The Heart's Game (The Kelly Brothers, Book 4) Read online

  Despite the chill in his blood, sweat dripped from his hairline. What if Adam was right? What if Jenny was planning on terminating the pregnancy and ended things with him before he found out? What if he had the child taken away from him before he even had a chance to tell Jenny how he felt about it?

  A calm, rational voice in the back of his mind told him it was probably for the best. After all, he barely knew her. And he was finally at a point in his life when he could go out and have fun, not be changing diapers and fixing bottles. Did he really want to be saddled with a child when he could be going out and partying, taking home a hot chick every night and never risking his heart again on someone who could break it?

  The churning in his stomach returned with a vengeance, requiring several deep breaths before he could say, “I can’t let that happen. I want this baby. And I want her.”

  “Then it sounds like you need to be telling her this, not me.”

  “But how, when she keeps rejecting my calls?”

  “Do you know where she lives?”

  “Yes.” He drawled out the word, wondering why he hadn’t thought of this before.

  “Then I suggest you go over there tonight and don’t leave until she’s heard what you have to say.”

  “Good idea.” He grabbed his coat and headed for the door, determined to be at her place the moment she came home from work. And if that failed, then he’d have to track her down at her office. He wasn’t going to risk losing what mattered to him any longer.

  He was about to hang up when Adam added, “Oh, and congratulations.”

  Dan slid to a stop, letting the final word sink in. “Thanks, Adam. But remember, not a word of this to Mom. I’ll break the news to her when I’m ready.”

  “Not a word, but you’d better tell her soon. She keeps harping on me and Lia for a grandchild, and we’re not there yet.”

  Dan doubted it was from lack of trying. Adam adored his wife, and they both wanted to start a family. For their sake, he hoped they wouldn’t have to wait much longer. Out of all his brothers, Adam would make the ideal father. “Want me to take pressure off of you, huh?”

  “Just think how happy it would make her.”

  Dan chuckled as he locked up his office. “Once she forgives me for knocking up a girl I wasn’t married to.”

  “She will. Eventually. Once she’s chewed you out for a month or so.”

  “Gee, thanks.”

  “No problem, little bro. Good luck.”

  “Thanks,” Dan replied just before he hung up and got into his car. I’m going to need it.

  ***

  Jenny climbed the flight of stairs to her condo, hanging onto the railing with each step and cursing the fact her brother had talked her into wearing heels to dinner tonight. The balls of her feet throbbed, and her toes felt like they’d been jammed into a medieval torture device. The ache in her lower back only added to her misery.

  Great, it’s only the beginning of my second trimester, and I’m already wanting to wear nothing but muumuus and bunny slippers.

  But since Mike and Jason wanted to take her out to celebrate that milestone, she’d grudgingly dressed up for the occasion.

  When she got to the top of the stairs, though, she forgot about her aches and pains and froze.

  Sitting in front of her door with his knees drawn up and his forehead resting on them was Dan.

  Her hand flew to her stomach before she realized it, and the fabulous dinner she’d had at Canlis threatened to come back up. “What are you doing here?”

  He popped his head up and met her gaze. The haunted expression in his eyes tore at her heart and made her hate what she’d done to him. “I’m waiting for you.”

  She blinked away the tears that stung the corners of her eyes and reached around him to unlock her door. “Dan, please, I thought I made it quite clear that what we had was just temporary and—”

  He silenced her by covering her hand with his. His hair was standing up on end, and deep wrinkles creased his normally stiffly pressed shirt. He looked like he’d been sitting there for hours. “I need to talk to you.”

  The rapid thudding of her heart shook her whole body, rattling her keys. He wrapped her fingers around her palm, instantly silencing them and sending a calm wave of warmth up her arm to combat the cold dread that stirred inside her chest. If she lingered here any longer, she’d only give into him and end up getting hurt. “We’ve said enough.”

  “I’m not leaving until you hear what I have to say.”

