Daddy looked into my mother’s eyes. They both smiled as my mother whispered, “Our baby is having a baby.”
She kissed my father and I looked away as they shared a tender moment. My heart was about to burst. I pulled out my phone and sent Walker a text.
Me: Daddy knows. He’s beyond happy. P.S. My mother spilled the beans to your mom.
Walker texted back immediately.
Walker: Thank God. I’ve been scared for my life. I knew it!
I laughed and set my phone down. My father smiled and motioned for me to come over. My mother stood up as I took her place.
“Oh Liza, honey, I’m kind of lost for words. I mean, I thought you wanted to teach.”
I wiped my tears away. “I did, too. But life had other plans. I’d like to stay on with you, if that’s okay?”
My father hugged me tight. “Oh, Liza. Baby, you just made me the happiest man in the world.”
I smiled to myself knowing that the two most important men in my life had spoken the same exact words to me when they found out about the baby.
I PULLED UP and parked outside the obstetrician’s office. Walker was meeting me here for our first appointment. We’d decided that the first appointment should just be Walker and me. We’d had to come to their Austin office, since the office in Fredericksburg was being remodeled. I sat in the car until Walker’s truck pulled up. I jumped out of my Toyota 4Runner and made my way over to Walker. I looked behind me. The hairs on my neck stood up again, like someone was watching me. It was the same feeling I’d had that night at the hotel. But I saw no one, so I shook my head and pushed the feelings away.
“Hey beautiful,” Walker said as I walked into his arms.
“Hey back at ya, handsome.”
Walker kissed me passionately as I wrapped my arms around his neck. We were quickly lost in the kiss. I jumped when my car alarm went off. I turned around, but there was no one near my car.
“Why is my alarm going off?” I asked as Walker took my hand and walked us over to my car. I’d parked close to the wooded area of the parking lot, since the car was a graduation gift from my parents. I was obsessed with not getting door dings.
I pulled my keys out and turned the alarm off. Walker walked around my car and said, “Holy fuck.”
“What?” I asked as I made my way to the passenger side of the car. There was a huge dent on the back door. I put my hands up to my mouth. “Oh my gosh! Walker! How could this have happened? I didn’t park around anyone.”
Walker looked around and into the wooded area. “There must have been someone who tried to park here, hit it, and took off before we saw them.”
It looked like someone took a bat to the door. “Or someone whacked it with something and took off into the woods.” I said.
Walker looked at me and then back at the woods. “Yeah. Kids, maybe?” Walker said. “Little fuckers. Give me your keys and I’ll move it next to my truck.”
I handed Walker my keys and he made his way around to the driver’s side. I looked back into the woods before getting into my car. I was almost positive that I saw something—or someone—moving away from me.
“Stupid kids,” I mumbled under my breath.
WALKER AND I stared at the monitor as Dr. Monroe searched for our baby. The moment the little peanut-shaped image appeared, I cried. It was the norm for me, these days.
The doctor did something with the computer and took a picture, then began typing the words “your baby” with an arrow pointing to the peanut on the screen.
“He’s beautiful,” Walker whispered.
A sob escaped my lips. “She is,” I whispered back.
The doctor laughed. “Well, she or he looks to be about seven to eight weeks. You gave me a date of conception. Are you sure about that, Liza?”
I smiled and nodded. “Pretty dang sure.”
Dr. Monroe pulled something out of his pocket and began sliding the tool around. “May twelfth is your due date. Going by the last day of your period, I’d say we’re on target. As long as you’re sure about the date of conception, I’m okay with leaving the due date as May twelfth. Of course, as the baby grows, we can get a better idea.”
Walker and I exchanged a glance. He quickly wiped a tear away and leaned down to kiss me. “May twelfth,” he said against my lips.
I giggled. “May twelfth,” I said, as I caressed the side of his face.
I turned back to Dr. Monroe. “How big is she right now?”
He gave me the sweetest smile. “About the size of a lentil bean.”
I put my hand up to my mouth as Walker said, “So tiny.”
