Neither one of them listened to what anyone else had to say. Even when her promotion to the head of the marketing department was talked about under hushed tones around the water cooler, Rachel kept her head high and her ego in check. It helped that Julie reminded employees that it was Rachel who brought Fairchild Charters one of the largest accounts they’d acquired in over five years.
Jason’s even footsteps sounded behind her as he walked outside.
He kissed the top of her head and took a seat beside her. “Has he caught anything yet?”
“I don’t think so.”
Jason kicked his feet up on the double chaise longue and pulled her into his arms. “Do you think he suspects anything?”
“I’m pretty sure he knows there’s a party planned.”
“And the car?”
She cringed. “I’m not ready for him to be driving.”
Jason laughed. “He’s a good driver.”
Yeah, and his sixteenth birthday was the following week.
“Where did you leave the car?”
“Trent’s house.”
Buying Owen his first car wasn’t something Rachel could talk Jason out of.
“One crash and we buy him a beater.”
“He’ll be fine.”
She sniffled. “He’s growing up too fast.”
Jason hugged her, and when the waterworks didn’t end, he stopped teasing. “Are you okay?”
She sighed, watched Owen tugging on the line. “It’s just hormones.”
“Ahh.” Jason settled against her. “Is it an emergency chocolate kind of night, or a glass of wine?”
It was now or later. “I’m probably better off with pickles and milk,” she said, deadpan.
“Oh, God, that sounds horrible—”
Jason snapped up to a sitting position on the chair and leaned over her. His gaze moved to her stomach. “Pickles?”
Rachel placed a hand over their unborn child and let her smile show.
“You’re serious?”
“Took the test this morning.”
He patted her stomach as if he was afraid to touch her. “You’re pregnant?”
“I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner. It isn’t like you’ve left me alone since Costa Rica.”
“I’m going to be a dad.”
Rachel started to laugh. “You catch on quick, Fairchild.”
“Oh my God.” He leaned down and kissed her stomach before resting his ear on it. “What was that?” He jumped up.
“That would be my stomach. I’m hungry.”
“You’re hungry . . .” He scrambled off the chair. “Okay. I’ll get you something to eat. What do you want? Pickles? I can cook pickles.”
Rachel started laughing.
Jason took two steps toward the house, then turned back around and pulled her off the chair and spun her around. “I love you. Every day I love you more.”
“I’m getting dizzy.”
He stopped spinning her just as abruptly as he’d begun. “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”
She started laughing again. “I was just as pregnant last night when you had me bent over the pool table.”
“Oh, that’s bad.”
Rachel shrugged. “I don’t know. I had a good time.”
He kissed her soundly, then stepped away and lifted both hands in the air and shouted, “I love this woman!”
He caught the attention of Owen and Nathan on the lake.
Owen placed his hands around his mouth to amplify the sound. “What’s wrong?”
Jason ran several yards closer. “You’re going to be a brother!”
“What?”
“Rachel is pregnant!”
Owen stood in the boat. “Pregnant?”
Jason nodded several times.
Owen pounded a fist in the air, and two seconds later was standing chest deep in the lake, Nathan hitting the back of his head.
Rachel laughed. “That just cost us two cell phones.”
“Cell phones? You’re carrying my child and muttering about phones.”
“We’re going to start muttering about food soon if we don’t get something to eat.”
Jason picked her back up and spun her once. “We. Oh, God I love you. I’m so happy you ran me off the road last winter.”
“I did not run you off the road.”
Jason lifted her into his arms, carried her into the house, and spoke to her stomach. “She totally ran me off the road.”
Rachel held on to his neck and let him carry her through their crazy life.