“You’ve got the flu?”
“Don’t sound so surprised. It’s been bad in the town.”
“You’re feline.”
“Yeah.” Lana snorted. “Proof that a feline can catch human diseases.”
“I’ll drop in and see you when I come to town.”
“No, it’s unnecessary. I’m not going anywhere. I’m so tired I’ll spend most of the day dozing.”
“Humor me. I won’t stay for long, just check on you.” After not seeing her for a week, there was no way he wouldn’t drop by her place. A man could take only so much.
“All right.” She capitulated with a loud yawn. “Ring the bell when you arrive.”
“Take care.” Duncan hung up before he said something to louse up his plan.
The phone jangled straightaway. Duncan picked it up with a smile on his face. “Did you forget something?”
“Duncan, I haven’t forgotten a thing. I can’t wait to see you again.” Not Lana. Jennifer. Damn, the woman wouldn’t leave him alone. He had his own stalker.
“You’ve caught me at a bad time, Jennifer. I’m on my way out.” And he’d damn well think harder about getting caller identification installed on his phone or perhaps he’d change number and have the new one unlisted.
“I want to visit you.”
“Can’t talk, Jennifer. I’ve got to go.” He hung up, grabbed his wallet and vehicle keys, ignoring the summons when the phone rang again.
* * * * *
One week later
The first person Lana thought of when she received an invitation to the swanky party was Duncan. Unfortunately, she couldn’t commit career suicide and turn down the invitation. Maybe she could ask Duncan to come along and make it more fun. Their hostess had a reputation for innovative cocktail snacks while the host took pride in his wine-buff status. There would be none of the cheap stuff at this party. As her thoughts centered on Duncan, a surge of lust speared her lower body. Okay, that did it. She’d proposition the man again. That had worked well last time, despite her concerns.
“A party?” Duncan asked when she rang. “You’d better help me pick out something to wear. I don’t want to embarrass you.”
Lana thought about that for two seconds. “I doubt you’d ever embarrass me. Okay. Bring your black trousers. They look good on you. We’ll get a new shirt.” She’d love to help choose his clothes. Studying his muscular body rated as a pleasure and never a hardship.
The days to the party passed slowly. Lana didn’t think she’d been this excited about anything for ages, or maybe it was seeing Duncan again. He’d dropped by to check on her when she’d been sick and ended up spending the night. The next morning the illness had receded, and they’d even made love before he returned to his farm. That had been last week and seemed so long ago.
When Saturday arrived, Lana enjoyed shopping with Duncan. Her only regret was that they didn’t have time to make love before they headed out to the party in one of the wealthy suburbs of Queenstown.
Lana knew a fair percentage of the attendees and took pleasure in introducing Duncan. It was easier and more fun attending with an escort rather than becoming the victim of a matchmaker hostess.
“I’m pleased to meet you, Duncan. I must find you later for a chat,” Judith, their hostess, said. “She’s kept silent about you.”
“We’re friends,” Lana protested, frowning at Duncan’s wince. The expressions flickered over his face so quickly she wondered if she’d been mistaken.
“They’re cousins,” Richard said, coming up behind Lana and sliding an arm around her waist.
Duncan’s eyes narrowed with irritation. “The term is kissing cousins,” he said, tugging Lana away from Richard’s grasp and pulling her to his side.
Judith’s brows rose and a smile of amusement followed. “I see.”
Lana saw all too well but didn’t intend to make an issue of Duncan’s statement within Richard’s hearing. Although she’d initially liked the lawyer and had accepted his requests for several dates, his possessive manner continued to annoy her.
“There are waiters circulating with food and drink. Help yourself, and, Lana, you know most of the people here. Introduce Duncan around and have fun,” Judith said.
“You never said you were bringing someone,” Richard said, his voice accusing.
“I didn’t think it was any of your business. I’m going to introduce Duncan to everyone. See you later. Come on. You have to see the view over Lake Wakatipu and the night lights from the verandah. It’s stunning.” And hopefully it’d be quiet enough out there for a kiss or two. Lana took Duncan’s hand and tugged him toward the sounds of music and chatter, the clink of glassware and laughter.
