Holiday Baby Scandal

Ryker Barrett had lived through some rough times, but he had a feeling he was entering a whole new level of hell.

Two

How cute was he, thinking he could be all protective and overbearing? Poor Ryker. He clearly forgot he was dealing with an O’Shea. She may be the baby sister, she may be the one everyone loved to keep safely tucked away behind the computer, but she knew more than they’d ever realize. She wasn’t naive, and she wasn’t blind.

And going to London? Not an option. She was working on something right here in Boston that was so near to her heart, she refused to walk away. Pregnant or not, she’d see this project come to fruition.

Once she’d left Ryker’s house earlier, she headed home, changed her clothes and went for a run. Her doctor had informed her that keeping up with her regular exercise routine was perfectly fine. She needed to release some pent-up energy and blow off steam anyway. Perhaps she should’ve joined Ryker in his punching bag workout. Although she feared he’d have pissed her off and she’d have ended up socking him in the face to knock some sense into that thick head of his.

Why did she have to be attracted to such a stubborn, frustrating man? Why did she still have to feel how amazing he was weeks after their encounter? The imprint of his powerful touch would be with her forever. Laney had always wondered if the reality of being with Ryker would measure up to the fantasy...and it was better. So much better than anything she could have dreamed up.

But now that she was pregnant, she wasn’t going to use the child as an excuse to get closer to him. She wasn’t a pathetic, desperate woman. She may have loved Ryker for as long as she could remember, but she would never use an innocent child to get a man.

She’d worried about telling him, though. Worried because she knew enough of his childhood to figure out he probably had no dreams of becoming a father. Ryker never spoke of his birth family—his family had become the O’Sheas the instant Mac and Braden brought him home after school one day. All she knew was that his first twelve years had been hell, and nothing any child should have to go through.

Ryker may be ten years older than her, but that didn’t make him out of her reach. By the time she’d been old enough to notice boys, she’d had eyes for only one man. Oh, she’d dated, but nobody had captured her attention like Ryker. And for years he’d ignored her.

Then one night, as if the dam had broken, he’d quite literally torn off her clothes. Never had Laney been so thrilled, so relieved to finally have a dream become reality. But no dream could’ve ever prepared her for the experience Ryker gave her.

Laney pulled her damp hair into a loose topknot. Now that she’d exercised and showered, she was ready to get some work done. Her brothers were so close to finding their family’s missing heirlooms, and she so wanted to be the one to crack the mystery.

For years, decades actually, their family had been searching for nine missing scrolls. The precious documents dated back to the sixteenth century, when one of their ancestors, an Irish monk, transcribed some of William Shakespeare’s work. The scrolls had been handed down from generation to generation.

But when the Great Depression robbed so many people of their normal lives, the O’Shea family lost their home and everything inside. The home actually ended up falling into the possession of Zara Perkins’s family, which was how Zara and Braden met. Braden had thought that cozying up to the pretty event coordinator and getting inside her house would help in their search. Little did Braden know he’d fall in love.

The scrolls weren’t found, so now the search continued. And Laney would love nothing more than to be the one to find the missing treasure. Her entire life she’d been sheltered, kept at an arm’s length from the dangers of the family business. If her father and brothers hadn’t needed her mad computer skills, she had no doubt they wouldn’t have told her a single thing.

Well, if she found these scrolls, they’d have to acknowledge just how much she brought to the table and how she wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. Family meant everything, and, now more than ever, she was determined to take a stronger role in the business. Proving to her brothers, to Ryker, that she could keep up with them wasn’t going to be a problem. She was an O’Shea. Determination was ingrained in every fiber of her being.

Laney pulled up her email and slid a hand over her flat stomach. This baby would be so hardheaded and strong. There was no other option, considering the genes.

Scrolling through messages, Laney tried to forget Ryker and his demanding ways. But it was those demanding ways that had rocked her entire world at a hotel in Miami.

Maybe she could distract herself with some online Christmas shopping. Maybe that would take her mind off Ryker and the fact she now carried his child. Laney couldn’t help but wonder how her overbearing brothers would react to this news.