Dr. Monroe smiled and said, “Yes, she is tiny, but very well-protected. I want you to start pre-natal vitamins right away, Liza. No alcohol or smoking.”
Walker helped me sit up as I swung my legs around to the side. My heart beat faster.
“Dr. Monroe. Is it going to hurt the baby if I’ve had alcohol since getting pregnant?” Walker looked at me. He was trying to remember when I’d had something to drink.
“How much did you have and when?” Dr. Monroe asked.
Swallowing hard, I said, “I had a drink in Florida when I was probably about a week pregnant. Then another drink the night we went to Lambert’s.”
Dr. Monroe took my hands. “Liza, honey you’re fine. A couple drinks are okay. Many women don’t know they’re pregnant right away, sometimes for up to two months. Just follow my directions now, get exercise, eat healthy and relax. Everything is perfect.”
Letting out the breath I’d been holding, I looked at Walker. He winked at me and mouthed, “I love you.”
Ten minutes later, I was leaning against Walker’s truck. “I have a surprise for you,” he said. “Unless you have to get back to Llano right away.”
“Nope. I told my parents that we were coming in for our first appointment. I know my mom wanted to come, but I told her next time. I wanted this to be just us.”
He kissed me on the nose. When he pulled back, his eyes were smoldering. My core clenched tightly. “Follow me in your car,” he said.
Tilting my head, I raised an eyebrow up at him. “Where?”
Walker opened up the door to his truck and pulled out a bag. He pulled out a red silk restraint and dangled it in front of me. “To a hotel. It’s playtime.”
I bit my lip and moaned. The wetness that flooded between my legs was unreal. I wanted to reach into my panties and relieve the pulsing.
I turned on my heels, walked over to my white 4Runner, and got in. My hands shook the entire drive to the hotel. When Walker pulled into the Omni, I smiled. I got out and took the ticket from the valet driver, thanking him. He was a young kid, probably eighteen. When he winked at me and flirted, I couldn’t help but giggle.
Walker came over and took my hand in his as we made our way to the front desk.
“Hurry, Walker. I’m so horny that I’d let you take me here in the lobby.”
Walker chuckled and walked up to the agent. “We’d like a room, please.”
The woman at the desk smiled big. I rolled my eyes. Here we go again.
“Hello Mr…?”
“Moore. Walker Moore.” Walker said as he gave her his panty-melting smile. I wasn’t sure if he knew how he made women melt with his damn smile. It was bad enough that he had amazing blue eyes that sometimes looked grey, dark hair that always had the just-fucked look, and when he didn’t shave for a few days and grew his beard out…oh, lord. I was about to orgasm just thinking about him.
The agent’s blonde hair was pulled up into a ponytail. She couldn’t have been more than five feet tall. When she smiled, her red lipstick fought for attention with her white teeth. “How many rooms will you be needing, and for how many nights, Mr. Moore?”
“One room. One night. We’re celebrating,” Walker said, excited.
The agent finally looked at me and I smiled. She gave me a quick grin, then looked back at Walker. “Oh? What are you celebrating?”
Walker wrapped h
is arm around my waist and pulled me closer. The hairs on my neck stood up straight, and I looked over my shoulder, scanning the lobby. I wasn’t sure why I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched. I peeked at Walker. The smile on his face made me smile back.
“We’re having a baby,” he said.
I quickly snuck a peek at the agent, who gave me an awkward smile. I smiled bigger and my stomach did a funny flip from just hearing Walker say those words.
“Congratulations to both of you,” she said. “Let’s see what we can do for the new mom and dad.” She typed quickly, then smiled bigger. “Perfect. We have a suite that we reserve for VIP guests. It’s open this evening. It’s on the top floor with amazing views of Austin. Let me book it. I’ll only charge for a regular deluxe room.”
I glanced at her nametag and said, “Thank you, Jenifer. That’s so sweet of you.”
