Claiming His Pregnant Wife

by Kim Lawrence

  Well, it stood to reason that it had to be something like that. She was simply not the sort of woman who went around fantasising about running her fingers through strange mens hair.

  Sucking in a deep breath, she adopted an expression that suggestedhopefullythat she was totally immune to tall, romantic-looking figures riding black horses.

  Do you speak English?

  He wasnt the sort of man she would have turned to for help, but she was in no position to be picky.

  Actually he was the sort of man that any women with half a brain would cross the street to avoid, though they probably wouldnt, she conceded, recognising the weakness of her own sex when it came to men like this one.

  Eng-lish? she said, enunciating each syllable slowly in the vain hope of seeing some spark of recognition in his spectacular eyes.

  There was none; he just stood there looking as though hed stepped out of a western.

  Im lost, she said, stabbing a finger at her chest.

  His eyes followed the action.

  Do youI need to get toIm looking fordamn! she muttered, dropping down on her knees and removing the stones she had used to pin the map to the cobbles while she studied it. Anchoring a hank of wayward hair off her face with one arm, she stood up wielding the creased map in the other.

  Map she said, waving it at him.

  When he looked back at her and shrugged all Erins frustration bubbled to the surface. The stress of the last few hours manifested itself in tears that spilled down her cheeks. With an angry curse of self-disgust she brushed them away with the back of her hand.

  She took a deep breath and told herself to calm down; if this man couldnt help her he might be able to direct her to someone who could.

  She smiled encouragingly, then tapped a spot she had ringed in red on the map. I need she began, lifting her voice to a bellow.

  Then she saw the total lack of comprehension in his face and sighed. I dont know why Im shouting. You dont have the faintest idea what Im talking about, do you?

  He looked from her face to the map in her hands and back again, then gave another magnificent shrug.

  Erins own shoulders sagged. Why did you have to be beautiful and stupid? I know several women who would give a lot for your eyelashes. I know several who would give even more for you; theres a very high demand for handsome hunks. I prefer the sensitive types myself, but they tend to be gay.

  His expression didnt alter, though his lips did quiver faintly. Erin gave a guilty sigh.

  Sorry, about this, but while Im talking I cant panic and if I stop you might go away and Ill be alone again. And the not speaking English, I wasnt serious, it doesnt make you stupid. It would just have been a lot more convenient.

  This is all my fault anyway. I dont know why I thought I liked cycling. She cast a look of loathing in the direction of the discarded bike. I wouldnt be surprised if I was saddle sore for a month, she observed, rubbing a hand over her behind and wincing. But the thing is I had to get away from the people Im on holiday with. Ive saved all year for this holiday, but they count carb units at meal times and think local colour is spending the night in a smoke-filled nightclub. She gave a laugh.

  When you say it like that it doesnt sound so awful, does it? You know, I think the problem is that Im not very tolerant. She laughed again and began to fold the map into a more manageable size. I know you couldnt care less even if you could understand a word I was saying, but thank you for listening.

  Any time.

  Her gaze flew upwards and the map fell from her lax grasp. Like the natural fault in a smooth raw silk his deep, cultured voice held an intriguing husk and only the lightest trace of an accent.

  You speak English! Her initial relief almost immediately morphed into anger. It washed over her in waves as she glared at the impossibly handsome stranger. Her cheeks flamed in mortified horror as she recalled what she had said to him.

  He tilted his dark head in acknowledgement and she paled.

  God, I called him beautiful!

  Why didnt you say so in the first place instead of letting me babble on? And make a total and absolute idiot of myself.

  I didnt think it was polite to interrupt and once you were in full flow it would have been difficult.

  Erin chose to rise above the provocation, she fixed him with a glare that would have made lesser men wilt and said icily. I wont keep you.

  He grinned, displaying a set of even white teeth, and Erin decided the cowboy analogy had been wronghe was a pirate.

