Carrying the Lost Heir's Child (15 page)

The warmth of his chest against her back had her sucking in her breath. Damn her body for responding to his nearness. Her heart was broken, but her hormones hadn’t received that message.

“We can work this out,” he whispered in her ear. “I can’t lose you.”

Lightning illuminated the sky, the electric flickered, once, twice. Darkness enveloped them, the silence mocked them. There was a time they would have made use of this raging storm, the power outage. Right now, though, they were strangers, back to square one. Because she definitely didn’t know this man standing so close to her she could feel the breath on her cheek.

Being deceived once in a lifetime was enough, but this was the second man to lie to her face and make a complete fool out of her. And even though this time had been just the two of them, the pain and anguish was beyond intensified compared to the first time.

“Let me go,” she whispered as her throat clogged with more tears. “Just...let me go.”

One hand came around, cupping her stomach and Lily choked back a sob. “Never,” he rasped, nuzzling her neck with his lips. “I’ll never let go of my family. I’ll give you space, I’ll do anything you ask me to. But not that. I love you too much.”

Lily shook her head, circled his wrist and eased his hand away. “You don’t understand,” she said, turning to face him, his mouth just a breath away from hers. “This is one thing you can’t buy back. You can’t control or manipulate with money or power. You’re dealing with real people, real feelings. I hope you were able to get those horses you wanted to so damn bad.”

She jerked on the door handle behind her, causing his hand to fall away. “And I hope losing me and this baby was worth it.”

“You can’t go out in that storm.”

Lily laughed as the sudden wind whipped her hair around her face. “I’d rather face this storm than stay one more second with a man who thought he could keep my heart in one hand and his secrets in the other.”

* * *

Jake stood on the balcony of his master suite looking out over the land on his estate. He’d sneaked into his own home after midnight as the raging storm died down. He couldn’t stay in the rental cottage another second. Every room smelled like Lily, held memories of their passion. The few bottles and potions of hers she hadn’t packed for her trip dominated the vanity space in the bathroom, her small clothes hung next to his in the closet and she’d left a pair of sandals by the back door.

He had nowhere else to go but home...a place he’d always wanted her, but where she would never be. The rain had reduced down to a drizzle, but he didn’t care. He felt nothing. Not the cool rain, not the emptiness in his heart, not even a yearning to go to his own stables and look things over since he’d been gone for months.

There was nothing left for him now. On a mission to see his father, gain prizewinning horses and not hurt Lily, Jake had managed to damage everything he’d set out to obtain.

Money wouldn’t buy his way out of this because Lily was right, he was dealing with people’s feelings and all he’d done was trample all over them in his quest to be number one.

Droplets of rain ran down his smooth face and Jake swiped the moisture away as he turned to go back into his bedroom. The second-floor master suite was impressive in size, but that damn king-size bed dominating the middle of the floor mocked him. Sleeping alone would be hell. Knowing he’d never reach for her again, feel her curvy body against his or her soft breath as she slept...at least if she had her way about it.

But he hasn’t been lying when he’d said he would give her space. He’d do whatever it took to get his family back. He knew she’d be hurt from the truth, he didn’t blame her. He just didn’t know how gut-wrenching seeing her emotional breakdown would be.

Jake jerked off his clothes and shoved them into the hamper in the corner of his room before heading on into the open shower. He couldn’t sleep, wasn’t even going to attempt it.

As he stood amidst all of the showerheads pelting him with scalding water, Jake wondered how much time Lily would take. He would give her space, but he’d be damned if he’d let her go without a fight and there was no way in hell he’d ever let his child go.

Jake flattened his palms against the tile wall, dropping his head as the water pulsed against his neck. He had a fight ahead of him, a fight he’d never had to take on before. Business, horse racing and training, that’s what he knew.

What he didn’t know was how to fix all the broken hearts he’d left scattered all over his life.

Seventeen

L
ily felt like an absolute fool. When she’d left Jake’s home three days ago, she’d not been thinking of anything but how to get away from him. There was only one place she could think of to go and here she sat in the Barringtons’ kitchen, sipping orange juice and wondering what in the world she should do next.

