Dare To Love Series_A Stranger's Dare Read online

  He bit her lower lip. “Pregnant? We’re pregnant?”How freaking awesome.

  A sunshine smile brightened her face and his world. “That’s why I’ve been trying to reach you.”

  His forehead rested against hers. “Did you think I wasn’t responding because I’d dumped you?”

  Her eyes filled with tears and he couldn’t stand it. She had. She thought she’d have to go through this pregnancy alone. That he’d cast her aside like all the other bad boys before him.

  “Reach into my coat’s interior pocket. You’ll find a box I carried all the way from New York. A man can’t propose without a diamond. Even if he is a reformed bad boy.”

  Her hand stilled. “But you haven’t asked how I got pregnant when I was on the pill and there’s some things you need to know about the baby.”

  His gut clenched and a bead of sweat slowly ran down his spine. Was there something wrong with little Peanut? “No. We’re doing this right. First the engagement, then we’ll talk about the baby.” He removed the box himself and flipped open the lid. “Gracie, I love you. These last two months have been pure hell without you. I want you with me every day. I don’t care if you come to me or I have to move here. I just want you to marry me.”

  The square cut diamond surrounded with round diamonds set on a platinum diamond encrusted band was impressive. He hoped she liked it. He prayed she’d accept it.

  “I love you, too, Webb. It just took me longer to realize it. I don’t like being apart from you either. Yes, I’ll marry you.” She held out her hand and wiggled her fingers.

  He kissed it before he slipped it on her finger. “A perfect fit.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Yes, we are.” She took control of his mouth and he found his center again, right here in this woman’s arms.

  While they snuggled, she filled him in on the pregnancy and the possibility of complications. Fuck, no wonder she needed to talk to him. As her Dom, it was up to him to see her through the rough spots of her life. From this point on, he would.

  “I vote for the twins scenario,” he boasted. “As for the possibility of strong antibiotics weakening birth control pills, I knew that. My cousin has a little girl Anna, short for antibiotics.”

  She slapped his shoulder. “So when you were eating dessert off me, you knew what you might be doing?”

  “Well, I was hoping. I mean, I didn’t know how else I was going to get to keep you. So I told my super sperm to do their thing. Now, don’t give me the evil eye as if you’re pissed.” He nuzzled her neck and lowered his voice to a purr. “You love me, right, baby?”

  Webb liked Diana Carson. She was protective, smart, and quirky. The three of them sat together in the waiting room of Pine Hill Obstetrics Center, waiting and talking about anything except what would happen in a few minutes. He had Gracie tucked to his side, his arm around her shoulders. Diana’s arm was slipped through his fiancee’s and he smiled at the ability to call her that.

  “What do you think, Diana, a wedding over Labor Day weekend?” He kissed the top of Gracie’s head.

  Her head whipped back and forth between her friend and him, her adorable brown eyes widened. “Oh no. You two do not get to plan my wedding.”

  He winked at Diana and she covered her mouth to hide her answering smile.

  “Is it pretty in this area over Labor Day, Diana?”

  “Beautiful,” the retired woman gushed. “How big of a ceremony are we talking about?”

  “I’ll fly my family up. That’ll be about ten. We’ll want Cooper and Gracie’s critique partner. Probably should invite your agent, too. Right?”

  She crossed her arms with a huff. “I want to plan this wedding.”

  “Of course. Do you prefer a church ceremony? Maybe something at a club or outside. Think about it.” He caught Diana’s gaze again and smirked. “Were you thinking eight bridesmaids or ten?”

  “Ten?” Gracie’s voice squeaked. “Are you insane? I can think of eight family members I want there. Diana’s going to be my attendant, my only attendant. I want to invite the coaching staff and my team. I want the ceremony—”

  “Gracie Luera?” A woman in orange scrubs held a folder in her hands, the open door resting against her hip.

  All three of them stood and nodded. Webb took the middle, his arm around each woman’s waist. “We’ll all be in the room for the procedure.”

  “No problem. We’ll have plenty of space.” She led them down a long hall and indicated a room. Gracie turned into his arms.

  He held her to him. “We’re a team, baby. We’ll face everything together. Think twins.” Webb glanced at the technician. “You want her on the examination table?”

  “Yes.”

  He lifted his woman and kissed her deeply as he carried her to the table and gently laid her down. “We got this,” he whispered in Gracie’s ear

  “Well,” the lady in scrubs fanned herself with the folder, “that’s a first. I’ll tell Dr. Romano his patient is ready.”

  As if they weren’t nervous enough, the doctor moved the monitor so they couldn’t see what the probe inserted in Gracie’s vagina showed. Dr. Romano and his assistant whispered until Webb didn’t think he could stand it another minute. He’d only known about the baby for a few hours. After worrying for weeks, he could only imagine the stress the love of his life was going through.

