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12

Two weeks later…

“Thank you all so much!” Natalie Hayes beamed from the front of her and Logan’s living room. “For coming, and for…” The mother-to-be scanned the recently unwrapped gifts strewn about the floor. “For all of this. You guys seriously spent way too much money on stuff for the baby.”

Scottie couldn’t help but to smile. Though they’d only known each other a short while, she’d come to really like Natalie. And from what she’d seen so far of Cassie and Ellie—the other two Eagle’s Nest wives—she was confident she was going to like them, too.

“No they didn’t,” Logan teasingly argued against his wife’s claim. “I know what these guys make. Trust me…they can afford it.”

Natalie laughed, her rounded belly jostling up and down to the beat of the joyful sound. “I know what they make, too, remember? I am the one who signs their paychecks, after all.”

“Fair point.” Logan nodded. “Still, our baby deserves the best. Besides, these gifts were given with love by our baby’s honorary uncles and aunts. We’re pretty much obligated to accept.”

“Obligated, huh?”

“Yep.” Logan leaned in and kissed his wife on the temple. “It’s in the rules.”

Natalie’s belly shook again with another round of laughter. “Since when do you…or any of the men in this room, for that matter…follow all the rules?”

“The woman does have a point,” Chase joined in the playful banter. His blue eyes slid past Archer, Lucky, and a sullen-looking Van. “Don’t know about y’all, but I’m gonna have fun watching Hayes attempt to become the disciplinarian.”

Scottie tried imagining Chase as a father. It wasn’t hard since she’d envisioned that very thing countless times in the past.

She as Chase’s wife. The two of them working together as lifelong partners. Raising the family she’d always dreamed of having.

Maybe some dreams do come true, after all.

“Nah, man.” Archer gave a quick shake of his head. “Hayes will be fine. Lucky’s the one facing a rude fuckin’ awakening if he and Ellie ever decide to give parenthood a try.” Archer slapped Lucky on the back of one shoulder. “Can you imagine this guy layin’ down the law with a cute little mini-Ellie staring up at him with her long, dark pigtails and big, blue, puppy dog eyes?”

“Whatever.” Lucky shrugged the other man’s hand away. “I’ll be a great dad.” His blue gaze landed on his beautiful wife. “Isn’t that right, honey?”

Ellie—the gorgeous brunette attorney Scottie had met just two hours before—gave a dramatic roll of her own striking blue eyes. “Archer’s right. When the time comes, you’re totally going to be the ‘fun’ parent, and I’m going to end up having to be the mean one.”

“Well…” Chase chimed back in. “I mean, you are a lawyer. Isn’t being mean a requirement?”

The room burst into laughter when both Ellie and Cassie lifted their hands simultaneously to give Chase the bird.

“I wouldn’t run that mouth of yours too much, pretty boy.” One of Ellie’s dark brow arched high. “You’ve already put a ring on your girl’s finger, and we all know what that means.”

“Yeah?” Chase challenged back. “And what’s that?”

“You know. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in a?—”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it.” He waved a hand in the air to cut her off. “But Scottie and I have only been engaged for like two weeks. You and Lucky—and Arch and Cass, for that matter—have been doin’ the whole ball-and-chain bit for a while, now. So, when it comes to babies, all I have to say is…you first.”

More laughter ensued as Cassie and Ellie began picking up the mess of torn paper, shiny bows, and long, untied ribbons. While they got to work on that, the guys began a casual meander toward what was left of the food.

Scottie knew she should pitch in and help Archer and Lucky’s wives, but for some reason, her feet couldn’t quite seem to move. Her chest tightened as she stood in place, her mind racing to decipher a deeper meaning behind Chase’s comment to Ellie.

You first.

What had he meant by that? Was it a simple joke whose intent stemmed solely from jest? Or had Chase seriously meant he wasn’t ready to become a father?

Until recently, Scottie had all but given up on the dream of getting married and having a family. The way her luck always ran in the wrong direction, she’d even started believing it was probably for the best.

