TheNine-MonthBride

by Unknown

  Before he closed the door, he said, “I have another idea, Susannah. I’ll explain it to you tomorrow.”

  “No! We’re supposed to avoid each other.”

  The panic on her face gave him pause. Maybe she wasn’t as calm about all this as she pretended to be. He grinned. “Don’t worry, sugar. I’ll be discreet.”

  Her only response was to slam the door and gun the engine, her tires spraying gravel, and shoot out of the parking lot.

  Luckily Lucas was fast on his feet or he might have had tire tracks on his boots.

  Discreet? The man didn’t know the meaning of the word. It was because of his indiscretion that she had a headache now.

  That and his sex appeal. She’d almost lost her footing when her breasts had pressed against his chest while they were dancing. She’d never experienced such a flood of wanting in her life.

  Susannah clenched her teeth as she drove to the small house she leased from Abby. When she got out of the car, she unlocked her door and entered, throwing her purse and keys on the sofa. Then she paced the room, suddenly wishing it were larger.

  What was she going to do now?

  If she went ahead with her plan, everyone would assume she was having Lucas’s baby, as he’d said. If she didn’t, she’d miss out on the one thing she longed for.

  As she strode around the room, she discarded several different ideas. Then the most logical response filled her head.

  Of course! The best answer would be to find someone else for Lucas Boyd. Every woman there tonight had shown an interest in the wealthy, handsome rancher. All she, Susannah, had to do was turn one, or even two, loose on him. Soon she’d be completely forgotten.

  Relieved that she’d come up with a solution, she sat down at the small desk her grandmother had once owned and took out the elegant cream stationery she seldom used. After writing a careful note, she reread it.

  Yes, this should do the trick.

  But she’d have to work fast before he turned up at the library again.

  Sunday afternoon, Lucas was putting in time at his desk, trying to catch up on the mountain of paperwork involved in running a ranch.

  Someone knocked on his door. “Come in,” he shouted, his gaze glued to his paperwork.

  Frankie walked in.

  “Yeah?” His housekeeper seldom interrupted Lucas when he was doing the books.

  “Sam Jenkins stopped by. Wanted me to give you this letter. Said someone asked him to drop it off after church.”

  He took the envelope, studying it curiously. “Thanks,” he muttered and laid it aside.

  He didn’t remember the envelope for several hours. Then, as he finished paying the bills for the month, he noticed the envelope he’d put to one side.

  Frowning, he picked it up. His name was on it, but nothing else, no address. Sam Jenkins? His neighbor didn’t seem the type to use such nice stationery, but maybe his wife was having a party. Lucas supposed his emergence into local society last night might draw a few invitations.

  Inside, he didn’t find an invitation. His gaze flew to the bottom where Susannah Langston’s signature grabbed his attention.

  Dear Lucas,

  I think I’ve come up with a plan to solve our little difficulty. Could you meet me for lunch tomorrow at The Red Slipper? At noon, please.

  She didn’t know much about ranchers if she thought they went to town for lunch in the middle of the day. But he’d make an exception for her. Later, he’d explain that you didn’t interrupt a man’s day for little things.

  A smile settled on his lips as he thought about the meaning of her note. There was only one solution, as far as he was concerned, but he’d be glad to listen to Susannah’s version. After all, he was flexible.

  Now he could make real plans for his son. And he could forget Doc’s scheme. He hadn’t been comfortable with the idea of marrying anyone, much less Susannah Langston. True, she was more attractive than he’d first thought. A lot more attractive. But she always argued with him.

  She wouldn’t be a good wife because of that, but she’d make a damn fine baby for him. A tall, strong son, determined and courageous. Yeah, she’d be a great mother.

  He could hardly wait until tomorrow.

  Lucas came in from the pastures at about ten-thirty the next morning. He felt pretty silly showering in the middle of the day, but you couldn’t have lunch with a lady when you smelled of horse.

