His Child

by Delores Fossen

  “You’ve had your life turned upside down. You’re allowed to cry after everything you’ve been through.”

  “Maybe. But I’ve never been fond of people who boo-hoo all over the place.” She rolled out of his embrace, landing on the mattress beside him. “I’ll try not to do it again.”

  “I’m the one who needs to say I’m sorry. I had no right to accuse you of trying to get that trust fund.”

  She turned her head toward him and frowned. “You’re being nice again. I’d rather you didn’t do that right now.”

  He shifted on the bed, rolling on his side. “I have to be nice. It might make up for what I just did. I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

  Jessie chuckled, but the sound was filled with nerves. “No, but I’ll bet you have sore ribs. Sorry about elbowing you.”

  “I deserved it. It’s just that when I heard you on the phone with your friend—”

  “And he’s just that,” she interrupted. “I felt like I needed to tell someone before I lost my mind.”

  He couldn’t help but notice the slight tremble of her bottom lip. It wasn’t a good thing for him to notice. It reminded him of how vulnerable she must feel. Of how vulnerable she was. It reminded him of other things, too. It reminded him of her mouth.

  Before he could talk himself out of it, Jake leaned over her. Closer to her.

  Immediately, there was a startled look in her eyes. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  A good question. Too bad he didn’t have a good answer. “I’m muddying the waters.” Jake dipped his head lower, intending to kiss her. He changed his mind on the way down and brushed his mouth against her earlobe. Jessie shivered, a tiny sound coming from deep within her throat.

  All right. Since he’d already done something insane and since she seemed to enjoy it, there seemed to be no way to stop him. This time he nuzzled the little area just below her ear, dampened it slightly with the tip of his tongue and then blew his breath over the same spot.

  Jessie whimpered.

  Another all right. She responded the way his body wanted her to respond. Obviously disgusted with him, his brain had apparently already shut itself off.

  Jake went from her ear to her cheek, making the journey one long, slow kiss. She tasted good. Like something forbidden. Like something necessary.

  Like Jessie.

  He suddenly needed her mouth and took it, twisting and knotting his fingers through her hair so he completely controlled the movement of her head. The overly soft mattress shifted, easing him farther over, until he was nearly on top of her. Jessie didn’t resist him. Just the opposite. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him even closer. Apparently she intended to muddy some waters, as well.

  “Is this uncomfortable for you?” he asked. He was practically on top of her. A place he darn sure shouldn’t be, especially considering his body was now as hard as granite. She seemed so small. Fragile.

  And his.

  But she wasn’t his by a long shot.

  Her voice was soft and feathery. Hardly any substance. The voice of an aroused woman. “I wish it were uncomfortable.”

  His eyebrow rose.

  “If it were,” she explained. “Then, I could ask you to move.”

  So Jessie wouldn’t give him an out. If there was to be an out, it would have to come from him. Jake was about a hundred percent sure he wouldn’t stop. He proved that to himself when he kissed her again and reached for her top.

  The loose fabric didn’t give him much resistance, either, when he caught the scooped neck and eased it down. No bra. He knew there wouldn’t be. There was only woman beneath, and he lowered the top until he could see her breasts. Creamy white. Small and well shaped. Perfect.

  He met her gaze and saw his need mirrored in her shimmering gray eyes. Jake used his tongue to wet his fingertips and slipped them over her nipples. Pleasing her. Pleasing himself.

  Her mouth opened. Her hips arched slightly, seeking him, but he dodged what would have been a well-placed nudge. He couldn’t have her do that, yet. His restraint would go to hell in a handbasket if she touched him that way.

  “This is really crazy,” she whispered.

  You bet it was. As crazy as it got. He was doing some heavy foreplay with a woman he shouldn’t be playing with. Of course, his body didn’t care about that. Jake figured in a minute or two, he wouldn’t care, either. He wanted her breasts. In his mouth. And he didn’t want to stop there.

  Jake lowered his head and brushed the tip of his tongue over one of her dusky rose-colored nipples. Her eyes glazed over, and her back bowed, thrusting her breasts higher so he could easily take her nipple into his mouth.

