The Cowboy's Secret Son

by Trish Milburn

  “Please tell me you’re not regretting this,” Nathan said, his breath stirring her hair.

  “I’m not.” Her voice sounded choked, and Nathan noticed. He leaned back and lifted her face toward his.

  “Are you about to cry?”

  “I’m trying not to.”

  “What did I do wrong?” He sounded so at a loss that she caressed his cheek with all the love she was feeling but hadn’t spoken aloud.

  “Nothing. If these tears fall, they’ll be happy ones.” She considered the wisdom of her next words before saying them. “I’ve never felt so wonderful, so…safe in my entire life.”

  A potent mixture of pride and happiness lit up his face. Just the idea that she could make him happy had her thoughts shooting off in directions she’d never dared consider. Thoughts that included a future with Nathan as more than just Evan’s parent. She had to rein in those crazy notions before she set herself up for more hurt. She was going home soon, back to her life and responsibilities. She burrowed closer to him as that reality threatened to turn her happy tears into ones of sorrow.

  “I’m glad,” Nathan said. “I’m feeling pretty damn wonderful myself.”

  He kissed her forehead, which led to kisses on her eyelids, cheeks and then mouth. The hot and heady sensations started to build, and insistent caresses led to them making love again.

  “Nathan Teague, you are trying to render me completely useless,” she said afterward as she waited for her heart to slow.

  He nibbled on her ear. “You are far from useless, Grace Cameron. In fact, I can think of all kinds of fun uses for you.”

  It was almost scary how happy his words made her feel. She wondered if she was dreaming, though she couldn’t imagine a dream feeling this real.

  She snuggled closer to him, trying not to think about the moment when they’d have to leave this spot and the feel of each other to return to reality. Trying not to think about how soon she’d be leaving Nathan behind again, and how her heart might cleave right down the scar caused by the last time it had broken over him.

  She ran her hand across his chest, memorizing the texture and contours. In the quiet of the night, she allowed herself to wonder what might happen if she told Evan the truth. Would he understand? Would he want to move to Texas? Would Nathan, having achieved the desired relationship with his son, not be interested in her anymore?

  Grace closed her eyes and told herself not to be so skeptical. He’d said what they’d shared had nothing to do with Evan, and his words had rung with truth. But what had tonight been? Simple desire? Was she okay with that?

  No, she wasn’t. She might tell herself this evening was just two adults enjoying themselves with no promises, might even want it to be true, but deep down that wasn’t who she was. She was a falling in love and forever kind of girl.

  She shifted away from Nathan. “We need to get going.” And she didn’t want Nathan’s family getting ideas about what was happening, that it might change her plans.

  Nathan grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back toward him. “Stay.”

  Grace placed her palm against his bare chest, but the feel of him sapped her intention to push herself away. “Evan will be wondering where I am.”

  Nathan placed his hand over hers. “I’m not talking about right here, right now. I want you to stay here at the ranch longer. You just got here.”

  “I can’t do that. Evan has school.”

  “Not for another week.”

  Obviously, her son had spilled that his spring break was two weeks and not one.

  “I have to get back to work.”

  “You’ve been doing some of your work here. Can’t you continue that for a few more days?”

  Why did he have to tempt her so? “I have an important meeting coming up. We’re about to land our biggest client yet. It could be an important turning point for our business.”

  Nathan released her hand and ran his fingertips softly over the swell of her breast. “What day is your meeting?”

  She closed her eyes and through a herculean effort pulled her thoughts away from the feel of his fingers. “Next Friday.”

  “Then you can spend a few more days here. You can work on the gallery. Evan can spend more time playing cowboy without all the other visitors here.”

  “Nathan—”

  He placed those wonderful fingertips against her lips. “Our deal still stands. I just want more time, Grace.” His gaze met hers, and what she saw there made her flush with a glorious warmth. “And not just with Evan.”

  Nathan lowered his mouth to hers, and she dissolved under the power of the kiss.

  “Say yes,” he said against her lips.

  “Nathan.”

  He kissed his way down her neck. “Say yes.”

  “I can’t—”

  His mouth captured a breast with a hunger that had her bowing her back to get closer. “Say yes,” he said again, his voice a sexy growl against the tip of her breast.

  “Yes.” Oh, mercy, yes.

  NATHAN STOOD OFF to the side of the group of guests he’d led up the trail the next morning, but he only had eyes for one. Grace looked almost as sexy in a pair of well-worn jeans and a T-shirt as she had wearing nothing but a blanket and his arms around her.

  He’d had the damndest time all morning keeping from constantly turning around in his saddle to watch her riding beside their son. And when he’d seen Barrett Farnsley riding beside her, saying something that made her laugh, he’d ground his teeth together.

  But then she’d met his gaze and the memory of what they’d shared the night before was right there, shining in her beautiful eyes. She’d gifted him with a shy, knowing smile even as Farnsley continued speaking.

  “You sure that’s a good idea?” Simon asked from beside him.

  “What?”

