Baby, Be Mine (Life, Love And Babies Book 3) Read online

  Baby,

  Be Mine

  By

  Samantha

  Chase

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Copyright © 2014 by Samantha Chase. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means.

  Prologue

  Kissing the man of your dreams for the first time is something that a girl always wants to remember.

  Not this time.

  Olivia did her best to hide out in the far corner of her backyard – it was dark back there and the group of people around her seemed oblivious to her turmoil. Her eighteenth birthday and everyone was here to celebrate with her, and all she wanted was for everyone to leave so she could crawl into a hole and lick her wounds. And maybe die.

  Maybe that should be her wish when she blew out the candles.

  What had she been thinking? How could she have misjudged the situation so badly? Thirty minutes ago she had had all of the hope in the world that this was going to be the best night of her life, and now? Well, now it would forever be known as the worst.

  Convincing Jake Knight to follow her into the garage under the pretense of collecting more chairs had been inspiring. Cornering him and wrapping herself around him had been exciting. Having him shove her away as if she has some sort of disease?

  Mortifying.

  Jake had been in her life since she was a pre-teen. Being best friends with her brother Mike had given Olivia the opportunity to really get to know him, and even though he was six years older than her, she felt certain now that she was eighteen he’d see her as a woman. Not his best friend’s little sister.

  Clearly she was wrong.

  Having her lips touch Jake’s had been like being struck by lightning; a jolt of excitement had shot through her system so powerfully that it was hard to not jump from it. For a brief second, his arms had banded around her waist; and then just as quick, those same arms had pushed her away.

  Luckily the garage was almost completely dark – the only light coming from the full moon outside – and she couldn’t see what she was certain was a horrified look on his face. As it was, she could picture it all too clearly.

  The reality was probably so much worse.

  This was so not the eighteenth birthday party that Olivia had planned at all.

  It wasn’t the beginning of her happily ever after.

  If anything, this event would go down as the defining moment of her life.

  From now on, Olivia knew that she would have to stay away from Jake, no matter how hard it would be if he came around to see Mike. She was done pining after a man she clearly couldn’t have. And for that matter, she was done pining and chasing after men, period. From here on out, she would sit back and wait until the perfect guy pined and chased after her. There was no way she could deal with this kind of rejection ever again. College was right around the corner, and she would put all of her time and energy into getting ready for that.

  And her photography.

  There weren’t many things that gave Olivia pleasure except her love of photography.

  And watching Jake Knight.

  Oh, if only she could combine the two of them. So not going to happen. At least she knew that now and could move on; put her focus on to something new.

  If only it didn’t hurt so damn much.

  Chapter One

  “But it’s an emergency.”

  Olivia sighed. “Seriously, Mike; to you, everything’s an emergency.”

  “This time I’m serious.”

  “Look, I really wish I could help you…”

  “You can. You’re here in town, and you said that you need a distraction; something to take your mind off of work for a while. I’m just saying that this is a situation that is pretty desperate, and I really think you could help.”

  A migraine was beginning to throb behind her right eye. “I’m taking the month off so that I can relax; and even though you won’t tell me exactly what this dire situation is, I can tell that it is not something that is going to help me in that department.”

  “Liv,” Mike said with exasperation, “why can’t you just trust me? Five minutes of your time; that’s all I’m asking.”

  “I was willing to give you some of my time - when we were supposed to meet for lunch this afternoon. You stood me up, remember?”

  “Because of this situation!” he fairly growled. “Seriously, haven’t you been listening to anything I’ve been saying?”

  “I have, Mike. You’re just not saying anything that interests me.” Olivia was growing bored with this conversation and yawned loudly to get her point across.

  “Okay, I should have called you.”

  “You think?” she said sarcastically.

  “I’m sorry. There was an…”

  “Emergency?”

  “Yes, this situation came up, and I had to take care of it. Now I need your help. Please, Liv. You’re the only one who can help.”

  “How is that even possible?”

  “If you’d just meet with me, you’ll understand.”

  Olivia knew she was fighting a losing battle. There was no way in the world that she was going to get Mike to let this go; and the sooner she went and met with him, the sooner she could say no with a clear conscience. “Fine,” she said dramatically. “Where are you?”

  “I’m over at Jake’s place. Well, his parents place. You remember where it is, right?”

  Everything in Olivia went numb. Jake? Jake Knight? There was no way in hell that she was going to do anything that involved him, and there was nothing that her brother could say, no amount of guilt he could lay on her to make her change her mind.

  “Liv? Are you there?”

  “Huh? What?”

  “You remember where Jake’s parents lived, right?”

  “Lived?”

  “Oh, right. You probably didn’t know. His parents were killed in a car accident about a year ago. Getting their estate in order has been a bit of a nightmare, but for now, Jake’s living in the old house until he has it ready to sell.”

  What was she supposed to say to that? Why hadn’t anyone told her about it? She never told anyone about the humiliation she felt at her eighteenth birthday over Jake, so that couldn’t be the reason.

  “Liv?” Mike said with more than a hint of frustration.

