Saved by the Rancher

by Jennifer Ryan

  “You’re squishing me and the babies.”

  He rolled onto his side and gently took her with him. They lay facing each other still linked together in a tangle of arms and legs.

  “I’m sorry, honey. Are you okay? I didn’t hurt you, or them?” He couldn’t believe his babies were inside of her. He was going to be a father. The enormity of that hit him at odd times.

  “We’re all fine. That was wonderful, Jack. I’ve never felt better.” She nuzzled his neck and gave him a love bite. “My nervousness is gone, it’s hard to feel anything but warmth and love when I’m close to you.’

  “You feel good to me. Your belly is already starting to swell from the babies.”

  “Did you just call me fat?”

  “You’re beautiful. I can’t believe two babies are growing in there.”

  “I don’t know how beautiful you’ll think I am when I’m as big as a house, and you can’t even get your arms around me in a few months.”

  “I can’t wait to see you all round. You’ll be beautiful even then. I think it’s a wonder you’re having my twins.”

  “You won’t be saying that when I’m swearing at you in the delivery room.”

  “Swear at me all you want, so long as you and the babies are healthy after the delivery. I’ll pass out cigars.”

  “You’re ecstatic about these babies, aren’t you?”

  “I couldn’t be happier. Soon, we’ll be married. Nothing but happiness from now on.”

  “I can’t wait to marry you. Once we’re back from San Francisco, I hope we can concentrate on planning the wedding and put all of the bad behind us.”

  “We will. You’ll see. It’ll all work out in the end, because you’re taking back your life tomorrow. I’ll be right there to back you up.”

  “This nightmare will end tomorrow. Nothing and no one will get in the way of our future happiness again.”

  Chapter Fifty-Six

  * * *

  THE JET SAT in front of a large airplane hangar at the San Francisco airport. Jenna paced the length, waiting for Cameron Shaw to arrive for their meeting before they went to the Merrick International offices. In addition to the flight crew, Jack, Sam, and five bodyguards accompanied them to San Francisco. Tension filled the air on board the long flight.

  The pendant Jack gave her rested in the V of her dark green Armani suit jacket. She thought it the perfect touch. The diamond earrings she’d bought on her shopping trip with Summer and Lily sparkled at her ears, and her engagement ring was the perfect complement to any outfit. She also knew it would drive David insane to see her wearing another man’s ring.

  She wore her hair up in a chignon and had worn a light touch of make-up. The cut above her eye was healing and with the make-up it wasn’t that noticeable. The collar of the jacket covered most of the bruising around her neck, but you could still see it at her throat. She hoped the large green amethyst would attract people’s attention and not the bruises. Wishful thinking.

  Rehearsing her speech in her head, Jack’s soothing voice broke into her thoughts. “Honey, he’s here. The limo just pulled up. I thought maybe you’d need a minute to get ready.”

  “I’m ready, Jack. If you’ll let him in, and then give us some time, I’d appreciate it.”

  “Whatever you need, I’m here. This is the easy part. I hope Cameron comes through for you.”

  “He will. He has to. Otherwise, I’ll end up running a company I don’t even want.”

  Jack gave her a smile and a quick hug for support. A minute later, he showed Cameron onto the jet. Jenna waited in front of a small table near the rear of the plane.

  “Thanks, Jack.” She winked before he turned and left her with Cameron.

  “Thank you for meeting me, Cameron.” She shook his offered hand. “I know it’s a little cloak and dagger bringing you here in secret, but it was necessary. Can I get you anything?”

  “I’m fine, thanks. I am curious why you asked to meet. Ben said something about an offer I couldn’t refuse. I found that intriguing, since we’ve never met, even though we serve on the same board. I’ve often wondered why you never attend any of the meetings in person. Your insights into business and making deals are quite astounding. I enjoy watching the Merricks’ faces when your points or ideas go against them.”

  She was a beautiful woman, distracting. To say her request to meet intrigued him wasn’t giving justice to his curiosity. She’d been married to David Merrick and the marriage ended in scandal. He wondered if there was any grain of truth to the gossip, or if the press put a spin on things.

  She kept well-informed about the company. When she voted it was always in favor of whatever was good for business, and not necessarily what the Merrick clan wanted. She wasn’t afraid to use her vote to go against them, as he’d done countless times.

  Her keen business sense interested him. A very successful businessman, he could read most people easily. She was anything but easy to read. He noted the bruises on her neck, the cut above her eye, and the way her voice wasn’t quite the sultry sound he usually heard on conference calls. He wondered what happened to her.

  “Let’s sit. What I have to tell you is difficult to reveal, but it’ll all come out today in the papers and at the board meeting. I want to prepare you for what’s to come.”

  “Will you meet with the other board members, or is this courtesy reserved for me?”

  “Just you. See, once I tell you my story, I’m going to make you an offer I hope you won’t refuse.”

  “All right. Let’s hear the story so we can get to the offer. You’ve made the anticipation more than I can take. I don’t get many offers from beautiful women, and I find myself quite enjoying the anticipation.”

