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Holiday Baby Scandal
Jules Bennett
'Tis the season…for an unexpected baby surprise…Taken in at a young age, Ryker Barrett owes the O’Shea family everything. Which means his “little sister” Laney is way off-limits…no matter how seductive the brunette beauty is! She’s the one woman he can’t have a casual fling with…so how in the hell did he end up in her bed?Laney knows the dangerous Ryker is the perfect man for her no matter how hard he resists. But when one night of unbridled passion leaves Laney pregnant with his child, she’ll need a Christmas miracle to convince him that loving her won’t destroy his place in her overprotective family.Holiday Baby Scandal is part of the Mafia Moguls series.


’Tis the season...for an unexpected baby surprise...
Taken in at a young age, Ryker Barrett owes the O’Shea family everything. Which means his “little sister” Laney is way off-limits...no matter how seductive the brunette beauty is! She’s the one woman he can’t have a casual fling with...so how in the hell did he end up in her bed?
Laney knows the dangerous Ryker is the perfect man for her no matter how hard he resists. But when one night of unbridled passion leaves Laney pregnant with his child, she’ll need a Christmas miracle to convince him that loving her won’t destroy his place in her overprotective family.
Something stirred inside him. Something primal.
Ryker moved closer, his eyes never coming off that lip she was biting. She was the most beautiful sight, and after the hellish past day and a half, he needed something beautiful in his life. He needed Laney.
His mouth slid over hers. His arms wrapped around her waist, jerking her flush against his body.
Finally.
Laney melted against him. Her mouth opened to his instantly and Ryker made no hesitation to take everything he wanted from her.
Before common sense or those red flags could wave too high, Ryker secured his hold around her waist, never breaking away from her lush mouth. He lifted her up, arousal bursting through him when she wrapped her legs around his waist.
“I didn’t think you wanted me,” she murmured against his lips.
Ryker spun and headed toward his room.
“I never said that. Ever.”
Laney nipped at his lips. “You push me away.”
Ryker stopped, pulled away and looked into those engaging eyes. “Do you feel me pushing you away now?”
* * *
Holiday Baby Surprise is part of the Mafia Moguls series— For this tight-knit mob family, going legitimate leads to love!
Holiday Baby Scandal
Jules Bennett


www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Bestselling author JULES BENNETT has penned nearly forty romance novels. She lives in the Midwest with her high-school-sweetheart husband and their two daughters. Sign up for her newsletter to stay up-to-date on releases and monthly contests for subscribers only. Find Jules on Facebook, Twitter or her website, julesbennett.com (http://www.julesbennett.com).
To all the readers who’ve asked about Ryker...you’re welcome.
Contents
Cover (#ucba915b2-9498-5833-8ba9-a8b9dce6b609)
Back Cover Text (#u29ff8be3-c297-54bf-bc0d-7abca804134d)
Introduction (#u786768ff-817a-51b8-89a7-3b007d0b37c0)
Title Page (#uc709e888-dec4-5aa2-bb05-689674823a8a)
About the Author (#u51ec0754-306c-5d80-9379-c4c652736701)
Dedication (#u95d0fea8-61e1-5679-88c4-bd5f73325de8)
One (#ulink_80ad761a-b27e-54c0-b09e-d19a88c0381d)
Two (#ulink_d51ec8c2-637f-5fb9-840d-dbc946b709b1)
Three (#ulink_b09451c4-8e00-5ce0-963e-74a0307e6e35)
Four (#ulink_062d29bd-f18e-58a7-89f3-1680d0eaf1e7)
Five (#litres_trial_promo)
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Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
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Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
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Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
One (#ulink_5a3349c5-d2ef-583b-b160-03547ea4a1e0)
With one hand clutching the forgotten cuff links and one hand firmly over her still-flat stomach, Laney pulled in a deep breath and willed courage to make an appearance.
She was an O’Shea, damn it. She didn’t back down in the face of fear. Fear was nothing but a lie. A bold-faced lie capable of defeating most people. Laney wasn’t most people.
She’d come this far, all she had to do was knock...and make a life-changing confession to a man she’d been in love with since she was old enough to notice boys. Forget the fact he’d been ten years older. Age meant about as much to her as fear did.
Tears clogged her throat as emotions threatened to overwhelm her. Whatever his reaction, she owed him the truth. But if he rejected her, the pain would slice deep.
Laney pushed aside the hurt, the fear and the nausea, and pounded on Ryker Barrett’s front door.
No turning back now.
Ryker had been part of her life since she was a child. He’d worked for her father, was best friends with her brothers. Her family had taken him in when his own had turned him away. He was mysterious, intriguing and frustrating.
And for the past five weeks he’d been pretending nothing had happened. He gave no hint that he even recalled tearing her Chanel dress from her body before holding her against her hotel room wall and bringing her every desire to life.
Nope. It was business as usual. When she’d had to feed him information via email or text for O’Shea’s auctions, he’d never given any indication that their one heated night had made an impact on his life whatsoever. Was he that emotionally detached?
Well, he was about to sustain one hell of an impact. He may try to ignore her, but there was no way he could ignore the consequences of their night.
The door swung open and the entire speech she’d rehearsed all morning vanished from her mind. Ryker stood before her wearing only a pair of running shorts, a tatted chest and glorious muscle tone.
She’d never seen him this way. The man who traveled the globe in designer suits, the man who donned a leather jacket and worn jeans to blend in when necessary, had never presented himself in such a beautiful, natural manner. He should do this more often.
Casual as you please, Ryker rested a forearm on the edge of the door and quirked a brow as if she’d disturbed him. Yeah, well, he deserved to be put out. She’d been fighting her feelings for him for years.
Rage bubbled from within as she slapped his cuff links against his bare chest and pushed past him. In all the years she’d known him, Laney had never come to his house in Boston. When they met, it was always on neutral ground, usually at the O’Shea family home her brother Braden now lived in.
As infuriating as Ryker could be, Laney was the first to admit that her family would crumble without him. He may be the “enforcer,” the guy who kept them protected and took the brunt of any backlash they ever faced, but he could easily cut ties and leave. This billionaire never threw his money around like most men she knew. Loyalty meant much more to Ryker than finances ever would...one of the many reasons she was drawn to him.
