Romance: Seducing The Quarterback (38 page)

Rick looked at me with astonishment.  “Did you seriously
just tell me that you’re pregnant?”  He shook his head and then ran his hands
through his hair.  “I must be hearing things.”  He leaned forward and then
stared at me for confirmation.

“You heard right.  I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true.” 
I offered him some of the water and then sat down on the edge of the bed.

“Obviously, it isn’t mine.”  Rick shook his head and then
looked away.  “Just my luck.  The one woman in all of Bozeman who I fall for,
and she tells me after we have sex that she’s pregnant with some other guy’s
baby.”  He covered his face with his hands.

“Not just some guy.”  I corrected him and then took a deep
breath.  “It’s my husband’s baby.”  I held back a tear and then looked at Rick
as he flew off the bed. 

“You’re married?”  His voice rose and then he jumped off the
bed.  “This is unreal.”  He walked across the room and reached for his
clothes.  “It’s about time for me to be going, Alyssa.”  He pulled on his pants
and then reached for his sweater and started to walk out of the room.  I ran
behind him and grabbed him by the arm.

“You’re misunderstanding.  My husband passed away.”  I shook
my head and then started to cry.  Rick stood before me in silence.  “He was
killed in a construction accident a few months ago.  It was totally
unexpected.  I didn’t find out about the baby until about a month ago.”  I bit
my lower lip and then looked away.  Rick lowered his head and then reached for
my hand.

“I’m sorry, Alyssa.  I’m actually sorry about all of this. 
Maybe we moved too fast.  I think that the best thing for me to do right now
would be to walk away.  I hope you understand.”  Rick let go of my hand and
then slowly walked toward the door.  I covered my face and cried. 

“I’m sorry, Rick.  I’m sure you think I was being dishonest,
but I wasn’t.  I knew I wanted to tell you about the baby if we ended up seeing
each other again.”  I let out an exasperated cry, and he just stared at me.

“Alyssa.  Of course I planned on seeing you again, but the
problem isn’t just not knowing about the baby.  It’s about you going to see
Christopher, it’s about you being married so recently.  I just need some time
to process all of this.  I’m sure you can understand.”  He adjusted his
glasses, put on his hat, then headed for the door.  I watched him through the
window as he climbed into his truck and drove away.  Then I threw myself face
down onto the bed and bawled.

The next three weeks were mostly a blur.  I went into
Avalanche to fulfill their scheduling needs, then I went home and tried to
manage my house.  I didn’t see either Rick or Christopher the entire time. 
“You okay Alyssa?”  Tim called to me from across the kitchen one night, then
ambled toward me to check. 

“Yes, I’m all right.  Just a little tired.”  I gave him a
wry smile and then walked out with a tray full of food.  I was more nauseous
than usual, and I could tell that people were beginning to suspect my
pregnancy.  I looked at the clock, relieved that I only had another hour left
before I could go home.  Just as I was about to take a break and get a glass of
water, I saw the door open and Christopher walked inside.

My heart raced and my palms began to sweat.  I couldn’t
believe that he was here, and it was all I could to maintain my composure.  I
wanted to punch him square in the jaw but instead I just walked away.  He saw
me and tried to get my attention but I ignored his waves.  Luckily, my tables
were on the opposite side of the restaurant, so it wasn’t difficult to ignore
him, but I could still feel his stares from across the room.

At the end of my shift, I bundled up and then headed toward the
door.  Christopher saw me walking out, and tried to get my attention once
again.  I stopped on the steps and then turned around to face him.  “What do
you want, Christopher?”  I glared at him and wrapped my scarf tightly around my
neck.

“Listen, Alyssa.  I know you’re mad at me because of what
you saw, but you had no right coming to my house unannounced.”  He cocked his
head to the side and then shrugged.  I put my hands on my hips and stared at
him for a few seconds before walking down the steps. 

“Seriously?  You aren’t even going to apologize?  Three
weeks go by and all you can say is the basically the same as what you said last
time?  That it was essentially my fault that I caught you?  And not your fault
for being a dishonest cheat?”  I couldn’t believe how self-righteous he was
acting.

“Let’s back up here pretty lady.  Who’s the dishonest one? 
Me?  For sleeping with someone who I’ve been dating for the last year?  Or you?
For not telling anyone inside the restaurant that you’re five months pregnant?” 
He gave me an indignant stare then chuckled and walked away.  I stood
motionless for a few seconds, then spun around and headed to my truck.

Who told him that I was pregnant?  It could have only been
Rick.  I was furious.  I got behind the wheel, started the ignition, then drove
away.  I could barely think straight.  I tried to calm myself down, but my
emotions had gotten the best of me and I had no way to vent my frustration.  As
soon as I got home I stormed inside the house and threw off my boots.

