Nine Months Part 2 (36 Hours)

by Beverly Barton

  36 Hours Serial

  As a devastating summer storm hits Grand Springs, Colorado, the next thirty-six hours will change the town and its residents forever….

  Nine Months Part 2

  Paige Summers’s life hasn’t been the same since she started her new job—and accidentally had sex with her boss during the night of the storm! She's always wanted a baby, and J. L. Montgomery might be the perfect husband and father—if he loves her.

  Jared is used to getting what he wants, so he can’t understand Paige’s reluctance to marry him. Is she just a gold digger hoping to make him want her more by playing it cool? Or the most independent—and sexy—woman he’s ever met?

  What will it take for Jared to see Paige as more than an acquisition, and for Paige to get her elevator cowboy back?

  The story concludes in Nine Months Part 3.

  Dear Reader,

  In the town of Grand Springs, Colorado, a devastating summer storm sets off a string of events that changes the lives of the residents forever….

  Welcome to Harlequin’s exciting new digital serial, 36 Hours! In this thirty-six part serial share the stories of the residents of Grand Springs, Colorado, in the wake of a deadly storm.

  With the power knocked out and mudslides washing over the roads, the town is plunged into darkness and the residents are forced to face their biggest fears—and find love against all odds.

  Each week features a new story written by a variety of bestselling authors like Susan Mallery and Sharon Sala. The stories are published in three segments, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and the first segment of every three-part book is free, so you can get caught up in the mystery and drama of Grand Springs. And you can get to know a new set of characters every week. You can read just one, but as the lives and stories of each intertwine in surprising ways, you’ll want to read them all!

  Join Harlequin E every week as we bring you excitement, mystery, fun and romance in 36 Hours!

  Happy reading!

  Malle Vallik

  Director, Editorial Digital Initiatives

  About the Author

  Movies fascinated Beverly Barton from an early age, and by the time she was seven she was rewriting the movies she saw to give them all happy endings. After her marriage and the births of her children, Beverly continued to be a voracious reader and a devoted moviegoer, but she put her writing aspirations on hold. Now, after writing over seventy books, receiving numerous awards and becoming a New York Times bestselling author, Beverly's career has become her dream come true.

  Nine Months Part 2

  Beverly Barton

  Contents

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Who knew that one brief encounter could leave such a lasting impression? Being stuck in an elevator with a gorgeous cowboy could do that to a woman. With the storm raging outside, and not knowing if this would be their last night on earth, it was no wonder they got hot and heavy. So what are the odds that he’d turn out to be her boss? Awkward! Even worse than facing him in the office each day, knowing that he’s seen her naked, is the fact that Paige soon discovers that she’s having his baby. Paige Summers would marry Jared in a heartbeat—if only he loved her. Too bad that Jared Montgomery doesn’t believe in love.

  Chapter Four

  Paige Summers couldn’t wait to get to her parents’ home on Juniper Lane, a neat two-story frame they’d bought shortly after her father’s retirement. She’d show her mother the sonogram pictures before dinner, and then afterward, they’d watch the video. Accepting the fact that his unmarried daughter was pregnant was difficult for her father, but he loved her and she knew she could count on his support during the months and years ahead. She didn’t think she’d ever be able to bring herself to tell him that she’d gotten pregnant by a stranger the night of the horrible June rainstorm when she’d been trapped in the Wellman Building elevator. Walt Summers was far too old-fashioned. If he had any idea about the identity of the man who had fathered Paige’s child, he’d go after the guy with a shotgun.

  Paige giggled when she pictured her father holding a shotgun on L. J. Montgomery and demanding the man marry his daughter. But the image of her walking down the aisle with Jared quickly wiped the smile off her face. Nothing short of a wedding would satisfy her father or Jared.