  All morning he’d thought about Susannah’s note. Celebrated it. And ignored the small worrisome nudge that the sweetness and light routine it projected wasn’t like her. That had occurred to him just before he went to sleep last night, and it had taken him a while to put it aside.

  She was probably happy because she was going to have a baby. That’s all it was. Her dream was going to be achieved, just like his. She’d probably decided to accept his offer of taking care of his son after he was born.

  His son.

  Those two words danced in his heart, giving him such pleasure. He almost forgot the woman who would make his dream happen. Almost.

  She’d been pretty angry Saturday night. But her note showed that she’d gotten over her anger. He liked that, someone who didn’t hold a grudge.

  He dressed with extra care. At this rate, he’d have to go shopping for some new shirts and jeans. His social life seemed to be on the upswing.

  With a grin, he grabbed a jacket and headed down the stairs. When he passed Frankie, he said, “I’m lunching at The Red Slipper with a lady, Frankie. I’ll be back later.”

  The man was too stunned to say anything, and Lucas left with a smile on his face. Wait until he could tell Frankie about his son!

  It was a short drive into Caliente, and he quickly parked the truck among the many others around The Red Slipper. There weren’t too many dining choices in town. The Red Slipper was the best of the lot.

  The hostess met him at the door with a grin. “Howdy, Luke. I heard you were coming today.”

  “Oh, really? Word travels fast.” He didn’t mind. Soon he’d be able to tell everyone his secret.

  “Just follow me.”

  He took off his hat and weaved between the tables, searching for Susannah. When he couldn’t see her anywhere, he assumed the hostess was taking him to an empty table to wait for her. Instead the woman stopped unexpectedly and Lucas almost ran over her.

  “Here you go, Lucas. Enjoy your meal, ladies.”

  Lucas stood there as if he’d been poleaxed. Staring up at him with eager faces were three blondes, all waiting for him to sit down beside them.

  Chapter Five

  S usannah was feeling quite satisfied with herself.

  Not only had she figured out how to end the speculation about any baby she might have, but she’d also managed to pull it off quickly.

  It hadn’t been easy to locate three petite blondes in Caliente. Since Lucas Boyd had fallen for that type the first time, it made sense to Susannah that he’d most likely follow the same pattern now. With Abby’s help, she’d located the three most attractive ladies.

  But that had only been the beginning. Then she had to convince them to share their moment with Lucas Boyd with each other. None of them liked the idea.

  In the end, however, they’d all agreed, because they wanted first crack at a wealthy widower who’d finally come out of seclusion.

  “Did you hear?” Gertie asked as she tottered up to the front desk in the library, two books clutched against her sagging bustline.

  “I beg your pardon, Gertie? Did I hear what?” Susannah asked, somewhat distracted by her thoughts.

  “Lucas Boyd. He’s eatin’ at The Red Slipper with three women,” the little lady said, as if she were revealing a secret liaison between China and Russia.

  “Really?” Susannah said nonchalantly. “Well, I guess my heart is broken.”

  Gertie peered at her. “You don’t look too upset.”

  “I’m a great actress. I hide my feelings well.” Susannah added a grin so the old lady would real
ize she was teasing.

  “Humph. Lucas is a good catch.”

  “Yes, I believe he is, but I’m not fishing.” She held out her hand for the lady’s choices and proceeded to stamp them and then hand them back. Gertie was known for her gossiping. If she believed there was nothing between Lucas and Susannah, the entire town would know it at once.

  “Well, you ought to be trying to catch someone. Ladies need husbands,” Gertie muttered, ignoring the fact that she’d been widowed twenty-two years ago and managed just fine.

  “Maybe you should go after Lucas, Gertie. He’d make you a fine—”

  Susannah’s teasing smile was wiped from her face as the library’s front door, an antique in oak with flawlessly etched glass, was slammed against the outside wall.

  Even more disturbing was the angry man standing just inside. His cowboy hat was jammed low on his forehead, shadowing his face, but Susannah had no difficulty identifying him. Or the mood he was in.

