Page 2 of Teasing a King

Now that the weather is starting to warm up, the tourists have begun returning to the area. The town of Oak Hill isn’t exactly a tourist attraction, but it’s close enough to the river and beautiful beaches that we get plenty of vacationers each summer. It’s a double-edged sword. Tourism is great for our bottom line at the restaurant. And I know Finn relies on it for his B&B as well. But the locals, we Kings included, sometimes get annoyed with all the crowds packing into our town. Not that we’d ever let them know that. When you’re in a service industry, your livelihood depends on your ability to turn that annoyance off.

“Hey,” Wyatt says. “You okay?”

I hear a hint of concern in his voice and laugh it off. “I’m good,” I say with a grin. “Just thinking about this place. Tourist season is almost here. It’s gonna get busy soon.”

Wyatt shrugs. “Just like every year.”

I nod. “True. But this year is different. You’re planning a wedding. Finn’s a dad now. Ronan is about to be one himself. Claire is working full-time at the school and busy with her art and Garrett. We won’t really have all hands on deck like we have in the past.”

Wyatt’s brow furrows. “What are you talking about? Of course, we’re all going to be around to pitch in. It’s what we’ve always done. We’ll make it work.”

“I know that,” I say quickly. I sigh. “I just mean that everyone is a lot busier this year. Things are a little different.”

“Yeah,” Wyatt concedes. “But it’s a good kind of different. It’s all worth it. You’ll see. Just wait until it’s your turn.”

I laugh and shake my head. “No, thanks.”

“Oh, it’ll happen,” he says. “Sooner or later, some woman is going to come along and sweep you off your feet.”

I laugh again. “Maybe someday,” I say. “But right now, I’m happy focusing on Mack’s. It keeps me plenty busy.”

He lets the subject go, instead asking me how the house remodel is going.

“It’s good,” I say. “I’m finally finished with the interior. I have a little work outside to finish up. I want to get the back yard finished before it gets too hot outside. Did I tell you my plans for the patio?”

“I don’t think so,” Wyatt says.

I start explaining my plans for the large backyard, grateful for the change of subject. Wyatt might be happily ensconced in a relationship and planning his future, but I’m nowhere near ready for that. I’m happy for him and Hope and someday I know I’ll want what they have. But that day is a long way off. The rest of the afternoon passes quickly as I work alongside my brother, enjoying our easy camaraderie.

Chapter Two

Mya

The butterflies in my stomach start swarming as soon as I pass the sign welcoming me to Oak Hill, North Carolina. My foot eases off the gas pedal, slowing the car slightly. I know it has nothing to do with the posted speed limit. I’m already driving well under the limit. The truth is, I’m stalling. I’m not quite ready to face Van. Even though I’d made the decision to come here over a week ago, I’d found reasons to put it off until now. At first, I’d had a work project to finish. Then I’d needed to wait for my packages from Amazon to be delivered. Then I’d spent an entire day on the couch watching cheesy romance movies and eating everything in my apartment. By the end of that day, I’d made up my mind. I couldn’t put this off any longer. I must face the music. That meant coming here and talking to Van. It also means facing my best friend and letting her in on the latest development in my mess of a life.

Part of me is still in denial, even though it’s been more than 3 weeks since I saw those two little pink lines show up on that white plastic stick. I’d had a mild panic attack followed by another bout of morning sickness. I still don’t know how this happened. Well, that’s not true. I knowhowit happened. Obviously. I was there, after all. But I’ve always been careful. I’ve always used protection during sex. Van and I had used condoms. Lots of them. I’m also on the pill. How had this happened? That’s when the crying had started.

Once my stomach had settled a bit and the tears had stopped, I’d sat on my bathroom floor and thought over my options. I’d always figured I would have kids someday. I’d just never thought I’d be single when it happened. It’s not like I’d had a particular dream man in mind or anything. But when I’d considered my future family, there had been a partner there with me to help raise those imaginary kids. Now, the kid isn’t so imaginary. There’s a very real baby growing inside me. I’d felt a surge of protectiveness that had shocked me at the time. But I’d known right then what I would do.

I’d go to Van and tell him what happened. I’d let him decide how involved he wants to be. But I’m keeping this baby and I’m going to do my best to be the most amazing mom to him or her. Not that I know the first thing about being a mother. Hell, I didn’t even have one when I was growing up. I don’t know how I’m going to do this.

