Unexpected (20 page)

Eli took Matt's hand. “Is that right?”

“Yeah.” His grin was wide and engaging. “You're the brave soul who wants to get closer to Ray. Right?”

“Ray talked about me?”

“Oh yeah. She talked. Didn't really say much though, just gave a few, er, necessary explanations.”

“Why do I get the feeling you're trying not to laugh?”

Matt's cough sounded like a snicker. “I'll bet she was plenty surprised to see you after all this time, huh?”

“She shouldn't have been.” Eli was already enjoying Ray's brother. He was as forthcoming as Ray, but with a more jovial persona. “I told her I wouldn't let her go.”

Ray walked back in and slumped into a chair opposite Eli. The tank top she wore was snug on her breasts, making them appear fuller than Eli remembered. The soft, well-worn carpenter jeans hung on her hips, though, as if she'd lost weight. No matter the changes, she looked so damn good to him. Keeping his hands off her and sitting politely at her table was a challenge.

Matt immediately handed her a cup of hot tea. “Feeling better?”

Ray nodded as she sipped at her tea. Her hair looked lank, her cheeks pale, and Eli wanted to haul her into his lap and kiss her silly.

“You boys been getting acquainted?”

“Sure thing.” Matt put his hand on her shoulder, then tilted his head toward Eli. “I was just about to ask what the hell took him so long.”

“Matt!”

Matt pressed her back into her chair. “Under the circumstances, it's a damn good question, don't you think?”

Ray tipped her head back to narrow her eyes at her brother. “Don't you start,” she said through stiff lips, “or you can just leave the room. Which probably isn't a bad idea, anyway.”

Matt gave her a “yeah right” look. “Ain't gonna happen, Ray.” He lifted his gaze to Eli. “I'm not sure yet that I trust him. Any guy who would—”

Ray lurched to her feet. “That's enough, Matt.”

Confused by the undercurrents and by what wasn't being said, Eli also stood. “If you children can put off this little family squabble for a few minutes, I'd like to talk to Ray. Alone.”

Matt again folded his arms over his chest, though now there was no real menace in the act. In fact, he looked highly amused at his sister's agitation. “I need to serve her lunch. She won't eat unless I force her to.”

Incredulous, Eli stared at Ray. “She won't eat?” No wonder she looked skinnier. “And here I thought she was a bottomless pit.”

“That was before.”

Eli looked between brother and sister. One was smiling, one was furious, and the static in the air nearly had his hair standing on end. “Before what?”

Ray threw up her hands. “Well, I can see I'm not needed in this conversation. When you and my nosy brother get everything straightened out, let me know. In the meantime, I think I'll just go take a nap.”

Eli drew himself up. “Take a nap?”

Ray didn't bother answering him. She stomped from the room, looking too wrung out and defeated and put upon.

Eli watched her go with a horrible, sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach and a vice around his heart. Had she caught something awful in Mataya? She'd only downed half her tea. She looked weak, didn't argue, and . . .He swung his gaze around to Matt.

“She sleeps a lot these days,” Matt explained. “And she's emotional to boot. If I didn't love her so much, I'd probably strangle her.”

“Emotional?”

“Yeah.” Matt Vereker, a younger, masculine version of Ray, gave an ear-to-ear grin. “Pregnant women are like that, you know.”

“Preg—” The bottom dropped out of his stomach. Eli fumbled for the chair behind him, then fell into it hard. His head swam. She wasn't seriously ill. “She's . . . ?”

“If you can't even say it, how the hell do you think Ray feels?”

He shook his head, then said, “Emotional?”

The grin widened. “Very. And sore and tired, and as you already saw, full of morning sickness that doesn't confine itself to the morning.” Matt grew serious. “I've never seen her like this. She can deal with anything. She doesn't bat an eyelash when that damn agency contacts her, handles any weapon with ease, and could teach the local law enforcement a thing or two about hand-to-hand combat. But this has laid her low. If you hurt her—”

“I'm going to marry her.” Eli shook his head, trying to take it in. “I was going to marry her before I knew, it was just a matter of convincing her. But this ought to help things along.”

