by Cora Seton
“I’ll understand if you don’t want to sleep with me tonight.” He hesitated in front of the guest room door and leaned against the frame. He was such a handsome sight, even concerned as he was. He still held her hand and as she fought for words, he caressed it with his thumb. Hannah struggled against the surge of desire deep within her.
He was right. Her mind told her to pull away from him, crawl into her bed alone and think over this whole debacle, but if she did she wouldn’t be able to lie to Holt tomorrow, and the truth was, she’d miss Jake.
“I’d prefer to sleep with you,” she said quietly. “But…” She meant to say she wanted to only sleep with him, not make love. There was no way she’d take any more chances with him, not while he was ripping condoms and talking marriage. Maybe, just maybe, they could find a way to be together long term, but they couldn’t fall back into bed until they had things on a solid footing.
Before she could finish her sentence, however, Jake pulled her close, tipped her head back and kissed her thoroughly. As usual, all her other thoughts scattered when he was so close. There was just Jake—the strength of his arms, the scent of his soap, the clear intent behind his kisses. To seduce her. To tumble her onto the bed. To make love to her as only he could.
“Thank God,” he said when they pulled apart to catch their breath. “I didn’t think I’d make it through the night if you hated me for what I’ve done.”
“I don’t hate you but I don’t trust you either.” She fought for clarity. For common sense. “To deliberately rip a condom…”
He flinched back. “Is that what you think? That I did it deliberately?”
“Why hide the evidence if you didn’t?”
“I panicked. When I saw the state of it I couldn’t believe it. I thought you’d leave…I wanted to keep you around long enough to explain.” She searched his face, trying to decide whether or not he was telling the truth. “Hell,” he said when she didn’t answer. “You really don’t trust me.”
“Why should I? I barely you know you. The second time we make love the condom breaks. That’s never happened to me before.”
“It’s never happened to me either.” Jake touched her. “And I would never do something like that deliberately. If we get serious and decide to have a family, I want to make that decision together. I want us to talk about it.” He took her hands. “Hell, I want the fun of trying to make you pregnant on purpose.” He pulled her in for a kiss and Hannah blinked, heat surging through her at the idea of how much fun that could be. Someday. Not right now, but… “You don’t really think you’re pregnant, do you? I mean, I know it’s possible, but what are the odds?”
She shrugged.
“I would never hurt you. You have to believe that.” Jake gathered her closer. His arms around her made it difficult for her to think. She was still picturing Jake making her pregnant…
“I guess.” She leaned against him.
“Come on.” He scooped her up into his arms and kicked the bedroom door open. He tumbled her down onto her bed and followed her, rolling her back into his arms as soon as they were both prone. He didn’t waste words before sweeping her into another long kiss, one that left her senses reeling. She gave up fighting him and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back, instead. What did it matter if she made love to him again? The die was already cast. She planned to stay with him for thirteen more nights.
Might as well make the most of it.
She let him peel her clothing off of her, and when they were naked his hands left trails of heat up and down her skin. This time he lay back and urged her to climb on top of him. She did, gladly. She bent forward to slide her breasts across his chest and he caught her and pulled her forward to take one nipple into his mouth. Hannah sighed with pleasure as he took his time lavishing his attention on both breasts. Soon she was rocking her hips and enjoying the feel of his hardness between her legs.
She was already slick with need for him. Soon enough she was opening to him, begging him with her body to press inside her and start the climb toward ecstasy. When he paused to put a condom, on he took longer than usual and she realized he was checking it carefully to make sure it wouldn’t fail them like the time before.
She didn’t care anymore. She was already too far gone.
“Ready?” He gripped her hips, fingers splayed toward her ass. Hannah lifted herself on her knees and positioned herself to give him access. His powerful hands guiding her down onto him made the sensation that much better. When she started to move with him, he kept his hand where it was and used the other to draw her down to a hard kiss. Wild with need she sunk and rose, sliding him far inside of her and out again. Her breath came in pants, her thigh muscles tensing, releasing and tensing again.
“I could watch you forever.” Jake’s eyes shone up at her. He was clearly taken with the sway of her breasts and her own gaze watching him. She braced her hands to either side of his shoulders when he slid his hands down to grip her ankles.
Now he could plunge deep inside her and although she rode him, he was calling the shots. Hannah didn’t care. She was too close to sliding over the edge of her release to think of anything but the sensations of her body. The grip of his fingers, the friction of their joining, the bob of her breasts against his chest. A few minutes later he brought her to a release that shook her to her fingertips and she cried out his name. He grunted, thrusting hard within her, and urged her to even higher heights. Hannah cried out again and again and Jake shuddered within her, gripping her tight. Afterward they didn’t talk much, but Jake wrapped a possessive arm around her and held her close as he fell asleep.
How would she be able to give up these nights when her two weeks were over? How could she make any plans that would take her away from this man?
Hannah pushed the uncomfortable questions away, determined to savor every minute she was here.
