by Sara Orwig
When they emerged from the plane, his heart skipped a beat as he looked at Claire. Wearing a black knee-length coat with a thick fur collar and cuffs, black slacks and black heels, she looked like a model. A cold December wind blew, causing her hair to swirl across her cheek. She still could set his pulse racing and capture his attention far too easily for his own good. Cody was almost bouncing with each step and Nick suspected the boy was wound up with excitement. Wearing a bright blue parka and khakis, he held his tiger under one arm and the monkey under the other.
Nick walked out to meet them and picked up Cody and gave him a hug. “I’m so glad to see you,” he said, carrying him and smiling at him. Cody grinned in return, wrapping one thin arm around Nick’s shoulder.
“I’ve been counting the minutes,” Nick said lightly.
“So has he. The plane was as big a hit as the limo,” she said, smiling up at Nick. “He’s so excited. This is all new to him. We don’t travel. That’s one thing about the real estate business—it’s better business if I stay home.”
“That I know. You look great, Claire.”
“Thanks. Grandma said to thank you again. She really appreciated your call and asking her yourself to come with us. Thanks also from me.”
“I’d be happy to have her here to meet my family.”
“I take it your dad adjusted.”
Laughing, Nick nodded. “I took a lesson from you and put Cody’s picture in front of him as I told him. My parents are overcome with delight at being grandparents. To them, Cody looks just like me at that age and they are ecstatic. I haven’t seen them like this many times in my life. They can’t wait to meet you, too.”
She nodded but her smile never reached her eyes. He knew she was worried and wished there was something he could do to alleviate her concern.
“They can’t wait to see Cody. If it’s acceptable with you, we’ll stop by for just a few minutes. I promise we won’t stay.”
“That’s fine. We’re here for your family to get to know Cody, so see any of them you want. They’re his grandparents, Nick.”
“Thanks,” he said, wondering how she truly felt toward all of them. “They’re all happy to learn about Cody and they all think he looks like me, which of course, I like to hear.” When they climbed into the limo, they both focused on Cody, who seemed as interested in the interior as he’d been on the first ride.
At his parents’ home, the driver slowed to park at the front door on the wide circular drive. Wearing their coats, his parents waited on the porch and came forward to greet them.
“Claire, meet my parents, Judge Peter Milan and Evelyn Milan. Mom and Dad, this is Claire Prentiss and this is our son and your grandson, Cody Nicholas Prentiss.”
Cody shyly said hello and put his hand out to shake hands with Judge Milan. Nick knew his father would be impressed.
His mom hugged Claire lightly. “This is the most special moment,” she said, dabbing at her eyes, and Nick wondered how Claire felt. Too many times he could not read her expression and this was another one of those times because she had that cool, shuttered look, as if she had locked away her feelings and was going through the motions.
“It’s nice for Cody to know his family,” Claire said.
“You can’t imagine how much he looks like Nick did at that age,” Evelyn said.
“Welcome to the family,” Peter Milan said, extending his hand to Claire.
“Thank you, Judge Milan,” Claire said, smiling at him, another cool smile that kept up a barrier, but Nick doubted if his father realized it. “It’s Cody whom I hope you’ll welcome into the family.”
“We’re thrilled beyond anything you can imagine,” he said easily. “And what a fine boy he is. Hard to realize he’s just three years old because he acts older.”
“He’s with adults all the time,” Claire answered.
“Come inside. I hear you’ve built up that business your grandfather had to an impressive size,” Judge Milan said to her.
Nick knew his dad could pour on the charm when he wanted. With a twinge of amusement he wondered how happily his parents would have accepted a rowdy little boy who looked like Claire and bore no resemblance to the Milans. He suspected it might have made very little difference, because they were almost deliriously happy to have a grandchild. He knew his mother had been devastated by Karen’s death, but now he realized a lot of her grief had included the tiny baby Nick had lost.
