Page 4 of The Captive
Alone.
Oh, God, she’d have to raise this baby by herself.
The moment the thought slid into her mind, a surprising sense of calm settled over her.Ever since she’d taken those tests, she hadn’t allowed herself to think about whatshe planned to do with the baby.She was twenty-four years old, unmarried, still being supported by her parents to supplement the small income she made selling her sculptures.Having a child hadn’t been in her foreseeable future.
But circumstances had changed.She was pregnant.And no matter how unexpected this development, she knew she would keep the baby.
Her hand covered her stomach, a rush of startling joy sweeping through her as she imagined the tiny life growing inside her.A baby.Herbaby.
And Deacon’s…
The joy faded into frustration.Yes, this was Deacon’s child, too.And he had no clue.
She had to find a way to contact him.Sure, he probably wouldn’t be thrilled about the news.For all she knew, he’d turn on his heel and march away without a backward glance, not wanting anything to do with this child.The notion brought a spark of pain and anger to her gut, but she wasn’t naive enough to dwell on the anger.She and Deacon were strangers.Two strangers who’d met one night and found comfort and magic in each other’s arms.
She couldn’t expect him to welcome the idea of fatherhood with open arms.She wouldn’t even blame him if he didn’t.But he still had a right to know.Lana wouldn’t be able to live with herself knowing she’d kept something as important as achildfrom the man.
She had to track him down.So what if he didn’t seem to want to be found?So what if it would be difficult?She was Lana Kelley, after all.Her shoulders straightened in determination.When she reached Florence, she’d call a private investigator and hire him to find Deacon.And then she’d sit down and figure out what to do about this last year of school.She could probably finish out the winter semester,but she wanted to be in the States when the baby was born.She wanted her family to—
Her family.
Lana felt all the color drain from her face.“They’re going to kill me,” she mumbled to herself.
She pictured her brothers’ faces when they heard the news and suddenly grew nauseous.Her parents might understand, maybe even support her.They might have their own problems at the moment, but everything would be straightened out eventually.Once that happened, she knew her mom and dad would help her.
Her brothers, on the other hand…
Dylan and Cole would be furious.Jake might be supportive, if he ever returned from his mysterious undercover assignment that had taken him away from them for two years now.Chase probably wouldn’t care—he’d washed his hands of the family years ago.And Jim, well, he’d probably hunt Deacon down and rip his throat out.
A hysterical laugh bubbled in her throat.At least then she’d be able to tell Deacon the news.
Reaching for the black leather purse she’d set down beside her, Lana fumbled inside it until she found her cell phone.The train was already tearing down the tracks, heading for Florence, but she couldn’t wait until she got there.She had to talk to someone.Anyone.She needed some moral support badly.
She scrolled through her contact list, hesitating on her mother’s number.No, she finally decided.Mom had her own worries right now.Regret gathered in Lana’s belly.Darn it.She hated adding any more stress on her mother’s already over-full plate.
Caitlin O’Donahue’s number was what she dialed instead.Lana considered Caitlin family, the older sister she’d never had, not to mention her very best friend.Caitlin hadbabysat Lana when they were growing up, and over the years had become her closest confidante.
“Hey, you’ve reached Caitlin.Leave a message and I’ll get back to you,” her friend’s voice chirped.
Lana hung up in frustration, not bothering to leave a message.I got knocked up after a one-night-standwasn’t something you wanted to say over voice mail.
She shoved the phone in her bag and leaned her head back.What a mess.Why had Deacon checked out of his hotel so abruptly?
And why couldn’t she get him out of her head?
The memory of their night together floated into her mind like a balmy summer breeze.Her body grew hot, tight and achy, as she remembered the feel of his strong arms wrapped around her.
“You’re stunning,” he’d whispered into her neck.And then he’d looked at her with those sexy hazel eyes, as if he’d truly never known beauty until that night.
The entire encounter was still so surreal.The tangy flavor of the red wine they’d sipped.His warm breath, heating her skin.His lips, kissing their way along her collarbone, her jaw, finally pressing against her mouth.
Her skin broke out in shivers.God, those kisses.Soft and romantic, teasing, fleeting and then hot and passionate, as the heat between them exploded in a raging fire that had left her utterly sated.
“This isn’t a good idea,” he’d murmured between kisses, uncertainty flickering on his handsome face.“We’re strangers.”
Yes, they were.Two strangers who’d met in a museum, shared a few glasses of wine in a hotel room and wound up needy and naked in bed.
It had been the best night of her life.