The door closed at her back. Laney shut her eyes and tried to forget the intensity of their complicated relationship, tried to ignore the way her body instantly responded to this man. She was here for one reason. And the fact that he worked for her family, was practically part of her family, wasn’t making this confession any easier.
“If you’re here regarding the painting in L.A. that you emailed me about last week, I’ve already—”
Laney whirled. “I’m not here about work.”
Crossing his arms over his broad chest, Ryker widened his stance and gave a brief nod. “I can’t believe it took you this long to come to me.”
Laney’s heart kicked up. So he knew she would bring up that night, and he’d what? Been waiting on her? Jerk. Uncaring, unfeeling, stupid, sexy jerk. Why couldn’t he put a shirt on? She was trying to keep her anger going, but lust was creeping into the mix.
“You could’ve come to me,” she threw back. “Or, I don’t know, actually talked to me when we were exchanging work information.”
The O’Sheas were a force all their own, known around the globe for their prestigious auction houses. Laney had ignored the whispered “mafia” or “mob” rumors her entire life. She knew full well what her family was, and she was a proud member. They remained on the right side of the law thanks to the connections her late father had made and the ones her brother Braden, who was now in charge, and her other brother Mac continued to work at.
And Ryker Barrett, other than starring in her every fantasy for years, was the family’s right-hand man, security detail and any other job they needed him for. He did the dirty work and lay low, staying out of the limelight and behind the scenes.
Laney waited for him to say something, anything, but he stood there staring at her, which only made her nerves worse. How could he have so much power over her? She was an O’Shea, for crying out loud, and he was just standing there.
Standing there looking all half-naked, sexy and perfect.
Focus, Laney.
Ryker held up the cuff links. “Was this all?”
Laney narrowed her eyes. “Am I interrupting something?”
Or someone? It hadn’t even occurred to her that he may be entertaining. A sick feeling in the pit of her stomach grew, and she hated the spear of jealousy that ripped through her.
“Yeah, my morning session with the punching bag.”
Which explained those perfectly sculpted arms, shoulders and pecs, though Laney figured he used a punching bag as a means of releasing his emotions rather than to stay in shape. Ryker was the epitome of keeping to himself and never letting anyone get too close. So what did that say about that night they shared? Clearly he’d thrown all of his rules out the window because they’d been as close as two people could get.
Nausea pushed its way to the front of the line, bypassing her worry, her fear. Laney closed her eyes, waiting to see if she needed to find the bathroom or take a seat and let the wave pass. Please, please, just pass. Of all times to appear vulnerable, this was not the one.
“Listen, I get you want to discuss what happened,” he began, oblivious to her current state. “I take the blame. I shouldn’t have followed you into your room and—”
“Ripped my clothes off?” she finished, holding a hand to her stomach and glaring across the room at him. “I’m not sorry it happened. I’ve been waiting on you to notice I’m not just Mac and Braden’s little sister. I’ve fantasized about you ripping my clothes off, and I don’t even mind that you ruined my favorite dress. So, I’m not sorry a bit. I’m only sorry about how you treated me after.”
Other than the muscles ticking in his stubbled jaw, Ryker showed no emotion.
“This wasn’t just some one-night stand,” she argued.
“It was.”
Okay. That hurt—the truth often did—but still. They were more, so much more, than a quick, albeit amazing, romp.
“How dare you act like I was just some random stranger?” she yelled, throwing her arms out wide. “I’ve known you almost my whole life. You think it’s okay to have sex with me and—”
He moved in a flash, gripped her shoulders and hauled her against his bare chest. “No, I didn’t think it was okay, but I couldn’t stop. Damn it, Laney.”
Ryker released her and took a step back, letting her go as if she’d burned him. “I couldn’t stop,” he whispered.
* * *
She had to get out of here. The last time they’d been alone his control had snapped, and he was barely hanging on by a thread now that she was in his living room, on his turf.
He’d purposely been avoiding her since their one-night stand, only communicating through texts for stuff related to O’Shea’s. They’d been working together for the past several years. He could admit that when she came on board, his job had become so much easier. With her being able to dig deeper, to infiltrate systems he never could’ve...she was invaluable. Laney’s computer hacking skills were eerily good. If she ever worked with the wrong crowd, she could be dangerous. Granted, some considered the O’Sheas the wrong crowd, but whatever. He couldn’t do his job without her, so avoiding her altogether wasn’t an option.
The torture of working so close together was worth it, though. Even the slightest communication with Laney kept him going. He shouldn’t enjoy the pain of being so near, unable to fulfill his every desire, but he chalked up his masochistic tendencies to his less than stellar childhood.
When he wasn’t on assignment, he typically would hide out at his home in London or take a trip to some random destination just because he could and had no ties. When he was in Boston, he was too tempted to give in to his desires for his best friends’ and bosses’ little sister.
When Laney started to reach for him, Ryker held up a hand. “No.” If she touched him, this whole distance thing would crumble. He’d been playing with fire when he’d grabbed her a second ago...but damn if she didn’t feel good against him.
This had to stop. He owed it to the family who saved him from a living hell. For years he’d ached for her, watched from afar as she grew into a breathtaking woman who managed to slip beneath his defenses. When she’d dated other men, it had nearly gutted him, but what right did he have to say anything?
She was the mafia princess, and he was the family...problem solver. He’d been involved with a lot of dark deeds before her father passed away and left the family business to Braden. Now they were all on the path to being legitimate. But legitimacy didn’t change what he’d done in the past. And no matter that his bank account had more zeroes than any one person would need, that didn’t change the fact he wasn’t worthy of Laney. Not only was she the daughter of one of Boston’s most powerful men, but she’d never made it a secret she wanted a large family, complete with babies and pets. He opted for lovers in other states and countries, to keep things physical and void of all emotions.
To put things simply, they were on opposite ends of this warped world. Since Patrick’s death months ago, Braden and Mac protected her, and rightfully so, from the harsh realities their family faced each day. Actually, Laney’s protection had also been part of Ryker’s job.
Not that he needed the money or the job. But he owed the O’Sheas. Anything they asked for, he would provide or die trying. And it was all of that watching over Laney that had damn near done him in.
Blowing out a breath, he shook his head and faced her, but froze. Laney had stepped back and was leaning against the wall. Her closed eyes, her long, slow breaths had him narrowing the distance between them.
