He caught her other hand and turned her to face him. “I don’t expect you to marry me, Sage.”
But clearly, she thought, it was what he wanted. A simple solution to a very thorny problem. “You heard what MR said. If we don’t, your deal with her firm is likely off.”
Nick shrugged, a distant look coming into his eyes. Sage felt about a million miles away from him. She didn’t like it. In an effort to understand what was going on with him, she asked, “Did you ever tell MR you felt trapped here in Laramie?”
His broad shoulders tensed. “Not in so many words.”
“So she inferred it?”
He nodded curtly.
Which had to mean, she knew Nick pretty well. Pushing aside a surge of unexpected jealousy, Sage gently pushed for more information. “Why would she do that? What did you tell her?” That you haven’t told me?
“When I first approached Metro Equity Partners we talked a lot about the fact that the store, the custom boot-making operation and the ranch have been in my family for four generations. The fact that the women have always run the mercantile operation, the men the ranch.”
“But at some point all that changed.”
“When my mom and dad died in the accident when I was ten, my oldest sister, Erin, took over everything. She sold off all the cattle, but she ran the store.”
“She also raised you and your three older siblings, right?”
Nick nodded gratefully. “Along with her own kids, yeah. But when she married Mac Wheeler and they added a set of twins and another baby to the three they were already raising, Erin needed to take a break from running Monroe’s for a while, and just concentrate on her family life and custom boot-making—which she really loves.” He released a breath. “So at my suggestion, she spun her custom boot-making operation off into a separate business entity, while I took over at Monroe’s. And when she and Mac moved to Amarillo for his work, I put aside my own plans to work for a big corporation in Dallas or Houston, and stepped in permanently to run things here.”
“No one else could do it?”
“It wouldn’t have made sense. I was the business major in the family. My brother, Gavin, studied medicine. My twin sisters, Bess and Bridgett, are both nurses. Plus, the three of them all needed to be closer to the hospital and their patients, so while they got places in town, I moved back to the ranch to take care of the horses, too.”
This was something he rarely talked about. “Doesn’t sound like you had a lot of choice,” Sage said.
He shrugged. “I’m the youngest. It’s my turn. And the way I figure it, a business is a business. And since my goal is to build Monroe’s Western Wear into what it could be—not just what it is—I’m okay with it.”
She understood concessions, because she had made more than a few of her own. Often unhappily. Knowing the kind of resentment that could fester, long-term, she asked, “Would you be okay with losing this venture capital deal because of conditions I put on our arrangement?”
His expression inscrutable, he worked his jaw back and forth. “I’ll find other investors.”
It wasn’t that easy. If it had been, she sensed he would have done this five years ago, when he first took over the family business.
She ignored the quiver, low in her belly, her need to comfort him in a very elemental way. “How long did it take you to interest Metro Equity Partners?”
“Eighteen months or so.”
Which, Sage knew, could feel like a lifetime when you weren’t getting what you wanted. She couldn’t bear to see him disappointed. Not when she was getting everything she wanted—primarily, his baby. “It’s unacceptable for you to have to go back to square one,” she told him firmly.
“It’s just the way it is.” Shouldering the burden stoically, he exhaled. “After all, we’re not talking pennies here.”
She recalled what he had shared with her of the proposal, thus far. “We’re talking six additional stores, opened two months apart, over the course of a year. We’re talking about the many years of work you’ve already put in on this business plan, which is...”
“Four, give or take.”
“Four years.” Sage shook her head in silent remonstration, more determined than ever to make him as happy as he’d made her. “You’re not giving that up. And you’re especially not giving that up on account of me. Got it?”
She tapped his sternum with her index finger.
Vowing softly, “They want you married? We’ll get married. ASAP. And it doesn’t have to change a thing.”
* * *
BUT, OF COURSE, Sage quickly learned, matrimony changed everything, in the blink of an eye. Not only was her mother—who’d been frankly disapproving about Sage’s initial plans to have a baby on her own via artificial insemination—delighted to hear that Sage was carrying Nick’s child, she was even happier when she learned that her daughter was planning to marry him right away.
“That’s wonderful news!” Lucille said, tears shimmering in her eyes as she hugged them both. “But, pregnant or not, you need to do this right—”
Meaning have a big fancy wedding, Sage thought in consternation.
“—and make this a special day reflective of your enduring love for each other,” Lucille finished firmly.
Except, she thought with a wince, that would make the nuptials feel real, and she and Nick knew they weren’t.
At least not the way her mother was assuming, since she hadn’t told Lucille why they were suddenly heading to the altar. And she had made Hope and Garrett promise they wouldn’t, either.
“If you want me to call my event planner,” Lucille continued, already reaching for her phone, “I’ll get right on it.”
Sage gently touched Lucille’s forearm. “Actually, Mom, I think Nick and I want to make all the decisions ourselves.”
“All right,” her mother conceded, smiling at Sage’s rounded tummy. “But if you, or Nick, or the baby need me—”
“We know where to find you,” she promised.
“Well, that went okay,” Nick said, when they left the Circle H Ranch.
