Undeniable (A Country Roads Novel) (18 page)

“That won’t be a problem, Roy,” Jax said.

“Thanks, man. I owe you one.”

When he walked back into the kitchen, Grace had finished cleaning and was wrapping something up in aluminum foil. There was an identical package sitting on the counter.

“What’s that?” he asked, coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist as he looked over her shoulder.

“Your lunch for tomorrow.”

“Why do you always worry about me eating?”

“Because a protein bar and a banana is not a lunch. And you’re going to be working on your house all day. You need sustenance.”

“Hmm,” he hummed into her throat. “I might just have to keep you around.”

“For food purposes? I provided that before.”

“That’s true,” he said, kissing the spot just under her ear.

Grace pulled out of his arms and went to put the last of the food and his lunch in the fridge. He leaned back against the counter and watched her.

“You know you’ve never answered my question,” he said.

“Which question?” she asked, turning around. Her hair was up and in a ponytail, but a couple stragglers had fallen out and framed her face.

“Why you feed me all the time,” he said, crossing to her.

Something flickered in Grace’s eyes. “I’m a cook, Jax. I like to feed people.”

“I believe that,” he said, taking a step forward and caging her in against the counter. He reached up and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “But you have this
need
to feed me.”

She hesitated for a second before she cleared her throat. She reached up and put her palms down on his chest. “Growing up, I saw you hungry a lot. My mom and Grams started this mission to feed you whenever you were in their sight. You were always so much smaller than Brendan and Shep. I thought that the bigger you were, the
stronger
you would be, and the less likely it was that your dad could hurt you. You’ve always been so hell-bent on protecting me, it was the only way I knew I could protect you. The only way I still know how to protect you.”

There were no words that were good enough at that moment. There was nothing Jax could say to express just how much Grace meant to him. This beautiful, caring, compassionate woman standing in front of him knocked him on his ass.

He looked at her, stunned, for a moment, before he leaned down and pressed his mouth to hers. He was desperate to show her just how much she meant to him. The problem was he had no idea how to do that. He didn’t deserve her, didn’t deserve anything like her in his life. But he kept that thought to himself and just kissed her.

Since Jax had switched shifts for the week, he was working from seven at night until seven in the morning. Which meant that out of the last six nights, Grace had not slept by her man for four of them. She was not a fan of it. Not. At. All.

To make matters worse, Grace’s period had fallen on Jax’s days off, so they were now going on day six of no sex. She was about to climb the damn walls.

But Grace’s need for Jax went
way
beyond sex. They’d been together for almost a month and a half, and her need for him had grown leaps and bounds in that time. She’d grown
very
accustomed to going to bed and waking up in his arms, and not having him next to her at night left her aching throughout the day.

Grace would’ve taken some days off to spend with Jax, but it was the end of May and the summer season had started. This meant that the café’s business had almost doubled and Grace was pulling longer shifts herself. The café would stay that busy until the middle of September before it died down to a normal pace again.

Grace finished up at seven on Tuesday, the last night of Jax’s late shifts, and went over to Brendan and Paige’s house to have dinner.

“What’s wrong with you?” Brendan asked when he opened the door.

“Got to love
that
greeting.” Grace frowned and walked into the house.

Brendan and Paige’s dog came skidding into the hallway and stopped right before she plowed into Grace. Sydney was half husky, half something else, and she was gorgeous with bright blue eyes, and black and gray hair.

“Hey, pretty girl,” Grace said, dropping her purse on the floor and getting down on her knees to give the dog a proper chest scratching.

Sydney’s eyes dropped shut and her back leg started to thump on the wood floor. Grace looked up at her brother, who was currently standing in front of her, a towel draped over his shoulder and a frown on his face.

“Did you and Jax have a fight or something? You have an agitated look on your face.”

The look she had on her face was an
unsatisfied
one.

“No. We didn’t have a fight. We’re doing well, thank you very much for asking.”

“Then what the hell is wrong with you?”

“You really don’t want me to answer that question.”

“Why not?” he asked, folding his arms across his chest in his customary
I’m scary as hell
big-brother way.

“Probably because it has to do with sex,” Paige called out from the living room.