  Simon nodded toward where Grace was sitting next to Evan on a log eating a sandwich. “Grace. And don’t even try to deny something happened. I’ve got eyes.”

  Nathan didn’t say anything. What was going on between him and Grace was no one’s business but theirs.

  “Has she changed her mind?”

  Nathan thought about not answering, but he knew his brother. Simon wasn’t going anywhere until he got some answers.

  “No, but just give it some time.” She had to see he’d be a good father, that maybe he and she could continue what they’d started.

  “I’m not sure some good rolls in the hay are going to change things.”

  Nathan whirled toward his brother, anger shooting to the surface with amazing swiftness. “That isn’t what this is about.”

  “It’s not?”

  “No.” He wasn’t sure exactly what was happening between them, but he’d told the truth the night before. If Evan wasn’t even in the picture, he’d still want her. The potency of how much he wanted her surprised him, but he wasn’t going to fight it.

  “Listen, I like Grace. I’m just saying that she made it clear she wasn’t coming here to stay, right? It seemed like that resolve was pretty solid, not something that’s going to disappear in a few days no matter what’s going on between you two.”

  “And your point?”

  Simon took off his hat and scratched his head. “Maybe you should see what your options are in case she does as she plans, and goes back home without telling Evan you’re his father. You have rights.”

  Nathan stared hard at his brother. “What, you want me to take her to court or something?” The more he got to know her, the worse that idea sounded.

  “Not necessarily. Just determine the options, that’s all.”

  “Thanks for the advice, but I’m good.” But as Nathan stalked away, Simon’s words started speaking to the common sense side of him
, the side that wanted to make sure he had a relationship with his son before he lost any more time.

  Maybe he’d consult an attorney just to see where he stood, as long as Grace didn’t find out. He still hoped he could convince her to give his vision of the future a try.

  He made his way across the site they sometimes used for overnight camping trips, skirting the fire ring set in the midst of several segments of logs being used as benches where everyone ate their lunches. When he got close to Grace and Evan, it hit him how used to seeing them every day he’d become in such a short time. He couldn’t imagine waking up in the morning knowing they were hundreds of miles away with no guarantee of seeing them again. He wondered at what moment keeping Grace near became as important as making sure he maintained contact with Evan.

  “How’d you like the ride up here?” he asked Evan as he drew close to him.

  “It was great,” Evan said around a mouth full of sandwich.

  “Don’t talk with your mouth full,” Grace said.

  “Okay,” Evan mumbled, trying not to show his food.

  Nathan laughed and shifted his attention to Grace. “How about you?”

  “It was beautiful, but I have a feeling I’m not going to be able to walk tomorrow.”

  Nathan had a vision of other reasons she might be left unable to walk, and he got the impression she could read his mind when she blushed and lowered her eyes. Man, he wanted her right now, but he didn’t think dragging her off to have his way with her was a particularly wise idea.

  But the image of doing exactly that plagued him during the entire ride back down to the stables. After everyone dismounted, the tired guests turned over the horses and made their way back to their cars. Grace held on to Dolly’s and Hazel’s reins as Evan ran off with Cheyenne and the Farnsley boys to see a litter of kittens that had been born that morning while they’d all been on the trail ride.

  Grace guided Dolly and Hazel into the barn behind Nathan and his two charges. He couldn’t get the horses turned over to Abel and Juan fast enough. As he and Grace exited the barn, he grabbed her and pulled her around the edge of the building into the shaded area facing the open pastures. Once they were out of sight of everyone else, he backed her against the side of the barn and lowered his mouth to hers.

  She tasted like the nectarine he’d seen her eating at lunch, sweet and juicy. And the curves of her body pressed against him sent his hands exploring.

  “I’ve wanted to do that all day,” he said when he came up for air.

  “Nathan,” she breathed against his mouth. “Evan is just inside.”

  “He’s busy.” He kissed her again, and she relented and kissed him back with a fervor that illustrated just how much Grace had changed. He might not remember everything from that night when they’d hooked up, but he did remember how timid and unsure she’d been. Now she seemed like a woman who knew exactly what she wanted and just had to convince herself to allow it to happen.

  He shoved his hands under her shirt and up over the soft skin covering her ribs. Never had he felt as though a woman was a drug to which he could so easily get addicted. He had to fight not to strip her naked and take her right there against the side of the barn.

  He broke the kiss, retrieved his hands and backed away. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s gotten into me.” He took a couple of steps toward the fence. “I shouldn’t be treating you like that.”

  She was silent except for the sound of trying to catch her breath. Then she moved closer to him. “I kind of like it.”

  Not sure he’d heard her correctly, he turned slowly toward her. A nervousness not unlike that she’d displayed when she’d told him about Evan had her hugging herself and unable to hold his gaze for very long.

  “That’s scary for me to admit,” she said.

  “Why?”

  She shrugged. “Probably something to do with my control issue.”

  “Maybe losing control isn’t always a bad thing.”

  She raised her eyes and met his. “Maybe not.”

