Beale Street Blues (20 page)

Even his own father had been at his birth. What kind of man misses the birth of his first child? He couldn't remember the last time he'd cried, but at the crisp clear sound of his son's cries, he shed his own tears.

The anger in Darling's eyes softened as his tears fell. She watched as he stood there wiping away the sign of his own pain.

"Darling, I love you and my son." He tugged at the blankets covering Jaxon Jr. and knew he had to give her the choice. "Do you want me to leave? I want to be here." He stared into the eyes of the woman who'd just given birth to his son and something happened to his heart. He knew that even if she told him to get the hell out, he would keep coming back until she put a restraining order against him. There was no way he could actually leave them.

Her silence killed him.

His heart grew heavier as he stepped away from them and decided he should at least go to the waiting room outside and talk with their parents. Maybe, he could get them to talk to her for him.

Jaxon took another step back.

Darling reached for his hand. "Do you want to hold him?"

He reached for his son, and as they shifted him from her arms to his, his son's hiccupped cries quieted.

She smiled, weakly. "He knows you're his dad."

The bronzed skin of his son was a perfect blend of theirs. He traced a finger over their baby's chin and his cries stopped. "You think so." He dared to take another look into her eyes. Each time he did, he would swear she stole another piece of him.

She ran her fingers through her hair loosening tangles as she reached the ends. She continued the process until she was satisfied. Since the pregnancy, she'd decided to let her hair grow. After smoothing it, she twisted her hair into a bun and knotted it on top of her head.

With no make-up and untamed hair, she was still the most beautiful woman he knew.

"You made him stop crying." She smiled.

"How is it possible to love someone so completely, so quickly?" He sat in the chair beside the bed holding his son with his baby's mother watching.
Baby's mama.
That had to change… he needed to marry her quick. "He feels so fragile." He held him tighter and kissed his cheek. "I can't believe I missed his birth."

"You can make it up to us." Darling elevated her bed and reached for him. Pulling him by his shirt, she closed the distance between them. "I love you Jaxon Slater. I'm mad as hell that you weren't here." She cupped his face between her hands. "I was so afraid."

"I know." He leaned closer and kissed her. "What do I have to do to make it up to you?"

A beautiful sexy grin he'd never seen before crossed her face. "Lots and lots of things."

Hours later, Jaxon's feet dangled from a cot the staff had rolled into Darling's room. He'd missed the birth and he couldn't take that back, but he refused to leave the hospital until they did. They'd taken Jaxon Jr. back to the hospital nursery. Unable to sleep, he rested on the creaky cot staring out of the hospital room window. The full moon that stared back at him mocked him for his inability to be the man he needed to be. Would he be a role model for his son? One day, his son would need his birth certificate for something, and it would show his first mistake—too afraid to marry the woman he loved, the way she wanted him to marry her.

Darling woke to sounds of chaos around her. Her parents and Jaxon's mother were moving around the room with such purpose, she couldn't figure out what they were doing. Squinting at the bright sunlight pooling through the windows of her private room, she tried to orient herself. The dull burning sensation that quickly spread through her lower body reminded her of where she was and what had happened. She'd given birth to her son, Jaxon. And even though he was late, his father hadn't left her alone. Instead, he'd spent the entire night on a rollaway bed barely big enough for her.

She turned toward the other bed to say good morning. But, he wasn't there. "Mom, what's going on?" She searched the room for Jaxon and the baby. "Is it feeding time? Where is Jaxon?"

"Jaxon will be back shortly." Her mom smiled at her over her shoulder. "We're getting ready."

"For what?" She tugged at the short thin blankets on her bed. But, she felt no warmer.

"A wedding," Jaxon's mother answered with a bigger smile.

Where these two ladies losing it? Who has a wedding in a hospital? "A wedding?" She puffed up the pillows behind her and slid up a little in bed. "Who? What?" Where was Jaxon?

Her mom opened a box and held up a beautiful white wedding dress. "Jaxon picked it out." Using one of her arms, her mother fluffed out the white fabric for Darling's approval.

The empire cut dress was as long as her mother was tall, which meant it would drag the floor on her. "My wedding!" She reached for the dress. It was simple with no beading, just beautiful chiffon. And it would be forgiving of her belly. "It's beautiful," she cried.

"He spent all morning picking out the perfect dress," his mother said.

"Bout time," her father added.

Darling combed her fingers through her hair, and then dragged them over her face. "But, my hair and make-up." He may accept her just as she was, and she may be having a wedding in a hospital, but that didn't mean she had to look like she'd been dug up by the cat.

"We've got that covered," his mother said.

Both women flashed huge smiles. "Your mom and I are at your service," Jaxon's mother replied as both women wrapped their arms around each other. "We're your personal stylists today."

"So, let's get you up and into the shower," her mom added.

She didn't want their parents to be upset or feel they'd missed out on anything because they weren't having the big wedding with all the crazy trimmings. "Mom, Mrs. Slater, I know you guys had big plans."

They looked at each other. "We did. But, this is your wedding," her mother replied. "You should have the wedding you want."

"Besides, we can still have a big party. Right?" his mom asked.

