Desperado: Deep in the Heart, Book 2

by Tina Leonard

  “No. Hadn’t figured I would.”

  “Heard she was in town,” Sloan probed.

  Cody shrugged. “Free country.”

  “It is that.” He thought for a few moments. “Ever considered calling her?”

  “Not really. Don’t have her number.”

  “Well, hell, Cody! Call information, for the love of Sam!” Surely the big man didn’t expect him to fall for such a weenie excuse. If that was the only reason he hadn’t gotten in contact with Stormy, then he didn’t really want to.

  “I did. She’s unlisted.”

  “Oh.” Sloan thought that over for a second. “Did you try calling that studio?”

  “Yeah. They put me on hold for about twenty minutes, so I called back. Then they put me on hold for another twenty minutes, and I gave up. Either they don’t know who she is, or she doesn’t work there, or they have the most screwed-up phone system in California. Must be all those earthquakes scrambling people’s brains.”

  Sloan pushed out his lips thoughtfully. “Do Mary or Annie have her phone number?”

  “Don’t think so. She said she’d write them, but never has, best as I can tell.”

  “Well, you just might have to waltz down to the film shoot and ask some nosy questions. If you have to, ask Pick and Curvy to ferret it out for you.”

  Cody looked up. “Are the codgers speaking to each other yet?”

  “No. As far as they’re concerned, they’re not even in the same county together.”

  Cody sighed. “I may have to do something about that.”

  “You got troubles enough of your own. Besides, how do you get two old men to talk to each other when they plainly don’t want to?”

  “There are ways.” He finished up and washed his hands. “Do you know that crazy woman stole a set of snake teeth off my dresser?”

  “Er—” Sloan hesitated. “Dresser, as in your bedroom?”

  A flush spread up his buddy’s neck. “Only one I’ve got.”

  Well, now they were getting somewhere. Being a sheriff had taught him to listen to everything a person said to catch the nuances, and he’d just caught him a helluva nuance. “You never said you’d—”

  “I don’t have to.” Cody glared at him. “That’s between me and the lady. All you’re supposed to focus on is that she stole my teeth.”

  “Jeez. Some women want wedding rings. Trust Stormy to be unique.” He crossed his arms on a sigh. “Well, you’re going to have to hire Curvy and Pick to do your dirty work, then. She feels something for you if she took your teeth, and you’re going to have to hunt her up this time. You’re going to have to get off this damn ranch and get your hide to California if you want her, earthquakes and airplanes and all. I know it scares you outta your gourd, but you’re going to have to do it.”

  “I’m not scared,” Cody growled at him. “I’m not chasing after a female who’s not interested in me, and who’s not cut out to be a part of my life anyway. Think about it. Can you really imagine that upside-down woman being happy on a ranch?”

  “Nope.” Sloan shook his head.

  “Well, then.”

  “She’d be happy on your ranch, though, and that’s what you gotta get through your thick skull.” Sloan ambled out of the shed. “When you quit being a chicken-skinned coward, you might get up the gumption to ask around down at the set. Somebody knows some way you can get ahold of her.”

  “Thanks, pal. Don’t forget to leave your business card for the next time I need advice from Dr. Lovelorn,” Cody grumbled.

  Sloan shrugged it off and headed to his truck. It was up to Cody to figure out whether Stormy was just a minor storm in his blood he could wait out until it passed—or a raging, twisting tornado with an aftermath he might not ever get over.

  Jonathan sighed as he sent another glance toward Stormy’s stomach. “What are you going to do about it?”

  “I’m not doing anything yet.” She walked to a window and stared out at the freeway below. “The baby seems kind of happy to be doing its own thing.”

  “You didn’t want to tell the cowboy?”

  She shook her head. “It didn’t feel like the right thing to do. He wasn’t that wild about me.”

  “Hm. Wild enough to get you pregnant.”

  “As I said, he tried to be very conscientious about that. He’s very concerned about becoming a father.” Stormy laughed softly. “He’s got a little niece that keeps him turned inside out, and quite frankly, he sees himself as too lucky to be staying a bachelor.”

