Having The Cowboy's Baby. Stella Bagwell

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СКАЧАТЬ was in the foyer when, from behind, a pair of hands snaked around her waist. A gasp rushed past her lips as she spun around to face him.

      “Let me go! Haven’t you insulted me enough for one night?” Her words were pushed through clenched teeth as she tried to wriggle away from his grasp.

      “Hold on a minute, Anne-Marie.”

      His voice was soft and threaded with regret. The sound stilled her and brought her eyes up to his.

      He hurriedly tried to explain. “You’ve jumped to the wrong conclusions. Your father didn’t hire me for anything. Jules is my friend. I only agreed to stay and help you with the horses because he asked me to. I agreed as a favor to him.”

      The grip he had on her waist eased to a warm clasp and Anne-Marie knew she was a fool for responding to it. But she’d never met a man like him before. One that could make her feel fury and passion all at the same time. It was scary.

      “I’m sorry,” she said after a moment. “I shouldn’t have said any of those things to you. But this is all so—embarrassing. My father—it’s obvious he’s trying to manipulate us and I thought you’d agreed to go along with him.”

      Regret twisted his lips. “Forgive me, Anne-Marie. I shouldn’t have reacted the way that I did. But I don’t take too kindly to being called a gigolo.”

      Mortified all over again, Anne-Marie dropped her gaze to the floor. “Believe me, Cordero, I don’t normally say that sort of thing to anyone. But Father has never put me in such an awkward situation before. I really don’t know what he’s thinking—I’m even beginning to worry that he’s getting senile.”

      Cordero could have told her that there wasn’t anything senile about Jules’s mind. Calculating would be more like it, he thought wryly. But as far as he was concerned, the old man’s manipulating was harmless. Even though that kiss he’d stolen in the elevator had jolted him right down to the heels of his boots, Cordero needed to make Anne-Marie see that she was taking this much too seriously.

      “Look, Anne-Marie, we both need to take a deep breath and start over. There’s really no need to make an issue out of this. Even if Jules is trying to maneuver us—we’re adults, we can see through it. It won’t hurt either of us to indulge a sick old man and pretend we’re having a good time together these next few days.” His hands slid gently down her forearms and the act was like brushing his fingers against a bird’s wing. He’d never felt anything so soft, so fragile. “I have a feeling it would make him happy.”

      Anne-Marie didn’t know what to make of his words. Confusion warred with the indignation she was already feeling toward this Texas cowboy who had kissed her as if he owned her. But perhaps he was right. She didn’t want to put any undue stress on her father. And just because he was trying to throw her at Cordero didn’t mean she had to fall into the cowboy’s arms.

      She drew in a troubled breath, then let it out. “I suppose you’re right. But all that talk about taking you to Bourbon Street—that has nothing to do with you helping me with the horses. It was so obvious and humiliating.”

      Cordero suddenly grinned and she felt her stomach flutter as though she’d just swallowed a hummingbird.

      “Actually, I thought your father’s idea was a good one. I’d like for the two of us to make a trip to New Orleans. I’d planned on going anyway before I left for Texas and it would be far more enjoyable to have your company.”

      He was as smooth as water on a windless night, Anne-Marie thought, and just as enticing. If she ever really let her guard down around him, she’d be totally lost.

      Trying not to dwell on that danger, she said, “We’ll see. Right now we’d better go home. Darcella is waiting to serve supper.”

      He silently complied by taking her arm and leading her out of the double doors. By now darkness had fallen and Anne-Marie felt the confines of the car even more with only the dim lights from the dashboard illuminating the small space between them.

      She tried to close her eyes and pretend his long lean body wasn’t there beside her, but his presence was too strong to ignore. The scent of him drifted to her, reminding her of wide-open ranges, sagebrush and wild mustangs. It was a scent that called to her senses and all she could think about was the feel of his lips upon hers, the warm touch of his fingers on her arm.

      The practical part of her wished that he’d never kissed her, but the woman in her was still swooning, still wondering what it would be like if he were to take her into his arms and really kiss her with desire. It was indecent of her to think such things. She didn’t even know the man. Only a few hours had passed since she’d first laid eyes on him. Yet something about him had stirred up ashes in her that she’d believed were stone-cold. She had to find her will to resist.

      “I’m not a doctor, but I thought your father looked pretty good.”

      Cordero’s comment jerked Anne-Marie out of her erotic thoughts. “Yes, I thought so, too. His doctor says he doesn’t think this little flare-up is anything to be concerned about. I think he’s just taking extra precautions with my father’s health.”

      What would she think, he wondered, if she knew Jules had purposely put himself in the hospital so it would force her to play hostess to Cordero? She’d really think the man had gone senile. But Cordero had no intention of giving away his friend’s secret. It would be no gain to any of them and only cause worse feelings all around. “I’m glad,” he said. “Your father is a great guy. He’s always laughing and full of jokes.”

      His remark surprised her. Most young men didn’t have time or patience when it came to dealing with the older generation. Some of them only feigned respect for their elders. Like Ian, she thought bitterly. He couldn’t have cared less about her father. And she’d been stupid for believing that he’d loved Jules anymore than he’d loved her. The guy had only cared about two things. Himself and money.

      “Father has always been full of life. Even after Mama died he managed to hold himself together and find joy in other things. I realize he wants me to be more fun-loving, like him. But I’m just not made that way.”

      Cordero had known for a long time that Jules was a widower. He’d not thought much about that until he’d met Anne-Marie. She was young. Her mother couldn’t have been very old when she’d passed away. And the fact that the two of them had prematurely lost their mothers connected him to her in a way he’d never expected.

      “How long has your mother been gone?” he asked.

      “Sixteen years. I was ten at the time. She died quite suddenly from an aneurysm. For a long time after that Father couldn’t bear to look at the horses. You see, they belonged to Mama. She rode all the time.”

      Cordero heard something more than sadness in her voice; a tinge of bitterness edged her words. It made him wonder exactly what sort of relationship she’d had with her mother. Or maybe she was angry with God for taking away her parent? Maybe losing her mother had more to do with her not entering a convent than her broken affair? He could only guess.

      “And now it’s just you and your father?” he asked quietly. “You don’t have any siblings?”

      Anne-Marie shook her head. “No. I was an only child and Father was never interested in remarrying.”

      “Neither is mine.”

      He СКАЧАТЬ