Cowboy Daddy (28 page)

Her daughter also brought her up-to-date, she reminded herself. The twice-weekly phone calls lasted almost an hour with Laurel chattering about her friends and her plans for the weekend. When Anne called, Jake rarely picked up, and when he did, he politely asked how she was feeling, then handed her over to their daughter.

She’d been back over a month, so why didn’t the beautiful white-on-white condo feel more like a home?

Anne turned from the window and walked toward her study. She’d brought work from the office, as she did most nights. Her new promotion carried with it a lot of responsibility. She wanted to be accessible to her team during the day which meant her paperwork had to be done in the evening. She had a big raise, stock options and use of the corporate apartment in New York when she went there on business. Heather had taken over her old job and was doing it very well on little more than forty hours per week.

“You don’t have to kill yourself to be successful,” Heather often reminded her when they went out for lunch. “I might not get the next promotion as quickly as you got yours, but I have a family to think of.”

Anne did, too, but she hadn’t told anyone about her pregnancy. As she entered her study, she touched her rounded stomach. All but the most formfitting of her suit skirts still fit. Still, she would have to think about buying some maternity clothes soon. And this condo. She glanced around at the perfect decorations. Maybe she would sell it and buy a small house with a yard. She had to think about hiring a nanny to take care of the baby while she was at work.

She sat behind her desk but instead of picking up the file on top, she reached for the photograph Laurel had sent her. It was her school picture. The teenager smiled out at the camera. Her hazel eyes hinted at laughter and a loving spirit that even difficult circumstances couldn’t deny. Anne remembered the fight they’d had about what the girl would wear for the photo session. The screams that had led to tears and a deeper understanding of their relationship. There had been so many tears. Later, when Laurel had found out about the baby, and then at the airport, when they waited for her plane.

Anne closed her eyes to block out the visions of the past, but they intruded. Her flight had been late, giving them more time to stand around awkwardly promising to call and write. Jake had looked as if she was ripping his heart out by leaving, but that couldn’t be true. He didn’t really love her; he wanted his child.

But she still loved him. Not a day went by that she didn’t ache for him. Her body needed for him to ignite and consume her passion, her mind and spirit longed to be in his presence, to hear his voice, to love him honestly, as a woman loves a man. She grew sick with wanting, then told herself it was the baby making her feel ill, not missing Jake. Besides she would be seeing him in a few weeks.

She opened her eyes and leaned back in her chair. How was she going to get through that visit? Laurel and Jake were coming to Houston for Christmas, then Jake was returning to the ranch right after the holiday, and his daughter was spending the rest of her vacation in the city. Anne had planned to take several days off. The holidays were always slow around the office. She and Laurel would see the sights; she even had tickets for a Houston Ballet performance. Then Laurel would fly home and Anne would be alone. Again.

But it wasn’t the being alone that scared her. She would deal with that when it happened. It was seeing Jake. Being in the same room with him for three days. She only had one spare bedroom so he would be staying at a nearby hotel. When he told her about his plans she’d wanted to offer her couch, but she knew how easily that would lead to her bed, and then they would be back where they had started. She wouldn’t be able to leave him again. She knew that now.

“I’m fine,” she said, aloud, and reached for the top folder. After flipping it open, she stared at the page in front of her. But instead of words and numbers, she saw Jake’s face, the gold flecks in his eyes, and the smile that could melt her bones.

“Stop it,” she ordered herself. She didn’t need a man in her life. She didn’t need Jake. She and her baby would be fine by themselves. Just fine. After all, she’d worked hard for her career and this promotion. She deserved the chance to be successful.

She looked at her hands. Her nails had grown back and her skin was smooth again. Still she missed the baking and the sewing. The quilt she’d been working on lay packed in a box. She hadn’t taken it out to finish it. She told herself she was too busy, but she knew the real reason was she couldn’t face the memories.

Her gaze swept her desk to another framed picture. This one was of her mother. “You always told me to be the best,” she said to the photo. “I’m being the best I can be, Mama.”

Her mother had also told her to be happy. That happiness was the most elusive gift of all, and if she found it, she should hold on to it with both hands. Anne

reached forward and touched the silver frame. She wondered what her mother would think if she knew her only daughter had settled for being just fine.

* * *

T
he flurry of present opening Christmas morning left the living room looking like a paper storm had blown through. Laurel sat on the floor in the center of the pile of presents. She opened yet another box and pulled out a pale pink wool sweater that matched a pair of corduroy pants Annie had given her.

“Cool,” the teenager said, then leaned over and kissed Annie’s cheek. “This was some Christmas.”

“I think Annie and I both went a little crazy,” Jake said, from his place on the white sofa. “We’re going to have to be on our toes to keep you from turning into a spoiled brat.”

Laurel rolled her eyes. “Da-ad. I’m the perfect child.”

“Oh, please,” Annie said, reaching for several torn sheets of wrapping paper.

“And you both love me,” Laurel said confidently She scrambled to her feet and crossed over to the couch. “Thanks for everything, Dad,” she said. “I love it all.”

He held her briefly as she kissed his cheek. If nothing else, she was right about one thing. He and Annie did love the girl. That’s why they were going through these awkward three days together. For her sake.

“Is it okay if I call Terry and tell her what I got?” Laurel asked.

“Sure.” Annie pointed down the hall. “You can even use the new phone in your room.”

“Thanks.” Laurel gathered an armful of presents. “Just so I don’t forget anything,” she said, then grinned and dashed toward the guest room. Her long brown hair fanned over the back of her bathrobe. From behind she still looked like a little girl, but Jake knew his daughter was very nearly a woman.

