Unstable (43 page)
Authors: S.E. Hall
“Brooke, honey, why don’t you go play outside the barn for a minute? Me and Aunt Henley need to talk,” Keaton asks her in a nicely strained tone while staring loving daggers at me.
“It’s okay, I already know what you’re gonna say. Just don’t use cuss words, my mommy doesn’t like me to hear them, and I’ll be fine.”
Even in the heat of the upcoming argument, I snicker and the corner of Keaton’s mouth twitches. The little girl is irresistible.
“No promises there, sweetie,” he laughs. “Depends on if she cooperates or not.”
His eyes slowly graze down my body and land on my stomach, and like always, his face breaks out into a wide, brilliant smile.
“Henny,” he uses my name as a soft plea. “That’s
mine
,
my
baby in there. I’m damn proud you’re ready to ride again, but not while you’re pregnant.”
“Keaton, you were sitting right there when the doctor said it was fine in my first trimester, as long as I keep it at a walk or slow trot. I just want to spend some time with Brooke, doing
something
. I can’t stay in that house, having you treat me like a china doll another second.”
“Well, Dr. That’s My Baby is pulling rank, and I say no. No, Henny. It’s not worth the risk. You make one move toward that horse and I will tan that a-,
butt
,” he adjusts for Brooke’s sake.
“Fine,” my head drops to my chest in defeat, “you’re right, I don’t want to take any risks either. I’m just so bored.”
“Brooke?” he says.
“Time to release the secret weapon?” She shrieks, and my head pops up, curious to see what’s got her so excited.
“Yep,” he nods. “I’ll let you do the honors.”
She runs away quicker than I can ask her where she’s going, and Keaton, he’s leisurely rocking back and forth on his heels wearing a self-assured grin.
“What do you two have planned?” I ask.
“No riding, woman. I mean it. Promise me,” he grits past a now clenched jaw.
“I promise,” I easily agree and rub my tummy. “You’re right, I was being stupid. Won’t happen again. But the doctor did say…”
“Doctor said ‘you’re gonna be a daddy.’ No ‘gonna be’ about it. I started being a daddy that very second and you know how serious I am about taking care of you?”
I nod, happiness welling up in my eyes.
“Well then just imagine how I feel about
our
child, a piece of both of us that we made together. The ultimate creation of my lifelong dream, you and me, being one.”
“I love you,” I whimper, wiping my tears.
“And I worship you, and our baby. Come ‘ere,” he holds open his arms and I rush into them, cocooned in pure adoration. “No horses,” he grumbles once more, kissing the top of my head. “You wanna play cowgirl, I got something you can ride anytime you want.”
“Stop,” I laugh and swat his arm. “Brooke might hear you.”
“Speak of the angel. Turn around baby,” he speaks softly.
I spin in his arms and gasp, covering my mouth with both hands.
Brooke is standing but a few feet away, grinning ear-to-ear…holding a puppy.
“Me and Uncle Keaton picked him out.” Her eyes go wide. “I mean…no…this lil’ guy just wandered up to the house looking for you. Shoot, sorry.” Her face falls and Keaton laughs behind me.
“It’s okay, Brooke. She’d have figured us out anyway. Go see your present, baby,” he nudges me forward.
I walk slowly toward Brooke and my new puppy. She hands me the black and white bundle of fur that starts giving me puppy breath kisses.
“It’s a Border Collie, very smart dogs. And it’s a boy, so we could name him Bailey, an Irish whiskey,” Brooke babbles. “I’m gonna help you take care of him and train him, especially when your belly’s too big for you to bend over.”
“Thank you,” I laugh. “That’ll come in real handy. And I think Bailey is the perfect name. Bailey,” I whisper, and kiss my dog. “Big paws to fill, buddy. But I have faith in you.”
“Do you like him, Henny?” I turn at Keaton’s question and take a minute to soak him in—the boy from my childhood now all man—gorgeous, loving, bossy and sexier every day.
“Yeah, I like him.”
“Not too soon?” His brows crumple in concern.
“No,” I shake my head. “Not too soon. Thank you.”
“Anything for you, Henley Gene Cash. Anything.”
Writing the acknowledgements is harder than writing the book. I hope I don’t forget anyone, and if I do, I’m so very sorry and hope you know what you mean to me.
The biggest thanks I can give are to my husband, children and family. They put up with me in hyper-writing/completely ignore everything you just said state, zombie in bed too tired and drained to move state and always make sure I eat, bathe and am still breathing. I love you all so much for supporting me and my dream, in whatever form I take on to accomplish it.
To Jill Sava- thank you for being my friend, right hand and always looking out for me and what is best. I truly couldn’t do it without you. Love you! Xo
To Emma Mack- thank you for pushing me to give Unstable all I could, and that delicious accent! Xo
To my awesome betas- Melissa, Beth, Elaina, Chantal, Beth, Lisa, Jennifer, Brianna, Emily and Linda- thank you for helping me polish Unstable and all the helpful input! Xo
To The Crew and Elite- thank all you ladies for your love, support and laughs!!! You’re the best! Xo
To Tabby Coots- the typist with the mostest, thank you Cat!!!! Xoxo
J.C. Cliff and Joanne Schwehm- thank you for reading Unstable and giving me your very helpful feedback. And for being such good friends. Love you both! XO
Angela Graham- thank you for the years of friendship and for “getting me.” I love you dearly. XO
Hilary Storm- thank you for keeping it real and all your unfiltered support! Love you! XO
Erin Noelle- Forever Smoops, thank you for your friendship and help! XO
And to the readers, blogs and everyone else who supports me and my books, making my dream a reality- THANK YOU! XOXO
S.E. HALL
, lover of all things anticipation and romance, is the author of The Evolve Series: Emerge, Embrace, Entangled, Entice, Endure and companion novellas Baby Mama Drama and Guide for Tools Looking to Date My Daughter by character Sawyer Beckett. S.E. also wrote the stand-alone Finally Found novels Pretty Instinct and Pretty Remedy. Her co-written works include The Provocative Professions Collection: Stirred Up, Packaged and Handled 1&2, One Naughty Night and full-length, standalone novels Matched and Filthy Foreign Exchange with Angela Graham as well as Conspire, a romantic suspense, written with Erin Noelle.
S.E. resides in Arkansas with her husband of 18 years and 3 daughters of the home. When not writing or reading, she can be found “enthusiastically cheering” on one of her girls’ softball games.
