His Hotcakes Baby (8 page)

“Married? Does that mean they were
engaged?”

Chase addressed the question to
Aiden.  He glanced at Mackenzie and nodded.

“Did they live together?”

Aiden shook his head.  Mackenzie
glared at Chase then at Aiden, but she carried on eating.

“How long were they engaged?”

“About tw …”

“Oh for heaven’s sake!  It is none of
your business, Paxton.”

“Of course it is.”

“No, it is not!”

“When did they break up?”

“If you answer one more question,
Aiden Lewis, I will sock you on the nose!”

“Jealous, Chase?”  Billy asked with
raised eyebrows.

“Yes!” 

Since Aiden mentioned the man the
evening before he has been questioning the tremor he felt in his stomach.  He
knew he did not like to think of her with any other man.  More so, that she
might have any feelings for another man.  That is, another man but him! He
raised his eyebrows at her.  He felt very possessive towards this woman and it
had nothing to do with the fact that she was carrying his baby.

Mackenzie nearly choked on the piece
of prawn she just put in her mouth.  She coughed.  Her sweet smile warned him
and he braced himself.

“You know, Babes, if I thought you
would even remember what I looked like if I disappeared for two months, that
would have been sweet. But we both know that would not be the case.”

“Ouch, Mack.  That was harsh.” 

Billy pretended concern for his nephew
with a hidden smile.  Usually what she said was the truth … but Chase forget
her?

“Was it?  I could count my lovers on
one hand and I would not use all my fingers.  Do you even know how many you’ve
had, Babe?”

“Honey, it’s not remembering how many
I’ve had that matters.  It’s remembering the one that meant something that
matters. Believe me, hotcakes … I will always remember you.”

Chase
started on his new thriller and shut himself in his study most days.  Today was
one of those days.  Not, if he had to be honest, that he managed to make any
progress with it.  He slammed into the room directly after breakfast.  Literally
slammed into it and smashed the door closed so hard the hinges nearly came
loose.

He did not even wince.  Mackenzie has
been back for four weeks and still stayed at the Beach cottage.  He forced
himself to be cheerful when she was around, but she kept her distance from
him.  His arms ached to pull her against him.  His fingers cramped when she was
near to stroke down her cheek and cup her breasts.  Lord he salivated just
thinking of drawing her succulent nipples into his mouth and he refused to even
think further south.  He was on the verge of going crazy!  His body craved
hers, he was in an aroused state most of the time and she … the damn woman did
not seem bothered with him!

Chase frowned when the significance of
her being back for four weeks hit him.  She was twelve weeks pregnant and has
not been to see a doctor since her return.  He picked up his phone and scrolled
to his sister’s number.  She picked up on the third ring.

“Big brother of mine!  This is a
lovely surprise!”

“It should be.  You never bother to
phone me anymore.  I feel extremely neglected!”

“Ahh, poor baby!  Then we should
immediately rectify the matter!  How about we have a family get together for a
change?  We have not seen you for months and the kids ask about you all the
time.  We’ll bring Mom with.”

“That is a brilliant idea, Lolly.  
Let’s make it a weekend visit. We will expect you on Friday afternoon.  Tell
that husband of yours his company will survive if he leaves a little early.
Billy can come fetch you with the chopper.”

“Wonderful!  I am really looking
forward to it!”

“Lolly, I am busy with some research
for my new book.  What was the name of your obstetrician?  Do you think it will
be okay to approach him?”

“Oh, yes!  I am sure he won’t mind. 
It is Doctor Douglas.  He has a private practice in Coral Gables.  I’ll email
you his details.  Mom is going to be so excited about this weekend.”

“It will be good to see her.  I have
some news I want to share with you.  Don’t forget to send me that number,
Lolly.  As soon as we’re done talking.”

The moment the email came through with
the details he phoned and for once used his fame to browbeat the receptionist
into giving them an appointment for the next day at eleven.

Chase waited for Mackenzie at the
front door when she arrived for dinner.  She noticed him standing at the top of
the stairs and her breath got lost en route to her lungs. He looked absolutely
gorgeous in a pair of tight blue jeans with a loose white shirt unbuttoned to
nearly his bellybutton.  He was barefoot and even his feet looked sexy and
masculine.