  Dont you think under the circumstances it might be wiser to just suck it in?

  Suck it in? she echoed, looking at him in astonishment.

  Im sure youre entirely self-sufficient in your own neck of the woods He looked at her eyes narrowed, and speculated. London?

  No.

  Well, wherever it is. This isnt it, cara , he drawled.

  The casual endearment caused a spark of anger to flare in her eyes but, more worryingly and fortunately less visible, a quivering liquid heat to unfurl low in her abdomen.

  This is my home territory. You need help and I, he revealed with an eloquent shrug, am it, if you are prepared to put up with my lack of sensitivity.

  Im used to insensitive men, she promised. Though none who are quite as sneaky and low as you. And I dont need the cavalry. She angled a glance towards the horse who stood waiting for his master. But if you wouldnt mind telling me exactly where I am Id be grateful, she conceded.

  One darkly delineated brow lifted to a satirical angle, mockery shone in his expressive eyes.

  If I did would you be any the wiser?

  Spare me the display of male superiority, she begged, rolling her eyes. In my experience men who go down the poor little woman couldnt find her way out of a paper bag route have issues with self-esteem. I am not a female stereotype.

  He lifted a hand to shade his eyes as he looked at her. Oh, no, youre not that, he agreed cryptically.

  Erin supposed this was her cue to ask exactly what he thought she was, but she had no intention of playing his game. Besides, she wasnt sure that she would like the answer.

  She watched as he bent forward to pick up the map. He then smoothed it between his long brown fingers.

  His hands, elegant and capable with long, tapering fingers, held a strange fascination for her, and the recognition disturbed her.

  He disturbed her.

  That is where you are meant to be? he said, stabbing the red circle with his finger and slinging her an amused look that oozed the sort of male superiority that made Erins hackles rise once more.

  I dont suppose youve ever taken a wrong turn, she snarled sarcastically.

  His eyes lifted from the map. Were not talking one wrong turn here. His dry comment confirmed her worst suspicions. Youre meant to be here , he said, tapping his finger against the spot ringed red.

  I know where Im meant to beits where I am I want to know, she retorted waspishly.

  Where you are is not on this map.

  You mean its too small? She had considered the map quite detailed, as far as she could tell marking every tuft of grass.

  I mean youre ten miles outside the area it covers, and that is a conservative estimate.

  Her face fell in dismay. Youre joking, she said, not actually believing it. This man wouldnt know a joke if he fell over it.

  I

  Will you just shut up for a sec and let me think?

  From his expression she suspected that he didnt get told to shut up too oftenif ever. Still, she had more important things to worry about than his wounded male Latin pride.

  Eyes half closed, her face scrunched in concentration as she considered her options. It didnt take long because she didnt see that she had many. Less if you omitted walking.

  I dont suppose there is such a thing as a taxi around here?

  He looked amused and dug his hand into his pockets, causing the worn fabric to pull taut against his thighs. You suppose right.

  She heaved a sigh and tried not to
stare too obviously at the muscular thighs. Then could you direct me to the nearest phone? Im sure the hotel will send someone to pick me up. It would make serious inroads into the money she had set aside for her stay, but what option did she have?

  Where are you staying?

  She mentioned the name of the hotel and his brows rose. They pride themselves on being exclusive

  And Im not? She could not honestly blame him for coming to this conclusion. By no stretch of the imagination did she look like most peoples idea of a well-heeled tourist. Actually, youre right. The hotel we were meant to stay in closed because of an outbreak of food poisoningthe tour company upgraded us for free.

  Ill take you back.

  The abrupt offer made her stare. You? she said, struggling with an intrusive mental image of herself slung over his saddle riding into the lobby of the exclusive and rather stuffy hotel.

  Do you have a problem with that?

  She had several. I really dont think your horse would like it. Youre not wrong, he said, bunching the reins in one hand and patting the animals flank with the other. Actually I know someone who has transport. He only lives a mile or so up the road.

