Unexpected Romance (19 page)

And
hopefully a dad. Tony turned to the car seats. "Okay, car seat.
Is it better to get the one with the handle or the one that you leave
in the car."

"For
the first few months, you need the handle one. Bringing baby in and
out of the car, so much easier. I wish I could lend you Paige's
stuff, but it's very pink and I know you were going more neutral."

"I
can be hopeful the stuff we buy will get more than one use from me.
Us." Tony ran her hand over the green printed fabric of a car
seat.

"I
think you guys will. I have hope in the way he looks at you."

Tonya
thought of Chris' eyes staring into hers, the feel of his body
against hers.

Yes,
she could dare to hope she could have a family, she could rely on
Chris without fear.

Chris
hung up the phone and grinned.

"What
the hell are you smiling about?" his almost brother-in-law
demanded.

"I
don't think I want to tell you this before I tell your sister. It's
not fair you know everything about her life before she does."

"Maybe
it's better, this way I can warn her before she makes a mistake. Or
you do."

Chris
shook his head. "You don’t need to interfere. I promise
it's not a mistake. But I do want to tell Tonya first."

"Tonya?"

"I
prefer it to Tony."

"And
she lets you?"

Chris's
shoulders shook. "Encourages it."

"She's
really in love with you."

"I
hope so."

"Fine,
keep your secrets."

"You'll
know when we get back." His phone rang. He looked at the screen.
Oh hell. "My mother. Excuse me, man."

Corey
lifted his hand. "Sure."

Chris
hit the answer button. "Hi, Ma."

"Chris,
where are you?"

"Waiting
at the airport to go home." One hell of a road trip, but he
always tried to focus on the overall season, instead of game to game.

"Camille
and I found a date that works to come visit."

"Are
you driving or flying?"

"Flying.
Camille is only staying three or four days, with work and the kids.
I'm going to stay a week."

"Okay,
good. What date?"

"Two
weeks. We get in that Thursday. Camille will fly back on Monday, I'll
stay til Thursday."

"Okay,
text me the exact days and I can book the hotel. I'll send the money
for the tickets too." He wanted to get ahead of that before she
started whining about the cost, even if she could afford it.

"Camille
said she'll pay for the tickets."

That
explained it. "I'll talk to her. Text me the days. You have my
schedule right?" Please let her have planned for days he'd be in
town and not a plan to ambush Tony.

"Yeah.
I think we will be in town a few hours before you. We'll head for the
hotel and wait for you to call."

"Okay.
See if there is a later flight." He wouldn't have his surprise
finished before his mother visited as he'd hoped.

"We
can always go shopping first. Maybe we can take your girl out for
lunch."

"I'll
mention it to her. She does have school." It was nearing the end
of the term, which would give him some breathing room. He worried
about her constantly since the contraction scare.

"Right.
Ma, you won't say anything about her being after my money or anything
like that?"

"No,
no, of course not. You're a grown man."

"Okay.
I think we are going to board soon, but I'm glad you are coming out."

"Have
a safe flight home. I will send you the dates."

He
hung up and dialed Camille. She answered. "Calling me at work?"

"I
wanted to just leave a message."

"Well,
spit it out. I'm on break."

"Good
timing. So you're coming with mom?"

"Yes.
I won't leave you alone with her."

"Okay,
she's on this thing that Tonya is after my money."

"I
told her not to say anything to you."

"She
swears she's over it, but honestly…"

"It's
mom. I know."

"You'll
keep her from saying it to Tonya?"

"I'll
try. If she runs at the mouth, I'll let Tonya know that we,
especially you, don't believe that."

"Okay,
thanks. I hope this goes okay." He felt as if he were balanced
on the edge with Tonya. Until he found a way to prove to her that he
would stay with her, he was afraid that she might run. Not that he'd
let her stay away.

"I'll
talk to you later," he said. "Thank you."

"Your
welcome."

He
hung up the phone, realizing that he hadn't talked about paying for
the tickets. Another day. He wanted to get home to Tonya, more than
anything else.

Tony
paced by the front door. Chris was on his way home from the airport,
and he said he had something to show her. Right now.

Not
knowing what was making her crazy. He hadn't even seen what she and
Nicole had bought for the baby.

When
he pulled up, she was holding her stomach. "Are you having more
contractions? I should have told you to wait upstairs where you could
sit."

"I'm
fine. She's kicking a lot."

He
pushed her hands aside and pressed his there. He smiled into her eyes
as the baby thumped at his hands.

"Oh
my god, Tonya. That's amazing. She’s athletic." He brought
his hands to her face and pulled her in for a kiss.

Her
eyes searched his with a smile. Her heart did a slow flip. "I
told you that. I'm glad you are home. Where are we going?"

"You'll
see." He took her hand and led her to his car. He opened the
door and helped her in. "I'm so glad I'm home."

He
closed the door and ran around the car. Ten minutes later, she found
herself in a residential neighborhood, not far from Corey's she
thought. He parked in front of a house with a for sale sign on it.

"I
thought they would have the pending sign up by now," he
muttered.

She
looked out the window. "What's this?"

"First,
tell me what you think."

"I
think it's a house."

"Yeah,
but… okay, fine let's go see it. The agent is waiting."
He jumped out of the car and Tony looked out the window. Chris was
talking to a pretty woman on the front step. Tonya didn’t
recognize her at all.