  “Oh, my,” Gertie whispered, staring.

  Susannah fought the urge to run. She’d known that Lucas Boyd might initially have been unhappy with her scheme, but she’d counted on the ladies to charm him.

  She’d miscalculated.

  He strode up to the checkout counter and gestured behind her. “In your office!” Then, without waiting to see if she complied, he marched around the counter and through her office door.

  Gertie’s eyes were wide as she swung her gaze back to Susannah. “What’s going on?”

  “Um, I think Mr. Boyd has an overdue book,” she offered, though she knew her answer was nonsensical. She gestured to one of her volunteers to come take her place at the front desk. “Excuse me, Gertie. I hope you enjoy your books.”

  The little lady didn’t take the hint, not budging one inch from her front row stance. “You going to go talk to him?”

  “Well, yes, as librarian, I—”

  “Susannah, get in here!” Lucas roared.

  That did it! She didn’t often lose her temper, but if that man thought…Without finishing her response to Gertie, she slid from the stool and crossed the short distance to her small office.

  After carefully closing the door, she whirled around. “How dare you?”

  “How dare you!” he returned.

  He was standing with his fists cocked on his hips, his lips pressed tightly together, a frown on his brow. And his hat was still on. Susannah felt her heart racing wildly and wondered if it was his anger…or his potent virility that caused all her senses to quicken.

  “All I did was arrange a luncheon so you could meet some nice ladies,” she said, primly, and perhaps not quite truthfully.

  “All you did was feed me to three female barracudas in front of the entire town!”

  “That’s not a gentlemanly remark,” she protested. As he opened his mouth to respond, she hurriedly added, “They are all beautiful blondes. I thought you liked blondes.”

  “Two of them aren’t blondes. Lisa’s been bleaching her hair since she was fourteen, and it looks like straw by now. Belinda bleached hers when she got her first divorce.”

  Susannah blinked in surprise. “I didn’t know you were such a purist, or knew the ladies that well.”

  “Hell, of course I know them. They’ve lived here all their lives. Now, you tell me what kind of game you’re playing.” He took a step closer to her.

  Backing until she was plastered against the door she’d just closed, Susannah drew a deep breath. She wanted to avoid his touch at all costs—it would never do for him to realize the bone-melting effect he had on her. “I thought the debacle Saturday night would be best handled by your showing some interest in—in other women.”

  “And you didn’t think it necessary to inform me of your little plan?” he asked, his soft tones more threatening than his earlier yelling.

  Susannah wished she had more room to maneuver. “N-no. I didn’t think you’d cooperate.”

  “Damn right I wouldn’t cooperate. Those women thought I was going to marry one of them,” he growled.

  “Wouldn’t that solve your problem?”

  His hands shot forward to trap her against the door. “No, ma’am, that wouldn’t solve my problem.”

  “I don’t see why not. You would have your son—”

  “And a wife I don’t want.”

  Susannah nervously chewed on her bottom lip as she tried to come up with another answer, but her mind was blank. It was hard to think with two hundred pounds of sexy, angry cowboy hovering over you.

  “Damn! Stop that!”

  Her eyes widened and she stared at him, at a loss. “What? Stop what?”

  “Chewing on your lip,” he informed her as he turned his back on her and took several steps away. He tried to relax the muscles that had tightened in his gut when he saw her nibbling on those soft lips. A softness he had wanted to test with his own lips.

  She didn’t really understand his concern with her lip, but if it convinced him to give her some breathing space, she wasn’t going to complain. “I’m sorry if—if you had a difficult time at lunch. I did pay for it.”

  He whirled around to glare at her. “Yeah. That really made me feel good. A woman paying my way!”

  “You really are a macho man, aren’t you?” She didn’t think he’d be under any illusions that she was paying him a compliment. “Of course I paid. I extended the invitation.”

  “A bogus invitation. I thought you were going to agree to—you know.”