“Laney?” He was near enough to touch her, but kept his hands to himself. See? He could do it. He’d just be right here in case she needed something...like his hands on her.
With shaky fingers, he shoved her hair away from her face. Her lids fluttered open, but a sheen of sweat had popped up over her forehead. Was she that nervous about being here?
“I know you don’t want me here, but I have to tell you something.”
She pushed from the wall, swaying slightly.
Now he didn’t resist contact. Ryker grabbed her around the waist and held her against him. “Are you all right?”
“Let me go.”
Those vibrant green eyes came up to meet his. The punch to his gut instantly forced him back to that night, to her pinned between his body and the wall. She’d panted his name as she’d clung to his back. Never had he experienced anything so...perfect. And he didn’t deserve one second of her affection. Mac and Braden would kick his ass if they knew... Well, they’d try, anyway. He could handle himself in a fight, but he deserved at least a punch to the face over the way he’d seduced Laney like she was just another woman he’d met on one of his trips. Laney was nothing like those other women, and he needed to remember that.
Ryker dropped his hands but didn’t step back. He couldn’t, not when she still seemed so unsteady and his body was wound so tightly. She was a drug, his drug. They were bad for each other for too many reasons, yet he wanted more.
“I’m pregnant.”
Ryker stilled. Had she just...
What the hell? He hadn’t heard her right. No way. When they’d been in Miami, he hadn’t planned on having sex with her after the party at the new O’Shea’s location, but she’d assured him she was on birth control. So, no. He hadn’t heard right.
But Laney continued to stare up at him, and Ryker waited for her to say something else, anything else, because there was no way in hell...
“I’m sorry.” Laney leaned her head back against the wall and shut her eyes once more. “I didn’t know how else to say it. I mean, there’s really no good lead-in to something like this.”
Pregnant. As in, a baby. Their baby.
Ryker turned away as dread consumed him. How the hell had he allowed something like this to even be a possibility? A child was definitely not something he ever wanted in his life. No damn way would he purposely bring an innocent baby into this world. Into his darkness.
“You said you were on birth control.”
He didn’t mean for the words to come out as an accusation, but he was confused, damn it. And angry. Angry at himself, because had he kept that control of his in line, Laney wouldn’t be dropping this bomb.
“I was.” She pulled in a breath and squared her shoulders. “I had to switch the one I was on and started a new one the week before Miami. I don’t know if that’s why it happened. I just don’t know...”
He remembered so clearly her tugging his shirt over his head and telling him she was on birth control, that she had just had a physical and was clean. He knew full well he hadn’t been with anyone for a while, and he’d never gone without protection. So in their frantic state of shedding clothes and getting to the good stuff, they’d had a two-second conversation about contraception.
So here they were. Laney was expecting his child and he was...screwed. Literally.
Bracing his hands on the antique table behind the sofa, Ryker dropped his head. He’d kept his hands, and all his other parts, to himself this whole time. Out of respect for the family who took him in and saved his life, Ryker hadn’t given in to the one desire he’d had for years. Until Miami, damn it. How would he ever make things right with the O’Sheas?
Patrick had taken Ryker in at the age of twelve when Ryker had stood up for Braden and Mac on the playground, and the boys had become best friends. Ryker had instantly become like family, but he’d never thought of Laney as a sister. At the time, he’d ignored her because she was so much younger. But by the time she graduated high school, Ryker was deep in the family business, and more than aware that his dirty hands should never touch the sophisticated Laney O’Shea.
When her computer hacking skills were made apparent, Ryker knew she’d be an asset. He’d just had no idea how difficult it would be to work with her. He could afford to hire anyone to do the behind-the-screen work, but he trusted only her.
Braden and Mac were going to kill him. They would kill him and bury his body, and no one would ever know...and he deserved nothing less.
Damn it. Ryker blew out a breath. This was how he repaid the family who trusted him, who was loyal to him when no one else cared?
“This isn’t your fault.”
Her soft voice washed over him, and he let out a curt laugh. “No? Am I the one who pushed his way into your room, tore that dress off and demanded you wrap your legs around me? Or was that another man?”
He threw her a glance just in time to see her flinch. Great. Now he was being an ass. All of this was on him. Laney didn’t deserve his anger—she was just as innocent as the child.
His gaze dropped to her flat stomach, and fear engulfed him. Images of his biological father flooded his mind, and Ryker vowed that second to never be that man. Never would he lay a hand on his child, never would he choose the next fix over putting food on the table.
Ryker’s childhood may be a sad cliché, but that was life and all too often kids were mistreated while other adults turned a blind eye to the abuse.
Ryker looked down. Random scars covered his knuckles, his forearms. His life was made up of more ugly than anything else, yet this beautiful, vibrant woman stood here giving him something so precious and all he wanted to do was...
Hell. What did he want to do? He never wanted Braden or Mac to find out about the night he’d spent with their baby sister. Not that he was afraid of them. He could handle anything thrown his way—almost anything.
They trusted Ryker to keep the family safe, to keep all threats away. Wasn’t that why he’d been ordered to follow her back to her hotel that night? Because there had been a threat against her?
For years he’d kept asshats away from her. A few months ago he’d had to use physical force and pull some major strings to get her ex out of her life. The man had made a menace of himself and had started harassing Laney. He hadn’t told Laney what happened, and he never would, but he knew she wondered. Wondered if Ryker had done something sinister. And maybe that was for the best. Maybe she wouldn’t get those stars in her eyes like she’d had when they were intimate in Miami.
Pushing off the table, Ryker ran a hand down his face. Stubble rustled beneath his palm, and he honestly had no idea what to do next. He’d never faced something this life-altering, this damn scary.
“I don’t expect anything from you.” Laney stood straight, apparently feeling better. Her coloring was back. “But I wasn’t going to keep this a secret, either. I know you don’t want anything to do with me—”
“Stop saying that,” he growled. “You have no idea what I want.”
She tipped up her head, quirked a brow, as if issuing a silent challenge. “Enlighten me.”
If only things were that easy. If only their relationship was about sex and nothing else. If only was the story of his entire messed-up life.
“I will be here for this child,” he told her, turning to face her fully. “I’ll keep you protected.”
“You’ve been looking out for me for years.”
He took a step forward. “Not like this. If you think I was protective before, you haven’t seen anything.”