He
helped her out and led her to the house. "Tonya, this is my real
estate agent, Micah. This is Tony."

"Nice
to meet you, I've heard a lot about you," Micah said, holding
her hand out.

Tony
shook her hand. "I've heard nothing about you." She turned
and looked at Chris.

"I
wanted it to be a surprise, but I couldn't wait to show you."

"It's
a surprise."

"A
good one?"

"A
good one," she said, squeezing his hand.

Micah
opened the front door. "Let's go look around.

It
was a high-end house. Three bedrooms. "I thought we'd like a
guest room for now. I didn't want to go too big and overwhelm you,"
Chris said.

Tony's
heart flipped as she followed him into the master ensuite. He was
thinking about the future, about another child together.

"It's
perfect. The exact house I would have chosen," she said. They
were alone, Micah stayed downstairs in case they had questions.

He
kissed her, his tongue darting between her lips. She sighed when he
pulled away; he'd been away too long.

"I'm
glad you like it. I've all but bought it. We can move in right after
Christmas. I know it's not the ideal month to move."

The
baby kicked and they laughed.

"I
think she approves," Tony said.

"She?"

Tony
shrugged. "A feeling I have. When we were shopping for clothes,
I couldn't resist buying some dresses."

"You
got everything we need?"

"Everything
Nicole said we'd need. I relied on her. I hope you don't think we
spent too much. I was really nervous using your card."

"I
gave it to you. I like taking care of you. It makes me feel manly."

She
laughed. "Okay. I am making my peace with it." She brushed
her lips against his.

"We
should go back down before Micah wonders what we are doing."

"We're
looking at our new house. Is it really ours?"

"It
will be very soon. Before the baby. And it will be half yours. My
lawyer is writing it on papers that will make it so."

"You
don't have to."

"I
want to, Tony. I want you to feel secure with me. I love you."

"Okay,
thank you," she whispered, clutching his shirt. Then feeling
silly, she pulled away and touched the vanity. "This is an
amazing bathroom. Not bad for a girl from the wrong side of the
tracks."

"In
the summer, we’ll go to Ontario. I can’t wait see where
you grew up."

"You
do?"

"Yes.
Of course. And meet your mother."

"Oh
well, she's coming for Christmas."

"Speaking
of mothers. Mine is coming in a two weeks. With Camille." He
gave her a brave smile.

Tony's
heart sped up. "Oh, no. Really? I'm not ready."

He
came behind her and wrapped his arms around her. They looked at each
other in the mirror. "They will love you as much as I do. Well,
maybe not as much. I get special benefits."

"You
do. I hope they like me. They don't think I'm some slut who got
knocked up to trap you?" She pushed it past the lump in her
throat to speak her fears.

"No
one thinks that. That's all in your mind. And even if you did, you've
only improved my life, sweetheart."

"Good.
Me, too, but with you. Okay, so you're buying a house."

"We
are buying a house. There's no more me or you. We are 'us', now. I
planned to wait, but Corey said I'd know when. Come with me, I don't
want to do this in the bathroom."

She
let herself be led into the bedroom, their bedroom. When she turned,
he was bent on one knee, holding something out.

She
gasped and her hand flew to her mouth. No, no, no.

"Tonya
Foster, I know we haven't known each other that long, but I've never
felt like this about anyone. Ever. Will you marry me?"

She
wiped at her eyes, trying to see him through her tears. "Yes, oh
my god, Chris, yes. Hug me before I collapse."

He
got to his feet and pulled her against him. The sudden shift caused
baby to thump at him again. He put a hand on her belly. "Hello,
little one. Yes, this is all happening because of you." He put
his forehead against Tonya's. "I think even without him, this
would have happened eventually."

"I
think so, too."

"You
haven't looked at the ring yet."

"I
don't care about the ring. I'm sure it's beautiful."

"It's
not a diamond. I remembered you saying that you didn’t want a
diamond." He looked sheepish as he pulled back.

"All
right, let me see it." She took the box from his hand. It was a
beautiful purple stone, hugged by gold claws. "It's lovely."

"I
am praying it's the right size." He pulled it from the box and
slipped it on her finger.

"It
fits. It's a bit loose."

"The
guy at the jewelry store said they can fix that easily."

"Is
everything all right in here?" Micah asked from the doorway.

"Yeah,
we just got engaged." Tony wiggled her fingers.

"Congratulations.
I guess that means you like the house."

"I
do. It's perfect. We should go, so you can enjoy your evening. You
probably have things to do." Tony looked at Chris. "I have
supper at home in the fridge for you."

"I
was going to offer to take you out, but let's go home."

"You
are home," Micah quipped. "Okay, not for a while."

"Thanks
Micah," Chris said. "You've been very helpful for this
whole process."

Tony
slipped her fingers into his and walked with him to the car. "Thank
you for everything. Let's go home and I can show you all the baby
stuff we bought. The whole other bedroom is filled. I asked Corey to
take my bed back. I guess we could keep it for the spare room."

"Naw,
let him have it back. I know you'll feel better."

"I
will."

She
rested her hand across her stomach and felt baby kick happily all the
way home.

Corey
lay next to Nicole with his hand on her round belly. She was asleep,
but once in a while he felt a flutter from somewhere deep inside.