THE TEXAS RENEGADE REURNS

by Charlene Sands

  Her shoes tapped against marble flooring shined to a reflective glow and inlaid with a geometric design as she strolled to the end of the hallway. Overhead in the master foyer, a chandelier twinkled with subdued controlled lighting. Giving Alex a glance first, she noted his satisfied expression before peeking into the bathroom. A tub, oversize and brimming with bubbles, welcomed her, along with a dozen burning pillar candles. A bottle of chilled sparkling cider angled inside a silver bucket and a fluted glass sat beside it. “This looks like heaven,” she said, her voice sounding awed and grateful.

  From across the corridor, he said, “Enjoy, Cara. Take your time. After, we will have dinner.”

  “Does this mean you’re not joining me?” she blurted, then scrunched her face up.

  Alex dug his hands into his pockets, a debate warring in his eyes. “No, I am not joining you. Indulge and I will be waiting for you when you are through. You’ll find a robe in the closet.”

  Cara’s facial muscles relaxed and she gave him a slow nod of understanding, touched that he unselfishly put her needs first. “Thank you.”

  He lingered a moment, a small smile curving his lips as their gazes held. Then he spun on his heels and closed the double doors, leaving her alone in his luxurious room.

  It didn’t take her long to shed her clothes and put a toe into the perfectly tempered water. From there, she sank down carefully, and the rest of her body was lathered by sweetly scented bubbles. Surrounded by flares of flickering candlelight, she forced all negative thoughts from her head and picked up a soft washcloth to begin rinsing away the stains of the turbulent day.

  She soaped her legs and torso, taking great care over her belly where her little one thrived. Then she feather cleansed her tender breasts, taking care not to overstimulate her sensitive nipples. Her hair came next. She lifted a small bottle of shampoo and poured a dollop into her hands and lathered up, weaving her fingers through the long strands. Dipping her head, she rinsed off the shampoo and once fully clean from head to toe, all tension oozed out her.

  Humming satisfaction and wide-winged butterflies danced inside her. She recognized the sensations. They mirrored those she’d felt on the first days she’d met Alex Santiago when her heartstrings had pulled tight. And she knew her life would change forever. The heat was still there between them, and the sweet surrender he’d drawn from her these past few days wasn’t easy to ignore. She fought his charm and charisma with all of her arsenals of defense, but tonight, at this moment, as sweet fragrances and subtle lighting relaxed her body, she was at a loss to see his flaws.

  Soft music filtering in from the terrace eased her awake from a light doze. She opened her eyes to cooler water raising goose bumps on her skin. “Whoops, time to get out.”

  She rose and shivered from a slight chill in the air. Stepping out of the tub, she grabbed a fluffy oversize towel and patted away droplets beading on her skin. She used a different towel to squeeze moisture from her hair and then shook her head a few times. Water rained around her. Still damp-haired—her hair took forever to dry—she finger combed out several tangles before leaving it to air dry the rest of the way. She donned her underwear and lifted a lavender robe left on the marble counter and scooped her arms through the sleeves. Wrapping herself up tight, she decided the robe suited her needs better for now than the sterile work clothes she’s shed minutes ago. Cozy and tension free, she blew out the candles, grabbed the bottle of her liquor of the moment— sparkling cider—and walked out of the bathroom.

  Garlicky aromas sent her feet moving faster through Alex’s home toward the kitchen. Her stomach groaned desperately as she sniffed Italian fare. Comfort food.

  “Just in time.” Alex opened two boxes of pizza sitting on the speckled-granite countertop. “Pepperoni and...”

  “Oh, God, you didn’t. Anchovy?”

  “Of course I did. You love it, as I recall.”

  Alex was recalling a lot of things lately, making it harder and harder for her to resist him. “It’s my favorite.”

  “There’s more.”

  “More pizza?”

  He pointed to a brown bag on the edge of the counter marked by an image of a chef tossing a pizza in the air.