‡
Chapter Ten
“If she’s pregnant, she’ll marry you quick enough,” Holt pronounced at lunch time the following day. The family was gathered around the table at the main house. Jake helped himself to a slice of ham and put it between two thick slices of bread to form a man-sized sandwich. He wondered what Hannah was eating for lunch at work. She’d been quiet this morning as she hurried to get ready. When she’d stopped to make the bed he helped her, remembering how prickly she’d been when he tried to thank her for cleaning up his mess the day before. Then he trailed behind her as she cruised through the rest of the house straightening the pillows on the couch and making sure all the dishes in the sink were done. She was a lot neater than he was, that was for sure. He kind of liked it.
“I don’t know about that.”
“Of course she will. What else would she do?”
“Times have changed,” Lisa said. “A girl can do whatever she wants to now.”
“She’s going to Montana State,” Jake said.
“When do classes start?” Lisa passed him the platter of ham.
“End of January.”
“She won’t go to school if she’s pregnant,” Holt assured him. “No woman would do that.”
Lisa gave an exasperated sigh. “This isn’t the Middle Ages, Holt. No one cares if women are pregnant. They do what they like. Half of them don’t have husbands.”
“Damn fools,” Holt said.
“If she doesn’t marry Jake, her baby won’t be a Matheson,” Ned put in, stirring things up as usual. Jake shot him a dirty look that Ned ignored.
“You mind your own business,” Lisa said to him. “Jake’s got trouble enough without you giving him more to worry about.”
“Jake’s going to be a daddy,” Ned said. “An unwed daddy. What’ll they say at church?”
“You’ll never know since you never attend,” Lisa said. “Besides, Hannah wouldn’t have cooked such a fabulous dinner for us all last night if she wasn’t in love with you, Jake.”
Holt snorted.
Lisa eyed him. “What’s wrong with you?”
<
br /> “I’m surprised a woman like Hannah knows how to cook or clean at all. She cut some corners on that dinner, too. Frozen pizza for appetizers? And that refrigerator was a mess.”
Jake dropped his fork. It hit his plate with a clang. “She worked all day, Dad. I don’t see you cleaning and cooking when you’re done out in the barn.”
“That’s why I have a wife. A damn fine one, too.” He lifted his glass to Lisa.
“Now, I’ve always loved this life and I’m fine with the way we split the chores,” Lisa said to him. “But Hannah’s a whole other kettle of fish. She’ll have her own ways of doing things. She and Jake will have to work them out.”
“She and Jake can learn from our example,” Holt countered. “Men and women are different and they’re naturally called to different things.”
“How the hell do you stand him?” Jake asked his mother.
Lisa chuckled. “I don’t listen to half of what he says, and I ignore the rest.”
“That’s good advice.” Jake stood up to take his leave. Lisa followed him to the front hall.
“Don’t mind your father,” she said. “It’s Hannah you have to worry about. What do you plan to do?”
“What can I do? It’s all up to her now. She knows what I want.”
“I don’t think leaving everything up to Hannah is a good idea. Do you love this girl?”
“Yes.”
“Then you’ll have to push your cause. If she’s about to start school, she’s probably not planning to get married or have children right now. On the other hand, if she is pregnant, she may not have a choice about having a child. Not one she’s likely to take, anyway. Am I right?”
He nodded.
“So why don’t you take this opportunity to show her how it can all work out.”
“How can it all work out?”
“The same way things always work out,” Lisa told him. “By working hard, by making accommodations for each other. By asking your family for help.”
Jake shoved his hands in his pockets. Asking his family for help. Yeah, right. If he did that, his father would make sure he ruined everything and his brothers would stab him in the back. At least Ned would. When had his family ever come to his aid? For as long as could remember, Holt had bribed him with the promise that he’d one day head the ranch. That day had never come. Now he had Hannah in his sights, Holt seemed determined to drive her away. “I don’t see how it’s possible.”
“You better start seeing how. You don’t have much time to change her mind.”
At five-thirty, Bella ushered her last client out of the examining room. She lingered while he paid his bill and carried his cat out of the clinic, then shut and locked the front door behind him.
“Okay, spill it,” she said to Hannah. She leaned on the counter and watched as Hannah turned her computer off and gathered her things.
“What do you mean?”
“What is going on? You haven’t been yourself all day.”
Hannah thought about telling a white lie and leaving quickly, but she knew that wouldn’t help matters any. “You won’t believe it.”
“I bet I will. Come here.” Bella gestured toward the waiting room. She took a seat on a plastic chair and leaned back. “Start at the beginning.”
Hannah joined her. “There’s good news and bad news.” She wiped her suddenly damp palms on her slacks. “I applied to Montana State and got in. I start classes in February.”
Bella’s eyes went wide. “You’re going to graduate school? You never said anything!”
“It isn’t exactly graduate school. I have to take a few extra classes this semester before I can apply for the grad program I want.”
“That’s great, Hannah. Don’t worry, we’ll figure out your hours and everything. I’m so proud of you. What are you going to study?”
Hannah felt a blush creep up her neck. She knew it was silly, but sometimes when she’d pictured telling Bella, she wondered if her friend would think she was copying her. “After I’m done with my preparatory classes, I’d like to go to veterinary school.”