Dread filled her stomach. How would Zara take the pregnancy? She and Braden had miscarried a child several months ago. Were they trying for another one? Laney hated to pry, but she also didn’t want to seem insensitive. Especially if they tried and were unsuccessful.

Oh, they’d be happy about the baby, but privately would they be hurt? Laney loved Zara like a sister and didn’t want to cause her any more grief.

With Mac and Jenna planning a wedding, Laney seriously hesitated to say anything to anybody. There wouldn’t be a perfect time, but at least she could wait for a better time.

Laney clicked on an email she’d been waiting on. Her offer had been accepted. Finally. She’d been wanting this news for over a week, and the timing was perfect. One more step closer to her goal of revamping an old, run-down building in Boston’s south side... Ryker’s old neighborhood.

She’d set these plans in motion before Miami. Over the years, she’d heard Ryker talk about unfortunate kids, never of his own childhood, but she knew his worry stemmed from where he’d come from. So Laney wanted to help. She hated the idea of kids feeling like there was no hope, no one there who really cared about their future.

Her father had instilled in her that commitment. To help the unfortunate. When he’d taken in Ryker, he’d done so without another thought. If more people reached out like her father had, maybe this world would be a bit brighter.

She was keeping the project a secret because she wasn’t in it for the praise or the recognition. And she definitely wasn’t out to make the O’Shea name look better in the community, which was what many would think if they knew she was involved.

Laney starred the email and laid her phone on the desk in her office before taking a seat. It had gotten so dark since she’d finished her run. She longed for summer and sunshine, where she didn’t have to worry about getting back in time before sunset. She also wondered if running alone was the smartest choice. She always had done it by herself to clear her head and think, but now that she was pregnant, she felt more vulnerable.

From the time she was little, her father had taught her to always be aware of her surroundings. But now she should take a few more precautions. Even though she lived in Boston and the streets were bustling with people, she might want to consider using her treadmill or finding a jogging partner.

A laugh escaped her as she thought of Ryker. She couldn’t quite imagine the brooding man throwing on a pair of sneakers and running. No, he was more of a boxer type, a guy who lifted heavy weights, or did pull-ups with one arm. He was all strength, all power.

And the thought of all of that excellent muscle tone had Laney attempting to focus on something else. Anything.

Christmas shopping. Right. That’s what she’d been planning to do. Why go to the stores and fight all the crazies when she could go braless at home and have everything delivered right to her door...wrapped even.

Online shopping was glorious.

She also had a few final touches to put on the O’Shea’s holiday party they were having for the staff at Braden’s house in two weeks. The annual event had grown even more since Mac had opened satellite offices in Miami and Atlanta.

Still, Laney loved working on the party and Zara was a professional coordinator, so her sister-in-law had done the majority of the work this year. Laney just needed to order the centerpieces she and Zara had agreed on.

She’d just opened a new browser to search for a dress to wear to the party when her doorbell rang. Glancing quickly at the monitors, she saw Ryker’s hulking frame. He kept his head down, shoulders hunched against the brisk December air. He never came to her house...just like she had never gone to his. He’d followed her home before to make sure she was safe, but he’d never popped in of his own accord.

Who knew it would take a pregnancy to get him to come for a visit?

Pushing away from her desk, Laney headed toward the front door. Darkness had set in and snow swirled around, bright flakes catching in the streetlights.

Laney flicked the lock on her door and opened it, immediately stepping back so Ryker could come in out of the cold.

Without a word he strode inside. Those heavy black boots were quite the contrast to her bare feet with polished pink toes. And that was barely the beginning of all the ways they differed.

Laney closed out the cold and set the dead bolt. Crossing her arms over her chest, she faced the man she’d been half in love with since she was a teen.

“This is a surprise,” she told him. “Did you come to talk or is something wrong?”

“I need to head out of town.”

