by Sara Orwig
“Race you to the end of the pool,” he said. “I’ll give you a head start.”
“I don’t need a head start,” she flung back at him, then sliced into the water and swam as swiftly as she could, wanting to win the race, feeling a competitive excitement.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw him pass her, then pull ahead. When they reached the end, he caught her, holding her up while he treaded water. His hands were on her waist, his thumbs below her breasts, close enough to tantalize, and her desire blazed.
“Let me take you to dinner tonight,” he suggested.
“I barely know you.”
“We’ll eat here at the hotel, and I’ll introduce you to people who do know me. I’m the keynote speaker in the morning.”
She knew the keynote was not from the computer industry, but she couldn’t recall what his vocation was. “Sorry, I didn’t recognize your name.”
He smiled, revealing even white teeth, while appealing creases bracketed his mouth. “You shouldn’t be expected to recognize it. We’re not in the same business. I’m a demolition contractor.”
“You tear things down.”
“Not everything, only what I’m hired to demolish. But then, there’s another kind of destruction,” he said in a deeper voice and pulled her closer. Her legs tangled with his and she put her hands on his upper arms, feeling his warm, wet skin. “The kind I’d like to do to you and the kind I know you can do to me,” he said in a thick voice, his gaze lowering again to her mouth.
With a pounding heart she wriggled and swam away, smiling at him. “You’re flirting,” she stated breathlessly, trying to curb the devastating effect he was having on her.
He smiled in return and swam toward her. “Go to dinner with me.”
“Since I know who you are and I’ve heard people at work discuss you, I will.”
“Seven o’clock.” He paused before confessing, “I have to say, this conference suddenly has gotten a whole lot better.”
“I agree,” she said, then turned to swim the length of the pool.
For another thirty minutes they swam, then climbed out to get dressed for their dinner together.
“I’ll meet you in the lobby at seven,” she said when they were in the elevator, trying to keep from letting her gaze roam over his muscled chest again and down even lower.
“I can come to your room,” he said, looking at her with the thorough study that she was trying to avoid giving him.
“In the lobby,” she replied firmly and left the elevator with her pulse racing. An hour later when she entered the lobby, he was already there. Wearing a navy suit and snowy white shirt, he was handsome and commanding.
What an evening she’d had with him. The moment she had walked into his arms for their first dance, she had been electrified. Sparks spun in the air, and she knew he felt the fiery contact, too.
Now, desire was a scalding flame again. She hadn’t been able to resist him the first night, wondering who seduced whom. He was a fantastic lover with a body that could win him a movie role.
“You must know him pretty well,” a raspy feminine voice spoke behind Rose.
“I suppose.” She turned to look at her younger sister. Because of the age gap between them and the difference in their personalities, they hadn’t been particularly close growing up. Nita was the tomboy and horse expert while Rose was the people person and the one who had longed for city life. Nita was Daddy’s girl and Rose never had been. She had finally matured enough to acknowledge her jealousy of the close relationship between Nita and their father.
“What do you think?” Nita asked. “You obviously believe him.”
“I didn’t know he was a Devlin until this morning,” Rose answered, taking a deep breath and knowing she had put this moment off long enough. Nita began to pull a few wilted leaves off yellow chrysanthemums growing in a nearby pot.
“Nita, this danger to you and Daddy and the farm isn’t my only worry.”
“Oh? This sounds serious,” Nita said as she tossed the dead leaves off the porch, then leaned against a cedar column.
“Even before I came home, I tried to figure out the best way to tell you and Daddy something special. I need to tell Jane, too,” Rose said, thinking about their former housekeeper who was now married to Will.
“I’m getting more curious. Rose, you know you can tell me anything. Are you unwell? Are you moving away from Texas?”
“I’m not moving and I feel fine most of the time.”
Worry clouded Nita’s eyes. “Most of the time? What is it? Can I do something to help?”
“Thanks. You can’t do anything. Unfortunately I got myself into this one,” Rose replied, taking another deep breath. “There isn’t a good way to say this except to come right out with it. Nita, I’m pregnant.”
Nita shrieked and threw her arms around Rose. When she leaned back to look at her sister, Nita’s eyes sparkled. “That’s wonderful! You’ve been keeping a lot from us. Who’s the lucky guy?”
“There isn’t any ‘lucky guy’ because I didn’t intend for this to happen,” Rose replied, hating to reveal the truth.
Nita’s smile vanished, and she stepped back to stare wide-eyed at her sister. “Oh, Rose! You’re usually so in control.”
“Well, I should have been more in control this time.”
“What’s he said? He doesn’t want to get married?”
“He doesn’t know. Nita, would you want a guy to marry you out of a sense of obligation? As independent as you are, you know you wouldn’t want someone to propose to you because he felt beholden to do so. We’re not in love. Actually I hardly know him.”
“Oh, Rose!” Nita exclaimed again. “Damn, I’m sorry. Maybe you should rethink not telling him.”
“I know I’ll have to eventually, but this isn’t turning out the way I’ve always dreamed it would. I intended to wait to get married until I was at least thirty, probably thirty-five. I still want my freedom and I’m not ready for marriage. Besides, I want to make the important life decisions for this baby and I don’t know this man well enough to predict how he’ll act or what he’ll want. I’m not about to compromise on what I think is best for the baby.”