“Oh, God,” Brendan said as his arms dropped to his sides and he looked horrified. “You’re right, I don’t want to know. Go talk to Paige.” He turned around and headed toward the kitchen.

Grace continued to show Sydney some loving for a moment. Grace had wanted to get a dog over the last couple of years. The problem was she had no yard, and she really wanted a dog like Sydney. A lab, or a retriever, or something that was bigger than a cat. Jax could get a dog. Well, when his new place was finished he could. A dog would have a field day in that yard of his. So would kids.

Grace froze. She had the image of Jax chasing a giggling little girl with strawberry blond hair around the yard.

She was brought back to reality with a furry swat to the face. She looked at the dog in front of her, who looked very put out that she wasn’t being scratched anymore.

Grace gave her one more good rub before she got up off the floor, grabbed her purse, and walked into the living room, still a little dazed from her recent vision.

“Do you enjoy getting him all flustered?” Grace asked as she walked into the room.

Paige was sitting on the couch, her back leaning against the armrest and her legs stretched out across the cushions. “Immensely.” She grinned.

“I’m glad it entertains you so much,” Grace said, taking a seat at the opposite end of the couch. She, too, leaned back against the armrest, but she curled her legs up underneath her.

“Me, too,” Paige said as she adjusted herself on the couch. She inhaled sharply and closed her eyes in pain.

“Are you okay?” Grace asked, leaning forward.

“Yeah.” Paige nodded. “It’s nothing. So, what’s going on?” Paige asked, fidgeting with her T-shirt and stretching it over her belly.

“I think the correct question would be what’s not going on?”

“Don’t tell me you’ve already hit a slump.”

“I can still
hear
you,” Brendan called out from the kitchen.

“Then put some music on or something,” Paige called back.

“No slump,” Grace said, shaking her head as country music began to play in the kitchen. “It’s just this week and these stupid late hours he’s been working.”

“But tonight’s his last night. And it’s only been a couple of nights, right?”

“Six nights. I was on my period during his days off,” Grace said, shaking her head.

“Isn’t Mother Nature a bitch sometimes?” Paige asked.

“Not always,” Grace said, nodding to Paige’s big belly.

“Oh, this isn’t always a picnic.”

“Yeah, but you get a pretty big prize at the end.”

“That’s true,” Paige said, putting both hands on her belly. She glanced down and gave her belly a warm smile. “I just can’t wait until he’s here.”

“Me, either,” Grace said.

“So,” Paige said, looking up again, “you’re going crazy I take it?”

“Paige, I’ve had more sex since we’ve been together than ever before in my life.”

“Okay,” Brendan said from the doorway, “I’m just going to start announcing myself before I walk into rooms. This is getting absolutely ridiculous.”

“What’s up, sugar?” Paige said sweetly.

“Dinner’s ready,” he said, turning back around and disappearing.

“So as it turns out, I like messing with him, too. I saw him in the doorway.” Grace grinned, getting up from the sofa and holding her hand out for Paige to grab.

“It’s fun, isn’t it?” Paige asked as she grabbed Grace’s hand and leveraged herself up with the other hand on the armrest. But as soon as she stood all the way up she stilled.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Grace asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Paige said as she took a deep breath and waddled into the kitchen. She went to the dining room table and Brendan was beside her in a second, pulling out her chair and helping her sit. He leaned down and whispered something in her ear and she turned to him. He kissed her softly on the mouth before he pulled back. It still marveled Grace how much her brother had changed since Paige. It was crazy what love did to a person.

They all sat down at the table and had Chicken Marsala for dinner.

“You know, Brendan, you can give me and Grams a run for our money sometimes,” Grace said before she savored her last bite.

“Yeah, he’s pretty good around the kitchen,” Paige said, leaning back in her chair. “That was delicious. Now, Grace, would you mind cleaning up for us?”

“What?” Brendan asked, looking at Paige confused.

“You need to drive me to the hospital,” Paige said calmly. “I’m in labor.”

W
hat?” Brendan repeated, his confusion quickly turning to panic.

“I’m in labor,” Paige said as if they were talking about the weather. “I have been all day, but the contractions are finally getting close enough that we can go.”

