by Unknown
Finally, frustrated, angry with him and herself, still racked with guilt and burning with desire, she decided to go get her suit. Cold water and exercise would help douse the flames and calm the turmoil, and she could avoid Jonah, who was shut away somewhere inside the house, pouring over Henry’s baby pictures.
Fifteen minutes later she dived into the water and swam the length of the pool. Shaking water from her face at the other end, she found Jonah standing there, watching her.
Chapter 4
J onah watched Kate glide through the water, and his insides churned. He wanted to be in the pool with her, wanted her in his arms again. When he’d kissed her, it was as if he hadn’t kissed a woman in five years—which wasn’t true, but might as well have been. No woman’s kisses ever mattered except Kate’s. It had been heaven and hell to hold her once more.
He ached with wanting her, yet his anger made him keep a wall between them.
When she reached the end of the pool, she bobbed up in the water and he could see she was wearing a black halter top that revealed her luscious curves. His mouth went dry and he wanted to pull her up into his arms again. Instead, he clenched his fists and jammed his hands in his pockets.
“I called my folks and told them about Henry,” he said, hating the huskiness in his voice and the ability she had to set him on fire just by being near him.
“I probably should have talked to them, Jonah.” She bit her lower lip. She hopped up on the side of the pool, then stood, hurrying to pick up a towel.
As she did so, he couldn’t keep from staring. Glistening droplets ran down her sleek skin. She wore a black, two-piece suit that clearly revealed her figure—still great, even though she was so thin. The halter top clung to her lush breasts. Her tiny waist was bare, the black suit bottom cut low on her hips. Her stomach was flat again, looking the same as it had before childbirth. Her long bare legs took his breath, and as she crossed to a chair to pick up a towel, he couldn’t help eyeing her round, sexy bottom.
“We’ll see them tomorrow,” he said, barely aware of what he was saying. He tried to get his mind back on what he had come out to tell her, and found it just as big an effort to tear his gaze away from her.
“We’ll leave here around ten in the morning to fly home. I figured that would give you time for breakfast and to get ready.”
“We’ll have to be at the airport at eight, won’t we?”
He shook his head, watching her skim the white towel over her body, and wanting to do that job himself. He wiped his sweating brow and knew he could use a swim in cold water, although even ice water wouldn’t cool him down tonight.
“No, we don’t have to be there until about half past nine. I’ve chartered a plane. Remember Boone Devlin?”
“Of course. No woman could forget him,” she answered lightly.
“Boone has a charter service, so I called to get one of his planes. Since it’s us, and I told him about Henry, he’s coming himself. He wants to meet my son.”
She caught her lower lip with her teeth, a slight frown creasing her brow. “I suppose he’ll be angry with me, too. So I’ll fly with two angry men and a child.”
“Boone just wants to see Henry.”
“You said Boone inherited a horse ranch. What did he do with it?”
“He hasn’t done anything. I asked him, and he said that he’s been too busy to deal with it yet. I know Boone. He’s a procrastinator. He’s going to sell his ranch when he gets around to it. He loves flying and probably gives little thought to the place. Both operations are already under fine management, anyway. Neither Boone nor I have to do anything to have it all click right along. I just happen to like ranching.”
She nodded. “We’ll be ready in the morning.”
Jonah turned away, striding into the house and fighting the urge to stay outside with her. He wanted to go back and swim, but he knew that would be asking for trouble. Get away from the woman and forget her, he told himself. He went to the family room, sat down and pulled a baby book into his lap. Soon he was poring over it, lingering on each picture, looking at Henry when he was a year old.
As Jonah studied the pictures, he ached deep inside. He had missed all of this. “Dammit, Kate!” he snapped to the empty room, clenching his fists as he stared at a photo of Henry in a navy sailor suit. The toddler had a bib tied around his neck, chocolate cake on his face and crumbs squeezed in both tiny fists.
Jonah stared at the picture, trying to imagine the moment as if he were there, watching Henry taking fistfuls of his first birthday cake. He looked at photos of Henry in another outfit—red coveralls—where he was opening presents and wearing a paper hat. Jonah ached for what was lost, yet knew he shouldn’t dwell on that, but just be thankful he had Henry now.