  “Mom!” Evan’s voice invaded the moment, snatching Grace’s attention away from Nathan.

  “I’ve got to go,” she said.

  Before she could take a step, Nathan closed the distance between them and kissed her again. She clung to him and kissed him back with every bit as much enthusiasm. When they came apart, he thought he’d never seen such a thing of beauty.

  “I don’t know what’s happening between us, but I like it.”

  She smiled. “I do, too.” With that, she stepped away and hurried around the corner of the barn.

  Nathan stood in the same spot for he wasn’t sure how long, wondering how he could go from not even thinking about Grace to desiring every part of her in so few days. What kind of sense did that make?

  Maybe it didn’t have to make sense.

  GRACE ROUNDED THE edge of the barn with her heartbeat pounding against her eardrums.

  “Hey, how were the kittens?” she asked.

  “So cute!” Cheyenne said. “There’s a little white one. I think they should name her Snowball.”

  The Farnsley boys rolled their eyes, and one of them made some sort of comment that Grace couldn’t hear but that had Cheyenne giving them the evil eye.

  “Why were you around the side of the barn?” Evan asked.

  “Oh, nothing. Just looking out across the ranch, enjoying the view.” Grace made the mistake of making eye contact with Laney, who cocked an eyebrow at her.

  When Evan started that direction, Grace intercepted him and steered him toward their car. “Come on, stinky. We both need showers. We smell like horses and sweat.”

  Evan puffed his chest out. “It’s manly.”

  “Well, your mother doesn’t want to smell manly, so off we go.”

  The air went out of Evan’s posturing and he headed toward the car. As Grace followed him, Laney fell into step beside her.

  “That view wouldn’t happen to be a 9.9 on the sexy scale, would it?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Laney laughed. “You better be glad interior design doesn’t require the art of lying.”

  Grace kept walking.

  “Come on, don’t keep me in suspense. You’re killing me here.”

  “What do you want to hear? That I’ve never been kissed like that in my life, that all I seem to be able to think about is Nathan and a distinct lack of clothing?”

  Laney nodded and gave a wide grin of success. “Yeah, something like that.”

  “How do you weasel these things out of me?”

  “Pure, unadulterated talent.”

  Grace rolled her eyes much like the Farnsley boys had moments ago.

  Laney stepped closer and lowered her voice. “You’ve done more than kiss, haven’t you? That’s why you’ve been avoiding being alone with me all day.”

  Grace’s cheeks flushed, causing Laney to squeal. “I knew it!”

  “Shh! You don’t have to broadcast it for all of Texas to hear.”

  Laney made a lame attempt at looking contrite. “So, was it everything you’d imagined? Please tell me it was better than sex with his half-drunk, teenage self.”

  Grace gave up trying to keep anything to herself. “It was wonderful.”

  Laney fanned herself and glanced beyond Grace, toward where Nathan was no doubt standing. “I suddenly wish Steven was here.”

  Grace half laughed, half snorted.

  “So, tell me what happened.”

  As they walked slowly toward the parking area, Grace gave her the rundown of events from the kiss on the cabin porch to the one just now beside the barn.

  “This sounds really good, Grace.”

  Grace stopped. “Par
t of me knows it’s crazy to start anything with Nathan, but my willpower has flown the coop.”

  “Is that a bad thing?”

  A mere few days ago, her immediate response would have been an unqualified yes. “I honestly don’t know.” She made a flippy motion toward her temple. “My head is all mixed up.”

  “Hmm, sounds like a woman falling in love to me.”

  Grace sighed, glanced over her shoulder toward the barn. “I wonder if I ever fell out of love with him.”

  Laney linked her arm with Grace’s. “I think you and I have a long evening of chatting ahead of us. But like you, I reek of livestock. Meet you on the porch with a cold glass of lemonade in an hour?”

  Grace thought for a second, then nodded. “That actually sounds really nice.”

  A little less than an hour later, Grace stepped out of her cabin and noticed Evan playing with the rest of the campers on the playground equipment that sat in the middle of the circle of cabins. She spotted Barrett at the same moment he saw her, too late to duck back inside the cabin.

  “Hey, there. You look refreshed,” he said as he walked toward her.

  “Yeah. Was a long day.”

  “I’m hoping you still have enough energy left for dinner. I saw a nice steak place in town.”

  She hated to shoot him down, but she couldn’t let him think there was any chance with her, either. Wise or not, her heart was already in the hands of another.

  “Actually, Laney and I are having a relaxing girls’ night. We’re both pretty wiped after today.”

  Barrett nodded slowly, as though he got that she wasn’t interested but appreciated the gentle brush off. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a card, extended it toward her. “Well, if you ever find yourself in Oklahoma City and in need of a dinner companion, give me a call.”

  Grace took the card and smiled at him. “It was nice getting to know you this week. I hope you had a good time with your boys.”

  “I did.” He hesitated a moment, looking as if he wanted to say something else, then nodded before heading back toward his own cabin.