With Honor (8 page)

“You owe me.” Pete’s words followed Shawn as he headed down the hall.

He felt a sense of pride as he climbed inside his Jeep and drove toward his house. Jasmine was there. However, his friend’s words echoed through his mind. No matter which way he sliced it, Jasmine was his responsibility. Shane had a reputation for his way with women, but Shawn knew his brother would have wanted his baby cared for.

Pulling up along the street in front of the house, instead of getting out, he sat and stared at the red door. He hadn’t seen Jasmine in over three weeks. She’d gone back to Florida, saying she needed time to decide whether she wanted to move. When he’d gotten the call from her that she’d decided to move to Texas, he’d felt a sense of relief.

Many times over the last few weeks, he’d thought he should tell her the truth about his brother. He wanted to tell her. Dishonesty wasn’t a game for him. He only needed to protect his brother. Finding the truth about Shane’s disappearance had become top priority for Shawn. He couldn’t allow anything, or anyone, to interfere.

After his self-pep-talk, he slid out of the driver’s side and followed the flower-lined sidewalk to the door. The house was quiet inside. “Jasmine?” No response.

Her car was parked in the driveway and her purse lay on the table. Putting his keys next to her purse, he made his way into the living room, stepping over a maze of boxes, then down the hall. He peeked inside the extra bedroom, now her room. He’d found her. Sleeping. Her knees were tucked up into her chest and the corner of the blanket was pulled up over one shoulder. She looked peaceful and although he shouldn’t notice, beautiful. Her wavy dark hair spread over the white pillow in a silken wave. Her skin was pale, with a touch of rosiness on her cheeks, appearing almost angelic from the sun shining through the window onto her face. The shorts she wore had ridden upward on her hip, giving him a very sexy view of long legs. Moaning and rolling, she caused the hem of her shirt to come up, exposing her slight stomach and slender waist that dipped into…
damn
.

He rubbed his jaw and cursed himself for the stirring behind his zipper. His cock stood at attention like an airman did on his first day at boot camp. He’d always considered himself a man with morals, but where had they gone? His intentions were clean…well, mostly.

“Are you going to stand there and stare, or can I help you with something?”

Snapping his gaze upward, he realized she’d caught him. How long had she been awake, and how much of his ogling had she seen? The lift of one corner of her mouth told him she found this humorous. Shawn wasn’t the type to get embarrassed, but he felt his cheeks burn. “I didn’t know if I should wake you.”
With a kiss
, he added silently.

“What time is it?” She lifted on elbow.

He dragged his gaze away from the view of her stomach, which he thought was just starting to show. Clearing his throat, he checked his watch. “Four thirty.”

“I slept three hours.” With a yawn and stretch, she got up and he did his gentlemanly best not to check her out. That was no use. Her tight blue tee clung to her chest, giving him ample view of full, braless breasts. Her messy hair needed a good finger combing. He’d be more than willing to use his fingers on any part of her.

There was a strong magnetic charge between them. He reminded himself of the harsh truth: she carried a child–and not his, but his brother’s. His
missing
brother’s at that. How had his life become a drama-filled mess?

Before she slapped him in the face and told him to get the hell out, he removed his gaze and stared courteously at her face “You didn’t return my text.”

“Was I supposed to?”

“I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

Slipping past him into the hall, she shrugged. “I’m fine.”

“I see the movers got all of your things carried in.” Boxes overflowed in every inch of space. He was surprised his airman’s OCD didn’t interfere in the slightest. He followed her into the kitchen.

“These are the things that I use on a regular basis. The rest is in storage until I move into my own place,” she said.

“Was the trip okay?”

She filled the kettle with water and then placed it on the burner. “I’m worn out, but I’m here now.”

Shawn went to the refrigerator and opened the door, wanting a beer. He found chick food. “Carrots? Milk? Juice?” Taking out a clear bag of what looked to be a shriveled green rock, he held it up for her. “And what’s this?” He pushed on it. His fingers left an indent.

Grabbing it, she shook her head. “This is an avocado. It’s high in protein and good for you. I read that it’s great to eat while you’re pregnant.”

His stomach rolled. “Let me take you to dinner.” Shutting the refrigerator door, he wanted to forget about the thing she called avocado.

“Take me to dinner?” Confusion marred her expression.

“You do need to eat. Something besides rabbit food.”

“You don’t have to feel obligated to me, Shane,” she said.

“I don’t feel obligation. You have to eat. I am starving. So let me take you out and introduce you to the best burger this side of the country. Anyway, if you weren’t here I’d be in the gym for the next hour.”

“You came home because I’m here?”

“Sure. I’m not used to having company, but I think I can get used to it.”

A smile lit her features. “Let me go freshen up.” She turned the stove off and walked away.

He couldn’t help himself; he liked having her around already. And unfortunately, he was headed into trouble.

* * * *

Thirty minutes later, Jasmine and Shane walked into the restaurant. She’d changed into a simple white sundress, but the lightweight material was no barrier to the heat from Shane’s large hand on the small of her back as he led her toward the booth in the back. They slid onto the red vinyl seat. Shane ordered a beer, she ordered iced tea, and they both decided on the house special, a garbage burger platter.

Jasmine’s mouth watered at the promise of a juicy burger with the works. She couldn’t wait to sink her teeth into it, considering she hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast and her stomach rumbled in protest.