  He did.

  When his lips closed around the hard bud and his tongue circled it, drawing it deeply into his mouth, she bucked beneath him. He wasn’t able to dodge her this time. The woman was good. She managed to locate the hardest part of his body with the softest part of hers. It was like striking a match. There was heat. Fire. Jake hissed through his teeth and looked down at her.

  “You’re making me crazy,” she mumbled.

  Yes, and she was returning the favor.

  Jessie caught his arm when he slid lower and kissed her stomach. Somehow, he managed to focus so he could see her eyes. Her beautiful gray eyes. She didn’t say anything, but he could see the struggle going on inside her head. Jake struggled too, but this need, these feelings that gnawed away at him overpowered any doubts.

  Since his heartbeat was drumming in his ears, at first he thought he was hearing things. When Jessie’s eyes widened, he knew that he wasn’t. Someone was pounding on the door.

  “Who is it?” Jake called out.

  “It’s Ellen. Sorry to disturb you, but Ms. Barrett has a visitor. Detective DuCiel from Austin PD. One of the ranch hands was at the gate and let him in when he showed his badge. He’s in the living room and says he needs to speak to Ms. Barrett right away.”

  Jake didn’t like the sound of that. But then, apparently neither did Jessie. Mumbling profanity under her breath, she barreled off the bed and began to fix her clothes.

  Chapter Eleven

  Jessie’s mouth tightened until she felt her jaw muscles cramp. “Byron is here?” she mumbled. Whatever could the man be thinking, coming to the house with Jake around?

  Jake gave her a puzzled look. Jessie was sure he didn’t look any more puzzled than she did, and it wasn’t just from that steamy kissing session. “Byron from the phone call?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  “He’s a cop?”

  She heard the surprise in Jake’s voice. It no doubt matched the aggravation in hers. “Yes.” And perhaps he’d soon be a cop with a wrung neck.

  Jessie checked herself in the mirror. She looked as if she’d just been ravaged. She glanced at Jake—he looked ravaged, as well. Hopefully, Byron wouldn’t notice that. “You might want to tuck in your shirt.”

  Jake did and ran his hand through his hair to straighten it. “I thought you didn’t trust cops.”

  She didn’t answer him. Jessie headed out of the bedroom and downstairs. Jake trailed right behind her. Not that she thought he would let her go alone. After all, he didn’t know Byron, and the fact he’d learned her friend was a cop probably piqued his interest.

  They went through the archway into the living room, Jessie already bracing herself for an argument. However, the first thing she saw was the gun. And Byron aimed it right at Jake.

  Jessie gasped. “What the—”

  “Move away from him, Jess!” Byron ordered.

  “Have you lost your mind?” She caught Jake’s arm when he tried to step in front of her. He mumbled something steeped with anger. “This isn’t what you think,” she assured Jake. “My friend is obviously not thinking straight.”

  Byron didn’t lower the gun, even when Jessie took a step toward him. “Oh, I’m not the one with problems with reality,” he insisted. “Jake McClendon has brainwashed you.”

  If she hadn’t been so scar
ed that the situation might escalate, she would have laughed. Jessie took another step toward Byron. Or at least tried to.

  Jake caught her and pulled her back. He directed his comments, however, at Byron. “I don’t care if you’re a cop or not, get that gun out of my face.”

  “Yes,” Jessie agreed through clenched teeth.

  But Byron kept the gun aimed. Jessie had never seen him like this, his expression a tight mask of raw emotion. Obviously, her situation had pushed him over the edge. She hoped it was not so far that he would do something stupid.

  “Are you the one who had Jessie kidnapped?” Jake demanded.

  Jessie groaned again. She started to reassure him that Byron couldn’t do anything like that. The reassurance, though, stuck in her throat when she glanced at the gun again. She quickly pushed aside the feelings of betrayal and fear. Byron wouldn’t betray her. The only reason she had that shiver down the back of her neck was that he had his weapon drawn.

  Still…

  “Put that gun away, Byron,” she insisted. “You’re scaring me.”