Laney nodded. His rushing out of town was nothing new. He did so many things for the family. The O’Sheas had gone global with their famous auction houses. Ryker sometimes traveled to obtain relics or random pieces for a specific auction. He’d been known to procure heirlooms that had been stolen. Some may look at him as a modern-day Robin Hood since he returned items to their right owner.

He also was known to go to his home in London for a quick escape, but he was always a text or call away. He put her family first above all else.

“I’m leaving in the morning, and I’ll be gone a few days.”

Laney tipped up her head. “You never tell me when you’re going out of town unless you need my computer skills to pull up the blueprint of a building. If that’s what you—”

“I’m not here for the blueprint.”

The way those black-as-night eyes held her in place had her shivering. Why did she let him have such power over her? He had more power in one stare than most guys did in a kiss. And she’d dated some great kissers.

“Then why are you here?” She was proud of her strong tone but worried about what his answer would be.

“Are you feeling okay?” he asked, his eyes dropping to her stomach, then back up. “I didn’t ask earlier. Or, hell, maybe I did. It’s all still kind of a blur.”

So he was here about the pregnancy. She should’ve known he wouldn’t stay too far from her. He’d always been protective in that overbearing, bouncer kind of way.

“If you’re going to hover, don’t waste your time.”

She didn’t want to sound ungrateful, but she didn’t want a babysitter. She wanted him, damn it. She wanted him to see her as a woman. As the woman he’d let down his guard with several weeks ago.

Up until then, she’d always thought he saw her as Mac and Braden’s little sister. Someone he helped when necessary, but who was more family than anything.

“If I want to hover, I damn well will,” he growled. “You’re having my child. You’re part of a very well-known family, and it’s my job to protect you.”

That was the crux of the entire problem. The slice to her heart shouldn’t surprise her. Did she honestly think that after they’d had sex he’d come around? That when he knew about the baby he’d profess his undying love to her? No, but she’d at least hoped for him to treat her like...hell. Was it too much to ask for him to act like he cared about her as more than his friends’ baby sister?

“I don’t want to be your job.”

Laney turned before he could see the hurt on her face. Heading back toward her office, she couldn’t care less if he let himself out or if he followed. Trying to capture Ryker’s attention for so long was exhausting. She sure as hell didn’t want it now due to a job or a baby. She wanted him to look at her for her. Nothing else.

Apparently that was too much to ask. With his traveling schedule, he probably did hookups and one-night stands. She’d never seen him in any type of a relationship or even heard him mention seeing someone. Laney thought she may take way too much delight in that, but whatever.

Just as she reached the threshold of her office, a hand clamped around her arm and spun her.

“Don’t walk away from me.”

Laney raised her brows. “You’re not in charge of me, no matter what my brothers tell you to do. I can get along just fine without being coddled.”

“Would you quit acting like you’re so put out? Your brothers care about you and only want you safe.”

Laney jerked free of his hold but kept her eyes on his. “And what about you, Ryker? Do you care about me?”

“Of course I do.”

Laney swallowed. “As a brother?”

The muscles along the stubbled jaw ticked. “I’m not doing this, Laney. I’m not hashing out my feelings or letting you get inside my head.”

Of course he wouldn’t. Ryker would never let anyone in because he was made of steel. She’d never seen him show emotion, other than frustration and anger. But he never talked about what drove him to those feelings. The clenching of the muscles in his perfectly squared jaw indicated he was angry. Other than that, he played his cards seriously close to his chest.

“Whatever.” She waved a hand in the air. “I’m feeling fine. There. Now you’ve checked up on me, and you can go on your way, guilt-free. This all could’ve been done in a text.”

“Maybe,” he agreed. “But if you were feeling bad you’d lie, and I wanted to see for myself.”

Laney went for broke. “I think we both know between the two of us who would lie about how they feel.”

When he remained still, silent, Laney was done. They were getting nowhere, and she wasn’t in the mood to play games or whatever the hell else he wanted.

“I won’t keep you out of the baby’s life, but I don’t want your attention just because I’m pregnant. I’ve waited for years for you to notice me. I thought Miami was something, but I was clearly mistaken, since you ignored me until you knew I was having your child.”

