Wanted (Hostage Rescue Team Series Book 8) (9 page)

A moment of shocked silence filled the room. Staring at him, Tuck slowly lowered himself back onto the desk, then smiled. “Wow. That’s great, congratulations.”

He nodded. “Thanks.” Rubbing his hands up and down his thighs, he stole a glance at DeLuca. “It was a shock. We didn’t plan it. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it, to be honest.”

He was all mixed up inside. A little excited, a little proud, and a lot worried he didn’t have what it took to be a good father. He was worried not only about screwing up his child somehow, but afraid that Zoe would leave him later on if he fucked up at fatherhood. And it felt like she didn’t trust him fully, otherwise she would tell him the rest of whatever was bothering her.

“I’m happy for you guys,” DeLuca murmured.

Clay looked up at him then, and caught the flash of something that seemed like pain in his commander’s eyes. He mentally cursed himself. DeLuca had lost his wife, Lisa, a few years ago to a brain aneurism. She’d been pregnant with their first child—one they’d been trying a long time for.

Shit.

Clay rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “Yeah, thanks. Sorry, man. I didn’t think.”

DeLuca shook his head. “Don’t apologize. I really am happy for you guys. I know you’re probably still in shock, but as far as surprises go, a baby is the best kind.”

He was right. And Clay was a selfish asshole, looking at this like it was some kind of impending tragedy for the past two days. Becoming a parent
wasn’t
an impending tragedy. DeLuca had lost the wife he loved, and even though he had Briar now, it didn’t make up for the loss or take the pain away.

Clay still had Zoe and he loved her more than anything. They probably would have had kids together down the line anyway; they’d kind of talked about it once or twice in the past. This just meant their timeline was moved up. “You’re right. You’re totally right. Jesus, I need to get my head out of my ass.”

“About freaking time. We’ve been saying that for how long now?” Tuck joked to DeLuca.

Clay cracked a smile. He was so freaking lucky—he already had an amazing woman, and she was going to have his baby. Hardly the end of the world, becoming a daddy.

“How’s Zoe doing?” DeLuca asked.

“She’s…adjusting. Big shock for her too.” And he was so proud of her for how she was handling everything. His woman handled stress better than anyone, and God knew she had a lot to deal with right now. He felt guilty as shit for the way he’d reacted to the news initially, wished he could go back and redo it.

“I’ll bet. Once she has time for it to sink in, I’m sure everything will go smoothly for her.”

Clay thought of how DeLuca must have felt on the day he’d lost Lisa and their baby. Everything had been going fine, then boom, they were both gone. “Yeah, hope so.” It made his stomach clench to think of anything happening to Zoe, or the baby. So many things could go wrong and he couldn’t stop any of them.

In that moment Clay realized just how scared she must be, having this sprung on her, especially since she was the one who had to carry the baby and give birth, then bear the brunt of the responsibility for caring for it in the first few months, especially if he was called away on missions. He had to step up, make sure he
showed
her he was there for her—for her and the baby—that he was going to support her through everything.

Yeah, the timing wasn’t ideal, but so what? It was time he counted his blessings instead of looking at having a baby as something to dread.

“Zo’s tough, and she’ll make one hell of a mom,” Tuck said. “And you’ll make one hell of a dad.”

Tuck knew him better than anyone, except for Zoe. His friend’s show of support meant a lot. “Thanks. Gonna do my best.” And just like that it felt like a weight had been lifted from his chest. “Thanks, guys. I needed that kick in the ass.” Now he was starting to become more excited than anything else.

“Happy to help,” Tuck said, grinning at him. “So when’s the big day?”

“May. But listen, you guys can’t say anything to anyone else yet. Not until the first trimester is over. That’s the way Zoe wanted it.”

DeLuca nodded. “I get it. Don’t worry.”

Clay looked at Tuck. “Celida already knows though. Zo called her last night.”

Tuck’s dark blond eyebrows crashed together. “She didn’t tell me a thing.”

“She wasn’t allowed to.”

“Well, now I know, so we’re even.”

DeLuca leaned back in his chair. “Tell Zoe congrats from me. If you guys need anything, let me know.”

Coming from a man who had lost his own wife and baby, that grabbed Clay by the throat. “Thanks. I will.”

