Hot On Her Trail - Hell Yeah 2 Read online

  Jessie had always promised herself that when she had a baby, it would never wonder whether or not it was loved. She would tell it every day. Again, she wondered what she was thinking when she had agreed to be a surrogate mother. How had she ever thought that she could carry a baby for nine months and then give it up?

  Despite her parent’s seeming perfection, there had been no savings and no insurance. Not for her. They had left their modest legacy to their church. So Jessie had been completely on her own. There had been no man to fall back on either. But she didn’t go anywhere to meet men. Work. Sleep. Work. That was all she had known for years. Besides, her mother had been kind enough to inform her that men didn’t appreciate women with her body type. Even in her fifties, she had been slim and trim and would skate her hands down her svelte curves and say that her body was the way a woman should look. She had once told Jessie that she looked like an unmade bed. Shaking the distasteful memories from her head, she let herself enjoy the here and now. She let out a long breath, totally relaxing against the big body that provided a foundation for all her troubles and burdens, worries and cares.

  Jacob wasn’t asleep, either. He was enjoying every second of cuddling with Jessie. She was thinking way too hard, he could tell. As he lay there, he made plans. He knew they still had a lot of talking to do and questions needed to be asked and answered. But he already knew a lot. Sex with her had been the best he ever had. She fit in his arms like she was made to go there, and her refusal to make demands of him said more about her character than fifty letters of reference could have. A tiny movement against his side, caused his eyes to pop open in the dark. Was that what he thought it was? Jacob let every cell of his body go completely and utterly still. He waited.

  There it was again.

  Where Jessie’s tummy rested against his hip, he could feel the baby making itself known. The little sucker was kicking up a storm! Jacob smiled. Visions flowed through his head. He saw himself throwing a football to a dark-headed little boy. He saw them going to hunt a Christmas tree and popping firecrackers. He saw camping trips and trail rides. But, more importantly – his vision included three people: a man, a child and the most beautiful woman in the world.

  “Wake up, baby. I need you.”

  Jessie became aware that her body was being petted and prepared. Jacob was nursing at her breast. Both of his hands encircled one sensitive globe and he was molding and plumping the flesh as he suckled deeply. “Mmmmm,” he moaned. Pushing against her, he chewed on her nipple with tiny bites that caused her sex to ripple with expectations. With wonder, she molded her hand to the back of his head, holding him in place as he sucked. It was glorious! Jessie had never know that her breasts were so sensitive. Of course, pregnancy could make them more so, but she hoped they would always be like this. Jacob opened his mouth wider, drawing in her whole areola and laving it with his tongue.

  “Oh, baby,” she moaned. “I ache for you.” His chest rumbled against her, as he turned loose of one breast and kissed a trail down her cleavage and over to the other breast. “Will you let me fuck you here, sometime?” he ran his hand down between her breasts.

  “It’s on the list. And for your information, I’ll let you do anything you want,” she told him. It wasn’t a lie. He had her completely under his power.

  With one strong pull at the nipple that was feeling ignored, Jacob rose over her. “I’ll make a list of my own. But right now I’m craving some plain-old-vanilla, missionary lovin’. Just the basics with you is absolutely incredible.” He opened her up and made sure she was ready for him. “Oh, yeah! You’re so wet for me.” Even after last night, he had to push his way into her carefully. Lord, she was tight. He loved knowing that no one else had ever known this joy with her. “Relax, sweet baby. Let me in. I want to start the day off right.” His words did the trick. He felt her muscles relax as she made him feel like he was coming home.

  Jessie lifted her hips. She wanted it all, every incredible inch. She felt her body stretching, accommodating his need and his desire. “Yes, yes, yes.” she chanted. “I love how you feel inside of me. You fill me up, so good. It makes me feel like I’ll never be lonely again.” Jessie was letting the words flow unchecked. She didn’t even realize what she was saying. “I’ve waited for you for so long, Jacob. I didn’t know your name, but I longed for you.”

  The more she said, the harder he pumped. He wanted to make her his in ways that a woman had never belonged to a man before. So, he gave her all he had – thrusting, ramming, pounding into her – showing her that she was everything he had every wanted. When she screamed his name, he felt his heart swell to bursting. Then, he emptied himself into her and promised God that she would never be sorry that she had walked into his life.