The crowd grew in the restaurant as people got off work. Interestingly, she felt comfortable with Shane, like they’d sat together many times for dinner.

“I hope you feel at home in Lackland.”

“I’m sure in time I will,” she said. “I worried that I wouldn’t find another doctor, but my old obstetrician, the doctor you spoke with, recommended a doctor here. I called today, and thankfully they were accepting new patients.”

“I guess I didn’t think how difficult that must be to leave your doctor. You said he was also a good friend.”

She appreciated his sincerity. “I’m sure it’s for the best. I’m already scheduled for an ultrasound with the new doctor.” She waited.

He didn’t respond.

“Do you know what an ultrasound is?” His blank expression answered her question. “An image of the baby in the womb.”

His eyes widened. “Is there something wrong?”

“No. This is normal procedure. The doctor wants to know how the baby is growing. You and I will see the beating heart and get a definite due date. I’ll have several more ultrasounds done throughout the pregnancy.”

“You and I, as in us?”

“I assumed you’d go with me.” Her chest tightened. Maybe she shouldn’t have assumed Shane would want to go. “It’s okay, Shane. You don’t have to go.”

“I want to go. Are you kidding me? I wouldn’t miss this for the world.” His smile brightened the room.

“Then I’ll remind you a week before,” she said.

The waitress brought their drinks and Jasmine looked at Shane as she sipped through her straw. Lowering her glass, she said, “I’ve started reading a book about what a parent should expect during pregnancy. There seems to be a lot involved. I’m overwhelmed. This can get very difficult.”

“And I haven’t handled difficult before? I’ve fought in Iraq. I’ve served in Afghanistan. This should be a piece of cake.”

“Serious?” Maybe he was tough enough, but she didn’t have the same certainty. “I meant there’s a lot of obligation–”

He held up his hand. “Stop right there. Lose that word. You’ve got to stop feeling this way, Jasmine. We’re in this together. Our duty is to the baby, whatever that includes over the next months. We’re both new at this, but how many other people have done just fine being a first-time parent? I bet my mom and dad freaked out before they had us.”

“Us? You have a brother or sister?” She remembered him saying that he had no family members.

There was a long hesitation. “My mother had given birth to a stillborn baby before they had me. Then I have a brother too. He’s younger than me. We’re not close right now.”

“Oh my. That must have been hard for her to lose a child.” She thought of losing her own baby. Tears formed in her eyes.

He reached over and laid his hand on hers. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. Nothing is going to happen to the baby. I promise.”

All of her doubt and insecurity slipped away. She’d never have guessed Shane could be this committed, and sincere. Fighting an urge to slide across the table and kiss him on the cheek, she took a breath. Co-parents–not intimate partners.

They shared easy conversation as they ate. When Shane became quiet and stared out the window, the dark planes of his face made her wonder if he was okay. “Is something bothering you?” she asked.

He blew out a long breath and scrubbed his forehead as if to smooth the worry lines. “You gotta know that I’m a military man through and through. This is who I am. Sensitivity and communication aren’t my strong points.”

She nodded. Where was this leading? “Yes, I get that.”

“I want to be a good father, but–”

“Shane Conner? Is that you?” A woman’s shrill voice rang through the restaurant.

Jasmine looked at the woman as she wove her way over to the table. The woman’s low-cut shirt showed off melon-sized breasts and tanned skin that accentuated her assets. She carried a beer in hand and had a smile on her red lips, and pointed a finger at Shane. “I thought you were off in the desert again.”

Shane’s expression remained blank. “No, my orders were changed.”

“Where have you been hiding, then?” She reached out with a taloned hand and squeezed his arm. “I’ve missed you.” The woman made a sweeping glance toward Jasmine.

Jasmine sipped her tea, pretending she didn’t notice the familiar touch on Shane’s arm or the questioning look the woman gave her. Jasmine suddenly felt like a third wheel…or maybe a stone wheel. Why wasn’t Shane introducing them? Her discomfort level rose.

“Well, Shane, who do you have here?” The woman blatantly asked. “Is
this
what has kept you busy?”

Shane remained quiet.

Jasmine reached out a hand. “I’m Jasmine.”

“I’m Denise.”

They shook hands and Jasmine put on her best smile. “Nice to meet you, Denise.”

“I won’t keep you from your dinner.” Denise looked down at Jasmine’s partially eaten burger and wrinkled her nose. “You’ll want to take care of that before the grease thickens. You still have my number, Shane?”

“No,” he answered without hesitation.

The woman’s bottom lip puckered in dramatic effort. “I have my card.” Reaching into her zebra print bag, she withdrew a handy business card. She probably went through them like breath mints.

Jasmine paid close attention to where that business card landed after Miss Big-boobs-bling vanished. Shane crumpled it up and tossed it onto the table. At least he didn’t stick the woman’s number into his pocket. Most men wouldn’t turn Denise down. Her respect for Shane Conner grew at that moment, even if he’d tossed the number for her benefit.

Back to polishing off her burger, a load of fries, and a piece of chocolate cake. She was content until she didn’t feel so well. On the drive back to the house, Jasmine started feeling worse. Her stomach churned and she had a strong urge to throw up the two-thousand calorie dinner she’d just pounded away.

Shane kept looking at her across the seat on the drive home. She wondered if he was more concerned about her health, or the possibility that she could vomit all over the clean leather seat of his Jeep.

When they stepped through the front door of the house, Shane said, “I think you should lie down. You look ill.”