Chapter 10

Ten

Hank and Stone were set up in the big ballroom, where there had, apparently, never been a ball. The house had never had the big opening party Augustus and Ezekiel Dewhurst had planned in the spring of the year the house was finished.

Ezekiel had died that winter.

At least that was what Hank had pieced together from the records and newspaper articles he'd been able to dig up.

The whole history of the house probably fascinated him more than it should.

He and Charlie were looking over plans for the butler's pantry, which had a fake door in it that led to a wine and spirits room. He thought that was too damn funny, but Charlie seemed…off.

Oh, he'd loved on the dogs and given Kaleb a warm kiss in greeting, but he kept stealing looks at Kaleb and chewing on his lower lip.

Finally Charlie took a long, shaky breath and met his eyes. "I need to speak to you, Kaleb. About something important."

That sounded ominous. He hoped it didn't equate to, "I'm leaving town." Just the thought of that made him feel a little…growly.

"Of course, honey. You can tell me anything."

"I hope so. I—It's serious, and I have to tell you, I'm really scared of what you're going to say." Charlie dropped his gaze to his hands, which were trembling.

"Hey." He grabbed Charlie's hands in his. "I'm right here. I've got you."

"I—I haven't been feeling well, and I took a test this morning." A tear balanced on his eyelashes. "I'm pregnant."

For a moment, Kaleb felt as if someone had punched him right in the gut. All the air whooshed out of his lungs. Time stopped right there.

Then the world rushed back into focus, and he stared at Charlie, clinging to his hands. "You're sure?"

Charlie nodded, that single tear falling. "You—" He swallowed hard. "You don't have to… I mean, I'm strong. Brave. I can do this on my own. I didn't mean to… I'm sorry."

"Charlie." Joy welled up in him, and Kaleb had to laugh. "You're pregnant." He picked Charlie up and twirled him around. "Wow!"

Charlie stared at him, searching his eyes. "You mean it?"

"Yes! Holy moly." He wanted to say a lot more, some of it profane in a good way, but thought that might upset Charlie. "I mean… Wow."

"So not mad. Thank—I was so scared. I didn't want you to yell at me."

"I'm not mad." He set Charlie on his feet. "And even if I wasn't interested in something long term with you, Charlie, I would never yell at you about something like this. And you never deserve to be yelled at." He touched Charlie's cheek. "But I am. Interested."

"Yeah? You mean it?" Charlie leaned into his hand for a second, then pushed in to hug him tight. "Because I'm interested. I… I'm in-love type interested, Kaleb."

"So am I." It seemed fast, maybe, but Kaleb knew deep down in his gut that this was his one true thing. He'd known since the day at the hotel when the dogs had jumped all over Charlie.

Charlie lifted his face, begging a kiss, and Kaleb had no problem giving it. He bent down, lips closing over Charlie's, letting his lover feel how happy he was, he hoped.

He couldn't believe this—his omega was having their baby. They were pregnant, and more importantly, Charlie wanted to build a future with him.

"Oh, God, I need to get the house done." He couldn't have a pregnant omega living in this mess. And he knew it was ridiculous to keep splitting their time between Charlie's apartment and this monster of a home.

"We'll get it done. You can stay with me for as long as you need to. I can give you some of my salary, if that would help?"

"I think you should put your salary into savings for the baby." He chewed his lower lip, thinking. "I mean, I know we can stay at the apartment until this place is safe. Lukas isn't going to kick you out for me staying if he hasn't by now."

"Are you kidding?" Charlie grinned, looking less terrified. "The pups are his best buddies."

"Yes, but I want my baby and my omega here, creating our home."

"I want that too," Charlie said earnestly. "So bad. And I didn't think I would ever want that until I met you. And now I do."

"Then we'll get moving on this place, huh? I'll tell Kynan we need a bigger crew. Oh, God, we're pregnant." He was gonna just fly off over the moon.

"We are. I'm guessing November or December."

"Holy shit." His eyes widened so hard they pulled at the corners. "I mean, that seems soon, right?" He hugged Charlie again. "We need to celebrate. What do you want to eat tonight? I'll take you out."

