Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Maggie
“Thank you for today, Amanda. I’ve had the best time,” I tell Lachlan’s mom. We just finished a late lunch after shopping all day.
“Me too,” she says, the excitement clear in her tone. “We needed another woman in the family. Just think, if this little one is a girl, we’ll have them outnumbered.” She cackles with laughter.
“We find out next week. I’m so excited. I’m glad Lachlan didn’t want to wait. I mean, I would have waited, but it would have been torture.”
Amanda laughs. “You have nothing to worry about. Even if he wanted to wait, I can’t see him telling you no. He’s a lot like his dad in that regard.”
“What do you mean?”
“My husband is one of the rare gems of a man in this world. He was relentless in asking me out, and I was on the fence. At first, I was against it. I was a single mom, and my son’s father abandoned us as soon as I told him I was pregnant. He told me to deal with it, and I never saw or heard from him again. I was a waitress at the time, living in a tiny one-bedroom apartment, barely making ends meet. I didn’t have time for a man in my life. Then along comes Rodney. He sat in my section and flirted all night. Then the next night, and the next. Each night that he left, he would ask me for my number, and I turned him down.”
“So, how did the two of you end up together?”
“I was with Lachlan at the restaurant where I worked. I was picking up my check. It was my night off and he was there. Lachlan was fussy, and he started making faces and playing with him, and asked for us to join him. I said no, of course, but then the skies opened up and it was pouring down rain, and I lived two blocks from the restaurant. I had to stay anyway, so I said yes.”
“I love that story.”
“That night he talked to me like I was someone, you know? I wasn’t just this young struggling waitress and single mom. I was a woman. And the way he interacted with Lachlan, well, that sealed the deal for me. Once the rain finally let up, he asked me on a date again. Only this time, it was to the park. He wanted to bring pizza and let Lachlan play. I think that might have been the moment that I fell in love with him.”
“Aww, I love that so much.”
“So, you see, my son might not have his blood in his veins, but he does have his dad’s heart. He wears it openly, and I don’t need for him to say the words to know that you and your baby have a piece of it.”
“Of course he loves his baby. He’s already taking such good care of us.”
“Not just the baby, Maggie.” Amanda smiles, and it’s genuine. Just like her son. He might have his dad’s heart, but I can also see Amanda in him, and this is the family my child will grow up with. “Look, I know I’m his mom, and this might seem odd to talk to me about, but I promise you what you say with me will be between us. Unless you’re hurt or unsafe, nothing leaves these lips.” She gives me another kind smile. “I know you have Grandma Doris, but I also know you lost your parents far too young, and I’d never want to replace them, but I’d like to offer to be an additional support for you. To listen, to give you a shoulder, to babysit.” She chuckles. “Whatever you need, I’m here for you. Rodney is, too, and well, you already know Lachlan would move heaven and earth or at least try if you asked him to.”
“He’s been great,” I agree. “Thank you, Amanda. For your words and today. I miss my mother more on days like this.”
“You’re welcome, sweetheart. Now, tell me, are you all shopped out or do we have time to hit Marshall’s before we head back?”
“There is always time for Marshall’s,” I tell her. We toss our trash, head out to her SUV, and make our way to the next stop.
“Did you know that Lachlan was going to be here?” I ask Amanda as we pull into her driveway, and I see his truck.
“No, but I’m not surprised. He knew you would be here eventually.”
“You’d think he’d be sick of seeing me. We’ve been spending a lot of time together.” Even saying the words, I know they’re not true. “I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry.” I’m quick to retract my words. “He’s made it clear he likes to spend time with me. I’m just… jaded from an ex.” An ex that I’m sick and tired of hearing in my thoughts.
“Maggie, trust me, the jaded ex I understand. Just know that he’s not worth your time. Maybe look at what’s right in front of you.” She nods toward what I assume is Lachlan’s truck, but when I look up, it’s him standing in front of her car, wearing a grin.
“Are you playing matchmaker, Grandma Noble?”
“Yes, and I love that more than you know. I’m going to be a grandma.” She squeals in excitement.
“And we have the bibs to prove it.”
“Right? They were gender neutral, and I couldn’t pass them up.”
“They are very cute,” I say, as my door opens and Lachlan offers me his hand. I turn to look at Amanda, and she’s too occupied placing her hand in Rodney’s as he helps her out of the SUV. I didn’t even see him outside.
I only had eyes for Lachlan.
Placing my hand in his, I allow him to help me out. “How was your day?” he asks, pressing a kiss to my temple.
“Good.” I smile up at him. “Great, actually.”
“I’m glad. Did you buy lots of things for the baby?” he asks, pressing his hand against my belly.
“A few.”
“All the things,” Amanda says as she and Rodney meet us at the back of her SUV. She opens the back and digs around in a bag, pulling out the bibs. They’re a light shade of green and one says I love my grandma and the other I love my grandpa . “Look at these.” She holds them up so that Rodney and Lachlan can read them.
