by Cat Schield
“So who takes care of you?”
Her brows came together at his question. “I guess I do.”
Blake picked up her hand and carried it to his lips. Kissing her reverently, he declared, “You deserve someone who is willing to put you first.”
“I wouldn’t know what that’s like,” she admitted, tugging to free herself. “I’m compulsively drawn to people who need my help. It’s a pattern I’ve had no luck breaking. All my life I’ve taken care of my brothers and sisters. I don’t know how to do anything else.”
“That changes now.” Blake saw the sign for the Rosewood Winery and braked. “From this moment forward, I’m going to satisfy your every whim. It’s time you see what you’ve been missing.”
*
While the car rolled along a long driveway lined with neat rows of grapes that stretched endlessly in either direction, Blake’s promise reverberated in Bella’s mind. He was going to satisfy her every whim? Did he have any idea how incredibly tempted she was to let him do just that?
What would it be like to have Blake spoil her rotten? Just being with him brought her a joy she’d never known before. At the deepest level, his strength lulled her anxieties. Bella knew that if she stopped pushing him away, he would make her deliriously happy. But for how long? What he wanted for himself and for Drew was someone who would be completely dedicated to being a wife and a mother.
Long ago Bella had promised herself if she ever married it would be to someone who didn’t want to be tied down with kids. She wanted the freedom to travel, to be spontaneous, to not constantly worry about money. To put herself first.
The way Blake’s ex-wife had.
There were many things to criticize about Victoria’s behavior, but sometimes Bella envied the ex-model’s capacity for guilt-free self-indulgence. It would be nice to keep the money Blake was paying her instead of doling it out to her siblings. At the rate things were going back home, would her nest egg still be intact when it came time for the winter trip to the Caribbean?
“I need to warn you,” Blake said as he stopped the car in front of a house straight out of the Tuscan countryside. “If Sam starts talking about making wine, he will not stop unless you tell him to. I think I mentioned that he’s been obsessed with wine as long as I’ve known him. The same thing goes for growing grapes.”
“But we’re here to visit his winery.” Bella stepped out of the car and stretched. The drive had taken a little less than an hour, but their conversation hadn’t been an easy one and all her tension had sunk deep in her muscles. “Won’t he expect us to be interested in it?”
Before Blake could answer, the front door opened and a woman appeared. While Bella unfastened Drew’s car seat, the leggy redhead threw her arms around Blake.
“How wonderful to see you,” she cried. “And you brought Drew.”
“Julie, this is Bella.”
“What a pleasure to meet you,” Julie said.
Bella couldn’t help but like the woman’s energy. “Likewise.”
“Where’s Sam?” Blake asked as Julie coaxed a smile from a suddenly shy Drew.
“Do you really need to ask?” Julie hitched her head toward a group of buildings. “Why don’t you go say hello and tell him lunch will be served in fifteen minutes. Bella, Drew and I will go get acquainted.”
Julie led Bella around the house to a shady patio where several wicker chairs had been placed to take advantage of the views of the surrounding gardens and the acres of neatly planted grapes.
“I can’t get over how beautiful it is,” Bella exclaimed. “It looks just like the pictures I’ve seen of Italy. How big is your property?”
“About a hundred acres. Fifty-five of it is planted with grapes. The rest is pasture and my training facilities.”
“Blake mentioned you train horses. How long have you been doing that?”
“Professionally for about five years, but I grew up competing in dressage and eventing. It was Sam’s idea. I don’t know if Blake mentioned to you how obsessed my husband is about his wine.”
“He said Sam would talk my ear off if I let him.”
Julie laughed. “That he will. Before he and I got married, I was worried how I was going to keep myself occupied. I don’t share my husband’s passion for grapes and fermenting. Sam suggested I open a training facility and then found us a vineyard with a large stable, riding ring and extensive paddocks. Our activities couldn’t be more different, and yet somehow it feels as if we’re working together.”
“It sounds like a perfect arrangement.”
Julie’s blissful expression gave Bella a momentary pang. This was the sort of harmony her parents shared. Dad was in charge of the fields and the livestock. Mom looked after the heart and soul of the farm: her husband and her children. Together they kept the farm running and the family solid. Resentment over her parents’ decision to have so many children had kept Bella from recognizing how well they worked together. Sure, her brothers and sisters had complained about wearing hand-me-downs and having to share toys and electronic devices, but there was no question they’d all grown up in a loving household.
“I hope you don’t mind my asking,” Julie began. “But how is it you are spending the summer with Blake and Drew? I thought you told Blake you didn’t want any contact with Drew.”
The question caused Bella’s stomach to wrench. Obviously Julie knew a great deal about Blake’s business. Bella debated how to answer, then decided he wouldn’t mind if she explained. “You probably think there’s something wrong with me.” She wouldn’t blame Julie if she did. “I must be a horrible person to not want this amazing child in my life.”
“Horrible is a little strong.” Julie’s hesitation made Bella like her all the more. “At first I assumed you were just in it for the money. But the way Blake had described you, that didn’t make sense.”
Curiosity got the better of her. “How did Blake describe me?”
“I believe he called you the perfect mother.”
