Destiny Wears Spurs (27 page)

Feeling better than he had all morning, he grabbed his overcoat and briefcase. Then he picked up his box of belongings and sailed out the door of Hammond’s Advertising Agency for good.

But not out of Monica Hammond’s life.

* * *

Monica couldn’t believe it. Cody had actually liked her campaign and was planning on using it. He’d lied to her, yes, but now that she knew why, she could understand. She should have listened to him when he’d tried to tell her.

She’d been doing a lot of thinking the past couple of days. Nat was right. Cody had lied about loving her to protect himself. He had to have known she would be devastated when she found out the truth, but what he hadn’t counted on was her understanding. She would do anything for her father. She should have known Cody would do the same for his.

God, her heart ached without him. She remembered the intense way he looked at her and felt its impact clear to her soul. And the tender way he touched her made her tingle all over. She missed the way his face lit up when he talked about his land, and the fact that he’d do anything for his men moved her deeply. She even missed his moodiness. She loved him. She even loved the country, and she’d never thought in a million years that she would want to live in small-town USA. The fresh air, the amazing view, the wide-open beauty that stretched on for miles. Her life had gotten crazy since she’d left. She’d give anything for the peace and quiet of the ranch right now.

And Buggy. Oh, how she missed her baby. Poor thing probably thought she’d abandoned him for good. She hadn’t even said good-bye.

Monica had fought hard to save her father’s company, so why not fight harder for something she wanted even more? Her father had said he would support whatever she wanted to do. He’d said so the day he’d given her his blessing to live her own life. And he liked Cody, which was a huge plus. Her father didn’t like many people.

So she’d decided it was time. Time to live out her dream. She’d contacted an art gallery in Denver and set up an appointment to meet with the director to show them her drawings. Now she just had to go back to Colorado and get them. And while she was there, it wouldn’t hurt to try to convince Cody she belonged on the ranch. She planned to just show up because if he knew what she was up to, he’d never let her come. Well, she could be as stubborn as he was.

Now, about another matter that had been plaguing her lately. She stared at the wall clock, pacing around her living room, wondering if it could be possible. One minute had gone by, but it seemed like an eternity. The instructions said wait three minutes. She wasn’t taking any chances. She was waiting five. She hoped she did it right. She was so nervous. She had to be sure. She glanced at the clock again.

She loved him and knew he was the only man for her. And she’d show him this city chick belonged right by his side, whether he liked it or not.

Four minutes.

Who said the man had to come after the woman? It was a new age. Why couldn’t she go to him, sweep him off his feet and ride off--okay, maybe
drive
off--into the sunset? She still wasn’t that good with a horse ... yet.

Life without him was unbearable. The thought of never seeing his face, never hearing his voice, never touching his body ... never, ever making love so beautifully again took her breath away. She couldn’t do it. She could not,
would
not live a life filled with that kind of pain.

Five minutes.

Taking a deep breath, she walked into the bathroom to check the test. There, before her, were two pink lines forming a plus sign. As she looked at herself in the mirror, the realization struck that she had Cody’s baby tucked deep inside her womb. A burst of pure joy spread through her, welling up in her throat and bringing tears of wonder to her eyes.

She was going to have a baby.

They’d used protection, but apparently she was the one percent it didn’t work for. And her cycle was never regular, so she hadn’t thought anything of it when she was two weeks late. It was only when she’d gotten sick to her stomach and her breasts had grown tender that she began to wonder. Her smile grew bigger as she repeated to herself, “I’m going to have a baby. Me, a mom. Wow. Who would have pictured that just a few short months ago?”

Then again, who would have pictured her falling in love with a cowboy? Time to pack her bags and follow her passion, because like the slogan said ... her destiny awaited her at Rafferty’s Remote Ranch.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Cody hung a large picture of the Rocky Mountains on his office wall. It covered the hole he’d punched through it the day Monica had left him. One miserable week ago.

That same day, he’d called her father. He told him he loved the campaign she had come up with, and that he planned to use it whether Hammond liked it or not. She was damn good, and he ought to take her more seriously. Her father had filled him in on Wendell and what he planned to do at the meeting. At the time it had assuaged Cody’s guilt, but it still left an empty hole in his heart. He had to face what Jake and Cassie had both tried to tell him.

He was in love with Monica.

He could admit it now. The problem was he’d ruined any chance he had with her. He’d told her he never loved her. A lie. Probably the biggest lie he’d ever told, and it had killed him to do it, but he’d thought she’d hate him when she found out his deception. He didn’t want to get hurt, so he’d hardened his heart. Problem was he was hurting anyway.

Cody would never be able to convince her to come back to the ranch now, but he could at least call her and tell her he’d lied. Tell her he really did love her, and that he was sorry. He owed her that much, even if she did hate him.