“Drink, madam? Sir?” The young waiter, dressed in black and white, stood while they made their selection from his tray.
With glasses in hand, they wove through the crowd, stopping here and there for Lana to make introductions.
Duncan played the perfect gentleman, fitting in so well she beamed. Jamie had hated this sort of thing, and after the first two occasions had refused to attend any others.
“What do you do, Duncan?” Judith’s sister asked.
The usual getting-to-know-you and weighing questions to work out where Duncan came on the social scale. Lana sighed. This part she hated.
“I have my own farm,” Duncan said.
“Oh? Whereabouts?” The sister sidled closer to Duncan and Lana ground her teeth in annoyance.
“Not far from Cromwell.”
“A man of few words. I love me the strong, silent, handsome type.” The sister trailed her hand over Duncan’s chest, the long gray-tipped fingernails looking like claws. Personally, Lana preferred her natural feline claws, except she didn’t think a show-and-tell would go well at the swanky cocktail party.
“Mine,” Lana said.
“Oh.” Judith’s sister smirked. “I thought you were the consummate businesswoman with no intentions of remarrying. I’m sure Judith told me that at some stage. Do I have it wrong?”
“No,” Lana said.
“Yes,” Duncan said at the same time.
The woman’s lips twitched. “I’m not sure I understand. Which is it?”
“We’re good friends,” Lana blurted before Duncan could reply.
“I see.”
They needed to get away from the infuriating woman. “I see Maria and her husband. I wanted to introduce Duncan to them,” Lana said, tugging on Duncan’s forearm.
“It’s nice to meet you. We’ll chat later,” the woman said.
Not if Lana had anything to do with it. She cast a quick glance at Duncan, worried what she might see. The last thing she wanted was for him to get ideas of them as a couple. She liked things the way they were. Oh heck. Just as she thought. His expression bore distinct satisfaction and the faint stamp of possessive ownership.
Lana led him over to Maria. After introductions and chitchat, they moved on, drifting toward the large balcony. A sigh of relief emerged once they stepped outside. The subtle and unsubtle questions regarding Duncan were getting on her nerves, putting her on edge. They weren’t a couple. They were friends. A difference. She snorted. One her friends and business acquaintances couldn’t seem to distinguish.
“Million-dollar view,” Duncan said, walking over to the railing and staring out over the inky blackness of the lake.
“Yes.” Lana loved the twinkling lights of the town. “See the lights of the gondola traveling up the hill?”
“Yeah.”
“Is something wrong?”
“Of course not.”
“Don’t take any notice of the gossip. These people thrive on it.”
This time Duncan snorted. “And you think the rodeo circuit is any better? It’s a constant round of who is sleeping with whom and the latest romantic bust-up.”
A cloud of jealousy fogged her mind at the thought and she gripped the railing in front of them. Damn, she didn’t want to think of Duncan with other women. �
��I suppose there’s gossip everywhere.”
“Started with the cavemen,” he said. “I don’t want to discuss that. I’d much rather take advantage of the setting and the time with you.” Taking her hand, he tugged her over to a dark corner occupied only by a fragrant lemon tree in a blue tub. He drew her against his chest and cupped her face between his hands, lowering his lips to cover hers. He stole her breath and yanked at her heart with the kiss, giving and taking at the same time. Lana groaned, sinking into his embrace and drawing his masculine scent deep to last her for the rest of the week. Although she’d never admit it, she’d missed him, and even worse, since he’d burst into her life, she’d craved sex. Even now her pussy moistened, preparing for his possession and the sweet way he mastered her. She quivered, her pulse ticking in a racy beat, senses full of his scent and taste.
By the time Duncan pulled away, her breath came in quick pants. She didn’t even try to hide her arousal, merely stared up at him, craving more of his touch and recalled the sensual place he’d taken her when she’d visited his farm. Need bubbled through her and she wished they weren’t in the middle of a party.