Bella felt the jolt clear to her toes. Her muscles quivered in the aftermath of the shock. “When did he say that?”
“Last summer. I’ve known Blake for a lot of years and I don’t remember ever seeing him as happy as he was last year. When he and Victoria came to our five-year anniversary party last August, you and the baby were all he talked about.”
“Oh, dear,” Bella murmured beneath her breath.
Had Victoria overheard Blake’s description? Was that what had prompted her to demand Bella stay away from Drew? If Blake was right and Victoria was feeling insecure about being a mother, that could explain why she acted as she had. “I think he was really stunned when you left. He thought you were planning to be a part of Drew’s life.”
“I did what I thought was best for all of them,” Bella explained. “And to be honest, it was no easier for me.” Feeling tears burn her eyes, Bella inhaled deeply, striving for calm. Those days following Drew’s birth had been some of the darkest she’d ever known.
“I think I understand. It would have killed me to give up my daughter.” Julie’s quiet sympathy pulled Bella back from the edge. “And it looks like you’re making up for it now. He obviously adores you.”
Bella glanced down and realized Drew was staring up at her in that unnerving way he had. Their eyes met and he grinned. His expression was so adorable Bella couldn’t help but smile back. She knew it was crazy to feel as if Drew recognized her as his mother. After all, she’d only been back in his life for a few weeks. But every time she thought about having to leave him again, a ball of agony settled in her chest.
“Here come the boys,” Julie announced. “And my daughter, Lindsay. I can’t believe Blake got Sam away from his tanks in time for lunch.”
Blake and a tall blond man, carrying a four-year-old with copper ringlets, closed the distance to the patio with matching long strides. Setting down the little girl, Sam introduced himself to Bella with a bone-crushing handshake and tossed Drew in the air, making the boy s
cream with delight.
Since the weather was perfect, Julie insisted they eat outside. Halfway through the meal, Drew began to fuss and Bella went into the kitchen to heat up a bottle. By the time she returned, Blake had calmed the boy down and insisted on feeding him so Bella could finish her lunch.
Remembering what he’d said about satisfying her every whim, she couldn’t help but appreciate his actions. Granted, Drew was his son, but she was the one getting paid to take care of him. Blake could have expected her to let her meal go uneaten while he continued his uninterrupted. But that wasn’t his parenting style.
Each night they traded off who got up when Drew began to cry. Heat crowded Bella’s cheeks at the memory of what they were usually doing in the moments before the boy awakened. The easy intimacy between her and Blake continued to amaze her. Was it possible only weeks had passed since he’d shown up at her school? Her level of familiarity with father and son made it feel as if she’d been with them for months.
Bella’s phone buzzed, signaling she had a text. Thinking it was Deidre or maybe her brother, she peeked at the screen. The message leached the afternoon of all its pleasure.
Mrs. Farnes said you are having lunch with Blake. I warned you.
“Bella?” Julie’s voice brought back the sunshine. “Are you all right? You look as if you’ve gotten some bad news.”
“No. I’m fine,” she lied, smoothing her expression into a half smile. “With a family as large as mine, there’s always drama.”
“You have to tell me all about it,” Julie insisted. “I’m an only child and I’ve always wondered what it would be like to have a big family.”
Glad for the distraction, Bella began regaling Julie with stories of her family in Iowa, while in the back of her mind she replayed Victoria’s message over and over. Would Blake’s ex-wife follow through on her threat?
Now that Bella realized having Drew in her life was as necessary as breathing, would Blake find out the truth and hate her for abandoning her son? He’d been so angry at her decision when she’d only been Drew’s surrogate. How betrayed would he feel if he knew that Bella was Drew’s biological mother?
Of course, that bombshell would have devastating repercussions for Victoria, as well. Blake’s ex-wife had to know that he would be unlikely to forgive her deception. But would she realize that in time to stop all their lives from being ruined?
Ten
Blake stood in the hallway outside his son’s nursery and listened to Bella rambling in a soothing tone to Drew. Her words weren’t exceptional, just a list of all the things they would do the following day if he would just settle down and go to sleep, but something about the quality of her voice captured his attention.
She sounded sad.
Who was to blame? Blake ran the day through his mind. Their conversation on the ride to the winery had been serious, but he’d stayed away from anything that would upset her. Bella had enjoyed meeting Julie and Sam. They’d all laughed a great deal at lunch as Bella regaled them with tales of her family.
She was a natural storyteller, blending drama and comedy to keep them completely engaged. Was this what she did for her students? No wonder they’d all given her such fierce hugs goodbye.
The day he’d stopped by her school, he’d sat in the car for a long time watching her. For nine long months, she’d been on his mind. He’d gone through an entire emotional range after she’d walked out of Drew’s life. When he’d found out the truth about Bella being Drew’s biological mother, the elusive piece of the puzzle had fallen into place: he’d understood why Vicky had lacked any maternal instinct toward Drew. But until today, Bella’s behavior had been less clear. The question that had plagued him all his life had one answer.
Why did a mother abandon her child?
In Bella’s case it was because she’d sacrificed her own happiness to give Drew two parents who adored him. Or so she’d been led to believe.