But now…

“Oh!” Natalie’s brown gaze widened as she brought a quick hand to her midsection. “I swear it felt like the baby just did a complete somersault.”

The baby.

On reflex, Scottie slid a hidden glance in Chase’s direction. He was standing in the open kitchen several feet away. His face was full of laughter and joy as he and his friends filled their plates with the finger foods and desserts she’d been more than happy to prepare for today’s intimate celebration among friends.

Only as she stood in the home of the couple responsible for the conception of Eagle’s Nest Securities, it didn’t feel as if they were spending time with friends. Between the closeness and familiarity—as well as the lighthearted bantering—it felt a whole lot more like being with…

Family.

And suddenly, Scottie felt the overwhelming urge to be anywhere else.

“Hey Natalie?” She glanced over at the mother-to-be. “Where did you say your restroom is?”

The pretty CPA looked up from what she was doing and smiled. “Just down the hall.” She pointed to the area behind where Scottie stood. “Second door on the right.”

“Thanks. I just need a minute, and then I’ll come back and help with the clean-up.”

“Take your time, Scottie.” Cassie’s baby blues met hers as the gorgeous blonde held open a large black trash bag for Ellie. “There’s really not all that much picking up to do.”

“Cass is right.” Ellie tossed a large ball of wadded wrapping paper into the bag. “Besides, you busted your tail to create all that amazing food. I’d say you’ve done your fair share of the work.”

“Agreed.” Natalie flashed her a wide smile.

Doing her best to keep her expression schooled to avoid raising any suspicion, Scottie held her smile in place as best she could. The last thing she wanted was to make today’s celebration about herself by having a complete and total breakdown in the middle of the room.

Her issues would still be there tomorrow. Today’s focus needed to be on Natalie, Logan, and their unborn baby.

Baby.

“I-I’ll be right back.”

Not giving Natalie—or anyone else—the chance to pick up on the anxiety and nerves she was trying so desperately to keep hidden, Scottie spun around and headed down the hallway. Entering the spacious half-bath, she shut the door behind her, making sure it was locked.

Once she knew she was safe and away from prying eyes, she turned away from the door before pulling in the longest, deepest breath she could muster. A few seconds later, Scottie released it slowly as she made her way to the sink.

She placed her palms against the countertop’s cool surface. Locking her elbows, she let her head fall between her tense shoulders, giving herself a moment to simply breathe.

That was it. That’s all she did. She didn’t think about babies or marriage. She just let herself…breathe. In and out, her lungs pushed and pulled the air inside the room as she worked to collect her spiraling thoughts.

A few minutes later, Scottie was still standing there, still focusing on little more than breathing, when a gentle knock sounded from the other side of the door.

“Hey, Scottie?” Natalie’s soft, almost hushed voice came through. “You okay in there?”

Crap. Had she been hiding out longer than she’d realized? It hadn’t seemed as if she’d been in the bathroom all that long, but the other woman’s concern said otherwise.

Either way, Scottie knew she needed to respond quickly. Otherwise, Natalie would really start to worry and most likely bring Chase in to help figure out what was wrong.

“I’m good!” She hollered back quickly, turning on the water for good measure. After washing her hands needlessly, she dried them off and forced herself to open the door.

“Sorry.” She flashed the other woman a smile. “I didn’t mean to hog the bathroom for so long.”

“Oh, I don’t need to pee.” Natalie shook her head with a grin. “Of course, give it five minutes, and that will probably change.”

Scottie chuckled nervously, knowing her new friend was attempting to joke around. “Right.” Another trembling laugh. “Because of the baby.”

The baby.

“I just wanted to make sure you were okay. You seemed a little worried or…something during the shower.”

Or something.

“I’m fine,” Scottie rushed the lie. “Really. Everything’s fine.”

A knowing look fell over the other woman’s pretty face. In an awkward move, she squeezed her swollen belly past Scottie, entering the bathroom and shutting the door behind her.

“See? Now I know something’s up.” Natalie turned back around and faced her. “One ‘fine’ in a response is acceptable. Two or more is overkill, so come on. Spill it.”