  Cara took a peek inside. “Mmm...antipasto salad and garlic bread from Guiseppe’s, my sin of choice tonight.” Her brows rose as she feigned innocence. “And, Alex, what will you be having for dinner?”

  His amused thick-lashed eyes dipped to the tie of her robe for a split second. “I was hoping you’d share your bounty with me.”

  Warmth hit her cheeks and she hoped she didn’t turn as red as the pizza sauce. “Of course.”

  Alex turned away to set out the rest of the food and grab two paper plates. He handed her one. “Dig in. You must be hungry.”

  “I am eating for two.” She snatched up two pizza slices, piled her salad high and towered a piece of garlic bread on top of everything. She walked toward the breakfast room, and a gentle hand gripped her arm. “Not in here. We’re eating downstairs in the rec room.”

  His basement wasn’t an old, moldy, enclosed windowless recreation room. It was on the same level as the backyard patio, finished in stone flooring with a well-stocked wet bar and massive rock fireplace. It was her favorite room in the house.

  “That’s if you don’t mind watching a movie while we eat?”

  “Let me guess...James Bond?”

  Alex chuckled. “I wish. Tonight is all about you. How about 50 First Dates?”

  Cara’s mouth dropped open. If Alex was trying to prove his love, he was doing a bang-up job. “You’re not going to sit through 50 First Dates with me.”

  “Is it so horrible?”

  Actually, not at all for her. It was her favorite movie of all time. Cara loved the premise of a man so direly in love with a woman with short-term memory that he had to make her fall in love with him all over again every single day of her life. Sweet, silly and fun, just what she needed tonight. If the movie made any parallels to her situation, she refused...refused to make the comparison. “You’ll hate it.”

  “As I said, tonight is all about you.”

  It would be great payback for the suffering he’d put her through lately. “Okay, you’re on.”

  “Come,” he said, guiding her down the wrought-iron winding staircase to the basement. “Tell me, did you enjoy your bath?”

  “It was perfect.”

  He nodded and led her to a soft tan leather sofa. “Just what you needed?”

  “Yes, you thought of everything.”

  She moved to the middle of the sofa with her plate and took a seat as Alex fiddled with the DVD player. The opening scene blasted light into the room, and Cara leaned back to take her first taste of pizza. Cheesy goodness filled her mouth and the tangy bite of anchovy tantalized her taste buds. “Yum.”

  He grinned. “You’re easy.”

  She glanced up with an arched brow. “You don’t really think so.”

  He settled next to her. “Pizza and a chick flick is all that makes you happy.”

  “Don’t forget a body-seducing bath.”

  “That, too.”

  When she finished off her entire meal, Alex took away her empty plate along with his and then sank down next to her again. His arm cradled her shoulder, and she nestled into his chest. Whiffs of musky aftershave surrounded her with familiarity and steadiness. The pizza, the movie, the man, all combined, buoyed her spirit.

  The next two hours sped by and before she knew it, the room had grown silent and dark, her head had dropped forward and the beating of Alex’s heart echoed in her ears. She stayed like that, unwilling to give up the peace.

  Alex didn’t object. He was still, gently stroking her hair.

  “I suppose I should go,” she said finally.

  “Or you could stay here tonight.
There isn’t anyone camping behind my gates to bother you. You’ll get the rest you need in the guest room, if you’d like.”

  “Really?” She was considering the idea.

  “Tonight was never about seduction, Cara.”

  Yes, she was getting that impression. He had not made one sexual move on her. Part of her was thrilled at his selflessness, but another small, tiniest part of her wished he had. She was at a crossroads, both in life and in this moment. “Will you hold me just like this in your bed?”

  Was it unfair of her to ask it?

  “Yes,” he said on a gusty breath. “I would like nothing more.”

  * * *

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Belfort,” Alex said, reaching to shake the doctor’s hand over a plastic uterus sitting on her desk. Female anatomy charts and diagrams decorated the walls, and the Stations of Baby’s Descent—all seven of them—were depicted on a poster behind the doctor’s chair.