  “Oh, gawd. One of those self-proclaimed forever-single men.” Jonathan yawned. “Well, no doubt a baby would throw a kink into his life.” He considered her long and thoughtfully. “Stormy, we should just get married.”

  She frowned at him. “I don’t think I heard you right.”

  “Yeah, you did. It would solve this problem for you. And it wouldn’t change my life in any way. But you’d have a name for your baby.”

  Stormy stared at the man who had known her father for years, the man who kept her employed when no one else wanted to give her a job. Jonathan was a handsome, older man, near the same age as her father. He’d been involved in a long-running affair with a woman who was never going to divorce her husband. The situation suited everyone involved. She knew what direction his thoughts were taking. They would get married, he would continue to see his lady love, and she would have the security of a large, well-tended house and the finances to care for her child. In time, her heart would heal, and she would be free to pursue other relationships if she chose.

  Stormy sighed. “It’s a sweet offer, Jonathan. I appreciate it. I’ll have to think about it.”

  “We could do it quickly. A few papers would need to be drawn up, but otherwise, it’s basically a trip to Las Vegas.” He smiled at her benevolently.

  She lowered her eyes and went to sit down. All the energy was slowly draining out of her. “You’re a good man, Jonathan.” Of course, I wouldn’t want my baby growing up the way I did, with its best clothes coming from thrift shops and being afraid to buy an occasional new toy in case I lost my job.

  But she wasn’t in love with Jonathan. And in all the years she’d spent sleeping on shag carpets and beanbags and playing with other misfit love children, she’d wanted an Ozzie and Harriet existence for herself. Shoot, she’d settle for Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, if it meant that she and the man she loved stayed under one roof and raised a family—together.

  “I don’t know, Jonathan,” she murmured. “I’m still trying to get over the shock of being pregnant.”

  “Well.” He shot her a paternal glance. “Take your time. The offer’s open. In the meantime, you and I need to fly to Texas to do some sorting out. Apparently, the locals are giving the director a bit of a fit.” He grinned at her. “I’m not sure it’s their fault, either. This director is very difficult to deal with, as you know, and I believe he’s putting some noses out of joint. We’ll fly in there and take care of some things,” he said hurriedly, when she started to interrupt, “and leave the next morning.”

  She got to her feet. “I’m too old for you to try to work this out for me, Jonathan.”

  “I’m not! Honest!” He put a hand over his chest.

  Stormy shook her head. “You can do this by yourself.”

  “No. You’re the one who charmed the locals. They respond to you. I’ve heard this from more than one person. We go together.”

  She pursed her lips, giving him a narrow-eyed stare. “I think you’re making this up out of some good-hearted intention.”

  “Trust me, I’m far too busy. We need to do lunch with this director and try to gently break it to him that he’s got to take it easy with this batch of folks. In New York, we wouldn’t have this problem.” He sniffed disdainfully. “These country people apparently don’t like to be yelled at, and Cronich sounds like a bullhorn when he’s getting on someone’s case.”

  “Oh, no,” Stormy murmured, wondering if Mary had been on the receiving end of any d
irectorial angst. “Okay. But a quick trip, and that’s all. And I do lunch with a director and some soft-shoe about the problems and then you bring me home. Understood?”

  “Completely.” Jonathan nodded, his silver hair gleaming in the light. “And your secret is safe with me.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Rain finally came to Desperado, despite the weatherman’s prediction that the heat would continue without a break. The storm was vicious, throwing sheets of water against Cody’s face and blowing his clothes tight against his body as he got out of his truck near the movie set. With jagged lightning in the sky, he didn’t like the look of this particular storm. Though he was sure his niece wouldn’t appreciate his concern, he’d decided to pick her up and take her to his house until it passed.

  The movie folks themselves were on their own, however. They had trailers and other shelter. He grunted, pushing against the rain until he found a door to the set and went in. Mary sat, apparently unworried, talking to a few of the more minor stars.

  “Hey, Uncle Cody,” she called.

  He nodded at the folks sitting around her. “Hey, ladybug. Want to come up to the house for a snack?”