Lachlan slides his arm around my waist, and I can’t help but lean into his warmth. “Our kid is going to be spoiled, Mags. Just warning you now.”
“Not spoiled, loved,” Rodney tells us.
“And a little bit spoiled.” Amanda chuckles. “Who am I kidding? A lot spoiled. Just wait until I know the gender.” She beams at us.
“Good thing I bought a bigger house.” Lachlan grins.
“You’re going to need it with this one.” Rodney pulls Amanda into his side and kisses her temple.
Just like his son.
“Amanda, thank you so much for today. I had so much fun.”
“Oh, sweetheart, this is the first of many trips. Thank you for spending the day with me.”
I reach into the back of the SUV to start grabbing my bags. “Which ones are yours?” Lachlan asks.
“The right side are mine. We tried to keep them separated to make this easy,” I tell him.
“Beautiful and smart.” He winks, grabs a handful of bags, and takes them to my car. There are only two for me to carry, and once everything is in my car, I turn to face him.
“Thank you for the help. I’ll see you later?”
“What? You’re leaving?” he asks.
“I need to get home and get off my feet. I’m exhausted.”
“Shit. You’re right. Why don’t we go to my place? I made a big pot of chili. Are you still craving it?” he asks.
This man is turning my world inside out. “I am.” I nod.
“Good. Let’s go to my place. Are you okay to drive? We can leave your car here and come back later to get it. You can take a nap at my place.”
“It’s four. If I nap now, I’ll never sleep tonight.”
“Then we’ll stay up all night.” He grins at me. “Whatever you need, Mags, always.”
“I can drive.”
“I’ll follow you.” He leans in and hugs me tightly before escorting me to my door. I watch him walk to his truck, taking a piece of my heart with him.
The drive to his house is short, and I constantly look in my rearview mirror to make sure he’s still there. He says he’ll always be there, and I can say with confidence that I believe him. There are no red flags waving like there were with Eric. My eyes are wide open, and if I’m being honest, I like what I see.
When we pull into his driveway, he’s out of his truck and to my door, pulling it open before I have a chance to. He offers me his hand, and I have no hesitation as I take it, allowing him to help me from the car. He keeps his hand locked in mine as he leads us inside the house. I’m getting used to my hand in his, and I don’t hate it. I’ve come to crave his touch.
“Are you hungry now?” Lachlan asks as we enter his house. We both kick off our shoes and leave them by the door.
“No, we had a late lunch, but you can eat without me.”
“Nah, I’d rather take a nap with you. I know you said you might not sleep tonight, but that’s a bridge we’ll cross if we come to it.” He takes my hand and guides me down the small hallway to his bedroom. He doesn’t bother turning on the light. “Do you need to change?” he asks.
I look down at the leggings and oversized sweatshirt I’m wearing. “No. With this growing belly, I dressed for comfort, which is my MO these days.” I place my hands on my belly
Lachlan bends and lifts my sweatshirt and kisses my baby bump. “Tell Mommy she’s beautiful,” he says to my belly, and tears prick at my eyes. These damn pregnancy hormones are killing me. He stands back to his full height and motions toward the bed. “After you.”
I’m too exhausted from a full day of shopping to argue how I won’t sleep tonight. Instead, I slide into bed and beneath the covers. Lachlan takes his spot next to me and holds his arm out. I know what he wants, and I want it, too, so I slide next to him, curling against his chest as he wraps his arms around me.
We’re both quiet for several minutes, and just as I’m about to doze off, he whispers, “One night. I slept with you in my arms for one night, and now, I can’t seem to get a good night’s rest without you next to me.” I feel his lips press to my head. “Sweet dreams, baby.”
He thinks I’m asleep, so I don’t reply. Instead, I focus on my breathing, keeping it deep and even. And when I do finally drift off to sleep, I dream of him, of us, and our happily ever after.
When I wake later, the room is noticeably darker. The alarm clock tells me it’s a little after seven. I didn’t intend to sleep so long, but I was too damn comfortable. I know Lachlan is still asleep by the gentle rise of his chest with each breath. I snuggle closer, wanting to soak up as much time with him as possible. I breathe him in and sigh. He always smells so damn good.
“Did you just sniff me?” His groggy voice startles me, and I jump. “Hey, I didn’t mean to scare you.” He pulls me tighter into his chest.
“You smell good,” I mumble.
He chuckles softly. “Are you hungry yet?”
“Yes, but I don’t want to get up.” I’m not ready to lose his warmth wrapped around me.
“I’ll bring it to you,” he offers.
“No. Just… let me lie here for a little while longer.”
“I can do that,” he agrees, holding me tightly. We’ve both been quiet for several minutes when he says, “You smell good too. Now my sheets will smell like you. Maybe I can get some sleep.”
I lift my head. “Are you having trouble sleeping?”
