And Cowboy Makes Three (Cowboys To The Rescue 2) (9 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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She pushed forward slightly to place a kiss in the bend of Jake’s elbow. He stirred slightly and drew her back against him. Claire snuggled closer, fitting her curves into his. She could definitely get used to this.
Her brows knit. Was it possible? Was fate quirky enough to throw them together in such a bizarre way and expect them to find love?
Claire closed her eyes and mentally shook her head. Neither one of them was looking for love, most of all Jake. He wanted an heir, plain and simple. Any woman stuck in that elevator with him would probably have ended up as his bride. She’d been in the right place at the right time—or was that the wrong place at the wrong time?
She laid a hand across her stomach. Even now, their child could be growing within her. A few tiny cells grabbing their first foothold in this world. The wonder of it took her breath away. She wanted a child more than anything.
What about Jake? Would he love this baby? Or was it just another business acquisition? What if her notion had been right that Jake didn’t know how to love? What if he never learned? What would that do to their children?
What would it do to her?
Jake shifted ever so slightly, drawing Claire even closer. She shivered all the way down to her toes.
She’d thought having a child would be enough, but now she realized she wanted the whole package—a job she loved, happy kids and a loving husband. She wanted to feel like she felt right now for the rest of her life—warm. safe, cherished. And most of all...wanted.
Except for his brief calls to the office, she’d been at the center of Jake’s attention for the last three days. He hadn’t spent more than ten minutes at a time out of her sight. She’d never felt this important to anyone.
Never in a bizillion years would she have thought she’d actually like having so much attention, being held so closely. It worried her to discover she did. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear she was falling in love.
Claire felt a frown furrow her forehead.
She’d always been just fine alone. She became irritated with men who demanded too much of her time, gave the cold shoulder to guys who called her several times a day, who acted like she belonged to them.
Claire Eden didn’t belong to anyone except Claire Eden. Never had. Never would.
Only...now she was Claire Anderson. Jake insisted she take his name, to avoid confusion for their children.
Another part of her identity...slipping away.
No!
She refused to become a shadow under Jacob Anderson’s wing.
She had to take her cue from him. She had to refuse to believe in love. If she didn’t believe it could happen, it wouldn’t. She just had to recognize the tender feelings that came in the aftermath of passion for what they were—physical satisfaction. The warmth came from his body, the safety from his strength, and as for feeling cherished—well, that was an illusion. He wanted her for one thing only, and that certainly wasn’t love.
She was Jacob Anderson’s broodmare. All right, she accepted that. But that meant he was her stallion, standing at stud. He wanted an heir. She wanted a baby. Like any good stock, they were coming together to breed. That’s what they would do. That’s
all
they would do.
Claire carefully reviewed her plan for flaws, like she’d check a spreadsheet for entry errors. Her logic seemed sound—except for one tiny detail. If she hadn’t been able to distinguish between love and lovemaking during their three-day honeymoon, what made her think she’d be able to now?
To be on the safe side, maybe she should avoid making love as much as possible. Yes, she wanted to get pregnant, but that didn’t mean they had to make love twenty-four hours a day, did it? Surely once a day would do the job just as well. The less time she spent in his arms, the less chance there’d be of falling in love.
They were flying home today. Back in Denver her days would be filled with starting her new job. And her nights, well...
As long as she could keep her perspective, her independence would be safe—and so would her heart.
Chapter Six
 
J
ake squinted at the alarm clock. Six-thirty. As a Denver radio announcer predicted snow at the higher elevations, he reached over to wake Claire, but his arm came up empty. Frowning, he threw back the covers on the king-size bed in the master bedroom of his penthouse and headed for the bathroom.
Claire stood in front of the mirror, leaning close to brush mascara on her eyelashes. She wore one of the few casual shirts he kept at the penthouse. Unbuttoned, it revealed a set of lingerie he’d had delivered to the hotel in Las Vegas after their fight at the mail—a black lace bra that barely covered the essentials and panties to match.
Feeling himself stir to life, confident of his reception, he took another step into the bathroom.
She started when he appeared in the mirror. “I didn’t know you were awake.”
He slipped his arms around her slender waist, inside the shirt so he could touch the skin that felt like velvet. “How long have you been up?”
Claire held herself very still. “Several hours. I guess I’m a little nervous about my first day.”
“Why didn’t you wake me?” he asked in a husky voice as he bent to taste the nape of her neck.
“You were sleeping so soundly I didn’t want to disturb you.” Instead of melting into him as she usually did when he touched her, she stiffened and tried to pull the shirt back together. “Please, Jake. Not now.”
His lips froze on her neck. She was refusing him?
Raising his head, he met her troubled eyes in the mirror. It was the first time she hadn’t turned to him, eager for his kisses.
He didn’t like it—not one bit.
