The Durango Affair (4 page)

Durango chuckled. “Welcome to Montana. Didn’t you know this was the worst time of year to come visiting?”

No, she hadn’t known. The only thing that had been on her mind, once she’d made her decision, was to get to him and tell him about the baby as soon as she could.

She glanced back out the window. “And you think this will last a couple of days?”

“More than likely. The only thing we can do is to make the most of it.”

Savannah turned and met his gaze, taking in what he’d just said. It was simply a play on words, she presumed. She hoped. Being cooped up in the house with Durango for a couple of days and
making the most of it
wasn’t what she’d planned on happening. It didn’t take
much to recall just how quickly she had succumbed to his sexiness. All it had taken was a little eye contact and she’d been a goner.

“Come on, Savannah. Let’s eat.”

Savannah regarded him for a moment before crossing the room to the table where he’d placed the food. “Aren’t you concerned about losing power?”

Durango shook his head. “Nope. I have my own generator. It’s capable of supplying all the energy I need to keep this place running awhile. Then there are the fireplaces. I had one built for every bedroom as well as the living room. No matter how cold or nasty the weather gets outside, you can believe we’ll stay warm and cozy inside.”

Staying warm and cozy was another thing she was afraid of, Savannah thought, taking a seat at the table. There was no doubt in her mind that she and Durango could supply enough sensuous fire to actually torch the place.

“Everything looks delicious. I didn’t know you could cook,” she said, helping herself to some of the food he had prepared, and trying not to lick her lips in the process. She was so hungry.

Durango smiled as he watched her dig in, glad she had a good appetite. A lot of the women he’d dated acted as if it was a sin to eat more than a thimbleful of food. “I’m a bachelor who believes in knowing how to fend for myself. On top of that I’m Sarah Westmoreland’s son. She taught me Survival 101 well.”

Savannah tasted the mashed potatoes and thought they were delicious. “Mmm, these are good.”

“Thanks.”

After a few moments of silence Durango said, “I noticed you aren’t showing yet.”

Savannah met his eyes. She had felt the heat of his gaze on her, checking out her body, when she’d crossed the room to stand at the window. “I’m only two months, Durango. The baby is probably smaller than a peanut now. Most women don’t start showing until their fourth month.”

He nodded. “How has the pregnancy been for you so far?”

She shrugged. “The usual, I guess. What I’m battling now more than anything is the morning sickness. Usually I don’t dare eat anything but saltines before two o’clock every day, which is why I’m so hungry now.”

Durango’s eyes widened. “You’re sick every day?”

He looked so darn surprised at the thought of such a thing that she couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yes, just about. But according to the doctor, it will only last for another month or so.”

She tilted her head and looked at him. “Haven’t you ever been around a pregnant woman?”

“No, not for any length of time. When I went home for Easter last year, Jayla was pregnant and boy, was she huge. Of course, she was having twins.” He grinned. “Twins run in my family and there’s even a set of triplets.”

Savannah raised her eyes heavenward. “Thanks for telling me.”

Catching her off guard, Durango reached across the table and captured a lock of her hair in his hand, gently twining the soft, silky strands in his fingers. “I think triplets would be nice, and all with beautiful hazel eyes like yours.”

Savannah swallowed tightly as her grip on sanity
weakened. The way he was looking at her wasn’t helping matters. She sensed his intense reaction to her was just as potent as hers to him. It was just as strong as it had been that night, and at that moment the desire to have his hands on her again, touching her breasts, her thighs, the area between her legs, was strong and unexpected. If he were to try anything right now, anything at all, it would take all her willpower to resist him.

“I want to be around and see how your body changes with my baby growing inside you, Savannah,” he whispered huskily.

His words flowed over Savannah, caressing her in places she didn’t want to be touched, and making a slow ache seep through her bones. “I don’t know how that will be possible, Durango,” she whispered softly.

“It would be possible if we got married.”

She frowned and pulled back from him, breaking their contact. “You agreed not to bring that up again.”

A smile touched the corners of his lips. “I know, but I want to make you an offer that I hope you can’t refuse.”

She lifted her eyebrows. “What kind of offer?”

“That we marry and set a limit on the amount of time we’ll stay together. We could remain married during the entire length of your pregnancy and for a short while afterward—say six to nine months. After that, we could file for a divorce.”

She was stunned by his proposal. “What would doing something like that accomplish?” she asked, feeling the weight of his gaze on her and wishing she could ignore it.