  His gaze shifted away from her, but not before Susannah caught a glimpse of the sadness and hurt inside him. She hadn’t intended to be mean. Without thinking, she reached out to pat his shoulder. He jerked back as if he’d been stung.

  “I wanted to say I’m sorry,” she explained stiffly. Okay, he didn’t want her to touch him. She could certainly understand that reaction, but she’d only meant to be gracious. “I didn’t intend to hurt you.”

  “Yeah, right.”

  “Really. I thought you might like one of those ladies. I tried to find some who looked like Beth because—”

  “Don’t you mention her name with those three! You know nothing about Beth. She was—was perfect! I’ll never love anyone like I loved Beth. And don’t you forget it!”

  Susannah jumped aside as Lucas rushed out of her office. He didn’t pause to greet any neighbors in his flight from the library. Even Gertie.

  Who was still standing next to the front desk, watching Lucas’s exit.

  “Gertie. I didn’t know you were still here,” Susannah said, forcing her voice to sound normal. “Were there some other books you were interested in?”

  With a sly grin, the little old lady shook her head. “Nope. I was just passing the time of day with Louisa, here,” she said, gesturing to the volunteer who’d replaced Susannah.

  “Ah. Louisa, could you hold down the fort a while longer. I have some paperwork I need to take care of.”

  “Of course, Susannah. I’m here for another hour. Take your time.” Then the woman exchanged a look with Gertie.

  Unable to deal with anything else at the moment, Susannah murmured her thanks and retreated into her office, closing the door behind her. She felt like an animal who needed privacy to lick her wounds. The cowboy’s pain echoed in her heart. And she didn’t know what she was going to do now.

  Time to reevaluate her plans. Lucas Boyd wasn’t cooperating.

  Word spread like wildfire through the small community. First, Lucas’s unexpected luncheon with three blondes. Then his visit to the library. When the men of Caliente came to their dinner tables that evening, their wives were primed to entertain them with the excitement of the day.

  Lucas’s hopes that other, more exciting developments would occur to dismiss his antics were dashed when his phone rang after dinner.

  “Boy, what are you up to?”

  He didn’t need the caller to identify himself. “Hi, Doc. What do you mean?”

  “You interested in one of those women? They’re all wrong for y
ou.”

  Lucas sighed. “I’m not playing the dating game, Doc. Calm down.”

  “Then why—”

  “It’s all your fault,” Lucas assured him, a grim smile on his lips.

  “What are you talking about? I didn’t have anything to do with it.”

  “No, not directly. But Susannah Langston, that sweet, angelic lady, did. She trapped me without me having any idea what was coming.”

  Heavy silence followed his words. Finally Doc said, “What do you mean?”

  “She wrote me a note, saying she had a solution to our difficulties, asked me to meet her for lunch at The Red Slipper today. When I arrived, those three were waiting for me. And the lovely Miss Langston even paid the bill.”

  “Oh, my. I guess that explains the second part of the gossip. You went to the library to tear a strip off her hide, didn’t you?”

  Lucas sighed again. He regretted his impulsive behavior, but after an hour fending off the blatant seduction of three women at once, he’d been ready to vent. “Yeah, I’m afraid so.”

  More silence.

  Finally Doc asked, “So, are you abandoning our plan?”

  Groaning, Lucas shook his head, then realized Doc couldn’t see his response. “I don’t know, Doc.”

  “Hell, you knew it wasn’t going to be easy.”

  “Easy? True, but I didn’t expect to have to survive anything like that lunch today. Those women were in a feeding frenzy. I was a big fat lunch ticket, and they were willing to do anything to seal the bargain. I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life.”

  “What did they do?”

  “Other than run their hands all over me under the table? Of course, Doreen, since she was seated across from me, had to use her toes, but that didn’t slow her down. Let’s see, they offered some comfort in the dark, without the others, in various ways.”

  He closed his eyes as he thought of their blatant overtures. “They all expressed sympathy that I’d been without a woman for such a long time.” As if sex were nothing more than a creature comfort.