Chapter Twelve
Caleb hadn’t elaborated after their bath on if he wanted a family with her. It had been nearly two weeks since their bath, and Christmas was fast approaching, and by fast, she was standing there with all the decorations out. She’d already unknotted the fairy lights to go outside, and the streamers for inside.
Paige had warned her that they’d just shoved them in boxes and stuck them in the attic. Maddie hadn’t for a second thought it would be this bad, but it was.
“Wow,” Granny said, entering the ranch.
Maddie turned toward Caleb’s mother, and smiled. “Caleb said if I unknotted them all, he’d put them up when he got home later.”
“You carried all of these down?”
“Yep, and I’m going to reward myself later with a hot chocolate, fresh whipped cream, and marshmallows.” She rubbed at her head. “Do you think it’s okay if I start?”
The tree was already set up in the corner of the sitting room. She had presents wrapped and ready to put beneath the tree for the family.
“This is your home as well, Maddie.” Granny came to her and wrapped her arms around her. “I’m so pleased you’re here.”
“Thank you. I love being here. I love the ranch and Paige.” It was on the tip of her tongue to say “Caleb,” but she stopped herself.
She turned away and released a breath.
“You love Caleb?” Granny asked.
Maddie turned toward the older woman, and sighed. “I … yes. I love him, and I’m scared. I’m not like his ex-wife. The thought of living here for the rest of my life is like a dream come true.”
“And a family?”
Tears filled her eyes, and she found herself getting really emotional. She wiped the tears away and took a seat. “You know that my sister doesn’t really like me and to my family I was a giant disappointment?”
“I know that when she spoiled your wedding to that man, no one offered you any comfort. In fact, they treated you as if you were to blame.”
Even after her confrontation with Emily, she’d not heard from her parents, and she was actually pleased about that. She told Granny everything from being a child and having Emily punch and kick her.
“One night, Emily told me she saw Santa, and when I went outside to check, she locked the doors, and it was only when Mom and Dad came home that I was allowed inside. I was ill that year.”
Granny pulled her into her arms and hugged her tight. “I don’t want you to think about that woman again. As far as I’m concerned, she gives women a bad name. You’re a good woman, Maddie, a kind woman, and knowing that my son is with you means more to me than you could ever know.”
The other woman rubbed the tears from her eyes, and Maddie pulled away, sniffling. “I’m sorry. I’m finding little things are making me really tear up lately. I’m sure it’s the time of year.”
“Are you sure it’s the time of the year?”
“What do you mean?” Maddie asked, pulling out different decorations and placing them on the coffee table.
“Have you been ill? Or experiencing any tenderness in your breasts?”
Her cheeks heated. “Erm, I don’t … I was sick a few days ago, and I’ve felt ill but not actually been sick. My breasts … are well, erm.” Caleb loved her breasts, and she’d put the tenderness down to his constant attention.
“I know I’m old, but I was a young woman in love as well. Caleb’s father and I could tell you stories, believe me. You and Caleb do not keep your hands off each other, and I’ve seen that smile my son is sporting. Is there a chance that you could be pregnant?”
Maddie shook her head. “No, it can’t be possible.”
“It can’t?”
“I’m on the pill. It’s not…”
“I just want to say that I know Martha was on the pill when she got pregnant with her oldest. They’re not a hundred percent guaranteed, and also, if you’d been sick, or missed a pill, there could be a chance you are pregnant.”
Maddie stood up, and then sat down. “I … oh, no.”
Granny placed a hand on her knee. “Before we start panicking, why don’t we drive into town? I’ll go into the pharmacy and get what we need. Then we’ll come home and see what happens.”
She nodded. Driving into town was a bit of a blur. Pregnant. Maddie hadn’t even for a second given it a thought. Could she be pregnant?
Of course she could be pregnant. She and Caleb were always with each other. They didn’t use protection. Caleb had a fascination with his cum inside her, and he’d often watch her, which she did find highly arousing.
Parking outside of the pharmacy, she tapped her fingers on the wheel and waited as Granny got what she needed. Maddie was so nervous. Her stomach twisted and tightened. Something caught her attention out of the corner of her eye, and she saw it was Emily, and she spotted Caleb’s truck.
Had her sister seen her?
