by Judy Duarte
Her flushed cheeks suggested that she’d been just as aroused by the kiss as he was, but she cleared her throat and said, “That kiss may have given you the impression that I changed my mind about...things. But we do have two rooms, right?”
So much for her being as moved as he was.
“Yes,” he said. “That was the deal.”
He just hoped she didn’t think he’d pulled a fast one when she found out that those two rooms were adjoining.
* * *
True to his word, Jason checked into two rooms at El Palacio, a five-star hotel with a view of the river.
While he was giving his credit card to the hotel clerk, Juliana wandered over to an impressive water fountain in the center of the lobby. It was an old-world style with a colorful tile mosaic undoubtedly made by artisan craftsmen.
Still, as she carried her overnight bag back to the registry desk, she marveled at the swanky lobby, the impressive decor and the courteous staff. Apparently, this was the way the rich and famous traveled. Not that she stayed in cheap accommodations, but El Palacio was in a class by itself.
When she approached Jason, he held the key cards in one hand and was returning his cell phone to his pocket with the other.
“I called Carly while you were checking out the fountain,” he said. “I was hoping we could see her show, but she had to call in sick tonight. She has some kind of stomach bug, so she won’t be performing.”
“That’s too bad. It would have been nice to see her on the stage. She has an awesome voice.”
“I agree,” he said. “So what do you want to do about dinner?”
“I’m pretty hungry, so anything sounds good.”
“There’s a steak house on the top floor with a view of the river. Why don’t we try that?”
She’d brought the black dress he’d purchased for her. It actually fit, although it was formfitting in the waist, so her condition wouldn’t be a secret. But who would know her six hours from Brighton Valley?
Thirty minutes later, she walked out of the bathroom, content with her appearance, just as a knock sounded on the adjoining door. When she opened it, Jason’s eyes widened. He didn’t speak right away, and she placed her hand on her tummy. “I’m sorry. Maybe I should wear the sundress.”
“Please don’t change. You look amazing.”
“I know, but my pregnancy is so obvious. I feel a little—self-conscious.”
“I understand why, since you haven’t told your mother yet. But who’s going to see you here? Besides, I think it’s something to be proud of. You have that glow expectant mothers are supposed to have. I’ve never noticed it on other women, but you’ve definitely got it. Especially tonight.”
Could she believe him? She certainly wanted to. And by the way his gaze caressed her, it was pretty hard not to.
She’d taken special care with her hair, pulling it up into a twist, which showed off the pearl earrings Grandpa had given her for her sixteenth birthday. She’d also put on some lipstick and mascara—nothing fancy. When she’d looked in the bathroom mirror, she’d been pleased with her reflection—from the waist up, anyway.
To be honest, she was proud of the swell of her womb, the proof that her daughter was growing strong and healthy. But she’d been hiding it for so long...
Jason took her by the hand. “Come on. Let’s go.”
They left their rooms and took the elevator to the top floor, to Ernesto’s, the steak house where Jason had made reservations for two.
The hostess, a tall brunette in her early forties, reached for two leather-bound menus and smiled. “Follow me, Mr. Rayburn.” Then she led them to a linen-draped table with a view of the city lights and the river below.
Within minutes, a busboy had brought them water with lemon slices, as well as a variety of homemade breads and a small bowl of butter.
When the sommelier brought out the wine list, Juliana said, “I’ll just have water. Thank you.”
Jason chose a Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon and ordered it by the glass. When they were finally alone, he said, “Thanks for making the trip with me. It’s not fun tackling family mysteries on your own.”
She smiled. “A trip to a storage unit in San Antonio wasn’t in my job description, but it did make for an exciting day.”
“What did?” he asked. “Finding the love letters or the art?”
The kiss they shared had been pretty exciting, but she didn’t dare mention that. Instead, she said, “I’ve always enjoyed a good romance novel, but it was fun to find those paintings, too.”
“Then I’m glad working for me hasn’t been entirely tedious.”
“It hasn’t. Even when I’m back at the ranch, I enjoy going through the family heirlooms and knickknacks. I almost feel as though I’m cheating someone out of the task.”
“Not me. I have far too much to do. So you’ve taken a lot off my hands. And you’ve done an awesome job. I’m amazed at how organized you are.”
And she was amazed at how generous he was. He’d given her a handsome salary—albeit for only three weeks’ time. But he’d also offered to pay for her nursery, which was going above and beyond.
Was it a ploy? An attempt to manipulate her somehow?
Braden thought that Jason might be a charmer, like their father. But Jason didn’t seem to emulate the man. Instead, he’d been skeptical of his dad’s ability to truly love Camilla. And he didn’t respect the man’s womanizing.
No, the two men had to be different.
Besides, look how kind he’d been with Shannon. He’d wanted to check on her before leaving today. And he’d offered her his business card, saying he’d make sure she had anything she needed.
How sweet was that?
And while they’d been on the Miller ranch, talking to Shannon, Jason had slipped his arm around Juliana. Not only was that an affectionate gesture, it was also a move that let Shannon know that they were more than a boss and employee. It suggested they were also a couple.