“First, it would satisfy my need and desire to be with you during your pregnancy. Second, it would eliminate the stigma of my child being born illegitimate, which
is something that is unacceptable to me. And third, because you believe I’ll end up doing to you what your father did to your mother, at least this way you’ll know up front that the marriage will be short-term and you won’t lose any sleepless nights.”

Savannah’s frown deepened. “I never said I thought you would do me the way my father did my mother.”

“Not in so many words, but it’s clear you believe if I married you just for the baby that things wouldn’t work out between us. And in a way I have to agree. You’re probably right. Our marriage would be based on a sense of obligation on my part. There has to be more to hold a marriage together than just a baby. And to be quite honest with you, I’m not looking for a long-term marriage. But a short-term union, for our baby’s sake, would be acceptable to me. I believe it would be acceptable to you, as well, because we’d know what to expect and not to expect from the relationship.”

It seemed like a million questions were flashing in Savannah’s mind, but she knew the main one that she needed to ask. “Are you saying you’d want a marriage in name only? A marriage of convenience?”

“Yes.”

She swallowed and continued to meet his gaze. “And that means we won’t be sharing a bed?”

He studied her for a moment and knew what she was getting at. His desire for her was as natural as it could get, and he didn’t see it lessening any. If he wanted her at such a high degree now, he could just imagine how things would be once they were living together as man and wife under the same roof. Yes, he would definitely want to sleep with her.

Leaning back in his chair, he said, “No, not exactly. I have other ideas on the matter.”

She could just imagine those ideas. “Then keep whatever ideas you have to yourself.
If,
and I said
if,
I go along with what you’re proposing, we will
not
share a bed.”

“Are you saying that you didn’t enjoy sleeping with me?”

Savannah huffed an agitated sigh. Who had slept that night? Neither of them had until the wee hours of the morning. From what she remembered—and she was remembering it quite well—it was round-the-clock sex. And she had to admit, it was the best she’d ever had. The year she’d spent with Thomas couldn’t even compare. “That’s not the point.”

“Then what
is
the point?” Durango countered.

“The point is,” Savannah said, narrowing her eyes at him, “regardless of the fact that I did sleep with you that night, I usually don’t jump into any man’s bed unless I’m serious about him.” She decided not to tell him that she’d only been serious with two other guys in her entire love-life history.

He leaned forward. “Trust me, Savannah, once we’re married, we’ll be as serious as any couple can get, even if we plan for our marriage to last a short while. Frankly I see no reason why we shouldn’t sleep together. We’re adults with basic needs who know what we want, and I think we need to start being honest with ourselves. We’re attracted to each other, and have been from the first, which is why we’re in this predicament. Things got as hot as it gets.

“And,” he continued with an impatient wave of his
hand to stop her from saying whatever it was that she was about to say, “we might not have been in our right minds that night, since we might have overindulged in the champagne, but we did enjoy making love. So why pretend otherwise?”

Savannah scowled. She wasn’t pretending; she just didn’t want a repeat performance, regardless of how enjoyable it had been. “You’re missing the point.”

“No, I think that you are. You’re pregnant and I want to be a part of this pregnancy. It’s important that I be there with you during the time you’re carrying our baby, to bond with him or her while he or she’s still in your womb and for some months following that.”

“And just how long are you talking about?”

“Whatever period of time we agree on, but I prefer nothing less than six months. I’d even go into another year if I had to.”

She frowned. “I wouldn’t want you to do me any favors.”

“It’s not about doing you any favors, Savannah. I intend to always be a part of my child’s life regardless of whether you and I are together. But I think six months afterward should be sufficient, unless you want longer.”

When hell freezes over.
For a few moments Savannah didn’t say anything. What could she say when he was right? They had been attracted to each other from the first.

But what happened that night was in the past and she refused to willingly tumble back into bed with him again, and he had another thought coming if he assumed that she would. Evidently he was used to getting what he wanted, but in this case he wouldn’t be so lucky.

She then thought about the other thing he’d said, about wanting to connect to their child while it was still in her womb. She remembered reading in one of her baby books how such a thing was possible and important to the baby’s well-being. Some couples even played music and read books to their child while it was still growing inside the mother. Never in her wildest dreams would she have thought that Durango would know, much less care, about such things.

She pushed her plate back, glad she had eaten everything since it would probably be the last meal she’d be able to consume until this time tomorrow. “I need to think about what you’re suggesting, Durango.”

At the lift of his brow she decided to clarify. “I’m talking about the marriage of convenience
without
you having any bedroom rights. If your offer hinges on the opposite then there’s nothing for me to think about. I won’t be sleeping with you, marriage or no marriage.” She then thought of something.