Laney rolled her eyes. “Don’t do this. Don’t be overbearing. If I hadn’t gotten pregnant, I know you would’ve gone on to ignore me on a personal level. That night we spent together wasn’t supposed to happen, but we were on that path for so long, it was inevitable.”
He hated when she was right. Hated even more that every night since then, he’d had to replay it over and over in his mind because he would never be that close to her again. And she’d ruined him for any other woman.
“I can take care of the baby and myself just fine.” She glared back. “But I don’t want my brothers to know just yet. I’m not ready.”
As much as he hated hiding from anything that threatened him, he was in total agreement. Braden and Mac would find out soon enough, but for now, just no. First, he and Laney had to grasp this news themselves.
Ryker took another step until the gap between them was closed. “Let’s get something straight now. I will take care of you and our baby. You need anything, I’m providing it. You won’t shut me out. If I have to haul you off to my home in London and watch you personally, I will.”
Laney snorted. “Really? Now you choose to let me in?”
“I don’t have a choice,” he muttered.
And maybe he never had...not where Laney was concerned.
So how the hell did he even attempt to keep his loyalty to this family when he’d betrayed them? And how was he going to be closer to Laney than ever before and keep his hands off her?
Ryker Barrett had lived through some rough times, but he had a feeling he was entering a whole new level of hell.
Two (#ulink_a48bf8d2-025b-5bc0-b7b5-5891afb0a872)
How cute was he, thinking he could be all protective and overbearing? Poor Ryker. He clearly forgot he was dealing with an O’Shea. She may be the baby sister, she may be the one everyone loved to keep safely tucked away behind the computer, but she knew more than they’d ever realize. She wasn’t naive, and she wasn’t blind.
And going to London? Not an option. She was working on something right here in Boston that was so near to her heart, she refused to walk away. Pregnant or not, she’d see this project come to fruition.
Once she’d left Ryker’s house earlier, she headed home, changed her clothes and went for a run. Her doctor had informed her that keeping up with her regular exercise routine was perfectly fine. She needed to release some pent-up energy and blow off steam anyway. Perhaps she should’ve joined Ryker in his punching bag workout. Although she feared he’d have pissed her off and she’d have ended up socking him in the face to knock some sense into that thick head of his.
Why did she have to be attracted to such a stubborn, frustrating man? Why did she still have to feel how amazing he was weeks after their encounter? The imprint of his powerful touch would be with her forever. Laney had always wondered if the reality of being with Ryker would measure up to the fantasy...and it was better. So much better than anything she could have dreamed up.
But now that she was pregnant, she wasn’t going to use the child as an excuse to get closer to him. She wasn’t a pathetic, desperate woman. She may have loved Ryker for as long as she could remember, but she would never use an innocent child to get a man.
She’d worried about telling him, though. Worried because she knew enough of his childhood to figure out he probably had no dreams of becoming a father. Ryker never spoke of his birth family—his family had become the O’Sheas the instant Mac and Braden brought him home after school one day. All she knew was that his first twelve years had been hell, and nothing any child should have to go through.
Ryker may be ten years older than her, but that didn’t make him out of her reach. By the time she’d been old enough to notice boys, she’d had eyes for only one man. Oh, she’d dated, but nobody had captured her attention like Ryker. And for years he’d ignored her.
Then one night, as if the dam had broken, he’d quite literally torn off her clothes. Never had Laney been so thrilled, so relieved to finally have a dream become reality. But no dream could’ve ever prepared her for the experience Ryker gave her.
Laney pulled her damp hair into a loose topknot. Now that she’d exercised and showered, she was ready to get some work done. Her brothers were so close to finding their family’s missing heirlooms, and she so wanted to be the one to crack the mystery.
For years, decades actually, their family had been searching for nine missing scrolls. The precious documents dated back to the sixteenth century, when one of their ancestors, an Irish monk, transcribed some of William Shakespeare’s work. The scrolls had been handed down from generation to generation.
But when the Great Depression robbed so many people of their normal lives, the O’Shea family lost their home and everything inside. The home actually ended up falling into the possession of Zara Perkins’s family, which was how Zara and Braden met. Braden had thought that cozying up to the pretty event coordinator and getting inside her house would help in their search. Little did Braden know he’d fall in love.
The scrolls weren’t found, so now the search continued. And Laney would love nothing more than to be the one to find the missing treasure. Her entire life she’d been sheltered, kept at an arm’s length from the dangers of the family business. If her father and brothers hadn’t needed her mad computer skills, she had no doubt they wouldn’t have told her a single thing.
Well, if she found these scrolls, they’d have to acknowledge just how much she brought to the table and how she wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. Family meant everything, and, now more than ever, she was determined to take a stronger role in the business. Proving to her brothers, to Ryker, that she could keep up with them wasn’t going to be a problem. She was an O’Shea. Determination was ingrained in every fiber of her being.
Laney pulled up her email and slid a hand over her flat stomach. This baby would be so hardheaded and strong. There was no other option, considering the genes.
Scrolling through messages, Laney tried to forget Ryker and his demanding ways. But it was those demanding ways that had rocked her entire world at a hotel in Miami.
Maybe she could distract herself with some online Christmas shopping. Maybe that would take her mind off Ryker and the fact she now carried his child. Laney couldn’t help but wonder how her overbearing brothers would react to this news.
Dread filled her stomach. How would Zara take the pregnancy? She and Braden had miscarried a child several months ago. Were they trying for another one? Laney hated to pry, but she also didn’t want to seem insensitive. Especially if they tried and were unsuccessful.
Oh, they’d be happy about the baby, but privately would they be hurt? Laney loved Zara like a sister and didn’t want to cause her any more grief.
With Mac and Jenna planning a wedding, Laney seriously hesitated to say anything to anybody. There wouldn’t be a perfect time, but at least she could wait for a better time.
Laney clicked on an email she’d been waiting on. Her offer had been accepted. Finally. She’d been wanting this news for over a week, and the timing was perfect. One more step closer to her goal of revamping an old, run-down building in Boston’s south side... Ryker’s old neighborhood.
She’d set these plans in motion before Miami. Over the years, she’d heard Ryker talk about unfortunate kids, never of his own childhood, but she knew his worry stemmed from where he’d come from. So Laney wanted to help. She hated the idea of kids feeling like there was no hope, no one there who really cared about their future.