When she’d told him she was pregnant, it hadn’t seemed to faze him at all. In fact, he’d seemed to find the idea of her having a baby exciting. He’d gone so far as to touch her growing womb, hoping to feel a kick. He’d also mentioned her expectant glow tonight.
Did that mean he could actually grow to love her and her daughter?
Whoa. Juliana quickly took a sip of her icy water, cooling her heated blood and her racing fantasies. She was reading far more into this than was feasible. And she was setting herself up for a major heartbreak.
A waiter brought Jason’s wine, interrupting her thoughts. Then the maître d’ took their orders. Before long, their conversation resumed with safer topics and better things to think about.
“It’s too bad we couldn’t see Carly tonight,” Juliana said. “She’s always wanted to be on the stage, like her mother.”
“I know. But I hope a singing career is her dream and not one her mother pushed her into.”
It’s funny that he’d say that when he’d followed in his father’s footsteps. Maybe not in character, but in his career choice. Then again, someone had to take the helm of Rayburn Enterprises now that Charles was gone. And Jason was the one who’d been groomed for it.
After dinner, they ordered dessert—crème brûlée for her and chocolate lava cake for him.
Jason signed the bill and charged it to his room, then he stood and pulled out her chair.
“Thank you for dinner,” she said. “It was wonderful.”
“You’re welcome. But it was the company and the ambience that made it special.”
She thought so, too.
On the walk to the elevator she was tempted to slip her arm in his, but she refrained.
When the doors opened, they stepped inside and began the descent to the seventeenth floor. Jason’s cologne, a woodsy scent laced with musk, taunted her, and she was again tempted to reach for him. But then what?
Would he expect more from her tonight?
As tempting as it might be to ma
ke love with him, she’d made up her mind that she wouldn’t have sex again unless she was married. And that wasn’t a conversation she was looking forward to having with him, especially since she was coming very close to falling in love with him and feared a discussion like that might scare him off.
And even if he didn’t suggest sleeping together, she feared telling him how she felt about him. Her emotions were still too new to trust.
When the doors opened on the seventeenth floor, he took her hand and led her to her room.
“Do you have your key card?” he asked.
“Yes.” She dug through her purse and pulled it out. “Right here.”
When she let herself in, he followed her.
That didn’t surprise her since they’d come out that door, but things could get a little awkward now. Still, she’d find out just what he was expecting from her—and he’d learn what he could expect from her.
He took a seat on the edge of her bed. Okay, so he wasn’t planning on making a mad dash to his room. Did he just expect to have an after-dinner chat?
She hoped so, because if he kissed her again, she just might weaken and forget her resolve about sex before marriage. And then where would she be?
“I’ve come to care for you,” she admitted. “And we definitely have chemistry.”
A crooked grin stretched across his face. “I care for you, too. And you’re right about the chemistry.”
Her heart began pounding in her chest like a runaway locomotive. He hadn’t said a word to her about sex—and maybe didn’t plan to. So why did she feel so compelled to make a speech?
She ran her hands along her hips, fidgeting just a moment, then pressed on. “Just so you know, I’m not going to make love with a man I’m not married to. I made that mistake once, but I’m not going to do it again.”
His smile faded. “I can understand your concern, but I don’t need a piece of paper to make a commitment to someone. If we make love, I’m not going to ditch you. I’ll be a good lover, and I’ll provide well for you.”
If he thought that was going to appease her or make her feel better, he was wrong.
“I appreciate that, but it’s not enough. I want more than a good lover and provider.” She wanted a loving husband and father for her child, but Jason was a smart man. Surely he knew what she meant.
“I’m not the marrying kind,” he said.
“Why do you say that?”
He paused for a beat. Was he wondering why he’d made the claim? Or did he want to choose the right words?
“I haven’t seen any marriages that have had happy endings. And even if I had, I’m not sure that I have what it takes to make one work.”
She appreciated his honesty and hoped that he wouldn’t blame her for protecting her own best interests, too. “I’m not trying to force your hand, Jason. I’m just laying things out on the table. So, under the circumstances, I think it’s best if I quit working for you. I’m nearly finished with the inventory anyway. So it won’t take you—or whoever you get to replace me—long to catch on to my system and complete what I started.”
He studied her for a moment, as if he couldn’t believe what she was saying.
If truth be told, she found herself wanting to rein in the words, too. But she didn’t want to be swept off her feet by a man offering her all the treasures in the world, but none of the promises. She wanted to fall in love with someone who truly felt the same way about her. And how else could she be sure of that?
“I respect your decision,” he said. “But will you wait to leave until Braden gets home? I expect him on Monday.”
“Sure, I can do that.” What would it hurt?
But when Jason walked out of her room, closing both doors between them, her heart ached something fierce.
What would it hurt indeed?
* * *
Jason had never been turned down before—not since he was in high school, anyway.
He’d told Juliana that he cared for her, but it was more than that. He wasn’t entirely sure how much more, though. Guys like him didn’t fall in love.
