Ride Her Hard Read online

  “It’s okay, honey.”

  “Maybe the chicken was off. Or the coffee. I’m not sure. I don’t think you should eat it.”

  “Honey, I think you need to realize that this isn’t down to the food or the coffee.”

  Eliza splashed cold water on her face. Her aunt already was taking a step back and letting go of her hair.

  “Then what is it?” she asked. She felt awful. Even worse than awful. The stomach bug hadn’t gone away but it didn’t linger either.

  “You and I both know what it is.”

  “Look, I thought I could be pregnant. I was late but I still had a period.”

  “No, you had a bit of spotting. Even you told me that yourself. I think it’s time you realize you’ve got to go and take a test.”

  A pregnancy test. She’d been planning on taking one when her period, her exceedingly light and unusually short period, started. She hated this. “I’m not pregnant.”

  “Eliza, we’ve already had this talk. You said so yourself that you and James weren’t safe your first time. Now, I’m not mad, I’m not even disappointed, but you’ve got to be honest with me and with yourself.”

  She pouted. “I’ve got to go and take the test, don’t I?”

  “You do. And if you go and buy it, we can, you can know. I can call Lilly. We can take it all together.”

  She nodded her head. “The pharmacy. They’ll tell everyone.”

  “Eliza, just go and get a test and if you have to, tell them it’s for me.”

  “Aunt Betty.”

  “I’m still a woman in my prime. Don’t even think of starting with me right now.”

  She rolled her eyes but left the shop, taking some cash as she walked down the street, heading toward the pharmacy sign. This was bad. Really, really, bad.

  Her stomach was in knots. The fact she had to bring toothpaste and a brush to work was just … ridiculous because she was vomiting.

  Entering the pharmacy, she ignored the people who were there. One was a mom, another an older woman. Only two people and already she felt like she was being judged in the worst possible way.

  It’s just a pregnancy test.

  There were so many to choose from.

  Accuracy was really a big deal and as she looked over the prices, she really wanted to vomit again.

  It’s fine. It’s all going to be fine.

  Deep down, she knew it wasn’t going to be fine, not until she paid for a test and got this all over with.

  Picking the one that promised the most accuracy, she took it to the counter.

  “Is this good news or bad news?” the woman behind the counter asked.

  Eliza merely stared at her. The truth was, she didn’t have the first freaking clue what kind of news it could possibly be. Was there even a chance this could be good news? Again, she didn’t know. She was royally fucked.

  With the test in hand, she walked back toward the florist store, only to come to a stop when she caught Caleb climbing out of a bedroom window. His shirt open, and his jeans unzipped.

  “This isn’t a good look for you,” she said as he came toward her.

  “Just talk to me.”

  “Why do you want to talk to me?”

  “I needed to get out of there. I was too drunk to get home and I ended up at Cynthia’s place.”

  “So?”

  “You know Cynthia. She likes to think she’s in love with me. She removed all of my clothing, determined to wash it all.”

  “Did you sleep with her?”

  “Hell, no. I wouldn’t even give her the chance to think it was an option. I’m not a total fucking idiot.”

  She raised her brow.

  “Okay, so I do fuck up from time to time, but that’s like … I wouldn’t dream of even giving Cynthia the idea that we could be together. Okay?”

  “That’s all on you. Not on me. You’re just upholding your Hard boy image. Don’t worry about me.”

  “What’s this?” Caleb asked, grabbing her hand.

  Of course she’d forgotten to get it in a bag. She hadn’t anticipated seeing Caleb.

  “My aunt asked me to get it for her.” The lie spilled from her lips but it wasn’t easy. Nope. Her cheeks were on fire and she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole.

  “Eliza?”

  “Hey, Eliza, Aunt Betty called me,” Lilly said, coming toward them. During the night, she worked at the bar, and through the day, she helped out at the library. She kept herself busy, and Eliza had come to the conclusion that Lilly didn’t like to be lonely.

