Her Festive Baby Bombshell

He stared into her big brown eyes and saw the fear reflected in them. It tore at his heart. He pulled her close until her cheek rested against his shoulder.

“Everything will be fine.”

She pulled back in order to gaze into his eyes. “Promise me you won’t go outside.”

He couldn’t deny her this. “Yes, I promise.”

This time she squeezed him tight as though in relief.

Seconds later, Finn pulled away. “I think we’ll need some more candles and I want to do one more walk through the house to make sure it’s secure. I’ll be back.”

“I can come with you.”

“No. Stay here and get comfortable. I’ll be right back. I promise.” He started for the door.

“Finn?”

He paused, hearing the fear in her voice. “Do you need something else?”

“Um, no. Just be careful.”

“I will.” Was it possible that through all of her defensiveness and need to assert her independence that she cared for him? The thought warmed a spot in his chest. But he didn’t have time to dwell on this revelation. The winds were starting to howl.

He hurried back to the kitchen where he’d purposely forgotten the weather radio. He wanted to listen to it without Holly around. He didn’t know much about pregnant women, but he knew enough to know stress would not be good for her.

The radio crackled. He adjusted it so he could make out most of the words. The eye of the storm had shifted. It was headed closer to them. And the winds were intensifying to hurricane strength. Finn’s hands clenched tightly.

This was all his fault. He should have paid more attention to the weather instead of getting distracted with the babies and his plans for the future. Now, instead of worrying about what he’d be like as a father, he had to hope he’d get that chance. He knew how bad the tropical storms could get. He’d ridden one out in this very house a few years back. It was an experience he’d been hoping not to repeat.

With a sigh, he turned off the radio. He made the rounds. The house was as secure as he could make it. With the radio, satellite phone and a crate of candles and more water, he headed back to Holly.

“How is everything?” Her voice held a distinct thread of worry.

He closed the door and turned around to find a cozy setting awaiting him. There were blankets heaped on the floor and pillows lining the wall. With the soft glow of the candles, it swept him back in time—back to when his big brother was still alive. They were forever building blanket forts to their mother’s frustration.

The memory of his mother and brother saddened him. Finn tried his best not to dwell on their absence from his life, but every now and then there would be a moment when a memory would drive home the fact that he was now all alone in this world.

“Finn, what is it?” Holly got to her feet and moved to him.

It wasn’t until she pressed a hand to his arm that he was jarred from his thoughts. “Um, nothing. Everything is secure. It’s started to rain.”

“The storm’s not going to miss us, is it?”

“I’m afraid not. But we’ll be fine.”

“With the door closed, it’s amazing how quiet it is in here. I could almost pretend there isn’t a big storm brewing outside.”

He didn’t want to keep talking about the weather. He didn’t want her asking more questions, because the last thing he wanted to do was scare her with the word hurricane. After all, it wasn’t even one yet, but there was a strong potential.

“I see you made the room comfortable.”

She glanced around. “I hope you like it.”

“I do.” There was one thing about this arrangement—she couldn’t get away from him. He had a feeling by the time the sun rose, things between them would be drastically different.

* * *

This was not working.

Holly wiggled around, trying to get comfortable. It wasn’t the cushions so much as hearing the creaking of the house and wondering what was going on outside. Finn hadn’t wanted to tell her so she hadn’t pushed, but her best guess was that they were going to experience a hurricane. The thought sent a chill racing down her spine.

“Is something wrong?”