He wanted her more now than he had on their wedding night. Sometimes he didn’t even remember they were trying to make a baby, so lost did he become in the intense pleasure. Each time they made love was hotter, higher, better than the time before. He loved the throaty cries she made, the gasp of pleasure when he entered her, the way she pulsed inside when she reached the peak of passion. Because he didn’t use a condom, he could feel every tiny ripple.
Jake’s face tightened. He couldn’t get enough of her. Never had he been this insatiable, never so less in control.
His frown deepened, and his arms fell away from her as if she’d suddenly turned into a red-hot coal.
She shuddered visibly and lowered her eyes.
He had to clench his hands into fists to keep from yanking her back into his arms and forcing her to admit to the passion they’d shared during the past three days. Appalled at his total lack of discipline, he wheeled toward the shower only to stop short again. The dark red suit he’d bought her in Las Vegas—again over her arguments—hung on the shower door.
“Oh, I was steaming the wrinkles out of it.” She dropped the small brush she’d picked up and stepped toward the shower. “It’s the only thing I have to wear since I haven’t had time to go by my apartment. I’ll just—”
Jake stopped her with a hand on her arm. “I’ll use another bathroom.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Jake. This is your home. I’ll use another bathroom.”
“No,” he said sternly. “This is your home now, too. We’ve just got to get used to working around one another.”
She smiled nervously. “I guess you’re right. Most couples have months or years to get to know each other before they marry.”
He relaxed enough to return her smile. She really was on edge. After a day of work she’d see that everything was going to run as smoothly as it always had, and she’d be fine. Back to her innocently passionate self. Though he didn’t want to, he could certainly find enough discipline within himself to wait until tonight to taste the delights of his wife again.
He bent to place a quick kiss on her lips. “We just need a little time to learn each other’s schedules. I’ll use the other bathroom today.”
“But I can—”
“Don’t worry about it. I just need to grab the shampoo.”
“Okay. I’ll be out of here by the time you shower so you can shave.”
Jake opened the shower door and grabbed his shampoo. “See? We’re compromising already.”
He stole another kiss, then walked out the door.
 
“How did it go today?”
Claire twisted around from the computer in her seventh-floor office to see Jake leaning against the doorjamb, an intimate smile on his face.
Damn the man. How could she play it cool when just the sight of him made her forget to breathe? She’d escaped making love that morning, even though she’d been ready to throw him on the floor the instant she felt his hands on her.
“Don’t look at me like that,” she told him.
That wicked brow lifted. “Like what?”
“Like you know what color my underwear—” She rolled her eyes. “I guess you do know, don’t you?”
His grin widened. “Black lace. The ones I bought you in Vegas.”
Claire felt heat climb up her neck, and she craned to look around him. “Mrs. Hamby...”
“Has gone home for the day. Which is what we’re going to do. It’s after seven, angel. I came to take you to supper.”
She shook her head. “I’ve got too much work.”
He stalked around the desk like a huge cat, certain of his prey. “The beans will still be here tomorrow.”
Claire eyed him warily as he approached, but she was determined not to let him intimidate her. “That’s true, but I scheduled meetings with each one of the employees under me tomorrow, and I need to know what I’m talking about.”
Instead of towering over her, he gave her a quick peck on the lips, then sat on the edge of her desk. “So your first day went well?”
Pushing her chair back so she could look at him without craning her neck, she sent him a grateful smile. “It’s a little early to tell, but I think everything’s okay. Thanks for giving me such a supportive introduction this morning. It helped the transition.”
“No problem. But the transition started days ago when Jim Gordon informed the staff of the change first thing Monday morning. So they’ve had three days to get used to the idea.”
“Are you sure Jim doesn’t resent not getting this job?”
Jake’s eyes narrowed. “Has he said anything to you? Acted in a way like he—”
“No, of course not I just wondered.” She lifted a shoulder. “I’ve never been responsible for so many people before. I guess I have to get used to it.”
“Like you have to get used to me?”
She quickly glanced up at his sexy tone, but his face was playful. “I hope it’s sooner than that.”
He grinned and reached for her. “Let me help.”
She pushed her chair back to avoid his arms. “Oh, no, you don’t, Jacob Anderson. Not in my office. You made me director of this department and I’ve got to maintain a high sense of—”
She squealed in a very unbosslike manner as she suddenly found herself lifted from her chair. He took her place and laid her across his lap. Before she had a chance to protest, his lips covered hers. The warm pressure swept her senses away, and with them went every well-thought-out, logical reason to avoid his touch. Nearly an entire day had passed since she’d tasted him, held him, breathed in the musky scent that fogged her brain. Every cell of her skin ached to feel his pressed against it. She wanted him hot, and hard, and now.
Slipping a hand under his jacket, she traced his ribs around to his back.
Jake groaned and shifted her so her bottom settled on his arousal. White-hot desire surged through her.
