The Baby Bargain (12 page)

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Authors: Jennifer Apodaca

Tags: #Celtic, #Cole, #Brady, #fire, #USMC, #Waters, #bargain, #cove, #blackmail, #Semper Fi, #Adam, #reunited lovers, #young, #baby, #Megan, #Marines, #Ravens, #Jennifer Apodaca, #once

BOOK: The Baby Bargain
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Logan snorted. “Suckup.”

Griff gently released her hand and smiled. “You’ll have to excuse the cowboy over
there. He’s been thrown from his horse a few too many times.”

“I’d like to meet the horse that could throw me,” Logan muttered. Then he flashed
Megan a grin. “The guys call me ‘Cowboy’ since I come from a ranching dynasty. Griff
is the ‘Professor’ since he’s as boring as drying paint. Hunter over there, he’s ‘Ghost’
because he thinks doing that pottery shit makes him sexy like that dude in the movie.
One of our guys, Cooper, he’s not here. He’s…well, we call him ‘Lone Ranger.’ ”

“Let me guess, because he’s a loner?”

“Yep,” Logan said. “Being a team player doesn’t come easy to Coop.”

“So you all have nicknames?” Glancing over to see Adam still on the phone, she couldn’t
contain her curiosity. “What’s Adam’s?”

Hunter answered that. “ ‘Shark.’ He’s a predator on water missions.”

“Adam, a shark?” She didn’t see it. Sure, she knew he was dangerous, but to her, he
was just Adam. And in all the years she’d known him, he’d never mentioned anything
about water or swimming. She thought back. Had they ever even gone on a boat together?
Swam? Hung out at the cove? She couldn’t recall doing any of that with him.

“Trust me,” Hunter said. “The targets never see him coming.”

Griff sighed. “He doesn’t like the name. Usually we just call him ‘A-Man.’ ”

Megan turned to Hunter. “You had to tell me the name he doesn’t like?”

He shrugged. “I don’t like the name ‘Ghost’ either. Think these guys give a rat’s
ass? Besides, ‘Shark’ fits when he’s in the water.”

“I’ll stick to just calling him Adam,” she said as she spotted Bridget and her son
returning. Her friend laughed at something Cole said, clearly having regained her
good humor.

Cole slid his small hand into hers. She closed her fingers around his and decided
to change the subject. “So you all work with Adam?” He had told her he hired former
Marines.

“Yes,” Adam said.

She jumped, not having realized he’d ended his call and rejoined them. Okay, yeah,
he moved quietly, much like she imagined a shark did in the ocean.

“They’re here for the tournament.” He held out his arms to Cole. “Want to come to
me, C-Man?”

Ah, Megan thought quickly. Now she knew where he got “C-Man.”

Cole let go of Megan and went right to his father. Adam lifted him up high. “And this
is our son, Cole.”

Megan felt a shiver rock her when he claimed Cole again. She couldn’t quite identify
the feeling. Pride? Happiness? Worry? She was used to being in control of Cole’s world.
She was definitely losing some of that. Cole had gone to Adam without a backward glance
at her.

With all the men’s attention on him, Cole got shy and buried his face in Adam’s neck.

Bridget ended her uncharacteristic silence. “Maybe we should get some dinner. By the
way, I’m Bridget. I’m the sassy and sexy best friend.”

Megan rolled her eyes. “I was going to say ‘sweet and shy.’ ”

Bridget laughed.

“I have to get a rain check on dinner,” Logan said. “I’m up for the dunk tank.” He
turned to Megan. “That’s a pretty awesome arm you got there, doc.” He sauntered off.

The rest of them made their way to the food tent, with Adam carrying Cole. And there,
Megan saw the story time moms sitting with Lawrence.

Her stomach clenched.

Bridget handed her a tray and said, “Lawrence and Trina had lunch at the café recently.”

Megan stopped dead. “
My
Trina?”

Bridget nodded. “Has she said anything about dating Lawrence to you?”

Megan shook her head, trying to grasp what this meant.

“You’re talking about your employee, Megan?” Adam said from right behind her.

“Bridget owns the Land’s End Café overlooking the cove.” She turned back to her friend.
“When?”

“Sunday.”