Her father had instilled in her that commitment. To help the unfortunate. When he’d taken in Ryker, he’d done so without another thought. If more people reached out like her father had, maybe this world would be a bit brighter.
She was keeping the project a secret because she wasn’t in it for the praise or the recognition. And she definitely wasn’t out to make the O’Shea name look better in the community, which was what many would think if they knew she was involved.
Laney starred the email and laid her phone on the desk in her office before taking a seat. It had gotten so dark since she’d finished her run. She longed for summer and sunshine, where she didn’t have to worry about getting back in time before sunset. She also wondered if running alone was the smartest choice. She always had done it by herself to clear her head and think, but now that she was pregnant, she felt more vulnerable.
From the time she was little, her father had taught her to always be aware of her surroundings. But now she should take a few more precautions. Even though she lived in Boston and the streets were bustling with people, she might want to consider using her treadmill or finding a jogging partner.
A laugh escaped her as she thought of Ryker. She couldn’t quite imagine the brooding man throwing on a pair of sneakers and running. No, he was more of a boxer type, a guy who lifted heavy weights, or did pull-ups with one arm. He was all strength, all power.
And the thought of all of that excellent muscle tone had Laney attempting to focus on something else. Anything.
Christmas shopping. Right. That’s what she’d been planning to do. Why go to the stores and fight all the crazies when she could go braless at home and have everything delivered right to her door...wrapped even.
Online shopping was glorious.
She also had a few final touches to put on the O’Shea’s holiday party they were having for the staff at Braden’s house in two weeks. The annual event had grown even more since Mac had opened satellite offices in Miami and Atlanta.
Still, Laney loved working on the party and Zara was a professional coordinator, so her sister-in-law had done the majority of the work this year. Laney just needed to order the centerpieces she and Zara had agreed on.
She’d just opened a new browser to search for a dress to wear to the party when her doorbell rang. Glancing quickly at the monitors, she saw Ryker’s hulking frame. He kept his head down, shoulders hunched against the brisk December air. He never came to her house...just like she had never gone to his. He’d followed her home before to make sure she was safe, but he’d never popped in of his own accord.
Who knew it would take a pregnancy to get him to come for a visit?
Pushing away from her desk, Laney headed toward the front door. Darkness had set in and snow swirled around, bright flakes catching in the streetlights.
Laney flicked the lock on her door and opened it, immediately stepping back so Ryker could come in out of the cold.
Without a word he strode inside. Those heavy black boots were quite the contrast to her bare feet with polished pink toes. And that was barely the beginning of all the ways they differed.
Laney closed out the cold and set the dead bolt. Crossing her arms over her chest, she faced the man she’d been half in love with since she was a teen.
“This is a surprise,” she told him. “Did you come to talk or is something wrong?”
“I need to head out of town.”
Laney nodded. His rushing out of town was nothing new. He did so many things for the family. The O’Sheas had gone global with their famous auction houses. Ryker sometimes traveled to obtain relics or random pieces for a specific auction. He’d been known to procure heirlooms that had been stolen. Some may look at him as a modern-day Robin Hood since he returned items to their right owner.
He also was known to go to his home in London for a quick escape, but he was always a text or call away. He put her family first above all else.
“I’m leaving in the morning, and I’ll be gone a few days.”
Laney tipped up her head. “You never tell me when you’re going out of town unless you need my computer skills to pull up the blueprint of a building. If that’s what you—”
“I’m not here for the blueprint.”
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.”
Ryker didn’t know how the coveted scrolls would’ve ended up hours away from where they were last seen or how they were in a basement belonging to an organized crime family, but this was the strongest lead they’d had in a while. Ryker had followed every tip that had popped up. He’d been to London twice, Mexico, Paris and several US states.
When Patrick passed several months ago, he had one dying request. He wanted the scrolls found and returned to the O’Shea family. He’d tried for years to recover them but to no avail. Ryker fully intended to finish the job...it was the least he could do for the people to whom he owed his life.
“Damn, Laney is calling me,” Braden stated. “Keep me posted no matter what happens or what time it is.”
Laney was calling? Was she okay? Did something happen?
Every time he’d thought of her since Miami, all he could think about was the way she came apart in his arms. She’d been so responsive, so passionate. Now when he thought of her, all he could think was that she was carrying his child. His. Child.
The words didn’t seem real even in his own mind. How the hell was he going to take care of a baby? What did he know? His father had only taught him how to get high, get laid and steal. The essentials of every childhood according to dear ole Dad.
Ryker kept his eyes on the house, but his mind wasn’t on the job. Damn. This was why he never got involved with anyone. His loyalties were with Braden and Mac now. And by default, as their baby sister, Laney. If he was worrying about anyone, especially a woman, he wouldn’t be able to concentrate on the task at hand. And the task sure as hell wasn’t Laney.
She’d called Braden, not Ryker. That shouldn’t bother him, but it did. There was no denying that he wanted to be the one she called on when she needed anything. But he couldn’t be that deep in her life and keep his distance at the same time.
His mind went into overdrive. If something was going on with the baby, she wouldn’t have called Braden, that much Ryker was sure of.
Ryker disconnected the call. The penny was heavy in his hand. Over the years, he’d tried to tell himself that the souvenir from the best day of his life was ridiculous and childish to keep. Yet each day he left his house, he grabbed his keys and the penny and shoved them in his pocket. He couldn’t seem to let go of his past.
Story of his life.
After another hour of waiting, which brought the grand total up to six, Ryker decided to call it a night. Laney would let him know if more activity came through her. She’d managed to tap into several areas: emails, private messages on social media, a cell phone.
Ryker always marveled at how crazy brilliant she was. She was seriously the brains behind the operation when it came to research and hunting down people. For years, she’d managed to find anything online, while Ryker did the grunt work. They were a team in a sense, but he never wanted to look at things that way. If he did, then he’d have to admit there was a relationship. And even when their dealings had been platonic, he couldn’t analyze things too deeply when it came to Laney.
The woman could make a man forget everything else in this ugly world. She had beauty, grace and a stubborn streak he couldn’t help but admire.
And now she was having his baby.
Pulling himself up straighter in his seat, Ryker brought the engine of his SUV to life. Snow covered the streets and showed no sign of stopping soon. December in New York was just as brutal and unpredictable as in Boston.