  That seemed to work. Byron swept his gaze from her to Jake and then back again. A moment later and while mumbling to himself, he lowered the gun and eased it back into the shoulder holster beneath his jacket.

  “Give me a good reason why I shouldn’t grab you by the scruff of your neck and throw you out of my house.” Jake didn’t yell. He kept his voice low and dangerous.

  Jessie successfully managed to step between them. “Because Byron is going to behave himself, or else I’ll grab him by the scruff and throw him out.” She crossed the room and got in his face. “What the heck is wrong with you?” she whispered.

  He didn’t answer. Jake didn’t say anything else, either. That’s because they were in the process of sizing each other up. It was a real study in contrasts. Jake was dressed casually—jeans, boots and a leather vest that was the same color as his chocolate-brown hair. Byron, as usual, was groomed to a T in an Italian suit he couldn’t afford and was probably still paying off on his credit card.

  Jake’s scowl didn’t fade any. “Jessie tells me you’re a friend?” It was definitely a question—one with other questions attached. Was Byron really a friend or was he her lover? And just what the heck was he doing here?

  “Jess and I go way back,” Byron said simply. “We went to the University of Texas together.”

  Jessie intensified the displeased expression she aimed at Byron. Why had he brought up college? Now Jake would certainly wonder why she was working at Ray’s Cantina.

  Since Jessie didn’t think Jake would leave the room anytime soon, she dropped down onto the sofa and tried not to scream. The conversation would be like dancing barefoot on broken glass. There was plenty that Byron knew that Jake didn’t and vice versa.

  “If I’m not mistaken,” she said coolly to Byron. “I asked you not to come here.”

  His smile was one of pure defiance. “I had to make sure you were all right.”

  “Well, as you can see, I’m fine.” It was a huge lie, but Jessie didn’t want to get into a detailed explanation.

  There were times, like now, when she wished Byron didn’t feel so protective. It was a chilling reminder of the conclusions she’d drawn about Willa. Overly protective people often did stupid things. She could recall at least a half-dozen occasions when Byron had resorted to fistfights when men had come on to Christy. Of course, that likely had something to do with his own feelings for Christy. Love and jealousy were usually a volatile mix.

  “You don’t look fine at all, Jess,” Byron readily disagreed. “You look like hell. You’re too thin, too pale—and what the devil happened to your hair?”

  She wasn’t about to get into that. The less Byron heard about her ordeal, the better. He obviously didn’t need anything else to rile him. “I don’t think you came here to discuss my weight or my current hairstyle.”

  “No, I didn’t.” Byron looked up at Jake. “I heard someone shot at you. And at Jess. I don’t like that. I don’t like that you put her in danger.”

  Because Jake was behind her and couldn’t see her face, Jessie rolled her eyes and glared at Byron. “It isn’t Jake’s responsibility to keep me safe,” she clarified. “Nor is it yours. I can take care of myself.”

  “Now that makes me feel a whole lot better. This from a woman who was kidnapped and held against her will for three months. You couldn’t take care of yourself then, could you, Jess? And now you’re pregnant.” Byron swore ripely and shook his head. “Pregnant. Jesus! Have you considered what else those SOBs could have done to you while they had you captive?”

  “I’ve given it some thought, yes, but as you can see, I’m very much alive.” She paused and tried to speak calmly. “Listen, Byron, I can’t have you involved in this. I don’t know what these people want, but it isn’t good—and I don’t think they’re finished yet.”

  “And that’s why I’m here. I can help you.”

  “How?” Jake firmly asked. There was a challenge in his tone. What could you possibly do that I can’t?

  “I can help locate the people who kidnapped her.”

  Jake walked from behind her and faced Byron head-on. “One’s dead. I have someone looking for the others. When they find them, Jessie and I will get to the bottom of this. What I want to know is, did you leak information, either accidentally or otherwise, that nearly got us killed?”

  “What?” An angry flush swept over Byron’s face. “How dare you accuse me of trying to hurt Jessie.”