  Out of the corner of her eye, she spied her neighbor watching them through the blinds. No doubt, Mrs. Bennett was waiting for the perfect moment to call the cops, the old busybody.

  Jenny’s shoulders slumped in defeat. As much as she feared being alone with Dan, she feared having to explain this scene to the homeowners association if the police showed up. “Fine, but only for a few minutes.”

  “That’s all I need.” He kept his gaze locked with hers as he entered the condo, the stubborn set of his jaw letting her know he wasn’t backing down.

  She followed him inside and kicked off her shoes. “Why are you determined to make a mess of things?”

  “I could ask you the same thing.”

  A lump of regret formed in her throat, but she pushed it down. She had to end this now. Even though her OB had reassured her that the quickie on Monday morning hadn’t hurt the baby and that it was safe to resume normal activities, she was still an emotional wreck from the stress the scare had given her. That, combined with the fact she was entering her second trimester and probably wouldn’t be able to keep her pregnancy a secret much longer, gave her strength to push him away. “Dan, I’ve told you from the beginning that I can’t get involved with anyone.”

  “But we have something good together, Jenny.” He closed the space between them and stroked her cheek. “Please don’t call it quits before we even give us a chance.”

  The pleading on his face tested her resolve, forcing her to turn away from him. “There can’t be an us, Dan.”

  “Why not? Are you saying that we have nothing in common? Because I can name a dozen things we’ve stayed up until the wee hours of the morning talking about.”

  Don’t listen to him. Just remember how Duong reacted when he learned about the baby. Remember how much it hurt then, and he was a stranger. You didn’t know him like you know Dan. Jenny wrapped her arms around her stomach and squeezed.

  When she didn’t answer, he continued, “Are you saying that we’re not good in bed together? Because I can remember the other morning when you couldn’t seem to get enough of me and dragged me back to bed.”

  Her skin grew hot from the memory of lying in his arms as he moved inside her, from the rush of pleasure that followed when she came. They were more than compatible in the bedroom—she’d never deny that. In fact, they were dangerously compatible, more like fire and dynamite. And explosive would be the only word she could think of to describe sex with him.

  He moved behind her and brushed her hair to the side, exposing her neck to his warm breath as he said, “Or are you saying there can’t be an us because you’re scared?”

  Her chin quivered from the effort required to keep her mouth shut and not tell him he was as accurate as Luke Skywalker’s shot into the thermal exhaust port of the Death Star.

  “Because you don’t have to be scared, Jenny. I’m right here.”

  But will you be once you learn the truth?

  This would hurt more than ripping a Band Aid off sunburned skin, but it had to be done. She turned around, faced him, and said, “I’m pregnant.”

  She expected him to respond with the same shocked silence as her mother or the disgusted sneer Duong wore when she made the same announcement, but he simply nodded. “I know.”

  Now she was the one left wearing the slack-jawed expression of pure shock. “How?”

  He looked away and rubbed the back of his head, his ears turning pink. “I am a doctor, you know.”

  “And you�
��re not running away screaming?” Her pulse fluttered wildly in her ears. This couldn’t be real. No, it had to be pregnancy-induced hallucination made all the more potent by the overly rich meal she’d stuffed herself with for dinner. And even though she hadn’t touched the wine that was served with each course, she still bordered on a drunken high.

  He snapped his gaze back to her, his eyes glittering with a fury that sent shivers down her spine. “What kind of man do you take me for?”

  “I didn’t mean to imply you, Dan, but I—I mean…” She chewed her bottom lip and stared at the fresh mallard green polish on her toes. “What if I told you it wasn’t yours?”

  “Are you saying you hooked up with other guys at Comic-Con?”

  “No, but—”

  He shushed her by placing his finger on her mouth. “Then it’s not an issue. Besides, baby or no baby, all I really want is you.”

  “It’s hard enough to date someone who isn’t hormonal and puking. Are you sure you want to get involved with someone like me?”

