Chapter 19
Reagan
When we enter the kitchen, everyone is gathered at the table, tearing into a giant plate of sandwiches. Tiago guides me to a chair and smirks when I wince as I sit down.
Ryder flat-out laughs. “Did someone misbehave this morning?”
My face heats. The dynamics in this house are bizarre. I’ve only ever lived with one relative, and though my grandfather and I are very close, we don’t have this banter. I’m not used to it.
The fact that Ryder, Claire, and undoubtedly Dallas know I got punished a few minutes ago is unnerving.
It’s weird enough that I let someone spank me.
Knowing that everyone in the house is always going to be aware of damn near everything Tiago and I do makes me feel like I’ve stepped into another dimension.
Claire swats Ryder’s arm. “Don’t tease her. She’s new to living with neanderthals. Give her a break.”
I can’t help but giggle. Claire is right. It’s going to take me a while to get used to this, but I don’t hate it, especially when Tiago tips my head back and kisses me long and deep until I’m dizzy.
He fills a plate for me and fixes me a drink before serving himself. The man is thoughtful and attentive while also being demanding and growly.
Claire is nibbling on her sandwich. I wonder if she’s feeling queasy. I don’t know much about pregnancy. I’ve never known anyone close to me who was pregnant.
Being raised by my grandfather was a blessing, and I owe him tremendous gratitude for taking me in and turning me into the adult I’m proud to be. But he wasn’t overly comfortable talking to me about girly things. He bought me a book to read about periods and told me to ask him if I had questions.
To be honest, I think I had more education than some of my peers whose parents didn’t get them a book or tell them anything. We didn’t discuss pregnancy beyond him making sure I understood how it happened and how to prevent it.
Ryder gets up and heads for the refrigerator, returning a minute later with a clear soda and a glass of ice.
Claire covers her mouth and shakes her head. “No ice.”
Ryder sets it aside, squats beside his wife, and rubs her back. “What else can I get you, baby?”
“I’m good. I just need to take it slow.”
His brows are furrowed as he retakes his seat at the table. He eats, but he keeps a close eye on Claire at all times. He adores her.
When I glance at Tiago, he’s staring at me. Is he picturing me in a similar predicament? I feel slightly queasy myself, either out of sympathy or panic. I’m not sure I’m ready to be a mother. Until a few days ago, it hadn’t even crossed my mind.
We need something to lighten the mood in the room and change the subject before everyone starts discussing the color of my ass again, which I’m pretty sure is a possibility.
I look at Dallas. “How’d it go at the library this morning?”
Dallas has taken on the task of studying the city planning maps so we can decide which businesses need the most urgent attention. Claire and I have helped as much as we can since we’ve both lived here since birth, but the maps dating back decades are housed at the small town library.
Dallas looks down at his plate. “It went well. I found some of what we’re looking for, but a lot of the early documents are not well organized. I’ll have to dig through them to find the rest of what we need.”
I nod. “Not surprising. I don’t know the librarian well. Arianna. She only moved here a few years ago to take the job.” I shudder. “I’m not sure why anyone would move to Wilde on purpose, but she did,” I joke.
Dallas shrugs and takes another bite of his sandwich without meeting my gaze.
“She seems nice, though. I’m sure she doesn’t know everything that’s happened for decades at the library. The previous librarian died before Arianna came to Wilde. But I’m sure she’ll be willing to help in any way she can.”
Dallas nods. “Yep. She was helpful. I’m sure I’ll find everything we need. She wasn’t proprietary about the storage room or anything. She was perfectly willing to let me search in there.”
“Is she cute?” Tiago asks, chuckling.
Dallas finally lifts his head to meet his cousin’s gaze. He cocks his head to one side and glares at him.
I glance back and forth between the men, noticing Ryder fighting a grin.
Ryder finally gives up and chuckles. “You better claim some rooms upstairs before Brody gets here.”
Claire swats at Ryder again. “Stop it.”
Dallas smirks. It’s a family trait. “Let’s not get carried away, but I do wonder if something’s in the water.”
Interesting. I’m pretty sure Arianna is close to my age, and Dallas is in his forties. How are all these Wilde men single and interested in much younger women?
“Who’s Brody?” I ask.
Dallas looks relieved at the change in subject as he answers me, “My older brother. He’s forty-five and the oldest grandson. He’s joining us soon.”
Tiago finishes the food on his plate and leans back in his seat, resting a hand on the back of my chair. “Does anyone have an aversion to me claiming one of the large rooms on the third floor for an art studio?”
“Nope,” Ryder says. “First come, first serve.”
“I’ll probably take the one with the most natural light, and if no one has a problem with it, I’m going to haul that maroon velvet chaise from the weird sitting room to the third floor,” Tiago explains.
I shoot him a glare. “You do not need a chaise lounge in the art studio.”
Dallas starts laughing. “Wait… Are you planning to paint nude pics of your woman?”
“Yep.”
My face heats. “No, he is not .”
Dallas rubs his hands together. “I’ll help you carry it up.”
I glare at him next. “Don’t encourage him. No one is doing any nude paintings.”
Tiago’s body shakes as he chuckles.
It’s time to change the subject yet again. I’m sure these three men have exchanged information about Silvia throughout the day, but no one has told me anything. “Does anyone know if Silvia left town?” I ask, glancing around at everyone.
“Presumably,” Ryder answers.
Dallas nods. “I drove to the motel myself to make sure she’d checked out, and she had. The question is, did she really leave town, and is she planning to stay gone?”
Tiago squeezes the back of my neck. “Don’t worry, baby.
Nothing is going to happen to you. We never should have left the gate open in the first place.
We started closing it when we were worried about Claire’s crazy ex, Smith, getting to her.
Once he was arrested, we grew complacent.