“Honey, you’re going to have to eat something,” Linda said.

The woman had been an absolute comfort these past couple days. She’d not asked questions, she’d merely opened the home up and Damon had even told Lily she could stay as long as she needed.

Problem was, she needed support, comfort, a shoulder to cry on and she didn’t want to admit it. But they had fussed over her; even Tessa and Cassie had come over to comfort Lily. They’d brought some clothes when they found out she’d left his house with nothing but the suitcase that had still been in the trunk of her car.

To be coddled and pampered wasn’t why she had come, but she had to admit, nursing wounds with people who weren’t going to stab you in the back was a refreshing change from her LA life. She could stay there—okay hide there—until she figured out what to do.

Today, though, her doctor was coming by the estate to give her a checkup. Since leaving Jake’s house, she hadn’t been feeling well. Of course, she’d not been eating a whole lot, either. She made herself eat for the baby, but in reality she probably needed more.

Insomnia had become an unwelcome friend, too. She was in a strange bed, alone and heartbroken, but she’d keep that to herself. The last thing she wanted was pity from anybody. All she wanted was to make sure her baby was healthy and then she needed to confront Jake. As much as seeing him again would kill her, she needed to discuss the baby. He was the father and there was nothing she could do to change that cold, hard fact.

“Maybe just some toast,” Lily told Linda, trying to avoid eye contact with the caring woman.

“After the doctor leaves, I expect you to eat a full lunch.” Linda put a piece of toast into the toaster and turned back around. “No excuses. You need your strength for that baby and to fight that stubborn man of yours.”

“He’s not my man.”

Linda laughed. “Oh, honey. Of course he is. He made some major mistakes, but you love him. You just need time and so does he. He should suffer for what he’s done, I agree with you there, but don’t make any major decisions right now.”

Lily took another drink and smiled. “I couldn’t agree more about the suffering, but I don’t think time will make this hurt any less. He lied to me, Linda. Twice. I can’t forgive that.”

The toast popped up just as Damon entered the kitchen. The man looked about as rough as Lily felt. His silver hair was a bit disheveled, the dark circles beneath his bright eyes proved he wasn’t getting sleep.

Join the club.

“Sit down,” Linda ordered. “I want to talk to you, too.”

Damon jerked his gaze toward her, but Linda wasn’t looking at his shocked expression as she was lathering a generous amount of butter onto the thick slice of toast.

The older man remained standing, crossing his arms over his chest. “Say what you want to say so I can get out to the stables.”

As calm as you please, Linda crossed to Damon, pointing her finger in his face. “You are being pigheaded. I know Jake hurt you, that’s understandable. However, have you thought about what you would’ve done in his situation? Would you have opened up to your greatest rival and bared your soul? No. You would’ve treated it like a business move. You would’ve been just as calculating and secretive.”

Guilt churned in Lily’s stomach. So many people were hurting all because Jake felt he’d had no other choice.

“Maybe I would’ve.” Damon nodded slightly. “But we’re not talking about me.” His attention turned to Lily. “What about her? What excuse does he have for deceiving her?”

Linda’s eyes softened as she took a slight step back from Damon. “She was an innocent bystander who got caught up in the family drama. Jake loves her, I’ve seen how he looks at her.”

Linda smiled, resting her hand on Damon’s cheek. “Just as he’s come to care for you and all of us. He’s hurting, too, Damon. Can’t you reach out to him? See if there’s any way you can work on this relationship? He’s your son. You can’t forget that.”

Lily cupped her stomach with both hands, wanting this nightmare to be over, wanting to go back in time and make Jake open up to her. But he hadn’t trusted her enough to let her in. Hadn’t trusted what they had together to share his life in full.

“Why are you so hell-bent on being in Jake’s corner?” Damon asked.

With a slight shrug, Linda moved to take Lily’s now-empty glass and put it in the sink. “I’m on the outside looking in. I can see people I care about in pain and I don’t like it. This family is too close and life is short. You above all people should know that.”