  He tilted her chin up and ran his thumb along her bottom lip. “I know what I’m getting myself into, and I think you’re worth it.”

  She wondered if she was dreaming it all until his lips met hers. Their previous kisses had been made of pure passion, more part of the foreplay than anything else. They were meant to tease and inflame, to share their hunger for the other person until they reached the frenzy of release. This kiss was different. It was tender and gentle, pleading and worshipful. It embodied everything he’d just told her. He knew she was pregnant, and yet he still wanted her.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and allowed him to deepen the kiss. The familiar warmth of desire flowed through her, but it was more like the steady Seattle rain than a raging torrent. This was a kiss meant to be savored on its own merit and not as a prequel to mattress acrobatics.

  Of course, a round of mattress acrobatics wouldn’t be so bad, either.

  His breath stuttered as he ended the kiss and pulled away, evidence that he was trying to keep his desire in check. But his hands still circled her waist, still held her close to him.

  Jenny stroked his cheek and studied him. Her fears faded with every second she stood in his arms. She’d almost made a huge mistake, but thankfully, she’d been given a second chance. “I’m sorry I tried to push you away, Dan. I was scared you’d want nothing to do with me once you found out I was pregnant, but I was wrong.” She lowered her eyes and added, “Do you forgive me?”

  “Yes.” The single word was raw and choked with emotion, but it drew her closer to him than any physical act.

  She glanced back up, saw the fire in his eyes, and kissed him in a fierce manner that said far more than she could ever put into words. She wanted him more than ever. She needed to feel him inside her, to join together in a way that only lovers could. With their lips still locked, she tugged his shirt out from his pants and fumbled for the buttons.

  Dan responded with a low growl and unzipped her dress. It fell into a puddle around her ankles, followed by her bra, and he lifted her up into his arms to carry her into the bedroom. They tumbled onto the mattress, their tongues never missing a single beat in their erotic dance.

  But then Dan changed the rhythm. He broke away and lay on his side next her, staring at her in wonder, but never saying a word. He ran his hand along her cheek, down her neck and shoulder, finally coming to a stop to cup one of her achingly full breasts. Her nipples hardened from the whisper-soft brush of his thumb. He took that as an invitation to draw the taut peak into his mouth, teasing it with this teeth and tongue until she cried out.

  Then he dragged his mouth lower, kissing the underside of her breasts while his hands roamed the growing roundness of her stomach.

  Jenny dug her hands into the covers to keep from stopping him. Part of her wanted him to go lower, but a prickle of self-conscious fear streaked down her spine. And yet the curiosity, the need, the want kept her from covering up and backing away. The pleasurable sensations he awakened with his kisses far outweighed the doubts that formed in the back of her mind. He worshipped her body like she was a goddess. And by the time he reached her panties, she was all too ready to strip them off for him.

  Dan lifted his eyes, his impish smile daring her to give him permission to continue.

  She nodded, not knowing what to expect. None of her previous lovers had ever wanted to taste her like this, to tease and torment her sex with their tongues rather than their dicks. But Dan slipped off her panties with well-practiced ease and slid her to the edge of the bed where he waited on his knees.

  He touched her with his hands first, opening her up with a sensual massage along her inner thighs. Then he ran his finger along her seam. A shiver of delight raced up her spine from the light touch, and she eagerly awaited what he had in store for her.

  He slipped his fingers inside, stroking her slick inner walls while his thumb sought out her clit. A moan broke free from her lips when he found it. This was all mere foreplay, and yet he already had her on the brink of coming.

  His grin widened as he pumped his fingers inside, mimicking the motions of his cock. Her hips rolled in response, rising to meet each stroke. She felt wonderfully wanton and yet powerful. She was a woman who deserved pleasure from her lover, and she’d finally found one who knew how to give it to her.