As he studied each picture, Jonah ran his hands over it lightly, as if by touching it he could get closer to that moment in Henry’s life. By the time he finished, it was past two o’clock in the morning. He stacked the books neatly and strode to the exercise room to work out. An hour later, he plunged into the pool, swimming laps, trying to burn off hurt and anger and frustration, reminding himself constantly that Henry was part of his life now.
Tomorrow he would take his son home to meet all his relatives. When Jonah had told them about Henry, his mother had cried with joy, and his stoic, closemouthed father had bubbled with excitement—a rarity that could only be brought about by something monumental in their lives.
Jonah knew he needed to go to bed, but he didn’t think sleep would come. Beneath all his excitement and turmoil and anger with Kate, desire still sizzled, and their kisses earlier had only fanned the flames. He wanted to be so bushed, he couldn’t desire her or even dream about her.
When he finally went to bed, he tossed and turned. At last he threw back the sheet and walked out onto the balcony overlooking the terrace and pool. He stretched out on a chaise longue, looking through the wrought-iron railing to the pool and well-lit yard. A tall, stately live oak had lights high in the branches. As Jonah gazed at it, he realized he could hang a tire swing for Henry from one of the sturdy limbs.
Wondering what else his son might like, Jonah looked over the yard, then beyond, to the dark rolling hills. How his life had changed today! And tomorrow he would take Henry home with him.
The next morning he was in the kitchen when Clementine Blair, the cook, appeared. The diminutive woman, her brown hair streaked with gray, pulled on an apron, and when Jonah started to tell her about his guests, her brown eyes sparkled. “Your wife and your son are here! How peachy!”
“Ex-wife, Clementine,” he said dryly, knowing very little about her and her views on life.
“Maybe not for long, Mr. Whitewolf.”
“You can call me Jonah. And it will be for long,” he added, wondering if his cook was a hopeless romantic.
As Clementine bustled around the kitchen, Marvella arrived to clean. He greeted the tall brunette who gave him a brief smile and he explained to her that there would be additional people living in the house. At the mention of ex-wife and child, she broke into a broad smile, exchanging satisfied glances with Clementine. He wondered if he had two romantics on his staff.
“A child! A little boy,” Marvella said, smiling broadly as she left the kitchen.
Marvella had been gone only a minute when Kate appeared. Dressed in cutoffs and a T-shirt, she sauntered into the room and paused, smiling at Mrs. Blair.
“I just met Marvella,” Kate told him.
“Good. Kate, this is Clementine Blair, my cook. Clementine, meet Kate Whitewolf.”
While the women exchanged greetings, Jonah gazed at Kate. In her casual attire, she looked wonderful. Her hair was caught up on the back of her head with a clip, leaving tendrils falling around her face. She had a dewy, scrubbed look and he inhaled deeply, turning away before she saw the impact she had on him.
Over three hours later, they walked across the tarmac to a waiting plane so white it was dazzling in the sunshine. In jeans and a knit shi
rt, Boone Devlin stood waiting, his hands on his hips, wind blowing his thick hair.
As she approached the plane and its pilot, Kate’s reluctance grew. At the same time she was aware that Henry’s shyness had returned. When they’d left the ranch, he had become quiet, and she wondered if he was afraid of his first flight or afraid of the new grandparents and other relatives he would meet. Last night Jonah had given her a picture of most of his family, and she had tried to familiarize Henry with their names and faces. Now she wondered if she had just bewildered him. She also wondered how she would get through the day. Not only was she on edge around Jonah, she dreaded facing his parents. Minute by minute she was seeing what she had deprived Henry of, and that hurt even more.
Kate walked with Henry’s hand in hers, Jonah on the other side of him. Looking incredibly fit and appealing, her ex-husband was dressed in a navy-and-red-plaid knit shirt and jeans, colors that emphasized Jonah’s dark looks. His eagerness was as obvious as Henry’s reluctance. And Kate wondered if she had hidden her dread.