"Yes, ma'am. We can definitely have a party." She smiled. "A huge one!"

As she headed toward the shower, another thought hit her. "Mom, what about shoes?"

Her mom opened another box. "What do you think?" She held up a beautiful pair of flat white ballet slippers.

Perfect for a woman who just had a baby and didn't want to wear heels. "Love them!"

With a little help from her mom and Mrs. Slater, she disappeared into the shower.

Inside the hospital chapel surrounded by her doctor and the nurses who'd assisted with the birth of their son, she and the man she loved faced the hospital's pastor. Everyone, including Jaxon, wanted her to sit in a wheelchair, but that wasn't going to happen. Her legs were a little wobbly, but it didn't matter. Her doctor and every nurse marveled at how quickly she was recuperating for a first pregnancy. And she felt like she could do anything. So, no, she would stand at Jaxon's side.

"I can't believe you guys pulled this together while I slept," she said to Jaxon as they stood in front of the hospital's pastor.

"Believe it," Jaxon responded with a smile that she would never grow tired of seeing.

"What? Were you afraid I would run?"

"Yes," he whispered. "And I've waited long enough to make you my wife." His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her tight to his body.

The first touch of his lips to hers buckled her knees. Only the strength of his arms around her held her upright.

The pastor cleared his throat. "It's not quite time for that, yet." He smiled.

"Sorry, sir. Just practicing," Jaxon said as he released her.

Jaxon Jr. whaled at the sound of his father's voice.

"Looks like we'd better hurry this up. Someone's hungry," Darling added.

Jaxon quirked an eyebrow at her. Heat burst through her body. It took nothing for Jaxon to melt her. Even though she'd just given birth, the only thing she could think about was when she would be able to feel his mouth, his hands, all of him again.

The next weeks would be hard, but as the pastor began the ceremony, joy filled her at the thought of spending the rest of her life with her husband their beautiful baby boy.

By Angela Kay Austin

Beale Street Blues

Rumer

Give Me Everything

Derailed

Sweet Victory

Scarlet's Tears

Love All over Me

Coming Soon

Love's Chance

Freedom

The following is an excerpt from
Love's Chance
by Angela Kay Austin.

S
inclair emerged from the bathroom. "I'm ready." Golden dreadlocks crinkled into big twists cascaded down around her shoulders. Although not revealing, her tangerine blouse hugged her full bosom, then lay over the top of the waistband of her jeans. Jeans that hugged the curves of her hips and thighs.

DAMN.
Immediately, his body reacted to hers. It took Chance a moment to rise from his chair.

"I'm ready," Sinclair repeated.

"Okay, so what do you want to do first? Casino downstairs or maybe walk under the lights on Freeman?"

Her eyes twinkled as she answered, "Lights."

"Okay, lights it is. Let's go grab a taxi."

The cab ride to Freeman Street felt like the longest ride of his life. With her eyes closed, she rested her head on his shoulder the entire trip. Each rub of her cheek against his shoulder matched the caress of her breasts against his arm as she found the right spot to doze. Touch after touch increased his ache. His need and desire. His khaki pants pulled tighter against his body with each meeting of their bodies. Before the taxi dropped them at their destination, he hoped he could regain control.

When the taxi pulled up to the curb, he grew anxious, but he had to wake her in order to reach his wallet. After paying the driver and quickly counting to ten, he opened the door and they hopped out. "Sinclair you seem really tired. Maybe we should head back."

"No, I'll be fine." She yawned and stretched.

Chance draped his arm around her and they walked. "Okay, Cinderella, we'll have you home before midnight."

"So, if I'm Cinderella, are you my Prince Charming?"

"Maybe not Prince Charming, but the Frog Prince."

"Hmm…Frog Prince. So, I have to kiss you to break the curse?"

Chance stopped. He slowly backed Sinclair up against a brick wall and stared at her lips. He wanted to kiss her. For about six months, he'd wanted to. "You have to kiss me to break the spell. That's true."

Her breathing sped up to match his. "What spell?"

He couldn't play the game any longer. "Sinclair, will you stop me?"

"Stop you? Chance, I—" Her words halted.

Chance's hands explored Sinclair's body. Slowly, he dragged them up and down along her butt, thighs and back. He placed his hands on either side of her head and intertwined his fingers in her locks. "Sinclair. Yes or no."

"Ye—"

Chance didn't wait for her to finish. Her mouth opened to his. The warmth of her tongue increased his desire. This time, he didn't count to ten or hide it. He pressed his to body hers and against the stone behind her.

Petite hands grabbed at the back of his shirt, pulling him closer.

Angela Kay Austin
has always loved expressing herself creatively. An infatuation with music led to years playing several instruments, some better than others. A love for acting put her in front of a camera or two for her thirty seconds on camera before giving way to a degree and career in communications. After completing a second degree in marketing, Angela found herself combining her love for all things creative and worked in promotions and events for many years.

Today, Angela lives in her hometown in Tennessee with her really, really, really old dog, Midnight.

To learn more about Angela, visit her website:
http://www.angelakayaustin.com/
.