  The smell was familiar. This time, Jessie wasn’t looking through the window; she was surrounded by a herd of big McCoy’s who were determined that she eat her weight in delectable pumpkin pancakes. Aron wasn’t letting Libby wait on them. He was doing the honors. “See, baby, I can cook when I have too.” Libby looked happy, but pale.

  “Are you not feeling well, Libster?” Joseph was concerned. He wasn’t missing a bite, but he was concerned.

  “I’m fine,” Libby assured him. “It’s just a bout of morning sickness.”

  Jessie was stunned. She turned to Jacob for confirmation. He nodded his head. “Libby just found out she was pregnant about a week ago,” he explained.

  Jessie realized that was the celebration that she had witnessed. There was another baby on the way.

  Despite her pallor, Libby looked radiant. “I thought that my cancer had returned,” she spoke softly to Jessie. “Imagine my surprise when I found out that it was a baby, instead.”

  Aron leaned down and kissed her on the top of the head. “We are thrilled,” he stated the fact plainly. Looking at Jacob, he raised one eyebrow. Jacob took the hint.

  “Libby’s not the only one that’s pregnant.” Jessie’s eyes bugged. She knew they would all need to know, but she had expected that he would tell them, quietly, one by one.

  Several forks clattered to the table. Everyone waited to see what Jacob had to say. “Jessie came to me because the baby she is carrying is most likely mine.” You could have heard a pin drop. Jessie wouldn’t look up; she didn’t want to see their expressions. “She had agreed to be a surrogate mother to this couple named McCay. When they inseminated her egg, they used the wrong sperm. They say that it wasn’t the husband’s – it was mine. After the Cryobank found their error, the parents wanted Jessie to abort the baby. But she refused. We want our baby. Don’t we doll?” He rubbed her cheek with the back of his hand.

  “Yes,” her voice was small, but in no way uncertain.

  “Hot damn!” Isaac said in total joy and appreciation.

  “Congratulations, man!” Joseph was enthusiastic.

  “Two babies!” Nathan was over the moon. “When?”

  “Jessie’s farther along than Libby. She’s four and half months, so I guess the baby will be born after Christmas.”

  Libby sprung up, her nausea forgotten. Wrapping her arms around Jessie, she kissed her on both cheeks. “That‘s wonderful! We’ll be pregnant together! It‘ll be a great adventure.”

  Aron laughed. “Libby and her adventures. Now, remember Libby-mine. You get in trouble on your adventures – falling off of Molly, getting arrested in a bar-fight. I want this pregnancy to be uneventful and safe. Do you hear me?”

  “Men!” Libby laughed. Hugging Jessie one more time, she promised her. “We’ll have a blast. We can shop, pick out baby furniture, baby clothes and baby names!” Enthusiasm was much too tame a word for Libby’s excitement.

  Jessie looked at Jacob for help. Libby was talking like she would be staying here forever. And that just wasn’t the case. She waited for him to dispute Libby’s plans. But, he didn’t. “Looks like these two have enough to keep them busy.”

  Jacob thought Libby’s ideas were just about perfect. He wanted Jessie to feel at home a
nd Libby’s enthusiasm would go a long way in making that happen. A chaos of questions and comments filled the room. Jessie was overwhelmed. They all seemed to like her. Except one. Jessie glanced over at Noah and met his wary stare. Noah didn’t trust her. Well, she didn’t blame him. She probably wouldn’t trust her either.

  Chapter Six

  After the breakfast celebration, everyone got ready to go their separate ways for the day. Jacob grabbed Noah’s arm as he attempted to slip out with the other family members. “We are going to have the test done.”

  “Good,” Noah spat out. “You’ve got to remember who you are, and how much you’re worth. Shit! There’s no telling how many men she’s slept with. It could be anybody’s baby”

  Jacob was fast losing his temper with his little brother. With one mighty move, Jacob slammed Noah back into the wall. “Shut your damn mouth! You don’t have any idea what you’re talking about.” Noah was big, but Jacob was bigger. And Jacob had him suspended about six inches off the floor with one hand grasping him by the collar. “She was a virgin, you asshole. I ought to know; it was my hand that prepared her and my dick that tore through the barrier.”