Matt appeared pleased by Eli's statement, then said, “You don't really know Ray if you think that. And I wasn't kidding about the emotional part. If you thought she was temperamental before, try getting on her nerves now.”

Eli waved all that away. With a small, very pleased smile, he whispered in awe, “Pregnant.” And then, thinking of how violently ill she'd been, he winced. “Poor Ray.”

“Poor
you.
You're the one who put her in this condition, and she remembers that every time she pukes—which is pretty damn often.”

“I can handle her.”

Matt shook his head, laughing. “She did say you were brave.”

Feeling steadier by the moment, Eli came to his feet again, started out of the kitchen, and realized he didn't know which room was hers. Standing at the bottom of the stairs, he shouted,
“Ray,”
loud enough to rattle the windowpanes.

The air seemed to still around him before Ray shouted back, “Stop that damned bellowing,” from a door at the top of the stairs.

Eli took the steps two at a time. He couldn't wait to hold her, to tell her how he really felt, to touch her and kiss her and—given she was sick, a lot of that might have to wait. But not all.

He flung her door open, but held onto the knob for support. Knowing Ray would have his baby made his knees weak and expanded every tender, loving thing he felt for her.

Ray stared at him, her expression antagonistic. He remembered what Matt said about this throwing her, and quickly collected himself. She needed his reassurance and support to help her accept the inevitable.

He stepped into the room and quietly closed the door behind him.

Ray sat up and hugged a pillow to her stomach. Still scowling, she said, “You look so damned determined.” And then, softly: “I missed that look.”

That she'd admit to missing anything about him gave Eli hope. “You're pregnant.”

Her chin jutted forward. “Surprise, surprise.” Taking two steps to tower over her, Eli gently grasped her by the upper arms and lifted her from the bed. “When did you plan to tell me, Ray?

“Tell you? How did you expect me to do that? I don't have your resources. I couldn't track you down, and you sure as hell didn't follow like you said you—”

Despite her scowl, she looked hurt, and Eli decided the questions could wait.

Kissing her could not.

He leaned forward—and Matt swung the door open.

“Here's your tea, Ray.”

Eli knew he only wanted to check on his sister, and he admired that. But at the same time Matt spoke, a feral growl sounded, and before Eli could turn to face the snarling threat, he got hit in the backside with a ball of fur brandishing sharp teeth. The dog—Ray's
pet,
he assumed—was latched onto his backside.

Eli lost his balance as he twisted around, but since he still held onto Ray, they both stumbled. The room was filled with sudden curses, barks, and shouted warnings.

And as if the day hadn't held enough surprises, Ray fainted.

Despite the toothy dog clinging tenaciously to the seat of his pants, Eli managed to catch her just before she slid to the carpeting. Matt tried to work himself closer to see Ray's face, and struggled to hold onto the dog's small, stout body at the same time.

Eli's own worry was immense. “Move so I can get her on the bed. And get that damned mutt off my ass.”

The dog snarled and jerked and shivered, making Matt's job more difficult.

Very gently, his eyes never leaving her pale face, Eli placed Ray on the soft coverlet. She didn't stir. One small-boned wrist dangled off the side of the mattress, making her look almost frail when Eli knew her to be anything but.

He heard Matt commanding the dog to let loose, but it refused to listen. The stubborn animal swung jerkily back and forth, his teeth deeply snared in the material of Eli's jeans, only narrowly missing actual flesh. It might have been humorous if Eli wasn't so worried about Ray.

Impatiently, he reached back and pried the dog's jaws loose. It yelped in surprise, giving Eli his release. Giving the dog the full force of his intimidating stare, Eli commanded in a stern tone,
“Stay.”

The dog stilled, perked his ears, whimpered, and then sat. His tongue lolled out and his head tilted to the side. He peered toward Eli, awaiting further instruction.

Matt was amazed. “That dog doesn't obey anyone except Ray. How did you do that?”

Eli bent over Ray, his hand gently cupping her cheek. “I've spent some time with your sister. I had to learn quickly to assert myself.”