It was a mistake. It will remain shut from now on, and we’re looking into getting someone to monitor it. ”
I turn to look at him. “Monitor the gate? You mean like full-time?”
Tiago nods. “Yes. Three shifts. We’ll post the job openings on the new website along with several other openings as they come up. Ryder has been updating the town website.”
I glance at Ryder. “Oh, that’s great. And I’m sure there are a lot of people in town who would be chomping at the bit at the prospect of new jobs.”
Tiago slides his hand to my back. “A lot of the positions at the estate will be filled by the people who previously held them and were let go by our grandfather.”
I smile and lean into him. These men are good people. They may drive me batty most of the time with their overbearing presence, but all joking aside, they mean well and have good intentions for the town.
Dallas pushes from the table and reaches around to stack all the plates. “I’ll help you carry the chaise upstairs, and then I’m going to head into town to visit the antique stores.”
I cringe over the idea of Tiago moving that piece of furniture and ignore that part to comment on the antique stores. “I guess you know a lot about antiques since you’ve owned a pawn shop.”
Dallas nods as he takes the plates to the sink. “Yep. I’ve always been fascinated by old things and what makes some of them valuable.”
As he opens the dishwasher, Gretchen bustles into the room. She swats at Dallas’s hands and scolds him, “If you do my job for me, I won’t be needed anymore.”
Dallas chuckles. “I’ve heard you’re invaluable.
I don’t think you need to worry about your job security.
” He returns to the table. “Speaking of Brody, I spoke to him this morning. He says he can’t move here.
The construction business is booming. However, he will come for a few weeks and help assess what needs to be done in town.
And he knows a guy named Haden who is willing to come for an extended period of time and oversee all the remodeling here at the estate.
I warned Brody it was extensive. We have no idea what the electrical components look like.
That alone could be a huge undertaking. I suspect a lot of wires and outlets are not up to code.
And that’s just the electricity. The plumbing is another story. ”
“What about the rest of the town?” Claire asks.
Tiago stands and reaches for my hand. “We’ll let Brody figure out what’s needed. If we can’t talk him into staying, hopefully, he’ll know someone who can come manage that, too.”
Claire turns toward Dallas. She still looks a bit queasy, but not as bad as a few minutes ago.
She managed to eat half her sandwich. “You should catalog the contents of the estate, too. You probably know more about assessing the value of everything in this mansion better than anyone else. I’ve been in most of the rooms at some point.
The place is filled with strange nicknacks and furniture that dates back a century, I suspect. ”
Dallas nods. “I’ve explored a bit, and you’re right. I’m itching to get an idea of the value of so many things in this monstrosity. I ordered several antique books that will help me with period pieces.”
Ryder stands next to Claire. “I’m going to take Claire upstairs so she can take a nap, then I’ll help move your art supplies to the third floor. It’s those boxes stacked by the back stairs, right?”
Tiago nods.
Claire shakes her head. “I’m fine, Ryder. I don’t need a nap.”
He bends down and scoops her into his arms.
She gasps. “What are you doing? You can’t carry me.”
“Wanna bet?”
“And I don’t need a nap,” she repeats as he heads for the stairs.
“Wanna bet?”
I watch as they disappear. Everything that happens to Claire catches my attention because I know Tiago is going to behave in exactly the same way when I’m in her shoes, and that thought makes me shudder.
Pregnant.
It’s such a foreign concept that I’m still unable to wrap my mind around it. I’m not sure how I feel about the nausea and exhaustion, not to mention getting huge and round. How long would I be able to continue to hike? And then the baby… Am I ready to take care of a tiny human?
When Tiago tips my chin back with one finger and meets my gaze, I realize I’ve been staring at the back stairs for so long that everyone but us has left the room. “You look panicked,” he points out.
“I am panicked. She’s pregnant, and you’ve made it clear you want me to get pregnant right away, too. I’m not sure I’m ready for that, Tiago.”
He slides his hands down to my lower back and pulls me in close. “You will never be alone in this. I will always be an active participant every step of the way, baby.”
I shudder. “I’m not sure that makes me feel better, Tiago.
It’s such a big commitment. Besides all the changes to my body, which will make it hard for me to do my job, nine months later, we’ll have a tiny human to take care of.
That’s a giant responsibility. My own mother couldn’t bring herself to do it.
She dropped me off with my grandfather and never looked back. ”
Tiago sets his forehead against mine. “I’m sorry, baby. I can see how that would make you nervous, but it sounds like your mother didn’t have your father around to help. I’m sure it’s a hundred times harder to do alone. Like I said, you will never be alone.”
I chew on my bottom lip and draw in a deep breath. “It’s still scary. I’m not sure I’m ready for something like that.”
He slides his lips to my neck, kisses me behind my ear, and whispers, “You’re going to be an amazing mom, and I’m going to be the best dad you’ve ever met.”
“Even if that’s true, what about my job? I’m really hoping my business will grow as this town undergoes a transformation. I’ll be busier than ever.”
“You have employees. You’ll have to hire more people to take tour groups eventually. You’ll have plenty of time to train new employees.”
I close my eyes. “I like my job. I like leading tours.”
“I didn’t say you have to quit, baby, just scale your role back.”
I wiggle free of his arms because I need some space. “This conversation is ridiculous, Tiago. We’ve known each other for a week. You can’t start browbeating me into getting pregnant.”
Tiago reaches out with one hand and grips my fingers.
“We’re a team, baby,” he says gently. “I know it happened fast, but nothing has ever felt more right to me in my life. You are my world. I want my ring on your finger, your body in my bed, and my child growing inside you. That’s my vision of perfect. When you’re ready.”
I sigh. He wants me to be ready yesterday, and I’m not sure I can commit to that. Babies are forever.