood still. Luke wasn’t moving, and she could hardly draw in a breath. Everything had slowed to a crawl except for her thoughts. Her mind raced with questions, mostly the “what if” kind.

“Excuse me?” Luke said, his voice low and even. His words were like pressing play on the remote, setting everything in motion again. He let go of her hand and shot up out of his seat. “Did you just say I’m Crew’s father?”

Vivian, who was proving to be nothing like Luke had described, licked her lips and nodded her head. “I’m sorry, Luke.”

“You’re sorry?” Luke snapped back. “Since when?” He ran a hand through his hair and laughed darkly. “I don’t even know why I’m upset. How do I even know you’re telling the truth?”

“Why would I lie to you?” Vivian’s voice remained calm, but her lips were pressed tightly together. “What do I have to gain?”

Luke made a derisive noise that couldn’t really be counted as laughter. “At least you know yourself well enough to admit you usually do things that only
you
benefit from.”

Taylin tried taking in everything, noting Luke had a valid reason for not believing Vivian. The baby was at least eight months old, so why
would
she choose to tell him now? Did she need child support? Or was it something else, like she finally realized what an incredible man Luke was and she wanted him back?

“He’s yours, Luke. A paternity test will prove it if you don’t believe me.”

“Oh you can bet on that, Vivian, because I don’t believe you.” He stared at his ex-wife hard. “What does Neil have to say about this?”

Vivian licked her lips again and dropped her eyes to look at her baby. “He said you needed to know.”

Luke stared at her for several seconds before he began pacing back and forth in front of the couch, resembling the caged panther at the zoo in Atlanta. Taylin wanted to comfort him, but didn’t know what to say. She still had so many questions that most likely wouldn’t help him. The whole reason he currently lived in Georgia was because Crew wasn’t his son. So if he proved to be the baby’s father, did that mean he would move back to Montana?

All at once, he rounded on Vivian. “So what now?”

Slowly, Vivian raised her face to look him in the eyes. Taylin noticed the woman no longer appeared vulnerable. She only looked determined. “I would think you’d want to get to know your son. I have an open-ended ticket so when I leave will be up to you.”

The muscle in Luke’s jaw tightened. “And then what, Vivian?” He blew out a big breath. “Never mind, don’t answer that.”

The doorbell sounded. Luke glanced at Taylin and she knew he was in no condition to see who was here. “I’ll get it.” She got up and quickly headed for the door. If the candy was already gone, then it was probably trick-or-treaters.

She opened the door and was completely stunned to see her sister and her date standing there. “Surprise!” Ashlee said with a laugh.

“Hey,” Taylin said. “I thought y’all were at the Halloween Ball?”

“We were, but it was too crowded and we thought it’d be more fun hanging out here.” Ashlee wrinkled her nose. “You don’t seem happy to see us. Are y’all in a fight?”

“No.” Taylin swallowed hard. “But Luke has a family emergency, so now isn’t a good time.”

“I hope it’s nothing serious,” Grayson said. “Anything we can do to help?”

“I may need a ride home,” Taylin said, blinking back the sudden tears filling her eyes. Before she could give them an explanation, Luke’s angry voice reverberated the air.

“You can’t move in with me, Vivian!”

“Stop shouting. You’re scaring the baby.”

As if on cue, the child started crying. Taylin clutched at her stomach, feeling sicker than she had on the family cruise last year. The earth swayed beneath her feet, similar to the way the ship had constantly moved. It was a completely selfish thought, but her whole world was crashing down around her.

“Tay?” Ashlee whispered. “What’s goin’ on?”

Where to start? And what could she say?

Pounding footsteps made Taylin jump, and she whirled around to see Luke marching toward her. He stopped dead in his tracks when he spotted Ashlee and Grayson. His nostrils flared, his chest heaving with exertion as if he’d just finished running a mile instead of walking down a hallway.

“Did you tell them?” Luke asked, directing his hard gaze on Taylin.

“No.” He looked so lost and angry, and it broke Taylin’s heart. If she thought her world was ending, how must Luke feel? “What can I do for you?” she said softly as compassion for this man she loved superseded her needs.

The ice in Luke’s gaze melted. “I don’t know.” Now he sounded broken.