As they approached the plane, she remembered Boone, who was, next to Jonah, one of the most handsome men she had ever known. And Boone knew his effect on women. He was a charmer, a rogue, but respectful of his friends and their women. In the past he had been entertaining to be around, friendly, never overstepping his bounds with her.
As she drew closer now, she could see anger in his gaze and knew, as she had expected, that Boone was furious with her for hurting his friend. She wasn’t surprised, because these men were fiercely loyal to each other. That was easy to understand, since they had been in so many situations where their very survival depended on one another.
Smiling, the two friends shook hands. “Thanks for coming,” Jonah said.
“Sure. I want to meet your son.” He glanced over. “Hello, Kate,” he said coolly, a reserved greeting that she knew was far different from what it would have been if she and Jonah were still married.
“Hi, Boone,” she replied.
“Boone, this is Henry,” Jonah said, dropping a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Henry, meet my friend, Mr. Devlin.”
Boone shook Henry’s hand and hunkered down to his level. “You’re a big boy, Henry. How do you like living on the ranch?”
“I like it, sir,” he answered politely.
“That’s great. You look just like your daddy. So, are you ready to fly in my plane?”
“Yes, sir,” Henry replied, looking beyond Boone toward the waiting plane with an apprehensive expression.
Boone stood. “If you want, Jonah, you can sit up front with me and buckle him on your lap. There’s no wind and not a cloud in the sky, so we should have a smooth flight.”
“Thanks, Boone,” Jonah replied, glancing at Kate. She nodded, knowing she was going to have to let go and allow Henry to do all sorts of things with his father.
During the flight she rode alone, while the men and Henry were in the cockpit. As they flew north, the land below changed from green, rolling hill country covered with spreading oaks and sparkling rivers, to land splashed with mesquite, cactus and short grass. Dry riverbeds snaked across the flat ground and deep furrows cut the sides of arroyos.
After a smooth landing, as she climbed out of the plane, Kate was alone a moment with Boone, who gazed at her with that same smoldering anger. “Kate, you hurt Jonah as much as a woman can hurt a man.”
“That hurt went two ways, Boone,” she said, lifting her chin.
“Maybe, but keeping Henry from him—”
“I know I shouldn’t have—” She broke off as Jonah and Henry climbed out of the plane and joined them.
“Thanks, Boone,” Jonah said, shaking hands again.
“Thank you, Mr. Devlin,” Henry said, enthusiasm lacing his childish voice. His shyness had vanished. “That was a cool ride!”
Boone laughed. “Anytime, Henry. Just get your dad to call me.”
As they walked away, Henry turned to wave again at Boone.
Jonah got a cab from the airport to his parents’ house. The moment she stepped out of the taxi, Kate’s apprehension grew. Along with trepidation, recollections of better times bombarded her. She looked at the single-story, redbrick-and-frame house that held happy memories. Three mulberry trees shaded a green yard bordered with beds of bright pink and purple crepe myrtle, multicolored zinnias and riotous red petunias. Pots of flowers hung on the shady, inviting porch.
As Jonah opened the cab door for her, Kate took a deep breath. She dreaded the next few minutes and wondered if she would have to face the wrath of Jonah’s entire family.
Stepping out of the cab, she smoothed the blue denim skirt of her sundress. She had worn a dress and sandals and let her hair fall loose. Thin golden bangles clinked on her arm, but she was barely aware of them.
Jonah rang the doorbell and then opened the door. “Mom! Dad!” he called.
They were there instantly—two tall, brown-skinned people with raven hair and that hawkish nose that both Jonah and Henry had inherited. The welcoming smiles on their faces took away a little of Kate’s chilling dread. Neighbor Whitewolf was a powerful man with strong, well-shaped hands. Kate knew he had a large dental practice and enjoyed his work. Maggie Whitewolf was slender, striking, with large brown eyes and straight black hair. As she faced them, Kate was overwhelmed with emotion. She had missed seeing his parents, and memories of them were tied to happy times with Jonah.