  “But, how?” Noah strangled out the words.

  “She was inseminated with a tiny catheter, you idiot.” Letting his brother down abruptly, he walked off as Noah bent over, catching his breath. “Jessie’s not after my money, Noah.”

  Knowing he was playing with fire, Noah pressed on. “How can you be sure? You don’t know her.”

  Sneering at his own flesh and blood, Jacob defended the defenseless. “I do know her. She risked her life to save Nathan’s. She gave up fifty thousand dollars to keep her baby and she raked horse shit out of the stalls to pay for a couple of slices of bread and a squirt of ketchup.”

  “Why did she hide in the barn instead of coming out and explaining herself?”

  “She was afraid, you moron. Everybody pressured her to get an abortion. She hung around and watched us long enough to know that we wouldn’t ask that of her. And now you act like this?” Jacob’s voice rose enough that it carried throughout the house.

  “But, you can’t just bring her in our home and expect all of us to accept that she doesn’t have any ulterior motives. Have you gotten her to sign any papers stating that she won’t come after our money?”

  “Our money? I have money of my own that’s not mixed with yours, buddy-boy.”

  “Yeah, and you’d better put it under lock and key. Have you looked into her background? Do you know what kind of woman she is?”

  Jacob lunged at Noah again, but this time he dodged. His words hit home, though. Jacob was livid. “Don’t make me choose, Noah. Because you might not like my decision. I love my family, but that baby Jessie is carrying may be my family as well.”

  Noah didn’t say anything else. Jacob realized that he was looking at something over his shoulder.

  Shit!

  Jessie.

  “What kind of papers do I need to sign, Noah? I’m willing to do whatever you and Jacob think is best. I’ve already told Jacob that I don’t want or expect anything. That’s not why I came.” She waited a few seconds, but Noah didn’t say a word. He knew better. He wanted to live to see tomorrow.

  “I knew this wasn’t a good idea. Jacob, I refuse to cause trouble in your home,” she turned and walked away.

  “Fuck!” Jacob bellowed, leaving his brother wondering what would come next.

  “Jessie! Jessie!” Jacob ran through the house looking for her. “Where would she go?” He looked in the dining room, the den, his room – hell! The barn! Heading out the door, he made it across the yard in record time. Throwing back the door, he entered the shadowy building. “Jessie! Honey, please answer me.”

  “I’m here,” a small voice echoed through the darkness. He found her in the stall next to Palladin’s. She was sitting in the corner, curled up, with her knees drawn up under her chin. She had made herself as small as she could.

  Sinking down beside her, he pulled her off the floor and into his arms. “Don’t you pay a bit of attention to what my fool of a brother had to say. He thinks every woman is like Sabrina.”

  “Who’s Sabrina?” she asked against his shirt.

  “Sabrina was Aron’s wife. She was a gold digger, no doubt about that. She was a manipulative, cold-hearted, ball-busting bitch.” As Jacob spit out the words, Jessie realized that his animosity ran deep. She wondered what the rest of the story was?

  “I’m not like Sabrina,” she offered softly.

  Sliding his lips from her temple to her neck, Jacob let out a sigh. “I know it, baby. And Noah will come to realize it, in time. After our parent’s died, we all built up our defenses in different ways. Aron became our protector. Joseph took risks. Isaac went biker, but Noah got super serious. He thinks that as long as he keeps the columns straight and the numbers add up, he’s in control.”

  “What about you?” she asked, wanting to understand. “No, let me guess.” She slid her arms between them and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. Placing a small kiss on the exposed warm skin, she proceeded to tell him what she had observed. “You became the heart of the family. I bet you’re the one that never let’s anyone forget a birthday or a holiday. Aron stood tall, but you drew everybody close. Jacob, you’re the glue that’s held your family together.” Untangling from his hold, Jessie stood up. “And that’s why you’ve accepted everything that I’ve said with so much trust and so little caution.”

  “I don’t need . . . “

  “Yes, you do.” She held her hand out to him. “Let’s go make a doctor’s appointment, and then we‘ll go see your lawyer.”

