And Cowboy Makes Three (Cowboys To The Rescue 2) (11 page)

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Authors: Martha Shields

Tags: #Contemporary, #Romance, #Fiction, #Forever Love, #Adult, #Bachelor, #Single Woman, #Sensual, #Hearts Desire, #Harlequin Treasury, #Series, #Cowboys, #Rescue, #Family Life, #Western, #Millionaire, #Groom, #Wyoming, #Rancher, #Marriage, #Deceptive, #Tycoon, #Relationships, #Marriage Minded, #General Romance, #Silhouette, #1990's

BOOK: And Cowboy Makes Three (Cowboys To The Rescue 2)

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“We’re having sex at least once a day. That should get us as pregnant as we need to be. More than that is overkill.”

“Neither of us has had to go to the emergency room yet.”

She threw her hands in the air. “What is it you want from me?”

“I want...” Jake rubbed the back of his neck. How did he put what he wanted into words? It was more complicated than mere desire, but that’s what he settled for. “I just want you.”

She flinched and sucked in a quick breath. After searching deep into his eyes, a look of sad resignation swept across her face, and she shook her head. “No, you don’t. You want a harem girl. Someone at your beck and call twenty-four hours a day.”

Her words echoed his earlier thoughts, but that didn’t make him like the way she put it. “If all I wanted was a mindless bimbo, I could’ve married years ago. Do you know how many women wanted to be Mrs. Jacob Anderson?”

Claire pointed at the velvet box on the desk. “So why didn’t you buy one of them like you’re trying to buy me? A huge bouquet of fresh flowers on my desk every morning. Expensive jewelry every other day. Clothes. A new car. When are you going to learn that I can’t be bought?”

He slammed both fists to the desk. “I’m not trying to buy you, damn it. Hell, other men buy their wives presents. Why can’t I?”

“Other men buy presents because they love their wives, and their wives know it. What’s your motive, Jake? You made it clear that love wasn’t going to be part of this relationship. Why did you buy me whatever is in that box?”

“Sapphires,” he growled. “I bought them because they match your eyes. Because I missed you today while I was at that damn meeting. I had an hour to kill while the plane refueled and instead of going over the contract one last time like I should have I went to Neiman Marcus and bought something I thought might make my wife’s eyes light up. Damn it, Claire, any other woman in the world would fall at their husband’s feet if they brought them what’s in that box.”

Claire’s chin lifted. “Then maybe you should’ve married one of them.”

“No. I married the right one.” He rose to full height and stared down at her. “But what about you, Claire? What do you want?”

He thought he saw a flash of passion cross behind her eyes, but it passed so quickly he wasn’t sure.

She cleared her throat and pulled the flaps of her sweater together. “I want what I wanted in the beginning. A baby and a job. That was the deal, remember? I didn’t know you expected me to come running every time you crooked your little finger.”

“If I expected that, you’d never leave the bed,” he told her. Her eyes narrowed and a hot flush crept up her throat. Spinning around, she sat back down at the computer.

But Jake wasn’t about to be dismissed. He grabbed the arm of the rolling chair and whirled her around to face him. “Is this how you scared away all those other men, angel? Did the cold shoulder work on them?”

She tried to pull away, but his hand on her chin forced her eyes back to his. “I told you before, I don’t scare easy.”

Tears sprang to her eyes but didn’t fall. “Why are you doing this?”

“Why are you?” he countered. “You weren’t like this on our honeymoon. You weren’t afraid to want me then. What happened?”

Claire lunged at him so suddenly she succeeded in pushing him back. She sprang to her feet and shoved the chair with her leg so she could take several steps away from him. “Damn it, Jake! I refuse to fall in love with you.”

He froze in the act of reaching for her. “What?”

Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. “We have a deal and you want me. Fine. Let’s go.”

She started around the desk, but he grabbed her arm. “What the hell are you talking about?”

She jerked away and marched out of the room. “I’m going to your bed. That’s where you want me, isn’t it?”

Jake stared after her in dumbfounded silence. Love? She was falling in love with him? Is that what she meant?

Waves of warmth surged through him. Suddenly all the feelings he’d had earlier coalesced into one overwhelming desire—he wanted her to love him. No, it went beyond that. He needed her to love him. He needed to be the most important person in her life—more important than her job, more important than her brothers, more important than the child they were trying to create.

How could this be? He didn’t believe in love, did he?

Suddenly Jake realized that he didn’t believe in love because he didn’t know what love was. How could he when he’d never experienced it? How did Claire know she was falling in love with him? What were the signs?