Duncan pushed her away from him. “Will you be okay on your own for a while?”
“Sure, I should say hello to a few more people.”
“Good.” He pressed a swift kiss to her lips before walking away.
Bemused, she wandered inside, wondering where he was going. She saw him speak to Judith and disappear.
“Ah, there you are, Lana.”
Richard. Again. “I wanted to apologize for my behavior,” he said, surprising her. “I haven’t behaved well, heck, I’ve been rude, and I’m sorry. My only excuse is that I want more than friendship, and I’m afraid when I saw you with another man jealousy got the better of me. Will you accept my apology?”
“Of course I will.” An apology wasn’t something she’d expected.
“I’m glad you’ve found someone who makes you happy.” Richard smiled, and it chopped ten years off his age, making his brown eyes sparkle. “If the way the man looks at you means what I think it does, it won’t be long before we hear wedding bells.”
“No, I don’t think so.” Duncan…it wasn’t like that between them. Neither of them wanted serious or anything more than friendship. “We’re just friends.”
Richard nodded, except she saw he didn’t believe a word of her denial. Duncan returned, appearing silently at her side.
“How is the farm going?” Richard asked.
Stunned by the lawyer’s assertion, Lana studied Duncan with new eyes. Nah, Richard was wrong. Duncan didn’t want a wife. He’d said so, hadn’t he?
“Lana?”
Her head jerked up. “Did you say something?”
Richard laughed and moved away, leaving her alone with Duncan.
“What?” Lana asked when Duncan smirked.
“Nothing.” He took her hand. “Come with me.”
“Where are we going? We can’t leave yet.”
“We’re not leaving,” Duncan promised.
Mystified, she followed him from the crowded lounge, past a kitchen with a busy caterer and along a wide, carpeted passage. At the end of the passage, he turned right, and after a quick glance in both directions, he opened a door and urged her inside.
“This is a storage cupboard,” she said when he stepped in with her and pulled the door shut, leaving them in inky darkness.
“Yeah.” A rasp of a zipper sounded followed by the rustle of clothing. “Take off your panties.”
Sudden excitement pounded through her veins as he lifted her black skirt and helped her skim her silky panties down her thighs. He kissed her again like he had out on the balcony, and need zapped the length of her body. His breath caressed her face while his hand skimmed her bare bottom.
“Unfasten your blouse and pull up your bra so I can touch your breasts.”
Lana never considered disobeying. With shaky hands she slipped several buttons free of their holes and tugged at her lace bra, baring her breasts. Now that her eyes had adjusted to the dark, she saw the gleam of his before he lowered his head and sucked a nipple deep into his mouth. She moaned, when he slipped a finger into her pussy, gently stretching and testing her readiness.
“Got to get inside you,” he muttered. “Now.” He dragged his finger from her channel, skimming it over her clit before guiding his cock into her. “Curl your legs around me. I’ll do the work.”
Writhing in his grip and panting hard at the sheer naughtiness and with need, the sensual tension inside the dark cupboard increased. He pushed into her, gripping her hips while he shafted her deeply. There was nothing practiced or calm about this joining. Frantic, he grasped her hips and drove into her again and again, grunting with each hard thrust.
Lana hung on, thrilling to the masterful exhibition of his strength. He crushed her mouth under his and removed one hand to pinch her nipple. A ribbon of pain curled down to her pussy, combining with the hard stroke across her clit. The perfect touch to throw her into a maelstrom of pleasure. Her sex pulsed in hard spasms of pleasure and after one more powerful thrust, Duncan groaned in climax. Breathing hard, he held her against him while they both recovered from the experience.
“Lana, you’re so hot,” he said before claiming her mouth. When the kiss ended, he lifted her off his cock. “I have a hanky somewhere. My mother said I should never leave home without one in my pocket. No idea why since I rarely use it,” he added with a laugh. “Here. You might need that to clean up.”
With her heart still racing, Lana accepted the hanky and righted her clothes. The rustle of fabric indicated Duncan did the same. “Where are my panties?”