Taylin closed the distance between them and slipped her arms around his back to hug him. Luke’s arms came around her, crushing her against him.

“What do I do?” he whispered into her hair. “What if she’s telling the truth?”

Fighting back her tears, Taylin tightened her hold. She had no ready answer. “I wish I knew what to say.”

The cries coming from the family room got louder. Taylin pulled away as Vivian walked toward them, holding her sobbing son. Eyes full of anger, she spoke sharply. “Crew is tired, and I need to put him down. If you don’t want to get to know your son, then I’m finding a hotel and we’ll leave tomorrow.”

It was so wrong for Taylin to hope Vivian would do exactly as she threatened. She wanted everything to go back to the way it was an hour ago. But it was foolish. If Vivian left now, Luke would always wonder if Crew was his.

“What about the paternity test?” Luke asked.

“What about it?” Vivian spat out. “You obviously don’t want him, so don’t bother.”

“Vivian, that isn’t fair. If he’s mine, then of course I want him.”

“I didn’t come here to stay in a hotel while you decide if you want our son.” She popped the pacifier into the little boy’s mouth and he quieted. “We stay here or we go home. It’s up to you.”

That sick feeling was back, making Taylin’s stomach hurt. Surely Luke wouldn’t allow his ex-wife to move in with him.

“All right.”

His affirmation was like a death knell on their potential future. Taylin’s chest tightened with grief, and a lump the size of Montana lodged in her throat.

“But,” Luke said in an even voice. “I’m going to see if my neighbor will let me sleep at her house.”

“Is
she
your neighbor?” Vivian said, pointing a finger at Taylin.

“What? No.” Luke blew out a big breath. “Miss Iris is a widow who has custody of her two grandchildren. Besides that, she’s old enough to be my mother.”

“Fine. I wouldn’t want to tarnish your reputation.”

Taylin was relieved with Luke’s stipulation, but weary of Vivian’s possessive attitude. It was like she wanted baby Crew, Luke and herself to all be one big, happy family.

“Um,” Ashlee said. “Grayson and I are gonna go now.”

Taylin’s eyes snapped to her sister. How could she have forgotten they had an audience? “I’ll walk you to your car.” Taylin didn’t wait for her sister to agree, but motioned for them to go and quickly followed them out.

“Whoa, Tay, that was intense,” Ashlee murmured as they crossed the yard to Grayson’s car.

“I know. I’ll explain everything later.” Unfortunately, her explanation would be limited, since she had no idea what would happen with Luke.

“Okay, but if you need a ride home, then just text and we’ll come right back here to get you.”

“Y’all are the best,” Taylin said, giving her sister a hug. “Don’t say anything to Mama and Daddy yet, okay?”

“I won’t.” Ashlee stepped away. “Um, Luke’s coming over here so we’ll be on our way.”

Grayson gave Taylin a sympathetic smile before helping Ashlee into his car. “Good luck,” he said as he rounded the front of the car and slid in behind the wheel.

Luke reached Taylin’s side as Grayson started the car and pulled away. “I’m sorry, Taylin.”

“You don’t have to apologize, Luke.” She took his hand. “We’ll get through this together.” Her voice didn’t sound convincing.

“I hope so.” Apparently Luke wasn’t buying it either. “I need to get the portable crib out of Vivian’s rental.”

Why did that feel so ominous to Taylin? Luke wouldn’t be sleeping here, and his paternity was still in question. But how would she and Luke continue to see each other until then? Did they put their relationship on hold until the results were back?

Taylin didn’t ask Luke any of this, because she could see the whole thing overwhelmed him. It was awkward to say the least, but she helped bring in Vivian’s luggage. Luke put her in the guest room next to his, and Taylin had to keep reminding herself that he wasn’t sleeping here.

She and Luke tried setting up the crib, but the side rails wouldn’t stay put. As soon as Vivian walked over next to him, Taylin knew what was coming next.

“I can do it,” Vivian said. “But you’ll need to hold Crew.” Her words held a tiny note of challenge as she addressed Luke.

The muscle in his jaw jumped before he held out his arms. Taylin’s heart cracked as she watched Luke hold—for all intents and purposes—his son for the first time. It was silly and petty, but if she and Luke married and had children of their own, Crew would be the older brother. The firstborn. Luke’s child, but not hers.