God, he missed her. He missed her so much his arms ached from not holding her. He missed hearing her laughter, smelling her honeysuckle scent, touching her soft skin. Hell, he even missed her rambling. Life was damn boring without her. This past week, he’d been lost. He wasn’t the only one. Buggy was miserable, Rusty and Hank were disappointed in him, and Festus ... well, hell, the cook flat-out refused to speak to him.

Cody had to hear her voice just one more time, so he dialed her apartment, but she didn’t answer. Where could she be on a Saturday? The agency was closed, but he took a chance and dialed the number. It only rang once.

A minute later, she came back on the line, sounding weak. “Sorry about that. Summer flu, I guess. But don’t worry. It’s nothing serious. I’ll--”

Click.

“Monica? Monica?” Dammit. They’d been cut off. He slammed down the phone, and the realization that she wasn’t any of his concern anymore plowed through him. The thought blindsided him, leaving him reeling. How had he let what they had come to this?
I’m a jackass.

He knew in his heart she wasn’t anything like Barbara. He sat down hard. What a fool he’d been. He’d thrown away the best thing that had ever happened to him out of sheer stupidity and fear. Well, no more. He’d wasted enough time being an idiot. He grabbed the phone book and called the airline to book a flight.

He was going to New York City. Shaking his head over that, he wrote instructions for Jake and left a message for Cassie. He would bring back his bride. Today. His smile turned to a frown. He vowed to make her come back with him if he had to carry her over his shoulder. Because if she didn’t, he would wither up and die. He couldn’t live without her.

Plain and simple.

* * *

Monica hurried out the door of her office several hours later and headed to the airport, praying she hadn’t missed her flight. She had stopped by her office to get the company’s affairs in order for Nat, when Cody’s phone call had caught her off guard. Then the line went dead. She’d tried to call him back, but the office phone had no dial tone. Then she’d tried him on her cell, but he wasn’t answering. Well she’d take her chances by just showing up. Once she was there, she was confident she could convince him to let her stay.

If he didn’t, well, she’d bunk with Buggy.

A while later, after she’d finished wrapping up her affairs, the company’s driver arrived to take her to the airport. She made it just in time and hurried to the ticket counter with her carry-on bag.

The line Monica stood in wasn’t long, but she checked her watch anyway. The announcer came over the loud speaker, saying the flight from Denver, Colorado to New York had arrived and would be debarking at gate twenty. Gnawing at her lip, she thought of Cody and what his reaction would be when she got to Colorado. Would he still want her or would he still deny that he loved her? Either way, she’d find a way to prove to him they were meant to be together.

The halls became crowded as passengers from the Colorado flight filed past the ticket counter. It was her turn. She stepped up to the counter, barely registering the tall, broad-shouldered man who sailed past her toward the payphones against the far wall.

She paused and sniffed the air then whipped her head around and stared. A tall, black-haired man stood behind her, and her breath caught. Heat swamped her face. “Sorry. I thought you were someone else. I thought I ...
smelled
him.”

Monica dug through her purse and gasped. “Oh, my God. I left my wallet on my desk after I purchased the ticket on the computer.” She had turned into a scatterbrain. She swallowed the lump in her throat, feeling so emotional these days.

“I guess I’ll have to make a run for it.” Only thing was, it could take forever to get through security, especially in New York. Hoisting her carry-on over her shoulder, she turned around and rushed toward the door only to freeze in her tracks. Was that a black cowboy hat bobbing at least a head above the crowd toward the payphones?

It couldn’t be. But there weren’t many men that tall wearing them. Her heart began to race, and she dropped her bag. She bent down to pick it up and then stood, but the hat had disappeared.

“I’m starting to hallucinate.” She shook her head and headed out the doors to borrow a phone and call for a ride. This day was turning into a nightmare.

Cody scooped up the quarter he’d dropped on the floor then stood and adjusted his cowboy hat. He stopped in front of the payphone and picked up the receiver to dial Monica’s number. The phone rang ten times before he hung up.

He hadn’t counted on her not being home. Inspiration struck, and he remembered her friend, Nat. He dialed information and got the number.
Be home
, he thought, and tapped his boot as the phone started to ring.

“
Know
you? Baby, I feel like I’ve
slept
with you. Sorry. Monica only mentions your name every other word.”

“Well, a little, but I think that’s normal. Listen, if you need to talk to her, try her office. She was there this morning, but you’ll have to hurry, she’s on her way--”

“She shouldn’t be on her way anywhere, she should be home resting.”

“You want to put her on bed rest already? Boy, you really
are
tense.”

Cody ignored that remark. “Thanks for the information.” He hung up. Damn right, he was tense. He needed to see Monica, talk to her, hold her in his arms, yet she was out gallivanting around, with the summer flu, no less. Well, he’d put a stop to that in a hurry. He planned to put her to bed and he planned to join her all night, flu or no flu.