  “Lilly, you remember Caleb, James’s brother? This is for Aunt Betty, you know. She’s going through hormones and stuff. Let’s go.” She grabbed Lilly’s arm and marched past Caleb, who was still looking at her, shocked.

  “Why are we running away?”

  “Because it’s what we have to do.”

  “Is this test really for your aunt? She told me you had to take one.”

  “Of course it’s for me,” she said. “That’s James’s brother. If he knows and there’s nothing to talk about, then there’s no reason to worry him, is there?”

  “But what if there is something?”

  “Then I’ll have to deal with it. But until then, he doesn’t need to go and tell his brother.”

  They entered the florist shop. Her aunt was already there, turning the closed sign.

  Eliza walked into the back, hands, shaking. Lilly took it from her and read the instructions on the back.

  “I’ve just got to pee on a stick. Should be really easy.”

  “We’re here for you,” Aunt Betty said. “Do you want us to come in the bathroom?”

  “It will be completely gross, but I would do that for you, Eliza,” Lilly said.

  “I love you both, I really do, but I don’t want either of you in the bathroom.” She felt like she was going to be sick and this wasn’t helping.

  With her hands still shaking, she sat on the toilet, staring at the offending piece of stick she had to urinate on. She peed on the stick, finished wiping herself, and left the stall. Placing the stick down, she washed her hands, and then stood back waiting. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

  “You’ve got this.”

  “I can’t be pregnant.”

  Lilly hugged her close. They had only gotten closer in the past couple of weeks. She had missed her friend and she’d felt so guilty for leaving her behind.

  “What does it say?” she asked.

  “Oh, Eliza,” Aunt Betty said.

  She knew.

  “What if … what if I have to raise a baby all by myself? I … I don’t…”

  “Sit down. You look a little pale.”

  “I feel like I’m going to vomit.”

  “You’re fine. You’re going to be fine.”

  “I don’t feel fine.” She leaned forward, resting her head in between her thighs, trying to gain composure but failing.

  “James is crazy about you,” Lilly said. “Anyone can see it.”

  “But a baby changes everything, Lilly. It’s no longer fun. I’m sorry, Aunt Betty.”

  “Don’t be sorry. I know you’re nervous, but I’ve seen the way that boy looks at you, and it’s not for any other reason than he’s in love with you.”

  “We enjoy spending time together. We don’t do anything else.” She groaned. “I hate myself. I wasn’t thinking and now look at everything. I messed it up.”

  “The last time I checked, it takes two people to make a baby.” Aunt Betty stroked her hair back from her face. “And if James doesn’t want to have anything to do with this baby, then I can promise you, Eliza, I will not turn you away. I will be by your side throughout it all. You will not get rid of me. You’ll never be alone because you will always have me.”

  “And me. I’ll help. I think I’d make a good babysitter,” Lilly said.

  She burst into tears while also laughing. “I’m so sorry. I’m a mess and I’m laughing but I’m crying. I hate this.”


  “I think once you tell James, then you really do need to go and see a doctor. The hormones won’t be controlled, but we need to make sure mommy and baby are healthy.”

  She put a hand to her stomach. “Mommy. I’m going to be a mommy.”

  “That you are.”

  “I’m … wow, I think, wow.” She took several deep breaths, but it didn’t help.

  Mommy. That was going to be her new title.

  She didn’t know if she was ever going to be a mom or a parent. She’d wanted to have a family, a big one, but she had seen herself happily married, settled down.

  What the hell was James going to say?

  Chapter Ten

  “You’re sure?”

  “I saw it with my own two eyes,” Caleb said, panting. “I came to tell you immediately.”

  “Is there a chance she’s pregnant?” Jane asked.

  James ran his hand down his face, trying to clear the fog from his mind. “Yes, there’s a chance. A very big one. It’s mine as well. Don’t even try to think it’s not.”

