by Leah Brooke
J.W. frowned, his stomach tight, the wait for the Avery brothers’ next move stretching his nerves. “Not those two. They’re troublemakers. If I hadn’t felt bad for their momma, they wouldn’t have been working here at all. Must be getting’ soft in my old age.”
Rod chuckled softly, his eyes barely visible beneath the brim of his hat. “J.W., the last thing anyone could ever call you is soft. After the way they saw you pull Apollo down with one hand, the men all seem to be giving you a wide berth.” Smiling faintly, he turned to J.W. again. “They’ve always been a little worried about that ice-cold temper of yours. Now they’re just real happy you’ve got a rein on it.”
“Yeah, well, I can’t say my temper’s getting any better with Buck and Tommy running around causing trouble.”
Rod looked toward the stable, where a fight had just broken out, and frowned. “Yeah, they’ve got a lot of us on edge. I’d better go break this up.”
J.W. nodded. “They know better than to fight near the stables.”
Rod nodded once and rode toward the fight.
Ordinarily, J.W. would have gone to handle it himself, but he wanted to make sure the men knew that Rod was a foreman now and treated him accordingly. He also wanted to see how the other man would handle it.
Work no longer consumed his days.
He wanted to spend time building a family now.
First, though, he had to convince Lana that she was where she belonged.
With him.
Chapter Fifteen
Lana stared at the bed, unable to wipe the smile from her face, looking up when J.W. emerged from the bathroom. “Are the pillows over there? I can’t find them.”
Buttoning his shirt, J.W. glanced around before meeting her gaze again with a devilish smile. “Last time I saw the pillows, they were under your hips.”
Her face burned at the memory, burning even hotter at his seductive chuckle. “You don’t have to sound so cocky about it. I’ve got to change the sheets before Alice gets here.” Laughing softly, she shook her head and gathered the sheets. “Well, at least I didn’t have to strip it. The sheets were all over the floor.” His lovemaking the previous night had had a desperation to it that had left her reeling.
“You complaining, darlin’?”
A giggle broke free, something that seemed to happen more often. “Hell, I didn’t even remember falling asleep. I think you were still inside me. You’ve got a hell of a lot of stamina, cowboy.”
J.W. smiled at that. Bending, he gathered the pillows from the opposite side of the bed and tossed them onto the bare mattress. “You inspire me. Besides, I’m pretty sure you started it.”
Smiling again at the memory, Lana gathered the bedding and started from the room. “I just wanted to touch you and give you the kind of pleasure you give me.” Pausing at the doorway, she turned with a frown, unsurprised to find him right behind her. “You took over real quick. Don’t you like it when I touch you?”
“Too much.” J.W. bent and touched his lips to hers before turning her and patting her ass. “I live for your touch, baby.”
Pausing at the door to the laundry room, he watched her load the washer. “What are you doing today?”
Surprised by the tension in his voice, Lana turned to face him, studying his features. “Is something wrong?”
“Of course not.” J.W.’s eyes gave away nothing. “So what are your plans for today?”
Approaching him, she watched his eyes, searching for the source of the tension that seemed to grow every day.
It was nothing she could put her finger on, but ever since the incident with Apollo, he seemed watchful. Tense.
Sliding her hands over his chest, she smiled, hoping to tease him out of his mood. “I’m going to help Alice a little, and I want to call Kristen and see how she’s doing. I also have to put fresh sheets on the bed. Do you have a staple gun?”
J.W. rewarded her with a smile. “Cute.” Sliding his hands around her to settle at her lower back, he bent to kiss her, but instead of the brush of his lips she’d expected, he deepened his kiss.
Gathering her close, he pushed his tongue past her lips to delve deep, exploring her mouth with a thoroughness that left her breathless and dizzy.
With a groan, he lifted his head, staring down at her, a slow smile tugging the corners of his mouth. “Good. Just checking. I’ll see you for dinner.”
Still thinking about J.W.’s mood, Lana finished making the bed and called her sister-in-law.
