Page 4 of Calling from the Heart
Two
Owen was freaking right out.
He was pressed against the hard wall of Jeb’s chest and belly, his stomach right there, completely something no one could ignore. And Jeb was staring at him, eyes blazing, and he wanted to just?—
Oh, he didn’t know what to do. Cry. Whack Jeb hard. Give him a titty twister. Lean on him and absorb the strength that Jeb carried within him so effortlessly.
Okay. No leaning and no crying.
Maybe the twister.
“Let me go, Jeb.”
“No, baby. Not until we wrangle this.” Jeb leaned down, mouth hovering over his. “I’m not going anywhere.”
No. No, no, no. If Jeb kissed him, he would be lost. That was how it worked with them. Mouths and hands and kissing and touching made everything else okay, but this couldn’t be fixed with a tumble into bed.
So he tore away and stepped back, enjoying a petty moment of satisfaction when Jeb grunted and gave him a surprised eyebrow raise.
“I can’t just pretend that loving you will fix anything, Jeb. I’m having a baby, and I have to be logical.” And figure out what to do.
“What’s logical about running away from me, Owen?” Jeb didn’t reach for him again, but those big hands flexed.
“I—Nothing. But just sitting here, watching you have a life that has nothing to do with me? That’s hell.” And Owen knew it.
Jeb was a good man.
Honest.
And Jeb had said, over and over again that he didn’t want to be married, have a family, settle down, lose his freedom.
Now it would just be…pity.
“You think I would do that?” No Jeb was scowling at him. “Jesus, baby. I’m not a dick.”
“No. No, I really don’t. I think you would marry me and raise our daughter and just quietly resent the fact that I fucked up your life.” Owen sat down, eyes burning with his unshed tears. “I love you too much to let you do that.”
Jeb came to sit next to him, because he’d managed to land on the couch. “Baby. Please don’t cry. I need to just— Can we breathe for a minute?”
He nodded and sucked in a lung full of air. “I’m sorry.”
He was. He was sorry that he hadn’t told Jeb. He was sorry that things were messed up. He was sorry that the birth control had failed.
He wasn’t sorry about their daughter.
“I am too. I’m sorry I was an ass, and I’m sorry you thought you couldn’t tell me.” Those dark-dark eyes fastened on him, holding him captive. “I’ve missed you so damn much, Owen.”
“I hate this. I’ve tried so hard to be brave for her…” But he’d cried a lot.
“I wish—” Jeb cut himself off, a muscle ticking in his jaw like it did when he was upset. Jeb wasn’t great at talking about feelings. It took him a while to come around to it sometimes.
“I didn’t cheat on you,” he whispered. He never would have. Never.
“I know that, you dork.” Jeb sighed, reaching for his hands and taking them in both of those big, callused hands he liked so much. “I tried to call. I left voicemails. I texted. I asked all of our friends to plead my case. I just— I got snarly.”
“I didn’t want you to be disappointed, and then I was so scared…” Terrified even.
Thumbs rubbing the backs of his hand, Jeb nodded. “I can see that, baby. I can. And God knows I’ve run my mouth about not settling down and all.” Jeb studied him, the silence stretching until he squirmed. “Come to supper, Owen. Get some food in you. And then we can talk about you letting me have another chance.”