  “Everyone calls me Jayne, or Dr. Jayne, if you’d like. And it’s good to meet you, Mr. del Toro. From a brief glance at your medical history, I can tell you the baby has two very healthy parents. Everything is moving along as should be. In six and a half months, you’ll be a new father.”

  Alex scrubbed his jaw. “I am looking forward to it, but I’ll admit I am a little nervous right now.”

  Dr. Jayne glanced at Cara, who was nodding in agreement, sitting beside him. “It’s to be expected for both of you. You’ll feel better as the pregnancy progresses. Taking a childbirth class, seeing other new moms and dads in the same situation will help ease some of your anxiety. Our office offers an early-bird class starting in your fourth month. Cara has the information.”

  “Yes, I’m signed up to attend in a few weeks.”

  Alex took Cara’s hand. “We’ll both be attending,” he said.

  Cara’s strength was remarkable. Last night, he’d summoned Herculean willpower while holding her in bed, giving her the peace and support she needed in sleep. This morning, she’d put on her business face and gone to work to deal with one crisis after another at Windsor. Now, this afternoon, here they both were, meeting with the doctor who would deliver their child. So much was happening all at once.

  “Do either of you have any questions for me?”

  Cara shook her head. “No, I think you answered everything for me during my checkup.”

  Dr. Jayne directed her attention to him. “Mr. del Toro?”

  “As long as Cara and the baby are doing well, that is all I need to know for now.”

  Dr. Jayne rose and offered a smile. “If you think of anything, give the office a call. Otherwise, Cara, I’ll see you in one month for your regular checkup and we’ll use the Doppler. We’ll be able to pick up the baby’s heartbeat next time. Have a nice day.”

  “Thank you. Same to you.” Alex rose as the doctor walked out the door.

  He’d banked his anger at Cara for not telling him about the baby initially, but every so often a twinge of regret battled in his heart. Would Cara still be holding out on him if Gabriella had not spilled the news accidentally? Would he have lost the opportunity to hear the baby’s heartbeats for the first time? Was Cara’s faith and trust in him so dismal?

  Cara grabbed her purse and stood, her gaze zeroing in on him. “Alex? Are you okay? You look like you went off the planet just then.”

  He blinked and refocused his thoughts. “I’m fine,” he replied. “Thinking about heartbeats.”

  “Yeah. Me, too. I can’t wait to hear it. It’ll make it all seem more real.”

  He peered down to the tiniest waist-high baby bump under Cara’s pretty blue dress. Anyone who didn’t know her body intimately would never guess it was there. But Alex knew and it filled his heart with joy and anticipation for the future. “I can’t wait, either. Are you ready to go?”

  “Yes.”

  He slipped her hand inside his as they exited the office and walked outside. In this moment, with Cara by his side and a baby on the way, everything was perfect. If only he could keep her world from spiraling out of control. He stopped by the grille of his car and turned to her, taking up both of her hands and entwining their fingers. “I have an idea.”

  She gave their fingers a brief glance and then slid her blue-eyed gaze up to him. “I’m afraid to ask.”

  He grinned. “Then don’t. Just come with me.”

  “I can’t, Alex. I have so much work to do at the office tonight. Things are crazy.”

  “Exactly why you should take it easier. The work will be there in the morning.” He pulled a pamphlet he snagged off a kiosk at Dr. Jayne’s out of his back pocket and began reading bullet points. “It says right here to eat well, get plenty of rest and stay calm during gestation. Last night I took care of the first two and today I think you will enjoy what I have in mind.”

  Cara stared at him.

  “You want to,” he prodded.

  “Of course I want to. Anything would be better than going back to the office tonight.”

  Alex dipped his eyes. The blow was sharp as a dagger.

  “Oh, Alex. I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just that I’ve got major obligations with what’s going on with my father and the company.”

  He’d ignored some obligations, too. He had put off a business trip since he’d gotten his memory back in order to make amends with Cara and his close friends. But he couldn’t procrastinate any longer. Tomorrow, he would leave her for a few days. He’d miss her, and wanted to spend as much time with her as possible. “You’ve already put in almost a full day. I guarantee you’ll have fun.”