  If circumstances were different, if Paige thought there was a chance Jared might learn to love her and accept her for the woman she was, she’d willingly marry her baby’s father. If they loved each other, they could find a way to overcome their many differences. But any man who could map out his personal life the way he planned his business ventures wasn’t capable of real love. If Jared loved her, he wouldn’t be so concerned about her being such an unsuitable mate.

  And even if she loved Jared—and that was a big if—her romantic heart would wither and die without having her love returned in full measure. Her soul needed a soul mate. Although she couldn’t deny that she was physically attracted to Jared, that she found him downright irresistible, she wasn’t sure whether what she felt for him was just infatuation or real love.

  Perhaps she had been trying to convince herself that she’d fallen in love with Jared at first sight because loving him would justify her pregnancy. After all, what woman would want to admit that she’d done something so monumentally foolish for any other reason than love?

  Maybe she had fallen for the cowboy stranger she’d made love with in the elevator, but L. J. Montgomery was a different man. He was her boss! How could she possibly love someone so domineering and arrogant?

  She turned her white Chevy Malibu into her parents’ drive, directly behind her brother Austen’s mud-splattered Chevy pickup. The front porch light shone brightly, casting a creamy glow over the wide front yard filled with neatly trimmed shrubs and barren flower beds. Paige dropped her keys into her shoulder bag, double-checked the zippered side pouch to make sure the sonogram pictures and video were still there and got out of the car.

  The moment she opened the door, the cool October wind chilled her to the bone. Adjusting her shoulder bag, Paige buttoned her wool jacket before she hurried up the drive and onto the porch.

  Apparently her mother had been watching for her. Dora Summers flung open the front door, reached out and pulled Paige inside, then closed the door quietly.

  “Mama—”

  “Shh!” Dora put a finger to her lips, then yanked Paige into a corner of the foyer. “He’s here!”

  “Who’s here?” Paige asked.

  “Him.”

  “Mama, I have no idea what you’re talking about. Who’s here?”

  “Your fiancé, of course.”

  “My what?”

  “L. J. Montgomery,” Dora replied, her brown eyes huge as saucers. “Your daddy was fit to be tied when he told us that he was your baby’s father—”

  “He did what?”

  “But it’s all right now. The minute he showed us the diamond ring he’s going to give you and told your daddy that he wanted to ask his permission before y’all made it official, Walt’s attitude changed completely. Land sakes, they’re in the den now with Austen, the three of them talking about football and skiing and the army. You know, all that man stuff.”

  Paige had noticed over the years that whenever her mother got excited, her Mississippi accent became more pronounced. And Dora was quite excited now. Happily excited. But why shouldn’t she be? Why shouldn’t her entire family be delighted? After all, they’d been told that their unmarried, pregnant daughter was engaged to one of the wealthiest men in the Southwest.

  She should have known that Jared wouldn’t abid
e by their agreement and let her handle their situation. He was too accustomed to being in charge, to issuing orders and having them instantly obeyed. He planned and arranged every element of his life to his liking. He didn’t leave any room for other people’s feelings, other people’s hopes and dreams.

  He had screwed up his precisely made plans for the future, but he was adapting quickly, altering his plans to include a wife and child, neither of whom he loved or wanted. He was so determined to have his own way that he didn’t care what she wanted. And he was in the den with her father and brother right now, cleaning up the mess he’d created four months ago.

  Paige hung her bag on the pine coat tree, then removed her jacket and hung it over her purse. “He’s not going to get away with this,” she murmured.

  “What did you say?” her mother asked.

  “Nothing, Mama. Just muttering to myself.” Paige wrapped her arm around her mother’s shoulders. “How long has Jared been here?”

  “About an hour, dear. A taxi brought him. And Mr. Montgomery…I mean Jared…he told us to call him Jared. Well, anyway, he brought flowers and wine and told us who he was and that you had invited him to join us for dinner.” Dora slipped her arm around Paige’s waist. “Why on earth didn’t you tell us about Jared, that the two of you were planning to get married?”

  “Because I haven’t agreed to marry him.”

  “Why on earth not?”

