The Ladies' Man. Susan Mallery

“I understand. If you young people insist on putting the cart before the horse, then they need to turn the horse around.”

      “What?” Rachel and Carter asked together.

      Nina glanced between them. “Isn’t it obvious? You have a baby coming. You need to get married.”

      Chapter Four

      Carter stood. He’d been willing to let the moment run its course. Thirty years of being his mother’s son had taught him that was the easiest way to deal with her. He would listen and then do exactly what he wanted. But mother or not, she’d just crossed the line.

      “Okay, that’s enough,” he said flatly and walked to the door. “Great to see you all. Thanks for stopping by.”

      His mother was about a foot shorter, but that never seemed to bother her. She rose and walked over until she was in front of him, staring up, glaring.

      “Carter Brockett, I’m serious.”

      “So am I, Mama. This isn’t about you. This is between me and Rachel. We’re going to deal with it and we don’t need your help.”

      Her brown eyes narrowed. “You’re going to have a baby, Carter. This is serious.”

      He knew she meant well. He knew she loved him and would gladly throw herself in front of a train for him. But sometimes she was the biggest pain in the butt.

      He bent down and kissed her. “I know, Mama. Trust me, okay?”

      She sighed heavily, then nodded. As she stepped out of the house, his sisters trailed after her. Merry grinned.

      “You’re in big trouble, now,” she murmured as she passed.

      “Thanks for the support.”

      “Any time.”

      He closed the door behind them.

      Rachel still sat on the sofa, although she looked a little shell-shocked. His family had that effect on people. He’d seen it many times.

      He walked into the kitchen and got her a glass of ice water, then returned to the living room. She stared at him, her green eyes wide, her mouth slightly parted.

      “You doing okay?” he asked.

      “No.” She took the glass he offered. “Who were those people?”

      He sank back into his chair. “My family. Most of them, anyway. I have another sister around somewhere. She must not have been home or she would have been part of the parade, too.”

      “You have three sisters, right?”

      “I’m the youngest and the only boy. My dad died before I was bor so it was just me and them. A world of women.”

      She sipped the water. “When you said women were the cause of all the trouble in your life, I thought you meant romantically.”

      “That would have made things too easy. I’m surrounded by them. Even my dog, a stray Lab who showed up one day all skinny and pathetic, is female. Welcome to my world.”

      She managed a small smile. “It’s not so bad. Your family obviously cares about you.” She took another drink. “Did Jenny really call your mother to tell her what she’d heard?”

      “Oh, yeah. Jenny stayed pretty tight with her and my sisters. As have a lot of my ex-girlfriends. They show up at holidays or parties. I never know when I’m going to run into one.” Or twenty, he thought grimly. Why couldn’t his ex-girlfriends be like other women? Bitter and vindictive. Right now the idea of someone slashing his tires was a whole lot easier to deal with than someone like Jenny, who simply stayed in his world.

      Not that he didn’t like Jenny—he did. She’d married a great guy, but damn, whose side was she on? Calling his mother and telling her Rachel was pregnant.

      Rachel set down her glass and glanced at him. “I didn’t get pregnant on purpose.”

      “I know. Neither of us planned on that. We just weren’t thinking.”

      She ducked her head, but he saw her smile. “I was kind of swept away. Nothing like that has ever happened to me before.”

      “Me, either.”

      She looked up and rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. I might not know you very well, but I’m getting a clear idea about your past. You seem to have women lined up around the block.”

      “Sure, a lot of relationships, but that kind of heat?” He shrugged, trying to remember the last time he’d felt it. “It doesn’t happen very often.”

      “Are you just saying that?”

      The uncertainty in her voice added to her charm. They were already in so much trouble, Carter almost felt still being attracted to her couldn’t make things worse. Except he knew it could. A relationship would only complicate the situation. Better to keep his head and think clearly. If only she didn’t smell so good.

      “I don’t do lines,” he told her. “You’re beautiful and sexy and funny. You dress like a nun and you have a body made for…ah, making love,” he said, self-editing to something less graphic. “What’s not to like?”

      “Wow. When you say it like that, you were lucky to have me.”

      He smiled. “Yes, I was. Only now there are consequences for us to deal with.”

      “The baby.”

      “Right. Rachel, I’m not giving up my daughter.”

      “You don’t actually know the baby is a girl.”

      “Yes, I do, but that doesn’t matter. We’re going to have to work something out, because I won’t sign those papers.”

      He’d understood why she’d thought he might. Many guys would jump at the chance to walk away from this kind of responsibility, but he couldn’t. He’d been raised to believe family mattered more than anything.

      She leaned forward and fingered the thick envelope. “I know. I mean I didn’t know before, but I do now.” She straightened and touched her stomach. “So what do we do? No offense, but I’m not going to accept your mother’s suggestion.”

      “You don’t want to marry me?” he asked, his voice teasing.

      “I don’t know you.”

      “I’m a great catch.”

      “You certainly don’t seem to have an ego problem.”

      He grinned. “I have references.”

      “Apparently in the hundreds.”

      “Not that many.” He stood and moved to the sofa, where he angled toward her. “How about this. We have what, eight months until the baby is born?”

      “Just about.”

      “Okay, let’s take that time and figure out what we want to do. Not what my mother says is best. We’ll talk about the situation and come up with a plan.” He hesitated. “You’re going to keep the baby, aren’t you?”

      She stiffened. “Of course. I want this child.”

      “Me, too. So what do you say? We’ll take our time and consider our options. You live in the area, I live in the area, we could easily share custody. Or figure out something else that works. Let’s get to know each other and find out what works best for us.”

      She bit her lower lip, which made him think about doing that for her, which made him think about other things. They were alone in the house.

      Only that wasn’t a very good idea right now.

      “You’re right,” she said, obviously oblivious to the temptation she represented. “We have time. We should use it.”

      “Great.”