“If you feel that way, you know you may end up being lonely and find life difficult. You should at least think about your options before you lock up your heart. Marriage isn’t about losing control. Look at me. I’m so in love with Connor—marriage is wonderful.”
“And that’s the way I want my marriage to be—two people wildly in love,” Rose argued, still hurting over her shattered dreams. “I want a love match—not a couple who weds because they feel obligated. The statistics are scary enough when one out of two marriages ends in divorce. The statistics are higher if the marriage occurs because of a child.”
“I think you’re looking at the worst-case scenarios,” Nita said.
“Right now, marriage is absolutely out of the question for all those reasons. But most of all because it means losing my control to someone I don’t know well enough. I told you—no, thanks.”
“Whatever you choose to do, we love you and we’ll love your baby. You know that,” Nita said, and Rose had never felt such a strong bond with her sister.
“Thank you. I knew I could count on you to support me in this,” Rose said and realized that, in spite of sibling rivalries, she could always bank on Nita when a crisis threatened.
“Of course I’ll support you,” Nita exclaimed. “So will Daddy and Jane.” She placed her hands on her hips. “How far along are you?”
“Five months,” Rose replied.
“Five! You don’t look pregnant at all.”
“My waist is starting to get bigger—only a little.” She patted her middle. “The father has a right to know and eventually I’ll inform him, but at the moment I’m getting used to all this myself.”
“Do you know what you’re having?”
“A girl,” Rose said and smiled. “More females in this family.”
; “That’s wonderful!”
Rose frowned. “Nita, I don’t want to tell Daddy. Jane will be easier, but Daddy is going to be unhappy. This isn’t what he’d want for me.”
“You have to tell him.”
“I dread it. You know Daddy. He’ll want to go after the man responsible with a shotgun. And he’s distressed already. I know the farm can’t take many more disasters. It has to be hurting financially. It is, isn’t it?”
Nita inhaled deeply and looked beyond Rose before her gaze swung back to her sister. “It was, but Connor keeps telling me to stop stewing over income. He’s invested in the horse farm to bring it back up to speed, so now he’s part owner and we have his financial backing.”
“Thank goodness! That’s one concern off my mind.”
“I don’t want Daddy to fret either and I don’t want him to try to do something he shouldn’t or, worse, try to get around on his leg too soon,” Nita said. “A baby is different from worrying about the farm’s finances or the catastrophes that have been happening. After the first shock, he’ll be happy. You know he’s going to adore a grandchild.”
“I don’t know that.”
“He will, and I think you should tell him now.”
Rose gazed down the drive, remembering watching Tom leave. She knew what she had to do and it had been a relief to tell Nita her secret. “I guess I will. It’s not going to get any easier.”
“What’s not going to get any easier?” Will asked as he hobbled onto the porch, swinging his crutches with each step. “I thought I’d sit out here. I get tired of being cooped up in the house, but maybe I’m interrupting something,” he said. “I can come back later.”
“Not at all,” Rose said. She took a deep breath and balled her fists.
“Come sit down. I have something to tell you.”
Three
“Sure.” He crossed to a chaise longue and as he scooted into it, Nita helped him prop up his leg. When he looked at Rose expectantly, she wished with all her being she didn’t have to tell him her secret. As the silence stretched, Will arched his eyebrows.
“Rose, Daddy and I love you,” Nita said softly, stepping close to her sister and putting her arm around Rose’s shoulders. Will frowned and looked from one daughter to the other.
“Now you’ve got me worried,” he said. “Of course we love you. What is it, honey?”
“There’s no easy way to tell you.”
“Well, then, go ahead and say whatever is worrying you.”
“I’m pregnant,” she blurted out the announcement, holding her breath and afraid he would be unhappy to hear her news.
His eyes widened. “That’s great, Rose!” He struggled to his feet again, awkwardly trying to hug her and hang on to one of his crutches at the same time. “That’s wonderful!” He held her away to look at her and tilted his head, studying her. As his smile faded, he picked up her hand. “I don’t see a wedding ring.”
“No, you don’t.”
“You’re not getting married, are you?” he asked in a quiet voice.
She shook her head. “No, I’m not.” She hurt when he winced, yet at the same time a weight had been lifted from her by finally informing her family about her condition.
“Rose, that’s going to be so damned hard for you. Being a single parent is tough. I should know. Dammit, he ought to marry you,” Will said, anger filling his voice. His eyes darkened, and she could see an emotional storm coming.
“It’s my choice,” she said. “He doesn’t even know I’m pregnant.”
“Tell him, for Lord’s sake. By damn—”
“Daddy, I don’t want to marry him,” Rose said firmly, but her father’s remark about being a single parent struck a chill in her heart. She hated failure and had spent her life trying to prove herself—maybe to her father because he had been so easily pleased by Nita, who was practically the son he’d always wanted as well as a daughter to him.
Rose pushed her trepidation aside, telling herself she had excelled at other endeavors, she could succeed as a single parent. She had bought over a dozen books on motherhood and was studying about pregnancy, babies and becoming a parent.
