Come Home Bad Boy (11 page)

Her hands lifted to cover her mouth, head frozen on the little window below her. Standing at her side, I forced my head to fall forward. The muscles in my neck had seized, locking my head in place. My eyes had closed tight without trying, peeling my lids open, I looked at the test.

Two lines.

Positive.

Snapping my head up, an open dumbfounded gaze fixed on my face. Heidi was looking at the stick, eyes welled up with tears. Wrapping my fingers around her wrist, she shifted her eyes to mine.

“Do you see that?” she asked, cupping her jaw. “That's two lines, two.” The tears began to stream over her cheeks, trickling down her face, falling to her chest.

Wiping them away, I brushed the loose hair from her face. “I see it, and it's exactly what I hoped to see.”

“Wow, I'm having a baby— We're having a baby.” Her words trembled through her tears, face flushing a cherry red. “Silas, we're having a baby.”

I knew then, there was something else I had to do. Something else to keep her with me, no matter how things would end. I wanted her to come home to, her beautiful face to greet me when I stepped off that plane.

With Heidi I felt whole, she completed me, and this baby completed our family.

Gripping her hand, I kissed the back of her palm. Slowly, I lowered to one knee. Heidi's hand began to shake, shivers that turned into trembles. Her breathing intensified, mouth going taut.

“Heidi, I know we haven't known each other long, but I can't imagine my life with out you. I love you, I know I love you.” Lowering my head, I pulled my thoughts together. “I don't have a ring right now, but I have to ask you, I need to ask you.”

“Silas, I love you too, I feel it.” Her smile brightened, eyes burying under a canopy of lashes.

“Heidi, will you marry me?” My eyes lifted to her face, holding steady.

She didn't speak, her head shook a soundless yes, a single hand gently covering her mouth. And she cried, the prettiest cry a woman ever could.

A cry of love, a cry of new life.

Heidi was mine.

Forever, was how long I would hold this woman.

Right where she belonged, in my heart.

Heidi

“I
feel like a cow.” Holding out my arms, I looked down at the area where I once had feet. “Look at me, I'm huge.”

“Heidi, sweetheart, you don't look like a cow.” My dad rested his hands on my shoulders. “You look beautiful, you're pregnant.”

My doctor had told me the same thing, I was pregnant. Not fat, pregnant.

But when I looked in the mirror and saw the giant balloon that was once my stomach, and the fact that I no longer had ankles, it was a little hard to believe. Pregnancy had not been easy on me so far.

I was seven months along, but felt like I could pop any day. It didn't help either that I had morning sickness the first five months, and heartburn that made think the baby was using a furnace to keep warm in there.

Pinning the flower in my hair, my dad stepped back. Folding his arms over his chest, he held a smug smile.

“What?” I asked, hand falling to my hip. I did that just for dramatic effect, and because my back hurt like a bitch. Another side effect of all the weight hanging off my front.

He didn't speak, he just shook his head. Leaning against the mantle over the fireplace, he wiped a tear from his eye.

“What is it?” Waddling over to him, barefoot, I was waiting as long as I could before putting my shoes on. The swelling of my ankles had started to migrate to my feet, and shoes became a daily task.

“You look just like your mom did on our wedding day. You're glowing, Heidi. I can't believe how much you resemble her right now. She'd be so proud of you, you know that right?”

Stepping to him, I straightened his tie. All day I had been holding back the tears, and I couldn't stop them, not this time. “Yeah, you think so?”

Wrapping his arms around my shoulders, he pulled me into his chest. “There's not a doubt in my mind. And I'm proud of you too.” Kissing my forehead, he held my face up. “You turned into a wonderful woman, and that's one lucky man out there.”

The tears slowly flowed over my face, nodding my head, I didn't know what to say. It had been so long since I felt this close to my dad.

When I told him I was pregnant, he was shocked of course. I thought he'd kick me out, cut ties with me. But he didn't.