Cranking up the heat, he maneuvered through the streets toward the hotel. Another cold hotel. He always booked a suite. Mostly because growing up he’d lived in a one-room dump of an apartment. Now that he could afford to stay anywhere or buy anything he wanted, he fully intended to take advantage.
But he’d never look at another hotel the same after Miami. Laney changed everything.
He couldn’t even wrap his mind around the fact he was going to be a father. What the hell did he know? His own father had used him as a punching bag when he was awake and only half drunk. Ryker never wanted marriage, kids, the minivan experience. He was just fine with the job he had. Though Braden and Mac would never tell him this was a job, to them he was simply a brother, a best friend.
Which made this pregnancy so much harder to comprehend. He couldn’t come to grips with how he should deal with it, so how the hell could he figure out how to tell them?
Laney was such an innocent. They’d worked for years to keep her safe, to keep her behind the scenes. Ryker had made enemies all over the globe. Now that Laney was pregnant, he would have to be twice as diligent about keeping those he cared about safe.
Yeah, he cared about her. Too much. Being ten years older than her, he’d not paid much attention when he first came to the O’Sheas as a teen. Then he’d been out of the house mostly doing grunt work and earning his way in the family, so he didn’t have to go back to his former hellhole.
By the time he’d started coming around the house more often, Laney was a teen herself and he was a bastard for looking at her twice. If Patrick O’Shea had ever thought Ryker was eyeing his daughter, Ryker doubted he’d still be here.
But Ryker had respected the man more than anyone. Patrick had shown him what a true father figure was. Patrick had cared for his children, put them first and kept them protected at all costs. He had demanded loyalty, and there was nothing Ryker had wanted to give him more.
Which was one of the main reasons he wanted to be the one to uncover the scrolls. Patrick was gone, but Ryker still wanted to do this one final job for the only real father he’d ever known.
And all the more reason Ryker needed to keep his hands to himself where Laney was concerned. Patrick had been extremely protective and cautious when Laney wanted to date certain men. There were guys who wanted to date her simply for her last name or because they thought they could get into the family and wanted to use her as a warped version of a job interview.
Ryker had done neither of those things. He’d just gone straight to taking her against a wall and getting her pregnant like a loser.
One thing was for sure. He may not be father material, but he wasn’t about to ignore his responsibilities. If he had his way, he’d whisk Laney and their baby away and tuck them safely in his home in London...or he’d buy a damn private island. Anything to keep them safe.
He had the funds, that wasn’t the problem. No, the problem came in the form of a beautiful, stubborn, Irish goddess who would rather argue with him than listen to reason.
Ryker pulled into a parking spot right outside the window to his room. Always on the ground floor, always near an exit.
Fear overwhelmed him for the first time in years. Not for himself but for Laney and their unborn child.
When he got back to Boston, they were going to have to talk. He couldn’t outrun her any longer. He may not want a relationship with her, or anyone else for that matter, but he’d make damn sure she was taken care of...regardless of the cost to his own heart.
Most would say he didn’t have a heart. Ryker would have to agree. But Laney made him feel, and he could see the train wreck coming. Someone was going to get hurt.
* * *
When Laney had called her brother because her Christmas decorations were too heavy for her to lift, she hadn’t even realized the time of night. But here he was hauling box after box into her living room.
“Why do you have so much stuff to put up for only one month?” he growled as he sat the last box beside her sofa.
“So you can enjoy it when you come to visit.” Laney smiled and patted his cheek. “Just think, in about four weeks you can come back and take this all back up to my attic.”
“I’ll hire someone. Hell, just leave it up all year long. I won’t judge.”
Laney pulled the lid off one box and stared down at the contents. Christmas decorations were her crack. She loved everything about them. The lights, the glass ornaments that belonged to her mother, the garland she strung over her mantel and down her staircase. Everything was so magical, so perfect, and it made her remember how amazing her childhood had been. A house full of family and laughter, the parties they’d thrown in the O’Shea ballroom.
Tears pricked her eyes. She wanted that for her baby. She wanted her child to know the meaning of family gatherings. There was nothing more valuable to Laney than her family. She needed them now more than ever, but she had no idea how to tell them a little O’Shea was about to join their ranks.
She wasn’t afraid of how they’d react to the baby; her brothers would welcome another O’Shea. But how would they treat Ryker? He was such a staple in their family, and he was so much more to Braden and Mac than just an employee. He was...everything.
Laney sighed and blinked back tears.
“Hey, you okay?” Braden stood beside her, bending to look her in the eye. “Oh, damn. Please don’t cry. I’ll help take them down later, I swear.”
Why was it that the strongest of men couldn’t handle a little water?
“I’m fine,” she assured him, waving a hand. “It’s late and I’m tired. That’s all.”
His dark brows raised in disbelief. “And you opted to start decorating now?”
“I’ve got a lot on my mind.” Wasn’t that an understatement. “I’ll work on this until I think I can fall asleep.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, Braden straightened and pinned her with his eyes. “Is there a problem I need to know about?”
Laney picked up an ornament and began to peel away its bubble wrap. “Just worrying about my brothers. Nothing new.”
That wasn’t a total lie. She always worried about them. Their business kept them busy, traveling, sneaking around. Thankfully they had enough law enforcement in their back pocket to keep them out of the hot seat, but still. Laney always worried something would happen. There were worse fates than being arrested.
“We’re all fine.” Braden took the ornament from her and waited until she turned her attention toward him. “I’m asking about you. Are you still receiving threats? I’d hoped after Shane—”
“Stop worrying about me.”
She didn’t want to talk about her emails or Shane. Ryker had taken it upon himself to...handle the problem of Shane when he’d attempted to abduct Laney from in front of her home in Beacon Hill. Shane had been the bane of her family’s existence for years, but he’d crossed the line when he’d harassed Braden’s wife, Zara. When he’d tried to grab Laney, Ryker had had enough.
And Laney knew the way Ryker had managed the situation had been an issue between him and Braden. Since Braden had taken over the family business after their father passed, he’d been adamant about going legitimate, and that included how they took care of their enemies. Ryker insisted that ending their old practices so suddenly would make them look weak and invite retribution.
Laney was still unsure what happened to her ex, but she was fine about being kept in the dark regarding that.
“Why don’t you get back home to your bride?” Laney suggested. “It’s late. I’m just going to sit here and tear up a little over Mom’s things.”