And most important—how did he keep her love growing? How did he go about making her fall the rest of the way? She didn’t want his money, but what else did he have to offer? He’d spent the past twelve years amassing his fortune. Was money the sum total of his worth?

Jake reached a shaky hand up to push back his wet hair. Love was the one thing missing from his life, and he hadn’t realized it until just now—when the woman he wanted love from was doing her damnedest not to care for him. Why? Was he so unlovable?

A voice deep inside whispered that he must be. Who loved him, after all? Alan, perhaps, but with the casual love of a friend. Melissa certainly hadn’t loved him. Not even Jake’s own father had given a damn whether he rode home at night.

Needing answers to questions he didn’t know how to form, Jake went after Claire. He found her in their bedroom, angrily stripping off her clothes. She was down to lacy teal lingerie when he slipped his arms around her and drew her back against him.

“Would it be so horrible?” he asked softly.

She froze at his touch. “Would what be so horrible?”

“Loving me.”

She tensed as if fighting an inner battle, but finally she simply said, “Yes.”

When she didn’t elaborate, he demanded, “Why?”

“Because you’ll never love me back.”

Was that true? Was he incapable of love? Was it too late for him to learn? He told her the only thing he knew for certain. “I want you.”

She shook her head sadly. “That isn’t the same. That’s what makes it tough, though. It’s hard to tell the difference between wanting and loving.”

Heat shot through him at the subtle admission. “So you do want me, don’t you? Why have you been acting like you don’t?”

She sighed heavily. “I thought I could protect my heart.”

“Against me?”

“Yes.”

His arms tightened, as if he could hold her there forever. “Is it working?”

A deep shudder ran through her. “I don’t know.”

He growled and turned her around to face him. “I won’t let you fight me anymore, angel. You’re my wife. You should love me.”

“But you’re my husband, and you should love me. What’s the difference? I don’t want to be in this marriage by myself, Jake. I won’t be.”

Jake felt desperation spread through him. He wanted her to love him, but she expected the same in return. How could he love her when he didn’t know how to love anyone? Not for forever. He didn’t believe in forever.

. But suddenly he wanted to. Just the thought of Claire leaving him made icy bands of steel clamp around his heart, and he knew she’d leave someday if he didn’t love her in return.

Unable to answer her or to answer himself, he told her how he felt the only way he knew how. Pressing her back against the bed, he loved her all night long.

Chapter Seven

C
laire tore half her mind away from her office computer to pick up the ringing phone. “Claire Ed...Anderson.” She still had to make an effort to use her married name.

There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end of the line, then a voice she recognized instantly said, “So it’s true.”

Dread wrapped around Claire’s throat like a suffocating hand. “Alex.”

“You’re married,” her sister-in-law accused. “Claire, how could you?”

Claire shut her eyes and sagged back against the leather chair. She’d hoped to have a little time to prepare for this conversation so she’d know what to say. But that’s why she hadn’t called her family. She didn’t know how or exactly what to tell them. “How did you find out?”

“I just got a call from a lady who lives in Pawnee, Colorado. I met her last year when her daughter bought a barrel-racing horse from Hank. She apparently went to school with your husband, Jake. That’s his name, isn’t it?”

Her sister-in-law’s arch tones made Claire feel about as big as a speck of dust. “Yes.”

“She said the news is all the buzz in Logan County. She called to congratulate me. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t believe her, told her she had to be mistaken. But she said her cousin who lives in Denver saw an article in the society section of the newspaper.”

“Yes, I saw it.” Claire rubbed her temple. That stupid story ran three days ago. When she’d accused Jake of placing it, he denied it, then reminded her that the word was bound to get out. She just didn’t think it would get so far so fast.

“Are you pregnant?” Alex asked bluntly.

“Not that I know of.”

“Then why, Claire? Why didn’t you tell us? We’re your family, and you didn’t even invite us to the wedding.”

Claire forced in a deep breath that didn’t want to come. What could she say that Alex would believe? That wouldn’t make her sound like she’d rushed into marriage? Should she tell Alex what the doctor said? If she did, Alex might guess she married Jake just to have a baby. Alex knew how much Claire wanted children. No, she didn’t want to put any suspicions in her sister-in-law’s mind. Alex told Hank everything.

So what should she say? She wasn’t above telling little white lies to her family if it would keep them off her back, but she’d have to keep track of these lies the rest of her life. Maybe pieces of the truth would satisfy them.

“It all happened so quickly. We met and...Jake’s every bit as pigheaded as Hank.” She laughed weakly. At least that much was true. “He was bound and determined to marry me almost from the day we met. So he whisked me off to Las Vegas.”

