THE TEXAS RENEGADE REURNS

by Charlene Sands

  “But you almost fainted,” he pointed out.

  “Almost. I get dizzy once in a while...a combination of low blood pressure and tension.”

  Gabriella handed her a glass of water. “Thank you.”

  Cool water refreshed her throat as she sipped. “The doctor said that I need to take care not to move too quickly, especially when I first wake up.”

  Alex stared at her, his eyes softening. “What else?”

  “To avoid stress.”

  Alex ran a hand down his face. “Dios.”

  Avoiding stress was easier said than done, having Paul Windsor as a father and Alejandro del Toro as an ex-fiancé. Even Alex had to recognize that fact.

  He took her hand in his and squeezed gently. “Do you want to lie down? Go back to bed?”

  “No, Alex. I’m feeling better now. I have an appointment with the doctor day after tomorrow. She will check me out, but I feel fine. The baby...is very healthy.”

  “Our baby...” Alex grinned. “I am to be a father. It’s very good news.” His eyes darkened with pride. He turned to his sister. “Gabriella, will you give us a moment of privacy?”

  “Sí. You two need to talk. I will leave now.” She bent to give her friend a kiss on the cheek. “It’s good that the color has returned to your face, Cara. I will call you later.”

  “Okay. Thanks, Gabriella.”

  Alex rose to walk his sister to the door, but she gestured with a wave of her hand. “I can see myself out, Alejandro.” She kissed his cheek, as well. “Be good to Cara,” she said. “She needs your support.”

  Alex nodded. “She has always had it.”

  “Bueno,” she said. “I cannot wait to be Tía Gabriella.” She flashed a brilliant smile as she exited the house.

  “She’s as happy as I am,” Alex said, returning to Cara. A mixture of injury, excitement and concern crossed his features. “When is the baby due?”

  “In about six and a half months.”

  He blinked as if counting backward. Of course, he had to know the one and only time they’d been together since his disappearance was when she’d seduced him while he still had amnesia. Not her finest moment, but they’d produced a baby that night and she had no regrets about the life blooming inside her now.

  “You did not trust me enough to tell me?”

  She stared at him and gave him the painful truth. “No.”

  While they’d shared a beautiful night together, Cara had doubts about their future as a couple. Yes, they would be a family when the baby was born, but she didn’t know if Alex had changed enough for her to trust him. She’d always known that this moment, when Alex found out about the baby, would be the hardest of all for her to rationalize in her head, much less explain to Alex. “This doesn’t mean that we are back together.”

  His brows lifted. His face filled with blood and noticeable rapid breaths lifted his chest, but he restrained his frustration by speaking softly. “We are having a child together.”

  “The baby doesn’t automatically solve our problems, Alex.”

  “I will not argue with you about this now. You need to rest.”

  “I can’t rest. I need a shower, some breakfast and then I’m going to the office. I need to deal with our public relations team and figure out how to keep Windsor from tanking after my father’s arrest.”

  Alex’s lips tightened. “You will not change your mind?”

  She gave her head a shake. She didn’t want to leave the comfort of her home, but she owed it to her employees to show up and deal with the mess her father had made. By now, the news was out about Paul Windsor’s alleged crimes. The phone she’d shut off last night would soon explode with messages. She couldn’t put her head in the sand any longer. “No, I must go.”

  He crossed his arms around his chest and drew a deep breath as he contemplated her decision. “Then, if you must go, I will drive you. I will not let you face this alone.”

  “I appreciate it, but I can’t let you do that. If we both show up at Windsor, it’ll be asking for more chaos. The press will go wild. Right now, I need to calm things down, not make things worse.”

  “It will be hard to let you go,” he said, as if trying to talk himself into letting her confront the situation without him. “Now that I know about the baby you carry, I am doubly worried.”

  “I will not place our baby in jeopardy.”

  He didn’t seem convinced about any of it. “You won’t change your mind?” he asked again.

  She shook her head.

  “I will help you through this. What can I do?”

  She managed a wide smile. “Make me decaf coffee while I shower? Please?”

  “Dios. You are impossible.”

  When she thought he would rise, he undid the ties of her robe instead. The material parted slightly, and he slipped his hands inside and grazed her skin to spread the robe open all the way. The warmth her body enjoyed evaporated as a cooler snap of air hit her. Alex’s hot gaze quickly remedied that everywhere his eyes touched. Her nipples pebbled, but he didn’t seem to notice. Instead, he reached out tenderly to caress the skin just above her snowy-white scalloped panties. “My baby is here.”

  “Yes.”

  His palm slid over her belly. “Hello.”

  Tears welled in her eyes. It was a tender moment, and Cara had had so few of those lately.

  “I love you,” he said to her stomach and bent to brush a kiss there. As he lifted his gaze to hers, the gentle glow in his eyes destroyed her heart.

  “Oh, Alex.”

  “I will not hurt you, Cara.”

  “I want to believe that.”

  “I will make sure you do.”

  His fingers inched higher, climbing to the underside of her breasts. His touch was full of fascinating discovery now, rather than desire. “They are more sensitive than before. And fuller.”