  “I…I can’t, Mike. I’m sorry. I’m sure that whatever the problem is, you and Jake can work it out.” No sooner had the words come out of her mouth than she heard a strange sound in the background. “What was that?”

  Mike sighed wearily. “A baby crying.”

  Olivia’s heart sank. Why was there a baby crying? Did Jake have kids? Seriously, was her brother looking at her to come over and babysit for Jake and his probably Barbie-perfect wife and their baby? Was he out of his mind? She was just about to ask him that exact question when he spoke again.

  “It’s a long story, Liv, and it’s a bit crazy here right now. Can you please just come over?”

  She took a steadying breath and counted to ten. “I’m not interested in being a babysitter so that you guys can go out or something. You’ll have to find somebody else.”

  “It’s not like that!” Mike snapped. Then, a bit calmer, he said, “Look, I didn’t want to have to do this, but you leave me no choice. Remember your senior year of college when you needed me to buy you a ticket home from Vegas, and I did it – no questions asked?”

  Dammit. “Yes.”

>   “Well, I’m asking for the same courtesy. I need you to come here, no questions asked.”

  “Mike, you have no idea what you’re asking.”

  “I know, Liv, and I’m sorry, but we really need your help.”

  It would have been so much easier if she had just decided to have her mental sabbatical back in L.A. where she belonged; but no, Olivia had felt the need to come home and be near her family. She’d know better for the next time.

  “Fine,” she said once more, only this time with an overwhelming sense of defeat. “I remember the house. I’ll be there in a little while.”

  “Thanks, Liv,” Mike said with relief. “You’re a lifesaver.”

  “Don’t get too ahead of yourself,” she said with a sense of bravado. “I only agreed to come over; I didn’t say that I’d be able to help.”

  He didn’t argue. “I’ll see you soon.”

  Hanging up her phone, Olivia threw it on her bed as she flopped back against the pillows. How was she supposed to survive facing Jake after almost eight years? And how was she supposed to do it without turning into a babbling idiot?

  With a sigh of resignation, she stood and grabbed her purse. “I guess it’s time to find out.”

  ****

  The drive over was way too short, and Olivia had hoped to have a minute or two to sit in the driveway and work up the courage to get out. Unfortunately, her brother and Jake were sitting on the front steps of the house – each looking more miserable than the next. As soon as she stepped out of the car, she was hit with an overwhelming sense of dread. “What’s going on?” She focused her attention and her question at her brother. Her eyes actually hurt from not looking at Jake.

  Mike rose and walked over to hug her. “Thank you,” he whispered.

  That was all fine and well, but Olivia was still clueless as to why her attendance here was of any relevance. Pulling back, she looked her brother in the eye. “Okay, I’m here. What is going on?” she repeated.

  In the background, an infant’s cry was coming from the house. The kid certainly had a set of lungs, Olivia thought to herself. The cries were so loud that it sounded like more than one baby.

  “Earlier today, Marilyn, Jake’s ex-fiancé, stopped by.”

  Ex-fiancé? Jake had been engaged? That was another bit of news that no one had bothered to share with her. Ever. “And this pertains to me…how?”

  He swiped a hand over his face, and Olivia forced herself to stay focused on him even as Jake came to stand beside him. “He hadn’t seen her in months, and she showed up here and dropped them off.” He motioned to the house behind him. “And then she left.”

  “Wait…them?” Mike nodded. “As in more than one baby?” He nodded again, and Olivia felt a little faint. The sound of the crying, however, kept her in the moment. “So let me ask you this – if they’re in there, why are you out here?”

  “They won’t stop,” Jake said, and Olivia heard the tremble in his voice. At any other time she might have taken a minute to let the sound of that masculine voice wash over her, but now was obviously not the time. Plus, he sounded like he was near hysterical.

  “Have you fed them?” she asked, and both men nodded. “Changed them?” This time two blank faces stared back at her. “Oh, for crying out loud…” she huffed before walking around them and into the house.

  It didn’t take long to find the babies – they were right in the family room in their infant carriers and even louder now that she was standing before them. “Hey, guys,” she whispered as she crouched down between them. They were so tiny that Olivia was almost afraid to touch them. “Okay, let’s see what we’ve got here,” she said and reached for the large canvas bag that was sitting between them. Rifling through, she found diapers and wipes and then did her best to lift baby number one from the seat.

  Laying the child down on the carpet, she carefully undressed her. Of course she didn’t realize she was a she until she pulled the diaper off – her clothes were fairly gender neutral. “Okay, sweet girl,” she cooed, “Let’s get some dry clothes on you.” It didn’t take long to get the baby cleaned up and changed into clean, dry clothes. Olivia was hesitant to put her back in the infant seat, but there simply wasn’t anyplace else she could currently go.

  Once the baby was quieted and back in her seat, Olivia gave her a pacifier, then turned her attention to her twin. “Now it’s your turn, sweet pea,” she said softly as she lay the baby down. “How about we…” She stopped when she took the diaper off. “Okay, wasn’t expecting that.” With a smile she cleaned the baby up. “Well now, young man, now you have some clean pants, too.” The baby’s eyes watched her intently as she worked, and when she settled him back into his seat, Olivia swore that he understood her.

