Chapter 22: Chapter 22

“Babe, grab me a beer,” Blake called to Gabby.

Gabby, who had just finished placing a couple of dishes on the table and was heading back inside for more, paused with one foot poised above the first step and lifted a single eyebrow his way.

It took Blake a moment to feel the heat of her stare, but when he did, he turned to look over his shoulder and flashed her a seriously sexy smile. “Pleeeeease.”

Gabby’s eyes narrowed, although there was nothing but love and adoration behind them. “That’s what I thought,” she said smartly, then, with Ash following on her heels, continued inside telling him, “Remember, don’t be a heathen like your father. Use your manners.”

“Oh, I will,” he assured her, and Talia laughed.

She’d been skeptical about joining Tucker and his friends for dinner, but she would be lying if she said she wasn’t eager to go. Gabby was the only friend she’d made in town so far, and she was itching for someone to talk to that didn’t have a penis. Being with the department, some days she felt as if she were drowning in a sea of them.

“Sugar.” Tucker’s raspy, southern accent caressed her ear as he bent over her from behind and kissed the side of her neck. “You enjoying yourself?”

Reaching back, Talia rubbed her hand down the side of his rock hard thigh. “What’s not to enjoy? Your friends are wonderful, the food is amazing, and the weather divine. Thank you for bringing me along.”

“Don’t thank me. Gabby all but sent out death threats to get you here. She really likes you.”

That was surprising. She and Gabby got along well, but she had no idea that Gabby liked her that much. It was flattering. Her gaze strayed to the open screen door, and she wondered if she should go inside and thank her properly.

“I like her too,” Talia replied, “but I have to admit, it bites a little knowing that it wasn’t you issuing death threats to bring me instead. What’s up with that?”

He chuckled under his breath. Kicking one long leg over the bench, Tucker plunked his butt down beside her, one leg on either side, so he faced her head-on.

“You are always a challenge, sugar.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Good. It was meant as one.” He grinned, inspiring her to do the same. Tucker was the kind of person the sun seemed to orbit around. He was lively and fun and down to earth all at the same time. Even though she had some things to work out surrounding him and the club, she enjoyed whatever time she got to spend with him.

It was almost like being on vacation rather than constantly at work. It would be so easy to forget that she had a job to do…

“The reason I wasn’t beating down any doors or threatening lives is because Gabby beat me to the punch. She took a shine to you at the party and sent Blake after me. I was just waitin’ on the invite before I said anything.”

“Well, it’s nice to know I’m wanted.”

His finger hooked beneath her chin. Lifting, Tucker’s eyes met hers. The intensity in his stare made her short of breath, and she waited for whatever he was about to say.

“There’s a toolshed around the side of the house. What do you say we go check it out, and by check it out, I mean get nekkid and fool around.”

“Tuck!” Talia hissed, eyes darting around.

“I swear I’ll be quick! Five, ten minutes tops.” He moved in for a kiss.

“Knock it off.” Talia batted his chest, laughing. “I am not doing that here, so you just get that idea right out of your head.”

Tucker stuck out his bottom lip, pouting. “Awe, you’re no fun.”

“Didn’t take the shed sex offer, huh?”

Talia’s head whipped up, seeing Blake’s unabashed face looming over the table as he set down a second platter of steaks and potatoes wrapped in foil.

“He tries the same line with every woman he meets,” he explained.

“Dude, not cool,” Tucker scolded, eyes wide. “I have never used that line on anyone before. And it isn’t a line if it works,” he pointed out to her.

“Well, it didn’t work, so I guess it’s a line,” she pointed out.

“Now you’re just bustin’ my balls, sugar. Cut a man a break, would ya?”

“Yeah, sugar, it’s just a little rub and tug around back. Nothin’ to get all worked up about,” Blake mocked. Rolling his eyes, he dropped down on the bench opposite them. “You know what your problem is, man?”

“No, man, why don’t you enlighten me.”

Sensing that things were headed in a direction she didn’t want to stick around for, Talia got up from the table. “You two can hash out your issues alone. I’m going inside to see if I can lend a hand.”

As if they hadn’t heard a word she’d said, the men kept at it, exchanging words of insult and laughter that didn’t seem like they should go together but oddly did. Shaking her head, Talia went inside.

The kitchen counter was covered with dirty pans and dishes that had been used to prep the salads and various snacks Gabby had served, and the trash was overflowing. Taking a quick look around, Talia catalogued the motorcycle memorabilia and rustic charm of the fifties/sixties era dwelling, noting that everything was well-maintained and cared for. There were tons of pictures up on the walls and stacked two and three deep of the three of them—Gabby, Blake, and his son Ash. They were smiling in every single one. A happy little family.

One day she’d like to have one herself. She imagined a son and daughter, close in age, maybe a dog and a cat, and a quaint house in the countryside. Or maybe in a little town like this one, sheltered from big city life, but not so far removed as to feel isolated.

Tucker’s boisterous laugh carried in from outside, and for a brief moment, Talia allowed herself to picture him as the man starring in all the family photos. What would it be like to share a life with someone like him? Would he be a good father and husband? Or would he turn out to be another Brock?

Shaking the thoughts loose, Talia moved deeper into the house. “Gabby? Are you in here?” It was a rhetorical question meant to announce herself more than anything.

A terrible choking sound came from somewhere down the hallway to her right, straining and breathless. Talia rushed toward it, her hand automatically going to the small of her back where she kept her pistol.

Where she usually kept her pistol. Dammit! It was still in her glove compartment where she’d had to leave it or risk discovery. Well, it was a good thing she was trained in hand-to-hand combat. If there was an intruder, they were about to get a rude awakening in the form of her fist being shoved down their throat.