  A slight frown creased her face as she came over to hug him. “Uncle Cody,” she whispered, “did you come to see me, or Stormy?”

  He leaned back and peered down at her. “What do you mean?” he asked in the same whisper.

  “She’s here.” Mary glanced around them. “I don’t see her now, but she was here this morning. She spent the night in Austin last night.”

  “Hm.” Cody couldn’t begin to put a name to the emotions that raced through his brain at the thought of Stormy being back. “Well, I came to take you home with me, but I also have a bone to pick with her.” He thought for a moment. “I don’t like the feel of this storm. I’m going to take you up to the house, and I’ll pick that bone with Stormy later.” It still rankled that she hadn’t spent the proverbial dime to call him on her previous trip through.

  “Why do I have to go home?”

  “Just for now, while filming’s basically stopped. I’ll bring you back later, I promise, as soon as it passes.”

  “What about Stormy? If it’s not safe for me, it’s not safe for her,” she said with an authoritative tone.

  He scratched under his collar. “I can’t take everybody home with me, ladybug. You’re my only concern.”

  She eyed with him with an I-don’t-believe-you look. “I don’t think so, Uncle Cody,” she said in a singsong voice.

  Sighing heavily, he said, “I haven’t seen Stormy in months, hon. What would I say? Come home with me, because you’ll be safer at my house?”

  Mary brightened. “Hey, that would probably win her over.”

  “I don’t want to win her over to anything,” he said gruffly. “Now look here, don’t go meddling. This is adult—”

  “Stormy!” Mary cried with delight. “Come over here!”

  Cody’s gut clenched so hard he couldn’t breathe. Sure enough, there was the woman who never got out of his dreams long enough to let him sleep the unbroken sleep of the peaceful man. Stormy walked toward him, her lustrous hair all cut off into a snappy pixie style, her wide lips hesitantly smiling under beautiful expressive eyes—and her belly sticking out four inches in front of her. Cody gulped, his eyes riveted to the mound moving toward him, emphasized by a short white dress with cap sleeves. “Oh, Lord,” he said under his breath.

  “Hello, Cody,” she said, her voice soft.

  His eyes snapped back up to hers. “Hi,” he managed on a rasp.

  “Come on, Stormy.” Mary took her by the hand. “Uncle Cody’s going to take us up to his house. He says he doesn’t like this storm, and his house is the only place he feels we’ll be safe enough.”

  She grabbed Stormy’s hand and herded her toward the door. Caught off guard, Cody barely jerked the door open in time for them to precede him. Without umbrellas, they ran to his truck and piled in.

  “I’ve never seen rain like this!” Stormy said from the seat next to Cody.

  The three of them had room to sit across the front seat of the truck, but Cody and Stormy were pressed elbow to elbow. He could smell her perfume, could see the almost shy look in her lovely gray eyes. Swallowing hard, his heart going a mile a minute, he switched on the engine and got the windshield wipers going. Water slashed to the left and then to the right with each motion of the wipers, but all Cody could think of was that Stormy had never looked better. Water beaded on the tip of her little ski nose, and he reached up to gently wipe it off.

  She smiled self-consciously. “I bet I don’t even have any mascara left. It’s probably running down my face.”

  He hadn’t gotten past her haunting eyes to notice. Damn, but he’d missed this woman! Dry-throated, he said, “You look fine,” and fixed his gaze to the windshield. Fiercely concentrating on the road that was quickly turning to mud, he headed the truck toward the house.

  Mary, scallywag that she was for getting him into this mess—and he knew she’d done it on purpose—hadn’t said a word. Very uncharacteristic. His knuckles clenched around the steering wheel as he guided the truck over ruts and bumps in deference to the baby obviously growing inside Stormy. Cody wondered how to handle this very embarrassing matchmaking of his niece’s. Stormy might have been a virgin when he’d met her, but obviously she hadn’t waited long in finding another lover once she returned to her natural habitat. A large, sparkling engagement ring on her left hand burned a hole in his peripheral vision. He gulped, telling himself that Mary no doubt meant well, but she’d gotten him stuck in a vise-grip of a problem.