“And where would we live if I went along with what you’re proposing?” she asked.

He shrugged broad shoulders. “I prefer here, but if you want I can move to Philly.”

Savannah knew that Durango was a man of the mountains. Here he was in his element and she couldn’t imagine him living in Philadelphia of all places. “What about your job?”

“I’ll take a leave.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “You’d be willing to do that?”

“For our child, yes.”

She searched his face and saw the sincerity in his words, and they overwhelmed her as well as frightened
her. He was letting her know up front that although he didn’t want a long-term commitment, he was willing to engage in a short-term one for the sake of her child.

Their child.

She stood. “Like I said, I need to think about this, Durango.”

“And I want you to think about it and think about it good. If you’re dead set against us sharing a bed then that’s fine. My offer of marriage still stands.”

He stood and came around the table to stand in front of her. “There are bath towels, a robe and whatever else you might need in the private bath adjoining your room. If you need anything else let me know. Otherwise, I’ll see you in the morning.”

“I’ll help you with the dishes and—”

“No, leave them,” he said quickly, releasing a frustrated breath. There was only so much temptation that he could handle and at that moment he wanted nothing more than to kiss her, taste her. But he knew that now was not the time. She needed a chance to think about his offer.

“I’ll take care of the dishes later after checking out a few things around my property,” he added.

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

“All right.”

Durango watched as Savannah quickly walked off. He couldn’t help but shake his head. Nothing had changed. The attraction between them was still as hot as it got.

T
he next morning Savannah awoke more confused than ever. She had barely gotten any sleep for thinking about Durango’s proposal. In a way it could make their mistake even bigger. On the other hand, he seemed sincere in wanting to help her through her pregnancy, and she wouldn’t deny him the chance to bond with his child, especially when very few men would care to do so.

Deciding she didn’t want to think about Durango’s proposal any longer, she sat up in bed and glanced out the window. The weather was worse than it had been the day before, which meant she couldn’t leave today unless the conditions miraculously cleared up.

At least the fireplace was blazing, providing warmth to the room. She settled back in bed, and remembered opening her eyes some point during the night and seeing Durango in front of the fireplace, squatting on his heels
and leaning forward, trying to get the fire going. At the time she had been too tired and sleepy to acknowledge his presence.

With the aid of the moon’s glow streaming through the window, she had lain there and watched him. A different kind of heat had engulfed her as she watched him working to bring warmth to the room. His shirt had stretched tight to accommodate broad shoulders and the hands that had held the wrought-iron poker had been strong and capable…just as they’d been the night he had used them on her. And later, when he had pushed himself to his feet, she had admired his physique—especially his backside—through heavy-lidded eyes, thinking that he had the best-looking butt to ever grace a pair of jeans.

She startled when there was a knock on her door. Knowing it could only be Durango, she swallowed hard and said, “Come in.”

He walked in, bringing enough heat into the room to make the fireplace unnecessary, and his smile made Savannah’s insides curl, making her feel even hotter there. How would she ever be able to remain immune to his lethal charm?

“Good morning, Savannah. I hope you rested well.”

“Good morning, Durango, and I did. Thanks. I see the weather hasn’t improved,” she said, sitting up in bed and tucking the covers modestly around her chest. Because she hadn’t figured this would be an extended trip, besides her camera pack, which she was rarely without, she’d only brought a book to read on the plane, her makeup and one change of clothing. She’d been forced to sleep in an oversize Atlanta Braves T-shirt that she had found in one of the dresser drawers.

“No, the weather has gotten worse and I need to leave for a while and—”

“You’re going out in that?” she asked.

His eyebrows raised a half inch and the smile on his face deepened. “This is nothing compared to a storm that blew through last month. I’m a member of the Search and Rescue Squad so I’m used to going out and working in these conditions. I just got a call from the station. A couple of hikers are missing so we have to go out and find them. There’re a number of isolated cabins around these parts and I’m hoping they sought shelter in one of them.”

She nodded and moved her gaze from his to glance out the window again. She couldn’t imagine anyone being caught out in the weather and hoped the hikers were safe.

“Will you be all right until I get back?” he asked.

She met his gaze again. “I’ll be fine.” She watched as he turned to leave and quickly said, “Be careful.”

Pausing to glance back at her, he said, “I will.” He smiled again and added, “I don’t intend for you to give birth to our child without me.”

Savannah had hoped this morning would be different, but as soon as her feet touched the floor she began experiencing her usual bout of morning sickness and quickly rushed to the bathroom.