All of that was so hard to admit, but at this point what did she have to lose? She wasn’t one to hide her feelings, which only made Ryker squirm. Good. He deserved it.

The second she jerked the door open, a burst of cold air rushed in. “If you’re done here...”

Laney turned and stared out at the blowing flakes. She didn’t want to look at him, not when she still craved him. Putting up some type of emotional barrier was the only way she’d survive this.

Heavy boots moved across her hardwood floor. Ryker stopped right in front of her but kept his gaze out the open door. Laney stared at his black, leather-clad shoulder. The smell of his jacket, the familiar woodsy cologne and the unmistakable scent that she only associated with Ryker assaulted her senses. Why did he have to be the one to hold her emotionally captive?

“I’ve noticed you,” he whispered as he remained rooted inches from her. “I’ve noticed too much for too long.”

Laney’s breath caught in her throat.

“But Miami won’t happen again.” Turning, he locked those dark eyes on her. “I’ll check on you while I’m away.”

And then he was gone. Shoulders hunched against the blowing snow, head down, Ryker walked off her porch and down the walk toward his car. Despite shivering, Laney waited until he was in the SUV with the engine running before she closed the door...but not before she caught him looking back at her.

Just that glance from a distance was enough to have her stomach doing flops, her heart pounding.

Ryker may be checking on her because of the baby, something she couldn’t be upset about, but his telling words gave her hope. He’d noticed her. And from the way he seemed to be angry about it, he’d clearly been fighting with himself over the fact for a while now.

Laney leaned back against her door and wrapped her arms around her abdomen. She had no idea what was going to happen now that she and Ryker were on this journey, but one thing was perfectly clear. They were in this together, whether he liked it or not.

Three

“I don’t like this.”

Ryker’s cell phone lay on the console as he watched the house across the street. With Braden on speaker, Ryker could focus on who was coming and going.

“I’m not a fan myself, but I think there’s something here,” Ryker replied.

This was his first interaction with Braden since Ryker discovered Laney was expecting. The guilt of his betrayal weighed heavily on his chest. The O’Sheas had been everything to him over the years, and he’d purposely kept his distance from Laney because he knew what would happen if he touched her. Just one touch, that’s all it would’ve taken at any given time for him to snap.

But she’d mouthed off at the party and between her sass and that body-hugging dress, his self-control had finally expired.

Damn, the woman could tempt a saint...not that he was anywhere near that holy. But he’d completely lost it in Miami. Years of pent-up frustration, the fact she’d been receiving threats and not sharing that information, and the way she’d looked in that short black dress had been the combination for his undoing.

“How long are you going to wait?” Braden’s low tone cut through the memories.

Ryker rubbed the penny between his thumb and index finger, hating the way he carried the damn thing around like some good-luck charm. He was pathetic for even still having it, but the reminder of where he came from always needed to be front and center.

“I’ve seen a member of the DeLuca family go in, but nothing else.”

The DeLuca family was known for organized crime. Thugs, actually. They didn’t even compare to the O’Sheas, though Ryker thought some members of law enforcement would lump the two families in the same category...or prison cell.

“What activity has Laney uncovered?” Braden asked.

Ryker raked a hand down his face. “She’s seen some email chatter with several family members discussing moving a package. When she dug a little deeper, she found they have an old trunk in the basement that contains some documents. But we have no clue what they are.”

Ryker didn’t know how the coveted scrolls would’ve ended up hours away from where they were last seen or how they were in a basement belonging to an organized crime family, but this was the strongest lead they’d had in a while. Ryker had followed every tip that had popped up. He’d been to London twice, Mexico, Paris and several US states.

When Patrick passed several months ago, he had one dying request. He wanted the scrolls found and returned to the O’Shea family. He’d tried for years to recover them but to no avail. Ryker fully intended to finish the job...it was the least he could do for the people to whom he owed his life.

“Damn, Laney is calling me,” Braden stated. “Keep me posted no matter what happens or what time it is.”