Emily was waiting beside Caleb’s truck, and she watched as her sister prepared herself, fluffing her hair, pulling her shirt down a little. If Maddie wasn’t waiting for Granny, she’d have climbed out of her car, but she found herself sitting still, waiting.
Finally, Caleb appeared, and when he caught sight of Emily, she saw the exasperation on his face. She’d seen that look many times when he didn’t want to deal with something, mostly problems at the ranch that were tiring to him.
This was the first time she’d ever seen a man bored with her sister though.
Even though it was cold, she wanted to see if she could hear what was being said. Her car wasn’t far away, and there wasn’t much noise as the traffic was quite light.
“What do you want?”
For a second, she saw her sister hesitate. “Well, is that any way to speak to a lady?”
“I don’t see any lady.”
Her sister glared. “I see Maddie has been spilling nastiness and lies about me. It’s so like her. She just can’t handle being second best.”
“Maddie has done no such thing. I see through the act.” Caleb pointed at her body and then at her face. “To be honest, I’m surprised a lot of guys haven’t seen through what you are.”
Emily tutted and stepped closer.
Anger filled Maddie, and she was about to get out of the damn car and tell her bitch of a sister to keep her paws off her man.
Granny climbed in the car. “I’ve got two just in case you don’t believe the first one.”
“Thank you.”
Maddie didn’t make a move as she watched Caleb finally lose it. He grabbed Emily’s hands.
“Will you just fuck off?” He yelled it, catching the attention of several people walking by. “I get it. You can’t stand your sister to be happy. You stole her fiancé and now you’re after the man that wants her. I’m not Chad. I don’t want you. I’ll never want you, so why don’t you stop throwing yourself at me because you and me, it’s never going to happen.”
Maddie smiled. Turning over the ignition, she pulled out of the parking spot. Caleb looked toward the car.
“I’ll see you back at home,” she said with a smile.
“Your sister is a menace,” Granny said.
“I don’t care about her, nor do I care about what my parents think either.” She glanced over to Granny. “I do love your son.”
Granny patted her arm. “I know you do.”
“I love Paige as well. She’s a bright girl, and so talented, and amazing to be with.”
“She’s really taken to you.”
The drive back to the ranch went by in a blur. There was a pregnancy test in Granny’s lap for her.
Parking the car, she entered the ranch house as quickly as possible. Granny handed her the stick to pee on, and she made her way into the downstairs bathroom, listening as Granny told her the instructions.
Washing her hands after she’d finished, she left the stick on the counter, and then stood with Granny, not wanting to be alone to watch it.
Granny grabbed her hands. “If it’s positive, everything is going to be fine. You’ll have nothing to worry about.”
“You sound so sure.”
“I am sure. You just wait.”
The time was up, and Maddie grabbed the pregnancy test with Granny by her side. They looked at the results, and Maddie didn’t have a clue what it meant.
Granny put her arms around her. “It means you’re pregnant.”
She kissed her cheek, and Maddie felt a bit surreal. “I’m pregnant?”
“You’re what?” Caleb asked.
She turned toward the door and saw the man that was now the father of her child looking a little pale. She held up the stick. “I’m pregnant.”
Had she just ruined everything?
****
Finding Emily by his truck had really pissed him off. He’d never encouraged her, and the last person Caleb wanted was her. No, the woman he wanted every single night was standing before him right now with his mother, holding up a white stick.
“I’m going to leave you two alone. I think you’ve got a few things to discuss.” His mother kissed his cheek. “Congratulations.”
His mother left, and he stared at Maddie.
She was so beautiful even looking slightly pale.
“I didn’t plan to meet Emily,” he said. When he’d seen Maddie, he’d been sick with worry. All of her life she had been played second best against her sister, but that wasn’t how he viewed her. Far from it. He loved her more than any other woman in the world. He’d been trying to find ways of them both sharing a life together.
The ranch wasn’t for everyone, nor was being a rancher’s woman, but Maddie, she thrived in the role, and he loved coming home every day to be with both of his women.
“I know you didn’t. That’s the thing about Emily, she tries to push her way into your life.” Maddie shrugged. “I saw the way you handled her. I don’t think she’ll try again, but then it is Emily. Anything could happen.” She held up the stick. “I, erm, your mother thought it was best that I take one. She had a hunch that we weren’t using protection.”
He stepped closer, wanting to be near her.