  “Because he doesn’t love me, Mama. He just wants to marry me because of the baby.”

  “Well, in my day, that was a darn good reason.”

  Paige had never heard her sweet, gentle mother say a curse word, no matter how angry or upset she became. Dora Elkins Summers was a sparkling ember from the dying fire of Southern gentility.

  “Mama, please. I’m going to need you to be on my side.” Paige grasped her mother’s hands. “I know Daddy will want me to marry Jared, no matter what. But I can’t.”

  “Don’t you love him, Paige?”

  She looked into her mother’s dear, worried face and accepted defeat. Temporary defeat. After this little family dinner party ended, she was going to get Mr. Wonderful Future Son-in-law alone and give him a piece of her mind. When she got through with him, he would be sorry he’d ever tried to get the best of her.

  “Jared Montgomery wouldn’t be an easy man to love. You can’t imagine how infuriating he can be. Half the time he acts like an infuriating jerk.”

  “Oh, sweetie, he’s a man. Most of them are like that. Being infuriating is a male trait.” Clasping Paige’s hand, Dora tugged gently, urging her daughter to follow her. “Let’s go on in. We all heard your car drive up, but I told them I needed a few minutes alone with you for mother-daughter time.”

  “Thanks, Mama.” Paige plastered a phony smile on her face, tilted her chin high, squeezed her mother’s hand, and together they paraded into the den.

  “There you are, sweetheart.” Walt Summers held his arms open.

  Paige caught a glimpse of Jared standing near the rock fireplace beside Austen, but she didn’t glance his way. Instead she rushed into her father’s arms.

  “We’ve been getting to know your Jared.” Walt gave Paige a bear hug, then released her.

  “So Mama told me,” she said.

  Paige’s heart sank when she saw her father’s broad smile. Dammit! He liked Jared. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Jared wasn’t supposed to be here.

  Without any warning, Jared slid his arm around Paige’s waist and drew her to his side. He nuzzled her ear. She shivered. “Honey, I hope you aren’t upset with me for showing your folks your engagement ring and springing our good news on them before you got home.”

  Smiling politely, her jaws aching from the effort, she patted Jared’s cheek, barely refraining herself from slapping him. “Why, no, darling, how could I ever be upset with you when your every thought is of what’s best for me.”

  “I knew you’d understand why I decided that I should be the one to introduce myself and assure your parents that I’m going to take very good care of their little girl.”

  “Isn’t this just too wonderful for words?” Dora wiped the tears from her eyes with the edge of her gingham apron. “And to think how worried we’ve all been.”

  “Now, now, all’s well that ends well.” Walt cleared his throat. “Mama, why don’t you and Austen and I go on out in the kitchen and leave these two lovebirds alone? I’m sure Paige is dying to get a look at that ring.”

  “No!” Paige cried out. “Don’t go.” When everyone stared at her, their eyes questioning her plea, she took a deep breath. “I mean, why don’t we go ahead and have dinner. Jared and I plan to go back to my apartment later and discuss our future.”

  Short, stocky, seventeen-year-old Austen slapped Jared on the back. “Hey, man, if she had any idea of the size of that rock, she’d want it on her finger right this minute. Why don’t you show it to her?”

  “Good idea.” Jared pulled a velvet box out of his coat pocket, flipped open the lid and held it up in front of Paige. “The moment I saw it, I knew it was meant for my future wife.”

  Paige gasped. Oh, my God! He had to be kidding? The emerald-cut diamond sparkled like a star. A large star. Maybe this ring was meant for his future wife, but not for her. He hadn’t been thinking of her when he’d chosen the diamond; he’d been thinking of what was suitable for L. J. Montgomery’s fiancée.

  “She’s speechless,” Austen said. “See, what’d I tell you? Hey, sis, I bet you never thought you’d ever be wearing a perfect six-carat diamond, did you?”

