Lara Lacombe - The Coltons of Roaring Springs

She rubbed her hand absently over her belly, anticipation building in her chest as her thoughts turned to her upcoming appointment. It was time for the twenty-week sonogram, when the doctor would do a thorough exam of the baby to make sure everything looked as it should. She’d been excited about this date for months, imagining what her baby might look like. She couldn’t wait to see the little hands and feet, hear the steady thump of the heartbeat. And perhaps most exciting of all, today she would learn if she was having a girl or a boy.

Molly smiled to herself, warmth blooming inside her as she considered each possibility. Of course, a healthy baby was her top priority, but she had to admit, she was kind of hoping for a girl. Boys grew up and left their mothers behind, whereas girls were better at staying connected to family. Her own situation was a perfect example—if not for her reminders, Molly’s brother, Mason, would never remember to call their mother on her birthday or send their dad a Father’s Day card. She and her younger sister, Sabrina, were the ones who kept in regular contact with their parents.

“I hope you’ll do the same,” she said softly to her baby. She couldn’t bear the thought of her child growing up and forgetting about her.

Especially since she was probably the only parent her offspring would have.

Molly hadn’t planned to wind up a single mother. Some days, she still couldn’t believe she was pregnant. She hadn’t told anyone about the baby yet.

Not even the father.

Guilt speared through her at the thought of Max. He deserved to know about the pregnancy, and she had every intention of telling him.

Just as soon as she figured out how.

Their relationship had been more of a fling than anything else, a series of intensely passionate encounters during his quarterly visits to The Lodge. Molly knew he wasn’t looking for anything serious, and she’d convinced herself that was fine.

Except the past few times she’d seen him, her emotions had grown stronger and stronger, demanding acknowledgment. Six months ago, she’d decided that during his next visit, she would break things off. She wanted more, but Max was totally devoted to the charity he had founded and ran.

She’d figured out what she was going to say, considered every possible reaction he might have. Then she’d steeled herself to see him again.

But he hadn’t shown up.

Max had missed his regularly scheduled visit. Not a big deal, but then she’d started having symptoms, and after putting two and two together, she’d realized she was pregnant. She knew she needed to tell him, but the whole “hey, you’re going to be a father” conversation was one best had in person rather than over the phone. So she was going to have to wait for his next visit to share the news.

Provided he ever came back to The Lodge. If history was any indication, he should be arriving within the next two weeks. But Molly checked the reservations regularly and his name was nowhere to be seen.

Maybe this was his way of breaking things off? If so, he was definitely not going to be happy when he heard her news. Like it or not, a baby was going to tie them together for the rest of their lives. It was a bit ironic that their casual connection had produced such a permanent bond, but life was sometimes funny that way.

The carriage shuddered a bit as someone stepped on board. Molly didn’t turn around—she wanted one more moment to herself before she had to slip back into work mode.

She took a sip of water as the gondola began its journey down the mountain. Casting aside thoughts of Max, she let her gaze track across the pine trees and mountain rock, all still dusted with snow thanks to the high altitude. It was like a Christmas card come to life, a sight she didn’t think she would ever grow tired of seeing.

With a small sigh, she stood. Time to greet her company on the ride down. She wasn’t in her office, but she still had a duty to ensure that all guests of The Lodge were satisfied, no matter what part of the property they were using.

Molly turned, smiling as she moved. She opened her mouth to speak but as she caught sight of the other passenger, the muscles of her throat seized, trapping her words. Her eyes widened, taking in the man before her.

Tall. Broad shoulders that tapered to a slim waist. Red hair. Light green eyes. A hint of stubble, softening the lean lines of his face. And even though he was dressed for warmth, she knew that underneath his sweater and jeans he was all hard muscle and warm skin.

Heat suffused her limbs as her body responded to his presence. Finally! her libido seemed to say. But then her brain kicked into gear, asserting control over her raw physical reaction.

Maxwell Hollick was back.

And she was going to have to find a way to tell him she was carrying his child.

* * *

Damn. She looks good .

Max stared at Molly, his heart pounding hard as he drank in the sight of her. Six months between visits was way too long, but a small crisis at work had kept him occupied. Now that things were resolved, he was ready to kick back and have a little fun.

And Molly was just the woman he wanted to spend time with.

She’d changed a bit since he’d last seen her. She still had a blond bob and bright blue eyes, and her skin was as smooth and clear as he’d remembered. But she had a luminous glow about her now, and her curvaceous body seemed even more voluptuous, the swell of her hips a bit more pronounced. It was a good look for her. His fingers itched to lift the hem of her sweater and trace a line across her belly, inching higher until he could fill his hand with the soft, warm weight of her breast.

“Molly.” His voice came out as a rasp, so he cleared his throat and tried again. “It’s good to see you.”

She blinked, her pleasant, impersonal smile slipping into a look of bewilderment as she stared at him. For a second, Max thought he saw fear flash in her eyes. But before he could wonder about it, she spoke.

“Max.” Confusion and disbelief were clear in her tone, as if she didn’t quite believe he was real. “I...uh, I wasn’t expecting you,” she stammered.

“It was a spur-of-the-moment thing.” He’d been itching to get back to The Lodge for months, to see her again. But his schedule hadn’t cooperated. So he’d simply decided to force the issue—he’d had his secretary clear his schedule for a week and he’d jumped on the first plane out here. He’d arrived without a reservation, but because he was a regular guest he hadn’t had any trouble scoring one of the private cabins dotting the mountaintop.

Molly nodded, but the gesture was stiff. “Well...” She trailed off, clearly searching for something to say. “I’m glad you’re here.”

Her expression didn’t match her words, and Max had the distinct impression she was less than thrilled by his sudden appearance.

He frowned slightly, taken aback by her reaction. They hadn’t parted on bad terms at the end of his last visit. Heat danced along his skin as he recalled exactly how they’d said goodbye. He’d left her wearing a sleepy, satisfied smile and a promise to return. So why wasn’t she pleased to see him now?

Maybe she was upset because he’d been gone so long. Normally, he made it a point to stay at The Lodge every three months. But thanks to an issue with work, he’d had to skip what should have been his last visit.

“I know it’s been a while,” he said gruffly. “I’m sorry about that. Things got crazy at work—a big grant opportunity came up, so it was all hands on deck as we put together our application.”

Max was the founder and managing director of K-9 Cadets, a charity organization that worked to provide service dogs for veterans suffering physical and psychological wounds. As a former Special Forces operative himself, Max knew all too well how the horrors of war changed a person. To make matters worse, not all casualties occurred on the battlefield—there was a depressingly large epidemic of suicide among veterans. He had decided his mission was to help his fellow veterans cope with their new normal, and in his opinion, the best way to do that was through dogs. They were the perfect companions—loyal, nonjudgmental, wonderful listeners. Not only did dogs assist with physical tasks, the emotional support they provided was sometimes the only thing standing between a veteran and the abyss.