  She wanted to pick them both up and hug them and snuggle with them and just breathe in their sweet baby smell, but she knew that she couldn’t. These were Jake’s babies. Well, Jake and Marilyn’s, and it was too much to wrap her brain around right now. Satisfied that they were both all right and about to fall asleep, Olivia backed out of the room and went in search of the two who were responsible for this situation.

  Walking out the front door, she found her brother and Jake exactly where she had left them – standing in the middle of the driveway. “What is wrong with the two of you?” she demanded as she stomped down the steps toward them. “Both of those babies were soaked to the skin! How could you have left them like that?”

  Jake didn’t look at her, and Mike stammered. “How…I…how am I supposed to know how to change a diaper?”

  “It’s not brain surgery, you moron! Those poor babies cannot take care of themselves. They need the adults around them to do it.”

  “That’s why I called you, Liv! We have no idea what to do!”

  She pinched the bridge of her nose and did her best to not wind up and punch her brother in the face. “Where is their mother?” she asked. “When is she coming back?”

  “She’s not,” Jake said quietly.

  Olivia looked at him in shock, but Jake still wouldn’t meet her gaze. “Excuse me?”

  “I never even knew she was pregnant. She said she found out after we broke up and figured that I’d be willing to pay child support.” He sighed and looked at the ground. “She wasn’t planning on twins. When she showed up here this morning, she told me that she had met someone, and that twins – or any kids for that matter – don’t fit into her plans.”

  Olivia felt sick. “So she just dropped them off and walked away?”

  Jake was silent for a long time until Mike spoke up. “Not exactly…”

  “Mike,” Jake warned.

  “She deserves to know. Especially if she’s going to help.”

  “Know what?” Olivia asked even though she knew she wasn’t going to like the answer.

  Mike waited for Jake to speak but when he remained silent, he turned to his sister. “She asked for money. Said that she’d sign over custody for a lump sum.” He said the words with disgust. “So Jake wrote her a check and sent her on her way.”

  “So basically she used her womb as her own personal ATM?” Olivia asked to no one in general. “Charming.” She always knew that Jake picked the wrong kind of women. That was why all those years ago she had been so sure that he would see that she was the right one for him.

  Pushing those thoughts aside, she straightened and faced Mike. “I still don’t see what this has to do with me. I’m not a nanny, nor do I want to be.”

  “It’s after five in the afternoon, Liv,” Mike said. “Jake has no idea how to handle a baby, let alone two! He just needs a hand until he can hire someone.”

  Olivia let those words sink in for a minute. She glanced at Jake who was still staring at the ground and then back to her brother. “Sorry,” she said and watched as both men paled. “Like I said, I’m not a nanny. I’m sure between the two of you, you can get through the night and begin making calls in the morning. You’re both successful businessmen. You’ll figure it out.” Turnin
g, she walked over to her car.

  “You can’t be serious,” Mike called out to her. “You said that you would help!”

  Facing them as she threw her purse in the car, she said, “No, I said I would come over. I never said that I’d help or that I’d stay. That was your assumption and your mistake. I’m sorry that you believed otherwise.” She hated how heartless she sounded and yet couldn’t stop herself. “Make sure that you change them, and you’re going to need to get some real baby furniture soon – particularly some cribs.”

  “But…Liv…” She had to give her brother credit; he wasn’t willing to take no for an answer.

  “I’m sure that you each know some other females that would be willing to come over and help out and give you direction.” Without looking at either of them, Olivia finished climbing into her car and had the key in the ignition before her brother was crouched down beside the open car door.

  “Why are you being this way?” he hissed. A million plausible reasons played through her mind and yet she couldn’t voice one of them. “I get that you’re on some sort of mental break, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t help out a friend.”

  She didn’t mean to snap; she had every intention of just driving away and forgetting about everything that she had seen here. But Mike just wouldn’t let her be. Turning toward him, she gave him a bland look. “Jake is your friend, not mine. And if one of my friends called with a real emergency, I’d be there.”

  “This is a real emergency!”

  Olivia shook her head. “No, Mike; it’s not. There are two babies in there and two of you. It looks like their mother left plenty of supplies for them. Surely the two of you can fumble through one night with them before Jake hires a nanny?”

  His eyes narrowed at his sister before he stood. “I don’t know what’s happened to you. You never used to be like this.”

  “Mike…”

  “No,” he interrupted. “Maybe this is the way you people treat one another in Hollywood, but around here we look out for one another.”

  She almost wanted to point out that his drama skills were perfect for the Hollywood lifestyle but decided to keep that to herself. Rather than argue, she simply agreed. “I guess you’re right. Maybe that’s why I left here and moved there. Obviously I don’t fit in here anymore. My mistake for wanting to come home for a while.” With that she reached for the door handle and waited for him to step aside so that she could pull it closed.