Chase just looked at her, not moving a
muscle.  She was so damn sexy and sensual looking up at him with those big
green eyes and her full lips parted seductively.  His blood dropped and settled
in his jeans … all at once.  He was so damn hard he could go into combat
against a steel sword and walk away the winner!

She took the stairs not looking at him
again. 

“Is there a problem?”

“No, but I do need to talk to you.”

He took her arm and guided her to his
study and closed the door behind them.  He did not even think. His body just
acted to the raging need in his jeans.  He pressed her back against the door. 
His hands next to her neck imprisoning her effectively.

“What are you doing?”

“I have been good, hotcakes.  But I
need  … I need something! You have to give me this … just a kiss!”

Chase leaned into her and his mouth
captured hers slowly.  He licked her lips, savoring their pouty fullness before
he delved into her mouth. Mackenzie clung at him as their tongues met in a
duel. This kiss was different than any he ever gave her, any than she has ever
experienced before.  Each sensual stroke of his tongue awoke something within
her, something so intense never felt before.

It was more than desire and so much
more than just passion.

It was a deep and consuming need. An
uncontrollable and profound yearning that left her with a longing that was
intense and overwhelming.

All for Chase.

He lifted his head and his gaze
centered on hers. He just stared into her eyes, quietly and did not smile, nor
did he frown. He just stared.  His gaze was so heated and so deep it felt as if
he reached right into her heart and squeezed every drop out of it.  She knew,
because it missed several beats and she could not breathe.

Chase took a deep breath and slowly
drew away from Mackenzie.  His heart raced.  His blood in direct competition
with it.  If only it would flow to the rest of his body and release his hard
dick from the iron hold it had on it!

He stood in front of the window
staring out to sea, his back to her.  Mackenzie was relieved.  At least it
offered her the opportunity to draw herself together.  To settle her racing
heart and heated blood, that kept forcing heat to her core, flushing her
panties, which by now was soaked. 

She refused to acknowledge the
feelings that were shuddering through her heart, ripping her mind and her
composure apart.  She sat down on one of the chairs, wrapping her arms around
her shoulders, pressing her breasts against each other, trying to find some
relief for her aching nipples. It was easier to focus on the obvious lustful
thoughts than the emotions that ran so much deeper.

“You have been back for four weeks and
should have gone to see the doctor again.”

“I know.  I plan on making an
appointment tomorrow.”

“Ahum … I already made an appointment
with my sister’s obstetrician in Coral Gables in Miami.  It is at eleven
tomorrow.”

“You made … sigh … very well, Chase. 
Who did you make the appointment with?”

“Doctor Douglas.  He is apparently the
best in Mi …”

“Douglas?  No!  I am not seeing him.”

“Why not?  He is deemed to be the best
and I want to be sure both you and the baby is well looked after.”

“There are more than one very good obstetricians
in Miami.”

“I want the best.”

“Do you know what his full name is,
Chase?”

“No.  Why does that matter?”

“Ralph.  His name is Ralph Douglas.”

He stilled and his eyes heated
slowly.  Mackenzie shrugged.

“On the other hand, I would probably
be more comfortable with him doing internal examinations and poking around
inside me than a complete stranger.”

“I sure as bloody hell would not be!”

“Well, as you said, he is the best. 
You could always go and look one of your floozies up while I go for the
check-up.”

“We’ll find someone else.”  His voice
was clipped and cold as ice.

“Are you sure?”

“Do you WANT him to poke around inside
you?”

   She chuckled and gave him his first
real and honest smile. It lit her exquisite face, her emerald green eyes
sparkled with a glitter that took his breath away.  Suddenly his chest hurt and
his insides quivered.  He held her gaze.  Lord he could stare into those eyes
forever!

“It is so sweet when you are so
jealous!”

“I’m glad you find it funny,” he
mumbled and took her hand.

“We better get to dinner, before Essie
beheads us.”

Chase clamped his mouth shut and
forced his thumping heart to some sort of normalcy, cursing his dick pressing
so hard against the zipper of his jeans he was in constant pain. 

This woman was going to be the cause
of him going totally crazy!

He
refused to entertain the emotions that were running rampant in his mind, the
warmth that clogged his heart. The irrational rage at the thought of Doctor
Ralph Douglas ever having had any part of his body inside hers!

