Weekend Surrender (The Surrender Trilogy, #1)(45)

Parker was there seated at the table with a cup of coffee in his hands and a blank look on his face. His eyes surveyed her from top to bottom, taking her in, and she knew he noted the physical changes to her body from her weight loss as well as the dark circles under her eyes. A glint of irritation sparked in the brown depths of his gaze, and she struggled to maintain eye contact as she moved into the room.

“Parker,” she said, wanting desperately to say more, but not really knowing what to say.

He gave her a nod, “Rachel. You haven’t been taking care of yourself.”

She let out a sharp laugh and shook her head. “I’m taking care of myself just fine, thank you for your concern.”

Turning she met the eyes of each of the other three before she spoke, “Look, something has…well…umm…can we just take a seat so we can talk?”

Rogan nodded, but a wary look crossed his eyes. “Sure, Rach,”

Once everyone was seated, she stared down at her hands clasped together on the table, unsure of how to start. Sawyer came to her rescue, reaching out from next to her, and placing his hand over the top of hers. It brought back memories of the first time he had made love to her on this very table and she felt her pu-ssy clench with desire. Would there ever be a time these guys didn’t turn her on just by their proximity?

Taking a deep breath, she looked up and met Rogan’s eyes, and then shifted her gaze to Hudson’s. They were the two who would ultimately be affected the most by this news.

“I owe you all an apology and an explanation,” she said, and she was reassured when Hudson gave her a small smile of encouragement. Clearly she had chosen the right route. “I ran scared two months ago. You four got under my skin, and I didn’t know how to handle it. Unfortunately, I handled it very badly.”

“We forgive you, baby, just so long as the next time you have a meltdown you promise to come and talk to us instead of running away,” Sawyer said, drawing her hand to his lips. She bit her lip at his enthusiastic response.

“I appreciate that, Sawyer, but I’m not finished yet. When you guys ran into me at the bar that night I was looking for a one night stand with a stranger, not a weekend tryst with four friends and neighbors that I had fantasized about since I was in high-school.”

“Since high-school, really? Dayum, Rach, you should have said something sooner!” Rogan teased with a wink.

“Please don’t joke yet, Rogan. You see, you guys invited me back here and I should have said no based on our friendship alone, but I couldn’t. My own wounded pride over Mitch and Connie, and lust, clouded my judgment.”

Parker shifted in his seat, and Rachel could tell he was agitated. He was barely keeping his temper in check. She better hurry this up.

“Once I was here, you guys made me feel like I was someone special and I loved every moment. I purposely kept my distance emotionally because I knew it would hurt to leave, and believe me, it did. I should have stuck around and explained things to you guys, but I wasn’t even being honest with myself yet. When my father left my mother for another woman, it cut a really big scar into my heart, and I’ve let that affect my decisions since I was eight years old. I pushed you away because I just knew there was no way I was woman enough for all four of you, and once you four realized it, you were bound to leave me.”

“What the hell, Rachel? Not once did any one of us give you any reason to think we would hurt you. We did our best to show you how much we wanted you, and how much we were already in love with you,” Parker said in a low hard voice, making Rachel’s heart ache and her stomach twist even more.

“I know that now, but at the time I didn’t see it.”

“So why are you here all of a sudden with a different outlook? You haven’t even bothered to accept a phone call or wave hello since you ran out of here that day, what changed?” His dark gaze penetrated her skin and went straight to her soul. She could feel him picking through her brain and it was making her fidgety.

Parker’s words had ensnared all three of his brothers, and the foursome was now looking at her silently, expecting an answer.

“I’m pregnant,” she whispered.

In that instant, the world shifted. She watched Parker’s jaw clench and his eyes go blank, Hudson’s face drained of blood while Rogan’s lit up with an ear to ear smile, and Sawyer crowed with pleasure. “Are you serious, Rachel? Oh my God, that’s amazing!”

“I’m going to be a father? That’s the best news, I mean, Sweet Jesus! I don’t know how to be a dad—” She had to look away from Rogan and Sawyer’s obvious excitement, because she realized Hudson hadn’t told his brothers they had had unprotected sex. Rogan had, but Hudson had kept it quiet.

Hudson cleared his throat, and leaned back in his chair. “Ro, I think you better slow down.”

“Why? Bro, I’m going to be a dad!” Rogan said, standing and hurrying around the table to pull Rachel up into his arms. He wrapped her tightly against his chest, and cupped her cheek, “I know you’re probably scared, but this is fantastic news, Rach. I’m so…I just…thank you, love, for this precious gift.”

“Rogan, stop,” she said, pushing at his chest. He let go reluctantly, his body tightening with concern at her tone. “Rogan, you weren’t the only one I had an accident with.”