“I didn’t plan this,” she said. “I’m trying not to freak out right now.”
“You’re doing a wonderful job.”
She smiled, and then looked down at the pregnancy test. He watched as she pressed a hand to her stomach. “I’m having a baby.”
He couldn’t resist for another moment. Stepping up close, he placed his hand over hers. “You’re having our baby.”
“Our baby.”
Caleb cupped her rounded stomach and marveled at what their future held. “I love you, Maddie.”
“What?”
“I’ve been wanting to tell you for some time now, but I love you, and I’m not sad about this news. In fact, I … I wanted this.”
“You wanted me to be pregnant?”
“Yes. Do you know how many times I came inside you, wondering if one day you’d be willing to have my children?” He pulled her close, needing to breathe in her scent, and to know that she was okay, and just hold her. Closing his eyes, he pressed his nose against her neck, kissing her.
She wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly. “You love me?”
“Yes. So fucking much that it scares me at times.”
Maddie reached behind her, placing the pregnancy test on the counter. She cupped his face, pulling him as she did. Her gaze was on his. “When I came here, I wasn’t looking for a man, or anything. I just wanted to take care of your little girl. The moment I looked at you, you were so handsome and sexy. You had this hardness around you, which was quite scary.” He saw tears fill her eyes. “I’m a mess right now. The silliest little thing seems to set me off, and I’m crying. It will all fade soon, I’m sure.”
He wiped away the tears. “It’s fine. More than fine.” He kissed her lips, and she moaned, squeezing his face just a little.
“I didn’t intend to fall in love. It wasn’t part of my plan. I’d sworn off men.”
“You love me?”
“Yes, so very much, and I wanted to claw her eyeballs out for even touching you. I didn’t want her hands on you because you’re mine, and I know I didn’t have any claim on you.”
He silenced her with a kiss. No woman had ever told him that she loved him. Maddie was the woman that owned his heart, and just hearing that she felt the same, well, it made his world so complete.
“I love you. I fucking love you,” he said. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted to say that? It’s all that I’ve been wanting to think about.”
He pressed her up against the wall, lifting her up so that she wrapped her legs around him.
“What are you doing?”
“Well, before our Paige gets home, I’m going to take you to our bed, and I’m going to make love to every square inch of you.” He carried her up to their room, laying her on the bed, and stripped every single layer from her body.
When they were both naked, he leaned forward and pressed kisses to her stomach.
“I was never going to let you go. Not now, not never. You’re mine, Maddie. The moment my cock filled you, the moment you took my spunk, you were mine.”
He slid his rock-hard cock inside her and filled her once again.
They both cried out at the pleasure, which was instant for him. Just feeling her tight pussy wrap around him was sheer heaven, and he loved it. He loved her.
Pressing her hands to the bed, he lifted up and slowly began to thrust inside her, making her feel every single square inch of his shaft.
He watched her moan and thrash on the bed, taking him as deep as she could. Caleb had believed love were tales that people told in order to keep them in line, to have people searching for the one that they could call their own.
Maddie wasn’t just any woman.
She was his woman.
His for the rest of both of their lives.
Only when she found her orgasm did he find his own. Wrapping his arms around her, he didn’t move, but made sure his weight didn’t crush her.
“Marry me,” he said.
“What?”
“You heard me. I want you to marry me and spend the rest of your life with me, here, on this very ranch.”
“You want to keep me?” she asked.
“I love you more than anyone else in the world. I know Paige adores you, and I don’t want anyone else here but you, Maddie. This is your home. I’m your man, and I will be your husband.” He remembered all of the romance books he’d been reading.
Most of the heroes, unless they’d been utter bastards, didn’t ask permission. No, they ordered, they took, and Maddie was his heroine. She was his woman, and he intended to spend the rest of their lives cherishing her.
“You’re my number one, Maddie.” He didn’t want her to doubt for a second his intentions, his love, and his desire to have her all to himself.
“Yes, Caleb. I love you more than anything else in the world. I want to be your wife and live with you. I want that huge family we’ve spoken about. One day when Christmas morning comes, I want to have to feed so many mouths, that I can’t think about it. I want to have your children, and fall asleep every single night in your arms.”
He slammed his lips against hers, holding her close.
“Wish granted,” he said, whispering the words, knowing he’d give her anything her heart desired, so long as it was never to be apart from him.