"I want…an omelet and a big biscuit."

"Truck stop it is." Kaleb kissed him. "Should we go tell Hank and Stone?"

Charlie nodded. "I told Hank, because I was scared, but it's time to tell everyone you want to."

"I'm sorry you were scared, love. I'm glad you told me." Kaleb beamed at him. "We're going to be dads!"

"We are. We're going to be dads. Together." Charlie kissed him, the touch tingling all through him.

"Come on. Let's go check on Stone and Hank." He kind of wanted to kick them out and just be with Charlie. But then he also wanted to celebrate with someone.

Charlie twined their fingers together, and they found the guys setting up some equipment.

"We're pregnant! We're having a baby!" He couldn't hide his joy.

Hank looked from him to Charlie, then grinned. "Congratulations!"

Stone's eyebrows shot up. "Wow! Yay!"

"Yeah. I—Yes. Yay." Charlie chuckled softly, shook his head. "I just told him. Just now."

Kaleb beamed. "And I couldn't be more thrilled. We're celebrating at the truck stop."

"Fancy!" Stone laughed at them, but it was all right. It was what his omega wanted.

"Well, you'll have to let us have you over to supper this weekend, right, Stone? I bet Elliot and Demi would love that."

"Oh, you know they would. Any chance to get together. The new intern is doing the tours Sunday night, so that would be a great night."

"I think I can swing that." Kaleb tried to say it with a straight face, but failed utterly, cracking up. "I mean, I can come any night. Can you swing it, Charlie?"

Charlie nodded. "I'm off all day."

"Okay." Hank clapped his hands. "You'll have to tell me what not to make."

"Um, meat. I can smell it, I've found, but the idea of a big hunk—" Charlie swallowed convulsively.

"Falafel. Or vegetarian lasagna. I'll come up with something."

"Good man." Kaleb squeezed Charlie's shoulder. "And we'll bring dessert, hmm? Whatever you want."

"I'll holler with the menu maybe Friday night?"

"Sure." Kaleb beamed.

"If you guys want to go on?—"

"No." He and Charlie said it at the same time, and he exchanged a glance with his lover. "No. I don't like leaving you guys up here alone. We're okay."

Charlie nodded. "We're not in any hurry. We have a lot of work to do if we're going to move in before the baby comes."

"We do." He glanced at Charlie sideways. "Though now you have to wear a respirator mask when you're up here."

"Uh-huh." Charlie gave him a wry smile.

"Hey, it's my job to protect you."

The minute the words left his mouth, the lights Hank had set up…exploded. There was really no other word for it. The little generator didn't go out. The lights just went off like flash bulbs.

"Nobody move!" Kaleb shouted. "Everyone stay right here while I get some light."

"Okay…that was weird… Hank? Stone? You okay?" He heard Charlie move toward the guys.

"Yeah." Stone chuckled. "That doesn't usually happen with a generator."

"I think that's what Kaleb is worried about," Hank murmured.

He grabbed a couple of battery lamps. The angle of the light just wasn't coming in the windows to illuminate the big ballroom, and he didn't want them to run off and get separated.

Kaleb was going to have a long talk with this house.

He got the lamps set up and on, then checked in with Hank, Stone, and his Charlie. All present and accounted for. And here came Neo and Trin, nosing around the room as if they were searching for another person.

Charlie got a broom and started cleaning up shards of burst light bulbs. "That was wild. Everyone is okay?"

"Yes." Stone shook his head. "Did the equipment register anything, Boss? That looked like ghost activity to me."

"I know." Hank fiddled with dials, looking for some reaction Kaleb really didn't understand.

"We are going to have to talk to the ghost about being good to our baby," Charlie muttered.

"Yes. Because I won't put either of you in danger." He kind of wanted to shout that. Do you hear me, house? I'll sell you first.

"Stone! We got a reading. Start the recording so we can talk!" Hank sounded so excited that he didn't have the heart to herd everyone out. He'd give them an hour. Then they were all heading back to town.