They sat in the less formal family room and Nick was certain it was for Cody’s benefit because this room had always been childproof. His father sat close to Claire, and Nick was certain that his dad was determined to win her friendship.
“Cody,” Nick’s mother said, “we have a present for you.” From one side of her chair she picked up a big box that was wrapped and tied in a huge red bow.
Cody’s eyes sparkled, but before he moved he glanced at Claire, who nodded, and only then did he cross the room to open his present.
“Mama, look,” Cody said, holding up a magic kit. He removed the big, black top hat and put it on his head. He smiled at Evelyn Milan. “Thank you very much.”
“You’re welcome, Cody.”
He turned to the judge. “Thank you, sir.”
“Cody, come here,” Judge Milan said. When Cody walked over, he leaned forward and gave him a level look. “I’d like you to think about what you want to call us, and talk to your mama and daddy about it. We’re your grandparents, so we need to get the right name.”
“Yes, sir,” Cody said, looking at Nick.
“We’ll figure that one out later, Cody. Now, come look at your magic box,” Nick said.
Cody ran back to the box to rummage in it and pull out the cape, which he put on.
Evelyn clapped. “Excellent, Cody. You look like a magician. You need your magic wand,” she said.
They spent an hour with his parents before Nick asked Cody to put away his magic kit because they needed to go.
As they drove away, his parents stood waving and Claire and Cody waved in return. “I think they matched my own family’s enthusiasm for Cody,” Claire said.
“Believe me, it’s sincere. It’s beyond anything I dreamed. Whatever we work out in the future, you and Cody have instantly become members of the family, so I hope you like the Milans.”
“I’ve met Madison. I haven’t met Tony or Wyatt.”
“The whole world likes Wyatt. He’s quiet, but not as quiet as he used to be before he married. You’ll like Tony, too. They all want to meet Cody. Just now with my folks, Cody was a hit, which I knew he would be. Mom would have loved him no matter what, unless he had been a hellion, but my dad was impressed and so pleased. I know how to read the signs.”
“The magic kit is a hit, that’s for sure. You can teach him the tricks.”
“Claire, I’ve been counting the minutes. I’m glad you’re here. We’ll go by my house, eat lunch there and then fly to the ranch in Verity. We can do a little shopping before we leave Verity—get Cody some cowboy clothes. He doesn’t have any boots, does he?”
“No, he doesn’t and he’ll be thrilled. You’re doing all the right things.”
“I want to do all the right things for his mom, too,” Nick said.
“You’re doing pretty good at that, too,” she said, but her voice sounded somber, as if she wished he wouldn’t bother trying to please her. Was she still angry with him? Or was she just trying to avoid getting friendly enough to fall in love again? He had no idea what Claire’s thoughts were. She had a big part of herself locked away, causing him to worry about their dealings. He knew his dad was going to push him to marry Claire. Now he just had to keep his dad from trying to push Claire, because that would only make matters worse.
They went to Nick’s house and when they arrived he gave them a tour. The house was only slightly l
arger than Claire’s, set back on a lot with tall trees, fountains in front of the house, a spacious patio and a fenced area with a swimming pool in the back. “Claire, I’ve had an alarm installed in the pool and it already had a fence. If anything over a few pounds goes into the pool, the alarm will sound. So there’s no way Cody can wander out there and fall in without us knowing.”
She stared at the pool that was surrounded by a high, iron fence. She turned to him.
“Thanks, Nick, I feel much better about that because he’ll be with you sometimes when I’m not and that’s one worry I won’t have.”
“I don’t want you to have any worries about Cody being with me,” Nick said, glancing at his son who was digging through his box of magic tricks as they stood in an informal sitting room that overlooked the patio.
“I have a staff, but I’ve given them the rest of this week off since we’re going to the ranch—at least, they’re off until Saturday when we return. My cook and the head of my cleaning staff are at the ranch today. There should be lunch left here for us,” he said. “I’ll get it on, and after we eat we’ll fly to Verity.”