Walker pulled me even closer. The desire blooming in my stomach was growing stronger. Jenifer took Walker’s credit card and ran it through the machine. When she handed it back, she winked at me. Oh, this was a change. Apparently I needed a T-shirt that said, “I’m carrying the hottie’s baby.” Then women would leave him alone.
Jenifer handed over the key card. “Enjoy your evening, Mom and Dad.”
My heart soared at hearing those words. I was pretty sure Walker felt the same way, considering the goofy smile on his face.
As we headed to the elevator, I looked around again. The lobby was an expansive atrium with amazing views of the city. It was modern, yet elegant. The feeling of someone watching me vanished—I brushed it off as nerves.
We stepped inside the elevator and Walker swiped the card for the exclusive floor that our suite was on. He peeked at me and I bit my lip as I looked at the older couple riding up with us in the elevator.
The man checked out what floor we were going to. He gave me and Walker a once-over, then asked Walker, “Are you a country singer or something?”
Without missing a beat, Walker said, “Yes, sir. I sing country.”
My jaw dropped and I was about to say something when the older lady gasped.
“I thought you looked familiar.”
I jerked my head back. Walker stood there with a smile on his face. Before I knew it, the woman had pulled out a piece of paper and a pen and shoved it into Walker’s hand.
He looked at her and said, “You want me to sign this?”
She nodded. “Oh, wait until I tell the ladies about this at our next Bridge night.”
Walker smiled and winked her. She blushed. What the hell?
Walker signed the paper and handed it back as the elevator came to a stop.
She let out a little squeal. “Walker Moore. Oh, how exciting!”
The older gentleman placed his hand on the small of the woman’s back and guided her out of the elevator. “Thank you for making my wife’s night.”
The elevator doors closed and I turned to Walker. He pulled me to him and said, “You didn’t know a famous singer was fixin’ to rock your world tonight, did you?”
I laughed and pushed his chest. “That was terrible, Walker Reed Moore. Your parents would smack you upside the head if they knew you just did that.”
Walker threw his head back and laughed. “Nah, Dad would high five my ass right now, and you know it.”
He leaned down and picked me up as the elevator doors opened into a small hallway. Walker walked up to the door and placed the key card in front of it. He pushed it open and we walked into a massive room.
We both whispered, “Holy shit.”
Walker slid me down and placed me on the tile floor. Looking around, there was nothing but windows. The view over Austin was amazing. I walked around the room. It had a contemporary Texas décor. The dark wood and white crown molding added to the elegant feel. There was a flat screen against the wall that separated the living room from the bedroom. I went into the bathroom and gasped. It was the most luxurious bathroom I’d ever seen. The granite vanity was huge, and it included a lighted makeup area. When I saw the oversized, walk-in shower, I pictured Walker taking me up against the tile wall. One more slight turn had me staring at the biggest soaking tub I’d ever seen. You could fit at least four people in it and still have extra room.
I walked into the bedroom. Walker was still standing at the windows, naming all the places he could see from where he stood. I smiled when I saw the giant, king-size bed. When I pulled back the beige comforter, the silk sheets made me moan.
“You can see everything from up here!” Walker called out.
Giggling, I rolled my eyes. I stripped out of my clothes and put them on a chair that was tucked away in the corner of the room. Pulling my hair out of my ponytail, I let it fall over my shoulders. I placed my hands on my stomach and whispered, “Okay baby girl, you’ve been good and not made mommy sick all day. Keep it going, okay?”
Walking into the living room, I saw Walker still peering out the window. I leaned against the doorjamb and cleared my throat.
When Walker turned around, his mouth dropped open and his eyes roamed over my body. He swallowed and whispered, “My God…you’re so beautiful.”
I peeked over at the bag Walker had carried up with us and blushed. I asked, “Are you going to show me what’s in the bag or do I have to beg?”
MY HEART HAD never beat so fast in my life as I looked at Liza standing before me naked. Her carrying our child made her already beautiful body even more beautiful. I wanted to be buried so deep inside her that she’d feel me for the next few days.
