Holiday Baby Scandal

The way those black-as-night eyes held her in place had her shivering. Why did she let him have such power over her? He had more power in one stare than most guys did in a kiss. And she’d dated some great kissers.

“Then why are you here?” She was proud of her strong tone but worried about what his answer would be.

“Are you feeling okay?” he asked, his eyes dropping to her stomach, then back up. “I didn’t ask earlier. Or, hell, maybe I did. It’s all still kind of a blur.”

So he was here about the pregnancy. She should’ve known he wouldn’t stay too far from her. He’d always been protective in that overbearing, bouncer kind of way.

“If you’re going to hover, don’t waste your time.”

She didn’t want to sound ungrateful, but she didn’t want a babysitter. She wanted him, damn it. She wanted him to see her as a woman. As the woman he’d let down his guard with several weeks ago.

Up until then, she’d always thought he saw her as Mac and Braden’s little sister. Someone he helped when necessary, but who was more family than anything.

“If I want to hover, I damn well will,” he growled. “You’re having my child. You’re part of a very well-known family, and it’s my job to protect you.”

That was the crux of the entire problem. The slice to her heart shouldn’t surprise her. Did she honestly think that after they’d had sex he’d come around? That when he knew about the baby he’d profess his undying love to her? No, but she’d at least hoped for him to treat her like...hell. Was it too much to ask for him to act like he cared about her as more than his friends’ baby sister?

“I don’t want to be your job.”

Laney turned before he could see the hurt on her face. Heading back toward her office, she couldn’t care less if he let himself out or if he followed. Trying to capture Ryker’s attention for so long was exhausting. She sure as hell didn’t want it now due to a job or a baby. She wanted him to look at her for her. Nothing else.

Apparently that was too much to ask. With his traveling schedule, he probably did hookups and one-night stands. She’d never seen him in any type of a relationship or even heard him mention seeing someone. Laney thought she may take way too much delight in that, but whatever.

Just as she reached the threshold of her office, a hand clamped around her arm and spun her.

“Don’t walk away from me.”

Laney raised her brows. “You’re not in charge of me, no matter what my brothers tell you to do. I can get along just fine without being coddled.”

“Would you quit acting like you’re so put out? Your brothers care about you and only want you safe.”

Laney jerked free of his hold but kept her eyes on his. “And what about you, Ryker? Do you care about me?”

“Of course I do.”

Laney swallowed. “As a brother?”

The muscles along the stubbled jaw ticked. “I’m not doing this, Laney. I’m not hashing out my feelings or letting you get inside my head.”

Of course he wouldn’t. Ryker would never let anyone in because he was made of steel. She’d never seen him show emotion, other than frustration and anger. But he never talked about what drove him to those feelings. The clenching of the muscles in his perfectly squared jaw indicated he was angry. Other than that, he played his cards seriously close to his chest.

“Whatever.” She waved a hand in the air. “I’m feeling fine. There. Now you’ve checked up on me, and you can go on your way, guilt-free. This all could’ve been done in a text.”

“Maybe,” he agreed. “But if you were feeling bad you’d lie, and I wanted to see for myself.”

Laney went for broke. “I think we both know between the two of us who would lie about how they feel.”

When he remained still, silent, Laney was done. They were getting nowhere, and she wasn’t in the mood to play games or whatever the hell else he wanted.

“I won’t keep you out of the baby’s life, but I don’t want your attention just because I’m pregnant. I’ve waited for years for you to notice me. I thought Miami was something, but I was clearly mistaken, since you ignored me until you knew I was having your child.”

All of that was so hard to admit, but at this point what did she have to lose? She wasn’t one to hide her feelings, which only made Ryker squirm. Good. He deserved it.

The second she jerked the door open, a burst of cold air rushed in. “If you’re done here...”

Laney turned and stared out at the blowing flakes. She didn’t want to look at him, not when she still craved him. Putting up some type of emotional barrier was the only way she’d survive this.

Heavy boots moved across her hardwood floor. Ryker stopped right in front of her but kept his gaze out the open door. Laney stared at his black, leather-clad shoulder. The smell of his jacket, the familiar woodsy cologne and the unmistakable scent that she only associated with Ryker assaulted her senses. Why did he have to be the one to hold her emotionally captive?

“I’ve noticed you,” he whispered as he remained rooted inches from her. “I’ve noticed too much for too long.”

Laney’s breath caught in her throat.

“But Miami won’t happen again.” Turning, he locked those dark eyes on her. “I’ll check on you while I’m away.”

And then he was gone. Shoulders hunched against the blowing snow, head down, Ryker walked off her porch and down the walk toward his car. Despite shivering, Laney waited until he was in the SUV with the engine running before she closed the door...but not before she caught him looking back at her.

Just that glance from a distance was enough to have her stomach doing flops, her heart pounding.

Ryker may be checking on her because of the baby, something she couldn’t be upset about, but his telling words gave her hope. He’d noticed her. And from the way he seemed to be angry about it, he’d clearly been fighting with himself over the fact for a while now.

Laney leaned back against her door and wrapped her arms around her abdomen. She had no idea what was going to happen now that she and Ryker were on this journey, but one thing was perfectly clear. They were in this together, whether he liked it or not.

Three (#ulink_d55e29f5-e654-5d7f-9f8d-39a32fc9645a)

“I don’t like this.”

Ryker’s cell phone lay on the console as he watched the house across the street. With Braden on speaker, Ryker could focus on who was coming and going.

“I’m not a fan myself, but I think there’s something here,” Ryker replied.

This was his first interaction with Braden since Ryker discovered Laney was expecting. The guilt of his betrayal weighed heavily on his chest. The O’Sheas had been everything to him over the years, and he’d purposely kept his distance from Laney because he knew what would happen if he touched her. Just one touch, that’s all it would’ve taken at any given time for him to snap.

But she’d mouthed off at the party and between her sass and that body-hugging dress, his self-control had finally expired.

Damn, the woman could tempt a saint...not that he was anywhere near that holy. But he’d completely lost it in Miami. Years of pent-up frustration, the fact she’d been receiving threats and not sharing that information, and the way she’d looked in that short black dress had been the combination for his undoing.

“How long are you going to wait?” Braden’s low tone cut through the memories.

Ryker rubbed the penny between his thumb and index finger, hating the way he carried the damn thing around like some good-luck charm. He was pathetic for even still having it, but the reminder of where he came from always needed to be front and center.

“I’ve seen a member of the DeLuca family go in, but nothing else.”

The DeLuca family was known for organized crime. Thugs, actually. They didn’t even compare to the O’Sheas, though Ryker thought some members of law enforcement would lump the two families in the same category...or prison cell.

“What activity has Laney uncovered?” Braden asked.

Ryker raked a hand down his face. “She’s seen some email chatter with several family members discussing moving a package. When she dug a little deeper, she found they have an old trunk in the basement that contains some documents. But we have no clue what they are.”