“Damn it!  Damn it, Joe!”  I screamed at the top of my lungs
and then flung myself down on the couch.  “Damn it all.”  I covered my face in
my hands and cried.  “Why did you have to go and get hurt, Joe?  Why?”  I sat
there staring at the ceiling, as if I truly expected a response.  When I heard
nothing except silence, I got up and trudged out of the living room.

“Rebecca.  It’ me.  I’m having a crisis.”  I knew that she
didn’t mind speaking to me but I felt bad calling her out of desperation.  “I’m
a wreck.”  I wanted someone to hold me, wanted someone to tell me that it would
all go away and that I’d feel better soon.  But there was nobody there to
restore my confidence.  I cried into the receiver and then reached for a
tissue.

“Do you want to come stay with us for a while?  It’s not
good for you to be this stressed out while you’re pregnant, Alyssa.”  I could
sense Rebecca’s compassion through the phone and I smiled.  Sometimes all it
took was a friendly voice to make everything feel better.

“No.  Thank you for offering, but I’m going to stay here.  I
need to make sure Lizzie is taken care of.  And I need to get to work easily in
the morning.  I appreciate it so much, Rebecca.  You’ve been such a good friend
to me.”  I meant all of what I said. 

“Well, just let me know if I can help, oaky?”  Rebecca hung
up and I sat in silence for a few minutes before deciding that it would be best
for me to get a new job.  I could avoid having to see Christopher again, and I
could avoid seeing Rick, too, if he decided that he didn’t want to see me
anymore.  I knew that the money I made at Avalanche would be hard to make at
other restaurants, but maybe it would be the best to just leave.

I spent the next week poring over the newspapers, looking
for something that would provide me with both the hours and the pay that I
needed to survive.  There was nothing.  I only saw a part-time position at the
Bozeman Grille as a line cook, and it paid less than what I was making at
Avalanche. I shook my head in despair. 

What else could I do now except forge ahead and try to make
the best of it?  I would have to deal with Avalanche, with Christopher and with
Rick, instead of simply running away.  Besides, this had been my making,
anyway.  I had decided to get involved, and I was just as guilty as the others
for creating a dramatic situation.  I decided that I’d just need to change my
attitude and toughen up.

“Hey, Alyssa.  I’ve got a tale on the other side of the
floor that I’d like you to pick up if you’ve got a second.”  Tim tapped me on the
shoulder and I nodded in affirmation.

“No problem, Tim.”  It was about a quarter of the way into
my Friday night shift and I was tired, but still holding up relatively well.  I
walked to the south side of the restaurant, and stood at Table 4.  Rick was in
the seat, staring blankly at the menu. 

“Hi, Alyssa.  I asked the hostess if you could wait on me. 
Hope you don’t mind.”  He smiled shyly and then pushed away the menu. 
“Honestly?”  He looked at me with doleful eyes and then folded his hands across
the table.  “I’ve been thinking about you ever since the day I left.”  He shook
his head and then sighed.  “Can you sit for a second?” 

I looked around and then pulled out a chair.  Tim wouldn’t
be happy if he saw me sitting, but I took my chances considering the
circumstances.  “I’m glad to see you.  It’s been a weird couple of weeks.”  I
took a deep breath and then twirled my hair a few times. 

“I’ve really missed you, Alyssa.  I’m sorry I disappeared.” 
Rick shook his head and then gave me a wry smile.  

“I’ve missed you, too, Rick.”  I looked into his eyes and
then smiled. 

“Why don’t you stop by my place after work?  We can relax,
have some tea, talk about me and you.”  He looked at me with sincerity and it
was hard for me to think about turning him down. 

“I think that sounds good.”  I nodded my head and then
realized that I finally felt more centered, more certain about what I wanted. 
I was beginning to understand that my feelings for Christopher had been an
illusion, and that I had been caught up in his good looks and his charms.  I
should have known that it was foolish for me to try and pursue something with a
man like that.

“Well, I’m going to get going then.”  Rick got up and then
started to get his coat.  I remembered Christopher’s comment about everyone
knowing I was pregnant.

“Hey, Rick.”  I moved closer and then paused.  “Did you tell
Christopher that I was pregnant?”  I titled my head to the side with a look of
curiosity.  Rick lowered his head and sighed.

“I did.”  He looked at me for a second and then rubbed his
hand through his beard.  “I wanted these guys to know the truth.  I didn’t want
them playing any more games with you, Alyssa.  You deserve better than that.” 
He shrugged and then stuffed his hands in his pockets.  Instead of getting mad
at him for admitting what he’d said, I smiled. 

“I guess they would have found out sooner or later.”  I
looked down and rubbed my belly for a moment, then buttoned up my coat and
walked down the steps.  Rick smiled and walked behind me, then turned toward
his truck when we got to the corner.

“Stop by as soon as you can.”  He smiled and then waved
goodbye.  I sat inside my truck for a few minutes before driving away.  It had
been a whirlwind of a winter and I was looking forward to spring.  The baby would
be here by October, and I was eager to get through the winter and spend some of
my heard earned money on baby clothes and a crib. 