Thinking of my own shitty childhood sends a sliver of doubt through me. What if I fuck this up? This isn’t like a business venture. This is a person. I’m going to be responsible for raising a whole person. What the hell makes me think I’m qualified for this? Just because my body can make a baby, I’m supposed to know how to care for one?

I take a deep breath and try to focus on the present.Get your shit together, Mya. You're here for a reason, remember?I’m not sure the pep talk works as intended, but I manage to push the panic away for a little longer. I follow the GPS directions to Mack’s. I’m not even sure Van will be there. But it’s the only place I can think of. He and Wyatt own the restaurant and he lives above it. It seems the most logical place. It’s also where he’d taken me that night when we’d left the wedding together.

I feel a flutter of desire low in my belly when I remember that night. It’s why I’ve done my best not to think about it since the morning I found out I’m pregnant. I know if I think too long about the way Van had made me feel that night, it will distract me from what’s important. I can’t think about the way he’d said my name as he’d slid inside me. I can’t focus on the feel of his hard body covering mine, or the way he’d made me scream his name when I came. And Ireallycan’t think about the look in his blue eyes the next morning when he’d asked me to stay. My heart stutters in my chest when I remember the way he’d pulled me back into bed and planted gentle teasing kisses on my neck.

“Stay,” he’d whispered, his strong arms holding me against him. “Spend the weekend with me.”

I’d been so tempted. That’s why I’d gently untangled myself from his embrace, teased him about falling for me and kissed him goodbye. I’ve done my best not to think about him since that night. I didn’t want to be the weirdo obsessing over her one-night stand. No matter how amazing it had been. I know other people might have regrets, especially considering how things turned out. But I don’t. I don’t regret my night with Van or this baby. No matter how Van reacts to the news, I can’t regret what happened between us. My baby will grow up knowing they’re loved and wanted, even if I’m the only parent involved. No child should grow up feeling like a burden.

I think back to the last time I’d seen Van, as I’d left him that morning. Naked, lying in bed, wearing a sleepy grin, asking me to stay longer. I don't think he’s going to look at me the way he had that morning. Not once I tell him the news. I wonder again if I should go to Hope first. Tell her everything. She’ll tell me what to do. She always gives the best advice. She's also the closest thing to family I have. Well, that's not entirely true. I have a half-brother who lives in Georgia. But that relationship is complicated. My brother Luke and I have the same father, such as he is. But we have different mothers. I never knew either of my parents, but he grew up in a lavish home with our father. Meanwhile, I’d grown up in foster care, never knowing anything about my family. Luke had been equally unaware of my existence until a few years ago when I’d made my ill-fated attempt to track down my birth parents.

When I’d finally met my sperm donor, as I’ve taken to calling him in my more charitable moments, Charles Wolfe turned out to be a total bastard. He’d immediately tried to bribe me to disappear and never contact him or his family again. It turned out that I’d been the product of a fling while he’d been on a business trip and his wife had been at home taking care of his young son.

I’d quickly told my father where he could stick his hush money, but not before Luke had found out about me. He’d tracked me down after I’d gotten back home and apologized for his father’s behavior. He’d asked if he could be a part of my life. He’d somehow convinced me to give him a chance and I’d reluctantly let him, with the agreement that his father never come near me. Luke had agreed immediately. It had taken some time for me to warm to the idea of having an older brother, especially one I didn’t meet until I was well into my 20s. But Luke had turned out to be a good guy, once I got to know him. He’s funny, smart, and kind, even if he plays up the rich jerk stereotype.

I haven’t told him about my predicament. I know he’ll be supportive. He’s always been supportive. I know he’ll probably even be excited for me. He’ll make a great uncle. He may even insist on coming to see me to make sure I’m okay. But there’s a tiny part of me that worries he’ll think I’m no better than our asshole father or my irresponsible mother. They’d had a fling that resulted in my existence. Now here I am, pregnant after having a one-night stand I’d had while out of town. What’s that saying about apples and trees? Not that I’m anything like my father. Aside from some pesky DNA, I didn’t get one single trait from him, and I’m damned proud of that fact.

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