Annie rose to her knees and picked up several bows resting on the coffee table.

“Let me help you with that,” he said, leaning forward. They reached for the same bow and their fingers brushed. He half expected to see sparks fly between them.

She jerked her hand back. “Sorry.”

“It was my fault.”

They stared uneasily at each other. It was about ten in the morning. Jake had come over early from his hotel room, but Laurel had slept in until almost nine. He’d sat in the kitchen with Annie, talking about the ranch and her work. Everything but what he really wanted to say. Now, alone in her big living room, with the remnants of the holiday around him, he still couldn’t find the words.

“It looks beautiful,” he said, pointing to the large decorated tree in the corner. “It must have been tough getting it up in the elevator.”

She reached for a trash bag and began filling it. “There’s a service elevator in the back. They use it to bring up furniture and that kind of thing.”

“Oh. Convenient.”

“Hmm. Yes, it is.”

She sat on her knees, half turned away from him. Her profile was exactly as he remembered. The small nose, the full lips. The freckles. Every time he looked at Laurel’s sweet face, he saw Annie’s freckles.

A pale peach oversize shirt hung to midthigh. Peach stretch pants covered her lower half. He couldn’t tell how much she was showing. He wanted to ask how she felt, but he was afraid she would misunderstand the question.

“It’s hard without you, Annie,” he said, because he was tired of pretending it wasn’t.

She bit her lower lip. “I miss you guys, too.”

“I’ve hired a housekeeper, but it’s not the same.”

“Yeah, she probably gives you everything you want.”

He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “She does. It gets really boring.”

She looked up at him. Her delicate brows drew together in confusion.

“There’s no one to argue with,” he said. “The house is clean all the time. No projects scattered around. No more sewing or baking.”

“She doesn’t bake?”

“I told her not to.”

“Why?”

“Laurel and I agreed it would be better that way. We have too many memories of you already.”

“Oh.”

“How’s work?” he asked, knowing he was a coward. He knew what he wanted to tell her, what he wanted to ask her, but what if his words weren’t enough? How could he convince her of the truth?

“Fine.” She grimaced. “I’m perfectly fine.”

He swallowed his pride. Without her, what good was the damn thing anyway? “I’m not fine. I still love you, Annie, and I miss you. That house is big and cold without you in it.”

“Jake, don’t.” She picked up a piece of paper and crumpled it. “I can’t go through this again.”

“I’ve finally figured out a way to convince you that I want you because I love you and not because of the baby.” At least he hoped he had.

She looked up, skeptical. “Oh?”

Here goes nothing, he thought. “I’m going to sleep with another woman and get her pregnant.”

“You’re
what?’

He fought back a grin. Leaning back on the sofa, he raised one arm to stretch along the back. “It’s the only way. Then I’ll have another child of my own.”

“That’s the most…the most…” She clamped her mouth shut and glared at him. “Don’t you even think about it, buster.”

“Don’t you see? If I have another child and I still love you and want you to marry me, you’ll believe me when I tell you it’s not about our baby.” Then he did smile. “You were right. I was trying to have it all without thinking about you. The timing for my confession was a little too convenient. I’ve had these weeks to think about all of it. Annie, I can have a baby with anyone. If that was all I was interested in, I’d go out and find a woman who wants to marry a rich rancher, then get her pregnant. I’m not the greatest guy in the world, but I think I’m a pretty fair catch. I’ll admit at the beginning I was focused on the baby.” His gaze dropped briefly to her midsection. “Our baby. But I’ve realized it’s so much more than that. I want a child, but I
need
you in my life. I love you. Please marry me.”

“Damn you, Jake Masters.” She threw the crumpled paper at him.

“Is that a yes, Annie?” he asked hopefully. “Do you believe me, now?”

“Do I have a choice?” Her smile was shaky. “If I don’t you’re going to go knock up some bimbo.”

“I have better taste than to choose a bimbo,” he said, and held open his arms.

She moved to the sofa and bent down. Their mouths met in hungry exploration. He gripped her hips and lowered her so she settled on his lap.

He looked at her. “Was that a yes?”

She nodded. “Yes, Jake, I’ll marry you.”

She took his hand and slipped it under her shirt. He could feel the change in her shape, the growing roundness of her belly. He could feel something else, too. The heat of her body and the electricity arcing between them.

“I love you,” she murmured, then touched her mouth to his.

“And I love you.”

Her breasts flattened against his chest as she leaned against him. Her tongue dueled with his.

“Wow!”

They broke apart. Jake groaned low in his chest, then turned his head to look at his daughter. Laurel danced from foot to foot in the hallway. “You’re kissing,” she crowed.

“You’re interrupting,” he said.

“This is good, right?”

Jake looked at Annie. “Very good.”

“So you guys are like getting back together?”

Annie smiled at her daughter. “We’re getting married.”

“All right!” Laurel made a pumping motion with her arm. “That’s totally cool.” She looked at them both, then her expression changed from childish happiness to adult amusement. “I think I’ll leave you two alone and go make another phone call.”

“Make it a long one,” Jake called after her. He looked back at Annie. “Where were we?”

“Right here.” She angled her head, then lowered her mouth to his.

Epilogue

I told you he would be a boy,” Jake said from his place on the side of her hospital bed. He reached out and touched the tiny infant’s face.

“You were right.” Anne stared down at her sleeping child. Her body ached from the six hours of labor and she wondered if she would ever lose the extra twenty pounds, but none of that mattered right now.