Dialing the number, she leaned back, stuffing a pillow behind her neck as she waited for Kristen to answer.
“Hello?”
Frowning at the weariness in her sister-in-law’s voice, Lana sat up again. “Kristen, it’s Lana. Are you okay?”
“Oh! Hi, Lana. Yes, I’m fine. Tired, cranky, and tired of getting up to go to the bathroom, and really tired of your brother’s hovering. I’m going to punch him the next time he comes in here with more food.”
Lying back down again, Lana grinned at the picture of her tiny sister-in-law punching her six-foot-four brother. “I’d like to get a picture of that, if you don’t mind.”
“You got it. I swear, just because I’m as big as a house doesn’t mean I have to eat all day. He thinks because I’m eating for two it means eating for two men his size.” Kristen’s voice lowered. “How are you doing?”
“I’m fine.” Lana answered automatically, surprised to realize just how much she meant that.
“What’s wrong? You don’t sound fine.”
Glancing at the doorway, Lana sighed and sat up again. “It’s odd. I just realized how much I do mean that. I’ve gained weight since J.W. and I started seeing each other. Hell, I barely cover my scars anymore.” And she didn’t go around checking the locks on doors since she’d moved in with him, and the bathroom light was on only because he left it on for her.
“Good. I knew J.W. would be good for you. He’s a man who doesn’t take no for an answer, and Daniel trusts him explicitly.” Kristen giggled. “At least he did until he found out that J.W. was sleeping at your apartment and now you’re staying at his ranch. Nothing like a man like that to get your blood pumping.”
Lana laughed at that. “You shouldn’t be talking like that. That’s what got you into your condition.”
“Yeah, well, if your brother doesn’t stop treating me like I’m made of glass, he’s never touching me again.”
“You wouldn’t like to bet money on that, would you?” Daniel’s voice sounded clearly in the background. “And what the hell’s wrong with me checking on you? You’re due to deliver any second.”
“Go away and let me talk to Lana.”
Lana smiled at their bantering, pleased that her brother had found the love he deserved. “Go deal with Daniel. He’s been so worried about you. Let him rub your feet or something.”
“I’ve got news for you, Lana. Your brother is just as worried about you.”
“Tell him there’s no reason to be. By the way, I talked to Mom yesterday. We’re all flying out there as soon as we hear you’ve had the baby. Mom’s already planning all the things she’s going to stock your freezer with.”
“Great! I love your mother’s cooking. Oh, hell. Daniel’s trying to grab the phone away from me to talk to you. We’ll talk again soon, okay?”
“Absolutely. Take care and let him spoil you.”
“I’ll remember that advice when it’s your turn.”
Lana forced a laugh, strongly suspecting that her turn might be sooner than anyone expected.
She was late, and knew it wouldn’t take long for J.W. to suspect.
Nothing seemed to get past him.
“Lana, how are you, honey?”
Smiling at the sound of Daniel’s voice, Lana laid back down again, suddenly tired. “I’m great, Daniel. How are you?”
“Are you still living at J.W.’s?”
“Yes, for another few days. Then I’m going back home. You didn’t answer my question.”
“I’m fine, Lana. Listen, why don’t you just stay there? There’s no reason to go back to your apartment and live alone.”
Not trusting his turnaround, Lana sat up again. “What going on? Why the sudden change?”
“Because you sound better, and from what Mom and Dad tell me, you look a hell of a lot better. You’re not as pale and you’ve actually been sleeping. J.W.’s good for you.”
Smiling, Lana leaned back again and decided to tease him. “You said that J.W.’s the type of man who gets bored with women easily. Aren’t you afraid he’ll get bored with me and toss me to the curb?” “I’d kick his ass.”
“That should be interesting.” Lana pressed a hand to her stomach, suddenly nauseated. “I don’t think that’ll be necessary, though.” Blowing out a breath, she rolled to her side. “He says he wants me to stay here, but I don’t know if I can. I have to be sure, Daniel.”