“All day?” Grace asked.

“And you didn’t tell me?” Brendan asked, standing up so suddenly that his chair fell back onto the floor.

“They weren’t close enough to cause concern until about thirty minutes ago.”

“And why didn’t you tell me then?” he asked, his voice getting louder.

“Because I was hungry and I wanted to eat dinner,” Paige answered, still sounding perfectly calm. “Now would you like to continue to discuss this? Or take me to the hospital?”

Brendan just looked at Paige like she was the craziest person he’d ever met.

 “We need the bags,” Paige said, turning to Grace. “They’re in the bedroom. Could you grab them since your brother seems to be having a stroke?”

Grace got up from the table and walked into the bedroom, both amused and in shock. Paige never failed to surprise her. By the time Grace was walking out of the bedroom, Brendan was leading Paige down the hall. He had a look of sheer frustration on his face, but he’d apparently decided to keep his opinions to himself. Sydney was walking next to them, whining softly as she looked up at Paige.

As Paige was slipping her shoes on, she inhaled sharply and bent over, obviously in pain. Brendan’s look of frustration disappeared and was replaced with concern.

“Paige?” he said, placing one hand on her back.

She took a moment to breathe past the contraction and then straightened. “It’s okay,” she said, looking at Brendan. “Everything is okay.” She reassured him as she reached up and touched his face. “Our son is coming.”

“Our son is coming,” he repeated, his mouth turning up into a smile. “Grace, you got everything here?” he asked, opening the front door and leading Paige out.

“Yes.”

“Can you and Jax watch Sydney?” he asked as they descended the stairs.

“Yeah, I’ll drop her off at his house before I head over to the hospital, and I’ll call everyone to tell them that Paige is in labor.”

Grace helped Brendan get Paige loaded in his truck.

“Thank you. You’re amazing,” he said, giving Grace a peck on the cheek before he hopped up into the driver’s seat of his truck.

“Love you both,” Grace said before he shut the door and started backing up. Grace and Sydney watched until the truck disappeared from the driveway. “All right, girl, it’s just you and me.” Grace looked down at the dog sitting by her feet.

Sydney whined and looked back and forth at Grace and the empty drive.

“She’s going to be fine,” Grace said, reaching down and patting the dog’s head. “And in a couple of days you’re going to have a new human to protect. Come on.” Grace turned around to head up the stairs. Sydney followed and when Grace shut the door, Sydney sat down and stared at it.

Oh great, so now she was going to have to deal with a heartsick dog.

Grace left Sydney at the door and went to grab her purse. She called Denise, Oliver, and Lula Mae before she called Jax. He answered on the second ring.

“Hey, everything okay?” he asked, sounding concerned.

“How do you always know when something’s up?”

“I’m just that good. What’s going on?”

“Paige went into labor.”

A beat of silence. “Is she okay?”

“Yeah,” Grace said. “She’s apparently been in labor all day and she decided to tell Brendan after dinner. You should have seen his face.”

“Oh, I’m sure it was something to behold,” he said, clearly amused. “So what’s the plan?”

“Well, once I get off the phone with you I still have to call Shep, Bennett, and Abby. Then I’m going to drop Sydney off at your place, because we’re playing babysitter, and then I’m off to the hospital. You still getting off at seven?”

“Yeah, unless I can get off earlier. Keep me posted. If she still hasn’t had the baby by the time I get off, I’ll stop by and let Sydney out before I go to the hospital.”

“Sounds good. Be safe.”

“Always,”
he said before he hung up.

Grace showed up at the hospital just after ten. Lula Mae was walking around the small waiting area, while Oliver sat in a chair sipping a cup of coffee.

“What’s going on?” Grace asked as she sat down next to her grandfather and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“They’re getting settled in their room,” Oliver said, pointing to a closed door within view of the waiting room.

“How’s she doing?”

“Denise was walking her around while Brendan checked them in,” Lula Mae said, continuing her rounds.

“Grams, if you do that until the baby’s born you’re going to wear a path in the floor.”

“I’m just so excited I can’t sit still.”

“Was she this bad when Brendan and I were born?” Grace whispered to her grandfather.