  Thats very kind of you, but

  I dont do kind, cara . He smiled and her stomach took an unscheduled dive.

  Are you coming? He paused, clearly expecting her to fall in step with him.

  I really dontthat ishow?

  He interrupted her with a bored-sounding, Is that a yes or a no?

  Noyes

  Are you always this indecisive?

  Im sure someone will come if I wait. Her doubtful tone invited him to disagree.

  But he didnt.

  Erin watched with mingled astonishment and indignation as he slid a booted foot into a stirrup, and spoke a couple of soothing words to his horse before vaulting with lithe grace into the saddle.

  Well, this is goodbye, then.

  It was only stubborn pride that stopped her begging him not to go. Stubborn pride she had plenty of time to regret during the next twenty minutes.

  It took her that long to wheel her bicycle a quarter of a mile up the road where a big rusty truck drew up in a flurry of dust.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Y OU ! Erin ejaculated in a voice of loathing as the driver got out.

  She would have walked back barefoot before admitting even to herself that she was relieved to see him. She supposed her relief stemmed from the fact it really was better the devil you knew even vaguely than any old devil who happened along in a rusty truck.

  So no one came along, then?

  She lifted her chin in response to the mockery in his voice. If you traded your horse for that, she said, nodding with disdain towards the truck, you were robbed. The only thing stopping that thing falling apart is rust and dirt.

  There was an amused glint in his dark eyes as they swept the length of her dishevelled figure. Youre no oil painting yourself, cara .

  Erins lips tightened as the dull colour ran up under her fair skin. It was always ego-enhancing to have an incredible-looking man tell you that you looked a wreck.

  His narrowed gaze lingered on her flushed face. And that, he said, casually flicking her nose with his forefinger, is going to peel.

  Erin started and pressed her hand to her face. Even if his olive-toned skin had been exposed to the sun it wasnt going to burn, just acquire a deeper glow.

  I hadnt planned on getting lost. The antagonism died from her flushed face as her dreamily speculative glance drifted to the vee of exposed flesh at the base of his throat.

  Was the skin on the rest of his body a similar warm shade? Erin blinked and released a horrified gasp as she realised she had been mentally undressing the man!

  Not even sunstroke could excuse that!

  And I hadnt planned on running into you, but life, he reflected with a sardonic inflection in his deep voice, is full of surprises. Some more pleasing than others.

  He didnt specify which category she came into, but Erin could only assume that he had other things hed prefer to be doing rather than offering assistance to an ungrateful tourist with a red nose.

  He walked across to the truck and opened the passenger door. Are you getting in?

  Erins glance slid from the door to his face. She released a sigh and nodded her head. I suppose I dont have much choice.

  Theres always a choice.

  Which was exactly what the rational voice in her head, which she had been studiously ignoring, had been telling her. It had also told her that relying on instinct when it came to assessing a mans character was not exactly scientific.

  But short of demanding a character reference gut instinct was all she had to go on and she needed to get back to her hotel somehow.

  Approaching the truck, she frowned. The cab seemed to be feet off the ground and there were no steps. How am I meant to get up there?

  Like this, he said, placing both hands around her waist and swinging her off the ground.

  Erin let out a startled squeal as she found herself unceremoniously dumped in the passenger seat. She sat there trying to recover her badly dented composure while he picked up her bike and slung it in the open rear of the truck before walking around to the drivers side and climbing in beside her.

  You could have been more careful. The people I hired the bike from are going to charge me if She stopped gave a horrified wail and yelled, Wait! My camera!

  It was only his restraining hand on her shoulder that stopped her leaping out again.

  Be still.

  Despite her distress at the thought of the camera she could not easily afford to replace being ruined, Erin responded to the calm air of command in his voice and leaned back in her seat.

  Now tell me what is wrong.

  My camera is in the pannier on the bike.

  Camera?