“Where
is Mackenzie, Aiden?”

“She is probably still at the base
research camp.  They came across a whole seabed of dead salps.  It caused major
excitement.  Apparently this could be exactly what they have been searching
for. They mentioned something about an all-nighter to try and find out as much
as they possibly could.”

“Tonight? With my family here?”

“Perhaps you forgot to mention it to
her?”

 Chase stilled and cursed.  Aiden and
Billy chuckled at his expression.  He did forget to mention it to her.  They
went to the doctor and he was so entranced with the sonar and the scan that he
totally forgot.  He still could not get over the fact that the little body he
saw on the screen was his own flesh and blood.  His own little baby boy was
growing inside the one woman that has managed to turn his whole life upside
down.

“She can’t work through the night! 
She needs her rest.”

“Don’t worry, Chase.  Frasier has been
keeping a strict eye on her.  He makes sure she takes a nap after lunch every
day.  I am sure he would not allow her to work through the night.”

“Too much information, buddy.  Have
you not noticed the possessive streak he has over your sister?”

“Oeps … sorry Chase.  But you really
should not worry about him.  They grew up together.  He is like a brother to
the both of us.”

“Good to know.”

“We might as well tell Essie to dish
up then.  I am going to phone her so she is here tomorrow afternoon. It is
weekend after all.”

Chase walked to his study and Aiden
went to tell Essie to dish up.  Chase already dialed Mackenzie’s number before
he entered the study.  He clamped his lips tighter when the call went directly
to her voicemail.  Suddenly the evening ahead appeared dull and empty ahead of
him.

“Chase, darling, everyone is waiting
on you.  What are you doing here?”

“I just needed to make a quick phone
call. 

I’m
glad you decided to join us.  We have not seen each other for a few months.”

“Hmm and whose fault is that?  You’re
the one that hides away on this godforsaken island!  You should really come to
Miami more often.  There are a few new exciting clubs that opened there.”

Chase smiled wryly, wondering silently
when Bella was going to grow out of the club scene.  She was already thirty
two, but partied into all hours of the morning.  They have been friends from
senior high.  They dated for two weeks after the prom, but he realized from day
one she was too much like a sister to him and he ended it.  She, however, might
still be hoping for more.  Chase sighed.  He has told her numerous times he was
not interested to change their relationship. 

Bella
however, was tenacious and flirted sensually with him. She was quite frustrated
as it seemed to be to no avail, he never reacted or even became aroused by her
efforts.  She chewed on her lip as they walked down the stairs.  She already
decided at school that he was going to be her husband.  When he started dating
her after her prom, she thought her dream was going to realize.  It did not last
long, but she would not give up.  He has not been serious with anyone since Vivienne
and that was twelve years ago.  He would tire of being alone and sleeping
around then she would make him hers.

Mackenzie
just stepped onto the small speed boat with Frasier, when Chase’s powerful
speed boat purred around the bend.  She looked up and their eyes met as he
threw the anchor rope to Frasier, who caught it deftly and pulled the two boats
together.

Chase was visibly annoyed and
Mackenzie sighed.  She was quite tired after finalizing dissecting and running
components through the analyzer of the Salps and sea cucumbers they found the
day before.  Salp was gelatinous mid-water animals that fed on microscopic
algae which sea cucumbers fed on.  She still needed to run the analysis from
the results.  Frasier, however put his foot down.  Her nausea was very bad that
morning and she still has not eaten anything.  Her stomach felt plastered
together she was so hungry.

She allowed her eyes to trail over Chase’s
body.  Her eyes hungry and lustful.  Being pregnant has increased her libido
exponentially and just looking at his yummy naked chest and torso had her
salivating.  Her core clenched and her nipples tingled. She needed sex! 
Desperately!

She groaned softly.  The doctor in Michigan
warned her that it was bound to happen and it really hit her like a wave every
day.  Especially when she was close to him and felt the heat that he emanated,
the smell that was so him.

“Glad you came, Chase.  This woman is
so damn stubborn.  I had to force her in this boat.  She needs rest and has not
eaten anything yet.”

“Stupidity comes to mind, rather than
stubbornness.  Why has she not eaten yet, it is already after ten?”

“The nausea was quite bad this morning
and she …”

“Is standing right here and can talk
for herself!”