“No,” Oliver said, giving his wife a loving smile. “She stayed very calm with your mother. Well, on the surface at least.”

“So now she can let out all her crazy?”

“Yup.” He grinned.

“What are you two whispering about?” Lula Mae asked, narrowing her eyes at the pair of them as she made another lap.

They were spared having to answer by Shep coming into the room.

“Paige have the baby yet?” he asked, catching Lula Mae before she started around again and giving her a big hug and a kiss on the check.

“Not yet.” Grace shook her head. “I have a feeling we’re in for a long night.”

“I figured,” he said, walking over to where Grace and Oliver were sitting. He shook Oliver’s hand before he sat down next to Grace and stretched out his long, jean-clad legs. “When’s your boy toy getting here?”

“Really?” Grace asked, looking at him.
“Boy toy?”

“Yup,” he said, and waggled his eyebrows. “I feel like that’s a pretty good description of Jax.”

Oliver snorted. “That sounds like more of a good description for
you
,” he said, looking over at Shep.

“Hey, I’ve calmed down in my old age,” Shep said.

The old age was debatable, but the calming down was definitely true. Grace hadn’t seen Shep with his normal plethora of women for a while now. It had been over two years since he’d dated anyone, longer than that since he’d had a girlfriend of any kind.

“What
is
going on with you?” Grace asked, studying him. “You’ve been flying solo lately. What happened? All your charm dried up?”

“My charm is part of my DNA, Gracie.”

“So it’s not going anywhere?”

“And don’t you forget it.” He grinned.

“When
is
Jax getting here?” Lula Mae asked, finally giving up on her pacing and sitting down.

“His shift ends at seven. He’s going to try to get here earlier if he can. Did you talk to Bennett?” Grace asked Shep.

“Yeah, he should be here soon.”

“Who’s working the bar tonight?” Oliver asked.

“My dad. But Austin Gammons is working there now, so he’s going to close up.”

“When did he start working there?” Oliver asked.

“About a month ago. He’s working out well. It’s also giving my dad a little bit of a break. He and my mom don’t like to leave Grandma El alone a lot. She gets really lonely.”

“How is Ella doing?” Lula Mae asked.

“She’s okay,” Shep said, rubbing a spot on his jeans. “Last month was really hard on her.”

“I’m sure,” Oliver said, nodding his head sadly.

Last month marked two years since Shep’s grandfather died. Owen and Ella Shepherd had been married for almost sixty-five years. They’d built a life together, literally. Owen built the Sleepy Sheep and the house Shep currently lived in with his own two hands. Everyone in Atticus County knew who Owen and Ella were. They were institutions, and beloved ones at that. They were part of the legacy of the Sleepy Sheep.

Shep and his grandfather had been incredibly close. Shep pretty much worshiped the man. Owen’s death had been really hard on Shep. The only person it hit harder was his grandmother. In fact, it was just before Owen passed when Shep eased up with the ladies.

Grace looked up at Shep, studying the side of his face like she was going to figure the man out by some insight hidden under the scruff on his jaw. Grace loved Shep like a brother. Always had. But he’d been a little too carefree. Grace had asked Brendan about it. He said it all stemmed back to Hannah Sterling, the one and only girl who had gotten in Shep’s heart, and ultimately broke it.

Grace knew what it was like to only want one person. To have her heart belong to someone so completely that there was no chance it could ever be anyone else’s. Grace knew that she would never be able to move on from Jax, never look at another man the way she looked at him, never love someone more than him. If that was how Shep felt about Hannah, Grace’s heart hurt for him. Not that she’d ever tell him. He was too badass, alpha man for any of that nonsense.

Deep blue eyes were suddenly focused on her. “What?” he asked.

“Nothing,” she said, putting her arm through his and resting her head on his shoulder. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” he said, kissing her head. “No matter how long it takes.”

“We taking bets on time?” Bennett asked coming into the room and sitting directly across from Grace.

“Hour increments?” Shep asked.

“That works.” Bennett nodded. “Ten dollars each?”

“I can’t believe you’re betting on my great-grandbaby like he’s a horse at the race.” Lula Mae frowned.