  What was he doing with this pregnant woman in his truck? He hadn’t wanted to fall in love. His life was simple, and it needed to stay that way. Anger flared inside him, along with overwhelming fear and gnawing rejection.

  In the beginning, Stormy had wanted his land for her movie project. Against his better judgment telling him not to, he’d agreed. Maybe even then he’d been falling for her. Certainly, he’d been under her spell. But if her stomach and that ring were any consideration, all she’d wanted was his land for her movie anyway.

  He was the fool for stepping into the trap of wishing there could be more.

  At the house, he parked the truck and eyed the heavy rain. “I could get an umbrella, but I don’t think it’d make much difference.”

  “I think we’d be better off running for it.” Stormy met his gaze, and they both looked away at the same split second.

  “You’re going to ruin your shoes,” he said gruffly. On her feet were delicate white high-heeled sandals, which would never survive the mud. No doubt she’d twist her ankle trying to run and he didn’t want that to happen.

  With that teasing smile of hers, she slipped off her sandals. “I’ll just leave them in your truck for safekeeping.”

  A muscle worked spasmodically near his Adam’s apple as he looked at her bare feet and smooth white legs. His gaze slid up to the skirt hem, which ended at midthigh.

  “You’d better carry her, Uncle Cody.” Mary leaned up to look past Stormy at him. “If she slips in the mud, she might hurt her baby.”

  He quickly checked Stormy’s reaction to Mary’s suggestion, glancing just as fast at her stomach. There can’t be a baby in there! his mind shouted. Only six months ago he’d been loving her body. How could she have turned to someone else so fast?

  He felt like a fool.

  “He doesn’t have to carry me,” Stormy said swiftly. “I’m perfectly capable of walking.”

  “No. Mary’s right.” He steeled himself for the feel of her as he opened the truck door and scooped her into his arms. “Mary, wait here. I’ll be right back for you.”

  He lifted Stormy out and kicked the door shut behind him with his boot heel. She put her head against his chest so that she nestled under his chin. Torrents of rain slashed against them, but Cody didn’t care. The feel of Stormy tucked protectively into his arms was heaven. He walked up the porch step
s and gently deposited her in front of the door. Unlocking it, he said, “I expect you remember where the bathroom is. Grab a towel to dry off with.”

  And then, because he couldn’t bear the look in her eyes, the look that said thank you, and, worse, acknowledged the attraction still burning as hot as ever between them, Cody turned to get his niece out of the truck.

  Mary bounded up onto the porch.

  “I thought I told you to wait.” He eyed her bare feet, and the flat tennis shoes dangling from her hand.

  “I know. But there’s no point in you having to come out after me. I can take care of myself.” She gave him a mischievous grin.

  “You might have slipped and hurt yourself,” he said gruffly.

  “Yeah, but I’m not pregnant. I’d only have hurt my bottom.” She ran past him into the house.

  “Damn well better never be pregnant until you’re married,” he grumbled under his breath. He hoped Stormy realized she needed to set a good example for his niece. None of this glamour puss, Hollywood fast life for Mary. Stormy might be unmarried and expecting a baby, but in his home he frowned upon it. He hoped Stormy realized that on this subject, Hollywood and Desperado, Texas, might as well be different continents. This getting pregnant and maybe-we-will, maybe-we-won’t-make-it-to-the-altar stuff was unacceptable.

  She walked out of the bathroom toward him, carrying a towel. He clean missed her intention to dry him off because he was staring at how the white dress molded to her stomach. Gosh, she looked big right there. And her breasts were fuller, too. Lots fuller. He felt desire beginning to build inside him. Pregnancy definitely agreed with her.

  Soft hands pressed a towel against his head, rubbing lightly. Helplessly, he stared down the smooth expanse of her arm, through the armhole of her dress where he could see a white lacy bra. He’d never known this woman to wear a white bra before. But the white looked clean and enticing, just like the jiggle of her breasts as she moved around him.

  Electrified, he allowed her to rub the water off his neck. The cotton was soft, yet somehow scratchy, and her fingers were firm as she plied the towel.