Adam repositioned Cole. “What do you think?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know what to think.”

Chapter Fourteen

Cole walked with Adam down by the pond. The sun was setting, and Cole loved watching
all the paddleboats on the lake coming back in.

It had been a really amazing day. He was beginning to build a bond with his son. He
only had about a week left in town. Once the tournament was over, he had to get back
to the office. Sienna was lining up more work, and Adam expected the exposure of this
job to bring in more. But he was rethinking his priorities, considering ways to balance
his work with seeing Cole.

Adam spotted the last boat coming in against the setting sun. “There’s another one,
Cole.” He pointed at the blue paddleboat.

“Boat,” Cole said, bouncing in excitement.

He heard his son, but he also caught the sound of someone approaching the shore from
the carnival area set up behind them.

“You’re not the first guy who thought he was the kid’s father.”

Adam stiffened, recognizing the voice. He turned slowly to face Lawrence Hamilton.
Beyond him, he saw the temporary lights set up to keep the carnival area of the barbecue
going into the night. But he focused on Megan’s mentor. What was his game?

Cole twisted in his arms, trying to see the boats. Then he wiggled and squirmed. “Down.”

Adam set him on the ground and caught hold of the sleeve of the boy’s T-shirt. He
turned his attention back to Megan’s mentor. “That so?”

Lawrence stood his ground with his legs spread and arms crossed. “For a while, she
had me convinced I was the kid’s dad. I gave her money…” He trailed off, looking out
over the pond. “I cared for her and she made a fool out of me.”

For a second, one tiny instant, Adam wondered if it was true. Was Megan playing him
too? Had he been a fool to believe her? Then he looked down at Cole. It was like looking
at himself or Brady, except with Meg’s eyes. Anger heated his veins. “That’s my son’s
mother you’re talking about. Take my advice, Hamilton, and walk away now.”

The man nodded once and strode toward the lights.

Adam picked up Cole. “Let’s go see how Mommy’s doing in the dunk tank.”

Cole frowned. “Boats.”

“It’s getting too dark to see them. We’ll come back another day.”

Cole twisted, obviously hoping to watch the boats in spite of the looming darkness
as Adam walked up the trail to the dunk tank. He saw Megan sitting on the bench, dripping.
Her hair was stuck to her head. She wore the black one-piece bathing suit and shorts
that her mom had brought for her.

His amusement died when he saw her shiver, and her smile looked strained. Damn. He
strode up to the man, Butch, running the game. “Call a break. Meg’s cold. I’ll switch
with her.”

Butch nodded.

Adam went to the back of the tank, set Cole down, and unlatched the door. Megan twisted
around, surprise widening her face.

“Time’s up. Swing your legs around.”

Relief softened her features. She pivoted on her bottom and draped her long legs over
the ladder. He reached up, catching her around the waist and lifting her. He felt
her chilled skin. Putting her feet on the ground, he caught a towel off the stack,
shook it out, and swung it around her shoulders. He pulled her into his arms. “Better?”

She shivered, burrowing deeper.

He wrapped his arms tighter around her. “Jesus, Megan, you’re freezing.” He felt like
an ass signing her up this late in the day. It had been fine when he was in there,
since the sun had warmed him right up. He reached beneath the towel to rub his hands
over her arms and back, trying to get some heat into her. Feeling her body against
his, her scent rising as she warmed…

He was the one getting warmed and heading to hot.

“Come on, let’s get you into dry clothes, then I’ll go into the tank.” He let go of
her, closing the towel tightly to keep the slight breeze off her damp skin.

“Where’s Cole?”

“He’s right here.” He looked down at the trampled grass. Around the dunking booth.
Off to the changing rooms behind them. His heart tripped. Cole wasn’t there.

“Adam?” Megan asked sharply.

“Shit! He was right here. I just put him down to get you out of the tank.”

“Cole?” Megan called out, swinging around in a circle. “Cole!”

Logan walked up. “What’s going on?”

“Cole’s missing!” Megan said, her eyes wide and her face ghost-white.

People began pushing in.

“He was right here. Standing by me. We just came back from…oh God.” Adam looked at
Megan. “The boats.” Horror exploded in his brain, paralyzing him.

She dropped the towel and ran toward the pond.