Sage savored the intimacy of being alone with Nick. She loved the steadfast way he always backed her up. “Mom’s always up for more grandchildren.” There were four now, and with two of her four siblings married, another engaged, hints of more to soon be on the way.
Looking as if he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, Nick drove the country roads with the same masculine ease he did everything else. “This is going to work out,” he told her reassuringly, then took her hand and kissed the back of it.
Tingling all over for no reason she could figure, Sage looked over at him. “Are you sure you don’t feel trapped?”
He dropped his hold on her hand. “No.” Steering the car over to the berm, he put it in Park and turned to look at her. His glance sifted slowly over her face, lingering on the flush in her cheeks and her bare lips, before returning slowly to her eyes. Sage caught her breath. As their gazes locked, he rubbed a strand of her hair between his fingers. The corners of his lips curved upward. “Do you?”
Insides quivering, Sage took a moment to consider. At times like this, all she wanted to do was make love with him. Maybe because that was the one place where they felt the closest.
“Yes. No. I don’t know?” she said honestly at last, meeting his playful smile with one of her own. Taking off her seat belt, she moved to wrap her arms around his broad shoulders and kiss him. “But if this will help you make all your business dreams come true,” she promised tenderly, wanting to give him as much as he had given her, “I’m all for it...”
“Good to know,” Nick replied, a sexy rumble emanating from his broad chest. Taking her all the way into his arms, he covered her mouth with his own. And though she had promised herself she would keep their relationship in the friends-w
ith-benefits category, it was darn near impossible to hold back the rush of feelings inside her as she melted into his embrace. He kissed her like there was no tomorrow. Only today. Like the future would always belong to them if only she had the courage to see where the relationship between them led.
And for the moment that was enough.
More than enough, she thought wistfully. Their plans to keep their nuptials simple, and under their control, quickly went out the window, however, when they met with MR late the next morning.
“You need a big, splashy, over-the-top romantic wedding. With plenty of photos we can release to the press later, if need be. And we need to get it done in three days,” the venture capital exec said.
To help with that, MR had summoned her assistant, Everett Keller, a nerdy-looking young man who was clad in spit-shined wing tips, neatly pressed slacks with suspenders and a starched purple shirt with a wildly patterned bow tie. He hovered nearby, taking notes on an electronic tablet.
Sage’s eyes widened in shock. “There’s no way we can pull together a wedding in that time frame!”
Nor would she want to do so.
MR arched a perfectly plucked brow. “There is if I call in every favor I’m owed, and you all and your families do the same and we have it at Nick’s ranch.” She paused to let her words sink in while Everett typed furiously. “Saturday evening is perfect.”
Sage and Nick exchanged exasperated looks.
Neither of them liked being railroaded into anything, and MR was being awfully pushy about what was, in the end, a very personal matter.
“Let me put it another way,” the elegant redhead stated bluntly. “The partners meet on Monday to hear the presentation and vote on whether or not to fund the initial phase of Nick’s proposal. I can’t delay the vote on this project without explaining to them why. If I do that, and you’re still not married, it’s over. Done. On the other hand, if you’re married, and wildly in love and expecting a baby, it’s not really going to matter. So you decide. You want it done by Saturday evening? Or not?”
Sage looked at Nick.
Once again he wore that poker face. But just for a second, she had seen that flash of disappointment in his eyes. The look he evidenced every time he hit a roadblock in his plans to expand Monroe’s Western Wear. It was the same look she’d had whenever her own dreams of having a baby incurred another snafu. The one her ex had worn whenever she talked about getting engaged, when Terrence was perfectly content with things the way they were. She was not going to be the reason for Nick’s unhappiness the way she had been with her ex’s.
“We’ll do it,” she said, forcing herself to match MR’s enthusiasm. She turned to Nick, took both his hands in hers and squeezed fiercely. “Just promise me one thing.” She looked deep into his eyes. “All of this won’t damage our friendship.” Because she didn’t think she could live without that.
“Come on now, darlin’.” He gave her a long, searing look, then wrapped an arm around her shoulders and leaned forward to buss the tip of her nose. “You and I both know I would never let that happen.”
She heaved a sigh of relief.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Everett Keller pause in bemusement. Like he couldn’t believe he had to stand around and witness this. MR had an intense, watchful expression on her face, too. Almost as if she were waiting for a time bomb to go off.
Sage hoped it wasn’t Nick.
Splaying both her hands across his broad chest, she relaxed into his easy embrace. Met his eyes. He seemed to be taking this all in stride. But was he really? She drew a deep breath, warned, “Preparing for a wedding, even in a normal amount of time, can be really stressful.”
She only had to recall Terrence’s reaction to their brief engagement to know that.
Nick nodded. Still appearing confident, unperturbed.
So, why, Sage wondered, was she suddenly completely on edge?
Again, MR observed the emotion simmering just beneath the surface and stepped in to assist. “That’s why Everett and I are here,” she soothed. “Not just to help but to make sure that absolutely everything goes according to plan. I promise you both...this is one wedding that will go off without a hitch.”