  Taking her hand, he stood. “Yes, to the doctor. We need to set you up for prenatal care. As far as the lawyer goes; Hell No!” He wasn’t going to let Noah push her away.

  “Just as soon as we get confirmation from the doctor that the baby is yours, we’re going to get papers drawn up.” She was talking fast, but she didn’t really know what she was talking about.

  “What kind of papers?” She didn’t realize how needless this was. He trusted her. Completely. Besides, according to the Cryobank, it was all up to him, anyway.

  “Well, I don’t know.” she hesitated. “But your lawyer will know what needs to be done to protect you.” At that thought, she smiled.

  “How about what needs to be done to protect you?” Jacob was dead-serious.

  “What do you mean?” she was truly curious. “I don’t have anything that anybody would want.”

  Catching her up in his arms, Jacob buried his face in her neck. “Oh, you precious treasure. Your value is more than rubies; you are worth your weight in gold. You deserve someone who will guard you, shelter you and fight dragons for you.”

  Jessie let her arms tighten around his neck. “I have the best protector in the world, already.” For a little while, at least.

  When Jacob tensed up, wondering who he was going to have to do battle with – she melted against him and sighed. “You. I trust you.”

  The doctor was a nice man. He was older, but put Jessie completely at ease. He had insisted on examining her ribs and had given Jacob a piece of his mind for not bringing her in the day before. Jessie insisted that she was fine. Dr. Ferguson took some amniotic fluid for the paternity test and then did several other procedures to assure himself that her pregnancy was on track. “Everything looks fine; I‘ll put a rush on this and have you an answer in less than a week,” he pronounced. Jacob let out a breath of relief that the baby was healthy. “Would you like to see the baby?”

  “Please!” Jessie was thrilled. Jacob even more so, but he had to preserve some manly dignity. As the nurse set them up for an ultrasound, Jessie held Jacob’s hand over her heart. When the image came on the screen, they both were struck speechless.

  “Look at that!” the doctor laughed. “Isn’t that something! I never get used to it! Do you want to know the sex of the baby?”

  At that offer, Jacob and Jessie looked at one
another. Jacob winked at her. “Yes, sir. We do.”

  The doctor moved the screen closer to them and pointed. “Look at that, right there.” The doctor grinned at Jacob.

  “Is that what I think it is?” Jacob asked in awe.

  “If you’re thinking it’s little peter – well, then you’re right. Your baby is a little boy.”

  Jessie clung to Jacob’s hand, raising it to her lips and kissed it. The doctor, understandingly, walked out of the room to give them a few minutes alone. He had left the image on the screen, letting Jessie hold the wand against her tummy. “Look at him, Jacob. He’s got his little hand raised up like he’s waving at us.”

  Jacob got down on his knees as close to the screen as he could. “He’s beautiful.” Turning, he pressed his cheek to the slight swell. “I love him so much.”

  Placing a hand on his neck. “We don’t have the paternity test results, yet.”

  “I don’t need them. I can tell he’s a McCoy.” Jacob chuckled next to her abdomen.

  “Really? And what was your first clue?” She had no idea what he was talking about.

  “Did you see the size of that boy’s business? He’s a McCoy all right.” Planting a resounding kiss on her lips, Jacob backed off only because the doctor returned.

  “Here’s a picture for you,” Jessie accepted the ultrasound image like she was being handed an Oscar.

  “Thank you.” she said, “I’ll keep it forever.” Jacob thought the same thing, but it wasn’t a picture that he wanted to keep forever – it was her.

  Before they left town, Jacob insisted that they pick up her prenatal vitamins and wanted to stop and buy her some clothes, but Jessie balked. “All I need is a new pair of blue jeans and if this sale price is right, I have enough money for that.” She put up such a fuss that Jacob went along with her just to keep her from getting upset. He’d just question her about her sizes as she shopped for her jeans and then he’d do some shopping on his own later. She’d have to have some clothes before the next weekend. They’d have a ranch full of company and he wanted her to be comfortable and have a good time. He couldn’t wait until she admitted that Tebow Ranch was where she belonged.