  “Son, we’re not the ones who would think that. We know you and her have been together. It’s the gossip of the town right now,” Theodore said.

  “What if she is pregnant? What do I do?” James got to his feet and started to pace.

  “What do you want to do, son?” Theodore asked.

  He glanced at his parents. His mother stood behind his father, and they both had big smiles on their faces.

  “Why are you both so happy?”

  “We’re going to be grandparents. That, for us, is a very happy day.”

  “This is happy news. Eliza is pregnant or could be pregnant with my baby. I don’t want to spend my life with anyone else but her. She’s who I want.”

  “Then you know what you must do and it’s not sitting here, wondering. Go and get her, son.”

  “I want to marry her,” James said. “I love her more than anything else in the world. I want her as mine.” He looked at his family.

  “Then go and get her,” his father said, repeating himself.

  He nodded.

  “Maybe I should drive,” Caleb said, taking the keys from him. “You don’t look in any fit state to drive.”

  “I’m going to be a dad?”

  “You don’t know that yet.”

  “Yeah, I do. I know we’ve made a baby. I’m sure of it.” He’d seen her vomit in the morning and be okay a couple of hours after. At first, he didn’t think much of it, but he’d also noticed her reaction to food. Coffee was something she’d loved for a long time, but she now felt sick when it came near her.

  Holy shit, they were going to have a baby.

  “Are you okay?” Caleb asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “Aren’t you a little upset?”

  “Why would I be upset?”

  “You’re going to be a dad. Women aren’t an option for you if you settle down with Eliza. Unless you’re going to cheat, and you don’t strike me as the kind of guy to cheat on his wife.”

  “I won’t be cheating on her. I love her, Caleb. Believe me. There is no greater feeling in the world than being with the woman you love. She’s right here.” He touched his chest. “I think about her all the time. I live for her. Every second of every day. She is mine and I love her so damn much.”

  Saying the words out loud, he felt complete, whole, like there wasn’t anything missing, not now. All he had was Eliza, and he was going to keep her for himself. He laughed. It was a little hysterical, but it was finally realizing the truth.

  Caleb pulled up in front of the florist shop and he saw it was closed.

  After climbing out of the car, he walked to the shop, trying the door. It was locked. He knocked.

  Aunt Betty was the person who came to him. “I see no one can have any privacy in this town.”

  “I need to see her, Aunt Betty,” he said. “Please.”

  She sighed. “She’s in the back. A little shocked. But other than that, she’s coping.”

  He stepped around her, and Caleb, being the invading ass that he was, joined him.

  Lilly came out form the back. “Oh.”

  James nodded at her but went straight into the bathroom where Eliza had her eyes closed and looked to be praying.

  “I hope you’re not hoping they’ll take it away.”

  Her eyes opened and she looked shaken. “James.”

  He held his hand up, feeling so fucking corny as he gave her a tiny wave.

  “Caleb told you,” she said. “Wow, that really traveled fast.”

  “It’s positive?”

  She nodded. Her lips pressed together and she averted her gaze.

  Inside, he danced for joy at the prospect of having a child with her. With the woman he loved.

  “I’ll understand if you don’t want anything to do with this baby. It has come as quite a shock to me.” She took a deep breath.

  He walked to her, wrapped his arms around her, and after kissing the top of her head, he shook his head. “Do not even think about worrying. Eliza,” he said, cupping her face and making her look back up at him. Tears glistened in her eyes, and he sighed. “You are everything to me.”

  “You’re just saying that.”

  “No. I’m not. I’ve wanted to tell you how I’ve felt for a long time now, but I fucked up. I made mistakes. I didn’t ask you to prom because I was afraid you’d say no. I didn’t stand up for what I wanted and that’s my mess. Not yours. I love you, Eliza. I love you more than I can even think about at times. Having you in my bed is amazing but in my life, by my side, that’s a dream come true. I’m not saying these things because you’re pregnant. This baby, it’s giving me the chance to actually tell you how I really feel about you. I want to marry you. I want to be a good husband to you. But the truth is, I want to be your everything.”