“Mrs. Anderson, do you really have to—”
Claire’s head snapped around to see a red-faced Jim Gordon. Her own cheeks flaming, she sprang from Jake’s lap, jerked her skirt down and tried to snap her brain back into the “on” mode. “Jim! I didn’t know you were still here.”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Anderson. I didn’t know you were—” he cleared his throat miserably “—occupied.”
A muffled laugh escaped Jake. Claire kicked his foot under cover of her desk and tried hard to keep her composure. “What did you need, Jim?”
“I just wondered if you wanted the payroll files tonight. Michele has already gone home and she had most of them locked up in her office.”
“Go home, Jim,” Jake told him. “Mrs. Anderson doesn’t need those files tonight. We’re headed out the door.”
Claire wheeled around to pin him with a scathing look. How dare he make that decision for her? That damn eyebrow of his rose, daring her to contradict him. With a lift of her chin, she turned back to her employee to do just that.
“Then you won’t be needing me any more tonight?” Jim asked hopefully. “It’s my wife’s birthday, and I promised to take her to dinner.”
Claire’s pique faded. She felt like a heel that had stepped in something in the barn. “Why didn’t you tell me this was a special occasion? You should’ve gone home hours ago.”
“It was your first day, Mrs. Anderson. As second in command I needed—and wanted—to help smooth your way.”
Claire smiled at him. After today she understood why Jim had been Alan Townsend’s most trusted employee. He would’ve made an excellent director of accounting. “You’ve been a tremendous help, Jim. Thank you. We’ll continue tomorrow. Now go home and be with your family. I never asked. Do you have children?”
The thin, slightly balding man beamed. “Three girls. Ten, seven and four.”
“I’m sure they’re waiting for you. See you in the morning.” She felt Jake’s hand slip around hers and squeeze.
“I’ll be here at seven, as usual.”
“I’ll be here early, too. See you then.”
As Jim left, Jake rose and snaked an arm around her waist. “You handled that well.”
Claire’s eyes narrowed, and she stepped back. “I didn’t handle it at all. You did.”
He looked surprised. “What did I do?”
“You answered questions my employee addressed to me. Is this or isn’t it my department?”
“Of course it is.”
“Then please let me run it. I know you’re their boss and mine, but I’m not going to have much respect if you keep talking for me.”
He held up his hands in surrender. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize what I was doing. Cut me some slack, okay?”
Claire released a hot breath and turned to grab her purse. “I’ll cut you some slack, all right, the next time you paw me in front of my employees.”
He took her arm in a viselike grip and pulled her around to face him. “In the first place, I didn’t know he was still here. Neither did you. In the second, I’m not ashamed of wanting my wife. Hell, Gordon had to do a little pawing himself to get three kids.”
“And?” she asked impatiently.
“And what?”
“Everything with you comes in threes. Surely, you have a third place.”
He drew her inexorably against him with a lecherous smile. “You’re the third place. You were doing more than a little pawing of your own, Mrs. Anderson.”
Claire’s chin rose, but she wouldn’t admit he was right. He touched her, and she melted. Not a good sign, not if her plan to hold herself aloof from him was to succeed. She was going to have to try a heck of a lot harder. For Pete’s sake, she’d have let Jake take her right there on her desk. What an eyeful that would’ve been for Jim.
She couldn’t cover a smile as she imagined the look on her employee’s bespectacled face.
“Let’s go home,” Jake said. “Where we can do our pawing in private.”
 
Three nights later, Jake pushed open the door to the office in the penthouse to find Claire on the phone. She faced away from the door, toward the city lights spread out below. He paused in the doorway and glanced at his watch. Almost ten. Who could she be talking to this late?
“Didn’t you get the message I left two days ago?... I know. I was out of town.... Nothing. Just the usual.... No.... No.... Thanksgiving? Dem, I don’t know... Yes, I know I haven’t been home since JJ.’s birthday...”
Jake relaxed. She was talking to her family.
“Okay.... Right... No, Hank, I’m not dating anyone right now, I—”
She stopped abruptly as she swiveled and met Jake’s suddenly narrowed eyes head-on. “What did you say?... Oh, nothing. Listen, Hank, I have to go. I’ll call you in a couple of days. No, don’t call me.... No, Hank.” She sighed heavily. “Goodbye, Hank. Give my love to Alex and the kids.... I love you, too. Bye.”
She placed the receiver back in the cradle slowly, deliberately.
“Not dating anyone?” Jake repeated in arch tones. “What am I, chopped beef?”
“I’m not dating anyone,” she told him. “I’m married.”
“But you didn’t tell your family that,” he accused from the door. “We’ve been home four days, been married a week, and you still haven’t told them.”
“No,” she said softly. “I haven’t.”
Her words felt like a punch in the gut, like betrayal at the basest level. He approached the desk and leaned across from her on straight arms. “Are you ashamed of me?”

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