The sight of Megan running barefoot like the hounds of hell were chasing her pierced
his paralysis. “Organize a search. Now.” He directed the order toward his men, then
launched after Megan, easily passing her. When he reached the shore of the pond, it
was full dark. The lights from the carnival games shone behind him, but they didn’t
reach to the shore. “Cole!”

He heard splashing.

Hot bitter fear pumped through him, making his ears pound. But he knew he heard it.
Adam sucked in a breath.

This was like any other mission.

He tore off his shoes and shirt, emptied his pockets, and went utterly still. Silent.

He hated water missions, but swimming was nearly as natural to him as breathing. It
only took a few seconds before he was in the zone. Blocking everything out but what
he needed to do, as calm descended.

He heard Megan’s pounding feet behind him. “Cole! Oh God, Cole!” she cried out.

He heard others thrashing around, people shouting, piercing his concentration. “Quiet!”
he ordered. Then he walked into the water. Heard splashing and choking.

Refusing to allow the old memory to interfere, he followed the noise. He was no longer
that kid with all the raw talent but not enough skill. Instead, he allowed his training
to take over, and he moved through the water as cleanly as possible. He needed to
feel the ripples…

There.

Adam dove, hit the bottom of the pond, and held himself utterly still.

Again, he felt the disturbance undulate through the water. He shot off, arrowing toward
it. When he sensed he was close enough, he felt around with his hands. It was taking
every single ounce of his self-control not to fucking lose his shit. If he did, Cole
would die.

Just like Brady had.

He kept going, doing a grid search as efficiently as possible.

Air. He needed air.

No time. The boy only had a minute or two. Adam pushed a little further and his hand
hit something. It was hair. He caught hold, dragged Cole to him, and shot up. Broke
the surface. Kicking with precise control, he got Cole’s head above the water. The
boy choked, coughed, and began to cry.

Thank God.

“I’ve got him,” he called out. Cole was sobbing now, trying to call for his mom. Adam
got Cole to the shore.

Megan took him, collapsing to the ground, her body heaving with sobs. She was shaking.
Someone produced a blanket, wrapping up both mother and son.

Adam looked down at them, bathed in the glow of flashlights and surrounded by townsfolk.

He’d almost let his son drown.

He melted away deep into the foliage and threw up.


Adam walked into the house and stopped in surprise at the flickering light from the
TV. Megan was curled upon the couch, asleep with her head on a cushion. Ellie lifted
her head off Meg’s thighs, her ears flat against her head.

Max walked out from the hallway, nudged Adam’s hand for a quick pet, then went back
to Cole’s room.

Adam stood next to the couch, looking down. She was dressed in her sleep tank and
shorts, her hair fanned out over her shoulders. He looked down her long legs past
Ellie and frowned when he saw her feet. They were scratched and cut from running barefoot
through the park and down to the shore of the pond. He hunkered down and examined
the cuts. They all looked clean and shiny from some ointment. Megan wasn’t a fool—of
course she had taken care of the cuts.

Meeting Ellie’s dark, sad eyes, he reached out and pet her. Usually Megan didn’t let
the dogs on the couch, but she had tonight. The sounds of her sobs from earlier echoed
in his head. He closed his eyes, wishing he could block it out. He couldn’t. It was
there forever, another permanent mark staining his soul, haunting his every breath.

He’d almost let their son die. She would never forgive him.

He’d never forgive himself.

He reached over to the remote and turned the TV off. He leaned down and scooped Megan
into his arms.

“Adam? I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Hush. You’re exhausted. Go back to sleep.” He carried her down the hallway.

“Are you okay?”

He glanced in Cole’s room. The nightlight showed the boy on his back, arms flung out,
sleeping fine. Max lay at the bottom of the bed.

He went into Megan’s room. “Don’t worry about me.” She had a queen-sized bed, and
the emerald green comforter had been pulled back to reveal snowy white sheets. He
settled her in the bed, covered her with the sheet, and reached to switch off the
lamp.

Her hand caught his forearm. She rose up on her elbow. “Thank you.”

He forced himself to meet her eyes. “For what?”

“He would have drowned, Adam.” Tears welled up in her eyes. “After you rescued Cole,
you just vanished. I didn’t get to thank you. I don’t know how you found him in the
dark water. But thank you.” Tears tracked down her face.

