Anything but Love

“He called you in California?”

“He wrote back in answer to the letter I wrote to all of the Cupcake Lovers. Then I called him. We’ve talked a few times.”

That bothered Luke more than he cared to think about. “Did you tell him about—”

“Of course not. I haven’t told anyone. It’s not the kind of thing you brag about.”

“Right. Because the sex wasn’t all that great.”

Her color rose and her eyes sparked, but she didn’t snap. She sighed. “I only said that because … Never mind. Could we keep this civil? I know I disappointed you. I know you think the worst of me. I can’t help that, but I’d like to get past it.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m going to have your baby.”

* * *

Rae hadn’t meant to blurt the news. She’d lain awake half the night on her rented pillow-soft bed rehearsing how she was going to drop the bombshell. None of her scenarios had gone like this. They’d all been more eloquent. But she was nervous. She hadn’t anticipated the rush of desire when she’d walked in and saw Luke standing behind the bar. The man was at his most confident and charming when he mixed drinks and bantered with his patrons. Adam and Kane were two of his closest friends. Thank God they’d been there to break the ice, because swear to God, Rae had frozen up. She’d sworn her heart was dead as far as Luke was concerned. How could fate be so cruel?

Just now Luke was looking at her as if she’d just spoken Greek. “Come again?”

“I’m pregnant, Luke.”

He angled his head, blinked. “And you think it’s mine?”

“I don’t think. I know.”

“How?”

What, he thought she slept around? Yeah. He probably did. “Because of the timing.” Because there hasn’t been anyone else.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.” Rae bore his insulting attitude with hard-won calm. She refused to lose her cool. She refused to get emotional. She’d been wrestling with this unexpected twist for two weeks. Once the shock had abated, she’d experienced a spark of wonder and joy. She refused to allow Luke to warp this miracle into something ugly. That said, she thought he deserved to know. “If you don’t believe me, I’ll submit to DNA testing, although I’m not far enough along yet.”

He shoved his hand through his shaggy hair. The same hand that had smoothed down her back, up her thigh, under her dress. “You said you were on birth control.”

“I was. But the pill isn’t fail-proof. Nothing, aside from abstinence, is.”

So far, Luke was responding exactly like she’d anticipated. Doubting her. Blaming her. Except he wasn’t yelling. He was, in fact, oddly calm. It made Rae uneasy. She swigged a quarter of the water, rolled back her shoulders. “Listen, Luke. I don’t want anything from you. I’m not expecting a marriage proposal or asking for financial support. I just … I wanted you to know. I thought you’d want to know.”

“Are you going to keep it?”

“It?”

“The baby.”

“You think I’d give her up for adoption or…” She couldn’t even say it.

Luke stood and paced to his file cabinet and back. Frowning, he dragged his hands down his absurdly handsome face. “I can’t believe this.”

Resenting his misery, even though she’d expected it, Rae swigged more water then set aside the bottle and forced herself to stand. “This isn’t the life I planned either, Luke, but I’m not going to run from it. I’m going have this baby. I’m going to love this baby. If you want to be a part of her life, I’ll stay on in Sugar Creek. I’ll make a life here. If not, we’ll settle someplace else.”

He cast a suspicious glance. “Why not in California? Near your mom?”

“I have my reasons.”

She saw him tense. She understood why he was bothered by her evasiveness, but he’d given her no reason to trust him with her problems. She’d thought her troubles would be over once she inherited her fortune. She thought she’d be able to lure her mom away from Geoffrey with the promise that Rae would look after her financially. She’d been wrong. She thought her own money would mean freedom and respectability. She thought it would open doors, which it did, but not doors she wanted to walk through. She’d never been more miserable and lonely.

And then she’d learned she was pregnant.

Now she had someone else to worry about. Someone to protect and nurture. Raising her child anywhere near Olivia and her toxic environment was out of the question.

“Think it over,” Rae said as she nabbed her coat. “I’m staying at the Pine and Periwinkle. Do you have my cell number?”

Caught somewhere between flustered and angry, Luke fumbled with his phone. “I don’t.… No. Not your current one.”

Rae grabbed Luke’s cell and quickly thumbed in her information. She needed to get out of here. She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. She handed him the phone then turned to leave. “I know you don’t like me,” she said, “but please do me this one favor. Don’t tell anyone yet. Dev. Rocky. Anyone. I’m only six weeks along. The first trimester … it’s iffy.” Just saying it out loud made her queasy. But she’d listened to her doctor and she’d researched on her own. Once she reached the ten to twelve week mark, the risk of miscarrying would greatly diminish.

“You keep saying her,” Luke said when Rae was halfway out the door. “Isn’t it too soon to know?”

“Just a feeling.” Heart pounding, Rae crossed the threshold and moved calmly toward the front door with a wave to Adam and Kane. Part of her wanted Luke to follow her, but she knew he wouldn’t. She’d just put a serious kink in the life of Sugar Creek’s biggest playboy.

SEVEN

Rocky Monroe couldn’t remember when she’d ever felt this happy. She kept waiting for the sky to fall. For her recent good fortune to tank. It’s not that she was a cynic or a defeatist, but she had a history of rotten luck. She’d spent years seething over her love gone wrong with Jayce Bello. Years. She’d experienced multiple and increasing financial setbacks. The absolute worst had been watching her bed-and- breakfast, her home, her dream, go up in smoke. Along with all of her personal possessions.

Oh, yeah. Losing everything sucked big time.

Only, when her senses had cleared, she’d realized she hadn’t lost everything. Certainly, not the things she cherished most.

Her family. Her friends. Her dog, Brewster.

Jayce.

She’d also retained her confidence and drive, and her toehold in a new career as an interior decorator. Over the last three months, Rocky had settled into her new home, Daisy’s old house, with Jayce and Brewster. She’d reveled in planning her wedding along with her mom and Daisy, and her two closest friends, Chloe and Monica. She’d embraced the challenge of her new business—Red Clover Renovations. It was a slow build, but she also held a part-time job at Maple Molly’s Antique Barn—a job she loved—and Jayce had struck gold with his cyber detective agency. Financially, she, they were set. Emotionally, Rocky was riding a never-ending wave of love. Jayce rocked her world and Rocky gave as good as she got. Life was good. Life was great!