  His heart raced as he bared his soul. “I want the chance to grow old with you. To show you every second of every day just how much you being my woman means to me. I love you, Eliza. Always have, always will. And nothing and no one will ever change the way I feel about you.”

  He put a hand on her stomach. “If you don’t feel the same way, I’ll understand but I won’t let you do this alone. I’ll be there every single step of the way.”

  Tears fell down her cheeks. “I’m always so emotional right now. I … I love you too. So much, and it scares me.”

  He pulled her into his arms, kissing her lips and holding her close.

  “Be careful. If there’s even a chance you guys make twins, they’ll be a handful,” Caleb said.

  “Having sex twice is not how you make twins.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  James broke away from the kiss.

  “You brought your brother?” Eliza asked.

  “He can’t hold his own shit. The moment he saw you with the box, he had to come and tell. It’s the kind of guy he is.”

  “I’m a good guy.”

  “Marry me, Eliza,” he said, ignoring his brother. This was their moment.

  “You really want to marry me?”

  “I don’t have a ring for you yet, but I can change that. I want to marry you. Be my wife. You won’t regret it.”

  “Yes,” she said.

  He lifted her up and she wrapped her arms around his neck, and he held her tightly together.

  “You know, I hear a pregnant woman can have an insane appetite. You’re seriously going to drive Rome crazy,” Caleb said.

  Eliza burst out laughing and James shook his head. “Welcome to my crazy family.”

  “Your family,” Eliza said, with a groan. “What if they don’t like me?”

  “Nah, you see, that’s not possible. I know for a fact my family adores you.”

  “You do?”

  “Yes.”

  “How do you know that?” she asked.

  “Because if I know my parents and other brother, they’ve already parked outside to come and hear the news.”

  “The entire to
wn is going to know,” she said.

  “Yep.”

  “I don’t think I can go out there.”

  “James isn’t wrong,” Lilly said, raising her voice. “His parents and Rome are outside.”

  He held her as she groaned. “There’s no point in hiding.”

  “They’re going to think you’re only marrying me because I’m pregnant.”

  “Nah, they’ll know I’m marrying you because I’m in love with you. Completely, one hundred percent in love with you.” He took hold of her hand. “We can do this, together. We can do anything together.”

  She linked her fingers with his, and together, they stepped out of the bathroom. He sensed how nervous she was, and he held her hand, wanting to be there for her. He would never forget this day. It was more perfect than he imagined. He hadn’t foreseen her being pregnant, but he certainly wasn’t going to regret a single moment.

  They walked outside and his mother was the first to come forward, pulling her into her arms and welcoming her to the family. Next, his father, then his two brothers. They all embraced and the town looked on. He held Eliza close, showing her love in front of everyone.

  They were getting married because he wanted her, not for any other reason, and the town, anyone who dared to say something different, would deal with him.

  ****

  Seven and a half months later

  “Nah, you’ve got to move it a little to the left. Too much. To the right.”

  “You do realize it’s just a picture and our little girl won’t see it, don’t you?” James asked.

  “I thought you were a professional.”

  “I am, but a professional has limits here. You’re pushing me to them.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I want it to look perfect.”

  “And it will.” He straightened the picture and Eliza nodded. Perfect. She sat in the rocking chair that Theodore had made for her. Jane had sewn her some cushions to help with the comfort. She’d been getting an uncomfortable shooting pain down her back all day. She hadn’t told James because any time something concerned her, he was at the hospital, demanding the staff to do their damn jobs and take care of her.

  Their first child was due any day. Aunt Betty was on call. Lilly now lived with her Aunt Betty, and she wanted to be there. Any time James had a call out, and his mother or her aunt were busy, Lilly came with her to the breathing classes. She was having to breathe hard right now and hide it so James didn’t panic.