Adam stared down at her. “You’re still in shock. Get some sleep.” And tomorrow, she’d
realize the truth. He’d taken his eyes off Cole. The boy had left his side and Adam
hadn’t even realized it. Yeah, once she rested and thought it through…

He turned off the light. And went to his room alone.


His lungs burned, but he kept diving, kept trying to find him. The muscles in his
body were shaking from fatigue.

He felt something!

Hope flared, giving him enough energy. He frantically felt around, got a grip on wet
hair.

Broke the surface, into the bright California sunshine and discovered he was holding
a corpse. Blood poured out…

“Adam, wake up.”

He jackknifed to a sitting position. Sweat coated his body, and bile burned in his
gut and throat. He sucked in air. All the dead…

So many. Brady, Trace, other men he’d served with.

“Adam?”

Meg stood there, her eyes too big in her face.

“Go back to bed. I’m awake now.” Had he screamed? Probably. Thankfully, Cole was a
heavy sleeper.

“Talk to me, Adam. Tell me what’s happening. Your nightmares, what are they about?”

He tossed back the covers, swinging his legs out. Stood and looked at her. He thought
about it for one moment. Thought about spilling his guts, just laying it out there
for her to know the truth.

He opened his mouth.

His throat closed up. Just locked. He was trapped in the very silence he hated. Instead,
he just shook his head and crossed the hall to the bathroom. Closed the door. He turned
on the shower, stripped off his boxers, and stepped under the spray.

The hot water hit him like a million pinpricks of needles. He leaned his head down,
braced a hand against the wall, and let the water cascade over his scalp and down
his back. Tried to wash it away—the constant horror living in his head. The guilt.
The remorse. The regret that he couldn’t change anything.

He heard the door open. Shock sliced through him. He saw her shadow through the curtain.
“Don’t, Meg. Don’t do it.”

She pulled back the shower curtain. “Do what, Adam?” She caught the hem of her tank
and tugged it over her head. Her breasts bounced free, then her hair fell down around
her. “Care about you? Try to help you?” She caught the waistband of her shorts and
stripped them down her endless legs along with her panties. “You can’t talk to me.
Then I’ll touch you and ease you that way.” Stepping into the shower, she reached
out and ran her hands down his chest.

All the dark need clawing through him swelled into desire. Lust. Need.

Relief.

To be buried deep inside Megan as her scent and caring surrounded him. That was a
drug to him. She was a drug to him. But didn’t she understand what he was? How could
she not?

He caught her wrists. “How can you touch me? I almost…” he couldn’t even say it. The
dark agony, the silence of his sins, were locked in his chest. Burned. “You don’t
know what I am.”

“Shh, you don’t have to tell me. I won’t ask anymore.” She leaned in, kissing his
jaw. Her warm lips, wet from the shower, tracked across his skin into the hollow of
his neck, to that sensitive spot right over his clavicle.

Her touch inflamed him, heating his blood, arousing him to burning desire. Releasing
her wrists, he sank a hand into her hair and turned her face up. And what he saw in
her eyes, even in the soft light, ripped away the last of his control.

Desire and acceptance.

She was giving him this gift. Not forever, not even tomorrow, but this single moment
in time. His with no questions.

His thoughts shattered, and he took her mouth. The sounds of spraying water filled
the shower stall. The steam cut them off from the rest of the world. Her skin was
warm and wet, her mouth hot. Her hands caressed him, explored, going down his back
to his butt. She moaned, sucking his lower lip as she drew her hands around his hips
and took hold of his cock.

He surged in her hand, at her mercy. He dragged his mouth from hers, along her cheek
to lick her shell-like ear. “I need you.” The confession was ripped from him.

She squeezed her fingers around him, her thumb brushing the sensitive tip. Wicked
pleasure streaked through him. Nothing felt as good as Megan in his arms. But that
thought melted away as she slipped from his hold, trailing kisses over his chest,
down to his stomach.

His muscles contracted. Bracing both hands on the walls, he watched as she opened
her mouth over his hipbone, her tongue sliding, wet and hot, across it. “Christ,”
he cried out. She was destroying him.

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