Breaking Away (Assassins, #5)(5)

Well, she could, because it had happened to her when she met Kevin Edds. Reese found herself completely entranced with him, hearing wedding bells and the pitter-patter of little feet. Out of nowhere though, it all came to a crashing halt. Reese was left heartbroken. She packed her bags and came home to go back to the life she never wanted. Afterwards, Reese decided that she would never get married or have kids. No, there were too many men and too little time. Plus, her sisters had children of their own, and she had a studio full of kids. She would be the awesome aunt, and then give the little kiddos back, before going to find someone to share her big bed with.

That was her plan, and she was completely fine with it. She even planned to go out that night but, with one look at her sister, she knew her night of tangled sheets and orgasms weren’t in reach. Instead, a big tub of Ben and Jerry’s Funky Monkey with her sister was, and that was just as good.

With a caring smile, Reese said, “Hey, what’s up? I wasn’t expecting you.”

Harper smiled, putting her phone down before looking over at her.

“Yeah, sorry. I needed to talk to you. I’ve had a tough day.”

Reese tilted her head to the side before crossing the apartment and falling into the chair beside Harper.

“What happened?”

“I had three newborn shoots and, after each one, I cried until the next one came.”

Reese’s heart broke. After having Ally, Harper had a long string of miscarriages before the doctors finally said she would never carry another child to term. Jakob was extremely supportive, but even he knew that Harper couldn’t take anymore and pushed for the tubal. She finally caved and got her tubes tied a couple of months ago. It was for the best. Each miscarriage took a little piece of Harper with it, and Reese hated seeing her sister so heartbroken.

Reaching across the table, Reese took Harper’s hand in hers and smiled.

“It’s tough, I know, but you have Ally and Jakob, and now we have Dimitri,” she said, speaking of Piper’s son. Dimitri was almost three months now, and the cutest little boy in the world. He had Reese’s heart from the beginning, just like Ally did, and Reese never knew she could love two little people so much.

“I know,” she said, wiping her cheek free of the tears that were escaping, “But I want a baby so bad. Jakob said that it isn’t a big deal, but he doesn’t understand, Reese. I feel like I’m failing him. He wanted a houseful of kids after Ally, and I can’t give him that.”

“But Harper, he’d rather have you than anything else. He loves you, no matter what. You know that,” Reese stressed.

She shrugged her shoulders, a sad look on her beautiful face. “I know, but I just want another baby. We’ve been looking into surrogate mothers, but I just can’t do it. I’m so scared they won’t take care of themselves, or what if they decide to keep my baby?”

Reese shook her head. “Jakob told me they can’t as long as it’s your egg and his sperm. You have nothing to worry about; they sign contracts. They want the money; they aren’t going to jeopardize that.”

“I just can’t trust it. I want my baby to be safe. I want to grow my baby, and feel it kick. I want to do it, not some stranger,” she cried.

Reese wrapped her sister in her arms, hugging her tightly. Harper cried long and hard, and Reese never let go. She never would either, not until Harper was ready. When Reese came home from New York, she broke down. Who was there to hold her and wipe her tears away?

Harper.

“I wish there was something I could do to make this better,” Reese whispered. She hated how bad this hurt her sister, but she was coming up blank. Maybe she could help select someone. Piper had helped a lot, but she was busy being a mommy now. Between that and being crazy in love with her husband, Erik, Piper was running low on time. It was time for Reese to step up and help.

Harper pulled back, her eyes watery as she held Reese’s gaze.

“Do you mean that?”

Reese scoffed as she smiled. “Of course I do. I want to help. Piper has done a lot with helping you decide on someone. It’s time for me to step up.”

Harper’s face broke into a smile as she said, “So you’ll have the baby for me?”

Reese was speechless as she blinked dumbly at her sister.

“Whoa, what?”

Harper kept grinning.

“You can have the baby for me. We can pay you good money, Reese. I know you’ll take care of yourself.”

Reese started to shake her head, even though Harper kept talking.

“No way, Harper. I have a business. I can’t get pregnant. No.”

Harper’s smile fell.

“But you said you wanted to help. What are you going to do to help then?”

Reese threw her hands in the air. “I don’t know! Look at pictures of chicks and separate the crackheads from the good folks! Shit, Harper, what the hell?”

Harper shook her head. “You’re my sister, and you are supposed to want to help me.”

“I understand that, and I understand that it is your dream for more kids, but Harper, this is my livelihood, my dreams. I can’t jeopardize that.”

“Women dance through their whole pregnancy all the time,” Harper pointed out.

“I get that, but I’m sorry. I’m not one of those women. I am just starting out, and I can’t chance it.”