ROMANCE: ALIEN ROMANCE: Captured by the Alien Dragon (Alpha Male Alien Abduction BBW Romance) (Bad Boy Shifter Fantasy Romance) (41 page)

“It will let me keep a closer eye on you,” the older man said, humor underlying the tone. “Besides, I need to make sure that my grand-baby is taken care of.”

The more Cade worked there—trained, learned the menu, got acquainted with their regulars—the more everything seemed to fall into place. Despite his initial complaints about working and the noise, he eased into his role quite well. He loved to talk, after all, and he often had conversations with the customers he served. He also loved to show off the new “bartender tricks” her father had taught him—juggling bottles around and what not.

Weeks turned into months. Life fell back into its routine, though she and Cade did sneak away once in a while to share a few kisses. And as she got larger, she became more eager to become a parent.

Cade, reading pregnancy books with her, was still anxious about the new arrival.

“I just don’t want to mess our kid up,” he said in bed one night, a book in his lap. “I know I’m not the greatest role model—”

Dana kissed his jaw. “Sweetheart, you are too hard on yourself. And even if you are right and you really are the worst father in the world—”

“Thanks for that.”

“—you aren’t going to be doing this alone. You have me. We have my parents, our friends.” She snuggled closer to him, her hand resting on his chest. “It will work out. I promise you.”

He kissed her temple, his body losing its tension.

By the sixth month into her pregnancy, it looked as if Dana was constantly hiding a pumpkin under her shirt. Her hands often hovered over her swollen belly, her subconscious protective of the unborn child. While she worked, while she rested—while she did anything, really—at least one of her hands would rest across her stomach as often as it could.

She did this now as she wiped the front counters beneath the orange lights. She could hear Cade cleaning up the kitchen behind her, his footsteps loud and his movements jarring from time to time.

The restaurant was closed for the night. Her parents had left in an awful hurry to go have a special date night and the other employees were given the day off.

Dana didn’t question these things. After having her secret affair with Cade, she understood the need to escape every once in a while. Besides, many of the tables were cluttered with napkins and a few condiments stains; she needed to focus on work rather than bother her friends and family.

Putting a box of moist towelettes under her right arm while keeping her left hand on her stomach, Dana waddled to the tables and scrubbed them until they gleamed. She worked hard with her one free hand, her other hand dormant over the unborn baby.

“Hey, darling?” Cade called, his head poking out of the little kitchen window. “Could you come over here for a second? I need your help with something.”

She grunted, stretching out her sore back as much as she could. “You do remember I’m carrying your child, right?”

“So you’re going to leave me helpless? All alone in this cruel kitchen?”

Dana rolled her eyes and waddled toward him. “Alright, I’m coming.” She placed the box of moist towelettes on the front counter before she entered the kitchen. “What did you—?” Her heart leaped to her throat.

The kitchen was spotless. Better yet, it had several plastic flowers strewn about.

And Cade was on one knee, a small velvet box in his hands. “Dana,” he said, “I never thought I would be the kind of person to settle down. And that’s because I never truly thought I would be happy, so I kept wandering through my mess of a life—wasting money, wasting time.

“And then I met you.” His eyes watered, his voice cracking. “I met you, this straightforward person who hadn’t wanted my money or anything fancy. You wanted me for me. You loved me for me. I have no idea how or why I am so lucky as to have not only met you but captured your heart. It is the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I will never take it for granted.

“I love you with all of my heart, Dana Abel. I want to be only yours for the rest of my life. Will you do me the honor of becoming my bride?”

Fumbling with the box a bit, he popped it up and presented the diamond ring to her.

Tears poured from her eyes, shock and love and adoration—everything zapped through her blood and seized her senses. “Cade,” she choked out, pressing a hand to her mouth before she could blubber. “Cade, yes. Yes, I will.”

He sagged, a loud sigh bursting out of him. “That is a relief. You have no idea how many people thought you’d say no. They kind of psyched me out.”

She grabbed his wrist and tugged, urging him to stand up.

“Right,” Cade said quickly, grinning as he took out the ring. “I shouldn’t lose focus on this perfect moment.”

Dana sniffled, holding out her hand.

Cade gently took it and pushed the ring over the according finger. The metal had a solid grip on her flesh, the diamond sparkling beneath the lights.

Dana marveled at her ring for another second before she wrapped her arms around Cade. She pressed her face into the crook of his neck, her tears dripping onto his shirt. Shuddering out a breath, she said, “I love you so much.”

He pressed his face against her hair. “I love you, too.”

They stood there until they swayed, and then they swayed for several minutes. Dana reveled in the moment—the love, the devotion. She had never dreamed her life could be so complete.

“I love you,” she whispered again.

***THE END***

The Quarterback’s Secret Baby

CHAPTER ONE

I’m from Small Town, Texas, and no, that is not a joke – that’s its real name. It looks and feels exactly like what you would imagine - a small town with about 3,000 residents. There are only three schools - one elementary, one middle school and one high school. The same people have been working the same jobs for as long as I can remember. It’s the kind of place that when you leave you never come back, but if you stay, like me, you’re stuck…forever.