Braden looked as if he wanted to say more. That intense stare could make even the most seasoned criminal break, but Laney wasn’t caving. She’d grown up around strong-willed alphas her entire life. Not much fazed her.
“If you have any issues, you call me or Ryker immediately.”
Laney nodded, though if she had an issue she’d deal with it herself. She wasn’t a helpless female.
Once she hugged her loving, overprotective brother good-night, she reset her alarm and glanced around at the mess. The tree sat completely naked in the corner near the fireplace where she always put it. She wasn’t even sure at this point if she had any working lights. She tried to buy new ones each year, but, well, this year had been a bit exceptional and her mind had been elsewhere.
Laney found the box with her garland and decided to work on the staircase. That would be simple enough and keep her mind occupied for a few minutes.
She’d barely started when her thoughts drifted to Ryker. There was always a level of fear anytime she knew he was working. But the not knowing was frustrating. She knew the lead he was working on, she’d supplied him with the intel, but she didn’t like how he insisted on going out alone. He always stayed just detached enough to be in the know but keep to himself. Damn frustrating man.
Laney carefully wrapped the banister, fluffing the greenery as she went. This time next year she’d be playing Santa and buying the baby’s first Christmas things—tacky bibs and ridiculous ornaments would be welcome here.
What would her world be like with a child? Laney smiled. As scared as she was to tell her brothers, as worried as she was about what this meant for her and Ryker, there was no way Laney would change one single thing about Miami. This baby would never question how much he or she was loved, and the first person to call this pregnancy a mistake would be throat punched.
The thought of Ryker holding a baby was nearly laughable. She’d never seen his softer side, though she knew he had one. He cared for her, even if he opted to show it in Neanderthal-type ways.
Those whispered words before he left kept playing through her mind. She wished he’d stayed so they could talk, but he was prone to run rather than discuss his feelings. Well, he couldn’t hide from her forever. Eventually they had to talk about the future and their baby.
Laney’s cell chimed from the living room. She hurried down the stairs and carefully maneuvered the minefield of boxes. She found her phone on the coffee table next to a wreath that was in desperate need of fluffing. Because of the time of night, she figured the text would be important.
And she was right.
Ryker’s name lit up her screen, and she swiped her phone to read the message.
Nothing new tonight. Anything come through on your end?
Work. It was always work with him. A sliver of disappointment speared through her as she replied.
Nothing. I’ll keep you posted.
Her thumb hovered over the Send button. She wanted to make this more personal. She wanted to say...something. But Ryker was all work. What would he say if she asked personal questions or called him out on what he’d confessed to her earlier? Could he talk about his feelings when he wasn’t looking her in the face? She understood that. She totally got how people were more apt to open up when they could hide behind an electronic device.
She hit Send but immediately started typing another message.
Earlier when you said you think about me, why were you angry about it?
Laney sent the message before she could change her mind. She wanted to know. She deserved to know, but the screen seemed to mock her as no reply came. She waited several minutes, but still nothing.
Fine. She wasn’t going to beg. Yes, she would give anything to get inside that head of his, but she didn’t want to have to beat the information out of him.
The second she laid her phone down, it chimed once again. Laney stared at the screen. She almost didn’t want to read the message, but she hadn’t been raised to give into any fear.
Because it isn’t right.
Laney resisted the urge to roll her eyes as she contemplated her reply. There was so much to be said, it was too much to text and should be said face-to-face.
But he wasn’t completely closing her out, so she went for it.
Whatever you feel can’t be helped. Why fight it?
Laney jumped when her phone rang. The cell bounced from her hand and onto the sofa, hit a box and landed on the floor. She snatched it up, thankful the screen wasn’t cracked, and she was a bit surprised to see Ryker’s name.
“I didn’t think you’d actually talk to me,” she answered.
“You wouldn’t leave me alone until I did.”
Laney smiled. Just that gruff tone had her nerves calming. Ryker could always make her feel safe, at ease. Even though they argued and got on each other’s nerves, he was her comfort zone. Banter was their normal. Normal was so vanilla. What she and Ryker had, well...that was more Rocky Road.
“Where are you now?” she asked, scooting a box over and taking a seat on her couch.
“Hotel.”
“Plenty of time to talk, then.”
Ryker’s heavy sigh resounded through the line. “I’m not in a chatty mood.”
“Have you ever been?”
“What do you think?”
Laney toed the disorderly wreath aside and propped her socked feet on the coffee table. “Maybe it’s time you stop fighting whatever you’re feeling and just go with it.”
The laugh that escaped him was void of any humor. “Life isn’t that easy.”
“It’s your life, isn’t it? Make it that easy.”
“You think I enjoy pushing my level of self-control?” he asked, his voice gravelly, as if fighting back anger. “I have a responsibility to your brothers. I have a responsibility to you.” He let out a deep sigh. “To our baby.”
Laney’s heart clenched. Closing her eyes, she dropped her head back on the cushion and focused on not botching this. Ryker was so much more to her than she could even put into words, but he may never comprehend that.
“You have a responsibility to yourself,” she said softly. “You owe my family nothing. I know you think you—”
“I owe your family everything. And I’ve betrayed them.”
His last words came out on a strangled breath. Laney stilled. Did he honestly believe that? Was he that torn up over the baby that he truly felt he’d gone against her brothers? Why did everything have to come back to his sense of loyalty to her family? They trusted him, they knew him better than anyone else and they might be angry, but they would still love him.
Tears pricked her eyes, and she cursed her stupid pregnancy hormones. Tears had no place here. She was fighting for what she wanted, what Ryker wanted. Hell, what they deserved.
“If that’s how you feel, then there’s nothing I can say. If you don’t want anyone to know this baby is yours, we don’t have to say anything. I can just say I’m not involved with the father and not tell my brothers any name at all.” Though it would kill her. Pain like nothing before speared through her at the thought of Ryker not being involved. “I can’t make you want—”
“That’s the whole problem,” he yelled. “I want, damn it. Too much. But I’ll never turn my back on you or this baby.”
Laney picked at the hem of her T-shirt and swallowed a lump of remorse. “Right. Responsibilities.”
“Laney—”
“It’s late. I’ll let you go.”
She ended the call, dropping the phone into her lap as she battled back tears. Why did he have to be so noble, yet so ignorant at the same time? Why did he feel that he had to sacrifice his own happiness in order to fulfill some past debt? Ryker had more than proved himself to this family.