“They’re in my pocket. Do you want them?” Voices outside the door made her freeze in horror.
“Come on, we could do it in here. Don’t make me wait until we get home. I’m desperate for you,” a man said, his husky voice full of persuasion.
“What if we get caught?” his feminine companion asked in clear doubt.
“We won’t.”
Lana squeezed closer to Duncan, horror filling her. They were going to get caught. Heat filled her cheeks along with panic.
“All right,” the woman said.
Carpet muted their footsteps. The jangle of the doorknob sounded loud in the confines of the cupboard. Lana barely restrained her gasp.
“Damn, it’s locked,” the man said. “We’ll have to find somewhere else.”
Lana leaned into Duncan in sheer relief then the man’s words registered. “Are we locked in here?”
“No, I had hold of the doorknob. We’re good.” He soothed her with a languid kiss and Lana let her fear drift away. This was the best business-related party she’d ever attended.
Chapter Nine
Lana stared at the pregnancy test in horror. Although pleased she could take the normal human test rather than making a special trip to Middlemarch to see the vet who doubled as a feline doctor, she hated the result.
Positive.
The familiar nauseous sensation in her stomach that had driven her to take the test in the first place made itself known. She swallowed to no avail, tossed the test aside and made a run for the bathroom, barely making it in time. Pregnant. The truth rippled through her mind, echoing endlessly. What the hell was she going to do?
Lana padded out to the passage, grabbed a flannel from the cupboard and returned to the bathroom. Soaking it with cool water, she wiped her face on autopilot.
Pregnant.
Trapped.
She’d have to tell Duncan. Lying didn’t sit well. Besides, he’d guess her predicament soon. The other alternative…no…unthinkable. She’d have this child, the problem being the second she informed Duncan he’d order her to marry him. She’d be trapped just as she’d been with Jamie—a steel-tight trap since, with a child involved, Duncan would be motivated to get his way.
A wife and child in one swoop.
Yes, there was only one way he’d react. Excitement followed by
mating—the possessive feline when a woman bore his child. He’d expect to raise his son or daughter, and if she refused, the rest of the feline community might shun her.
Her eyes stung, the lump in her throat testament to her anxiety.
What the hell was she going to do?
The phone rang.
“Lana, you ready to rock-and-roll here in the kitchen.”
“Sorry, I slept in. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Good-oh.” The phone clunked when her chef hung up.
Lana sucked in a deep breath, deciding to cope with the present instead of the future. If this morning sickness continued to plan, she should be okay working in the kitchen.
Lana stripped off her sleep shirt and avoided a glance in the mirror. Pregnancy and its reality didn’t appeal now or in the future. She jumped under the shower. Ten minutes later she entered the kitchen determined to concentrate on business instead of Duncan and the baby.
The next couple of days continued in the same vein. Sick as soon as she woke. After a shower and a piece of dry toast her stomach settled enough to work. Thankfully Duncan had gone on a trip to Christchurch to attend a cattle sale. He’d rung her and she’d let the answer phone pick up his calls.
On the third night she sat in her dark apartment, trying to work out what to do. She needed to visit the doctor in Middlemarch. Picking up the phone, she rang Gavin and made an appointment for the following evening.
* * * * *
“Lana! How nice to see you.” Emily bustled around the counter of her café and hugged her. “What are you doing here?”
Fresh from her doctor’s appointment, tears welled into her eyes and splashed her cheeks.
With a concerned look, Emily hustled her out the back to her kitchen. “Here. Sit.” She pushed a stool toward Lana. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m pregnant,” Lana blurted, every bit of fear and panic she was experiencing echoing in the two words.
“Oh Lana.” Emily’s arms came around her in a warm hug. “Is it Duncan’s baby?”
“Yes,” Lana sobbed.
“And you haven’t told him.”
Lana accepted the hanky Emily produced and tried not to think about the way Duncan always carried a handkerchief in his pocket because his mother had told him to. “No, I haven’t seen him this week.”
My Determined Suitor Page 12
