Because of the Baby(59)

“The problem is I was ambushed at the beauty shop about you and that Holt.”

Lark wasn’t sure what to say so she kept silent.

“Are you involved with him?” Vera made the word involved sound like a mortal sin.

“He’s helping me take care of Grace. You knew that.”

“You didn’t tell us that he’d also moved in.”

While it was on the tip of her tongue to snap that she was twenty-seven years old and perfectly within her rights to do whatever she wanted with the house she’d bought, Lark knew that her mother would never hear the logic of that.

“It’s made things much easier.”

“Are you sleeping with him?”

Keaton’s fingers moved between hers in a soothing caress. This was the moment she’d been dreading since her feelings for Keaton had begun to surface. She would be forced to choose between her parents and the man she was falling in love with.

“The feud between the Taylors and the Holts isn’t my fight,” she said, admitting nothing. “I’m sick of being caught in the middle of it.”

“You are.” Her mother gasped, assuming the worst from Lark’s lack of swift and immediate denial. “Your father will be devastated.”

“Keaton is an honorable man. He cares about Grace and about me.”

“He’s using you,” her mother spat. “You’re nothing but a convenience.”

Even knowing how vehemently her parents hated the Holts, it still shocked Lark that they would turn so completely against her. Was this what Skye had experienced? And then Lark had gone and heaped more disapproval on her sister’s slender shoulders. Shame rose to choke her.

“I’m sorry you feel that way, Mother,” Lark said, forcing her voice to remain steady. “I have to go.” And without giving her mother another opportunity to spew more negativity, she hung up.

Keaton’s arms came around her and pulled her tight to his chest. His lips drifted over her cheek toward her ear. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

His solidness absorbed the tremors that racked her body. “She can’t understand.”

“She doesn’t care about your happiness,” he said as he ran his hands up and down her spine. “Or Skye’s. Neither of them does.”

To her relief, he didn’t ask her why she hadn’t admitted to being involved with him, but had let her mother draw her own conclusions. Lark felt as if she’d betrayed him, been disloyal to the relationship developing between them. If she truly was falling in love with him, why hadn’t she proudly claimed him?

“It’s been a really long day.” Lark looked at the baby. Grace was showing no signs of fading. “If it’s okay with you, I think I’m going to turn in.”

“Sure. Grace and I will watch a little basketball. You get some sleep.”

With a nod, Lark left the couch and washed her plate and wineglass. Nicki chose to follow her into the bedroom. As the Aussie curled up on her bed, Lark slid between the cool covers and lay shivering. Although she’d been truthful about being tired, sleep was a long way away. Now that her parents knew she and Keaton were together, how long would it be before they started issuing ultimatums and forced her to choose between them and Keaton?

Worse, Lark wasn’t sure whom she’d pick. Even though she wasn’t their favorite, she was still their daughter. Outside of Skye they were the only family she had, and Lark had no idea what sort of relationship she’d have with her sister when Skye woke up. They hadn’t spoken in four years. Wasn’t that a pretty good indication that Lark hadn’t been forgiven?

Keaton had given her no direct indication just how deep his feelings for her ran. What if she chose him only to find out he wanted little beyond great sex and companionship? His parents weren’t as rigid as hers, but she suspected they weren’t wild that Keaton was with her. From what Skye had told her before she left, they’d been furious to learn about her romance with their son. Their anger had driven Jake from Royal. He’d been the one who persuaded Skye to leave.

That wouldn’t happen with her and Keaton. He was tied to the ranch. They would be forced to stick around and bear the brunt of their parents’ vehement disapproval. Lark almost choked on a ragged exhalation. Keaton might be strong enough to cope, but was she? And what damage would it do to their relationship? In the end the Taylor/Holt feud would tear them apart.

When Keaton came to bed an hour or so later, Lark rolled toward him and pressed against him from breast to thigh. He claimed her mouth without hesitation and made love to her with fierce passion. She left her mark on him, her fingernails scoring his back as she climaxed. Keaton followed her seconds later with a powerful orgasm of his own.