“I’m calling the six o’clock hour,” Oliver said.

“Oliver!” Lula Mae said, slapping his arm.

“What.” He shrugged. “We’re going to be here for a while. Might as well make it interesting.”

“Three o’clock,” Shep said.

“I’ve got seven,” Grace said, picking it because it was Jax’s favorite number.

“Grace Elizabeth!” Lula Mae said, glaring at Grace and shaking her head.

“I’m taking eight,” Bennett said.

“Then I’ve got four.”

Everyone looked at Brendan who was standing in the entryway of Paige’s room.

“And I’ve got two,” Paige called out from their room. “And I swear, Bennett, if I’m in labor until eight in the morning, I’m blaming
you.
”

“Well, in that case I’ll say that Trevor is going to be born by one,” Denise said, coming out into the hallway.

“Really?” Brendan asked. “You think it will be that quick?”

“No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “Put me down for nine.” She mouthed the words, holding up nine fingers.

Grace looked at Lula Mae. Her grandmother’s eyes were narrowed like she was having an intense internal battle.

“Fine,” she said, standing up and smoothing out the front of her pants. “I’m calling the five o’clock hour,” she said not meeting anyone’s eye.

“What happens if it goes past the last hour?” Shep asked.

“You hush your mouth, Nathanial Shepherd. Do not even put those thoughts out there into the universe,” Paige said, appearing on the other side of Brendan wearing a bathrobe over a hospital gown. Her hair was thrown up in her customary Paige-crazy-up-do-bun-thing that only she could pull off and not look like a bag woman.

“Wow, Paige.” Grace grinned. “That was some Southern sass coming out of your mouth.”

“She’s always had the sass, but the Southern sure is a development,” Denise said.

“Why aren’t you in bed?” Brendan asked, concern evident in every feature of his face.

“Because I don’t want to be. They said I could walk around for a little bit longer, so calm yourself,” she said, patting his arm.

 “Brendan? Calm? Oh, Paige, that’s never going to happen,” Grace said, shaking her head.

“I know. My dear hot-headed man.” She sighed and looked up at her husband. “How about we go on a walk around the hospital so we can calm your nerves. You’re going to have a very hard night watching me push a tiny human out of my body.” She smiled sweetly.

Brendan’s lips quirked up and he shook his head. “Come on, woman. Let’s go.” He looped his arm around her back and led her down the hall.

They made a couple of rounds before Paige’s contractions got to be too much for her to stay upright and then they were back in the room. Over the next couple of hours Brendan and Denise were in and out getting Paige ice chips and keeping everyone updated. By two in the morning, Paige had a couple more centimeters to go before she was dilated enough to even start pushing.

Grace didn’t even remember closing her eyes, but when she woke up she was using Jax’s shoulder as a pillow.

“Hey,” she mumbled, grabbing his hand as she pressed her face into his arm and inhaled.

“Hey,” he said, kissing her head.

 “What time is it?” she asked, tilting her head back to look up at him.

“Almost four. I got someone to cover for me.” He leaned down, kissing her mouth. He hadn’t shaved and his scruff brushed her face.

“I’m guessing there’s still no baby?” she asked, reaching up and running her thumb across his jaw.

“Still no baby,” he said, shaking his head.

“So no more late nights?” she asked hopefully.

“No more late nights.” He grinned.

“You’re all mine again?”

“I’m always all yours,” he said before he leaned down and pressed his mouth to hers.

Brendan won the bet. Trevor Oliver King was born at four fifty-eight in the morning. He weighed eight pounds two ounces, had a full head of dark brown hair the exact color as Paige’s, and Brendan’s nose. He was currently bundled in a light green blanket that was covered with monkeys, his teeny tiny little body cradled in Brendan’s massive arms.

Everyone who had been in the waiting room was now standing in a circle, staring at the father and son duo.

“He’s
perfect
,” Brendan whispered in an awed voice as he looked down at his son. “He’s
absolutely
perfect.” He reached up and wiped at his eyes.

As Grace watched her big brother hold his son, she was completely baffled that any man, or woman for that matter, could walk out on their child. Could leave behind something that was so tiny, so defenseless, so in need to be
loved
.