My father embraced me, told me he would be there for anything I needed. I was his little girl, and even though I was having one of my own, I would always be his little girl. My dad was actually excited, he couldn't wait to be grandfather.

When he found out that it was a boy, his excitement grew tenfold. I was an only child, all he had was a girl. Now there would be a boy around, and he was excited to do the things with him he couldn't do with me.

What were those things? I didn't know for sure.

He taught me how to throw a football, we spent summers fishing, he even let me shoot his gun a few times at the targets outside. So exactly what he planned on doing with this new found boy in our family, I didn't know.

And as far as Silas... The two are like a couple old friends. They had more in common than I think either one knew. Since my dad was a cop, and Silas was in the Army, the two would sit around and share stories.

It was awesome. Like a piece of my mother had come down and blanketed my father. He was a different person, the tension had faded, and he was moving on with his life.

“Are you ready for this?” my dad asked, scooping up my bouquet and placing it in my hand.

“Yes, definitely.” Holding the flowers up, he helped me slip my feet into the flats by the door.

The back door opened and Livie poked her head in. “Hey, they're ready for you.” Smiling brightly, she said, “Heidi, you look beautiful. You were right, that was the dress.”

Finding a dress for our wedding, one that could be altered easily with my growing tummy, had been tough. Lucky for me, I knew the seamstress really well.

It was Livie's mom, and she worked wonders making sure the dress fit perfectly. It was a gorgeous white lace, the top had halter style straps. Perfect to make me feel well supported with my new natural breast implants. I couldn't believe how large my chest had grown already, it was insane.

But, it was the one thing I didn't mind. My tits looked great! Thank you pregnancy.

There was a sparkling, silver sequin belt that rested just above my belly, and the bottom flowed out, a loose shear, with a lace overlay.

When I put it on, I knew it was the one. I felt beautiful in it, and the way the bottom had so much movement, I knew there was room if I needed it.

Livie walked up and helped fix the purple orchid pin in my hair. “Thanks,” I said.

“I tried, Livie,” my dad said, holding his arms out, shrugging his shoulders. “But I'm sure you remember how bad I am with hair.”

Laughing, Livie lowered her head. “I sure do, Mr. Gavin. I remember it taking me an hour to brush that knot out of Heidi's hair when you tried to braid it for her.”

Rolling my eyes, I jokingly spat. “God, that was horrible.” Elbowing him in the ribs, I laughed.

The soft sound of a violin started to fill the room, seeping in from outside. Whipping her head at me, Livie said, “That's our cue.” Holding a small cluster of calla lilies, she headed for the door. “Let's get you married!” She yelled, kicking one leg out to the side.

My lips formed a soft circle, pushing out a smooth breath of air.
Here we go, I'm about to be married. I'll be Mrs. Heidi Hamilton in only a few minutes.
Closing my eyes, I tried to cool my nerves.

It was hard to tell if the fluttering in my stomach was just butterflies, or if the baby's toes were tickling against the wall. Placing a palm against my belly, I looked up to the ceiling.

“I miss you mom, but I know you're here with me. I can always feel you.” The delicate whisper pressed off my lips, words only audible to my own ears.

And in my heart, to her ears too.

Silas and I were having a small wedding, set in the backyard of my dad's house. A handful of people were sitting outside, eager eyes waiting to watch me walk out that door.

We wanted to have our wedding before the baby came, and before the Army transferred Silas again. With us being married, I'd be able to move with him, and we could live on base together.

As the violin slowed, a different song began to strum across the strings. It was the most amazing music I'd ever heard. The solo notes brought tears to my eyes, this was my day, our day.

Stepping to my side, my father bent his arm at the elbow. “Time to let you go, baby girl.” Smiling, his eyes welled up, glossing over.

Scooping my arm into his, I squeezed my fingers tightly. As much as I was excited to be standing here, a piece of me felt sad. Mourning for my father the next loss to his life, me.

Brushing a tear from my face, I took a deep breath. “I'm never going to be gone, I'll always be your baby girl.”