Scottie’s heart gave a hard kick, and her already fired-up nerves getting a healthy new dose of adrenaline.

“I don’t…” She shook her head with a stutter. “I-I don’t know what you’re?—”

“Oh, that’s right.” The other woman said this as if it explained everything. “You fit in with us so well, I sometimes forget you’re still new to the group. Okay, so here’s how this works. You’re with Chase, and that makes you one of us.”

“One of you?”

“Yep.”

That was it. Nothing more.

“I don’t understand.”

“Then I’ll make it simple. You and Chase are getting married—which, by the way, we are all so freaking excited about—so that makes you an official member of the Eagle’s Nest family. Since family sticks together, your problems become our problems. And that’s not us being nosey or butting in. We’re here to help. I’m here to help. So…” When Scottie remained silent, Natalie went with a prodding, “Okay, so this is the part where you tell me what’s wrong, and then I do what I can to help.”

Tears rushed to the surface before Scottie could stop them, and though she did her damnedest to keep them from falling, one fell from the corner of her eye. “Today’s supposed to be about you, Natalie.” She swiped the tear away. “Not me and my…issues.”

“Nonsense.” The other woman waddled over to the toilet, unceremoniously putting down the lid and taking a seat. “Listen, Scottie.” A sweet expression fell over Natalie’s pretty face. “I know we don’t know each other all that well, yet. But one thing you should know about me is I value the friends in my life. And with that comes trust.”

Scottie stared back at the other woman, confused. “You can trust me, Natalie.”

The mom-to-be simply chuckled and shook her head. “No, I know I can trust you. Both Chase and Sloane do, which is all the proof I need.”

“Then what are you?—”

“I’m trying to get you to see that you can trust me. I’m saying if you have something you want to get off of your chest but you aren’t ready to discuss it with Chase, you can tell me. And just so you know, I’m not the type of woman who’d run straight to Cass or Ellie to spill all the juicy tea. Nor will I say anything to Logan. Not unless I have your permission.” She rested a hand over her expanded midsection and sat back against the toilet’s porcelain tank. “I guess what I’m trying to say is, life or death situation aside, whatever you tell me will stay between us. You have my word on that.”

More tears threatened to fall, but thankfully, Scottie managed to keep them at bay. She wasn’t used to having girlfriends to turn to when she was worried or upset, but maybe it was time she gave that sort of thing a try.

“You won’t tell Chase?”

“Not unless your life or someone else’s depends on it, no. Or, of course, if you were to do something stupid like cheat on the sweet man. Then all bets are off.” Natalie’s lips curled into an unthreatening smile. “But you don’t exactly strike me as the cheating type, so?—”

“I love Chase with all my heart.” She made that point very clear. “I’d never do anything to hurt him. Not ever.”

“Then you and I will get along just fine. So, come on. Tell me what’s got you so worried.”

Scottie drew in a breath, releasing it slowly, before she gave her new friend the shocking news.

Here goes nothing.

“I, uh…” She swallowed past the giant knot in her throat. “I’m pretty sure I’m…pregnant.”

There. She’d done it. She’d said the words out loud.

“You’re what?” Moving faster than any woman that far along in their pregnancy should be able, Natalie practically jumped back up to her feet. Wrapping her arms around Scottie as best she could with the growing baby taking up space between them. The other woman sounded genuinely excited by the news. “Oh, my gosh! That’s such great news! Congratulations!”

But was it great news?

Scottie thought back to the first time she and Chase had sex. She’d told him she was on the pill, and that was the God’s honest truth. Somehow, the contraceptive must have failed.

And now…

Now, I have to figure out a way to tell him we’re going to have a baby.

“Wait…” Natalie pulled back and looked her in the eye. “Is this… not good news?”

“No, it is.” Scottie nodded. “At least, I think it is. It’s just that?—”

“Chase doesn’t know.”