DeLuca waved a hand at him and Tuck. “Now you two get outta here and do whatever you have to do for the bachelor party so I can get some work done.”

Clay rose. “You sure you don’t wanna come?”

“Nah, it should be a team thing, for you guys to blow off steam without your boss there. But I’m damn sure coming to the wedding.”

“You’d better,” Tuck told him.

Out in the hall, Tuck closed the door and grabbed Clay’s arm. “Seriously, man, congrats. This is pretty freaking awesome.”

Clay inclined his head, smiled, feeling lighter inside than he had in days. “Yeah.” He was going to make sure he was the kind of father his child deserved. “Just pray for me that it’s a boy, okay?”

At that Tuck grinned ear-to-ear. “Sorry, brother. I think karma dictates you’ll be having a little girl.”

Clay’s smile fell as the ramifications of that possibility hit home with the force of a sledgehammer. If he had a daughter, one day a boy would want to…do things to her. And he knew how teenage boys thought. How
guys
thought.

Fuck
.

A dark scowl formed on his face. Those horny bastards weren’t getting near his baby girl.

Tuck burst out laughing, his deep brown eyes twinkling. “Oh, man, it’s still a fifty-fifty shot either way and you should see your face right now.”

“Shut up,” he muttered under his breath, and headed for the door.

If he had a little girl, he’d put the fear of God into any boy who dared to show up at their door to take her out.

****

“Have we got any more of those mozzarella bite thingies?”

Zoe glanced over at Taya as she sauntered into Celida and Tuck’s gorgeous new kitchen with an empty plate. Man, these ladies could eat. Her kind of people. “I’ve got one more tray in the oven. Hang on.”

Taya waved the offer away and grabbed for the oven mitt set on the counter, brushing her long, dark curls over one shoulder. “I’ll get them.”

“Thanks.” Zoe moved out of her way and set about finishing the tray of finger sandwiches—the third of the afternoon—on another platter.

Celida and Tuck’s newly remodeled house was the perfect place for this impromptu ladies’ get together. Plenty of room for everyone to hang out, and the bright white country kitchen was a cook’s dream, complete with new stainless steel appliances and black granite countertops. It opened up into the rest of the great room, giving the entire space a bright, airy feel. The view out the French doors that led out to the patio showed off the gorgeous wood deck and manicured backyard. Clay and Tuck had worked on it together.

Zoe smiled as she remembered catching sight of him once out there this past summer, wearing nothing but jeans, boots and a leather tool belt, all those gorgeous muscles in his upper body on display for her.

She’d wanted to ravage him on the spot, but had been forced to wait until they got into the truck later. Clay had laughed when she’d jumped him in the front seat…until she’d jerked his fly down and freed him from his boxer briefs. Then he’d been too busy getting his world rocked to do anything but grip her hips and growl in pleasure.

Tendrils of heat licked deep in her belly at the memory. She cleared her throat. Things were way better now that she’d mostly come clean to him the other night. She might even bring up the marriage thing soon, see how it went. Maybe after Tuck and Celida’s wedding. Once he saw his best friend get married, maybe the idea wouldn’t scare him so much anymore. “How we doing for wine out there, do you know?”

“Just opened a fifth bottle of white and we’re still on our second red, I think.” Taya eyed her. “You haven’t touched yours and it’s gotta be warm by now. You want something else instead?”

Zoe glanced at her still full wine glass she’d set by the sink, which she had no intention of drinking. She’d only taken it to avoid curious looks and questions about why she wasn’t drinking. “Yeah, actually. Maybe some herbal tea or something. Celida should have some peppermint up in the cupboard, if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all.” Taya reached up on tiptoe to look for the tea in the cupboard Zoe indicated, grabbed a box and looked back at her. “You feeling okay? You’ve barely eaten anything.”

It was really hard to lie right to this woman’s face. Taya was sweet and caring beyond belief and Zoe had fallen in love with her exactly three seconds after meeting Schroder’s incredibly strong and loving lady. Still, she wasn’t going to say anything about the baby.

“Yeah, just been busy in here and my stomach’s a little off, that’s all.”

Taya filled the electric kettle and turned it on, frowning. “You worried about the messages you’ve been getting?”