  “I didn’t think you’d noticed.”

  “I notice everything about you. Are you uncomfortable?”

  “No. But I’m sure I will be as the baby grows. I’ll look like I swallowed your Ferrari.”

  He grinned. “That will be a sight.”

  She leaned back on the sofa, her head propped by the back cushion. It was such a normal moment, two soon-to-be parents talking about the pregnancy. Cara had missed sharing these kinds of moments with Alex. If only she could drift pleasantly into parenthood, carving out a future minus the turmoil, deception and pain.

  “I would like to meet the doctor at your appointment,” Alex said.

  How could she refuse that request? If it meant more normal moments like these, Cara was all for it. The doctor needed Alex’s medical history, and Cara had been putting it off for weeks. Alex did have rights when it came to the baby and she wouldn’t deny him the chance to ask the doctor questions and learn of the baby’s development. “Okay. You can come with me tomorrow afternoon.”

  “No argument?” he asked with a pleased expression on his face.

  “None.”

  Alex closed the ties of her robe with flair and rose from the sofa. “Go, take your shower. When you’re through, I will have breakfast waiting for you.”

  “Really? You cook?”

  “If you have frozen waffles or cereal and fresh fruit...yes, I cook.”

  “Blueberry waffles in the freezer and melon in the fridge would be a feast.” She rose from the sofa and walked into her bedroom feeling a little lighter in spirit.

  The handsomest man in all of Maverick County was playing chef in her kitchen.

  She cracked a small smile...her booty call had benefits.

  Eight

  Cara escaped reporters camping out at the main house’s front gates by sneaking out to a little-known back road behind her cottage. Luckily, she wasn’t track
ed to Windsor Energy by persistent reporters since her father was their primary target and not her. But as soon as she reached the building, she spotted local-news vans parked outside the company’s front entrance and a handful of reporters swarming about.

  She swung her car around to the back parking lot and pulled into her father’s designated spot. Taking a deep breath, she exited her car and made her way to the backdoor, guided toward the building by added security guards she’d had the good sense to call upon this morning. Still, three reporters approached her and shouted out questions.

  “Miss Windsor, what do have to say about your father’s crimes against your fiancé?”

  “How long have you known about your father’s vendetta?”

  “Do you suspect del Toro plans to retaliate?”

  Protected by two burly security men, she turned to the questioning reporters and put up a stopping hand. “At the moment, I have no comment. A representative from Windsor Energy will be giving a press conference this afternoon at 4:00 p.m. Please return then with your questions.”

  She turned away from the deluge of questions shouted at her and entered the building. The guards quickly blocked the door with orders that only employees with Windsor badges be allowed to enter.

  The news of her father’s arrest was ripe, and as she made her way toward her office, she was met with questioning looks and stares from employees, some she’d known for years, some she’d hired herself and others who were loyal to Paul Windsor. Conversations died to pin-dropping silence as she strode along the corridors. Finally reaching her office, she breathed a sigh of relief.

  Her assistant immediately stood up behind her desk. She had nothing but concern in her eyes. “Cara, how are you doing?”

  My secret pregnancy has been revealed, my father has been arrested on kidnapping charges and the fate of my baby, the company and my sanity all rest on my shoulders. Other than that, she was fine. “I’m hanging in, Gayle. It’s been a little rough lately.”

  “Warm cocoa is waiting in your office.”

  “Thanks. I’m lost without you.”

  “What’s the plan?”

  Cara liked that Gayle was a woman of action. She didn’t waste time prying or probing. When she saw a problem, she dug her heels in and tried to solve it. Together they worked as an efficient team.

  She sighed, slumped her shoulders and rubbed at the tension invading her skull. She couldn’t grow faint again...she had the baby’s health to think about. She’d have to approach this situation like any other Windsor problem, though the circumstances were dire, and take one step at a time in keeping the company’s good name from floundering.

  “Come into my office and we’ll discuss what needs doing.”

  “Okay.” Like a good soldier, Gayle scooped up her notebook and Cara helped by lifting Gayle’s coffee mug from the desk. They passed through the shuttered windowed walls separating their offices and took seats facing each other across Cara’s wide, organized desk.

  Steam rose up and marshmallows drifted on top of the chocolaty concoction sitting front and center on her desk. The sweet aroma filled the office and Cara blew first then took a sip. Creamy smooth goodness flowed down her throat with comforting warmth. “Oh, thanks for this...it helps.”

  “My kids always needed a little extra boost in the morning before a big test.”

  “I guess that’s what this is...a big test for me.”

  “Are you in charge now?”

  She nodded. “For the moment.” She wouldn’t say it was overwhelming and scary, but she figured Gayle already knew that. “My plan is simple right now. After I speak with the board of directors, I want to meet with all of the employees this morning to let them know that despite what’s going on, their jobs are not at risk. So, we’ll call a mandatory meeting in two hours. Will you see to those emails?”

  “Yes, I’ll get on that right after our meeting.”