  She couldn’t help but laugh. Cameron was one of the most handsome men she’d ever seen. Women probably threw themselves at him on a regular basis. It was a wonder there weren’t women beating down the jet door to get to him. His smile hinted at mischief, but under the surface he too seemed sad. She wondered about that, but let it pass.

  Dark hair, cut short, of course, for the business world he moved in set off his shrewd silver-blue eyes. His tanned and lean frame told her he spent time outdoors. Not one to spend his life stuck in his office. Tall, maybe six-two, his broad shoulders and strong thighs couldn’t be hidden behind the cut of his well-tailored suit. He had great hands, strong with long fingers.

  “I’m sure plenty of women try to snag you—often. However, I like your get-to-the-point attitude. I’ve found over the years that you have a great head for business and an even better sense of future trends. You’ve made quite a name for yourself running Ortel. I hope you’ll find my offer will further your career ambitions and ultimately benefit both of us.”

  “Go on. So far you have my attention.”

  “Let’s start with why I haven’t been to any of those board meetings. You know, of course, that I was married to David and the marriage ended very badly. That part came out in the press. What no one knows is the divorce came about after a particularly bad incident where David threw me down the stairs, and I lost my baby.”

  “My God. I’m so sorry. I remember the stories in the papers. Sounds like you made David pay for being a bastard. You got half of his share of the company and a large cash settlement as I recall.”

  “That’s right. What you don’t know, what nobody knows, is that for the last few years David has been hunting me all over the country, despite all my efforts to remain hidden. When he finds me, he terrorizes me and sometimes inflicts as much pain as possible before returning to his plush life here in San Francisco.” She pulled the collar of her jacket back to reveal even more of the bruises around her neck.

  “I’m guessing that’s not all he’s done to you, not to mention the psychological damage he’s inflicted.” Cameron fisted his hands until his knuckles shone white. Jenna relaxed, confident he didn’t believe in hurting women.

  “You’re right on both counts. This last attack included a concus
sion, stab wounds, and other bruises.” She pointed to her throat. “He won’t stop, so I’m here to make him stop, once and for all. He is going to pay for what he’s done. I’m going to take away his life, like he took away mine.”

  “That explains the muscle you brought with you. Several large men blocked the entrance to this plane. One gave me a very thorough pat down.”

  “It’s extremely dangerous for me to be here. If David manages to get to me again, I have no doubt he’ll kill me this time. He is mentally unbalanced, completely out of his mind when it comes to me.”

  “So what are you going to do? Why are you here now?”

  “This afternoon, this paper is coming out.”

  Cameron scanned the photos of her over the years and all the attacks. His stomach soured just looking at them, knowing she sat before him in the same shape as some of the pictures. Overwhelmed with sympathy, he read the article. How could she have survived all these years and still be sitting in front of him the confident woman he saw? He admired her for her business sense over the years, but now he respected her for the strength and perseverance she’d used to survive. He couldn’t help but think of his small daughter, Emma.

  “You’re going to ruin David in the press? What does that have to do with me?”

  “This is just the icing on the cake. The main course I’m serving at the board meeting.”

  “And just what will you be serving?”

  “Pink slips.”

  Leaning forward, her arms on the table, she went on. “In a nutshell, I took the money I got in the divorce and invested it in what a lot of people would have considered risky companies. Seems I have a knack for picking companies that explode with growth, and I’ve made millions in returns. I took those millions and bought shares in Merrick International. Under the various names of those companies, of course.”

  He sat still and continued to listen. He believed he was getting the picture of what she’d done.

  “I now hold controlling interest in Merrick International.”

  He knew it. “I see.”

  Smiling, she said, “That’s it? You must be a very good poker player. You don’t give anything away.”

  “It’s wise to listen and know all the facts before speaking and inserting your foot in your mouth. So you’re taking over the entire company and squeezing David out. Charles has, essentially, increasingly let him run things and plans to retire at the end of the year. We both know David’s parents don’t really make any business decisions, so they’ll only object to your taking over because you aren’t a Merrick anymore.”

  “Exactly. At today’s meeting, I’ll reveal I’ve gained controlling interest and assume control.”

  “That’s great as far as I’m concerned. You seem to have made quite a lot of money over the last several years. I won’t mind making more with you running things. You and I usually vote the same way on most deals and acquisitions, so I imagine we’ll have no problem working together. Is that why you wanted to have this meeting? So we could solidify a working relationship?”

  “No. Now, what kind of offer would that be? I told you, I had an offer you couldn’t refuse.”

  “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you? I like that about you. You get the same kind of thrill I get when a deal goes particularly well. So let’s see your cards. Lay it on me. What’s the deal?”

  “I want to make you president of Merrick International. I’ll maintain the CEO position that comes with controlling interest, but you’ll run Merrick.”

  He closed his open mouth and took a second to absorb the surprise. “Are you kidding? You’ve done all this and you don’t even want to run the company. You obviously have the ability to do it. Why wouldn’t you?”

  “I only did this to make David pay. Revenge isn’t very pretty, but it is sweet.”