Chapter Three
Sage snuggled against Nick, luxuriating in the safe, warm feel of his big strong body. “It’s a good thing we’re not getting married today for real, otherwise seeing each other like this would be bad luck.”
“How can seeing each other ever be bad luck?” Nick regarded her with a devilish glint in his blue eyes.
Sage inhaled the unique masculine scent of him. On impulse, she kissed his cheek, found her way to his mouth. “You know what I mean.”
“I do.” He studied her as if he found her as endlessly fascinating as she found him. Stroking a lazy hand down her spine, he confessed huskily, “It’s been a crazy three days.”
“No kidding.” She sighed, her cheek brushing delectably against the sandpapery roughness of his morning beard. She so loved having him in her bed, even though his six-foot-four frame took up so much room they barely fit on the queen-sized mattress.
A problem that, now that she’d entered her second trimester, sometimes left her with a tiny backache. “So many decisions...”
He turned toward her so they had full body contact. Lower still, his hardness pressed against her. “So little time.”
A spark of arousal unfurled deep inside her. “We saved some headaches by delegating a lot of them out.”
MR had arranged for a justice of the peace friend to preside over the civil ceremony. She’d also provided the caterer, tent and chair setup crew—all within the budget Nick and Sage had set. Assembling the guest list and sending out last minute e-invites had gone to the sisters-in-law, Hope and Adelaide, and the seating chart delegated to Chance’s fiancée, Molly. Lucille had been in charge of the flowers and the menu for the reception. While Nick and Sage had selected the DJ and the songs.
This morning, she was going to have the final fitting for her dress—a gown from her cousin Jenna Lockhart’s bridal salon—at her mother’s ranch while Nick picked up his tuxedo. Her brother Wyatt’s wife, Adelaide, was her maid of honor. Nick’s brother, Gavin, was best man.
Nick reached for Sage playfully as the first light of dawn fell through the window blinds of her second-floor apartment. “I think we have time to make love one more time...” He kissed her shoulder.
Sage wished. She eased away and went to find a thick fluffy robe to ward off the chill of the late-January morning. “Actually, we don’t.” Computer tablet in hand, she climbed back into bed. “We haven’t written our vows yet.”
Reluctant, Nick scowled. “Sure you want to do that?” he asked, practical as ever. “Instead of going with the tried and true?”
The thought of promising to love him until death do them part seemed like tempting fate. Sage swallowed. “Given the fact that we’re not...” Her voice trailed off. She didn’t know how to finish without insulting him. Or the connection they shared, which she had to admit pretty much defied description.
He studied her, as determined to understand her as she was him. “In love?”
Sage caught his hand in hers, and pressed it against the center of her chest. “Maybe not in the traditional way, but I do love you, Nick. As a friend. A best friend.”
His expression was as veiled as hers was open. “I adore you, too,” he said softly.
She sensed there was more. Unsure, however, as to whether or not she wanted to hear it, she murmured, “Okay, then, that’s what we need to say.” She settled a pillow across her lap, to use as a desk. Opened up the leather computer tablet case, turned on the attached mini keyboard and logged on.
While she got comfortable, Nick folded his arms behind his head. He lounged against the pillows, his gaze drifting over her lazily.
“There’s no way I can memorize anything this late in the game. I mean, I’m the kid who always flunked the English class assignments where we had to get up and recite a poem.”
Although she was wearing an old-fashioned button-front nightshirt that concealed her baby bump, he was clad only in his boxer briefs. Hence, with the sheet draped low across his abdomen, she had a very nice view of his broad, masculine chest.
Too nice, if she were to remain on task.
“Public speaking pressure?” she teased, turning her gaze away from the sinewy muscle and crisp dark hair that arrowed across his pecs, and narrowed, on the way to the goody trail...
“Procrastinating, and making up excuses, are we?” she taunted.
“Mmm-hmm.”
“Not going to cut it, cowboy,” she retorted sternly. “We have to get this done. Right now.”
His sensual lips compressed as he ran a hand through the tousled layers of his dark hair. “Maybe you should tell me yours.”
“I would. Except I haven’t written mine yet, either.”
His low laughter filled the bedroom. He rubbed a hand beneath the sexy-rough stubble on his jaw. “Aha.”
“But I will now.” Cuddled up in bed, beside him, sitting against the headboard.
He rested his chin on her shoulder. “This should be interesting.”
“I take thee, Nick, for my parent-in-arms?”
He shook his head. “Sounds like we’re forming a club.”
Sage used the mini keyboard to type in some more. “May the joy that brought us together hold us in good stead through the days ahead.”
Nick wrinkled his brow, sexy as ever. “That’s going to have people scratching their heads and saying huh.”
Sage opened a new document window on the screen. “Okay, Smarty-pants. You try.”
He thought a moment. “I don’t know what I did to get you to look my way,” he drawled finally, “but I’m sure grateful you did.”
Sage snickered. “Aren’t those song lyrics?”
Wanted--Texas Daddy Page 3