Bella leaped from her seat with a whoop and came to hug Hannah. “Oh, my goodness. I’m thrilled. We desperately need more vets! We’ll be able to be business partners someday!”
“Really?” Hannah’s voice broke. “I didn’t know if you’d be mad.”
“Mad? You’re kidding, right? I can’t wait!” Bella hugged her again and tears of relief pressed against Hannah’s eyes. She tried to hold them back.
Failed.
“Hannah! Hannah, what’s wrong? Is it the money?”
Hannah shook her head vigorously.
“What is it?” Bella crouched down beside her.
“I screwed up. Big time.” Hannah’s tears fell faster. She dropped her head into her hands. “I slept with Jake.”
“Okay, you slept with Jake. That’s… kind of nice, isn’t it?” Bella asked. “I’ve seen how he looks at you. He likes you. Did he do something?”
“He proposed!” Hannah wailed. “He wants to get married and have kids…”
Understanding dawned on Bella’s face. “His timing wasn’t so great. But that’s okay, you can be with him and wait on the kids, can’t you?”
Hannah shook her head again. “The condom… it broke…”
“Oh, honey,” Bella swept her into another hug. “Sweetie, oh, I’m so sorry. But you can’t know yet that anything’s happened. You won’t know for a while. Chances are that everything will be fine. You’ll just be more careful in the future, right? Aren’t you on the Pill?”
“No. I’d been having issues, so I went off them a few months back. I have a doctor’s appointment next month to try another kind…” She dragged her sleeve across her face and shrugged. “I guess it’s too little, too late.”
“What did Jake say?”
“He wants to marry me—right away.”
“Well, that’s… good,” Bella said. “At least Jake loves you and wants the child, if there is one.”
“This is all happening way too fast.”
“Okay, first of all, congratulations on your acceptance to Montana State. Whatever happens, you’ll do a great job there and you’ll be a great veterinarian. Second, until you know whether you’re pregnant or not, you don’t have to do anything as far as Jake’s concerned. Just try to relax and focus on other things for a few weeks. If you do turn out to be pregnant, you still have plenty of time to make decisions, right?”
“I guess so. But Jake wants an answer in two weeks.”
“Too bad. He’ll just have to wait. This is an important decision, Hannah. You have to think it through.” She stood up. “Come on, let’s go give the animals in back a little love while we talk.”
Hannah nodded and followed her to the shelter at the back of the clinic. Bella stopped at a kennel in which an older mutt lay chewing on a bone. “Where will you go for vet school? To Colorado like I did?”
“I’ll go wherever I get in,” Hannah said. “You know what the competition for spaces is like.”
Bella nodded. “I do know. Can I ask a personal question?”
“Sure.” Hannah waggled her fingers through the bars of a cage where a tan puppy lay curled in a fluffy ball. She loved this guy. If she had her own place she’d adopt him in a heartbeat.
“How are you going to pay for school?”
“I have a little savings to get started,” she said. “Enough to cover spring semester. I’m going to pick evening and weekend courses and still work as much as possible. Then there’s financial aid and scholarships. I’ve already got a bunch to apply for.”
“No.” Bella said, petting the mutt’s floppy ears. “Forget it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, you’re not going to work full time, go to school full time and try to fit in all those hours of homework, too.”
“I’ll manage just fine. Everyone does.”
“No, you won’t. Because I’m offering you the first Bella Mortimer F
ull-Ride Scholarship for veterinary students.”
Hannah’s mouth dropped open and for one second her heart surged with hope. Just for one second, though. Nearly as quickly, reality set in. She shook her head. “No way. I’m not taking your money.”
“You know, I’d buy that line in any other situation than this one,” Bella said. “I mean, if I was some random friend of yours who offered to pay for school out of the goodness of my heart, you’d be right to turn me down and pay your own way. That’s not the case here, though, is it? First of all, I wouldn’t have won so much money if you hadn’t signed me up for the reality show. I should pay your way for the rest of your life. Second, I wouldn’t have married a man who’s even richer than me if you hadn’t signed me up for that show. So I should doubly pay your way for the rest of your life. In fact,” she grew serious, “I’ve been trying to figure out how to do just that, Hannah.” She reached for her hand. “I owe you everything. I can’t carry that burden forever. I’ve been talking to lawyers about how to set up a trust for you. Just let me pay for your schooling. It’ll be so much simpler.”
“No.” Hannah shook her head. “I can’t do that. It’s wrong. It’s weird!”
“Um… we passed weird a long time ago, sweetie. Billionaire.” She pointed to herself. “How weird is that? Please don’t make this weirder than it needs to be.”
Hannah thought a moment. Bella was right, not that she’d signed her up for the show in order to profit off it; she’d only wanted her friend to be able to hold onto the clinic so they’d both have a job. But Bella did win and she did marry Evan, and there was a bit of strain between them now that Bella had so much money and Hannah… didn’t. “Okay,” she nodded. “You pay for my school and we’ll be quits, okay?”
“Sure thing.” Bella grinned.
Hannah narrowed her eyes, but let the subject slide.