She pressed a hand to her stomach, the possibility that a baby may be involved making her even more leery.
J.W. took his responsibilities seriously, and she didn’t want to hold him with a child.
Determined to change the subject, she focused in her brother. “So how are you holding up?”
Daniel’s voice lowered, and it sounded as if he’d walked away from Kristen. “I’ll just be glad when she has the baby. If she doesn’t go into labor in the next few days, the doctor’s going to induce her. She can’t sleep, and she’s uncomfortable as hell.”
Raising his voice again, he moved his mouth away from the phone. “I’ll be right back, baby. I’m just getting you some more juice.”
Lana smiled at the love in his voice. “You know, every time you get her something to drink, she has to go back to the bathroom.”
Daniel chuckled. “I know. I’m thinking of moving the bed in there.”
Yawning, Lana rolled to her back. “Don’t forget to call us. We’re flying out as soon as she has the baby.”
“I know. Mom calls every couple of hours to check. That’s another reason for you to stay with J.W. for a while. His house in on the way to the airport, and Mom and Dad can pick you up there.”
Frowning again, Lana sat up, jolting to see J.W. standing at the doorway—dirty, sweaty, and gorgeous. “There’s something strange in your voice, and J.W.’s been tense since someone put a small cactus under his horse’s saddle.” She caught a glimpse of J.W. out of the corner of her eye and turned to face him, her questions meant for both of them. “What’s going on? What aren’t you two telling me?”
“Nothing.”
Aware of J.W.’s steady stare, Lana smiled. “You’re up to something. I’ll figure it out, you know.”
Daniel’s soft laugh sounded forced. “You always do, but I’m not up to anything. I just don’t want to worry about both you and Kristen at the same time. Is J.W. around?”
Not trusting the nonchalance in her brother’s voice, but not wanting to argue with him when he was so worried about Kristen, Lana let it go. “As a matter of fact, he just walked in.”
Daniel’s voice lowered even more, and she heard him open and close a door. “Let me talk to him. Get some sleep. You sound exhausted.”
* * * *
J.W. stood watching Lana. The weariness in her eyes and the lethargic way she moved told him that his darling lover was definitely in need of a nap.
She was carrying his child.
He was almost sure of it.
Elated at the prospect, he smiled and continued to watch her.
He had a feeling that getting her to marry him would take some work, but he was up to it.
She looked good in his bed.
She belonged in his home.
Hiding a frown, he glanced at the dresser, imagining her perfumes on it the way they were at her apartment.
Glancing around the room, he saw nothing of hers.
She kept the scant amount of belongings she’d brought to his home hidden away, as if trying not to intrude on his space.
It pissed him off.
Watching her talk to her brother, he remained tense, worried that the two of them would end up in another argument about her living at the ranch.
When several minutes went by without one, he started to relax, stiffening again when Lana held out the phone to him.
“Daniel wants to talk to you. He’s up to something, but I can’t figure out what.”
Not wanting to get the bed dirty, he moved to stand next to it, bending to touch his lips to hers as he took the phone from her. Staring into her eyes, he couldn’t resist running a hand over her abdomen, watching for any telltale sign that she suspected she was pregnant.
Her eyes widened, and she blushed, biting her lip.
She suspected, all right.
“Hello, Daniel. How’s Kristen?”
“Tired. Cranky. Uncomfortable.” His voice lowered, the strain in it unmistakable. “I need to talk to you, but I don’t want Lana to overhear our conversation.”
A knot formed in his stomach. “Okay.” To distract her from his conversation, J.W. reached out to run a fingertip over her nipple. “I heard Lana say that she and her parents plan to go see you as soon as the baby’s born. I’m gonna try to get out there a few days myself.”
Meeting her flushed face with a mocking look, he turned away, making his way out the French doors. Strolling to the far end of the patio, he kept an eye on the door to watch for Lana. “I’m away from her. What’s going on?”
“I got a call from the police in New York. I’ve been keeping tabs on their progress in finding the bastard who attacked Lana. They got a picture of him from the security video, but it was grainy and he had on a hoodie and a baseball cap.”