Lily winced as Damon’s shoulders fell, and he blinked his eyes as if trying to gain control of his own emotions. Linda had gone straight to the heart with that veiled hint at Rose’s unexpected death.

The doorbell rang before anyone else could say a word. Lily was all too eager to step away from this emotional battle because beneath all of this chaos, Linda and Damon shared something much deeper than the standard employer-employee bond.

“That will be the doctor,” Lily said as she escaped. “I’ll get it.”

Lily was anxious to see how the baby had progressed, eager to hear that sweet heartbeat that made the whole world seem perfect and right. She had to focus on her child right now. Her love life, or the love she’d falsely believed in, would have to wait because this innocent child came before lies, deceit and broken hearts.

* * *

Entering the open wrought-iron gate flanked by stone pillars, Lily steered her rental car into the long drive lined by pristine white fencing.

She couldn’t believe she was actually there. Nerves had her hands shaking as she maneuvered up the drive toward the impressive two-story colonial-style home. White columns extended up from the porch, stabilizing a second-story balcony that stretched across the house. A separate three-car garage sat just behind the house, and off to the left of the drive were the massive white-and-green stables.

Horses out in the field swished away flies as their tails swiped back and forth. An old oak dominated the front yard, but the tire swing dangling from a sturdy branch caught her attention. Why would Jake have a tire swing on a tree? He was single and didn’t have any children...yet.

The landscaping around the wide porch had to have been professionally done with the perfectly placed variegated greenery and pops of color from various buds.

She should have turned around. The house was too inviting and the last thing she needed was to be drawn into this part of Jake’s world.

As easy as it would be for her to convince herself to turn around, she had things to discuss with him. They were bound forever, whether she liked it or not, and the doctor had expressed some minor concerns with the baby. Jake deserved to know. Unfortunately, she needed his help, too. As much as she hated to admit it, she couldn’t impose on the Barringtons any longer. She’d been there nearly a week and, after her appointment, she knew she needed to stand strong and take control back in her life.

Lily stepped out into the summer heat and made her way up onto the wide porch. Colorful pots filled with various greenery decorating each side of the door made for a picturesque entry. Everything about Jake’s home looked like something out of a magazine.

This was not what she’d expected at all. Jake’s rental house had seemed homey, but that had been a stage, a prop in his game. His real home was just as inviting, if not more so.

Lily rang the bell before she could change her mind and race back to her car. Moments later a young lady, probably somewhere in her early thirties, answered the door. The beautiful woman with long, blond hair had eyes the color of emeralds and a pleasant smile. Jealousy punched Lily straight in the gut.

“Hello,” the lady greeted. “Can I help you?”

Whoever this woman was...

No. Lily had left Jake, so what he was doing now was none of her business. But seeing that he’d moved on so fast only intensified the hurt she’d lived with for the past several days. Or had this woman always been here waiting on Jake?

“Wait...aren’t you Lily Beaumont?”

Celebrity status strikes again. “I am,” she replied, trying to find fault with the stranger, but her beauty was flawless. “Is Jake here?”

The young woman nodded with a smile. “He’s down in the stables,” she said, pointing across the way. “He won’t mind if you go on down. He told us you may stop by.”

Anger slid through her veins, gliding right through the hurt he’d caused. “Oh, he did, did he?” she asked, raising a brow. “Thank you.”

Turning on her heel, Lily’s sandals slapped against the concrete as she marched her way toward the stables. The heat was nearly unbearable and Lily had to focus on the open doorway to the stable. Once she had her say, she could get back in her air-conditioned car and cool down, then this wave of dizziness would subside.

Of course, trying to keep her blood pressure down was a bit difficult at the moment. How dare Jake alert...whoever that lady was that Lily would be coming by? What a cocky, ego-inflated—

The rant died a quick death in her mind when she stepped through the open door and found Jake shirtless, holey jeans riding low, sweat glistening over every bare spot her eyes took in as he cleaned out one of the stalls.