  “I’m not accusing you of anything. I just want answers.”

  “And you think I have them?” Byron shouted back. “That’s why I’m here. I want her safe. And I damn sure won’t trust you for that. Besides, even if I trusted you, I could still do a better job of getting to the bottom of this. I’m a cop, remember?”

  “Well, that hasn’t stopped Jessie from nearly getting killed. Why haven’t you conducted an investigation, if you’re so concerned about her?”

  “This isn’t my case. Or my jurisdiction. That doesn’t mean I haven’t looked into things. Care to know my theory? You’re behind this, McClendon. And now you’ve managed to convince Jessie that you’re the good guy, that you’re on her side. Well, I don’t believe it for a minute. I don’t like it when people try to hurt my friends.”

  Jessie got to her feet. This situation wouldn’t get better. The two men had squared off like barking dogs defending their territories. She quickly latched on to Byron’s arm. “It’s time you left. Come on, I’ll see you out.”

  “I don’t want—”

  “Tough.” She yanked harder and got him moving. Jessie didn’t say anything else until they were at the door. She only hoped Jake was out of hearing range. “Do you want to make this more difficult for me?”

  “That’s a dirty way to win an argument.”

  “Maybe, but I’m not going to let you accuse Jake of God knows what.”

  That didn’t please Byron and it was obvious. His mouth tightened. “You’re falling for him, aren’t you.” But he didn’t even wait for her to deny it. “God, Jess! This is the kind of stunt Christy would have pulled, not you. You were always the sensible one.”

  “It’s not a stunt.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Jake’s bent over backward to help me.”

  Fortunately, Byron lowered his voice, as well. “Oh, yeah? Think back to the last time you spoke to Christy. She all but said she was going to throw herself at McClendon. A few hours later, she was dead.”

  “I believe that was a coincidence.”

  Anger and frustration clouded his expression. In fact, it did more than cloud it. Jessie watched the veins throb on his forehead. “Well, I’m tired of the two of you getting yourselves in these stupid fixes,” he snapped.

  Alarmed, she pulled back her shoulders. “The two of you?” she repeated. “Do you mean Christy and me? What are you talking about, Byron?”

  Something darkened his eyes. Confusion, maybe. And then he shook his he
ad. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” He reached in his jacket, brought out a fat envelope and handed it to her. “Your money, all fifteen thousand.”

  It was literally her life savings. But it wasn’t the money that held her attention. It was Byron’s remark. I’m tired of the two of you getting yourselves in these stupid fixes. What had he meant by that?

  Nothing, she quickly assured herself. Absolutely nothing.

  “Take my advice, Jess,” Byron added. He stepped outside into the darkness and headed for his car. “Use that money and get the hell away from McClendon before it’s too late.”

  It was already too late for a lot of things, but Jessie wished there was some way Byron could take back that off-the-cuff comment. It would stay with her. And haunt her.

  “Too bad you didn’t tell me your friend was a cop,” Jake said the moment she turned around. He was in the foyer, obviously waiting for her.

  One glance and she knew he wasn’t a happy man. With reason. Byron’s visit had likely created a lot of questions. Questions she might not want to answer. However, instead of asking her anything, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a tiny phone.

  “Make sure Detective DuCiel leaves the grounds,” Jake told the person he called. “And secure the gate behind him.” After what seemed to be an eternity, his gaze slowly came to her again. “Has he found out anything about your kidnapping that I should know?”

  “No.” She closed the door and folded her arms over her chest. “He checked out the warehouse but didn’t come up with anything.”

  Jake tipped his head to the envelope she still held in her hand. “And the money I heard Byron mention—what’s that all about?”

  “It’s from my savings account. I’ll need it to relocate.”

  Jessie walked closer and thought about putting her hand on his arm. She changed her mind when she saw the anger flash in his eyes. Instead, she went back into the living room. As she’d known he would do, Jake followed her.

  “Listen, this isn’t anything new,” she explained. “I have to leave eventually. You’re in the middle of a campaign and if the press gets wind that I’m staying with you, it could hurt your chances in the election.”