  She smiled. It was hard not to. With Cameron sitting in front of her impressed with her accomplishment, it was hard not to feel her success. “David took away everything from me. I’ve finally found someone to spend my life with, who loves me and treats me like I deserve to be treated. I want to have a life with him. I’m pregnant with twins. I’m going to be a mother and a wife, and that suits me just fine.”

  “David did that to you,” he pointed to her throat, “and you’re pregnant?”

  “He doesn’t know about the pregnancy, not that it would have stopped him. So, will you accept my offer and take over Merrick for me? I’ll keep my hand in the business and vote on the board, but essentially, you’ll have the power to run the company as you see fit. I promise to try to keep my nose out of things as much as possible.”

  “It’s quite an offer, but I run Ortel.”

  “Ortel is small beans compared to Merrick. I don’t say that to insult you. But heading Merrick would give you the opportunity to work your magic at a bigger international level.

  “You took a fledgling company and grew it into a very competitive organization. I imagine letting someone else take over is difficult, but not impossible. Running Merrick would be a coup. You’d be one of the youngest presidents to run a company the size and scope of Merrick International. This is a dream job for someone in your position, and I’m handing it to you. You’d be crazy to pass up this opportunity,” she finished.

  Ortel was his baby, but she was right. He couldn’t pass this up, despite the fact it would be detrimental to his personal life and what little time he had with his daughter. A pang of guilt gripped his heart when he thought about Emma. He wanted so much to give her a good life.

  “You have a deal. I’ll run Merrick’s day-to-day operations, but I want you involved even if it’s just a weekly conference call. Anyone who can take over the company the way you have deserves my respect and admiration. I’d be a fool to let you step back completely and not use your uncanny sense of trends and business savvy. No way I’m letting that asset go to waste.”

  She had to admit, talking to Cameron put a lot of things into perspective. She really thought the two of them could run the company together. In fact, she was excited about it.

  “Deal. We’ll work together, but it will have to be long distance. I want to live in Colorado on the ranch with Jack and the babies. I won’t give that up. But I will meet you halfway. I’ll fly into San Francisco when necessary, but never for more than a day or two.”

  “Great. We’ll work out all the details later. If I understand what you have planned for the board meeting, we’ll also need to restructure the top levels of the company. I have a few people in mind for some key positions. We can discuss this at a later date.”

  “We’ll do it by phone and webcam. Once we’re finished today, I’m getting back on this plane and going home. Unfortunately, David may have other ideas. Sam and I have a plan to deal with him. I only hope it works.”

  “With your security, David can’t get close to you, unless you want him to.”

  “Exactly.”

  Cameron frowned, not understanding her cryptic answer. She was about to explain, but Jack and Sam headed toward them, looking grim.

  “It’s time to go. The board meets in an hour and we don’t want to be late.” Jack gave Cameron the once-over. “Did you two come to an agreement?”

  “We’re all set. Stop glaring at Cameron. He was a perfect gentleman. Don’t worry, Cameron, he’s jealous of his horse, too.”

  “I am not.” Jack’s smile said otherwise.

  “Are too. It’s cute though. Let’s go.”

  Time to face her past and take back her future.

  Chapter Fifty-Seven

  * * *

  JENNA’S MEETING WITH Cameron went so well, her confidence soared. The limo took them down the crowded city streets, followed by another car full of her security people. She stared out the window at the people and buildings while Jack, Sam, and Cameron talked about . . . Well, she didn’t know what they were talking about. Her thoughts were on the upcoming board meeting and the possibilities of what might happen.

  Jack held her hand. Even t
hough the guys carried on with their conversation, they remained focused on her. Even Cameron understood the stakes, and that she was, essentially, walking into the lion’s den.

  They arrived in front of the Merrick International building and stepped out. What a sight they made. Three of the most handsome men around, dressed in their best suits, and her in her finest business attire flanked by five other large men, who despite their suits couldn’t be mistaken for anything but bodyguards. They drew everyone’s attention in the lobby of the building as Cameron led the way to the elevators to take them up to the conference room on the thirty-sixth floor.

  Nervous, her palms were sweating. Jack still held her hand and leaned in to say, “You’ll do fine. He can’t hurt you. Go in there and do what you came to do. Sam and I have your back.”

  The elevator doors opened and Jack released her hand. They exited the elevator and headed to the conference room door. He understood she needed to stand on her own. She entered, Sam and Jack right behind her. Cameron followed along with the five bodyguards, who spread out around the room. Jenna headed to the large table and looked at the other occupants already assembled.

  Charles Merrick, Nathan and Marion Merrick, and the other two members of the board appeared surprised to see her. She settled her gaze last on David, seated to Charles’s left at the head of the table, his parents on the right. She noted his furious expression. Mr. Jamison and Mr. Richards were seated beside David’s parents. Cameron took the seat next to David, watching him with a predatory glare.

  Jenna stood at the head of the table at the opposite end from Charles waiting a moment to gather her strength. Jack and Sam sat in the chairs behind her against the wall. As she continued to stare at David steam, Charles broke the silence that ensued once she walked into the room.