Her Festive Baby Bombshell

Her hand moved to her abdomen. It wouldn’t be long now before she really started to show. She didn’t even want to guess how big she’d get carrying not one but two babies. She had no doubt her figure would never be quite the same. But it would be worth it.

To be honest, she’d never thought of having children before. After her family had been ripped apart, she told herself she wasn’t getting married or having children. She’d assured herself that life would be so much simpler when she only had herself to worry about.

Now she had two little ones counting on her to make all of the right decisions.

She turned, finding Finn with his back to her as he leaned against the desk. He certainly was different from Josh. Where Josh was a real charmer, Finn only gave a compliment when he truly meant it. Where Josh ran at the first sign of trouble, Finn was willing to stand by her. So why couldn’t she give him a chance to prove that he truly was an exception?

He certainly was the most handsome man she’d laid her eyes on. Her gaze lingered on his golden hair that always seemed to be a bit scattered and made her long to run her fingers through it. And then there were his broad shoulders—shoulders that looked as though they could carry the weight of the world on them. She wondered how heavy a load he carried around.

Something told her he’d seen far too much in his young life. And she didn’t want to add to his burden. That was never her intention. With time, she hoped he’d understand that she never meant to hurt him by turning down his suggestion of marriage.

Finn hung up the phone and turned to her. “We can’t leave.”

Surely she hadn’t heard him correctly. “What do you mean we can’t leave?”

“There’s a storm moving in and with these high winds it’s too dangerous to take up the chopper.” His gaze met hers. “I’m sorry. I know how much you wanted off the island.”

“So what are you saying? That we’re stranded here?”

“Yes.” He didn’t look any happier about it than she did.

“What are we going to do?”

“You’re going to wait here.” He turned toward the door. “With Emilio and Maria away, I’ve got a lot of work to do before the storm. I won’t get it all done tonight, but I can at least start.”

“Wait for me. I want to help.”

She rushed after him. There was no way she was planning to stand around and have him do all of the work. She knew her way around a toolbox and power tools. She could pull her own weight.

Hopefully this storm would pass by the island, leaving them unscathed. And then she’d be on her way home. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep her common sense while around Finn.

Her gaze trailed down over Finn from his muscled arms to his trim waist and his firm backside. The blood heated in her veins. Enjoying each other’s company didn’t mean they had to make a formal commitment, right?

Wait. No. No. She couldn’t let her desires override her logic. She jerked her gaze away from Finn. It had to be the pregnancy hormones that had her thinking these truly outlandish thoughts.

She was immune to Finn—about as immune as a bee to a field of wildflowers. She was in big trouble.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

WHY WAS SHE fighting him?

The next day, Finn sighed as he stared blindly out the glass doors. No matter what he said to Holly, there was no reasoning with her. She was determined to have these babies on her own.

He knew that she wouldn’t keep him from seeing them, but he also knew that visitation every other weekend was not enough. He would be a stranger to his own children—his only family. His hands clenched. That couldn’t happen.

He’d never thought he’d be a part of a family again. And though he had worries about how well he’d measure up as a husband and father, he’d couldn’t walk away. Why couldn’t Holly understand that?

He didn’t know how or when, but somehow he’d convince her that they were better parents together than apart. If only he knew how to get his point across to her—

The lights flickered, halting his thoughts. The power went completely out, shrouding the house in long shadows. After a night and day of rain, it had stopped, but the winds were starting to pick up again. And then the lights came back on.