He hadn’t seen her yet, which gave her the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of his body. Just because she was pissed at him for lying didn’t mean she was dead. Jake had the sexiest body she’d ever laid eyes on...which is how she ended up in this predicament to begin with. Saying no to a man like Jake was impossible.

Stepping farther into the stables, she stopped halfway up the aisle and crossed her arms. “Don’t you have a staff to do this for you?”

Jake jerked around, bumbling with the pitchfork in one hand before he caught it with the other. Gripping the top of the handle, his eyes drank her in, his chest heaving from obvious exertion. Lily had to remember she was here for one reason only...and it wasn’t to appreciate the beautiful male form standing before her.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

Holding her ground, Lily shifted her stance. “Why are you acting surprised? Didn’t you tell the pretty blonde that there was a possibility I’d come by?”

Damn it, she hadn’t been able to hold back that stab of jealousy in her tone, and from his amused smirk he’d picked up on her green-eyed monster, too.

“She’s my maid,” he informed her, swiping his forearm across his forehead.

Lily rolled her eyes. “I don’t care what she is. What you do in your time now isn’t my business.”

Silence settled between them until a horse shifted in its stall. She hated the uncomfortable cloud that seemed to hang over them.

“You do care,” he told her, dropping the pitchfork into the stall. “You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t.”

Oh, that ego she once found attractive was so damn maddening right now.

Tilting her chin and taking a step forward, because Lily knew who really held the power here, she stopped only a few feet from him and cursed herself when her eyes dropped to that sweaty, chiseled chest. She couldn’t hold on to her control if she was being tempted by the devil himself.

“Actually I’m here because I just had a checkup.” Lacing her fingers just below her stomach, Lily held his gaze. “She said my blood pressure is still high and I need to start taking precautions to keep it down. There’s some concern with me and the baby, so she said she wants to see me again in two weeks instead of the usual four to make sure the condition is under control.”

“Damn it.” He raked a hand through his damp hair, rubbed the back of his neck and met her gaze. “What can I do? I know I’ve caused you more stress, that can’t be helping. Tell me what I can do to fix this.”

The worry etched over his face almost moved her. But that worry was for the baby.

“Actually I’m not here to get help from you,” she said. “I’m here to ask what you paid the doctor to care for me. I’m reimbursing you.”

“Like hell you are.” Jake closed the gap between them, the tips of his boots nearly touching her bare toes. Those bright eyes were now blazing, the muscle in his jaw clenching. “You’re not paying me a dime. This is my baby, too.”

“I had a feeling you’d say that,” she muttered as a wave of dizziness swept through her. Lily closed her eyes for just a moment, waiting for it to pass before she opened and met his still-angry gaze. “So I’m at least paying half.”

“I pay for what’s mine,” he all but growled. “I will take care of my family, no matter what the needs are. It’s best you realize that now.”

Black dots danced before her and Lily shook her head, wiping the sweat from the back of her neck. “Could I get some water?”

In an instant Jake’s hands were on her shoulders, touching her face, brushing her hair back. His eyes instantly held concern and worry. “Are you dizzy?”

Damning herself for showing weakness the one time in her life she needed to be the strongest, Lily could only simply close her eyes and nod.

Before she knew what was happening, Jake had swept her up into his arms and was carrying her out of the stables.

“Don’t,” she protested, but even to her own ears the plea sounded feeble. “I just need water. I’ll be fine.”

Ignoring her completely, Jake reached the back door to his house and squatted down far enough to turn the knob. Once inside where the cool air-conditioning hit her, Lily was already feeling as if the world had stopped tilting so much.

Jake closed the door with his foot and took her straight to the living area where he laid her on the oversize leather sofa.

“Jake, is everything all right?”

Lily didn’t open her eyes, but she recognized the female voice from the lady who had answered the front door. Tossing her arm over her eyes, Lily wished she would’ve just phoned Jake instead of coming there. She’d wanted to show him she was just fine without him, wanted to prove she could get along alone.