She shook her head, rolling her lips nervously inward. “I’m planning on telling him today, once we get back to his place.” They had stayed there the last few nights. “The thing is, we just got engaged like two weeks ago. Plus, I’m on the freaking pill! This…” Her throat worked to swallow down her nerves as her gaze fell to Natalie’s rounded midsection. “This wasn’t supposed to happen. Not so soon.”

A flash of understanding lifted Natalie’s mouth into a soft smile. “Sorry to be the one to tell you this, hun, but right now is the exact time this was supposed to happen. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have.”

The woman’s words—along with her casual shrug—made it all seem so simple. But it wasn’t simple. It seemed as if nothing in Scottie’s life ever was.

“You know what I mean.” She kept her voice low.

Natalie nodded. “I think I do. You’re worried Chase won’t be happy about the baby when you two haven’t even had a chance to say your vows. But here’s the thing, Scottie. You have no way of knowing for sure how he’ll react until you tell him.”

“That’s the problem. I don’t know how to tell him. Especially after what he said to Ellie about how we aren’t even married yet, and?—”

“Oh, honey.” Empathy shone brightly in her pretty brown gaze. “He was just giving her shit. You know how Chase likes to joke around.”

“I do.” Scottie nodded. “But this is huge, and every time I try to think of the best way to tell him, my mind draws a blank.”

“You just have to say the words.” The woman made it sound so easy. But then, “And I know that’s easier said than done, but I also know Chase. He and I have been friends for several years, and I’m telling you…I have never seen him look at another woman the way he looks at you.”

“I appreciate that, Natalie. I do, but?—”

“Nope. No buts.” She gave Scottie a pointed look. “Listen, if there’s one thing I’m absolutely certain of, it’s that Chase is one hundred percent, head over boots in love with you. And there isn’t a doubt in my mind that, planned or unplanned, he’s going to love the baby the two of you created together just as much. So don’t borrow trouble where there isn’t any. And maybe…don’t underestimate Chase.” Her smile spread a bit wider. “You never know…he may surprise you.”

Scottie opened her mouth—to say what, she wasn’t sure. But the door to the bathroom opened at that exact same moment, disrupting her chance to speak altogether.

“There you are.” Chase’s handsome, smiling face appeared. “We were all wondering where you two were hiding out.”

Scottie froze, unsure of what to say without flat-out lying. Natalie, thankfully, had absolutely no problem finding her voice.

“We weren’t hiding, thank you, very much. We were just participating in a little thing called girl talk. I’d tell you to try it sometime, but…well…you’re not a girl, so…”

Despite her heightened anxiety over her current situation, Scottie felt her mouth form a genuine smile. Yes, there was no question. She and Natalie were going to be great friends.

Chase’s eyes slid back to hers. “Well, I was just going to say I’m ready to head out when you are. No rush, though. I’d hate to interrupt your super-exclusive gossip session.”

His dramatic show of hand motions he added at the end made both women chuckle. In the back of her mind, Scottie was thankful she’d held back the full-on crying session she’d been on the verge of experiencing a few minutes earlier.

The last thing she needed was to have Chase worried about her, too. Not here. Not when they’d all gathered to celebrate the impending birth of another couple’s child.

But as soon as they got back to his place…

“I’m ready now,” she told him.

She wasn’t quite ready to reveal her greatest secret, but she would be. The minute they stepped inside his impressive apartment, Scottie would tell the man she loved he was going to be a dad.

Minutes later, after saying their goodbyes, she was buckled in the passenger seat of Chase’s truck while he sat behind the wheel. With every mile they covered, the more nervous she became.

Like a script running on a loop in her head, she mentally went over what she planned to say. She’d become so lost in her thoughts, it wasn’t until Chase reached over and rested a hand on the top of her thigh that Scottie even realized he’d been trying to get her attention.

“Hey.”

Scottie’s muscles tensed with surprise before she looked over at him with a widened stare. “Sorry, what?”

A frown dipped his brows in the center. “What’s going on with you today? You okay?”

“Nothing’s going on.” It was an automatic response. “I’m fine.”

“Scottie…”

He said her name as if it were a warning. As if he knew she was holding something back.

You have no idea.

“Sorry. I guess I just have a lot on my mind.”