  The tension coiled inside her from her approaching release, but just as she was about to climax, he withdrew his hand. A wave of disappointment started to creep over her until he lowered his face between her legs and flicked his tongue along the places his fingers had just been. She gasped when he nipped her clit and exhaled in another moan of ecstasy as he drew it into his mouth, sucking ever so gently on the sensitive bit of flesh. His tongue followed, swirling around it in slow circles.

  But as the seconds slipped by, the tempo changed. He pulled her deeper between his lips. The lazy circles turned into frenzied flicks, and before she knew what was happening, she was coming. The exhilarating rush revived her weary body and set her skin on fire. She laced her fingers through his hair, holding him between her legs, begging him not to stop.

  But as she came back down from her high, she was vaguely aware of him pulling her back to the pillows and crawling into the bed next to her. The prickle of his chest hair against her arm let her know he’d shed his shirt, and when she lowered her hand, she found his cock straining against the confines of his underwear. She wrapped her fingers around his hard length.

  Dear God, she needed him inside her.

  Amusement flickered across his face, followed by a tightening of pain. “Please, Jenny,” he whispered.

  “I’m the one who should be begging.” She stripped away his underwear, and he moved on top of her, reaching for the drawer where she kept the condoms.

  He pulled one out and paused. “Do you want me to use this?”

  Heat flooded her cheeks. He was putting the decision on her. It was a moment where she had to decide if she trusted him completely. “You’re clean. I’m clean, and I’m already pregnant, so…”

  A huge grin appeared on his face, and he tossed the condom back on the nightstand. “Good, because you felt so wonderful that morning at Comic-Con.”

  He slid into her, and she understood what he meant. Sex had always been great with him, but the sensation of skin on skin awakened a heightened level of intimacy she enjoyed.

  He made love to her slowly, his strokes steady and even while his lips sought hers in a flurry of kisses. She closed her eyes when their lips were joined, focusing on the feeling of him inside, the masculine scent of his skin, the soft purr of contentment that rumbled through his chest from time to time. But every time he ended a kiss, she opened her eyes to find him staring down at her. And when he smiled, she couldn’t help but smile back.

  For the first time in her life, she held out the hope that someone could love her for herself, and it made the bliss of coming in his arms more intense than any orgasm she’d experienced. A warm glow fil
led her from the inside and radiated through her skin. It made her heart race and her breath catch before she surrendered completely to it and let the lines between her and Dan blur together.

  He came with one final, powerful thrust and collapsed. Shudders wracked his body, yet he managed to keep his forehead pressed against hers, their bodies joined from tip to toe, until he managed to utter, “Wow.”

  “My thoughts exactly,” she replied.

  He propped himself up on his elbow and gave her a crooked, satisfied grin. “So, do you think it’s safe to tell people we’re dating now?”

  She laughed in spite of herself. All this time, she’d been trying to convince herself that it was just sex with Dan, but now that she looked back at the last month, they had been dating, even though she’d fought to not call it that. Through the midnight conversations to early dawn sex, she’d grown closer to Dan than anyone else she’d ever dated.

  “Yes, I think it’s safe to tell people that.”

  “Good, because I don’t think I’d be able to keep us a secret much longer.” He kissed her once more with same tenderness as the first kiss that evening and ended by caressing her cheek. “I’m lucky to have found you, and I don’t need to ask my lucky die to confirm that.”

  Her pulse quickened, and she covered his hand with her own. “I could say the same goes for me.”

  He rolled onto his side, taking her with him, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

  She lay there, unable to fully relax until she revealed the truth about the baby. “Dan, I was already pregnant when I met you,” she whispered against his chest.

  “I don’t care,” he mumbled back in a sleepy voice as he tightened his arms around her.

  He didn’t ask her anything more about the baby, and she was grateful for that. She’d tell him more about the surrogacy later. No need to rock the boat too much in one night. Right now, all that mattered was that he knew she was pregnant with someone else’s child and still wanted her, and that was enough to calm her worst fears.