A Pregnancy, a Party & a Proposal. Teresa Carpenter

risk it. Something told her Ray’s power to hurt would put Brad to shame.

      “Ladies, you make such a pretty picture we had to come join you.” Garrett smoothly stepped between them and brought their linked hands to his mouth, where he kissed the back of Lauren’s fingers before twirling her around and passing her over to Ray.

      Her world spun as he moved off with Tori.

      “Hey.” Ray’s strong arms held her steady. “Are you okay?”

      “Yes. No.” She leaned her forehead on his chest, prayed for her stomach to settle. No such luck. “I’m going to be sick.”

      Lifting her skirts, she took off at a run. And, oh, goodness, she wasn’t going to make it. But then a hard arm curved around her back and swept her along. She reached the bathroom off the kitchen with no time to spare.

      Ray held her hair while she emptied her stomach. She was mortified—and grateful. She wanted him to go but was also glad he was there.

      “I’m so sorry.” She flushed and slowly lifted her head. Wait—why was she apologizing? It was his kid causing this inconvenience! A fact he was sure to catch on to with this display.

      “No need to be. We’ve all had a tad too much bubbly at one point or another.” He pressed a damp cloth into her hands.

      She lifted it to her face, reveled in the coolness. When she lowered the cloth he held a dripping bottle of water out to her. She gratefully accepted it.

      “Oh, man, I could kiss you right now.”

      He smiled and tucked a loose tendril behind her ear. “Sorry, Dynamite. All trips to the laundry room have been cancelled for the night.”

CHAPTER TWO

      A TRILL OF BEEPS sounded from Ray’s phone. And another, and another. He ignored them as he navigated the hill to his Malibu home. He’d skipped out on the post-wedding breakfast. With Garrett gone, Ray’s duties were done. No need for him to linger. Nope, he was happy to put all things wedding-related behind him.

      Another beep. Sounded like media alerts. He guarded his privacy, so he liked to stay on top of his media exposure. Such as it was. Better, in his opinion, to be on top of an issue than blindsided by it. With that in mind he had an assistant producer set to tell him whenever his name appeared in the news. Being best man at a major Hollywood wedding—an outdoor wedding, at that—would probably have the darn thing beeping all day long.

      Once he reached his place, he dumped his garment bag at the bottom of the stairs, set his camera case on the foyer table, and wandered into the living room. He aimed the remote at his sixty-inch TV and powered it up. He’d barely tuned in to a basketball game before his phone beeped again.

      He picked it up and started flipping through the alerts. Just as he’d thought, most were about the wedding. Pictures were already plastered across the internet. Distant and grainy, most gave a sense of the event but the people were unrecognizable unless you knew who they were—which would suit millions of viewers just fine.

      A few obviously came from within the event. Garrett would have a fit about that.

      Ah, crud. Just his luck—one of the up close and personal shots was of him bent over Lauren, kissing her neck. The look on her face spoke of wistful desire. So she hadn’t been as indifferent as she’d pretended.

      Too bad the knowledge wasn’t worth the hassle it would bring. The photo had already gone viral. And, yep, right on cue his phone rang. The ringtone, an Irish ditty, announced that his grandmother waited at the other end.

      “Hello, Mamó. How are you on this bright winter morning?”

      “What do you know of winter? I saw on the news it’s seventy degrees in Los Angeles. We’ve snow up to our knees. That’s winter.”

      “I hope you aren’t shoveling the drive again? I hired someone to keep the drive and walk clear.”

      “Wasted money.” Annoyance flashed down the line. “We don’t need it more than half the time.”

      “That’s not the point.” His brows drew together. It wasn’t like Mamó to be grouchy. Thrifty, yes, but generally good-natured. He sought to distract her. “What do you have planned for your birthday?”

      “Oh, they’re making a fuss and I don’t want it.”

      “They” being his aunt Ellie and his cousin Kyla.

      “Nothing special about being another year older when I have nothing to show for it.”

      Knowing she meant great-grandkids, he dropped his head onto the back of the sofa. Lately she’d been more and more verbal about her desire for him to settle down and start a family.

      “Are they taking you out to dinner?”

      “No. They have a party planned at the community center. I keep telling them it’s a waste of space and time.”

      “Everyone loves you, Mamó. I’m sure the place will be packed with your friends.”

      “It is difficult these days. My friends like to crow about their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I have nothing to share.”

      “Mamó...”

      “I know you don’t want to hear this. But it is my life.”

      He frowned over the despair in her voice. He’d never heard her so depressed.

      “I’m sorry—”

      “Stop.” A loud sigh blew in his ear. “Listen to me rant. Forgive an old woman her bitter babbling. I miss you, my boy. It would cheer me greatly if you could come to my party.”

      “A visit?” he mused. He might be able to manage that. A trip would help him to put Lauren out of his mind again.

      Goodness knew there were a few harrowing memories waiting there for him. Perhaps it was time to put them behind him.

      “Yes.” Mamó showed a spark of life. “And you can bring your girlfriend with you.”

      Uh-oh. “Girlfriend?”

      “Yes. I saw all the pictures of the two of you on the internet. You look so handsome.” Her voice contained a world of excitement. “The two of you look just like a bride and groom yourselves.”

      In her stunning silver dress Lauren had looked like a bride. He remembered the stutter of his heart when she had started down the aisle toward him. In the midst of a harrowing day, she’d been the ideal distraction.

      Now that played against him, giving Mamó unrealistic hopes.

      “She’s a lovely girl. I’m so excited to know you’re seeing someone. Say you’ll bring her.”

      This was going downhill fast. Mamó was setting herself up for disappointment if she believed a future existed for him and Lauren. “Listen—”

      “You can’t fool me. It’s clear in the pictures you care for her. Please, Ray?” Mamó beseeched. “You have to come and bring her with you. It’s my dearest wish. And this may be my last birthday.”

      She was always saying things like that, but one of these days it would be true.

      * * *

      Comfortable in yoga pants and a cap-sleeved tee, Lauren sat on her beige sofa, feet kicked up on her ottoman coffee table, tea at her elbow, trying to focus on the mystery book she’d been saving for her vacation. Her mom, dad and brother had left for Palm Springs after breakfast, leaving Lauren free to head home and officially start her vacation.

      With Tori taking two weeks off for her honeymoon, Lauren had decided to have a much needed break as well. She saw it as a great opportunity to let their new assistants take the lead on the two events scheduled for