“Like what?”

“It’s nothing,” she lied.

She hated lying to the man she loved, but dammit. She did not want to have this conversation in the cab of his truck. Especially while he was driving. Not when she had no idea how the man was going to react.

Thick, awkward silence filled the cab of his expensive truck as several blocks passed by her in a blur. From the corner of her eye, she could tell he was glancing her way. His focus on a constant swivel between her and the road ahead.

“Are you…” He started to speak up again as they neared a less populated part of the city. “If you’re having second thoughts about getting married?—”

“What?” She swung her gaze his way. “I’m not having second thoughts, Chase.” That was the last thing she wanted him to think. “I love you, and I want to marry you. That hasn’t changed.”

“Well, something has. You’ve been acting different all day. First this morning before we left my place, and then at the baby shower…” He glanced over at her again. “I mean, I know it was your first time meeting some of my friends, but I can promise they all loved you.”

“I like them, too,” she admitted truthfully. “A lot. They’re all really nice.”

Another stretch of silence passed before he initiated the conversation again.

“If it’s not cold feet, and you don’t have a problem with my friends, then just tell me what it is that has you acting so distant.”

“Chase, please,” she practically begged, refusing to look him in the eye. “Can we finish talking about this when we get to your apartment? It’s only a few more blocks away, and I’d feel a lot more comfortable having this conversation someplace other than your truck.”

He didn’t respond at first. Didn’t look her way or utter a single word. Scottie knew she was screwing this whole thing up, but her thoughts and emotions were so scattered and overwhelming she was having a hard time trying to figure out how to fix it.

The truck jerked suddenly to the right. Scottie’s gaze shot up as Chase swerved into the abandoned parking lot of what used to be an old two-pump gas station.

He hit the brakes hard, the unexpected jolt sending her upper body slightly forward against her seatbelt.

“Chase, what are you?—”

“Something’s eating at your gut, and I can’t wait until we’re home to find out what it is.” He shoved the gearshift into park, turning in his seat to fully face her. “Please, Sugar. Talk to me.”

Scottie’s focus returned to the knotted fingers resting in her lap.

“See?” His frustration became more than a little clear. “Dammit, you won’t even look at me.”

Scottie forced herself to meet his fiery gaze. From the look on his face, he wasn’t as much angry as he was worried. Of course, given her behavior, she understood why.

“I’m…scared.”

Chicken.

Chase’s tense expression fell with a worried frown. “Of what? Did something happen?” His face flattened. “Did that fucking reporter contact you after I specifically told him?—”

“Reporter?” She did look at him then. “What reporter?”

Giving his head a quick shake, Chase ignored the question by switching the subject of their focus back to her. “Tell me what you’re afraid of, Scottie.”

“I’m afraid of losing you…again.”

“Ah, sugar.” He reached up, putting a gentle hand to her cheek. “There’s nothing you can say that will ever send me running. Not unless…” A flash of fear crossed over him as his blue eyes searched hers. “I mean, there’s not…someone else. Is there?”

Yep. She had definitely screwed this whole thing up.

“No, Chase.” Scottie made sure that message was clear. “There’s no one else, and there will be no one else. Only you.” She covered his hand with hers, closing her eyes and leaning into his touch.

“Then tell me, sweetheart.” His thumb brushed across her skin with the lightest of touches. “Just say it. Whatever it is, I’ll be right here by your side. Always.”

Always.

Scottie thought back to what Natalie had said about not underestimating the man she loved. In keeping with that spirit, she opened her eyes and parted her lips, finally ready to tell him the news.

She turned to him, the words starting to fall from her lips. “Chase, I’m?—”

That’s when she saw it.

A big, black van was barreling through the intersection behind Chase. Its front end bounced as the front tires hit the parking lot’s edge.

“Chase, look out!”

Scottie shouted the warning, but it was too late. She was too late.

The van didn’t slow down or make any signs of stopping. She screamed as it slammed right into Chase’s truck. A flash of pain filled her skull and the world around her began to spin.

After that…nothing.