I looked inside the bag. The handcuffs were right on top, but what caught my eye was the blue velvet jewelry box. I smiled and turned my back to Liza as I pulled the handcuffs out along with the box. I pushed the box into my pocket and turned around, holding handcuffs. When Liza licked her lips, my dick jumped. When she’d hinted to wanting to play more in the bedroom, I’d known exactly what I wanted to do. Tonight was going to be a learning experience for both of us.
Liza’s eyes were filled with desire as I started to make my way closer to her. She bit her lip so hard I could see it turning white. Stopping right in front of her, I reached up and pulled her lip from her teeth.
“The only person who is going to bite that lip tonight is me,” I said.
Liza closed her eyes and moaned. I placed my hand on her cheek and pulled her closer to me, bringing her lips to mine. The moment our lips touched, our bodies ignited, and our kiss quickly turned passionate. We couldn’t get enough of each other. Our tongues danced in circles as we let out one moan after another.
I whispered against her lips, “I’m going to make you come so hard you’ll be screaming my name.”
Her chest was already heaving from our kiss. She was practically panting. “Yes, please,” she whispered back as she licked her lips.
I took a step back and took off my T-shirt, slipping it over her head. She gave me a confused look. I laughed and said, “I can’t concentrate with you naked.
My T-shirt fell to the middle of her thighs—it had to be the hottest damn thing I’d ever seen. I took her hand, leading her onto the balcony. The view of the Colorado River was breathtaking. Liza’s hair caught the wind and her eyes were even bluer against the sky.
Liza gasped. “Oh wow, it’s so beautiful up here. Look at the river. It’s amazing.”
I’d set the handcuffs on the coffee table on the way out here. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out the blue box. I got down on one knee and opened the box.
“Wh—what are you doing?” she asked as her eyes filled with tears. She placed one had on her stomach and the other over her mouth.
Swallowing hard, I started to speak. As soon as my mouth opened I completely forgot everything I was going to say. I shut my mouth and closed my eyes. Shit. Shit. Shit. I’d had this whole thing planned out.
Opening my eyes, I looked up at her. “Liza, I had this whole speech planned to tell you how much I love you and how I can’t wait to be your husband. I was going
to tell you how much I’m looking forward to being a father, and watching your stomach grow bigger. I wanted to tell you I can’t wait to watch our children grow up. To sit on the porch and watch the sunsets together every night for the rest of our lives. But my mind has gone blank.”
She giggled and wiped her tears away. “Walker, you just said it all.”
I made a face and laughed. “Yeah, I guess I did. I wanted to make this special for you, but all I really want…is you, Liza. I know I’ve already asked you once. But, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
A sob escaped Liza’s lips and she nodded her head quickly. I took the ring out of the box and slipped it onto her finger.
Liza was about to say something when she stopped. She shook her head. “Oh God. Oh…oh…not now, baby girl.” She pulled her hand from mine and covered her mouth.
“Baby, what’s wrong?”
She began pushing me away but I grabbed onto her. “Liza, what’s wrong.”
“I need…to…”
She tried to push past me, but I brought her in my arms. She looked pale. “You’re scaring me, Liza. What’s wrong?”
“Walker, please, let me go I need…”
Her eyes filled with tears. Oh God. Is she regretting saying “yes” to me? I let go of her as she slid the door open and ran into the room. I followed her as she dashed into the bathroom. I grabbed her before she got in there and spun her around. I was just about to beg her to tell me what was wrong when she threw up all over me.
I jumped back and looked down to see puke covering my chest.
“Oh my gosh, oh Walker. I’m so…”
She quickly ran to the toilet and threw up again. I tried not to think about the vomit all over me as I made my way to her. She threw up again and the sight of it made me gag. I turned around and looked down at the puke on my chest. I gaged again and turned around.
“Liza, move, baby. I have to throw up!”
She looked up at and gave me a dirty look. I covered my mouth when I saw she had puke dripping on her mouth. I looked around and ran to the bathtub. Liza and I were both throwing up now. I turned on the tap, splashing water on my chest to rinse off the puke. Every time I thought I was done, Liza would throw up again, making me start all over again.