  “Second, I’ll have to speak with our shareholders at some point and give them the facts. We need to assure them the company is not in jeopardy. At least at the moment. That’s going to take some doing. I figure we won’t be able to gather them up and get the necessary papers in order until the middle of the week at the earliest. I’ll need you to contact Legal and schedule that.”

  Gayle nodded her head, put on her eyeglasses and began typing away. “Will do.”

  “And there’s the matter of the press. We need to stay focused and keep positive. I need to meet with our PR reps right away and figure out the best strategy. We’re calling a press conference later this afternoon. I’ll write something up and have our attorney go over it before Ted Radcliffe relays the press release to the public.” She leaned back in her seat and sighed noisily. “I think that’s it. Gayle, can you think of anything else?”

  Gayle’s head lifted and she peered at Cara from above her glasses. “I think you’ve covered all the bases for one day.”

  “I hope so. My mind is a little muddled right now.”

  “That’s understandable. How is...how is Mr. Windsor?”

  “He’s out on bail and lying low, strategizing with his attorney. He’s been advised not to come here. The press would eat him alive and that wouldn’t be good for his case. So, it’s up to me now.”

  “I’ll help you in any way I can.”

  “I appreciate that.”

  “If that’s it, I’ll get on this right away.”

  “That’s it, Gayle.” She lifted her mug that read Windsor Energy Brightens Our Future. “Thanks for the hot chocolate, too. It’s like a morning shot of bourbon.”

  Gayle chuckled. “You’re welcome.” She rose from her seat, grabbed her things and walked out.

  Cara blew out a big breath as tears welled in her eyes. Realistically, none of this would have happened if Alex del Toro hadn’t come into her world, pretending to be someone else. If she’d never met him, her life would’ve been simpler. Her father wouldn’t have been arrested, Windsor Energy wouldn’t need saving and her heart wouldn’t have been broken.

  But a new life thrived inside her now. Her fingers skimmed over her belly where her baby grew in wondrous little stages of development. How joyous the miracle was. If she’d never met Alejandro del Toro, the baby she’d already come to love would never have been. She would’ve never known what real passion meant, either, and what it felt like to love from deep within your heart until you ached from it. When all was said and done, loving Alex had brought some good to her life.

  She held on to that notion throughout the day, and by the time 6:00 p.m. rolled around and the day shift had all gone home, Cara was escorted by a security guard to the parking lot.

  They’d almost reached her car when David stilled and halted her from going any farther. “Hold up, Miss Windsor.”

  “Thanks, I’ll take it from here,” Alex said to the guard, leaning on her hood, his arms folded casually as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

  “Alex?” Her heart turned somersaults seeing him.

  As nonchalant as he tried to appear, his eyes showed hints of worry as he studied her face, looking for signs of wear and tear—something she couldn’t deny with the kind of day she’d had.

  “Is that okay with you, Miss Windsor?” David asked.

  It was more than okay. Seeing Alex here, waiting for her, surprisingly swept her spirit up and touched her soul. “Yes, it’s okay. I’ll be fine now. Thanks for your assistance today.”

  David nodded and bid her farewell.

  Alex approached, his gaze touching over her every feature. “Rough day?”

  Biting her lip to keep tears from spilling, she nodded.

  He opened his arms and she walked straight into them. Automatically, he folded her into his granite chest, his hand gently massaging the back of her neck as he drew her head to his shoulder. She stood enfolde
d in his arms for long minutes, and then when she was finally ready, she pulled away.

  “Thank you for being here,” she said quietly.

  “There’s no place I would rather be.” He brushed a soft kiss to her forehead. “I’ve been thinking about you all day.”

  “You were worried I’d faint?”

  “I was thinking you’d need some relaxation after the day you put in. How bad was it?”

  “Pretty awful. But we managed to get rid of the reporters.” She glanced around the parking lot for signs of persistent lingerers. “We issued a press release this afternoon. Our man answered a few questions and hopefully now, the worst is over. You mentioned relaxation?”

  He smiled and took her hand in his, tugging her away from her car. “Come, leave your car. I’ll send someone for it later. We are going to my house for a little while. I have something planned. I promise you will not be disappointed.”

  “Alex, I don’t have time for—”

  “Your workday is over, is it not?”

  “Technically, yes.”

  “Then come with me.”

  Why shouldn’t she go? She’d had a tumultuous day and here was this gorgeous man promising her some much-needed relaxation. Part of her wondered how she’d ever relax being around Alex after the amazingly erotic night they’d shared. But her curiosity was killing her and her racked body cried out for TLC. “Okay.”

  Alex led her to his Ferrari, and after she lowered herself down into the seat, he gave her a reassuring wink and then gentled the door shut.

  She laid her head against soft black leather, closed her weary eyes as the car’s engine trembled then roared to life. One minute later, Alex entwined their fingers and brought their clasped hands to rest on his thigh. Comfort oozed from her pores.

  It was the first sign of true peace she’d found all day.

  * * *

  “This is where I will leave you.” Alex stood at the doorway leading from his bedroom to the master bath, two tall pristine columns banking him. The faint floral scent of lavender drifted to her nostrils from behind tall opened double doors. With a gesturing nod, he said, “Take a look.”