“Elephant shoes.”
Despite their being spoken softly, the words reached Blake’s ear. His heart thumped hard. If he’d had any lingering doubts about Bella’s true feelings for her son, they were completely eradicated. She loved Drew.
Blake entered the room and spoke softly. “How’s he doing?”
“He’s finally asleep.” She smiled as Blake joined her at the crib. “It was touch and go for the last fifteen minutes, but I think exhaustion finally won out.”
“That’s fast work. Usually when he’s fighting sleep it takes me an hour to get him down.”
Her left shoulder rose and fell. “I’ve had a lot more practice with stubborn children than you have. My brother Scott was the worst. He used to stand in his crib and cry for hours. Ever try getting your homework done while a kid is screaming at the top of his lungs?”
“As an only child, I never had that problem.”
Bella sighed. “It would have been wonderful to grow up an only child.”
“It would have been nice to grow up with a houseful of siblings.”
“I guess everyone wants what they don’t have,” Bella said.
“That’s not always true.” Blake slid his arms around her waist and pulled her snug against his body. “Some of us appreciate the things we do have.”
When he bent to kiss her, her lips were parted and waiting. All his anger and doubts about this being the right thing for any of them vanished as he pulled her breath into his lungs and claimed her mouth. Her soft moan unleashed the fierce hunger he’d been holding back all day. She belonged in his arms. In his bed. He turned his back on logic and sent his palms gliding along her curves.
She rose onto her toes and tunneled her fingers into his hair. The hot, urgent dance of her tongue with his said that she’d missed him.
“Make love to me, Blake.”
He needed no further urging. Sweeping her into his arms, he carried her from the nursery. His room was a few steps down the hall, but his impatience to have her naked beneath him made his bed seem a lot farther away. The mattress yielded beneath their combined weight. Bella sighed as he stripped off her shirt and set his mouth against her throat. Her fingers worked at his buttons, their progress unsteady. Then it was his turn to groan as she spread the edges of his shirt wide and coasted her palms along his skin. She skimmed the shirt off his shoulders and down his arms. He tossed the garment aside and bent to glide his tongue along the lacy border of her bra.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmured, grazing his teeth against her tight nipple.
She gasped. “Do that again.”
He complied with a smile. Her hips moved restlessly as he teased her through the bra’s thin fabric. Once again he was captivated by how responsive she was to his touch. He kissed his way down her flat stomach, the muscles quivering beneath his lips, to the waistband of her pants. Moving with deliberate intent, he unfastened the button and slid down the zipper. She raised her hips as he applied downward pressure to the material. In seconds she lay before him clad only in her underwear.
Blake paused to admire her delectable curves and long legs before stripping out of his pants and returning naked to slip between Bella’s legs. With his erection sandwiched between them, Blake enjoyed the torment of her hands as she coasted her palms over his back and butt. He caught her hips and rolled them until he lay on his back with her on top of him.
Setting her palms on his shoulder, she pushed into a sitting position. For a long moment she stared down at him, her expression a study in wonder as she acclimatized herself to this new position. Then she trailed her fingers over his chest, taking a long moment to tease his nipples until they tightened in delight. Beneath her his erection jumped. She grinned.
“You like that,” she said.
“I like everything you do to me.”
“I haven’t done much.” She looked him over. “You pretty much take me by storm every time we make love.”
“Tonight it can be lady’s choice.” He’d gladly surrender himself to her hands.
She hummed, consid
ering. “Well, if that’s the case…”
With a sly smile, she lowered her torso, placed her elbows on either side of his head and kissed him with rising passion. Her position offered Blake the perfect access to the most sensitive places on her body. Imitating what she’d done to him earlier, he eased his palms down her back, paying homage to each inch of silky skin and every bump of spine. Anticipation had rubbed him raw by the time he curved his fingers over the soft mounds of her backside. He stroked his fingertips along the seam between her buttocks and felt her shudder as he grazed down the heat between her thighs.
She’d soaked through the fabric, as aroused as he by their foreplay. Her hips shifted in rhythm to his light touch while her breath rushed in and out of her lungs. She pushed back until she could glare down at him.
“This is supposed to be my turn,” she reminded him, her voice unsteady.
“You can’t seriously expect me to just lie here and take it.” He watched her bite her lip as he slipped his finger beneath her underwear.
Reaching back, she seized his hands and pinned them to the mattress. “That’s exactly what I expect.”
“For how long?”
She considered the clock on his nightstand. “Half an hour?”
“Three minutes,” he suggested, convinced that was all he could bear.
“Fifteen.”
The urge to drive up inside her and feel her tight walls close around him would overtake him long before that. “Four.”
His counteroffer wasn’t to her liking. Her expression grew stern. “When negotiating you’re supposed to meet the other party halfway.”
“That’s not how I made my millions.”
“Ten.”
“Five.”
She nodded. “Five.” And then she reached up and unfastened her bra. It flew across the room and before it landed, she’d settled her mouth over one of his nipples. The hot, wet tug shot a bolt of lust straight to his groin. Blake gathered two handfuls of sheet as a groan erupted from his throat.