Matt chuckled, then peered over Eli's shoulder. “I can't believe she keeled over like that. But then, pregnancy does funny things to women. At least, that's what Ray keeps telling me. She's been really weird.”

“Has she ever fainted before?”

“Are you kidding? Ray faint?” He snorted. “I shouldn't be surprised, though. She has a terrible time keeping anything down and she doesn't sleep well. She's always tired but still insists on working. And like I said earlier, she's in permanent PMS mode.” He leaned back and crossed his arms. “I wouldn't say this if she could hear me, but I think she's afraid.”

Eli made no comment to that. To him, Ray lived her life in fear, and the worst fear of all was that someone might know.

He patted Ray's cheek. “Come on, sweetheart. Open your eyes for me.”

Ray moaned softly, turning her head away from him. She looked so damned debilitated with her face washed clean of color and dark circles ringing her eyes. Her bloodless lips parted on a sigh and Eli wanted to defend her against the world. He couldn't stop touching her.

As his thumb drifted over her smooth, stubborn chin, her lashes flickered. She blinked vague eyes open. “What happened?”

Matt leaned over her. “You fainted dead away and would have hit the floor except that Eli caught you, even with your dog chewing on his butt.”

Eli didn't look at Matt when he said, “You spilled the tea, Matt. Why don't you get her some more?”

Seeing Matt rush from the room without question, Ray frowned. “Don't order my brother around. I don't like it.”

“Should I have said please?” Eli smiled gently, and his thumb still drifted over her lips. He'd missed touching her so much. He'd even missed her quarrelsome tone and commanding manner.

Ray raised a shaking hand to her forehead. “That's never happened before.” And then, with suspicion: “You're sure I fainted?”

“I sure as hell didn't knock you out, if that's what you're thinking.”

She closed her eyes, but said, “Right. As if you could.”

Eli sat on the side of the bed. He took Ray's hand, stroked her slender fingers. The dog came bounding past him, and with one less than agile leap, landed square on Ray's chest, making her grunt.

She smiled the sweetest smile Eli had ever seen her bestow, and said to the dog, “Hello, Precious. Were you worried about me?”

Eli shook his head. “Worried?” Then the name she'd used registered and he laughed in disbelief.
“Precious ?”

Ray continued to smile. “That's right. He's a very sweet dog. And he's always trying to protect me.”

So, she allowed her dog that privilege, but no one else? “He attacked my backside. What did he think I was going to do? Sit on you?”

Ray glared at Eli. “You didn't scare him, did you?”

“No, I didn't scare him. I'm the one with teeth marks in my ass. And there is absolutely nothing precious about that damned mutt.”

“I told you a long time ago that Precious didn't like men.”

“Yeah, well, I think Precious and I understand each other well enough now.” His gaze went to the dog, and it immediately laid its ears back and whined, then gave a tentative, lopsided doggy grin, complete with lots of tongue and drool. Satisfied, Eli scratched Precious behind his furry ears. “As to my injury, I think I'll survive.”

Ray pushed up to her elbows. “I'm sorry.”

Eli had the feeling she didn't say that too often, and that she was talking about quite a bit more than just the dog. He traced the dark shadows beneath her left eye with his fingertip. “What's going on, Ray? Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant?”

Hugging the dog, Ray avoided looking at him. “I hadn't heard from you . . .”

“You ran off.”

“I know. I had to. But . . . you were so obstinate about things, I sort of expected you to try to follow me. When you didn't, and then I found out I was pregnant, I just wasn't sure what to do.” She looked up suddenly. “I would have told you, though. Eventually.”

She'd said a lot, and he needed time to wade through all the misconceptions and insecurities without making matters worse. He considered his next words carefully. “You should call the doctor and tell him you fainted. Maybe you need vitamins or something.”

Ray gave him a wry grimace. “I'm already taking tons of vitamins. Believe me, I don't need any more. And besides, he'll probably tell me the same things he always tells me.”

“And what's that?”

“Every woman reacts differently to pregnancy and every stupid thing that happens is normal. Bear with it and eventually it will go away.” She made a disgusted face. “After I give birth, is what he means.”