Tracking the sound of the disturbance to the bathroom door, Talia didn’t hesitate. In less time than it would take a person to sneeze, she slammed her shoulder into the door, knocking it free of its wooden housing.

Screeching, Gabby fell back from her kneeling position in front of the toilet onto her ass. “Jesus H. Christ! You scared the bejesus out of me.” Clutching her chest, she gasped for breath. Talia noted the terror on her face that was quickly melting into relief, along with a fine sheen of sweat around her hairline. Also, the sickly white pallor of her skin was hard to miss.

“I thought someone was trying to kill you. Are you sick?”

Gabby waved her away. “Oh, this? No, no. I’m fine. Happens all the time. I just need to throw some water on my face, and I’ll be right as rain again.”

Talia sized up the situation, a terrible feeling churning in her gut. “Gabby…are you…you don’t have an eating disorder, do you?” It would make sense. The woman was the size of toothpick, curves for days, but still thin as a needle in her opinion.

“An eating disorder?” Gabby snorted.

“It’s not uncommon,” Talia told her. “A lot of women, especially working women in your position, suddenly finding yourself a stepmom and…everything, it wouldn’t be out of the question to feel overwhelmed.”

Using the edge of the sink to pull herself up from the floor, Gabby turned on the cold water over the sink and cupped her hands under the stream. “Let me get this straight.” She splashed her face a few times then reached for a towel. “You think I’m making myself throw up? Why on earth would I want to do that? It’s the worst feeling in the world, like you’re choking and being smothered at the same time.”

Blotting her face dry, she rehung the towel, then turned to face Talia. Her skin was red and blotchy now, her eyes puffy. She looked worn out.

“I appreciate your concern, Talia, but trust me, I wouldn’t do this to myself willingly.” A look crossed her face. “Well, maybe that isn’t exactly true.”

“Wait, so you’re not bulimic?”

“Believe me, I love food too much to ever develop a disorder like that. Hell, my love of food is so strong, I can’t even lose my appetite when I have the flu.”

Talia frowned, unsure what to make of her. She’d been so sure. All the signs were there… “Oh shit, are you pregnant?”

Gabby’s eyes turned round as saucers and in a flash, she’d grabbed Talia’s arm, yanking her into the bathroom with her and closing them inside. “Shh! Don’t say anything. You have to swear you won’t tell Country or Blake or anyone.”

“I won’t,” Talia assured her, panic gripping her because of Gabby’s own wild-eyed response.

Staring into both her eyes, Gabby searched their depths before finally stepping back with a drawn out sigh. Sinking down onto the toilet lid, she dropped her head into her hands and groaned. “I don’t know what to do. I haven’t even told Blake yet.”

“Well, I swear I won’t tell anyone. You can tell him, and no one will ever have to know that I knew first.”

“It’s not that. I mean it is that, but it’s not that.” Gabby looked up at her, eyes rimmed red. “I don’t know why I’m freaking out like this. I was the one who wanted a baby. I practically begged him for it, but now that it’s really happening, I’m questioning everything. I mean, how am I going to take care of a baby? I’m a teacher. I love my job, and I don’t want to quit when I just started. God, I didn’t think this through at all.”

“It’s a baby, not a death sentence,” Talia said. And wow, talk about uncomfortable. She hardly knew the woman, and somehow she’d become confidant and counselor in a matter of minutes. No pressure or anything. “This sounds like a classic case of cold feet,” she continued. “I’m sure everyone has doubts. It’s a life changing experience, so it makes total sense. I know I would be freaking out if I was in your position, but if you were trying for it, then it can’t be anything but good, right? This was something you wanted to happen, so don’t let the doubts overshadow your joy.”

“That’s just it, I don’t feel any joy. What if this was all some huge mistake? Blake and I haven’t really known each other all that long. What if I pushed him too hard for this and when I tell him, he decides to leave? He didn’t even want this. He told me he wasn’t looking to have any more kids, but I kept pushing until he finally gave in. My selfishness could ruin everything.”

This conversation was heavy. Beyond anything Talia had ever dealt with. And she’d sat across the table from Mafioso.

Talia moved closer and picked out a spot on the floor in front of the sink cabinet, placing them at a more even level. “Look, I don’t know Blake that well, but I would imagine that a man who’s willing to change his plans to make you happy has to love you an awful lot. I doubt he made that decision lightly, either, so I’d bet he knows exactly what he’s doing and when you tell him about the baby, he’ll be over the moon about it. I mean, I’ve only been seeing Tucker for like, what, a week, two? Already I know that those men don’t do anything they don’t want to do. So if you think you somehow twisted his arm, think again.”

A small smile crept across Gabby’s face. “Yeah, you’re right about that. Blake is a softie at heart, but no one pushes him around, that’s for sure.”

“See what I mean. You’re worrying yourself sick over nothing. If anything, he’s going to be upset that you didn’t give him enough credit to trust him with this. He’s going to want to be here for you, to help you through all of this.”

“So you’re saying I should stop hiding in the bathroom like a sissy and get out there and tell him about the baby.”

“Ideally, after Tucker and I leave, but yeah.” Talia and Gabby shared a laugh, and then Talia stood up and held out her hand. “Come on, let’s go find the guys before they think we’ve run off to start a love affair.”

“They totally would, you know.”

“Oh, I know. It’s a man’s default switch.”

Gabby grasped Talia’s wrist, pulling her to a halt before she left the room. “Thank you for talking me down. I’ve been holding onto this secret all week, and it’s been so exhausting. I really appreciate you helping me.”

“No problem. That’s what friends are for.”

“And I could certainly use one.” Looping her arm though Talia’s Gabby guided them out the door saying, “Come on, friend, let’s go share the good news.”