“I’ll help. Cody is happy with his present.”
As soon as they stepped into his kitchen she stopped. “Nick, when did you get the booster seat for Cody?”
“I called my secretary and told her what I needed and she ordered it for me. It’ll do, won’t it?”
“Of course, it’ll do,” Claire said, smiling, and Nick couldn’t resist moving closer.
“At least it got a smile out of you and that makes it worth the expense and trouble. Claire, I want this to be good from your viewpoint, too.”
Her smile disappeared as she gazed intently at him. “I’m trying to cooperate and I know we have to work something out between us. You’ve been good, and believe me, I appreciate it.”
He hugged her lightly, trying to give her an impersonal, casual hug of reassurance that he meant what he said and he hoped to avoid hurting her. But the moment she was in his arms, he became aware of her soft curves pressed against him, of the exotic perfume she wore that was the faintest of scents, yet enticing. Locks of her silky hair touched his cheek. Desire swept him, sudden and unexpected, shaking him to his core. He stood still, trying to keep control. He thought back on how they used to flirt, tease each other and have fun together. That was gone. Now he intended to keep her from worrying and to be friendly with her. And “friendly” meant no kissing.
He stepped away. “Okay?”
“Sure, Nick.”
“I mean, am I okay? I’m trying to do what you’d like.”
“You’re fine,” she said, giving him a smile that made him feel better.
“Let’s get lunch on before a hungry kid shows up.”
“With that magic kit he won’t think about food for another hour. Food comes way down on his list of fascinating things in life.”
After holding her close, wanting to kiss her, Nick was acutely aware of her moving around him, brushing past him, their hands meeting as she handed him a dish. This week would be wonderful in so many ways, but tense and difficult in others. He needed to remember to resist Claire, as well as guard his heart. Could he do that when he would be with her constantly?
Eight
Claire looked out the plane window at the rolling land spread below. Mesquite trees, some brown, some still a dull, winter green, were bent by the prevailing south winds coming across Texas from the Gulf of Mexico. It was a view different from the area around Houston.
She glanced at Nick, who was poring over the magic book with Cody while Cody held a string of brightly colored scarves tied together and tried to stuff them into the hat. She never dreamed how much his family would like Cody and like being grandparents.
It was also easy to see that Judge Milan wanted her to marry Nick and wanted it badly. She could imagine he saw her as the perfect wife now for Nick. Marrying would smooth away any scandal about Cody’s birth and help Nick in his career. She suspected Judge Milan would start his campaign to sway her as soon as possible.
But for Claire, the most worrisome thing was her intense physical reaction to Nick. When he had taken her into his arms for just a casual hug, her heart thudded and her breath caught. Seduction would only add to their problems and she intended to guard against it, even though it seemed to grow more difficult each hour she spent with Nick.
“Here’s Verity,” Nick said when the plane banked and she saw a town below.
She gazed out the window at this town she had heard about, but had only been through without stopping when Nick had taken her to his family’s ranch years earlier. At that time he didn’t have his own ranch, but the family ranch had been vacant the weekend they went, so they had it to themselves and Nick had been far more relaxed than any other time she had been with him.
Shortly, they rode in Nick’s car down a wide street. In downtown Verity Christmas lights and wreaths were strung on lampposts and it seemed as if the whole town was decorated for the holidays. Nick parked at the back of the sheriff’s office and they went inside where a small, lighted Christmas tree stood in the lobby.
They waited until the sheriff came to the front, and the minute she saw the man’s blue eyes and brown hair, so like Nick’s and Cody’s, she knew he had to be a Milan. This was Wyatt, she realized. His features were far more rugged than Nick’s, who had the appealing looks of a handsome movie star.
Wyatt’s ready smile was as inviting as his brother’s. “It’s really good to meet you, Claire. I’ve heard about you and now about Cody. I’m an uncle. Wow.” He turned to shake hands with Cody, who looked awed by Wyatt’s uniform.
