Welcome to Mills & Boon. Jennifer Rae

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ came from Cassie’s room and met him in the nursery. “Gabe said she has a mild flu. I’ll arrange for some medicine to be delivered as soon as possible. That and a few days’ rest and she should be fine.” She looked at him and smiled. “You don’t seem surprised by the diagnosis.”

      “I’m not,” he replied and held Oliver against his chest. He wasn’t about to explain he’d spent most of the night alternating between the chair in Cassie’s room to make sure he was close by if she needed anything, and the sofa in the living room. If he’d thought it was something more serious than mild influenza he would have bundled her in the car and taken her to hospital. “But I’m pleased she’ll be okay.”

      Lauren gently touched the baby’s head. “You stayed last night?”

      “Of course.”

      She nodded slowly. “Well, I’m glad that you’re here to look after...things. However, we can take Oliver home with us if you—”

      “No,” he said quickly. “That’s not necessary. I’ll stay until Cassie’s feeling better. And I’m sure she’d prefer that Oliver remain here.”

      He thought she might insist, but Lauren only nodded. “You’re probably right. Let me know if you need anything. You have my number.”

      They left a few minutes later and Tanner quickly checked on a restlessly sleeping Cassie before he headed for the kitchen to feed Oliver. He’d become quickly attached to the little guy and was enjoying the time he got to spend with his nephew. Oliver was a placid baby and caring for him made Tanner think about the prospect of having children of his own. One day. He was surprised how much he liked the idea. The ranch could be a lonely place and more so than ever before, he let himself imagine a couple of kids running across the yard to the house and then along the wide verandah. And a woman...a wife. Someone to talk to. Someone with soft skin and warm hands to curl up with at night. Tanner liked that idea, too.

      He’d spent so many years pouring all his energy in his horses, building the ranch and trying to live in the present and forget the past he’d somehow ignored the future. But being with Cassie made him think about it.

      No, he corrected immediately. It was Oliver who got him thinking. Cassie was just... She was just the girl who’d sparked his interest all those years ago on the beach. Being around her brought back those memories, that’s all. He had a handle on his attraction for her. And he’d forget all about it once he went home.

      Only, last night he could have sworn he saw something in her eyes...a look...a connection...and it was something he hadn’t expected. Because she’d loved Doug.

       Which means she can never be mine.

      He shook the feeling off. The less he thought about Cassie being his or anyone else’s, the better. Tanner put the baby down for a nap and then took a quick shower. He dressed back into his jeans and padded barefoot down the hall toward the spare room. He rummaged around and found some of Doug’s clothes hanging in the wardrobe. He pulled out a shirt and slipped it on. It was a little tight in the shoulders and baggy around the waist, but it would do. He stayed in the room for a while and flipped through a few of the boxes. He found his brother’s uniforms neatly packed inside one box and another smaller carton held his medals. Tanner sat for a while, looking at the collection of memories. What would Doug make of him being with Cassie and Oliver? Would his brother be angry? Resentful? Would he eventually have come around to the idea of being a father to Oliver?

      Tanner didn’t think so. Doug liked his freedom. Strange, then, that he’d joined the military. But Tanner understood why. His brother needed the army to give him companionship. And to give him solitude. Within the corridors of discipline and routine he found the family he’d needed. He’d bonded with people who understood him, who were like him, who had his back. Tanner knew his brother had never felt that with his real family. When their parents were killed Doug was already estranged from them. He’d never fit into the life on the farm. He’d never wanted to work the sugarcane and small herd of cattle. Doug had bailed at eighteen and headed for the city, where he worked a succession of transient jobs. After their parents’ accident he returned and reclaimed what he believed was his...and promptly sold off Tanner’s legacy.

      Then came Tanner’s years at boarding school. During that time he learned to despise his brother...and yet still love him. He was family. And family was everything. Despite the repeated betrayals. Despite Doug’s behavior with Leah. Despite the mishandled inheritance. Despite all of it, a part of him still wanted to believe in the idea of brotherhood.

      Tanner ignored the heavy feeling in his chest, folded the box shut and got to his feet. He headed to the kitchen, heated up some soup he found in the pantry and carried a tray into Cassie’s room.

      She was sleeping and he was pleased that the racking cough that had kept her awake for most of the morning had abated for a while. Tanner slipped the tray onto the bedside table and watched her for a moment. She stirred and let out a soft moan. The soft hum of the humidifier he’d found in the nursery cupboard and set up by the bed was the only other sound in the room. He noticed she’d pushed the blanket aside and moved closer to pull the cover back up. She looked peaceful in sleep and as he watched her a strange sensation knocked behind his ribs. For years he’d put her out of his thoughts and programmed himself to not think of her. But when Doug died that changed. He had a blood tie and a responsibility to Oliver. His nephew would never feel what he had when he was a child—alone, abandoned, discarded. He’d always be there for his brother’s son regardless of where he was or what he was doing. Oliver was his only family and family was all that mattered.

       And Cassie?

      She was Oliver’s mother and that was all she could ever be.

      She’d loved Doug. Wanted Doug. Borne his child. Which meant she was off-limits. Despite how being around her messed with his head, his libido and his heart. His attraction to Cassie would fade once he returned to South Dakota and got back to his regular life. He’d put her from his mind before. He could do it again.

      One thing he knew for sure...he wasn’t about to fall in love with her.

      Not a chance.

       Chapter Five

      When Cassie awoke it was dark outside. She knew she’d been drifting in and out from sleep and wakefulness for several hours. Or was it days? Her head and throat still hurt but she sensed the fever that had taken hold so quickly had mostly left her body.

      She pushed back the covers and eased herself into a sitting position. The bedside lamp was on and she heard the gentle hum of the humidifier from somewhere in the room. The digital clock read 6:45 p.m. but she had no idea what day it was. She looked down and noticed the cotton pajamas she wore. They were pale lemon and had silly-looking cats on them. Cassie didn’t remember changing her clothes. Didn’t remember much of anything, really. Only a deep voice that had given her an easy comfort as she’d shifted in and out of sleep, and then someone pressing a glass to her lips so she could have some water. Then she remembered another voice, female and familiar. Lauren. Her friend had been looking after her. Of course, it could only have been Lauren.

      Cassie swung her legs off the bed. The house was quiet. Too quiet.

       Oliver...

      Where was her baby? Panic crept over her skin for a second, and then she realized he must be with her friend. Cassie forced herself to stand, and when her СКАЧАТЬ