  She could tell from his expression that he thought she was making a lot of fuss over a few holiday snaps.

  Im a photographer and I

  Stay there, he said, opening the door.

  Erin stuck her head out of the open window and craned her neck while he climbed into the rear of the truck. A few moments later he returned with her precious camera in his hand. Here, he said, passing it in to her through the open window before going around to the drivers side.

  Erin turned her head as he climbed in.

  So you are a photographer? He didnt sound impressed.

  She nodded. Nothing grand, she said, in case he got the wrong idea. I do weddings, christenings, family portraits, that sort of thingbread-and-butter stuff.

  So you are not one of that breed who chase celebrities?

  God, no, nothing like that. I did think once I might like to do more She heard the wistful enthusiasm in her voice and stopped. Family circumstances keep me close to home.

  You have a dependent family?

  Not the way you mean, she said, thinking that, even had she wanted to, it would have been hard to explain the set-up at home.

  Erin had been in her teens before she had realised that other peoples fathers did not regularly leave home. She believed the generic term for men like her father was serial adulterer. Jack Foyle always came back suitably contrite, and was always forgiven. But during his absences her mother would go to pieces and become totally unable to cope.

  If she hadnt always been there to coax her out of the darkened room and her talk of being unable to go on Erin dreaded to think what would have happened.

  She was conscious of his dark eyes on her face as she pretended to examine her camera, but he did not press the point. But then, she reflected, why should he? The domestic circumstances of some accident-prone tourist could hardly interest him.

  She flickered a sideways glance in his direction as he turned the ignition. His stern profile was quite stunningly perfect. Ironically he had a face that screamed out to be photographed, though whether any film could capture the raw masculinity he exuded was doubtful.

  All the same she would have liked to try.

&nb
sp; He turned his head and caught her staring and Erin lowered her gaze.

  Theres water somewhere. He banged a lever with his fist and a door dropped down revealing a bottle of water.

  Erins throat was so dry it hurt and she nodded her thanks. The bottle was ice-cold in her fingers as she lifted it to her mouth and took a long swallow, then with a sigh she rested the cool plastic against her throat.

  Better?

  She turned her head and nodded, then frowned suspiciously as she realised what he was doing. Why are you turning around?

  Because you were going in the wrong direction. Did you really plan to walk all the way back?

  Erin, unwilling to reveal she hadnt actually had a plan, shrugged. My friends would have come looking for me eventually.

  The same friends you had to escape from?

  The reminder that she had used him as a sounding-board to offload all the frustrations made her squirm in her seat and avoid his eyes. When I said that I didnt think you could understand me.

  No, you thought I was beautiful and stupid, but I was forgetting you prefer the sensitive types. Do you have one on the scene at the moment?

  Erin, her cheeks burning with embarrassment, glared at him with loathing. Id tell you what I really think of you, but Im too polite, she choked. Not that youd know what good manners were if they bit you.

  You know, he mused, slowing as they approached a hairpin bend in the road, I think you actually like me His dark gaze brushed her face. Youre just in denial.

  Her scornful laugh locked in her throat; his comment was too close to the truth to joke about. Ill be in a ditch if you dont keep your eyes on the road.

  You want to drive?

  Erin shook her head; actually she wanted to sleep. Her muscles, some she hadnt known she possessed, ached from the unaccustomed strenuous physical activity. She slapped her cheeks lightly, fighting to shake the creeping exhaustion that weighed her eyelids.

  If youre tired take a nap.

  Stifling another yawn, Erin turned her head quickly and found he was studying the road ahead. He really was quite spookily perceptive.

  Im not tired, she denied brightly.

  Afraid Ill take advantage?

  Under the sweep of her lashes her glance lingered on his upper arms where the fabric of his shirt was stretched taut by the strongly defined muscles. She wrapped her arms around herself as a shivery sensation passed through her body. The fact was, if he decided to take advantage there wasnt a lot she could do about it asleep or awake!