“This is your Uncle Wyatt, Cody,” Nick said. “He’s the sheriff.”
“Cody, would you like to look around?” Wyatt asked. “Want to see the jail?”
Cody nodded, and Claire smiled because for one of the rare moments in his life, her son was suddenly shy. Nick took Cody’s hand. “C’mon, we’ll look at the jail.”
“As thrilling as that is going to be,” Claire said, “I’ll leave the males to tour and I’ll go shopping. Nick, I have my phone and you have my number. Wyatt, where’s a good store for jeans?”
“Try The Plaza. I’m not the best to ask about women’s jeans.” He turned to one of his officers seated behind a desk. “Dwight?”
“The Plaza is a good one. So is Dorothy’s.”
“There you go,” Wyatt said, and smiled. “Dwight will give you directions. When you’re through, meet us at the drugstore across the street next door to the hotel. I’ll get Cody a soda if he wants one and if that’s all right?”
“Yes, it is with me. You can ask him if he wants one.”
She left as she heard Cody say, “Yes, sir.”
All the time she tried on jeans, she was aware she would be wearing them around Nick. On impulse, she bought a shirt to match.
It was over an hour later when she entered the drugstore to find the men and Cody seated at a round table in old-fashioned ice-cream-parlor chairs. A fire burned in a potbellied stove in the center of the big room and a lighted Christmas tree stood in the window. As she walked to them, she was aware of Nick’s steady gaze on her. He came to his feet along with Wyatt.
“Please be seated,” she said. “Looks as if everyone’s had a soda.”
“Best in the West,” Nick said, smiling. “Love these sodas. Can I get you one?”
“I’ll pass, but thank you. Cody, are they really the best?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, licking his lips and everyone laughed. “Mama, Uncle Wyatt gave me a badge.” Cody turned in his chair and she leaned down to look at a gold star that resembled Wyatt’s badge and said Verity Junior Sheriff.
“That’s great. I hope you thanked him.”
“I did,” Cody said as he shot a big grin Wyatt’s way.
/>
She smiled at Wyatt, too. “Uncle Wyatt, you’re already on his favorite relative list, I’m sure.”
“I hope so,” Wyatt answered easily.
“Dad bought me boots and a hat,” Cody said.
“Well, you will be all fixed up with your boots and junior sheriff badge and hat,” she said, certain Cody would love every minute of this trip. Even though Cody’s reasons would be far more simple, was she going to be pressured by her son to marry Nick?
They sat and talked for another half hour until Nick pushed back his chair. “I think we’ll head to the ranch now, Wyatt.”
They walked back to the sheriff’s office and in minutes Nick was driving south out of Verity.
As Nick wound up the drive to the sprawling ranch house, she wondered about his life. “Do you ever stay out here, Nick?”
“Not much. I don’t have time to, but someday I hope to retire early and live here because I love it. Ranching is ingrained in our family. You can’t pry my youngest brother Tony off his ranch. Wyatt loves it and will go back to living on his ranch when his term as sheriff ends. He took on that job as a favor to a lot of people, but that’s not his deal. Madison lives on a ranch now with her husband, Jake Calhoun, but before she married Jake, she lived on the family ranch a good part of the year and painted there. We all love the cowboy life.”
“I’d think you’d arrange a little more time for it, then. If you can’t work this into your life, how are you going to fit Cody in?” she asked, wondering whether Nick was actually going to want much time with Cody when they got right down to figuring out a schedule.
With a quick glance, Nick gave her a startled look. “I’ll try to give Cody top priority,” Nick answered. His voice was quiet, his tone somber. Was he just facing reality about how much time his political career would take away from a family?
She looked at his profile, his firm jaw, prominent cheekbones, handsome features, thickly lashed eyes. Nick was the best-looking Milan of all those she had met. Probably the best-looking man she had ever met at all. Or was she biased because of personal feelings? She couldn’t answer her own question.