  She tilted her head, her eyes filling with winsome wonder. “Fun?”

  He tightened his hold on her hands, reassuring her, and then nodded. “Yes, Cara. Fun.”

  He was being selfish. He wanted all the time he could get with Cara. But he was also certain what he had in mind would make her happy. She needed to think about less stressful things than Windsor Oil, her father and his betrayal.

  “How long?”

  “An hour and then dinner?”

  “Oh, so now it’s dinner, too?” She smiled wide and batted her eyes a few times. “I’ll admit I’m curious.”

  “Sounds like a yes to me.”

  She nodded. “Yes.”

  Nine

  Cara stood with her feet planted solidly on the ground, closed one eye to take aim and gripped the gun with both hands. Lining up the angle, she had her target in sight. Then she squeezed the trigger exactly as she’d been taught.

  A red flash of light appeared.

  “Very good, Miss Windsor, you’ve just registered for the Universal Elite Stroller system,” said Kathy, the Baby Brilliance salesgirl.

  Cara stared at the complex contraption with wheels and handles and dual cup holders, of all things. “Is that a good stroller?”

  “One of the best. But if you change your mind, you can shoot it again and that will remove it from your registry.”

  Cara’s eyes darted around the massive baby store and its different departments for strollers, high chairs, cribs, bedding, car seats and more. She gave the derringer-like handgun a quick appraisal. “I really don’t know what I’m doing.”

  Alex chuckled.

  “Don’t laugh,” she said, pointing the gun at him. “You said this would be fun. And you don’t know what you’re doing, either.”

  He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and gestured to Kathy. “Thank you for your time. We will take it from here.”

  He escorted her away from the stroller section and took the gun from her hand. “It is fun. Watch.” He pointed and shot at the registry tag on a wooden high chair padded in light brown and forest-green material with jungle animals. “I like this one. But if you don’t, I’ll just remove it.”

  She waved
him off. “No, no. I like it, too. The monkey has a sweet face.”

  He reached over and kissed the tip of her nose. “You have a sweet face. The monkey has a monkey face.” He handed her the gun. “Your turn again.”

  Cara darted glances from one side of the aisle to the other as they moved along the store. “Look at all this stuff, Alex. I don’t know what the baby needs.”

  His brown eyes gleamed. “One of everything?”

  She shrugged. “I guess you’re right.” Images of their little baby seated in the stroller or eating in the high chair played out in her mind and pulled heartstrings tight in her chest. Around her, parents with crying babies and young children swarmed the aisles. Carts were filling up fast with diapers, bottles and baffling accessories she’d not seen before. “Wow. There’s so much to choose from.”

  “He’s right, you know,” a woman shopping on their aisle said, drawing Cara’s attention. “Eventually you’ll need one of everything.” A knowing smile reached the woman’s lips. “I was in your shoes a few years ago. Now look at me.”

  The mom stood holding her young ponytailed daughter’s hand while pushing an adorable wide-eyed baby boy in a stroller loaded with a diaper bag, toys, books and baby clothes in an underneath storage compartment. “Mostly what you need in the beginning is a set of loving arms, an ample milk supply and about a hundred diapers a week.”

  Cara’s eyes flickered at the notion. “A hundred diapers?”

  “No lie. A lot of this equipment looks like it’s for the baby, but what it really does is make life easier for parents. Be sure to get a sturdy play yard and a good car seat.” The woman recommended the brands she liked best then moved on with her children.

  Cara looked at the gun with newfound power and, dragging Alex with her, marched down the aisles determined to fill her registry. She aimed and shot, asking for Alex’s opinion on many items, talking to store employees and garnering the advice of experienced mothers.

  When she was through, she handed over her smoking gun to Kathy. “That was fun.”

  “Most new moms have a blast with it.”

  “I’m sure I missed a few things.”