I drudged up the dirt pathway, made from the years of foot traffic to open the Greasy Spoon Diner. After ten years of working here Dottie finally trusted me to open in the morning. When she first told me I couldn’t help but be excited, I mean…she didn’t trust anyone to open her beloved diner. Now, at five in the morning, when dawn had barely cracked, I was opening this restaurant. I could almost predict my day to a T. At 6:00 am, the cowboys would slowly pool in for coffee, always ordering the same thing. The few not lucky enough to have wives would order breakfast or confirm that they’ll be ordering lunch. Around 7:00, the few stragglers would come in, needing a hot meal before work, before I would get a blessed hour of peace from 9:00 – 10:00. After that starts the feeding frenzy for lunch, and that doesn’t calm down until 3:00….which is thankfully when I finish for the day.

“Morning Maddie,” Sal says, patting me hard on the behind, per tradition.

“It’s too early for that Sal,” I say, exhausted already.

“Nonsense, it’s never too early for a little shake to go along with my eggs.”

“It’s fries.”

“So you agree. Come here so I can get some more.”

I could only sigh and shake my head before walking back to the kitchen to deliver the orders.

I took the orders, passed them off to Flo, our morning cook. As cliché as it may seem, there was something comforting about the gum smacking woman with over-fluffed red hair firmly stuck in the 1980s.

“Let me get a hot blonde in sand, (coffee with cream and sugar), Adam & Eve on a raft and wreck ’em with a side of Noah’s boy (two scrambled eggs on toast with ham).”

Flo rung up the orders with the speed of God and dished out the plates. Diner lingo was essential to our functional operation. Daisy ran the register but most of our customers paid in cash and rarely tipped. Thankfully, Dottie paid me a little above the statewide wage for servers. Even with her charity, though, I barely made ends meet.

I finally stepped aside for my break, shaking like I needed a cigarette. I would if it wasn’t such a costly habit. I suppressed the urge with my phone.

Text message? Who the hell talks to me? If I didn’t need to always be available, I wouldn’t even have a phone.

Hey, bestie
. - 10:14 am Cara.

Cara Shields, the most beautiful woman in the world. It might seem like I was exaggerating but I wasn’t. She was one of those girls that got everything they ever wanted, and I couldn’t be mad because she was as humble as they come. If I wasn’t so prideful, we wouldn’t have lost contact over all these years. After staring at the screen longer than I should and procrastinating with a short game of Angry Birds, I responded.

Hey
. - 10:32am

Good God, she lives. Where you been Madkins
? - 10:33am

Haha. Look I’m on break for a few more minutes
. - 10:35 am

Ok then here’s the gist….I’m getting married!
- 10:35 am

What?!
- 10:37 am

I know! And I want you there. I’m having the wedding in Small Town, and I BETTER SEE YOU THERE
. - 10:38 am

You don’t even have to be a part of it. It’s a little last minute, so I’m not having any bridesmaids, but I’ve just got to have you there
. - 10:39 am

I couldn’t even respond I was so shocked.

Please say yes. It’s been too long girl. I just want to see your face on the happiest day of my life
. - 10:41 am

The guilt trip was real. What could I say but yes?

Of course I’ll be there
. - 10:42 am.

Perfect. The time and date are in your email
. - 10:42 am

With that, I resigned myself back to torture and entered the frenzy of lunch hour.

I’m sure I looked as haggard as I felt. I was running between the food counter and few tables in the establishment, serving drinks and yelling orders at Flo. Shira, the lunch shift server, came in to help, but there was just more mouths to feed than working hands.

“Let me get an M.D. (Dr. Pepper), 2 Atlanta specials, (Coca Cola), mother and child reunion (chicken and egg sandwich), and burn one, take it through the garden and pin a rose on it (hamburger with lettuce, tomato).

By the time I dragged myself home everything hurt. I wanted to cry, but I had to put on a brave face. Before my key could turn, the door flung open, and something attacked my legs.

“Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!”

I bent to pick up the Tasmanian devil. “Hey, my love. Where’s the fire?”

She giggled and buried her small head into my neck. “There’s no fire. Allie would have put it out. I missed you, Mommy. What you do today?” She eyed me with innocence and chubby cheeks, and I couldn’t help kissing her.

“What do you think I did today?”

“I think you fed all the hungry people,” she said, and I grinned.

“That’s right.”

Allie, my babysitter, came around to lock the door behind me. “How are you doing Ms. Williams?” Allie wore her hair in a short stylish black bob. For someone so young, she radiated beauty. She was poised and articulate….the epitome of a proper Texas lady.

“Just fine Allie. Thanks for asking.”

I collapsed on the couch. “How was she today?” I asked her, taking in her poreless face. Even without makeup she had no dark circles under her eyes. I didn’t have to look in the mirror to know I would scare myself.

“She was great,” Allie said, bending down to braid Emmy’s dirty brown hair.

“Just great,” I said before grabbing my purse to pay her.

“See you tomorrow Emmy,” she said, closing the door behind her.

I only had a few minutes of free time off my feet before I had to get up and cook dinner. It was a simple one – spaghetti…or as Flo would call it, foreign entanglements and chicken nuggets for the little one. I couldn’t help thinking about what Cara said as I stirred the sauce. If she were coming, and no doubt marrying that famous movie producer, the entire town would come out. Everyone I wanted to see, and wanted to avoid would be there.

The nostalgic feeling made me dig out my old photo album. Only time and memories kept the pictures to the page. Emmy trudged in just as I put the food on the plates.

“What is this Mommy?”