A short while later, after brushing her teeth, rinsing out her mouth and soaking her body in a hot tub of water, she wrapped herself in a thick white velour robe that was hanging in the closet and padded barefoot to the kitchen, hoping Durango kept saltine crackers on hand.

A sigh of gratitude escaped her lips when she found a box in his pantry and opened the pack and began consuming a few to settle her stomach. She walked over to the window and glanced out at the abundance of twirling snowflakes. If it kept snowing at this rate there was no telling when she would get a flight out.

Durango stomped the snow off his shoes before stepping inside his home. The thought of Savannah being there when he returned was what had gotten him through the blinding cold while the search party had looked for the hikers. Luckily they had found them in fairly good condition in an old, abandoned cabin.

Quietly closing the door behind him, he slid out of his coat and glanced across the room. Savannah was curled up on the sofa, asleep. Her dark, curly hair framed her face, making her even more beautiful. She looked so peaceful, as if she didn’t have a care in the world, and he could have stood there indefinitely and watched her sleep.

When she stirred slightly it hit him that even now something was taking place inside her body. His seed had taken root and was forming, shaping and growing into another human being. For a brief moment a smile touched his lips as he envisioned a little girl with her mother’s black curly locks, caramel-colored skin and beautiful hazel eyes.

Females born into the Westmoreland family had been a rarity and for almost thirty years his cousin Delaney had been the only one, having the unenviable task of trying to handle a dozen very protective Westmorelands—her father, five brothers and six male cousins.
Then, just eighteen months ago, it was discovered that his uncle Corey had fathered triplets that included a girl—Casey. Mercifully, this discovery had taken some of the attention off Delaney.

Now Storm and Jayla had daughters and he heard that Dare and Shelly, as well as Delaney and Jamal, who had sons already, were hoping for girls this time around. Just the thought of a future generation of female Westmorelands made him shudder. But still, he liked the idea of having a daughter to pamper, a daughter who was a miniature version of Savannah.

He had to admit there were a number of things about the woman asleep on his couch that stirred feelings inside him. One was the fact that she hadn’t used her pregnancy to force his hand. He could name a number of women who definitely would have shown up demanding that they marry by the end of the day. Savannah, on the other hand, hadn’t been thrilled by the suggestion and even now hadn’t agreed to go along with him on it. For some reason Durango liked the thought of having her tied to him legally, even for a short while.

He gazed down at her. She was wearing the oversize T-shirt and jogging pants that he had left out for her. Both were his and fit rather large on her. Even so, he couldn’t help but notice the curve of her breasts beneath the cotton shirt. They seemed larger than he’d remembered. It was going to be interesting, as well as fascinating, to watch her body go through the changes it would endure during the coming months. And more than anything, he wanted to be around to see it.

He shook his head, thinking that if anyone had told him last week he would be feeling this way about a
pregnant woman, he would not have believed them. He knew he would have a hard time convincing his best friend, McKinnon Quinn, that he’d not only accepted Savannah’s pregnancy but was looking forward to the day she gave birth. He and McKinnon were known to be the die-hard bachelors around these parts and had always made it a point to steer clear of any type of binding relationship.

When Savannah made a soft, nearly soundless sigh in her sleep and shifted her body, making the T-shirt rise a little to uncover her stomach, Durango stifled a groan and was tempted to go over and kiss the part of her body where his child was nestled. He closed his eyes as his imagination took over when he knew he wouldn’t want to stop at just her stomach. Even now her seductive scent filled the room and tantalized his senses. He felt tired, exhausted, yet at the same time he felt his body stirring when he remembered the heated passion the two of them had once shared. A passion he was looking forward to them sharing again one day.

Savannah awoke with a start, immediately aware that she was no longer alone. The smell of food cooking was a dead giveaway.

Her memory returned in a rush and she recalled her bout with morning sickness and how she had decided to lie on the sofa when a moment of dizziness had assailed her. She must have fallen asleep. She couldn’t help wondering when Durango had returned. Why hadn’t he awakened her? Had they found the missing hikers?

“Did you eat anything?”

The sound of Durango’s deep voice nearly made her jump. She met his gaze and instantly, her body was filled with a deep, throbbing heat. He had removed the pullover sweater he’d been wearing over his jeans earlier and was dressed in a casual shirt that was open at the throat, giving him a downright sexy appeal, not that he needed it.

There was something about him that just turned her on. It would be hard to be married to him—even on a short-term basis—without there ever being a chance of them sharing a bed. But she was determined to do just that.