“When?”

Claire thought about lying, but the network of cowboys—especially rodeo cowboys—was vast and interconnected. Someone would find out and tell her family the truth. So she named the date.

“That’s over two weeks ago,” Alex exclaimed.

“Yes.”

“How many times have we talked since then? Five? Six? You couldn’t tell your brother? Or even me?”

“I’m sorry, Alex. I just—It all happened so fast, like I said. I know you’ve always wanted to dance at my wedding. So when you called, I couldn’t figure out how to tell you I cheated you out of one. Then one call led to another, and it got harder and harder.”

Alex paused. “Are you happy? That’s the important thing. I’d rather you be happy than attend any wedding.”

“Happy?” The question bit deep. Claire knew she should be singing Jake’s praises, but Alex was shrewd and knew her too well. “Yes, of course. Though I have to admit sometimes I’m scared to death.”

To her surprise, Alex chuckled. “Honey, that’s perfectly normal. Especially for newlyweds. Heck, I’ve been married to your brother for nine years, and I still have days when I’m scared to death. Just get past those times. It’s all worth it if you love him.” Her voice turned serious. “You do love him, don’t you?”

“Yes, of course I do.” Claire crossed her fingers, hoping it was a lie.

“So tell me about him.”

“Well...his name is Jacob Henry Anderson. He’s six-two and built like...well, like Hank. Broad shoulders, narrow hips, big hands. He’s got dark hair and dark eyes. He’s thirty-two, the same age as Travis.” She hesitated half a second. “And very, very rich.”

“I already knew that much. Why do you think Myrtle called to congratulate me?” Alex grumbled. “Tell me what he’s really like.”

Claire thought about how to describe Jake’s personality. “He’s very generous and patient,” she said, thinking of the care he took in their lovemaking and how he waited for the right investments. “And persuasive and powerful and devastatingly charming when he puts his mind to it.”

“So he’s perfect?”

Claire gave an unladylike snort. “Hardly. He can be ruthless and pigheaded and arrogant and bossy and—” With a sudden groan, she plopped her elbow on the desk and propped up her head. “Dem. I just realized I’m describing Hank. Jake’s exactly like my brother.”

Alex’s chuckle didn’t surprise her this time. “They say women marry men like their fathers. And since Hank’s the closest thing you had to one...”

“But I always said I wouldn’t have anything to do with a man like Hank.”

“Or have anything to do with a cowboy.”

“Oh, Jake isn’t a cowboy,” Claire assured her. “He lives in Denver and runs the most successful investment company in Colorado.”

“Myrtle told me he owned the Bar Hanging Seven near Pawnee.”

Claire’s mouth fell open. Jake owned a ranch? She’d married a cowboy? No, it wasn’t true. It couldn’t be.

“Claire, are you there?”

“Uh...yeah. He...” A wife would know if her husband owned a ranch, wouldn’t she? “It’s just another investment.” Pleased with her quick thinking, she was also relieved. The ranch must be just another investment. Jake wasn’t a cowboy. She had inner radar that detected cowboys at twenty paces. Besides, she’d seen inside his closet and there wasn’t a single pair of steel-toed boots.

There was a brief silence on the line before Alex said, “You have to tell Hank, you know.”

The thought of Hank’s wrath made concern over a measly ranch fly right out of Claire’s mind. She sighed miserably. “I know.”

“Today.”

Claire groaned again.

“I mean it, Claire. The longer you wait, the madder he’s going to be.”

Claire straightened in her chair. “When will he be home?”

“He’ll be in for lunch today. Call then.”

“I will.”

“You know I don’t keep secrets from Hank. If you don’t call, I’ll have to tell him. And neither one of us wants that.”

Claire swallowed hard. “No. I don’t want to put you between us.”

“I’ll keep him here at least an hour.”

“Okay, Alex. I promise I’ll call.”

The phone rattled as Claire blindly placed it in the cradle. She glanced at her watch. Two hours until lunch. Two hours until every offensive substance known to man would hit the fan.

Her eyes cut to the phone. More than anything, she wanted to call Jake. She wanted to lean against his steady warmth, feel his steely arms wrap around her and ask him to make her brother go away—for just a little longer.

Claire shook her head with a bitter laugh. Oh, yeah,
that
was really independent. What was happening to her? She’d never needed anyone before, especially not a man.

Hank was her brother, and she’d been dealing with him for the past twenty-eight years with no help from anybody. This situation wasn’t any different.