“Hell.”
“Yeah, well, I got a call from the lead detective. His name’s Lou Marcuso. He said that the other day they had an open house at Lana’s condo. The next day, the realtor went back to show the condo to one of the people interested and found that someone had been in there.”
“What?” J.W. clenched his jaw, glancing toward the door to the bedroom again. “How do they know?”
“The asshole jerked off on her bed and wrote bitch on her bedroom wall.”
“Fuck!” J.W. sucked in a breath and blew it out slowly, but it did nothing to ease the tension or rage that kept building inside him. “That son of a bitch went into her bedroom? Jerked off on her bed? It makes me sick to my stomach to think about anything so sick and evil touching her.”
“And it won’t. I’ve already made arrangements to have everything cleaned and the room freshly painted.”
“How the hell did he get in there?”
“The detective believes he’d snuck in with a group of others and hid in a closet or something until everyone left. I already talked to the realtor, who, by the way, was getting ready to call Lana to tell her about it.”
“Hell.”
“Exactly. They checked the security video.”
“And?”
“And he was dressed almost the same, and he kept his face hidden.”
“Shit.” Scraping a hand through his hair, J.W. sighed. “I appreciate you letting me know about this.”
“Uh, J.W.?”
“Yeah?”
“I don’t know how to ask this without pissing you off. I know I’d be pissed, but it is my sister.”
“Yes, I’m serious about her.” J.W. blew out a breath. “I have every intention of marrying her, but she doesn’t know it yet.”
Daniel’s sigh of relief was followed by a small chuckle. “It’s not like you to be so shy, J.W.”
J.W. smiled, shaking his head. “I’m not going to forget that comment, but I’m going to forgive it because I know how worried you are about Kristen and your sister. Lana’s as headstrong as you are. She’s got it in her head that she’s not strong enough for me. She hates her weakness and fears since the attack.”
He didn’t tell Daniel about her nightmares or the way she’d checked locks over and over before going to bed but still couldn’t sleep.
“She told me she’s okay. I knew she was lying.”
“No, she wasn’t. She is okay, or at least closer to it than she was before. She’s getting more confident every day. She doesn’t hide her scars as much anymore. She’s getting stronger by the day, but she doesn’t see it, so I guess she was lying to you. She just doesn’t see how true it is yet. Thanks to you, she thinks I’m just watching out for her. She’s convinced that she’s some kind of project to me, and that I just feel sorry for her.”
“Damn.”
“Yeah. I’m working on her, but she’s stubborn. But I’m a ruthless bastard.”
“J.W., I was worried at first, mostly because you have a reputation for becoming bored with women after only a few dates, but I have to admit, there’s no one else I’d trust more with my sister.”
“I’m glad to hear that, although your disapproval didn’t affect my decision at all. Lana’s mine, Daniel, and I won’t let anything or anyone getting in the way of me having her. Give me the detective’s number. You’ve got enough to deal with right now, and Lana’s my responsibility now.”
He looked up in time to see Lana stepping out onto the patio, his stomach clenching at the anger and hurt in her eyes. “I’ve gotta go. Text me that number.”
Not taking his eyes from hers, J.W. disconnected and tossed the phone onto a nearby table. “Out with it.”
“I’m leaving.”
J.W. smiled, his gut clenching. “I dare you to try.”
Folding her arms across her chest, she raised a brow. “You can’t keep me here.”
The attempt at copying his arrogant look would have been more effective if she didn’t look so damned tired, but she’d apparently decided to dig her heels in.
Meeting her gaze, he took a step closer. “Wanna bet?” Just the thought of her being alone and so tired made him sick to his stomach.
If she thought he would go along with something like that, she had a lot to learn about him.
He kept moving toward her, his chest swelling with satisfaction at the combination of love and turmoil in her eyes. Knowing that only her insecurity kept her from giving in, he lowered his voice intimately. “Why do you want to leave, baby? You can have everything you want here.”