Knowing she hadn’t answered him, she said, “No, but thanks for leaving breakfast warming for me in the oven. My stomach wasn’t cooperating and I wouldn’t have been able to keep anything down. I found some saltines in your pantry and decided to munch on those.”

Durango nodded, recalling her mentioning the previous day that she’d been unable to eat most mornings. “Have you seen a doctor?”

“Yes, although I’m going to have to find another one soon. Dr. Wilson is the same doctor who delivered me and Rico and he’s retiring next month.”

“Isn’t he concerned with you being sick every day? Are you and the baby getting all the nutrients you need?”

Savannah shrugged as she sat up. “Healthwise Dr. Wilson says that both the baby and I are fine.”

He leaned back against the wall. “When you go to the doctor again I’d like to be there.”

“In Philadelphia?”

“Wherever you decide to go doesn’t matter. And since your doctor is retiring, just so you’ll know, there’s a good obstetrician here in Bozeman and she’s female.”

She tipped her head back and looked at him and wished she could stop her pulse from racing at the sight of his lean, hard body. “Really? That’s good to know.”

He smiled. “I thought it would be.”

He came into the room and sat in the chair across from her, stretching his long legs out and crossing them at a booted ankle. “Have you thought about what I proposed last night?”

“Yes, I thought about it.”

“And?” he asked gently, knowing she was a woman who couldn’t be rushed.

“And I need more time to make up my mind,” she said, fixing her gaze on his boots.

“I wish I could tell you to take all the time you need, but time isn’t on our side, Savannah. If we do decide to get married there needs to be a wedding.”

Her head snapped up. “A wedding?”

He smiled at her surprised expression. “Yes. I don’t anticipate one as elaborate as Chase’s, but as you know, we Westmorelands are a large family with plenty of friends and acquaintances and—”

“It’s not as if it would be a real marriage, Durango, so why bother?”

“Because my parents, specifically my mother, who won’t know why we’re getting married, would expect it.”

“Well, personally I can’t see the need for a lot of hoopla over something that won’t last. If I decide to accept your proposal, I prefer that we go off somewhere like Vegas and not tell anyone about it until it’s over. They will eventually know the real reason we got married in a few months anyway.”

Durango nodded, knowing she was right. His family,
who knew how he felt about marriage, would know it wasn’t the real thing no matter what he told them. “What about your mother?”

“She’s leaving tomorrow for Paris and won’t be back for a couple of weeks. If I do decide to marry you, she’ll be okay with my decision and it won’t bother me that she won’t be at the ceremony since she knows I don’t believe in happily-ever-after.”

Durango rubbed the back of his neck with an irritated frown. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe in fairytale romances, but after Tricia he figured it would be more fantasy than reality for him. “Fine. If you agree, we can elope and then if our parents want to do something in the way of a reception later, that will be fine. All right?”

She sighed. “All right.”

“So when will you let me know your decision?”

“Before I leave here. Do you think the weather will have improved by tomorrow?”

“I’m not sure. Usually these types of snowstorms can last for a week.”

“A week? I didn’t bring enough clothes with me.”

He thought now was not a good time to tell her he wouldn’t mind if she walked around naked. “The last time Delaney was here she left a few of her things behind. The two of you are around the same size so you should be able to fit into them if you want to try.”

“You don’t think she’d mind?”

“No.”

“All right then, if you’re sure it’s okay.”

He stood. “Do you think your stomach has settled enough for dinner? I cooked a pot of beef stew.”

“Yes, I think it will be able to handle it. Would you like some help in the kitchen?”

“If you’re up to it you can set the table.”

She stood. “I’m up to it. Did you find the hikers?”

“Yes, we found them and they’re fine. Luckily one was a former Boy Scout and knew exactly what to do.”

She smiled, relieved, as she followed him into the kitchen. “I’m glad.”

Savannah was amazed at the degree of her appetite and flushed with embarrassment when she noted that Durango had stopped to watch her, with amusement dancing in his eyes, as she devoured one bowl of stew and was working on her second.

She licked her lips. “I was hungry.”

“Apparently.”

When she pushed the empty bowl aside, he chuckled and said, “Hey, you were on a roll. Don’t stop on my account.”

Her brows came together in a frown. “I’ve had enough, thank you.”

“You’re welcome. I’ve got to keep the ballerina on her toes.”

“What ballerina?”

“Our daughter.”

Savannah raised a glass of milk to her lips, took a sip and then asked, “You think I’m having a girl?”