The door slowly opened, a cool breeze rushing over us. Looking into the yard, all I saw was Silas. His striking form taking over all my senses. It was as if a tunnel opened around us, and everyone else dissolved into the blackness. Lengthening my leg, I walked down the grassy path. The ground was coated in small purple daisies, white ribbons floated between the chairs, and there at the end was my man.

The fitted black suit draped his body perfectly. He was the most handsome man I had ever seen, and he was mine. Silas' hair waved gently in the wind, brushing loose strands across his forehead.

A huge smile filled my face instantly, his eyes engorging themselves on me as I made my way to him. To my future, our unborn child snugly tucked inside me. All of us were here, here to share our special moment, here to share our love.

Dipping my head down, I looked up under hooded lids. Silas was shining, a glow of pure happiness. Holding his hand out to my father, they embraced. My dad leaned in and said, “Silas, I am proud to give you my daughter's hand. Thank you, son. For everything you did and will do in the future.” Patting his shoulder, my father guided my hand into Silas'.

His touch sent tingles cascading over my body, and I knew I was right where I belonged.

We were destined to find each other.

Silas was my angel without wings.

And no matter where we ended up, it would always be home.

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** BONUS NOVEL BELOW **

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Leah Holt

USA TODAY
Bestselling Author

Nora Flite

Copyright © 2015 Leah Holt & Nora Flite

All rights reserved. CHAINED: A BAD BOY ROMANCE is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Charlie

I
could feel his eyes trolling every curve of my breasts down to my hips. Those eyes were black, piercing; darker in person than when I'd watched his trial on television.

A killer before me about to be set free, it made me shiver inside.

Intimidated. That was not a word I was used to feeling, but his presence went beyond just his physical being sitting in the worn chair across from me. He could be felt, a certain intensity filled the air.

Owen Jenkins had entered the prison system at the tender age of eighteen. Now, ten years later, he was about to cross back into the real world.

And I was supposed to help him.

His hands were shackled to the table, two feet of chain was all the range he had. My eyes followed the muscular structure of his arms, each curve flowed seamlessly to the next. Ink sheathed the flesh of his forearms, and I wondered to myself if he'd come in with the tattoos, or if they were gained during his time here.

I noticed how even beyond the orange jumpsuit his chest was slightly distended, a common habit for people behind bars. This was a way of saying “I'm in charge.” My experiences at the women's correctional facility down south had taught me this was a tactic for survival.

Without it, you'd be eaten alive.

I'd expected the confidence he displayed; his head held high, his shoulders drawn back as if being pulled by imaginary strings, a marionette to the world he lived in.

I felt mesmerized for a moment, unable to look away. He had an alluring magnetism that caused flutters deep inside me.

I wanted to look away, to scan the concrete walls surrounding us, but I knew as his therapist I had to maintain control of myself. I didn't want him to think he was smelling fear. I needed to dig into my training, use my years of experience to read him and figure out what he was thinking.

That was why warden Lynch had requested me. My notoriety for rehabilitating others had brought me here. But beyond that, I'd felt compelled to take this case; it was a challenge, and that's one thing I love.

I always ask myself before I dive into a new patient:

What happened in your life that made you choose wrong instead of right?

There was always a reason and now, in arms reach of a killer, this question plagued me more than ever.

I was entranced by him. That olive tone skin and strong jaw line, hair as black as his pupils that fell weightlessly across his forehead. He brought a hand up and brushed it away from his eyes.

He's so handsome, I can't stop staring at him.

Get a grip, he's a patient, Charlie.

I watched his eyes flutter from side to side, but they never looked away from me. He seemed to be trying to figure me out. I was sure he wanted to know what I would ask him.

All of my clients try to imagine what questions will come their way. Picture yourself before a test, not sure what's on it and if you know the right answer. This was the same; except here, there was no right answer.

It didn't matter what I wanted to hear, all that mattered was what was said.

I rested the cold metal of my pen against my lips, trying to push my nerves deep down so I could understand how to approach him.