“Let’s sit down, Daddy,” Nita urged, taking her father’s arm to help him back to the chaise and prop his foot up again. He motioned to another chair.
“You two sit down and we’ll make some plans. You’ll stay here to have the baby, won’t you?”
“I haven’t planned that far ahead—I’m only five months along. I don’t know what I’m going to do,” Rose answered.
“You’re going to stay home and have this baby here, where we can all help and support you.”
“I agree with Daddy,” Nita said firmly. In that moment Rose appreciated her younger sister more than she ever had before.
“You two!” Rose exclaimed. “I’ll be all right.”
“Damn straight you will, because we’ll take care of you,” Nita declared, and Rose had to smile.
“I’m fine. The morning sickness is beginning to fade away and other than that, I’m okay. There is one thing—”
“What’s that?” Will asked her. “Don’t hesitate to ask.”
“I don’t want to inform other people yet. I’m getting used to the idea myself and I’ve been spending all my time trying to think how to tell all of you. Of course, Connor can know, but I’d like to keep the knowledge here on the farm for now.”
“We can do that,” Nita said.
“We sure as hell can.” Will seconded her. “Whatever you want, you let us know.”
“That means so much to me, coming from both of you,” Rose said.
“Rose, tell Daddy what you’re having,” Nita said, glancing at Will.
“My baby is a girl.”
“A granddaughter! Ah, Rose, that’s grand. A little girl,” Will said and had such tenderness in his voice that Rose relaxed and tears stung her eyes.
“I have to tell Jane,” she said, knowing because of the closeness to Jane, dealing with her would be easier.
“Jane will be overjoyed,” Will said and Nita agreed.
“She’ll want to take care of you, too.”
“I don’t know. Jane can be kind of fierce sometimes.”
“That’s when someone interferes with her or her afternoon reading time. She’s going to love a baby girl,” Nita said.
“You’re five months,” Will said. “So the baby is due early next spring.” He slapped his knee and grinned. “I’m going to be a granddaddy! It’ll be good, Rose, because there are a lot of us to love her.”
“Thank you both,” Rose said, relieved and grateful for their reassurances.
“I’m sure you know your own mind, but have you given a lot of thought to the father?” Will asked. “Are you absolutely certain you’re not in love with him?”
“I’m sure I’m not,” she said, wanting to escape telling her father that there would be Devlin blood in the Windcroft family. She had hoped to avoid revealing the father’s identity, and now, with Tom on a nearby ranch, she knew she would see him occasionally. Remembering that she shouldn’t look anxious or unhappy in front of her family, Rose smiled.
“Who’s your doctor?” Will asked.
“It’s Amos Hartley in Dallas. I like him very much.”
“You can’t live here and have a doctor in Dallas,” Will stated. “We’ll find an excellent one in Royal. Nita, I’ll leave that to you because you’re in the right age group to hear baby doctors discussed. All I know are vets,” he added with a grin.
“I can find a doctor for myself,” Rose said with amusement. She was aware her father and sister both watched her intently. “And I feel fine. I’m all right. Truly.” She stood. “Since I’m going out tonight with Tom, I better go get ready.” She went to brush a kiss on her father’s forehead. He caught her hand in his and squeezed lightly.
“I want you to be happy. You consider the father, Rose.”
“Don’t get false hopes,” she said. “He wouldn’t want to marry me,
and I don’t want to marry him,” she said emphatically, trying to end any conversation on the subject.
“Okay,” Will said solemnly and the distress had returned to his expression. “We’ll abide by your wishes and not tell others until you’re ready.”
“We’ll all help you,” Nita said.
Rose turned to hug Nita. “Thanks, Nita. Your support means the world.”
“Can I bring you anything, Rose? Is there anything you need?” Nita asked, and Rose had to laugh at the earnest expression on her sister’s face.
“I’m fine. Don’t fuss over me.”
“I wonder if you ought to move up here in the house with us,” Will said.
“No, I don’t need to leave the guesthouse,” she replied patiently. “I’m not an invalid and I have my computer and electronic equipment all set up where I am.” She didn’t add that they were all newlyweds and she thought she ought to leave them as much privacy as possible. “I’m going to find Jane now.”
Following some delicious smells, she headed to the kitchen. Rose was certain she had left Nita and their father making all sorts of plans about her pregnancy and the baby. But would those plans continue with the same enthusiasm once her daddy learned who had fathered his grandchild? Will’s fuse likely would light and he would try to involve Tom in Rose’s life one way or another. She shuddered because that was the last thing she wanted.
When she entered the kitchen, she saw Jane close the oven door and go to the refrigerator to remove a head of lettuce.
“Jane, can I talk to you a moment?” Rose asked.
“Sure, honey,” Jane replied, flashing a smile at Rose and going back to work. “I’m still astounded by the latest turn of events. Your daddy told me that he agreed to peace between the families. I never thought I’d see the day. Tom Devlin must be some persuasive talker. This morning your Daddy was so dead set against even listening to a Devlin, I didn’t think anyone could convince him otherwise.” She shook her head. “Wonders never cease. But maybe it’s for the best.”