Crew sucked on his pacifier and stared at Luke. Taylin tried to discern any like features between the two of them, but without seeing any of Luke’s baby pictures, she had no idea if they resembled one another in any way.

Taylin wrapped her arms around her middle, as if to hold herself together. The scene before her was so bitter sweet as she watched the corner of Luke’s mouth lift into a soft smile when Crew reached out with his hand to touch Luke’s face.

“It’s kind of prickly, isn’t it?” Luke said as Crew rubbed his hand against the shadow of whiskers covering his jaw.

From the corner of her eye, Taylin saw Vivian watching the scene as well. It made her feel like an outsider, and she wanted to leave before she started to cry. “Y’all have everything under control, so I’ll just go now.”

Two lines creased Luke’s forehead. “How are you getting home?”

Taylin’s heart split in half. He wasn’t begging her to stay. “Ashlee is comin’ to get me.” She pulled out her phone, wishing she’d already texted her sister. “I’ll wait for her outside.”

Taylin’s gaze shifted to Vivian. The smile on the woman’s face felt like she’d been punched in the gut. In that moment, it was so obvious to Taylin that Luke’s ex wanted him back. Unable to stand it another second, she spun around and practically ran out of the room. Her vision blurred as she raced for the front door.

“Taylin,” Luke said from behind her. “Wait up.”

She ignored him and quickly exited the house, pulling the door closed. “Hey, Siri, text Ashlee to come and get—”

The phone was snatched out of her hand before she could finish the command. “I’ll take you home,” Luke said, pushing the home button on her phone to end the communication with the device.

“You don’t have to.” She hated how wobbly her voice sounded. And she hated that she was crying.

“I’m so sorry,” Luke said. “Please don’t cry.” He circled his solid arms around her, pulling her close to him.

Taylin gripped the front of his shirt as a sob broke through. She loved having him hold her and wondered if this might be the last time it happened.

“Shh,” he said softly. “It’s going to be okay.” He rubbed his hand up and down the back of her silky shirt.

His words were as empty as her heart felt. If he was Crew’s father, it was not going to be okay.

“I want to go home.” She needed her sister. She needed advice from her parents. And she needed to get away from here. Flattening her palms, she gently pushed against his chest until he released his hold.

“All right,” Luke said with resignation. “Let me go get my keys.”

He turned and left her standing all alone, walking back inside his house. She would’ve been tempted to text Ashlee, but Luke still had her phone. Although it was completely dark outside, there were still trick-or-treaters. Taylin saw a group of older kids across the street from Luke’s house. She hoped there was still candy left in the bowl. If not, she wasn’t going back inside to get them more.

The garage door lifted, and she rushed inside to avoid seeing anyone. “You forgot this,” Luke said, holding out her purse.

“Thank you.”

He held her gaze for a heartbeat before opening the passenger door. Taylin slid in and clicked on her seatbelt as Luke rounded the front of the car.

Opening her purse, she found her phone and quickly pressed the home button to see if she had any missed calls or messages. It was blank.

Luke climbed in behind the wheel. Without saying a word, he started the engine and then slowly backed out of the garage. He had to veer around the obstacle of Vivian’s rental car. If only he could do the same thing with the problem the driver of the rental car had brought with her.

They drove in silence until they exited his neighborhood. “We have to talk about this, Taylin.”

“I know.” But really, what could they say? Until he knew for certain he was Crew’s father, there wasn’t much they could plan for.

“I don’t want her here, but I can’t send her away without ever knowing if she’s telling the truth.”

“I know,” Taylin repeated.

“So, first thing in the morning, I’ll get the lab work started. I think I can get it expedited, so we’ll know within a week instead of two to three.”

Each word felt like a knife twisting in her stomach. A week seemed like an eternity. And in that week when Luke wasn’t working or sleeping at Iris’s, he would be with Vivian and Crew.

“Say something,” Luke said after a few seconds.

Her temper flared at the impatient tone of his voice, making her want to lash out. But fighting with each other wouldn’t solve anything. “I’m not sure what to say, Luke.”

“I know, but I feel like you’re shutting me out.”

Anger bubbled up, and she pressed her lips together so something she’d regret later didn’t spew out of her mouth. She probably was shutting him out, but it wasn’t to hurt him. It was more like self-preservation.