  “I’m going to remove the probe now and use the traditional wand. Breathe easily folks. I saw nothing wrong. As I suspected, we have twins. Now, let’s see how healthy they look.” He turned the monitor so they could watch, squeezed gel on a wand, and ran it over her abdomen. “Here they are. Twins. Let’s do some measurements, Julia.”

  “Twins.” Gracie sobbed with relief. “Not some kind of mass. Twins.” Webb kissed away her tears.

  “They look perfect to me. They’re developing at the correct gestational time. Want some pictures to take along?”

  “Oh, yeah,” Webb said. “The one on the right is Peanut. The left one is Nutty Buddy.”

  “Your daughters aren’t going to appreciate the nicknames,” she teased. It was too early to know the sex. But teasing about it would be fun.

  His gaze left the screen and landed on Gracie. “Girls? Look at the shoulders on those twins.” He pointed.“Those are line backers.”

  “You can’t even see shoulder yet. They’re ours and I don’t care what sex they are, as long as they’re healthy. Dr. Romano, we need to discuss my activity level, my ability to work, and any danger signs I should watch for.”

  Webb asked about their having sex.

  Diana questioned Gracie’s severe morning sickness, something Webb didn’t know about. He had so much to catch up on.

  The three of them left the facility happy and full of information. Especially Webb, his hand on Gracie’s world class ass.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Once they stepped into the late afternoon sunlight, a myriad of emotions hit Gracie. Webb was back in her life. He loved her. They were engaged. She was carrying twins who, for now, were doing well. “I need a minute.” She sat on a bench and put her head between her knees.

  “Are you gonna be sick?” Webb knelt at her feet. When she raised her head, his eyes were full of emotion.

  She cupped his face. “I woke up scared this morning. Then you breezed into my office and told me you loved me.” He gave her his slow sexy-as-hell smile. “Our babies are fine.”

  His eyes were suspiciously moist. “This has been the best day of my life, sweetheart. I’ve wanted kids, but planned on waiting until my football days were over, so I could spend all my time with them. With you. I don’t care about the timing. People come into our lives for us to love, when we need them most. And sometimes we don’t even know that necessity exists. We’re so used to our empty lives, you know?”

  “I never believed in love at first sight.” She glanced at Diana and blushed. “Or at first fuck.”

  Webb tilted his head. “Well I do give a good fuck.” The misc
hievous twinkle was back in his eyes.

  Diana gasped, then looked away, her shoulders shaking in silent laughter.

  “I just needed to pull myself together. You’re here. We’re engaged. The babies are fine. Life is good.”

  He stood and pulled her into his arms. “Life is fabulous.” He kissed her like only he knew how to do, she was home again in his embrace.

  When they reached Gracie’s SUV, Webb handed Diana his cell. “Would you mind taking a couple engagement pictures of us? I need to send one to my momma and sister and Gracie’s favorite sports reporter.”

  “Why Skip?”

  “Because he interviewed me just before I flew out here. I didn’t tell him where I was going, but he guessed. I think he’d like to be the first to know, don’t you?”

  “Webb, you’re in a suit. I’m in a college t-shirt and workout pants. What kind of picture will that make?”

  “You’ve got the rock, lay it on my jacket. Sweetheart, you look great.” They posed. “Did you pick a date yet?” He glanced down at her and the camera clicked again.

  She gazed at him. “The Saturday of Labor Day weekend.” The camera clicked. “A simple ceremony. Family, close friends, and my squad. Your team if they want to come.” She looked at Diana. “Oh my God, that’s ten days away. Can we plan a wedding in ten fucking days?” She gasped. “Oh my God! What will I wear?”

  For Gracie, there was no better place to exchange her vows, than on her basketball court, under their home basket. When she’d called an emergency team meeting two days later and thrown the idea out, her players were all over it. They saw the significance right away. They were also spellbound she was engaged to the pro running back, Webb Mohanty.

  Once everyone finally made their congratulations, Webb hugged her. “You look exhausted with all this wedding planning. What you need is a little loving to put you to sleep for a few hours.”

  They’d had so much sex since he’d arrived, the sheets barely had a chance to cool off.

  After they got in his rental, she glanced at Webb and smiled, her hand slowly rubbing his thigh. “What’s on your mind, sexy momma?”

  “Those special sleeping potions you’re so good at giving.”

  ****

  Webb strode into the gymnasium to survey the work Gracie’s players had put into getting the place ready for today’s ceremony. None could really afford a gift, so they’d asked if they could decorate the place for the coach. She was so touched that she cried, but then again, she cried a lot these days. Pregnancy hormones, from what Webb had read online.