Hell, he wasn’t even sure what kind of a guy he was. Certainly not like his old man. But what if he’d tried so hard to impress his father that he’d become just like him? What if he, too, failed at love and marriage? What if he couldn’t love Juliana the way she deserved to be loved?
If he made a commitment to a single mother, he’d be responsible for her baby, too—one way or another. But what if he couldn’t provide the kind of loving home and family the child would need? What if he ended up hurting the woman and child he’d come to care about?
That’s what concerned Juliana. And that’s why she wanted to cut bait now, rather than find out what might happen in the long run.
He probably ought to step back and let her go, but he didn’t want to.
Damn. Was this how his father had felt when Camilla left the ranch? If so, it was one hell of a hurt. And one he was going to do his best to ease without compromising himself.
Jason had never cared this much about a woman in his life. And whether Juliana believed it or not, he wanted more than sex. He wanted to look out for her, to protect her.
He suspected it had something to do with her pregnancy, her vulnerability. But whatever it was, he couldn’t help the overwhelming need to make sure she and her baby would be all right. And the only way he could do that was if he kept her close.
That left him in a quandary, though. He wasn’t marriage material. He’d never had loving parents to emulate, so what did he know about the kind of work it took to make a long-term relationship last?
Hell, he couldn’t even connect with his own brother and sister. So what kind of husband or father would he be?
But he wasn’t ready to let Juliana walk out of his life. Not yet.
So he took a seat at the desk in his room, pulled up his contact list and dialed Doug Broderick. After apologizing for calling so late, he said, “Listen, I have a confession to make—and a favor to ask.”
“What’s that?”
“You remember that change to the artwork I suggested to the marketing department? Well, that idea actually came from an artist who’s been helping me at the ranch in Brighton Valley. She’s looking for work in the city, and I’d like to offer her a position at Rayburn Enterprises.”
“I thought you never got involved with HR decisions,” Doug said.
“And I don’t actually plan to this time. That’s why I’m calling you. I want you to do it for me—and I don’t want her or anyone at the home office to know that I had anything to do with it.”
“That’s not going to be easy to do.”
Jason knew that, but Doug was a spin master. “You’ll figure it out. I’ll send you her name and number in a text. You can let her know that the marketing department learned that the suggestion came from her. Tell her they were so impressed that they’d like to hire her. Then offer her a full benefit package—a 401(k), health insurance, plus we’ll pick up any medical bills that the insurance won’t cover. We’ll also pay for relocation costs to Houston in a couple weeks, plus a bonus for taking the job.”
“That’s awfully generous. What kind of experience does she have?”
“Not much, but I’m sure she’ll be a great addition to the team.”
Doug paused, and Jason had no doubt what he was thinking. But Doug hadn’t moved up the ranks as quickly as he had by objecting to a direct order.
“When do you want her to start?” he asked.
“The job will require her to work from the Brighton Valley office for the next few weeks, which is temporarily located at the Leaning R. So once she’s finished with the ranch inventory, the marketing team will need to set up some projects she can work on remotely.”
“I see.”
Did he? Doug might have his suspicions, but he wouldn’t know exactly why Jason was so dead set on keeping Juliana around, even after her job was finished. And maybe it was best that he didn’t.
“Ju
st make sure the offer comes from marketing—and not from me. I don’t want to have anything to do with it. If something doesn’t work out, you can be the one to let her go.”
“Okay, boss. It’s Friday night, so it’s going to take a while for me to put things into motion so they’ll run smoothly when the news of her hire comes through. I may not be able to contact her until Monday afternoon.”
“That’s fine.”
Doug chuckled. “I have to say, you handled that just the way your father would have.”
The praise, which might have caused Jason’s heart to soar in the past, left him uneasy. But right now, he couldn’t see any other way around it, short of proposing.
And that was out of the question.
Chapter Ten
The ride back to the ranch was quiet and awkward at first, but thanks to satellite radio, country music soon filled the gaps in conversation.
Jason didn’t bring up the discussion they’d had last night, and Juliana was glad. Nor did he press her to continue working for him past Monday, when Braden and Carly were supposed to arrive for the family meeting. She was grateful for that, too. The sooner she moved to Houston, got settled and could finally tell her mother about the baby, the better she was going to feel. And if all went according to plan, she’d be able to reveal her secret and ease her mom’s mind about how she’d be able to care for her daughter on her own well before she actually gave birth.
When they finally arrived at the Leaning R, Jason went to find Ian and check on the teenage boys while Juliana entered the house.
As she surveyed the boxes that lined the far wall of the dining room, she estimated that she had at least two-thirds of the inventory listed and packed. By the time Braden and Carly arrived, her job would be nearly done anyway.
And she’d been right. The next two days passed uneventfully, and on Monday morning, when she entered the kitchen, Jason had fixed breakfast—toast and bacon.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I was going to scramble eggs, but we were out of them. I think I’ll send one of the boys into town to pick up supplies. He can get groceries, too, if you want to make a list.”
She planned to leave this afternoon—or tomorrow morning, at the latest. But she was probably more familiar with the cooking supplies than he was. At least she knew they were out of eggs and milk. “Sure. Send him in before he leaves.”