“Not when you’re here,” he says, pushing my hair back out of my eyes. How he manages to do that in the darkness of the room, I’m not sure, but this is Lachlan, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he has superpowers.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Move in with me?” he asks.
“What?” I laugh nervously.
“I’m not sleeping because after one night of holding you, you’ve ruined me. This bed feels too small with just me in it, and as it turns out, I like to snuggle.” He runs his index finger down my cheek. “I should amend that. I like to snuggle with you.”
I still stare at him, even though I can’t make out his features in the darkness of the room. That’s probably what gives me the courage to say what comes out of my mouth next.
“Kiss me.” The words are out before I can stop them. I’m ready to climb off this bed and rush out the front door when I feel his hand slide beneath my hair and cradle the back of my neck.
“Come here, beautiful,” he mumbles.
Not needing to be told twice, I move up the bed, and then his lips are on mine. He kisses me once, twice, three times before his tongue traces my lips.
It’s not enough.
I want more.
I need more.
It’s me who pushes my tongue past his lips, taking the kiss deeper to a place I’m fearful I’ll never be able to come back from, but I’m also not sure that I care.
Not when it’s Lachlan.
He groans. It’s a deep sound emitting from somewhere in the back of his throat, and it’s so damn sexy. I nip at his lip, and he makes the sound again.
“Maggie,” he warns.
“Lachlan,” I counter.
He kisses me harder, deeper, and I melt into him. I’ve never felt this kind of attraction before. I’ve never been so consumed by another person that all I want to do is get lost in them.
“I need more,” I pant as he trails kisses down my neck.
“Tell me what you need, baby, and I’ll give it to you.” He moves so that we’re now lying side by side, facing each other on the bed.
“You.”
“You have me, Maggie.” His hand slides up under my sweatshirt. He pauses on my baby bump before venturing further. He cups my breast through my cotton bra. It has to be the least sexy one that I own, but I didn’t expect to end up here, in his bed, in his arms like this.
Lachlan traces his thumb over my achingly hard nipple, and I moan. “More.”
“Tell me how much more, Maggie.”
“Touch me.”
“I am touching you. You need more than this?” he asks, tweaking my nipple through the fabric of my bra.
“Yes.”
His hand trails back over my belly and to the waistband of my leggings. He slides his hand beneath the fabric and over my panties, also cotton, unsexy, and completely soaked. “Is this for me?” he asks.
“You know it is.”
“Is this where you want me to touch you?”
“Yes. Please,” I murmur.
He moves to slide his hand beneath my panties, and this time he’s the one sucking in a breath. “So warm and wet for me, Mags.” He flutters his fingers over my clit before diving in blindly to explore more of me. “Are you going to come for me, Maggie?”
“I hope so,” I taunt, and he laughs under his breath.
“My mouth’s watering,” he whispers. He removes his hand, and I hear him smacking his lips as he sucks on his fingers.
“Lachlan!” I was close. I am close.
“I’m sorry. I had to taste you.” He moves his hand back to my pussy and slides one finger inside me while the palm of his hand moves over my clit. “Is this what you need? Is that better?”
“Yes,” I moan.
His lips capture mine as his fingers work their magic to build the glorious pleasure between my thighs. I arch into him. So close. I’m so close to falling, but I need something. He adds another finger, and I moan like a porn star.
“There it is,” he whispers. “That’s what you need. More of me. Your pussy is squeezing my fingers. You're close, baby. I can feel it. Come for me.”
“Lachlan!” I call out his name as my release barrels into me. He doesn’t stop until I’ve slumped back into the mattress.
He removes his hand, and I hear his lips smacking once again. “You’re my favorite treat,” he tells me, and I can’t help it. I laugh.
“What am I going to do with you?” I ask him. I feel relaxed and sated, and happy. Happy to be here with him.
“Keep me?”
Is that hope I hear in his tone? “At least for eighteen years,” I tell him.
“A lifetime, Maggie. You’re stuck with me for a lifetime.” He kisses me again, only this time it’s a soft press of his lips to mine. “Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up so I can feed you.” He rolls out of bed, and there’s just enough light that I can make out his silhouette holding his hand out for me, but not before I see him adjust his crotch.
“What about you?”
“I’ll be fine, Mags. This was for you.”
“That could be for me too,” I challenge him.
“Let’s feed you, and then we’ll see how you’re feeling.”
I’m ready to argue when my belly growls. “Fine,” I grumble. Placing my hand in his, I allow him to help me from the bed.
“Go get cleaned up. I’ll meet you in the kitchen.” His lips connect with mine briefly, and then he’s gone.
In the bathroom, I turn on the light and stare at my reflection in the mirror. My hair is a hot mess, and my cheeks are flushed, but it’s my smile that gives me pause.
Have I ever been this happy?
He’s not even mine, and the man has me smiling like a kid in a candy store. How would it feel if this were real? I know it’s real. This baby is real, and my feelings for him are real, but how would I feel? How happy would I be if I really could call him mine?