  Paige swallowed. “No. Not ever.” If Jared’s intention had been to dazzle her, he had succeeded. Indeed, he seemed to have dazzled her whole family. But if his intention had been to please her, he had failed miserably.

  While she stared at the diamond, totally mesmerized, Jared removed it from its velvet bed. “Let’s make it official, honey.” He lifted her hand, slipped the ring on the third finger of her left hand and brought her hand to his lips.

  Paige tugged on her hand, trying to remove it from his grasp. He tightened his hold, then kissed the knuckle on her ring finger. She bit down on her bottom lip, whether in an effort not to cry or not to spit in his eye, she wasn’t sure.

  “Let’s open that bottle of wine Jared brought and make a toast to the happy couple,” Walt said.

  * * *

  Three-and-a-half hours later, Paige unlocked her apartment, opened the door and flipped on the light switch. She wasn’t sure how she had managed to spend the entire evening at her parents’ home and endure the drive back into town alone with Jared, without strangling the man. She had counted to ten a least a dozen times.

  God, he was such a manipulator. She could hear him now.

  “Austen, whenever you or Bryant want to take a few friends to Aspen, you’re welcome to use my condo.”

  “Wow, man, thanks!” Austen had been duly impressed.

  “And, Walt, I’d really appreciate your including me in your plans the next time you and your boys go hunting,” Jared had said.

  After dinner he’d raved to her mother. “Mrs. Summers, that was the best fried chicken I’ve ever eaten. And the peach cobbler was delicious.”

  The minute they’d gotten into her car, she’d warned him not to say one word to her. “I can’t drive and chew your ass out at the same time.”

  “Tsk-tsk, honey,” he’d said. “Your mother wouldn’t approve of your being mean to me, would she?”

  Paige had given him an evil glare. He’d grinned, but he had shut up and remained silent all the way into Grand Springs.

  Jared walked into Paige’s apartment behind her, closed the door and casually crossed his arms over his chest. “I like your family,” he said. “They’re good people.”

  “Yes, you’re right, they are good people. And I don’t appreciate the way you manipulated them tonight.”

  “And just exactly how did I manipulate them?”

  “You know damn well how.” Paige lai
d her shoulder bag on the coffee table. “You invited yourself to dinner when you knew I didn’t want you there. You told my parents that you’re the father of my child and that we’re going to get married.”

  “I am the father of your child. And sooner or later, you are going to marry me.”

  Crinkling her face into a disgusted frown, Paige threw up her hands and screeched. “I am not going to marry you. I thought I made that perfectly clear this morning. And I thought you agreed.” Paige removed her jacket and flung it on a nearby chair.

  “What you made perfectly clear this morning was that I had to take some drastic measures to persuade you that marrying me is the best thing for you and our child.”

  “It isn’t going to work, you know.” She kicked off her heels and slumped down onto the sofa. “Just because you charmed my family and put this—” she held up her right hand “—expensive ring on my finger, does not mean you’ve won.” She jerked off the ring and held it out to him. “Here, take this thing to the jeweler’s and get your money back. A ring like this isn’t my style, anyway.”

  Glancing down at the ring lying in her palm, Jared shrugged. “Well, that ring—” he nodded to the perfect six-carat diamond “—is my style, and it’s exactly what my fiancée would wear. So, you’re going to keep it. Besides, if you don’t keep the ring, you’re going to find it difficult to explain to your parents why you gave it back to me. After all, I’m their grandchild’s father, and I’m more than willing to make an honest woman of you.”

  “I understand now why you’re so successful.” Paige glared at him. He grinned. Damn the man! Damn him for making her stomach do evil flip-flops every time he smiled at her. “You’re manipulative and underhanded and conniving and deceitful and ruthless.” She laid the ring on a brass coaster on the end table.

  Uncrossing his arms, Jared strolled across the room toward the sofa. “You forgot to mention ‘determined.’ I never give up until I get what I want.” He sat down beside her, trapping her between him and the sofa arm.