While Jonah made introductions, they hugged Jonah and Henry, and when Kate looked into Maggie Whitewolf’s warm brown eyes, the older woman held out her arms. “Kate!” she exclaimed, and hugged her tightly.
Kate could have fainted with relief. “Forgive me, Maggie,” she whispered as she hugged Jonah’s mother.
“You’re forgiven, Kate,” she replied quietly. “He’s here now and that’s what’s important. I know you did what you had to do.”
Kate hugged Maggie again. “Thanks,” she said, deeply grateful. She had always liked Jonah’s mother, but never as much as she did at this moment.
Then she turned as Neighbor Whitewolf held out his arms to hug her. “Kate, it’s good to see you. What a fine boy!”
She felt a tight knot in her throat, remembering too many homecomings when she and Jonah had been married, happy moments, warm and fuzzy times with his family. “Thank you,” she whispered, not trusting her voice and fighting back tears over what could have been.
“Where’s the rest of the family?” Jonah asked, looking around.
“They’re coming in about thirty minutes,” Maggie said. “We wanted to get to know Henry a little first. And let him see the house.” She looked at her grandson. “Come on, Henry, we’ll show you around and you can play with some toys that were your father’s,” she said. She motioned to Jonah and Kate. “There are cookies and drinks in the kitchen. Help yourself. The whole family will be here for lunch.”
Enticing smells filled the house, and Kate walked with Jonah to the kitchen, more memories of happy times assailing her. She rubbed her brow. Everywhere she turned there were wonderful recollections, or Jonah himself, fanning the flames of an already fiery desire. They hadn’t been together twenty-four hours yet, and she was already having difficulty coping.
When they entered the kitchen, she crossed the room to sit at the kitchen table. Ceiling fans slowly turned in the oversize kitchen, which was filled with simmering pots, covered dishes, pitchers of cold drinks. Everything about her surroundings was just like old times, except the most important thing of all.
Kate had lost all appetite, but watched as Jonah poured iced tea for both of them and sat across from her. “I’d go see what the folks are doing, but I know they want to get to know Henry, and in a few minutes he’ll have so many new relatives around that his head will spin. Did you show him the picture and tell him about all of us?”
“Yes, I did,” she said. “He can’t keep from liking your family and his cousins. Jonah, your mom is her usual wonderful self.”
“I knew she would fo
rgive you,” he said easily, running his index finger slowly over the rim of his glass. “Mom picks up and goes on, and she’s so happy to have Henry. You’d think she didn’t have a single grandchild, instead of having twelve of them now.”
“Henry will love your parents.”
“He’s a quiet little boy, Kate.”
“He’s shy and he hasn’t played with a lot of other children or been away from me very much. He’ll probably come out of that some now that you’re with him.”
“Maybe so,” Jonah said.
They heard a car and seconds later the back door burst open, and three of Henry’s cousins poured into the room, throwing themselves at Jonah. In a few more minutes the house was filled with adults and children, and Kate knew any worries she’d had about Henry being overwhelmed or feeling shy were for naught. There were enough little boys about that Henry was overjoyed, playing with them as happily as if he had known them for years. When the women got lunch on the table, Kate looked out the kitchen window to see Henry playing ball with his cousins.
“When he gets to know us, I hope you’ll let him come stay for a few days at a time,” Maggie said as she picked up a bowl of potato salad to place it on the table.
“I think he’d love that,” Kate replied. “Just let me know when you want him. It looks to me as if he’ll want to come visit.”
“I’m sorry about your parents, Kate.”
“Thanks,” she replied, looking into Maggie’s brown eyes and wishing for something she knew she couldn’t have.
During lunch, one of Jonah’s brothers related a funny incident, and as everyone laughed, Kate looked at Jonah and her breath caught. It was the first real laughter she’d seen from him since their encounter yesterday, and it made him doubly appealing. His white teeth flashed and crinkles appeared in his cheeks. If only…The words hit her like a blow to her stomach. If only things were different! She tried to slam the door on that line of thinking. Then Jonah’s gaze met hers and she looked away quickly, wondering how much her own eyes revealed her feelings.