She turned back to the computer, determined to believe those words. But, dern, sometimes being independent wasn’t any fun at all.

Jake entered the empty office outside Claire’s, intent on taking his wife to lunch. Without knocking, he pushed Claire’s office door open to find her on the phone. She faced away from the door, staring out the window. He was about to announce his presence when she answered whoever was on the line.

“I know he’s filthy rich, Hank, but I didn’t marry him for his money.”

So, she was finally telling her brother she was married. About time.

“Why does anyone get married? Why did you marry Alex?... Well, then... I have to say the words? Okay, I love him. Are you satisfied now?”

She loved him? Joy and relief nearly brought Jake to his knees. Though he knew gaining her love had become important to him—important enough for him to spend all his energy the past couple of days breaking down her defenses—until that moment he hadn’t known how important.

“I know it happened fast, believe me. But you’ve always said you would’ve married Alex two weeks after she came to the Garden if she would’ve let you. Love at first sight must run in the family. Besides, I’m twenty-eight years old. If I’m going to have children, I need to get started.”

When Claire swiveled slightly in her chair, Jake noticed her white-knuckled grip on the receiver. He frowned. Was she telling the truth about loving him, or was she lying for her family’s sake?

“I didn’t exactly lie, Hank. I just didn’t tell you ev—Because I knew you’d react just like you’re reacting. I’m a grown woman, for Pete’s sake. When are you going to realize that? I don’t need you to protect me and I don’t need you to run my life... No, you don’t need to come down here. I’m fine... No, Hank, please. How about if we come up for Christmas?”

Concerned by the panic in Claire’s voice, Jake strode into the room. She jumped to her feet when she saw him, her face pale, her eyes wide.

“What did you say?” she asked into the phone. “I know I can’t stop you from coming, Hank, but I’m really busy now. Jake made me director of his accounting department. Learning the job is taking all my time.”

Jake held his hand out for the phone. “Let me talk to him.”

Claire’s eyes widened even farther, and she shook her head emphatically. “Tomorrow? No, Hank, you—”

“Give me the phone,” Jake said. “I’ll have to talk to him sometime.”

She took a step away. “What?... Yes, that’s him... But—Oh, all right.”

Claire thrust the receiver at Jake, muttering, “Why not? It can’t get any worse.”

Jake brought the phone to his ear. “Jake Anderson.”

“You the sidewinder who ran off with my sister?” a harsh voice demanded.

“I’m the man who married her,” Jake replied.

“You got a license to prove it?”

“Of course.”

“Better lay it out, then. I’ll be down there tomorrow to check it out.”

Jake smiled grimly. Far from being offended by Hank’s gruff manner, he approved of her brother’s protectiveness. “I’ll pick you up at the airport myself if you feel you have to come, but I’ve got a better idea.”

“Oh, yeah? What?”

“Thanksgiving is next week. Why don’t you bring the whole family and spend it with us?”

Claire emitted a strangled choke.

“You trying to buy time?” Hank asked suspiciously.

“Hell, no,” Jake replied. “If you want to see the marriage license, I’ll have it faxed to you within the hour. I just thought this would be an opportunity for you to look me over. And I know Claire misses her family.”

Claire’s hands clamped on his arm and she shook her head violently, mouthing, “No!”

“You got enough room there in your fancy apartment?” Hank asked.

“I thought we’d spend the weekend at the Bar Hanging Seven.” Jake ignored his wife’s gasp. “There’s plenty of room out there.”

“The Bar Hanging Seven near Pawnee?” Hank’s voice sounded decidedly impressed.

Jake easily held the phone away from Claire as she lunged at him and tried to grab it out of his hand. “You know it?”

“Who doesn’t? You’ve got the purest herd of Black Angus in the country. I’ve got over thirty heifers out of your bulls.”

“You pleased with them?”

“Sure am. I run a small herd now, concentrating on top quality.”

“We’ll talk about swapping a couple of bulls when you get here. That going to be tomorrow or next week?”

“Ah, hell. Let me ask Alex.”

Amazed the domineering brother Claire had described needed to ask his wife’s permission to visit, Jake turned to his wife. She watched him with accusing eyes.

“Why are you doing this to me?” she asked in an angry whisper.

“I thought you loved your family,” he said.

“I do,” she said hotly. “I just...”

“Just what?”

“I just wanted a little more time before I had to face them.”

Jake leaned down to place a kiss on her tight lips. “Don’t wony, angel. I’ll be there to face them with you.”

Her frown deepened. “At your ranch. Why didn’t you tell me you had a ranch?”