The Trouble with Tomboys (Tommy Creek #1)(64)

“Holy hell,” she breathed, stopping in the

entrance to gawk at the rows and rows of infant paraphernalia. “Do I really need all this crap?”

Jo Ellen merely hooked their arms together and urged her into the store. “Let’s start at this end.”

To B.J.’s horror, they went through the entire place, stopping in every freaking aisle. Jo Ellen tried to teach her the art of comparative and bargain shopping, but it didn’t take. She had to admit, though, the newborn bootie sneakers Jo Ellen discovered were adorable. Unlike Grady’s sister, however, she was able to contain her oohing and awing, even if she did snag two pairs and shove them into her shopping cart. The only item to provoke an actual response from her was a bib exclaiming I love my Daddy. Jo Ellen merely sent her a knowing smile and tossed it into the cart as well. By seven o’clock that evening, she was dead 195



Linda Kage



tired. Her muscles ached in places she didn’t know she had muscles, and her ankles were swollen as far as the skin would stretch. Feeling giddy, though, she realized the expectant Mommy bug had finally bitten. She started thinking about the baby to come.

Would it be a boy or a girl? Would it look more like her or Grady? Grady, she hoped.

Though Jo Ellen had successfully instilled her with excitement for a future of parenthood, she was still ready to drop into the nearest bed when she pulled into Grady’s drive at a quarter to eight. She frowned when she realized damn near every light in the house was glowing.

Her new husband opened the front door before she had her truck parked.“Where have you been?” he growled as soon as she jumped out of the driver’s seat. “I came home early to help you move, but—”

“Just a sec,” she said, shoving two shopping bags at him and bulldozing past. “I gotta pee like a racehorse.”

He fumbled to catch everything and could only sputter as she sprinted inside.

When she exited, he was waiting by the door.

“You went shopping?”

“Yeah,” she gave the breathless reply, still winded from her dash to the john. “Jo Ellen called this morning and talked me into going. I didn’t want to be rude, so I said okay. Plus, she convinced me I needed to start getting ready for this kid now.”

“Jo Ellen?” he nearly yelled the name.

B.J. frowned. “Yes, Jo Ellen,” she repeated. “You know...your sister?”

His jaw dropped as he stared at her. Then he exploded. “Jesus Christ, B.J.! I’ve been going out of my mind with worry, and you were with my sister?”

She straightened. “You were worried? Why?”

He made a disbelieving sound. “Why do you

think? I had no idea where you were. You weren’t 196



The Trouble with Tomboys



here. You weren’t at your place. I called the hangar, and they hadn’t seen you all day. For all I knew, you could’ve passed out again while you were driving and been lying dead in some ditch.”

Taking a moment to swipe a harassed hand

through his hair, he muttered, “Damn it, B.J.” His voice broke in the middle of saying her name. “I even called the hospitals to make sure you weren’t there.”

She sucked in a breath. God, he was really

upset. Feeling instantly horrible, she started to apologize.

“I...I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you’d be so concerned. I didn’t even think to tell you about my change in plans.”

“Well, it’s a common courtesy to let your

husband know where you’re going to be,” he

snapped.

Her back going rigid at his tone, she sniffed.

“Well, excuse me, Mr. McPerfect. But I’ve never been married before. And it’s been a long damn time since I’ve been accountable to anyone for anything.”

Grady linked all ten fingers together and rested them on the back of his head as he stared up the ceiling and appeared to be silently counting to ten.

When he was done, he blew out a breath and calmly said, “All right. But next time, could you please just...leave a note, call my cell phone, do something to tell me what your plans are so I won’t worry?”

B.J. gave a jerky nod, lowering her face so he wouldn’t see the red tinge of humiliation on her cheeks.

“Thank you,” he gritted out.

She shifted uncomfortably, and Grady shoved

his hands into his pockets. After sending her a brief nod, he pivoted on his heels and strode away.

She stayed there a moment and pulled herself back together. She should be delighted he cared enough to worry. But all she felt was a hollow loss.

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He’d been married before. He was a pro at this husband-wife thing. It was natural for him to expect her to just slip into place as the patient, obedient wife...as another Amy. But she couldn’t do that. It went against her chemical make-up to be anyone but herself.

She’d never wanted to take Amy’s place. She felt like she was breaking some sacred rule, intruding somewhere she had no place being. He’d always be Amy’s husband in her mind, and she didn’t think anything could ever change that.

Feeling an unwanted emotion rise in her throat, B.J. hissed out a curse and curled her hands into fists until the pain of her nails digging into her palms wiped away the urge to cry. Once she had herself under control, she checked to make sure her ponytail was still on tight, and then she proceeded to carry the rest of her purchases inside.