At least he hadn’t agreed to being left out of the baby’s life. That would’ve gutted her. But he still only saw her as a responsibility, and Laney feared she’d never be more in his life.
Four (#ulink_2149b51c-663d-57d9-b16c-5ccc73730b08)
“We need to get inside that house.”
Braden nodded in agreement. “How soon can you get back? I don’t want them moving that trunk.”
Ryker leaned back on the leather sofa in Braden’s study. He’d left New York after staying an extra day longer than planned, and had driven straight to Braden’s house. He hadn’t called or texted Laney after their talk on the phone. He’d revealed too much, she’d gotten too close to the raw emotions...emotions he feared he couldn’t hide forever.
Damn it. He hadn’t even been aware of suppressing them, so how the hell did he continue to hide them?
“I can go as soon as I get the blueprint.”
Braden came to his feet. “Great. Laney is due here anytime.”
The blueprint was a pathetic excuse to see her again. He could’ve gotten it the other day when she offered, she could’ve also emailed it. But, he wanted to see her, touch her, consume her. But reality was cold and harsh. He’d had her once, and that would have to stay with him forever because he couldn’t let his guard down again.
He’d not only betrayed Braden and Mac by slashing right through their trust, but he’d let Laney down, as well. He should’ve had more control in Miami, should’ve walked her to her room and kept going once he knew she was safe. How could he have let his all-consuming need for her change their entire lives?
“Ryker?”
Jerking his attention back to Braden, Ryker stood. “Lost in thought. What were you saying?”
“Laney just pulled in.”
Ryker glanced to the monitors and saw Laney stepping from her car. While it had stopped snowing, the ground was blanketed in several inches. Braden’s drive and walk had been cleared though.
He tried not to watch as she pulled her coat tighter around her waist or how her long, dark hair blew in the breeze. He didn’t have to concentrate too hard to still feel that hair over his body. Ryker clenched his fists and ordered himself to get control before she stepped inside. This would be the first time the three of them would be together since he’d found out about the pregnancy. He couldn’t give anything away. He couldn’t—
On the screen, Laney slipped and went down. Ryker tore out of the study, down the hall and through the foyer. He whipped open the door, oblivious to the wind and the bitter air. Laney had a gloved hand on the bumper of her car and was pushing herself up.
“Stop.” Ryker slid his arms around her waist. “Lean into me.”
Laney pushed her hair away from her face and looked up at him. “I’m fine. Embarrassed, but fine.”
Ryker didn’t let her go as she came fully to her feet.
“Is she okay?”
Ryker glanced over his shoulder to Braden who was coming toward them. “I think so.”
Laney tried to push off Ryker, but winced. “Okay. Just give me a second.”
His hands flattened over her stomach as his heart sank. “Laney?”
Her eyes held his. “It’s my ankle. Just sore. I’m okay.”
How did she know? Could she be sure the baby was okay? Ryker didn’t know how hard she fell. Hell, he didn’t know anything about pregnancies or babies, but seeing her go down had nearly stopped his heart.
Scooping her up in his arms, and careful to avoid random ice patches, he stalked past Braden and into the house. Zara rushed in from the kitchen, her dark hair flying around her shoulders.
“What happened? Laney?”
“I’m okay.” Laney waved a hand. “Just slipped outside and my ankle is sore. Ryker is being overbearing as usual.”
Considering he’d been that way with her for years, this wasn’t out of the ordinary. He didn’t give a damn if it was. Seeing Laney go down like that had ripped something open inside him. In the brief seconds it took him to get outside, all he could think of was their baby. How the hell was he going to handle parenting?
“I’ll get some ice,” Zara told them.
Ryker gently laid Laney on the chaise in the formal living room. Her hand slid against the side of his neck as she let go. Even though she had gloves on, just that simple touch took him back to Miami when she’d—
No. That was then. A mistake. He couldn’t live in the past. He’d vowed to move on and that’s exactly what he had to do if he wanted to get their intimacy out of his life.
Unfortunately, Laney had imbedded herself into his soul...and he thought he’d sold that to the devil a long time ago.
But he felt her. When she looked at him, he swore he felt her. That delicate touch, the tender gaze. She was hurting now, and he needed to focus.
“I’ll call our doctor,” Ryker stated.
Laney immediately started to shake her head. “I just went down wrong. I’m fine. I didn’t fall hard.”
“Let’s get your boot off and look at your ankle.” Braden went to unzip her boot. “Can you move it at all?”
She wiggled her foot, and Ryker watched her face for any sign of discomfort. When her bright eyes flashed up to his, he had to tell himself not to look away. She could draw him in so easily...and she knew the power she possessed.
“It’s a little swollen,” Braden commented. “I’d say you’re fine. Just stay off it for a while.”
Laney smirked. Freakin’ smirked at him like a child who’d been playing parents against each other. Ryker narrowed his eyes. “I’m calling the doctor anyway just to be safe.”
Before he could slide his cell from his pocket, Laney laid a hand on his wrist. “I’m fine.” Her eyes bore into his, completely serious now. “I promise. I’d know if I needed to be seen.”
She didn’t look away, her grip tightened. Ryker blew out a breath he wasn’t aware he’d been holding. Of course she would get a doctor here if she thought she needed one. Laney loved this baby and wouldn’t make poor choices. Still, for his peace of mind, he’d feel better if she was seen.
“Relax,” she whispered, her eyes darting toward her brother.
Yeah. Relax.
Ryker took a step back and glanced down at her ankle. He needed to get a grip. Being cautious and protective was one thing, but acting like a hovering boyfriend was—
Seriously? How had that word even popped into his head? He wasn’t her damn boyfriend. This wasn’t junior high. But she was right. If he didn’t get a grip, Braden would wonder what was going on, and that wasn’t a topic he wanted to dive headfirst into right now.
“Here you go.” Zara came back in and placed an ice pack wrapped in a towel over Laney’s ankle. “Let’s put a pillow under you to keep it propped up.”
Ryker stayed back as Braden and Zara got Laney situated. He wanted to scoop her up and take her back to his house where he could take care of her. He wanted her tucked away behind his state-of-the-art security system where she’d be safe at all times. But none of that was possible. She’d never be at his house on personal terms. He’d never see her in his bed.

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