Zoe nodded, appreciating Taya’s insight and concern. “Yeah. I know the FBI and NSA have people looking into it, so that makes me feel better.“ Although they still had yet to come up with an actual list of suspects. “And I’m being careful. I don’t leave my place alone, Clay made me promise. He dropped me off here before he left to get the stuff for their party tonight. Plus I’m armed with pepper spray and a taser.”

Between the news about the baby and wondering how things would go with Clay when the marriage thing came up, the pregnancy hormones, her stupid stalker and her looming deadline that was coming up way too fast, it was no wonder her stomach was upset.

“That’s good.” Taya put a teabag into a mug she’d found.

Zoe paused in filling the platter and aimed a smile at her new friend. She refused to dwell on her stresses right now. Today was about celebrating love and friendship, forging a stronger bond with her new friends. And she felt a kind of inner glow, knowing a baby was snuggled safely inside her body. “I’m really glad you and Schroder found each other again.”

Taya smiled back. “Me too. It’s funny how life works, isn’t it?”

“No kidding.” Taking two steps toward her, Zoe wrapped her arms around Taya and hugged her. The gang was getting used to her displays of affection, with the exception of maybe Briar, DeLuca’s lady, who was still a little standoffish and didn’t seem to know what to make of her.

Zoe didn’t take it personally though. Briar hadn’t had an easy life and it took a while for her to trust people. Zoe was getting there though, slowly but surely. Briar hadn’t stiffened up like a poker this time when Zoe had hugged her on the doorstep earlier. Major progress.

“I’m so lucky to have you ladies in my life. Who else would understand how crazy our men are?” Zoe didn’t know Marisol and Carmela that well yet either, but they were both friendly so she knew it wouldn’t be long before they were all friends. That support network was vital when their men had such dangerous jobs.

Taya squeezed her in return, her calm energy like a balm to Zoe’s anxious mind. “For real.” The kettle popped. Taya released her and poured the boiling water over the teabag. “Want honey in it or anything?”

“No thanks. Straight up is good.”

Taya handed her the mug with a grin, the bright overhead light catching the fine scars on the left side of her face and throat. “So hardcore, drinking peppermint tea straight up.”

“I know, right?” She grabbed the full platter. “Better take this out to the starving masses before they start gnawing on the furniture.”

Out in the living room, all the girls were sitting on the couches or on cushions on the floor. Zoe considered it a minor miracle that she’d been able to wrangle everyone here at the same time—during the middle of a weekday, no less—but the sight filled her with happiness.

Since moving from New Orleans she’d missed her friends, but these women were becoming more than that. They were becoming her sisters. And every single one of them knew they could reach out to any of them for help, an understanding ear or someone to vent to. Living with a stubborn alpha male resulted in some occasional…frustrations that only another woman in the same situation could ever understand.

The only notable exception was Summer, Blackwell’s wife. Zoe had yet to meet her, and she wondered why Summer never seemed to show up for team functions. Clay had told her their marriage seemed to be on the rocks, but Zoe was more than a little curious about the Defense Intelligence Agency agent.

“More dainty, crustless tea sandwiches for y’all,” she announced, sauntering over to place the platter in the middle of the already cluttered coffee table. They’d devoured everything else so far, leaving nothing but crumbs and messy finger napkins.

“Oh, you got the cucumber ones!” Celida exclaimed, reaching out from her perch in the center of the largest sofa to snatch three of them.

Zoe laughed at her. “I wanted to get whole wheat bread at least, but the caterer seemed totally offended by the request. Thus, you got your unhealthy white bread.”

Celida made a humming noise as she chewed the little dainty, her eyes sparkling. “Delish.”

Taya came up behind her and added the platter of mozzarella bites to the table, a chilled bottle of white in her other hand. “Who needs more wine?”

A chorus of requests sounded and five wine glasses appeared before her.

Zoe snickered and looked at Taya. “I’ll go open another couple of bottles.”

Two hours and another few bottles of wine later, Zoe leaned back into the sofa cushions and glanced around the room with a smile. This was exactly what she’d needed. Good food, camaraderie and friendship.

Rachel, Evers’s other half, reached out and plucked Celida’s mostly empty glass from her fingers, pushing her long brown hair over one shoulder. “That won’t do. Somebody give the bride-to-be a refill, quick.”