Laney was calling? Was she okay? Did something happen?

Every time he’d thought of her since Miami, all he could think about was the way she came apart in his arms. She’d been so responsive, so passionate. Now when he thought of her, all he could think was that she was carrying his child. His. Child.

The words didn’t seem real even in his own mind. How the hell was he going to take care of a baby? What did he know? His father had only taught him how to get high, get laid and steal. The essentials of every childhood according to dear ole Dad.

Ryker kept his eyes on the house, but his mind wasn’t on the job. Damn. This was why he never got involved with anyone. His loyalties were with Braden and Mac now. And by default, as their baby sister, Laney. If he was worrying about anyone, especially a woman, he wouldn’t be able to concentrate on the task at hand. And the task sure as hell wasn’t Laney.

She’d called Braden, not Ryker. That shouldn’t bother him, but it did. There was no denying that he wanted to be the one she called on when she needed anything. But he couldn’t be that deep in her life and keep his distance at the same time.

His mind went into overdrive. If something was going on with the baby, she wouldn’t have called Braden, that much Ryker was sure of.

Ryker disconnected the call. The penny was heavy in his hand. Over the years, he’d tried to tell himself that the souvenir from the best day of his life was ridiculous and childish to keep. Yet each day he left his house, he grabbed his keys and the penny and shoved them in his pocket. He couldn’t seem to let go of his past.

Story of his life.

After another hour of waiting, which brought the grand total up to six, Ryker decided to call it a night. Laney would let him know if more activity came through her. She’d managed to tap into several areas: emails, private messages on social media, a cell phone.

Ryker always marveled at how crazy brilliant she was. She was seriously the brains behind the operation when it came to research and hunting down people. For years, she’d managed to find anything online, while Ryker did the grunt work. They were a team in a sense, but he never wanted to look at things that way. If he did, then he’d have to admit there was a relationship. And even when their dealings had been platonic, he couldn’t analyze things too deeply when it came to Laney.

The woman could make a man forget everything else in this ugly world. She had beauty, grace and a stubborn streak he couldn’t help but admire.

And now she was having his baby.

Pulling himself up straighter in his seat, Ryker brought the engine of his SUV to life. Snow covered the streets and showed no sign of stopping soon. December in New York was just as brutal and unpredictable as in Boston.

Cranking up the heat, he maneuvered through the streets toward the hotel. Another cold hotel. He always booked a suite. Mostly because growing up he’d lived in a one-room dump of an apartment. Now that he could afford to stay anywhere or buy anything he wanted, he fully intended to take advantage.

But he’d never look at another hotel the same after Miami. Laney changed everything.

He couldn’t even wrap his mind around the fact he was going to be a father. What the hell did he know? His own father had used him as a punching bag when he was awake and only half drunk. Ryker never wanted marriage, kids, the minivan experience. He was just fine with the job he had. Though Braden and Mac would never tell him this was a job, to them he was simply a brother, a best friend.

Which made this pregnancy so much harder to comprehend. He couldn’t come to grips with how he should deal with it, so how the hell could he figure out how to tell them?

Laney was such an innocent. They’d worked for years to keep her safe, to keep her behind the scenes. Ryker had made enemies all over the globe. Now that Laney was pregnant, he would have to be twice as diligent about keeping those he cared about safe.

Yeah, he cared about her. Too much. Being ten years older than her, he’d not paid much attention when he first came to the O’Sheas as a teen. Then he’d been out of the house mostly doing grunt work and earning his way in the family, so he didn’t have to go back to his former hellhole.

By the time he’d started coming around the house more often, Laney was a teen herself and he was a bastard for looking at her twice. If Patrick O’Shea had ever thought Ryker was eyeing his daughter, Ryker doubted he’d still be here.

But Ryker had respected the man more than anyone. Patrick had shown him what a true father figure was. Patrick had cared for his children, put them first and kept them protected at all costs. He had demanded loyalty, and there was nothing Ryker had wanted to give him more.