I drove out of the lot and then headed up the highway until
I got on the mountain pass that led to Rick’s house.  As I looked out the
window I could see the tiny buds of flower-tops peeking through the ground. 
Spring was just around the corner and it was going to be such a welcome
occasion.  I smiled to myself when I thought about how much my world was going
to change in a short period of time. 

When I pulled up at Rick’s house, I could see smoke curling
from the top of the chimney.  He was out front splitting firewood and one of
his dogs was frolicking in the yard.  I parked next to his truck at the top of
the driveway and then stepped out.  As soon a she saw me he waved and walked
toward me. 

“It’s great to see you here, Alyssa.  Come on in.  I’ve
already got a nice fire going.”  Rick smiled and took me by the hand.  I could
tell that I had made the right choice as soon as I stepped inside.  He had set
out mugs of tea for both of us and spread a blanket in front of the fireplace. 

“This looks cozy.”  I smiled and then sat down on the
blanket. 

“Give me five more minutes while I get the rest of this wood
inside, and I’ll be right there to join you.”  Rick smiled and then disappeared
back outside.  I sat and watched the flames dance on top of the logs.  It had
been years since I’d sat in front of a fire with someone, and it brought me
back to a place of warmth and comfort.

When Rick came back inside, I had kicked off my boots and
was propped up on a pillow.  He took off his boots as well, then sat next to me
and started to rub my shoulders.  I looked at him and smiled.  “You know I have
to admit, when you first warned me about Christopher, I thought you were just
trying to sabotage my relationship with him.  I guess now I feel kind of stupid
because you were telling me the truth.”  I looked at the fire and then at Rick.

“You know, Alyssa, I don’t have time for games.  I’m an
honest guy, and I call it like I see it.”  Rick shrugged and then rubbed my
back with his palm.  “I knew from the moment that I first saw you that I wanted
to be your man.  And when I heard that Christopher was responding to a bet,
well that just got my hackles up.”  Rick shook his head and then moved closer.

“Why don’t we try to forget about some of what’s happened,
and focus instead on the time we have together now?”  I ran my fingers through
Rick’s tousled hair, then leaned back on the blanket.  He smiled and then
nodded his head.  We both moved toward each other, and in front of the
flickering fire, opened our mouths and met for a kiss.

He ran his hands down shoulders and then around my waist
where he slowly unzipped my pants.  I traced my fingers along his stomach,
feeling the firm contours of his muscles underneath his t-shirt.  I could tell
that he performed a lot of physical labor because his body was taut and
defined.  He ran a hand up my back and then unfastened my bra so that he could
feel his way over my breasts. 

“You feel so amazing.”  He squeezed my nipples and then ran
his hands down my belly, stopping when he felt the slight bulge.  “And I wanted
to tell you something else.”  He whispered in my ear and I leaned closer, my
body excited and warm, ready and waiting for his touch.

“What’s that?”  I helped kick my pants down to the floor,
then leaned back so that he could admire my naked body.

“I wanted to tell you that I think about marrying you, and
that I’m going to love this baby just as much as I love you.”  He whispered in
my ear and then yanked off his jeans.  I was completely floored with what he
just told me, but I didn’t want to overreact.  Instead, I spread open my legs
so that he could place himself inside me.  Then I leaned back and held him
around his waist.

“Rick, this is where I want to be.  Right here and right
now- this is it.”  I closed my eyes and all of the drama from the weeks before
melted away.  He leaned down and kissed my nipples, then toyed with them gently
in his mouth.  I caressed his firm body with my hands, then waited for him to
slide his manhood into my aching walls of womanly fire. 

“Let me make love to you like there’s no tomorrow.”  He
whispered in my ear, then thrust himself deep inside me.  I let out a moan that
I was certain the dogs heard outside.  He moved like a perfectly created being
in and out of my body, his eyes fixated on mine as he did.  I didn’t want the
moment to end, and I clung to him with passion and desire.

We rocked back and forth, our bodies melded as one, until
the moonlight disappeared behind the clouds and made way for the sun in the
morning.  “Rick, I feel like your body was meant for mine.”  I whispered in his
ear and he continued to pleasure me with his hardness.  I could feel every inch
of my body quiver with sensuality as he brought me to the brink of ecstasy. 

“I love you, Alyssa.”  Rick looked at me as I arched my back
to meet his body.  He thrust deeper and deeper inside me, until I finally
exploded with a massive wave of orgasmic bliss.  He collapsed on top of me and
I let out a long sigh.

 We lay there in silence, and it felt like I was in the
right place, and that my life could once again be happy.  I thought of Joe, but
it didn’t make me cry.  Then I ran my hand along my belly and smiled, convinced
that Joseph-Michael would indeed have a good life, after all.  I gazed once
more into the fire, then closed my eyes and dreamed of my new life.