  To help with the players’ project, he ordered a white arch and had it decorated with white and yellow roses and lots of ivy. He arranged for six large potted palms to sit on either side of the arch. Then he threw some cash into the pot for whatever decorations the players wanted to add.

  “Place looks great,” his best man said.

  “It does, doesn’t it, Coop? Man, I’m glad you’re here. You helped me through some rough emotional shit.”

  “Hey, that’s what friends do, you know? Is Bethany coming?” He slipped a finger in his tuxedo shirt collar as if it were too tight.

  “For the tenth time, yes.” Webb walked up the aisle, each chair at the end of a row decorated with a white net bow, its long ends pooling on the floor. Classy looking. Somehow their small wedding had morphed into seventy-nine guests, not counting Peanut and Nutty Buddy.

  A cellist and classical guitarist were tuning up. Two college kids thrilled to be part of the event. A minister from a small church was performing the ceremony. As far as Webb was concerned, the day would be perfect. He was marrying the love of his life, the woman who completed him. The mother of his children. His submissive in the bedroom.

  Guests filtered in. The string duo played their magic. At last, the moment of enchantment arrived. His Gracie floated into the gym on the arm of her uncle. Her knee-length golden lace gown was strapless and semi-fitted to hide her little baby bump. She wore her hair in a sophisticated bun. In her hands, she carried an arrangement of white roses and babies breath attached to the red purse she held flat in front of her like a ring bearer’s pillow.

  Webb chuckled and shook his head. That damn red purse had started it all. He’d have to work hard to keep ahead of this woman. And he’d have a lifetime of fun doing it.

  FIVE MONTHS LATER

  Are you two serious? I’m in the middle of an important game and you’re choosing now?

  Another contraction hit. Stronger, longer.

  Gracie, who was yelling at ChriShawn, slapped a hand to her abdomen and winced. Two of her players on the bench noticed and rushed over. “Coach?” they both spoke at the same time. Her gaze frantically searched the crowd behind the coach’s section for Webb. They made eye contact and she nodded.

  Her players rushed off the court and picked her up, carrying her and her mountain of a belly out of the gym. Everyone cheered. Webb rushed along, looking nervously pale. Gracie had the presence of mind to call “time out” to the referees.

  “Don’t you guys dare lose this game!” She barked orders between contractions on what she wanted each player to do. They put her in the SUV and Webb drove like a recruit for NASCAR all the way to the hospital.

  Two hours later, Cooper Webb and Carson Skip Mohanty were born. Cooper weighed four pounds twelve ounces and Carson five pounds one ounce. Both, according to Webb, had the legs and arms of a running back.

  Once all the excitement was over and the babies taken to the neo-natal nursery, Webb slid into bed beside Gracie. “I love you, sweetheart. You did so good today. You only cussed me out twice.”

  “I love you, too, hero. You make a good birthing coach. But, really,” she yawned, “once of that was enough. Kiss me, make me forget why I cursed you.”

  And he did.

  THE END

  OTHER TITLES AVAILABLE ON AMAZON BY VONNIE DAVIS

  A HIGHLANDERS BELOVED SERIES:

  A Highlander’s Obsession

  A Highlander’s Passion

  Bearing It All

  WILD HEAT SERIES:

  Santa Wore Leathers

  How to Seduce a Fireman

  For the Love of a Fireman

  Pin-Up Fireman

  BLACK EAGLE OPS SERIES:

  Her Survivor

  Hers to Heal

  PARIS INTRIGUE SERIES:

  NIKO: Licensed to Kill

  JEAN-LUC: Once is Never Enough

  BASTIAN: The Spy Who Loves Me

  SINGLE TITLES:

  Storm’s Interlude

  Those Violet Eyes

  Back Where You Belong

  Up the Chimney

  COMING SOON: Mr. OH

  AUTHOR’S BIO:

  Vonnie Davis is an award-winning, international author who likens herself to a freshly baked croissant: Warm,crusty, wrinkled, a tad flaky--and best served with strong coffee. She writes stories ranging from sensual to hot to erotic.

  By day, she hunches over her laptop bringing to life the men who strut through her dreams at night with thatdelightfully self-assured swagger. They end up in passion-filled contemporary romances, romantic suspense, and bearshifter romances—all with a strong spice of humor.

  Vonnie's heroes are always that delightful blend of alpha male with a chewy chocolate center.

  And her heroines?Her heroines are feisty females, who take life's adversities and turn them into advantages. The settings for her storiesrange from the Scottish Highlands to Paris to all the beautiful sights of the United States.

  A PAN member of RWA, you can find out more about her books at www.vonniedavis.com and while you’re there,sign up for her newsletter so you’re always in the know and eligible for prizes.

 

 

 
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